Written questions by Wood.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 88708 on Electronic Government, on what date was the current internal Data Protection Impact Assessment completed.

A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) was completed for GOV.UK One Login in 2023. This was reviewed and updated in 2025 and is planned for publication this year.

Innovation and Technology, whether this Department uses the Global Disinformation Index service.

DSIT does not use Global Disinformation Index service

If he will take steps to reduce the number of government policy announcements.

The Government is committed to communicating clearly and effectively with the public about policies that affect their lives.

On what evidential basis his Department has estimated the number of officials who plan to leave through the voluntary exit scheme; and how many plan to leave by Department and public body.

The Cabinet Office collects some data on projected exits through its management of the Redundancy and Compensation control, based on departmental returns.In terms of exits, I refer you to my previous answer PQ 82675. The most accurate data is held by individual departments, and will be reported in their Annual Report and Accounts.

What assessment the Department has made of the salary outcomes, promotion rates and role progression of participants in the Directors Leadership Programme compared to a control group of comparable civil servants who did not participate; and what cost benefit analysis the Department has undertaken on expenditure on the programme including any assessment of average time to promotion, changes in performance markings, retention rates and the financial return on investment to the public purse.

A comprehensive assessment of salary outcomes, promotion rates, and role progression for Directors Leadership Programme participants against a control group (or formal cost-benefit analysis) is not currently feasible. A feasibility assessment for management evaluations showed that the required workforce data for rigorous evaluation on these issues are either not easily available or not held centrally; or sufficient time has not passed for enough participants to provide robust data on these measures. An implementation and process evaluation of DLP is in progress, with a public-facing report expected around Summer 2026. A public-facing report is also planned at the same time on the lessons learned (and guidance) on sharing workforce data to facilitate analysis in future on similar issues.

With reference to the Cabinet Office Government Procurement Card spend over £500 data for October 2025, published on 27 November 2025, what was the purpose of the expenditure for a photography course in London; which officials attended; and what was the full name of the specific supplier.

This transaction was used for specialist digital training for four members of staff at a cost of £170 each. This was provided at a discounted rate following a search for the cheapest available supplier.With the move to digital communications, it is important that we produce usable images from relevant government events and announcements.Training existing staff to take photographs presents a cost saving compared to the use of external photographers.

What the annual cost has been of the META programme in the past financial year, including the development centre, executive coaching, workshops, senior mentorship and all administration, and how many individuals participated in the past year.

The total expenditure for the delivery of the META Leadership Programme in the last financial year (20024/25) totalled to £534,225. This figure incorporates £355,782 in resourcing/administration, allocated to delivery of META and an additional programme conducted during this timeframe, as well as alumni activities. Over this period, 133 core participants took part over two intakes.

How many people applied and were appointed to the Public Leaders Programme; and what is the expected cost to the public purse of the programme, including staffing, delivery, administration and digital support.

79 people applied to the Public Leaders Programme for the 2026 cohort, with 61 joining the programme successfully. Some of the costs for delivery in the later stages of the year are still to be confirmed, so the current estimated overall cost to the public purse of the programme is £625,889.09.

How many full time equivalent staff support Civil Service Coffee Connect.

We have been unable to identify any such central Civil Service initiative.

With reference to his Department's documents entitled House of Lords Appointments Commission - Independent Member (up to 2), opening date 3 January 2025, and the Governance Code on Public Appointments, updated on 30 October 2025, if he will state who was the independent panel member.

As published on the GOV.UK Public Appointments webpage when the campaign was first advertised, the Independent Panel Member for the House of Lords Appointments Commission - Independent Member (up to 2) was initially Lord Adebowale. Althea Loderick (Southwark Council CEO) took on the role in July 2025, when Lord Adebolwale became unavailable in the latter stages. The Public Appointments webpage was updated accordingly.

Whether she has made an estimate of the yearly number of (a) EU students who will study in the UK and (b) UK students who will study in the EU when the Erasmus+ is fully operational.

In 2018/19, there were approximately 31,000 inbound higher education student mobilities via the Erasmus+ programme. There were approximately 16,000 outbound higher education student mobilities in the same year. The department expects there will be a greater number of higher education mobilities on reassociation, given the expansion of the programme. We expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027 across all sectors.

What discussions he has had with the Office for National Statistics to (a) remove and (b) amend questions on gender identity in the next Census.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th January is attached.

Further to the Cabinet Office press release, Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether the Turing scheme will be continued, and whether she plans any changes to the Turing scheme’s funding or scope.

The government remains committed to international mobility. That’s why we have announced the UK has agreed to join the Erasmus+ programme in 2027. The Turing Scheme continues to deliver these opportunities and is confirmed for the 2026/27 academic year.Guidance on the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year has been published on GOV.UK, with applications for funding opening at 12:00 on Tuesday 20 January and closing at 16:00 on Monday 16 March.The aims of the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year are to enhance transferable skills, widen opportunity and drive value for money.We are continuing to focus the scheme’s funding on students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.Further details, including guidance for providers and application information, are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/turing-scheme-international-placements-2026-to-2027.

With reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, for what reason (a) using soft copy and (b) travelling by rail is a key performance indicator for the covid inquiry contract with Burges Salmon LLP.

The CCLL23A10 contract with Burges Salmon LLP was procured under Public Contract Regulations 2015. The KPI referenced refers to the contract's Social Value KPI. A Social Value KPI was included in the contract as per para 4.6 of the 'Guide to using the Social Value Model'. As per the ‘Social Value Model’, Social Value KPIs must be informed by the themes and policy outcomes chosen for the procurement. In the case of the procurement of the CCLL23A10 contract with Burges Salmon LLP, the Social Value KPI was informed by theme 3 ‘Fighting Climate Change’ and the ‘Effective stewardship of the environment’ policy outcome. Working in soft copy (where possible) and choosing travel by rail (where the most time efficient method of transportation) were the measurables chosen to encourage minimised environmental impact and demonstrate that the supplier can provide social value under this contract.

Pursuant to 16 December 2025 to Question 96684 on Tim Allan, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the shareholding in Strand Partners to be (a) sold and (b) moved into a blind trust.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 16 December 2025, Official Report, PQ 96684.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 95644 on Cabinet Office: OCS Group, whether the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Government Property Agency have access to the information entered onto the Social Value Portal.

The Cabinet Office does not have access to the information entered onto the Social Value Portal in relation to OCS Group. However, The GPA has access to the Social Value Portal in respect of its OCS Group contracts.

With reference to the Environment Agency's job vacancy, Strategy and Government Relations Advisor, reference 32597, closing date 4 January 2026, what is his policy on public bodies hiring advisors to engage with the Government.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, and does not form part of HM Civil Service. Non-Departmental Public Bodies are expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, including relevant Government departments, Parliamentarians across both Houses, Parliamentary Select Committees, and other key stakeholders pertinent to their work.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to departments on how private corporations wholly-owned by HM Government should exercise their accountability to Parliament, including answering Parliamentary Questions.

I refer the Hon. member to PQ 57252. Detail on arrangements for Parliamentary accountability and governance of government companies and public corporations are set out in Annex 7.3 of Managing Public Money. While there is no specific guidance aimed at how private corporations wholly-owned by HM Government should exercise their accountability to Parliament. The Guide to Parliamentary Work sets out the wider Government's guidance on Parliamentary Questions.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, whether he has made an estimate of the cost of the UK being a member of the EU electricity market.

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. To unlock these benefits, we are prepared to make an appropriate and proportionate financial contribution to support relevant costs, such as accessing specific agencies or databases required for market participation. Nothing has been agreed yet and we will work through the specific details in negotiations to ensure any contribution represents value for money for the UK taxpayer.

What steps are being taken by the Cabinet Office public appointments unit to improve processes on regulated public appointments following recent findings of breaches by the Governance Code by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments’ 2024-25 Annual Report praised overall departmental compliance with the Governance Code. Out of 449 new regulated appointments made by UK government ministers in 2024-25, the Commissioner reported that five breaches of the Code were identified. The Cabinet Office provides a range of training, support and guidance for departments to ensure compliance with the Code.