Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20750, on Public Sector: Procurement, if he will publish (a) a list each stakeholder that was consulted, (b) the dates of the roundtable discussions including which organisations attended and (c) the online NPPS stakeholder survey; and whether there will wider public consultation.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications. The NPPS survey was available on gov.uk and received 436 responses including 114 from businesses and/or public sector suppliers, of which 56 identified as SME or VCSE organisations. A further 11 responses were received from Trade Associations representing the views of their wider business membership.

With reference to page 16 of the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025, published on 24 February 2022, what progress the Government has made on delivering the additional 50 Enterprise Advisers.

The action in the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 to deliver an additional 50 Enterprise Advisors has been met.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14712, on Honours: Public Appointments, at what stage was each of the honours competitions when they were closed and then re-opened; and whether there had there been (a) interviews and (b) shortlists of individual applicants.

PQ 14712 relates to three Honours Committee campaigns which were launched and closed in the summer of 2024: (i) Community and Voluntary Service (ii), Parliamentary and Political Service, and (iii) Diversity and Outreach (formerly called Representation and Outreach).For all three campaigns no applicants were shortlisted nor did any interviews take place before the campaigns were relaunched

Whether any suppliers to his Department have contractual terms and conditions requiring pricing reviews due to changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21348 on Departmental Responsibilities, whether Government departments produce internal Outcome Delivery Plans.

I refer the Honorable Member to the answer given to the Honorable Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 13 January 2025 (PQ UIN 21348).

Whether any private sector companies with contracts with his Department will receive higher payments to compensate for the increase in employer National Insurance contributions; and whether there are contractual obligations on passing on increased fees.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22198 on Civil Servants: Freedom of Information, what grade thresholds does the Government apply in Freedom of Information Act requests when determining whether a civil servant is sufficiently senior that a Section 40 exemption would not apply to the disclosure of their personal information.

All Freedom of Information requests are considered on their own merits in all circumstances.

Whether civil servants conducting email audits can review the email inboxes of (a) other civil servants and (b) special advisers.

The Cabinet Office does not routinely conduct email audits of its staff. Staff email inboxes cannot typically be accessed by colleagues without permission, but email data can be retrieved for security or HR purposes in exceptional circumstances.

If he will ensure that public appointments of Departmental non-executive directors publish declarations of interest.

The Cabinet Office, and indeed all departments with Non-Executive Board Members, will publish declarations of interest of departmental Non-Executive Board Members in accordance with the guidance which can be found on gov.uk.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.

We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade - within our clear red lines - because having a smooth trading relationship with European partners is essential to driving growth at home. This is one of the options we are open to looking at to reduce barriers, and it’s right and responsible that we are looking at it to determine what is in the UK’s national interest. But we do not currently have any plans to join PEM.

What the Government's policy is on dynamic alignment with the European Union.

We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties to deliver growth and security for the UK. We have been clear that there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.

What the Government's policy is on regulatory alignment with the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689).

The UK is committed to establishing a proportionate AI regulatory approach which is grounded in science and supports growth and innovation, in the UK’s national interest. As we develop our approach to regulating AI, we recognise the need to engage with a range of international partners.

What changes have been made to the guidance entitled Additional information on Exemptions, Thresholds, Expectations and Compliance, and Breaches of Spend Controls, updated on 20 January 2025.

Changes were made to the guidance entitled, Additional information on Exemptions, Thresholds, Expectations and Compliance, and Breaches of Spend Controls. These changes were to:Remove the text belowThreshold: Expenditure over £100,000 for the duration of the commitment (freehold acquisition cost or total rental expenditure to lease expiry)Replace with new text showing an increased threshold figure -Threshold: Expenditure over £500,000 for the duration of the commitment (freehold acquisition cost or total rental expenditure to lease expiry)All transactions of £1m per annum or over will require Ministerial approvalThese changes to the guidance were made to reflect changes to Cabinet Office controls which were made at the start of the 2023-24 financial year.

If he will ensure that Departmental public appointments publish declarations of interest.

The Cabinet Office, and indeed all departments with Non-Executive Board Members, will publish declarations of interest of departmental Non-Executive Board Members in accordance with the guidance which can be found on gov.uk.

Whether there is a data sharing agreement between his Department and HM Revenue and Customs on the work of (a) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards, (b) the Propriety and Ethics Team, (c) the Honours unit, and (d) the Public Appointments unit.

The Memorandum of Understanding between HMRC and the Cabinet Office for the purpose of accessing HMRC information to assist honours committees in making ​recommendations​​​​​ about awarding honours to individuals can be found here: 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 There is also a data sharing agreement in place between the Cabinet Office and HMRC as a departmental user of the Apply for a Public Appointment Service. As was the case under the previous administration, there is no specific data sharing agreement between HMRC and the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards or the Propriety and Ethics team. Data sharing between departments is considered on a case-by-case basis, in line with UK GDPR.

With reference to his Department's transparency data entitled Cabinet Office spend approvals: July to September 2024, published on 17 December 2024, who the payment with reference HMGP7103 is to; what the purpose is; and what period of time it covers.

The payment is to the landlord of offices occupied by government at 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ. The purpose is for payment of rent. It covers the time period of June 2024 to June 2025

Pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2024, to Question 21064, on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, if he will publish his Department's Commercial Transport Contract.

The Cabinet Office has a Contract in place with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM). CTM provides a travel booking service for Cabinet Office staff when travel is permitted for business reasons. Information on this Contract can be found at the following Contracts Finder link:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/da014209-47d7-4805-8097-e191d7d1077f?origin=SearchResults&p=1

How many and what proportion of the London properties managed by the Government Property Agency have shared-space gender-neutral toilets.

This information is not held centrally.

When the Cabinet Office board operating framework was last updated; and if he will place a copy in the Library of the House.

The Board Operating Framework was last updated in December 2023. As was the case under the previous administration, it is not standard practice for this to be published as this is an internal document.

If he will list the members of the (a) Nominations Committee, (b) Investment Committee, (c) People and Operations Committee and (d) Resilience and Security Committee.

The Nominations Committee currently has no members. Recruitment for Non-Executive Board Members is currently underway. Members of the Investment Committee are as follows: Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office, Chief Operating Officer to the Cabinet Office, Chief Financial Officer to the Cabinet Office, Cabinet Office Commercial Director, Cabinet Office Chief Digital and Information Officer, Cabinet Office Chief People Officer and Cabinet Office Strategy Director. Members of the People & Operations Committee are as follows: Cabinet Office Chief Operating Officer, Government Chief Property Officer, Cabinet Office Chief People Officer, Cabinet Office Chief Digital and Information Officer, Cabinet Office SCS Diversity & Inclusion Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Race Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Gender Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Disability Champion, Cabinet Office SCS Social Mobility Champion, Cabinet Office Strategy Director, National Security Strategy Director, Civil Service Strategy Director, Functional Strategy, Performance and Capability Director, Joint Intelligence Organisation Director. Members of the Resilience and Security Committee are as follows: Cabinet Office Chief Operating Officer, Director General Propriety and Constitution, Group, Government Chief Security Officer, Cabinet Office Chief Digital and Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer to the Cabinet Office, Government Digital Service Chief Information Security Officer, Government Property Agency Chief Operating Officer, Cabinet Office Commercial Director, Intelligence and Security Director, Propriety and Ethics Director, No10 Corporate Services Deputy Director, Chief Digital Information Officer Crown Commercial Service