Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 70484, on Government Departments: Training, how many quarterly Statements of Work have been agreed to date under the Work Order for Project 7114; and if he will publish those statements.

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership. Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data. Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 70484, on Government Departments: Training, who was on the evaluation panel for Project 7114, whether it included officials who had previously worked with Public Digital Ltd; and if he will publish the conflict-of-interest declarations made in connection with that procurement.

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership. Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data. Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.

What key performance indicators have been set for the Public Sector Reform Test, Learn and Grow Strategic Delivery Partner contract; and whether financial penalties apply for non-performance.

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership. Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data. Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2025, to Question 82673 on Government Departments: Social Media, how much has been spent on social influencers through (a) OmniGov and (b) Pablo Unlimited since July 2024.

Spend on influencer costs (exclusive of agency fees) since July 2024 to the date of this PQ is £365,331. This figure is reflective of currency conversion rates at the time of the request. Please note, some data has been withheld due to commercial and wider sensitivities.

With reference to his Department's document entitled Political Peerages - Citations, published on 10 December 2025, if he will publish Dame Ann Limb's curriculum vitae given to the House of Lords Appointments Commission for her appointment.

As a matter of policy we do not publish information relating to individuals' peerage nominations.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled WPP appointed to be UK Government’s lead media agency, published on 22 December 2025, whether the framework in the press release is Crown Commercial Services RM6364 framework, Lot 1: Media Strategy, Planning and Buying.

Yes, the referenced press release is in relation to Crown Commercial Services RM6364 framework, Lot 1: Media Strategy, Planning and Buying.

With reference to the Agenda for the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights meeting on 18 December 2025, if he will place in the Library a copy of the presentation by the3million and British in Europe.

Information on matters discussed at the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights is available here: Citizens’ Rights Specialised Committee meeting, 18 December 2025: joint statement - GOV.UK. As is stipulated by Rule 13 of Annex VIII of the Withdrawal Agreement, meetings of the Specialised Committee are confidential. The3million and British in Europe can be contacted directly to request any material shared at the meeting. The UK and the EU are committed to working cooperatively to ensure full and faithful implementation of the citizens’ rights part of the Withdrawal Agreement.

Whether the First Division Association (FDA) has been involved in negotiations on special advisers' salaries; and whether special advisers have collectively had an increase in their salaries since July 2024.

Special advisers have received two annual pay awards since July 2024, one in 2024/25 and one in 2025/26. The FDA has not been involved in negotiations on special advisers' salaries.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 73727 on Civil Servants: Personnel Management, whether that guidance has been published.

Guidance on Mutually Agreed Exits is published on the Civil Service Pension Scheme Administrators website. We have no plans to publish any further guidance.

Pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2025 to Question 93376 on Civil Service: Unpaid Work, how the civil service verify self-declarations of the occupation of main household owners when the applicant was 14 years old.

In line with other schemes of this nature across the public and private sector, The Cabinet Office uses self-certification for the socio-economic data of applicants and does not seek further validation. This is the same approach taken under its predecessor, the Summer Diversity Internship Programme, from 2010 to 2023.

Whether he uses external disinformation (a) indexes and (b) metrics when making SAFE framework assessments.

SAFE assessments examine whether the publishers have a history of publishing or broadcasting disinformation, with the intent to deceive. There is no predefined list of sources we rely upon.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90737 on Cabinet Office: Remote Working, if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of the last meeting for which minutes are held.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office does not intend to place a copy of the minutes of the last Cross Government Working Flexibly Group Meeting Minutes in the library as these are considered confidential. We are unable to disclose membership of the Group on the grounds of data protection, however, the group meets on an ad hoc basis only and does so in a hybrid manner.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 December 2025 to Question 99838 on Senior Civil Servants: Redundancy Pay, what was the (a) policy basis and (b) business case for the previous Cabinet Secretary being given an exit payment greater than that set out in the model Permanent Secretary contract.

The severance payment was made in accordance with paragraph 18.1 in the Permanent Secretary model contract. The business case was made on the basis that the Cabinet Secretary departed the Civil Service, and it was calculated on the basis of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme i.e. 1 month’s pay (capped at £149,820 salary) for each year of service.

What the cost is of developing, operating and maintaining the Internal Coaching Service digital platform.

The Internal Coaching Service digital platform cost a one-off setup fee of £1,000 (excluding VAT).The ongoing cost is an annual licence fee of £7,500 (excluding VAT). This fee covers maintenance, unlimited change requests, and support for the internal coaching team.There is no upper limit to the number of coaches and coaches that can use the platform.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025 to Question 90737 on Cabinet Office: Remote Working, if he will publish the members of the Cross-Government Group on Working Flexibly; and whether it meets remotely, in hybrid manner or in person.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office does not intend to place a copy of the minutes of the last Cross Government Working Flexibly Group Meeting Minutes in the library as these are considered confidential. We are unable to disclose membership of the Group on the grounds of data protection, however, the group meets on an ad hoc basis only and does so in a hybrid manner.

With reference to the report entitled Civil Service sickness absence, 2025 published on 16 December 2025, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of Civil Service (a) long-term and (b) short-term sickness rates.

Civil Service sickness absence data, published on 16 December 2025, indicates a rise in both long-term and short-term sickness absence across the Civil Service, both since the previous year and over the past decade.(Source: Civil Service sickness absence data published on 16 December 2025)

Pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2025 to Question 100332 on Public Appointments: Political Impartiality, what was the source of the political activity data for 2024-25 contained within the 2024-25 annual report of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, page 41, published on 17 December 2025.

Political activity information is collected from candidates as part of the public appointments digital service’s online application process. This was the source of the Commissioner’s data.

With reference to the Integrated Security Fund Annual Report 2024–25, of 30 October 2025, if he will establish a due-diligence process to ensure that ISF programmes scored as principal for gender equality are not used to advance ideological objectives.

The Integrated Security Fund delivers programmes which align to UK national security and resilience priorities. Programmes promote gender equality where it is relevant and appropriate.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026, to Question 99825, on Tom Kibasi, whether he served the full two month secondment in Downing Street.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 2 January 2026, Official Report, PQ 99825.

With reference to the Our management section of the Cabinet Office website and further to his Department's document entitled Special advisers: code of conduct, updated on 6 November 2024, for what reason Jonathan Powell is listed in the management section.

The National Security Adviser sets direction – on behalf of the Prime Minister – for national security and foreign policy in the National Security Secretariat. Some leadership and corporate responsibilities – such as the line management of civil servants, accounting or matters affecting a civil servant’s career such as recruitment, promotion, reward and discipline – are not carried out by the National Security Adviser.