Written questions by Wood.

Whether he has had recent discussions with the European Union on payments to the EU for participation in Security Action for Europe.

UK negotiations with the EU on a bilateral agreement to facilitate UK participation in the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument concluded last year. The UK entered negotiations in good faith, recognising our mutual strategic interest and commitment to work with the EU on defence. However, this Government has always been clear that we will only sign agreements that are in the national interest - in this case we were unable to reach an agreement that passed that test. While it is disappointing that we were not able to positively conclude discussions, the UK’s defence industry continues to have access to SAFE under standard third country terms.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 99529 on Civil Service: Redundancy, what indicative figures his Department holds per public body on exits.

Thank you for your question. I refer to the Minister without Portfolio’s s answer PQ 82675.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 92002 on UK Integrated Security Fund: Equality, whether spending on transgender equality qualifies as a gender objective for the purposes of the General Equality and Social Inclusion markers.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) markers are based on two pillars – 1) Gender Equality and 2) Social Inclusion. The Integrated Security Fund (ISF) uses GESI markers to support the promotion of GESI across ISF programming. It is based on the recognition that gender is one of multiple factors of marginalisation, and that this can be exacerbated by hostile actors. Other characteristics that can similarly be targeted include, but are not limited to, age, disability status, race or sexual orientation.

What guidance is given to NHS Trusts on adequate family notification and information sharing, in cases where patients are transferred between hospitals and trusts.

NHS England has a range of guidance online relating to communicating with patients, and the sharing of medical records for direct care. NHS England continues to support the secure sharing of patient information to improve safety, reduce the duplication of tests, and support patient choice. Programmes such as Connecting Care Records are designed to enable appropriate access to patient information across organisational boundaries.In the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan there is a commitment to create a Single Patient Record (SPR). The SPR will provide a single, secure, and up to date record that brings together health and care information so clinicians can access the appropriate information they need, wherever a patient receives care. This will help reduce the delays caused by missing information, and clinicians working with incomplete histories. Subject to parliamentary timetables, the SPR will begin rolling out from 2028, starting with maternity and frailty.The National Health Service is taking a digital-first approach to patient communications, to ensure seamless and effective communications with patients and families. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/digital-first-messagingThere is no specific guidance relating to ensuring correspondence relating to a child is sent to the correct addresses, as this relates to ensuring the accuracy of records which runs throughout the guidance both produced by NHS England, and the professional bodies.NHS England’s Policy and Guidance Manual for Primary Medical Services provide standard operating processes for general practice registration and include specific guidance when registering a child and the circumstances in which safeguarding guidance should be followed. This essentially underlines a “think family” approach and states an adult with parental responsibility should normally be registered at the practice with the child. Further information on NHS England’s Policy and Guidance Manual for Primary Medical Services is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/primary-medical-services-policy-and-guidance-manual-pgm-2/

What steps (a) his Department and (b) NHS England is taking to improve communication between (i) NHS Trusts and families and (ii) different Trusts in cases where patients are transferred between (A) hospitals and (B) trusts.

NHS England has a range of guidance online relating to communicating with patients, and the sharing of medical records for direct care. NHS England continues to support the secure sharing of patient information to improve safety, reduce the duplication of tests, and support patient choice. Programmes such as Connecting Care Records are designed to enable appropriate access to patient information across organisational boundaries.In the Government’s 10-Year Health Plan there is a commitment to create a Single Patient Record (SPR). The SPR will provide a single, secure, and up to date record that brings together health and care information so clinicians can access the appropriate information they need, wherever a patient receives care. This will help reduce the delays caused by missing information, and clinicians working with incomplete histories. Subject to parliamentary timetables, the SPR will begin rolling out from 2028, starting with maternity and frailty.The National Health Service is taking a digital-first approach to patient communications, to ensure seamless and effective communications with patients and families. Further information is available at the following link:https://digital.nhs.uk/about-nhs-digital/digital-first-messagingThere is no specific guidance relating to ensuring correspondence relating to a child is sent to the correct addresses, as this relates to ensuring the accuracy of records which runs throughout the guidance both produced by NHS England, and the professional bodies.NHS England’s Policy and Guidance Manual for Primary Medical Services provide standard operating processes for general practice registration and include specific guidance when registering a child and the circumstances in which safeguarding guidance should be followed. This essentially underlines a “think family” approach and states an adult with parental responsibility should normally be registered at the practice with the child. Further information on NHS England’s Policy and Guidance Manual for Primary Medical Services is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/primary-medical-services-policy-and-guidance-manual-pgm-2/

Pursuant to the answer of 4 December 2025 to Question 94710 on Office for National Statistics: Buildings, what the most recent statistics held by the Office for National Statistics are for the (a) daily average number of employees attending the workplace in their assigned building and (b) absolute number of employees assigned to the building by workplace.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 20th February is attached.

Innovation and Technology, what estimate she has made of central government efficiency savings to be made from AI over the Spending Review period.

The Government is already investing heavily in AI to drive efficiency and productivity. In the recent Spending Review, we committed £1.2 billion of funding in digital and AI across public services.Work undertaken by the Office for Value for Money at SR25 identified total annual efficiency gains of almost £14bn by 2028-29, of which the Government expects digital to contribute a substantial portion of this. Some individual departments have already set efficiency targets covering the Spending Review period. The Home Office has outlined efficiency gains of £533 million per year by 2028-29, partly driven through increased automation, whilst the Ministry of Justice targets £356 million per year by the same period through AI adoption and the use of technology for offender management in the community.The Government Digital Service (GDS) will work with HM Treasury to measure central government departments’ contributions to this by tracking the digital efficiencies they’ve identified in their delivery plans by the end of the spending review period. GDS will also draw on productivity and efficiency information from across the public sector to understand how government is driving wider efficiency.

Pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 98587 on Civil Servants: Political Impartiality, if he will publish the Staff Network Policy.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided by the Rt. Hon. Member for Redcar to 95650, which was answered on 9th December.

How many people attended each CEO Community Call in the last 12 months; and what the cost was in staff time.

Since February 2025 there have been three CEO Community Calls. The Chief Executive Officer level attendees numbered 24, 27 and 54. There is no dedicated staff for this work, as the calls were delivered as part of the range of events and services offered by the public sector leadership team.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 December 2025 to Question 100339 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the invoice has now been received.

I refer the Hon. Member to Cabinet Office transparency data, available on GOV.UK.

How many full time equivalent staff work on his Department's Public Bodies Team.

The work on public bodies is taken forward by the Civil Service Strategy Unit, which comprises approximately 50 people. CSSU deploys its people flexibly across the government’s civil service reform priorities, including public bodies, rather than being a single standing Public Bodies Team. This facilitates join-up across the Productive and Agile State policy landscape and means the right policy, analytical and functional expertise can be deployed to an area when needed.

With reference to the press release entitled Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether EU students studying in the UK will be eligible for student loans.

Both inbound and outbound students on an Erasmus+ placement are exempt from tuition and registration fees at their host institution.As the UK has left the EU, EU nationals are treated as international students when having started courses on or after 1 August 2021. This provides clarity as to which persons are eligible to access home fee status and student finance.For EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members covered by citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreements, they will continue to have access to student support and home fee status in England for the duration of their course, subject to meeting the residency requirements.

With reference to the press release entitled Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether EU students will pay different levels of university fees compared to UK students studying in the UK.

Both inbound and outbound students on an Erasmus+ placement are exempt from tuition and registration fees at their host institution.As the UK has left the EU, EU nationals are treated as international students when having started courses on or after 1 August 2021. This provides clarity as to which persons are eligible to access home fee status and student finance.For EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members covered by citizens’ rights under the Withdrawal Agreements, they will continue to have access to student support and home fee status in England for the duration of their course, subject to meeting the residency requirements.

How many (a) EU and (b) UK students participated in the Erasmus programme in each of the last ten years that the UK participated.

The information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2024 to Question 12231 on 10 Downing Street: Artworks, what the status is of the conservation work on the portrait of Horatio Nelson; and whether it has been reinstated in 10 Downing Street.

The Government Art Collection website has all artworks belonging to the Collection and their current location. It is possible to search for all artworks in a specific location.

Whether the Prime Minister has received any coaching in foreign languages funded by the Government since July 2024.

No.

What the dress code is for staff in Downing Street.

Staff are required to dress appropriately for their roles.

Whether the Prime Minister had a formal meeting with Palantir during his visit (a) with Lord Mandelson to their offices and (b) to the White House.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given on the 16 September 2025, Official Report, PQ 77563, and to the press release entitled "PM meeting with President Trump: 27 February 2025", available on gov.uk

Pursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 110416 on Government Departments: Publicity, whether she plans to remove the HM reference in the public branding of (a) HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and (b) HM Passport Office.

Section 54(1) of the Police Act 1996 sets out that Inspectors are known as HM Inspectors of Constabulary and there are no plans to change this.There are no plans for HM Passport Office to remove the “HM” reference from its public branding.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104623 on Cabinet Office: Proof of Identity, whether other government departments will be required to make savings to help fund the digital ID scheme.

As per the answer provided by the Hon. Member for Makerfield on 19 January, the policy remains in development, with a dedicated team inside the Cabinet Office working to develop the proposals. The Government has now launched a public consultation on making public services work for you with your digital identity. We are inviting the public to be part of a national conversation on how we can make it trusted, useful and inclusive. We will focus on use cases that are most impactful for the public. Cost savings and efficiency will help determine our areas of focus.