Written questions by Wood.

What the grades were of the staff that supported the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards with his review into the hon. Member for Hampstead and Highgate; and which divisions those staff work in.

I refer the hon Member to the answer provided on 17 September 2024 (UIN 4672). The secretariat team supporting the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, continues to be part of the Propriety & Ethics directorate and is led by a Senior Civil Servant. As set out in his advice to the Prime Minister, published on 14 January 2025, Sir Laurie undertook an exercise to establish the facts in line with his terms of reference as the Prime Minister’s Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

If he will list each (a) external organisation and (b) individual that Morgan McSweeney has met in a government capacity since July 2024.

In line with longstanding process, relevant meetings are declared in the Special Advisor transparency publications.

Whether his policy on special adviser pay has changed since 6 October 2024.

There have been small changes to the special advisor pay policy since 6 October 2024. Details of special advisers Costs and Salaries will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers later in the year.

What representations 10 Downing Street has received from (a) Global Counsel and (b) Lord Mandelson on (i) the European Union and (ii) China since 4 July 2024.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21405 on Cabinet Office: Senior Civil Servants, if he will provide a hyperlink.

The hyperlink to the GOV.UK announcement for the the Second Permanent Secretary for EU and International Economic Affairs can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-second-permanent-secretary-appointed-to-the-cabinet-office

Whether the Prime Minister plans to hold a Bandi Chor reception in Downing Street.

Details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.

What his policy is on displaying artwork in 10 Downing Street of people associated with the slave trade.

This policy remains the same as under the former government.

If he will make it his policy to reduce the (a) number and (b) cost of arms length bodies.

The Chancellor has launched Phase 2 of the Spending Review which will zero-base all spending, including arm’s length bodies (ALBs), conducting a full line-by-line review of all public spending to assess whether it is a priority for this government and represents value for money for the taxpayer. Building on the 2% productivity, efficiency, and savings target the government set departments in Phase 1 of the Spending Review, departments and ALBs are expected in Phase 2 to identify a minimum of 5% savings against their day-to-day spending, freeing up funding to achieve the government’s priorities. The Spending Review will conclude on 11 June 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 7438 on Prime Minister: Senior Civil Servants, for what reason his Department opened a competition for a Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister, reference 378767 on the Civil Service jobs website.

The Cabinet Office ran an open and fair recruitment campaign for the role of Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the civil service.

The Cabinet Office and HM Treasury are continuing to work with departments on plans to improve effectiveness and efficiency in the Civil Service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services. Further detail on this work will be provided at Spending Review, due to conclude in Spring 2025.

With reference to the European Commission press release, entitled Commission decides to refer the United Kingdom to the Court of Justice of the European Union for its implementation of EU law on free movement impacting the Withdrawal Agreement, published on 16 December 2024, how he plans to respond to the legal proceedings being brought by the European Commission against the United Kingdom in the European Court of Justice.

The EU Commission referred the UK to the European Court of Justice on 20 December 2024. It is right that the Government now reviews the points raised and will respond in due course. We are committed to the full and faithful implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and will fulfil our obligations arising from the Agreement.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 14969 on Public Appointments, whether direct Ministerial appointments require the consent of the Prime Minister.

In line with Cabinet Office guidance, the Prime Minister’s Office are consulted on all direct ministerial appointments.

How many days per week the Prime Minister has resided at Chequers since his appointment.

As has been the practice under successive Governments, the Prime Minister uses Chequers consistent with the wishes of the donor, who gave it to the nation for the use of the Prime Minister. Chequers is available to the Prime Minister for both official and private use.

How much has been spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of the Prime Ministerial residence in Downing Street since 22 May 2024; and on what items this was spent.

Any associated costs would be detailed in the next Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

If he will publish the letter from the Prime Minister to regulators on pro-growth initiatives; and whether a deadline was set for responses.

A private letter from the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Business and Trade was sent to economic regulators which asked for improvements to regulation to deliver on the Government's growth mission at the end of December. The Chancellor then hosted a roundtable with the CEOs of key regulators to discuss this on the 16th January. A press release of their meeting is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/chancellor-calls-on-watchdog-bosses-to-tear-down-regulatory-barriers-that-hold-back-growth

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, if he will commission a public review into the potential impact of the delivery of that Plan’s milestones on areas of public policy not covered in that Plan.

The Plan for Change sets out clear and transparent milestones, and our plan to achieve them. These milestones will allow the public to track our progress and hold the government to account for their delivery. We will deliver the government’s manifesto while relentlessly pursuing these milestones.

With reference to the document entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, what criteria his Department plans to use to assess the progress made on each of the Government's five key missions; and how frequently the Government plans to update Parliament on the status of each mission.

The Plan for Change sets out clear and transparent milestones, and our plan to achieve them. These milestones will allow the public to track our progress and hold the government to account for their delivery. Missions are data-driven; a range of published sources offer insights on progress.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, if his Department will publish an annual cost analysis of each of the five milestones.

Decisions on government spending relating to the Plan for Change, will continue to be announced in the usual way. Departments are already required to report on their financial statements and review their activities and performance in their Annual Reports and Accounts.

How many transactions were referred to his Department under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 have involved organisations with links to the Chinese (a) state and (b) Community Party since 5 July 2024; and how many and what proportion of these transactions were approved.

The Government publishes an annual report on the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, with information about the transactions that it has been notified about and those it subsequently called in for a full national security assessment. The reports include the percentage of accepted notifications, call-in notices issued, final notifications issued and the number of withdrawals from a called in acquisition and final orders issued by origin of investment. The NSI Annual Report 2023-24 was published on 10 September 2024. The period from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 will be covered in the next annual report, which will be published later this year.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Plan for Change, published on 5 December 2024, CP1210, whether his Department plans to have an independent audit of the plan's performance metrics.

The Plan for Change sets out clear and transparent milestones, and our plan to achieve them. These milestones will allow the public to track our progress and hold the government to account for their delivery.