Written questions by Wood.

Further to the PCS press release entitled PCS industrial action escalated at ONS, published on 7 August 2025, what steps are being taken by the Office of National Statistics in response to the zero-office attendance policy.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 July 2025 to Question 63325 on Armed Forces Day: Flags, whether 10 Downing Street flew the Armed Forces Day flag on Armed Forces Day in June 2025.

The Armed Forces flag was flown in Downing Street for Armed Forces Day.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 July 2025 to Question 62992 on Civil Servants: Media and Public Speaking, what representations has the Cabinet Office received in relation to the new guidance on civil servants speaking in public.

Three FOIs, two PQs and a number of letters have been received regarding the guidance in question.

Pursuant to the Answers of 4 July 2025 to Question 63007 on Government Departments: Equality and of 12 June 2025 to Question 54833 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Equality, whether he considers the appointment of the Diversity and Inclusion Manager in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to be consistent with the application of the ban on standalone Equality, Diversity and Inclusion roles.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance requires that departments consider whether any standalone EDI related roles should be incorporated into broader HR. Recruitment is a delegated matter where departments make their own decisions to reflect their individual circumstances.

Which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments utilise the rooms in 26 Whitehall.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) now occupy 26 Whitehall.Their Ministers are listed below:Liz Kendall MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology (Chair)Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and InnovationIan Murray MP, Minister of StateKanishka Narayan MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of StateLiz Lloyd, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Digital Economy)

Pursuant to the Answer of (a) 17 July 2025 to Question 62333 on Cabinet Office: Electronic Purchasing Card Solutio and (b) 15 July 2025, to Question 66656 on Government Hospitality: Wines, for what reason wine was procured from Berry Bros rather than from the Government Wine Cellar.

A small stock is held to offer to dignitaries and visitors at short notice. This purchase was made when the stock was found to be empty. Any hospitality purchases for these occasions are made with value-for-money for the taxpayer as a priority.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 41438 on Government Departments: Conditions of Employment, whether his Department has issued guidance on the use of (a) zero hour contracts and (b) contingent labour.

The Cabinet Office has not issued guidance on (a) zero hours contracts as the Department does not use this method of employment for Cabinet Office employees. In respect of (b) Contingent labour for Cabinet Office, guidance is published as part of the wider Cabinet Office Recruitment Controls.

With reference to the award of Contract_17123 for the Test, Learn and Grow Strategic Delivery Partner, what portion of the contract is retained by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd in (a) management fees, (b) commission and (c) administrative charges.

The Cabinet Office appointed Bloom Procurement Services Ltd as a Strategic Sourcing Partner for the Professional Services Category in September 2023, under the previous government. A Managed Services Fee of 5% is applicable for all Work Orders procured through this framework. The Cabinet Office procured this contract following a full options analysis and value for money exercise of all potential routes to market.

With reference his Department's transparency data entitled Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - April 2025 (Cabinet Office Core), updated on 26 June 2025, what the purpose was of the £979.20 spending with Manchester Pride.

As explained in the answer to PQ65788 on 15th July 2025 a maximum budget of £8,500 was approved for spend to support the Civil Service presence at a number of Pride events across the UK of which £7,395 has been spent. The £979.20 spend listed in the data published on 26 June 2025 related to fees for corporate participation in Manchester Pride and was part of the £7,395 spend referenced in that response to PQ65788.

What the status is of his Department's Gender Identity and Intersex guidance; and whether his Department has currently operational guidance in this area.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Reigate on Tuesday 21 January 2025 (UIN 23677, tabled on 13 January 2025).

If he will publish the register of interests for the National Security Adviser.

Interests deemed relevant for publication for special advisers in No10 and the Cabinet Office are published on an annual basis by the Cabinet Office. The 24/25 Publication of Relevant Special Adviser Interests can be found here.

Whether he plans to publish an annual written statement on charges incurred by Departments for the use of official government cars for Ministers.

The annual written statement on charges incurred by departments for the use of official government cars for Ministers ceased in 2018 under the previous administration. There are no plans to resume it.

Whether the Government Property Agency provides free tampons in (a) female and (b) male toilets.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) provides free tampons in female toilets at Birmingham, 23 Stephenson Street, Nottingham, Apex Court, London, 70 Whitehall and Coventry, Cheylesmore House. Tampons are not provided by the GPA in any male toilets.

If he will update the About us section of the National Security and Intelligence webpage on gov.uk.

The “about us” section of the National Security and Intelligence webpage will be updated shortly.

Pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2025, to Question 53205, on Intelligence and Security Committee, whether the Prime Minister will meet with the Intelligence and Security Committee before the summer recess.

The Prime Minister met the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) on 14 July. The Prime Minister was pleased to have the opportunity to reset the relationship between the Government and the ISC, and discuss a range of important issues pertaining to national security and the Committee’s remit.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 60489 on Universities: Fees and Charges, whether young people from EU member states coming to the UK under the proposed UK-EU youth mobility scheme would pay international student fees.

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. Any scheme will be time-limited and capped, and we have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The primary purpose of a youth mobility scheme is cultural exchange and to give young people opportunities to experience life overseas on a temporary basis. We have not agreed to offer home fee status to EU students. Most new EU students who were not lawfully resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 pay international fees.

With reference to the guidance entitled Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, what the Cross-Civil Service Pride funding was spent on; and which suppliers were used.

The £8,500 funding listed in the data published on 30 May 2025 was the maximum approved budget. The current spend is £7,395. This money supported staff to participate in a number of Pride events across the UK. Naming supplier organisations may breach commercial agreements between the department and suppliers. All purchasing followed Cabinet Office guidance appropriate to the level of spend.

What progress has been made on appointing the new Conservative political member for the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

The appointment of political members to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) is a decision for the Prime Minister following nomination from the relevant Party with a vacancy. A decision on the appointment of a Conservative member to the Committee will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Whether the National Security Adviser is (a) secretary of the National Security Council, (b) head of the National Security Secretariat and (c) Principal Accounting Officer for the Single Intelligence Account.

The role of secretary to the National Security Council is fulfilled by the Deputy National Security Advisers. The Executive Deputy National Security Adviser is the corporate head of the National Security Secretariat. The Cabinet Secretary is the Principal Accounting Officer for the Single Intelligence Account.

With reference to the written ministerial statement of 19 June 2025, HCWS718, on House of Lords Appointments, whether the Prime Minister has a numerical target for the number of peerages that he will invite from HOLAC in each year of this Parliament.

As set out in the Prime Minister’s recent statement, the Prime Minister will continue to invite nominations from the House of Lords Appointments Commission for individuals to sit as Crossbench peers. Future appointments will be announced in the usual way. The number of nominations that HOLAC can make is a matter for the Prime Minister.