Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 January 2026, to Question 99531, on Government Departments: Advertising, how much has been spent on (a) digital, (b) out of home, (c) press, (d) radio and (e) television since July 2024.

The total spend figures across central departments since July 2024 is £214,900,056.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90240, on Cabinet Office: Secondment, if he will list the names of the organisations that have seconded staff into central government since July 2024, according to records centrally held through the secondments data commission.

The Civil Service has seconded staff in from private, public and voluntary sector organisations and has also seconded staff out. Secondments remain a key route to utilising essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from within and outside the Civil Service to share critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time. The secondments data commission provides insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to improve the amount, detail and quality of the data available including names of organisations individuals have been seconded from or to, where this information is available. The limited number of records/ data sets can impact third party organisations and makes the data personally identifiable information, and therefore it will not be possible to publish this data.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 July 2025, to Question 65368, on Empty Property, how many dwellings are owned or managed by the Government Property Agency which are currently empty.

There are currently 13 vacant properties within the Government Property Agency’s managed portfolio. This total includes sites that are in the process of being disposed of or have been vacated to facilitate ongoing refurbishment work with the aim to improve the overall condition and efficiency of the managed estate.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90240, on Cabinet Office: Secondment, if he will list the names of the organisations that have had Civil Servants seconded to them since July 2024, according to records centrally held through the secondments data commission.

The Civil Service has seconded staff in from private, public and voluntary sector organisations and has also seconded staff out. Secondments remain a key route to utilising essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from within and outside the Civil Service to share critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time. The secondments data commission provides insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to improve the amount, detail and quality of the data available including names of organisations individuals have been seconded from or to, where this information is available. The limited number of records/ data sets can impact third party organisations and makes the data personally identifiable information, and therefore it will not be possible to publish this data.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025, to Question 90245, on Admiralty House: Official Residences, which civil servants, and from which business unit, are allowed to stay in the Admiralty House official residences.

I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 20 November 2025, Official Report, PQ 90245.

With reference to the Commission for Public Appointments, Annual Report, 2024-25, p.41, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full dataset on the 67 individuals who declared political activity that is held by the Cabinet Office.

As was the case under previous governments, and in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments, the political activity of successful candidates is published by government departments as part of the public announcement regarding the appointment.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 74206, on Government Departments: Social Media, which external firms are used to procure social media influencers across government under CCS Framework RM6125 – Lot 1 End.

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach. Influencer work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125 While there were no immediate plans to release the guidance at the time of Question 70489, increased public interest in this topic has now led us to conclude that the public interest favours its release. I can confirm that the Guidance for Influencer Marketing will be placed in the House Library.

With reference to the Freedom of Information response by the Cabinet Office, Ref: FOI2025/18068, of 5 December 2025, if he will publish the Guidance for Influencer Marketing.

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach. Influencer work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125 While there were no immediate plans to release the guidance at the time of Question 70489, increased public interest in this topic has now led us to conclude that the public interest favours its release. I can confirm that the Guidance for Influencer Marketing will be placed in the House Library.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 70489 on Government Communication Service: Marketing, and with reference to paragraph 211 of the Cabinet Office Guide to Parliamentary Work, for what reason the information was released under the Freedom of Information Act but not disclosed to Parliament.

Influencers have proven to be effective in reaching audiences that traditional marketing channels find hard to reach. Influencer work is supported primarily via the agencies OmniGov and Pablo Unlimited via the Campaign Solutions 2 framework, detailed at the following link: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6125 While there were no immediate plans to release the guidance at the time of Question 70489, increased public interest in this topic has now led us to conclude that the public interest favours its release. I can confirm that the Guidance for Influencer Marketing will be placed in the House Library.

Whether Tim Allan has been recused on matters relating to (a) Sanctuary Counsel and (b) Thorndon Partners and (c) their clients.

Before joining the government, Mr Allan sought and received advice on his interests. He has followed every element of the advice received.

Pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2025, to Question 91376, and of 23 December 2025, to Question 99834, on Government Hospitality: Wines, and to the answer of 30 January 2025, to Question 26019, on Written Questions, if he will provide a relevant hyperlink to the transparency data for spending on Berry Bros since 4 July 2024 for (a) non-GPC transactions under £25,000 and (b) GPC transactions under £500, or otherwise place unpublished spending data in the Library.

Transparency publications are available and searchable here: https://www.gov.uk/government/government-efficiency-transparency-and-accountability

Whether Dale Vince was invited to receptions at Downing Street in (a) November and (b) December 2025.

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

Whether any (a) gifts and (b) hospitality he has received in a Ministerial capacity by Lord Alli have been (i) returned and (ii) refunded since July 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 26 November 2025, Official Report, PQ 92005.

Pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2025, to Question 93377, on Civil Service: Unpaid Work, who determines the main household earner in the case of an applicant with two different families where the parents have divorced or separated.

We use an applicant’s response to determine socio-economic background, including the occupation of the ‘main household earner’ when the applicant was 14 years old. This is in line with the guidance from the ONS and Social Mobility Commission.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025, to Question 99534, on Census: Costs, and the letter from the Permanent Secretary of 17 December 2025, whether there is a working estimate of the potential total cost of the 2031 Census programme in England and Wales; and what statistics UKSA or ONS hold on the outturn total cost of the 2021 Census in (a) England and Wales and (b) the United Kingdom, including the delayed Scottish Census.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 6th of January is attached.

What requirements Ministers have to declare details of overseas visits in government transparency returns, when meeting external organisations which are not foreign governments, when undertaking official travel overseas.

Ministers' Overseas Travel and Meetings: Publication Guidance, is available on GOV.UK It states that departments should include official meetings with external organisations held by ministers in the course of visits, including visits overseas (generally visits on their own are not included). Such guidance has been in place for successive administrations.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 April 2025, to Question HL6032, on Arms Length Bodies, whether there is an updated list of the new Arms Length bodies that have been announced since July 2024.

Since July 2024, 10 Arms Length Bodies have been announced to deliver the manifesto the Government was elected on.

Whether the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding between HMRC and the Cabinet Office has been updated since the introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018; and on what basis data transfers for honours probity checks continues.

As noted in our answer to PQ 92590, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Cabinet Office and HMRC was last updated in 2023. The Memorandum of Understanding, which is published in full on gov.uk, sets out the legal and lawful basis by which data is transferred. The 2023 Memorandum of Understanding is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sharing-hmrc-information-to-assist-honours-committees-recommendations/memorandum-of-understanding-accessing-hmrc-information-to-assist-honours-committees-in-making-recommendations-about-awarding-honours-to-individ

How many times the Resilience and Security Committee met between April 2024 and March 2025; and what the attendance record of each member was.

It is a long-established precedent that information about Cabinet and its Committees, including the discussions that have taken place, how often they have met and attendance, is not normally shared publicly. The list of standing members of the National Security Council (Resilience) Committee can be accessed on GOV.UK.

How many applications for the restoration of (a) honours and (b) medals have been received since February 2021; and how many have been granted.

Since 2021, there have been 24 applications received from, or on behalf of, LGBT Veterans who had forfeited medals. 9 of these cases were found to be eligible for restoration. There have been no applications for the restoration of honours.