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 681–700 of 1,929 · Cabinet Office
If he will initiate a leak inquiry into the reported leaking of the discussions of the National Security Council on British military action in the Middle East.
The Government Security Group is conducting an inquiry into this unauthorised disclosure, drawing on the full range of powers at their disposal. In line with normal practice, the Government does not comment on a live inquiry.
Pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 111932, on Lord Mandelson, what discussions (a) Morgan McSweeney and (b) Paul Ovenden had via email on this matter.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 114873 on Home Office: Redundancy Pay, whether exit payments made to the last two Cabinet Secretaries were eligible for the £30,000 tax-free allowance.
It is a longstanding policy not to comment on individual employment matters. The guidance on tax on severance payments is here: https://www.gov.uk/termination-payments-and-tax-when-you-leave-a-job/what-you-pay-tax-and-national-insurance-on
Whether he has had recent discussions with the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament on providing independent resourcing to the Committee, separate from the Cabinet Office.
Cabinet Office officials engage routinely and constructively with the Committee and will continue to do so. The Cabinet Office has agreed to the Committee’s requested uplift on budgeting and resourcing, which should help it to continue to undertake its critical role effectively. Cabinet Office officials are also working with the ISC to identify the best operating model for the future.
Pursuant to the answer of 5 March 2026, to Question 111829, on Palantir, what guidance has the Cabinet Office (a) Propriety and Ethics Team and (b) transparency team, given on whether the presentation, tour and introduction of members of staff given to the Prime Minister would classify the event as a meeting with an external organisation.
Guidance on the declaration of ministers' overseas travel and meetings can be found on GOV.UK at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance.
Pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 115437, on Civil Servants: Redundancy, if he will make it his policy to publish the information on projected exits in an anonymised or Barnardised format.
Departments publish details of exits made under the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme within their Annual Report and Accounts.
Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113130 on Official Cars: Global Positioning System, whether the location of the Government Car Service driver is shared with the Private Office via (a) text and (b) location sharing.
I refer the Hon Member to my answer on 24 February 2026 (PQ 113130).
Whether any independent oversight will exist where a Minister seeks to set a KPI that an official considers inconsistent with the Civil Service Code.
The Civil Service Code sets out the steps that should be taken if civil servants believe they are being required to act in a way which conflicts with the Code.
What guidance has the (a) Cabinet Office Propriety and Constitution Group and (b) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards given to Ministers on whether they must declare a (1) close personal or (2) sexual relationship in their declaration of Ministerial interests to (i) the Permanent Secretary and (ii) Independent Adviser, where such an individual has dealings with the Department.
The Ministerial Code sets out the high standards of behaviour expected of those who serve in Government, including the requirement that ministers ensure that no conflict arises, or could reasonably be perceived to arise, between their public duties and their private interests, financial or otherwise There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers, as set out in the Ministerial Code. This process ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
Through what mechanism his Department reminds public bodies of the requirements to submit public sector facility time data each year; and whether this includes an electronic communication to public bodies sent by the Cabinet Office.
Each year Cabinet Office sent an electronic communication, reminding those who had submitted public sector facility time data in the previous year, of the requirements to submit public sector facility time. Cabinet Office no longer sends any such communication, following the repeal of the requirement to report facility time data to the Cabinet Office as part of the Employment Rights Act (2025).
With reference to the publication Cabinet Office: business expenses, hospitality and meetings for senior officials, July to September 2025, published on 16 December 2025, what external organisations did Ellen Atkinson in the Propriety and Constitution Group meet in Edinburgh and Belfast on 2 to 3 September 2025.
Ellen Atkinson did not travel to Edinburgh or Belfast between the 2nd and 3rd September 2025. This was an incorrect entry on the Cabinet Office's Senior Officials' Business Expenses publication, which has now been amended.
If he will make it his policy to remain outside the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the context of his negotiations with the EU, and the policies associated with EU/UK reset.
The Common Understanding does not provide for oversight of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) within Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Instead it provides that the CJEU will have a limited role in assisting an independent arbitration tribunal responsible for deciding a dispute between the UK and the EU in relation to questions of EU law under any future SPS agreement, ETS linking agreement or an electricity agreement. The CJEU does not rule on the substantive outcome of the dispute - that is a matter for the independent arbitration panel.
What advice departmental officials in charge of the Cabinet Office guidance on consultations have given departments on whether consultation responses submitted from organisations or individuals subject to a policy of non-engagement should be disregarded.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer on 16 January 2026 (103769).
Pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54277 on Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information, when he plans to lay the updated Handbook in the Library of the House.
Updates to the Honours Committee handbook are ongoing. Once these updates have been completed, the relevant version will be laid in the House Library.
How much has been spent by the (a) Cabinet Office, (b) HM Treasury and (c) Government Property Agency on the Prime Minister’s official residence in 11 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.
I refer the Hon Member to the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts, which contains the total expenditure on the Prime Minister’s residence.
Pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2026, to Question 115552, on Public Appointments, if he will publish his Department's own guidance on how to undertake due diligence that was approved by the Cabinet Office Accounting Officer.
The Cabinet Office conducts due diligence on all shortlisted candidates prior to interview. As outlined in our candidate packs, these checks include a review of self-declarations from candidates and an assessment of information in the public domain related to a candidate’s conduct and professional capacity. These checks are then provided to the appointing Minister to inform their final decision. Central guidance is provided to all Cabinet Office teams to ensure a consistent approach; however, we do not routinely publish internal policy documents.
With reference to the ONS Blog entitled Putting the foundations in place to make Census 2031 a success, of 4 March 2026, whether the 2027 Test will include gender identity.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Rt. Hon. Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 10th March is attached.
Whether any individual from outside the Civil Service was shortlisted in the (a) competition for the previous Cabinet Secretary and (b) use of the reserve list for the new Cabinet Secretary.
I refer to my answer for 113705, in accordance with data protection regulations, we do not provide information about candidates in Civil Service recruitment processes.
Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026, to Question 112168, on Government, what role Tim Allan played in the new advice given to communication teams on UK Government branding.
The update to the branding guidance was the responsibility of the Government Communications Service. This guidance was developed in consultation with relevant stakeholders and in accordance with standard protocols in Summer 2025. Tim Allan was appointed in September 2025.
Whether the (a) Cabinet Secretary and (b) Cabinet Office Propriety and Constitution Group provide advice to the Prime Minister on the number of political peerages to be created, and the allocation between political parties.
Neither the Cabinet Secretary nor the Cabinet Office Propriety and Constitution Group have a role in advising the Prime Minister on the number of political peerages to be created, or the allocation between political parties.