Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 117004, whether those provisions applied to the recent Cabinet Secretary recruitment process.

I refer to my answer 115556, the Cabinet Manual sets out that the Cabinet Secretary is appointed directly by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister receives advice from the First Civil Service Commissioner, but is the final decision maker. The announcement (here) explained that “this appointment was made following a full fair and open external competition, chaired by the First Civil Service Commissioner.” The announcement of the current Cabinet Secretary (here) explained that “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary. Once this process was complete, the First Civil Service Commissioner confirmed that Dame Antonia Romeo is an exceptional candidate of the highest calibre, having run two of the largest operational departments in Government, and confirmed her track record makes her the right candidate for the role.

For what reason Simon Case and Alex Chisholm were given differing exit payments.

I refer to my answer to 108238, as set out in the Cabinet Office accounts (page 86), the payment for the former Cabinet Secretary, Simon Case, was a severance payment, with the value calculated using the Civil Service Compensation Scheme tariff. In answer to the second part of your question, I refer to my answer to 112182. The Business Appointment Rules for Crown Servants set out that Permanent Secretaries are required to observe a three month waiting period, and the Rules set out that it may be appropriate to pay former civil servants who are required to observe a waiting period before taking up an external role.

If he will publish the creators’ template contract used by the Cabinet Office and its creative agency.

There are no plans to publish the contract template due to commercial sensitivities.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 116158 on Prime Minister: Press, whether the Parliamentary Press Gallery was (a) informally and (b) formally consulted before the afternoon lobby media briefings were abolished.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 10 March 2026, Official Report, PQ 116158.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson completed his register of interests form electronically.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Through what oral, written or electronic mechanism does the Prime Minister provide his feedback to Ministerial submissions in his daily box.

As has been the case under successive administrations, there are a range of different ways that ministers respond to advice.

For what reason Matthew Doyle was asked to undertake supplementary due diligence on Lord Mandelson being appointed as Ambassador, and whether the nature of Mr Doyle’s relationship with Mandelson was (a) declared or (b) considered as a potential conflict of interest.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

Whether the Cabinet Office or 10 Downing Street have asked former special advisers to provide material they personally hold as part of the return for the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, and whether the fact they have left Crown Service affects such requests.

I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

What the authorisation process is for starting a leak inquiry.

Permanent Secretaries can initiate leak inquiries in their respective departments, should their information be released in an unauthorised way. These are conducted by departmental security teams. For particularly serious leaks, or leaks of information held by more than one department, the decision to launch an inquiry sits with the Cabinet Secretary. Leak inquiries initiated by the Cabinet Secretary, or involving more than one department, are referred to the Government Security Group (GSG).

With reference to the guidance entitled Non-corporate communication channels for government business, published on 30 March 2023, whether his Department has any other information management policies.

In addition to the Non-Corporate Communications Channels (NCCC) guidance, Cabinet Office has the following relevant policies in force: An Information and Records Management Policy, and An Information and Records Retention and Destruction Policy.

If the Prime Minister will initiate a leak inquiry into the media reports of 12 March 2025 on the discussions in the National Security Council of 27 February, including who was responsible for the media briefings regarding the Air Chief Marshal.

The Government Security Group is conducting an inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of proceedings of the National Security Council, drawing on the full range of powers at their disposal. In line with normal practice, the Government does not comment on a live inquiry.

With reference to the entry for Global Counsel Limited, published on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme register, which special advisers since July 2024 were contacted by Global Counsel in relation to Qatar.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold this information.

Whether the Government response to the Humble Address will include records of phone calls made to Lord Mandelson’s mobile phone from Downing Street connected through the No10 switchboard.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.

How many staff work in the Cabinet Office Command Unit.

As of the 28th of February 2026 there is no “Command Unit” in the Cabinet Office structure.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to special advisers on using Google Docs.

Special advisers are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at all times. No specific guidance has been issued centrally from the Cabinet Office to special advisers on using Google Docs.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2025, to Question 118208, on Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee: Public Appointments, when the competition for the Parliamentary and Political Service honours Committee originally (a) opened and (b) closed; whether the competition for applicants has been reopened at any point; and how many places are still to be filled.

The Parliamentary and Political Service Independent Honours Committee Member recruitment campaign opened for competition on 21 October 2024, concluding on 11 November 2024. This campaign has not been reopened. There remains up to three active vacancies to be filled.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 115825 on Resolution Foundation, which (a) senior official and (b) Minister approved the award of the contact to the Resolution Foundation.

In her opening statement Baroness Hallett, the Chair to the Inquiry, stated that she will hear from expert groups with wide-ranging scientific and other expertise to ensure she has the widest and most diverse evidence possible in making her recommendations. This included drawing upon the knowledge of clinical experts, historians, social scientists, political scientists, data governance experts, statisticians and others.The C19SF08RF25 contract, which involves the analysis and input of 2 expert witnesses, was then procured and awarded in line with the procurement rules as well as Cabinet Office Commercial policies and procedures.

With reference to the speech Move fast. Fix things, delivered on 20 January 2026, whether Ministers will have the authority to prevent Senior Civil Servants subject to performance processes from taking up new posts secured through fair and open competition.

The Government is clear that issues surrounding underperformance in the Civil Service must be robustly managed and not left unaddressed. Any work undertaken does not conflict with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2026, to Question 117761 on Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure, whether the Prime Minister’s Office a Department in its own right.

The Prime Minister's Office is a business unit of the Cabinet Office.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was given the London Allowance after he was dismissed as Head of Mission and returned to the United Kingdom and before he left the Civil Service.

No.