Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 January 2025 to Question 21399 on Cabinet Office: Staff, how many staff were employed on EU relations before they were transferred to the EU Relations Secretariat.

Around 50 members of staff moved from the FCDO to the Cabinet Office on 6 November 2024 to continue work on EU relations. These officials have come together with the existing EU National Security Secretariat and Windsor Framework teams to form the new European Union Relations Secretariat. The data on this headcount will be published in due course.

How many stocktakes the Prime Minister has attended; and with which Ministers.

Missions are a personal priority for the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister chairs regular stocktakes on missions.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the Public Bodies 2023 data tool remains operable in the future; and whether the 2023 dataset will be in searchable in the National Archives.

The Cabinet Office is currently exploring with National Archives whether it is appropriate to publish the dataset from the 2022/23 Financial Year on the National Archive’s Transfer Digital Records service. Regardless, the ALB Landscape 2023 will remain online and accessible on gov.uk.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 12 November 2024 to Question HL1945 on USA: Elections, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact on US-UK relations of the letter of 22 October 2024 to the Federal Election Commission from Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. on Labour Party involvement in the Presidential elections.

Party political matters are not for the Government to address. As the Prime Minister has said the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership. The Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary look forward to working with President Trump, to continue our shared mission to ensure the prosperity and security of two great nations.

Whether (a) her Department and (b) HMRC have produced a Tax Information and Impact Note for the changes to the Treatment of double cab pick up vehicles outlined in paragraph 5.91 of the Autumn Budget 2024 Red Book.

Following recent case law from 2020, double cab pick up vehicles (DCPU) with a payload of one tonne or more must be treated as cars, based on primary use. In the light of this judgement, the government would have to legislate to treat DCPUs as goods vehicles. The government has made clear it does not intend to do so as this would depart from the principles underpinning the Court of Appeal’s judgement and would incur significant fiscal cost, which is not affordable, given the state of the public finances inherited by this Government. In accordance with standard practice, a tax information and impact note is only published when legislative changes are made.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New Permanent Under-Secretary Appointed at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, published on 8 January 2025, whether the new Permanent Under-Secretary has made a declaration of political activity; and if he will publish the Permanent Under-Secretary’s declared financial interests.

As per the normal appointment process to the Senior Civil Service, the Permanent under-Secretary at FCDO was asked to complete a standard SCS declaration of interest form. As set out in the guidance on SCS declaration of interests (here), departments must ensure relevant interests of their Permanent Secretary and other SCS on their Board are declared in their Annual Reports and Accounts.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 22996 on Ministers: Questionnaires, what assessment he has made of the (a) efficiency and (b) effectiveness of his Department's Propriety and Ethics team.

All teams within the Cabinet Office are subject to the department's performance management processes.

Whether mitie will be compensated through higher payments for the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions.

The Chancellor made an announcement at the Autumn Budget setting out that the rate of employer National Insurance Contributions (NICs) will increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025. Raising revenue to fund public services and restore fiscal stability requires difficult decisions on tax, which is why the Government is asking employers to contribute more. HM Treasury has not provided additional funding to departments to compensate private companies holding public contracts. This is in line with the precedent from the last increase to employer NICs: the Health and Social Care Levy.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2025, to Question 20957 on Government departments: communication and public consultation, if she will list the (a) Department, (b) theme and (c) estimated saving of each of the campaigns (i) that were cancelled, (ii) continuing with reduced budgets and (iii) aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%.

There are currently no plans to publish this list in detail.The comprehensive communications Spending Review identified 39 campaigns that were cancelled, 46 campaigns continuing with reduced budgets and 46 campaigns aiming to reduce their expenditure by 25%.The combined savings from these measures total £85 million in 2024-25 and up to £96 million in 2025-26.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 21059 on Ministry of Justice: Video Recordings, if she will publish the mandatory refresher training for the Communications Directorate.

The training materials are owned by the central Government Communications Service (GCS) Skills and Standards team and are available on the GCS website for communication professionals across government. The team in the GCS will be delivering propriety and ethics training for Ministry of Justice Communications staff in a hybrid in-person/virtual meeting using these materials.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 January 2025 to Question 21059 on Ministry of Justice: Video Recordings, whether disciplinary action is being undertaken for that video.

The Ministry of Justice takes all matters related to breaches in propriety and ethics policies very seriously, and in this instance, usual processes for checking the accuracy and appropriateness of social media posts were not followed properly. While we cannot comment on specific internal disciplinary actions, all staff involved have been spoken to and reminded of their responsibility to uphold the Civil Service Code.In addition to our usual mandatory training on the Civil Service Code and propriety and ethics, the Government Communications Service Skills and Standards team will deliver refresher training to the Ministry of Justice Communications Directorate, and all new staff joining the team will be required to complete the training within the first two weeks of employment.

Whether she discussed China’s participation in the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme with the Chinese government during her visit to China.

As the government’s Security Minister has confirmed in Parliament, work is under way to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme enhanced tier.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 7438 on Prime Minister: Senior Civil Servants, what the criteria was that the Cabinet Secretary used to select which candidates for the Principle Private Secretary position to recommend to the Prime Minister.

The advertised criteria set out in the Principal Private Secretary candidate pack was used to select candidates to recommend to the Prime Minister.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) senior officials and (b) special advisers had discussions with President Trump's transition team following his election in 2024.

It is the long-standing practice of successive governments not to comment on matters of national security and private diplomatic meetings.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 21406 on BBC: Employers’ Contribution, whether the BBC will receive government support for departments and other public sector employers for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions costs.

There are no plans to provide the BBC with government support for additional Employer National Insurance Contributions. Details of the funding set aside for 2025-26, including its allocation, will be published in due course.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled New Permanent Under-Secretary Appointed at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, published on 8 January 2025, whether the new Permanent Under-Secretary was appointed through open and fair competition.

The appointment of the new Permanent Under-Secretary was made by the Foreign Secretary with the approval of the Prime Minister. This was with the agreement, and in accordance with the rules, of the Civil Service Commission.

With reference to the letter from the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards to the Prime Minister of 14 January 2025, what information his Department holds on whether the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards (a) held oral discussions and (b) corresponded with the Bangladeshi Anti-Corruption Commission during his investigation.

The Independent Adviser’s advice to the Prime Minister regarding Tulip Siddiq MP and the fact-finding exercise undertaken was published on 14 January 2025 and is available on GOV.UK. As is set out in the Independent Adviser’s terms of reference, “Information provided to the Independent Adviser for the purposes of their functions is provided in confidence” (paragraph 4.2).

How many domestic airmiles the Prime Minister has travelled on official business since 5 July 2024.

The Government publishes details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel on gov.uk, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals). As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

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.

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.