Written questions by Wood.

With reference to his Department's policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding, updated on 22 December 2025, whether he intends that the Government will make additional financial contributions to the European Union related to the provision of services through entry and temporary stay of natural persons for business purposes.

The UK and EU have agreed to set up dedicated dialogues on short term business mobility and the recognition of professional qualifications. This will create a forum for us to address mobility barriers faced by UK services providers in the EU. This will not involve a financial contribution to the European Union.

With reference to his renegotiation of EU agreements, what is his policy on (a) asymmetric or (b) symmetric early termination payments, payable (i) by the United Kingdom if it terminates early and (ii) by the European Union if they terminate early.

The details of any agreements, including specific clauses, are subject to ongoing negotiations with the EU. We will not provide a running commentary on the progress of those negotiations, although I would note termination provisions are routine in international agreements.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 January 2025 to Question 104163 on Public Appointments: Political Impartiality, which public body holds the data on past political activity held in the Public Appointments Digital Service online application database.

The Public Appointments Digital Service is operated by the Cabinet Office. As set out in the service’s privacy notice, the Cabinet Office, Office for the Commissioner of Public Appointments and the recruiting government department are joint data controllers for the political activity data held within the service.

Whether Ministers in his Department have received coaching in a foreign language funded by his Department since July 2024.

No Cabinet Office Ministers have received any coaching in foreign languages funded by the department since July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 92580 if he will list the 39 business cases that were approved.

Due to commercial sensitivities, business case titles not covered by the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP) are not published. All projects and programmes on the GMPP must publish a Summary, Full, or Programme Business Case on GOV.UK within four months of receiving HM Treasury approval. A copy must also be deposited in the House of Commons Library.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104160 on Publications: Gender, which publishers were assessed but not included in the inclusion list.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of PQ108665. There are currently no plans to publish the full list of publications assessed under the SAFE framework as the area remains subject to ongoing policy development. Premature publication of the inclusion list would have negative impacts.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 November 2025 to Question 86666 on Government Departments: Advertising, and with reference to paragraph 223 of his Department's publication entitled Guide to Parliamentary Work, updated on 19 November 2024, if he will set out the public interest basis for not disclosing the full list of publications assessed under the SAFE framework.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer of PQ108665. There are currently no plans to publish the full list of publications assessed under the SAFE framework as the area remains subject to ongoing policy development. Premature publication of the inclusion list would have negative impacts.

How much his Department has spent on X premium, and on which tier, in the last 12 months.

The Cabinet Office has spent £302.40 on X premium for two subscriptions in the last 12 months. (i) COBR’s National Situation Centre paid for its National Security Watchkeepers to access the X-Premium+ service X Pro. The National Security Watchkeepers use X Pro, and other tools, to monitor open source information to identify national security and civil contingencies risks. (ii) Fast Stream and Emerging Talent spent £100.80 on X Premium membership in FY25/26. This was mainly because it provides access to an analytics dashboard, not available on the free version, to monitor campaign effectiveness. It also allows for longer posts, enabling us to better engage with our target audience. This membership will not be renewed for the next financial year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2026 to Question HL13333 on Cabinet Office: Migrant Workers, if he will list the countries of origin of the 39 civil servants with skilled worker visas.

The countries of origin for the 39 Civil Servants with skilled worker visas are: AustraliaIndiaKenyaNew ZealandNigeriaPakistan

With reference to the new Announcements: Direct Ministerial Appointments portal, and the entry for the Head of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit and Expert Adviser on Delivery of 6 January 2026, if he will publish equivalent information, including remuneration, for (a) the Prime Minister’s Chief Economic Advisor and (b) the Prime Minister’s Education Adviser.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 24 February 2026, Official Report, PQ HL13416.

With reference to his speech of 20 January 2026, entitled Move fast. Fix things, what the grade and definition is of a top senior civil servant; and who will undertake the assessments that indicators have been met.

The delivery objectives of all Senior Civil Servants should be linked to the objectives of the department and minister they serve. Their performance against these objectives is assessed by their line manager.

What changes he plans to make to the cash bonus criteria for civil service servants.

Pay and reward arrangements below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), including the operation of non-consolidated performance pay (cash bonuses), are delegated to individual departments to determine within the parameters set out in the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. Pay for the SCS is subject to an independent pay review body process. The 2026-27 Pay Remit Guidance for delegated grades will be published in due course. For the SCS, the Government will respond to the Senior Salaries Review Body after it has received its report for 2026-27.

Whether he plans to update the Announcements: Direct Ministerial Appointments portal with details of current post-holders.

It is a requirement of the published Guidance on Making Direct Ministerial Appointments that departments should announce publicly such appointments generally at the time at which an appointment is made. The Direct Ministerial Appointments announcement portal, which went live in December 2025, brings together these announcements from across government. Direct Ministerial Appointment announcements prior to the creation of the portal were published on departmental news pages.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104160, on Publications: Gender, how many published have been assessed and included in the inclusion list.

The SAFE inclusion list currently comprises 607 sites. Following the most recent review, 55 of these sites were categorised as posing a medium risk, and 8 were assessed as high risk. Although these sites are excluded from the active inclusion list because of the potential risks to the government. It is important to note that this may not completely prohibit use for government communications. A publisher may still be utilised for relevant campaigns, provided appropriate campaign-specific guardrails are implemented to mitigate potential risks.

Further to the written statement of 20 January 2026, on Rewiring the State, if he will place in the Library a copy of the revised Senior Civil Service performance management and recruitment guidance.

The Senior Civil Service (SCS) Performance Management Framework is publicly available online on GOV.UK. Departments and agencies have authority to determine their practices and procedures for the recruitment of staff to the Civil Service, including the Senior Civil Service. There are no plans to publish internal-facing guidance to the public domain, as it constitutes HR-to-HR guidance designed for departments to integrate into their respective policies and processes.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 103784, on Public Appointments: Political Activities, what the (a) name and (b) position is of each person who declared political activity.

I refer the Hon. Gentleman back to PQ 103784.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2026 to Question 99527 on Breakfast Clubs and Pay, if he will list the influencers who received funding from the Government.

Influencers are selected based on their reach and alignment with the communications campaign.To protect commercial confidentiality and interests, information relating to specific individuals will not be released.

What is the status of the negotiations with the European Union on the Youth Experience Scheme, and whether the UK is discussing making financial contributions to the EU.

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We are committed to implementing the outcomes of the May 2025 Summit in a timely manner and so are working towards concluding negotiations by the time of the next EU-UK summit. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation. This will not include financial contributions to the European Union - that is not how youth mobility schemes operate.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104160, on Publications: Gender, which publishers were assessed but not included in the inclusion list.

The SAFE inclusion list currently comprises 607 sites. Following the most recent review, 55 of these sites were categorised as posing a medium risk, and 8 were assessed as high risk. Although these sites are excluded from the active inclusion list because of the potential risks to the government. It is important to note that this may not completely prohibit use for government communications. A publisher may still be utilised for relevant campaigns, provided appropriate campaign-specific guardrails are implemented to mitigate potential risks.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026 to Question 104802 on Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights, whether his Department retained a copy of that presentation.

The Cabinet Office has retained a record of the contributions of the3million and British in Europe made at the Specialised Committee on 18 December. The3million and British in Europe can be contacted directly to discuss their assessment of citizens’ rights implementation. Information on matters discussed at the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights is available here: Citizens’ Rights Specialised Committee meeting, 18 December 2025: joint statement - GOV.UK. As is stipulated by Rule 13 of Annex VIII of the Withdrawal Agreement, meetings of the Specialised Committee are confidential.