Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104191, on Ministers: Public Appointments, whether the Cabinet Office holds desk notes on the appointment of peers.

The Governance Code on Public Appointments sets out the process and principles on making regulated public appointments. The Cabinet Office regularly provides advice to help departments implement government policy as part of the normal workings of government.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026, to Question 110815, on Special Advisers: ICT, what the status is of electronic records held on non-corporate communication devices by Morgan McSweeney; and what is the retention policy in relation to information held on his corporate devices and systems, including (a) no10 email and (b) no10 whatsapp.

Special Advisers are expected to comply with the Cabinet Office policies on the management of information and records. All official business should be conducted using official systems wherever possible. Where official information is created or received on non corporate communication devices, it must be handled in accordance with records management requirements, including being transferred to an appropriate official system where it forms part of the official record.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2026, to Question 114869, on Civil Servants: Media and Public Speaking, and with reference to the policy development referenced in the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question HL13976, whether following the letter from the Institute for Government of 28 July 2025 and the reply from the Minister for the Cabinet Office of 14 October 2025, there is an intention to amend the current version of the guidance to Civil Servants on media and public speaking, separate to the guidance in the Civil Service Management Code.

I refer the Right Hon Gentleman to the answer to Parliamentary Question 114869.

Whether Ministers who are providing cover for a Minister who is on maternity leave receive an exit payment if they leave Ministerial office at the end of the maternity cover period.

Since 13 October 2025, ministers who serve for fewer than six months are expected to forgo their severance payment. Ministers who return to office within three months of leaving will be asked to forgo their salary until the end of that three-month period. Ministers providing temporary leave cover, outside of the provisions of the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021, are asked to waive their entitlement to a severance payment. Unpaid ministers are not entitled to a severance payment under the terms of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

Whether special advisers provided advice to the Prime Minister on the appointment of the new Cabinet Secretary.

As set out in the GOV.uk announcement of the Cabinet Secretary appointment. “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary”.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113587,on Government departments: social media, whether the (a) Government Communications Service and (b) the sponsoring department monitor paid social influencers compliance with Advertising Standards Authority guidance.

The Government works closely with its creative agency to ensure all partnerships with creators comply with ASA guidance. This requirement is built into creators' contracts.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113608 on Government Communication Service, whether departmental efficiency savings agreed at the Spending Review 2025 will reduce the net size of the Government Communication Service.

I refer the Hon Gentleman to the answer given to Question 113608.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37424 on Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee: Public Appointments, whether the competition for the Parliamentary and Political Service honours Committee is ongoing.

The campaign for the Parliamentary and Political Service Independent Honours Committee Member recruitment is under active consideration.

With reference to the Answer of 23 February 2026 to Question HL14053 on Public Appointments: Political Activities, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full political activity data for each public appointment where political activity was declared for the 2024-25 year.

I refer the Hon. Gentleman to PQ 103784.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 115433 on Cabinet Office: Social Media, how much the Prime Minister’s Office has spent on social media influencers since July 2024.

10 Downing Street has not spent money on social media influencers since July 2024.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 110815 on Special Advisers: ICT, whether he is taking steps to prevent information in scope of the Humble Address of 4 February 2026 being auto-deleted.

I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out an update on the Government's process and that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 108235 on Senior Civil Servants: Recruitment, what the (a) departments and (b) job titles are of the 90 senior civil servants recruited internally.

I refer to my answer to UIN 108235 from 2 March 2026.

How many job advertisements were published on the Civil Service jobs website in 2025 which were (a) available on public website and (b) only available to Civil Services within the passworded website.

In 2025, there were 45,566 job adverts published on Civil Service Jobs. Of these, 24,865 (54.6%) were available to the public. The remaining 20,701 (45.4%) were advised internally and/or cross-government, meaning they were available only to existing civil servants.

When he will answer Question 98795, tabled on 10 December 2025, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House.

A response has been issued here 98795

Pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026, to Question 115433, on Cabinet Office: Social Media, when the Cabinet Office answers to Parliamentary Questions on departmental spending by the Cabinet Office, whether expenditure relating to the Prime Minister’s Office are (a) included or (b) excluded.

The figures provided on Cabinet Office spending do not include the Prime Minister’s Office.

With reference to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question HL13416 on Cabinet Office: Public Appointments, what the remuneration and end date is of Michael Barber.

Information related to Direct Ministerial Appointments is available on the Direct Ministerial Appointments page on the HMG Public Appointments website.

Further to the letter from the Cabinet Secretary to the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of 11 November 2025, and with reference to the Updated Desk Note: Making Direct Ministerial Appointments issued in 27 June 2024, whether a Minister authorised the document in June 2024.

The Cabinet Office regularly provides advice and information to help departments implement government policy. Routine support by officials is part of the normal workings of government.

Whether (1) Downing Street or (2) the wider Cabinet Office holds information on the (a) attendees and (b) cost of the Channukah reception in Downing Street on 16 December 2025; and whether this was a (i) political or (ii) official reception.

As was the case under previous administrations, details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.

If he will commission a review into the due diligence process for political peerage nominations.

I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Prime Minister on 19 June 2025, Official Report, HCWS718.

What guidance his Department has given to departments on whether members of HM Opposition undertaking official visits to (a) schools, (b) hospitals and (c) military barracks may post photographs of the visit.

No such guidance has been given to departments.