Written questions by Wood.

With reference to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 77988 on Department for Education: Social Media, how much has been spent on influencers in aggregate since 4 July 2024; and on which campaigns and programmes.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the OCS invoice dated 6 November 2025 relating to the works on the 9 Downing Street media room.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122152 on Josh Simons, whether the Independent Adviser had access to the APCO Worldwide report commissioned by Labour Together.

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).

With reference to the Deposited Paper DEP2025-0353, committed on 6 June 2025, what the cost to the public purse was of the Prime Minister's domestic flights in 2025.

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, what plans he has to consult (a) permanent secretaries and (b) the First Division Association on proposed changes to Permanent Secretary terms of employment.

The Cabinet Secretary is introducing a new accountability and performance framework for Permanent Secretaries, designed to focus on delivering the Prime Minister's priorities and holding people to account for doing so. As part of this, objectives for Permanent Secretaries, underpinned by clear KPIs and expectations, will be agreed with Secretaries of State and reviewed regularly throughout the year. All SCS performance outcomes will be subject to Cabinet Office consistency checking. There are no proposed changes to the Permanent Secretary terms of employment. The Permanent Secretary model contract sets out that performance is subject to regular appraisal and review, and that assessment includes how policy of Ministers and the objectives of departments have been executed.

With reference to the Cabinet Secretary's objectives 2026-27 published on 7 April 2026, what steps the Cabinet Secretary plans to take to deliver her 2026-27 objective that the civil service retains the confidence of all political parties.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124839 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the OCS invoice for the works in the data for November 2025 is transaction (a) HZ820722, (b) HZ824136 and (c) HZ819861.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124834 on Intelligence and Security Committee: Press Releases, whether the uplift in resourcing to the Intelligence and Security Committee included resource to obtain legal advice on the Humble Address independent from (a) Cabinet Office legal advisers and (b) the Government Legal Service.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, whether his Department compiles statistics on the number of open consultations across Government.

Details of open and closed government consultations are published here.

With reference to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118531 on Peers, whether the Cabinet Office holds a desk note that is separate from the Governance Code on the processes to be followed for appointing political peerages by the Prime Minister.

For information regarding the appointment of peers, I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Prime Minister on 19 June 2025, Official Report, HCWS718.

With reference to the Council of the European Union's press release entitled EU-UK relations: Council greenlights talks on electricity and cohesion deals, and the UK’s participation in Erasmus+ for 2027, published on 30 March 2026, whether the UK will be required to contribute toward the EU's Cohesion Policy in relation to (a) Erasmus+ and (b) the energy and electricity provisions.

The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy,, alongside an electricity agreement. This is not a proposal by the Government. Following exploratory talks on an electricity agreement, we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the EU’s work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. Details are subject to negotiation, and we will not provide a running commentary.The UK anticipates that formal negotiations on electricity market participation will begin shortly. The agreement will come into force following the successful outcome of these negotiations.Association to Erasmus+ in 2027 will not involve a contribution towards the EU’s Cohesion Policy.

What types of information are routinely recorded from the Number 10 private office on the internal PMPost system for the official record.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 March 2026, Official Report, PQ 121754.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office during the Opposition Day debate on Lord Mandelson on 2 February 2025, Official Report, column 372, what was the name of the KC previously paid by the Cabinet Office to assist on the review into Lord Mandelson.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, if he will place in the Library the revised guidance issued to the Civil Service on consultation; and whether the Cabinet Office guidance on consultation principles will be amended.

All options are currently being considered to facilitate the removal of unnecessary consultation requirements. Where changes are made, revised guidance will be placed in the Library where appropriate, in line with standard procedure.

Whether UK (a) schools, (b) colleges, (c) universities and (d) teacher training institutions participating in the Erasmus+ programme will be required to follow the publicity requirements set out by the European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme: Model Grant Agreement, November 2024, section 17.2, Visibility — European flag and funding statement.

UK schools, colleges, universities and teacher training institutions participating in Erasmus+ will be required to follow any publicity requirements set out in their grant agreements. There is no requirement to fly the EU flag. Visibility requirements primarily relate to documents such as publicity and communications material about the funded activity. For example, a brochure about an Erasmus+ opportunity may need to acknowledge EU support by including the EU emblem and stating that it has been funded or co-funded by the EU. This applies whether funding is received from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency or via the UK’s National Agency and relates only to activities funded by Erasmus+.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 119406 on Ian Horobin, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of establishing a new convention covering the withdrawal of Government nominations to the peerage.

There is no established precedent of the Government withdrawing a peerage nomination after it has been announced. The Government has no plans to establish a new convention in relation to withdrawing a peerage nomination.

With reference to the EU press release, of 30 March 2026, EU-UK relations: Council greenlights talks on electricity and cohesion deals, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of these financial commitments in (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28.

The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy,, alongside an electricity agreement. This is not a proposal by the Government. Following exploratory talks on an electricity agreement, we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the EU’s work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. Details are subject to negotiation, and we will not provide a running commentary.The UK anticipates that formal negotiations on electricity market participation will begin shortly. The agreement will come into force following the successful outcome of these negotiations.Association to Erasmus+ in 2027 will not involve a contribution towards the EU’s Cohesion Policy.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Jonathan Powell was subject to security vetting (a) before or (b) after he was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on the Chagos negotiations.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Cabinet Office guidance entitled May 2026 Elections: guidance on conduct for civil servants, updated on 2 March 2026, has affected the timing of the publication of the Defence Investment Plan.

We will publish the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) when it is ready. It is essential that we take the time required to ensure decisions are robust and support the transformation of the Armed Forces outlined in the Strategic Defence Review. Once finalised, the DIP will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the appropriate Parliamentary procedures.

With reference to the EU press release entitled EU-UK relations: Council greenlights talks on electricity and cohesion deals, published on 30 March 2026, what the planned timetable is for (a) completion of the negotiations and (b) the agreements coming into force.

The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy,, alongside an electricity agreement. This is not a proposal by the Government. Following exploratory talks on an electricity agreement, we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the EU’s work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. Details are subject to negotiation, and we will not provide a running commentary.The UK anticipates that formal negotiations on electricity market participation will begin shortly. The agreement will come into force following the successful outcome of these negotiations.Association to Erasmus+ in 2027 will not involve a contribution towards the EU’s Cohesion Policy.