Written questions by Wood.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32640 on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Buildings, whether civil servants in 22 Whitehall are required to book a specific desk, or book an unspecified space on a particular floor.

Civil Servants in 22 Whitehall book an unspecified space on a specific floor.

Pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86249, on Department for Business and Trade: Social Media, if he will name the specific social media influencers who were commissioned by the department to undertake paid advertising for the department for the National Minimum and Living Wage campaign.

Influencer marketing is a credible promotional channel, which is considered for government advertising campaigns and can be an effective way to reach audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.The activity aimed to raise awareness of the new National Minimum and Living Wage rates to ensure audiences such as young people, part-time female workers, ethnic minorities and disabled groups are paid correctly.Six influencers were used as part of the Department for Business and Trade’s 2025 National Minimum and Living Wage campaign. They were: Bella RobertsKrishnan KaraNoah BrierleyRotimi Merriman-Johnson (Mr MoneyJar)Beth FullerJasmin Shum

With reference to the regulated public appointment, Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) - Committee Members - 5 roles, with application deadline of 23 October 2024, who was the Advisory Assessment Independent Panel Member listed on gov.uk as "To be confirmed".

The Independent Panel Member for this public appointment was Dr Alison Walker-Fraser. Alison is a business consultant and Chair of Trustees at Anaphylaxis UK. She is an experienced IPM for non-executive recruitment campaigns.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98126, on DSIT: Public Appointments, whether any of the Direct Ministerial Appointments made a declaration of political activity when appointed.

All Direct Ministerial appointees must complete a declaration of interest form before their appointment can be finalised. If appointees declare any political activity, the detail is reviewed, assessed for risk and appropriate mitigations implemented where necessary.

Innovation and Technology pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 88695, on Government Departments: Mobile Phones, whether there is any guidance given to public bodies on creating new apps.

The Service Manual sets out guidance for public servants on designing and delivering digital services, including making sure services work well with mobile technology, technology use more broadly, and understanding users before designing around their needs. The guidance makes clear that native mobile apps should only be considered when there are clear and evidenced needs that a responsive website cannot meet. It also states that if any users can not access the required features then a web based alternative should also be available.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88696, if he will publish he business case for the rainbow pins.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 we are not be publishing the business case for rainbow pins. To confirm the business case was reviewed in line with Government Guidance, declined, and no public money was spent.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 88700 on Civil Service: Equality, whether the civil servants attended the humanists convention using staff time or annual leave.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 the Civil Servant who attended the Humanist Convention did so in working time.

If he will place in the Library a copy of the Freedom of Information Act disclosure, reference FOI2025/09531, of 16 September 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I’ve given him on 29 January 2026 for question UIN 107051. Given that the information the hon. Member seeks has been published in that answer, I have no plans to place a copy of the Freedom of Information disclosure he mentions in the Library.

With reference to Q341 of the oral evidence session of the Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development Committee, on Oral evidence: Work of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, HC 385, 3 November 2025, if he will make it Government policy that Parliamentary select committees can question direct ministerial appointments in an oral evidence session.

The government recently published guidance on making Direct Ministerial Appointments, which sets out the principles for this route into government. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/direct-ministerial-appointments

If the Government will prepare an updated version of a cross-Whitehall Government War Book.

Developing plans for civilian assistance to the military in a time of conflict is a key component of the Cabinet Office’s Home Defence Programme. It is an evolving and enduring programme of work which provides defence, security and resilience planning, focused on aligning military and civil effort in the event of a period of crisis and international hostilities affecting the UK. This work is informed by and reflects the recommendations from government strategies, including the Strategic Defence Review, National Security Strategy and Resilience Action Plan.

When she plans to respond to the consultation on Equity law, which closed on 30 June 2025.

We published a call for evidence on equality law which considered areas of existing equality legislation and possible equality law reform. We are giving the responses careful consideration as we consider next steps. We will publish the Government response in due course on: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/equality-law-call-for-evidence.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2025 to Question 85184 on Office for Equality and Opportunity: Finance, whether the office plans to make efficiency savings; and what the change in staff headcount was from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

The Office for Equality and Opportunity (OEO) is committed to ensuring that Britain’s equality framework remains robust and fit for the future. OEO’s budget and resource allocation are subject to rigorous business planning and governance to ensure delivery of maximum value for the taxpayer.For the current financial year (2025/26), as part of a wider Cabinet Office exercise, we identified and committed to an in-year programme budget reduction. These savings are being realised through operational streamlining and a focus on cost-effective delivery.OEO’s staff headcount has increased from 142.5 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) in 2024-25 to up to 184 FTE staff in the current year. This increase, agreed by Ministers, ensures OEO is properly resourced to manage a substantial and long-term programme of work in line with the Government’s manifesto commitments, missions and other priorities.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025, to Question HL11873, on Equality and Human Rights Commission, whether she has consulted Civil Service (a) trade unions and (b) diversity networks on the proposed response and draft Code.

The Government is considering the draft updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, submitted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. If the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament for a 40 day period. The Minister is following the process in the Equality Act 2006. It is important that the correct process for considering the Code is followed to ensure the Secretary of State can make an informed decision. This process does not require consultation with civil service trade unions or diversity networks. The EHRC has consulted on its draft guidance.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89471 on Common Purpose: Finance, whether the expenditure was approved by a Minister.

Information regarding materials supplied by Common Purpose for the training day will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive. Approval for the training day expenditure was granted by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), not a Minister, as the cost fell within the SCS's delegated authority to approve spend. The spend occurred prior to the Government implementing new controls in April 2025 and followed a robust, compliant procurement procedure in line with Cabinet Office policy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2025 to Question 86238 on Business: Codes of Practice, whether the appropriate process will require an Impact Assessment to be undertaken by (a) her Department and (b) the Commission.

The Government is considering the draft updated Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations, submitted by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. If the decision is taken to approve it, the Secretary of State will lay it before Parliament for a 40 day period. It is important that the correct process for considering the Code is followed to ensure the Secretary of State can make an informed decision, which includes understanding the consequences for service providers.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 89471 on Common Purpose: Finance, if he will place a copy of the (a) presentation and (b) handouts from the leadership training in the Library.

Information regarding materials supplied by Common Purpose for the training day will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive. Approval for the training day expenditure was granted by a Senior Civil Servant (SCS), not a Minister, as the cost fell within the SCS's delegated authority to approve spend. The spend occurred prior to the Government implementing new controls in April 2025 and followed a robust, compliant procurement procedure in line with Cabinet Office policy.

Whether she has had recent discussions with the Local Government Association on the interim guidance being given to councils on the Supreme Court ruling on For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers.

We have always been clear that the For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers [2025] Supreme Court ruling should be implemented in full by duty bearers, including local councils. Where necessary, they should seek specialist legal advice. The Equality and Human Rights Commission - as the independent regulator - has submitted a draft Code of Practice for Services, Public Functions and Associations to Ministers, and we are working as quickly as we can to review it with the care it deserves. This will provide further guidance to duty bearers on how they should comply with the Equality Act 2010 following the Supreme Court ruling.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 70484, on Government Departments: Training, what role the Director General for Digital Centre Design played in (a) the design and specification of Project 7114, (b) recommending the use of Bloom Procurement Services Ltd as the route to market, and (c) compiling or approving the list of suppliers directly nominated to bid for the contract through Bloom.

The interim Director General for Digital Centre Design, now interim Director General for Digital Transformation, has had no involvement in the design and specification of Project 7114 or in any procurement decisions related to the Cabinet Office Test Learn and Grow Programme.

What her planned timetable is for the consultation and implementation of ethnicity and disability pay reporting; and whether she has produced an Impact Assessment.

As set out in our manifesto and in the King’s Speech last July, the government remains committed to introducing mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting for large employers. Our consultation on ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting closed on 10 June. Good progress has been made in analysing the responses and developing our policy and legislative approach.The regulatory impact assessment for these measures has been produced.We will publish the Government response to the ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting consultation in due course .

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025, to Question 88698, on DSIT: Disinformation, what specific facility or service does the contract with (a) Total Global Strategy Network and (b) Faculty Science Limit provide.

The Global Strategy Network provides mis‑ and disinformation monitoring analysis narratives from publicly available online information concerning public safety or national security risks to the UK. Faculty Science provides software development for the Counter‑Disinformation Data Platform (CDDP).