Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mike Wood this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 481–500 of 1,929 · Cabinet Office
Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 109554 on Civil Servants: Performance Related Pay, if he will publish the minimum standards for diversity and inclusion in the SCS performance management framework.
The SCS performance management framework, which sets out the full set of SCS minimum standards, is published by Gov.uk.
With reference to the transparency data, Expenditure Over £25,000 - February 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 26 March 2026, what is the purpose and nature of the expenditure relating to GRS - SURGE CONTRACT via PEREGRINE INTERNATIONAL.
The expenditure relating to "GRS - SURGE CONTRACT via PEREGRINE INTERNATIONAL" in February 2026 refers to the provision of flexible, ad-hoc recruitment support for the Government Recruitment Service (GRS). This contract enables GRS to scale its capacity to meet fluctuations in customer demand. In February 2026, the expenditure covered 41 unique recruitment actions across 13 government departments. These actions included application sifting, interview scoring, the provision of virtual panel members, and candidate support sessions for reasonable adjustments. This model ensures the timely delivery of essential recruitment services while maintaining financial efficiency.
With reference to the transparency data Expenditure Over £25,000 - February 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 26 March 2026, what activities will be funded through the LGBT programme to the Council of Europe; and whether his Department plans to make further payments to this programme.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
With reference to the Written Statement of 16 March 2026, on Government Response to the Nuclear Regulatory Review 2025, HCWS1398, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the UK-EU Electricity Agreement on the (a) proposed deregulatory recommendations proposed in the Review and (b) maintenance of EU levels of environmental protection in the electricity sector.
The UK-EU Electricity Agreement will cut electricity costs, strengthen our energy security, drive investment and jobs, and help to achieve our Clean Power 2030 Mission. The Government’s reforms to nuclear regulation, which will make it easier to deliver nuclear projects, also support these objectives. The regulatory changes we are making will provide the best outcomes for both nuclear development and the environment, by offering a more streamlined and co-ordinated pathway to deliver environmental protections. There will be no change to the high environmental standards to which the Government is committed.
With reference to the transparency data, Expenditure Over £25,000 - February 2026 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 26 March 2026, what was the purpose of the expenditure relating to (a) Marketing & Communications to Public Group International Limited of £38,040 and (b) Professional Services to Mediasense Communications Limited of £212,863.
This expenditure was incurred by the Government Commercial Agency (GCA), which transitioned from the Crown Commercial Service (CCS) earlier this year. The payment of £38,040 to Public Group International Limited covered GCA communication enhancements, including website optimisation, developing the social media strategy, and updating buying guidance to reflect legislative changes introduced by the Transforming Public Procurement programme. The payment of £212,863 to Mediasense Communications Limited related to audit requirements for the RM6123 Media Services framework. This work provided assurance on financial transparency and contractual compliance, verification of management information and levy payments, and benchmarking to assess value for money against industry rates.
Whether he has had discussions with JP Morgan on business rate discounts on offices in Canary Wharf.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
With reference to the Cabinet Secretary's objectives 2026-27 published on 7 April 2026, what steps the Cabinet Secretary plans to take to deliver her 2026-27 objective of protecting the interests of former Governments and former Ministers.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Whether Ministers can have Ministerial responsibilities removed and remain in post.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
Pursuant to the Answers of 18 March 2026 to Question 119321 and of 2 June 2025 to Question 54277 on Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information, if he will place in the Library the version of the handbook released under Freedom of Information Act request reference FOI2025/05759, dated 16 May 2025.
As stated in the response to PQ 116510, the Honours Committee handbook released through this request is a version from January 2023 which is no longer accurate. The current handbook is currently being updated. An updated version with relevant redactions will be laid in the House Library as soon as is practicable.
With reference to the Cabinet Office news story published on 26 March 2026, Modernising public procurement: backing British businesses and building a fairer economy, if he will publish his new definition of social value.
On 26 March, the government announced plans for a new definition of social value that will strengthen the importance of community impact, putting it at the heart of future buying decisions. The Cabinet Office is developing this definition with input from businesses, trade unions, community groups and civil society organisations. We plan to publish this new definition shortly.
With reference to the written statement, HCWS1456, on UK Government Response to Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 Report, of 25 March 2026, what his planned timetable is for the proposed commencement of the socio-economic duty; and whether he plans to respond to the Equality law call for evidence, published on 7 April 2025.
This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, can thrive. Therefore, as set out in our response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report, we agree with the recommendation that commencement of the socio-economic duty could drive the routine consideration of the impact decisions might have on those most at risk in an emergency.The Government is giving careful consideration to responses to the equality law call for evidence as we consider next steps. We will publish a summary of responses and a Government response in due course on: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/equality-law-call-for-evidence. The socio-economic duty will require specified public bodies to actively consider how their strategic decisions might help to reduce the inequalities of outcome associated with socio-economic disadvantage. We are now taking forward work to make sure that commencement of the duty in England is as effective as possible.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120317 on Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information and with reference to the Cabinet Office guidance on Non-corporate communication channels for government business of March 2023, paragraph 27, whether government information that has not been transferred back to the official record following off-boarding, remains subject to and in the scope of the Freedom of Information regime after staff members have left Crown Service.
Freedom of Information requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Reasonable searches are made to identify information within the scope of each request and to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 115555 on Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, whether the Cabinet Office review into Labour Together requested evidence from the journalists who had been included in the APCO Worldwide and Labour Together dossier.
I refer the Hon Member to the response given to PQ 116772.
Whether the business appoint rules apply to Crown Servants who work for regulators who are not classed as Civil Servants.
Public bodies operating at arm’s length from the government, including regulators who are staffed by Crown servants who are not civil servants (and who do not otherwise fall directly under the Business Appointment Rules) are expected to implement their own equivalent processes to manage potential conflicts of interest, with these being tailored to their specific organisational context.
What steps are being taken to improve the timeliness of (a) Hon Member and (b) public correspondence replies by the Cabinet Office.
The Cabinet Office is committed to providing timely and high-quality responses to correspondence from Parliamenterians and the wider public. The Cabinet Office regularly reviews and refreshes departmental processes, including the use of new digital tools, to ensure it meets these commitments. Annual Government data on response rates to Parliamenterian correspondence will be published in due course.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2026 to Question 118784 on Leader of the House: Written Questions, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the Cabinet Office Answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113610 in light of his answer to Question 118784.
Due to the small size of some teams, releasing this information with the specified detail could create concerns regarding personal data.
Pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 110815 on Special Advisers: ICT, whether (a) special advisers and (b) senior civil servants have auto-delete functionality turned on for (i) corporate and (ii) non-corporate communication devices when discussing government business.
The policy covering non-corporate communication channels is published on gov.uk, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business/using-non-corporate-communication-channels-eg-whatsapp-private-email-sms-for-government-business-html
Pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026, to Question 112179, on Ethics and Integrity Commission and Lobbying, whether the terms of reference will include revolving door issues of civil servants and regulators joining companies which they previous regulated or worked with.
On 11 March the Prime Minister wrote to the Chair of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, Doug Chalmers, to commission a review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government. As set out in the terms of reference, this includes looking at whether the current Business Appointment Rules are sufficient, in particular in respect of managing potentially improper access to, and influence within, government..
Whether the Cabinet Office approached Global Counsel in relation to responding to the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. All government departments, ministers and relevant individuals have been instructed to retain and provide to the Cabinet Office all information they hold that falls in scope of the Humble Address motion.
With reference to the Government's publication entitled A message from Prime Minister Keir Starmer to the Civil Service, published on 8 July 2024, what steps Cabinet Office has the taken to deliver on the Prime Minister's commitment to deliver open and transparent government.
Since the General Election, the UK government has introduced a new monthly Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality, is working to deliver the Public Office (Accountability) Bill to introduce new duties of candour, has revised and strengthened the Ministerial Code and strengthened the role of the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards. In addition, the government has recently launched the call for evidence to inform the next National Action Plan for Open Government.