Written questions by Wood.

With reference to page 8 of his Department's corporate report entitled Integrated Security Fund Annual Report 2024–25 published on 30 October 2025, what proportion of the £965 million was classified as having a (a) principal, (b) significant and (c) not targeted gender equality objective under OECD GESI markers.

The Cabinet Office remains committed to supporting delivery of the UK’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, and the Integrated Security Fund (ISF) supports work to tackle Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI). The ISF funds a variety of ‘programmes’, each of which is designed to achieve a specific national security objective. Each programme can then be broken down into individual ‘projects’ which work towards the programme’s objective. There is a requirement whereby all programmes should include at least one project where gender is a primary objective (an ‘E’ rating under OECD GESI markers, which is the highest rating), and all projects must have met, or be working towards meeting, a minimum standard whereby gender equality is part of the project’s objectives, but not the principal reason for undertaking the project (a ‘C’ rating). However, the Cabinet Office does not specifically track expenditure allocated to GESI markers (principal, significant or not targeted). In addition, during Financial Year 2024/25 the ISF operated a dedicated Gender, Peace and Security Portfolio (£5.39m).

Pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85499 on Cabinet Office: Facility Agreements, how facility time is authorised; and whether Ministers approve it.

Trade Union representatives have a statutory right to be granted reasonable paid time off to undertake trade union duties and reasonable unpaid time to undertake trade union activities. The facility time guidance sets out that Civil Servants who are Trade Union representatives will spend at least 50% of their time delivering their Civil Service role. Where time is required above this figure including acting in a 100% role, this will be by exception and will need to be agreed by the Secretary of State.

Whether he has issued guidance to special advisers on the use of government email in 2025.

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 the use of government email in 2025.

Whether the Admiralty House residences will be offered to another Minister.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 13 October 2025, Official Report, PQ 77624.

How members of the Diversity and Outreach Committee were selected and how many vacancies, other than the appointment of Chair, were publicly advertised.

Following the appointment of a new Chair to the Diversity and Outreach Honours Committee, a member from each of the ten independent honours committees was selected to join the Diversity and Outreach Committee in an ex-officio capacity based on their sector-specific expertise, experience, interest, and commitment. Selection was made through an Expression of Interest process, as was done for previous iterations of the committee. All members were appointed to their honours committee via a fair and open process on the Public Appointments website.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 20 October 2025, to Question 81874, on Diplomatic Service: Public Appointments, if Heads of Mission are appointed by open and fair competition; and what role does the Civil Service Commission play in the appointments of Ambassadors.

I refer the Hon Member to the oral evidence provided to the Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 November, where these issues were addressed at length.

When the List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be updated.

A new List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published in due course.

What proportion of UK Security Vetting staff are currently based in (a) York, (b) Glasgow and (c) other locations.

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is part of the Government Security Group (GSG) hosted by the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office is committed to growth in both York and Glasgow; to help ensure HMG retains resilience, certain existing and specialist roles are based outside of these core locations.In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

What proportion of UK Security Vetting’s total workforce is made up of contingent labour or contractors.

The proportion of UK Security Vetting's total workforce made up of contingent labour or contractors is 5%. The use of this resource allows UKSV to maximise skills and meet dynamic resourcing requirements, set by the customer departments across His Majesty’s Government (HMG). This strategy enables UKSV to consistently meet its agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and satisfy its obligations as service provider of National Security Vetting (NSV).In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

What proportion of Developed Vetting clearances have been completed within 95 days in each of the past six months.

United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) continues to meet its agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across each product type, including Developed Vetting (DV) clearances.UKSV KPIs are set and regularly reviewed in consultation with customer groups, governed by ministerial oversight, to ensure demand is balanced with maintaining assurance in national security safeguards.In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86664, on Ministers: Official Cars, how much has been invoiced to each department in each month since July 2024; and how much has been paid through an internal transfer for the Cabinet Office in each month since July 2024.

The Government Car Service (GCS) transferred to the Cabinet Office from the Department of Transport, as a result of a machinery of government change, on 1st April 2025. Therefore all invoicing data prior to that date remains with the Department for Transport. Invoicing data post April 2025 is included below. A significant proportion of invoicing activity was paused during the transition period which resulted in two invoicing runs for April 2025 with costs normalising in subsequent months. Charges to the Cabinet Office include services provided to No10, the Leader of the Opposition, the Leaders of the House of Commons and House of Lords, and the Cabinet Secretary, in addition to core Cabinet Office ministers. The figures provided represent total charges to departments, inclusive of all associated costs such as Transport for London (TfL) congestion charge, as well as travel and subsistence claims submitted by drivers in the delivery of the service. APRIL'25APRIL'25MAY'25JUNE'25JULY'25AUG'25SEPT'25Cabinet Office£17,137.64£147,019.31£139,361.51£141,827.02£151,582.27£136,375.57£140,471.82DESNZ£335.24£20,423.45£19,957.72£19,994.24£19,973.80£19,817.6£19,936.66MHCLG£11,014.28£28,028.18£26,206.87£26,601.78£24,697.07£21,547.82£24,222.77DCMS£460.27£11,817.33£11,278.62£10,767.89£12,396.33£10,369.77£11,201.70DEFRA£1,897.57£22,009.46£20,611.41£21,209.77£22,049.17£20,135.75£21,124.97DFE£1,508.99£10,139.11£9,803.15£10,111.25£10,604.71£10,179.54£10,349.44DFT£1,233.32£20,266.75£20,389.25£20,491.14£21,162.53£20,066.73£20,509.47DHSC£1,831.9£30,597.56£30,469.06£31,465.41£32,053.88£29,629.62£31,758.00HMT£455.42£10,364.09£10,373.00£10,125.42£10,212.20£10,184.02£10,379.37Home Office£2,186.06£29,943.21£30,064.45£30,331.18£30,799.75£29,478.79£30,137.43Business & Trade£2,730.98£31,360.47£30,597.59£31,538.60£31,334.28£29,492.09£31,319.65AGO£1,682.59£10,941.86£10,701.09£11,221.40£11,860.04£9,940.09£10,422.28HoC£146.28£1,799.98£2,225.43£2,781.79£1,986.99£ -£1,545.44DWP£698.19£10,386.77£9,925.09£9,992.94£10,111.26£9,940.09£10,142.51NCA£ -£9,730.49£9,649.47£9,664.47£9,756.77£9,649.47£9,679.47MOJ£9,310.03£38,424.85£34,963.20£35,597.71£39,936.80£3,2694.29£32,980.11Scotland Office£648.12£9,689.83£9,608.12£10,254.40£10,369.88£9,406.25£10,163.82DSIT£1,195.05£21,067.14£21,634.16£22,223.55£22,081.34£20,115.41£21,210.24DWP£1,055.09£9,752.29£9,975.41£10,440.70£10,505.24£9,574.47£10,093.31

Pursuant to the answer of 10 October, to Question 71230, on Cabinet Office: Calder Conferences, what the specific event was for each of the individual room hires since 4 April 2025 other than Civil Service Live and the Infected Blood Inquiry.

As stated in my previous answer to Question 71230, to provide additional background information on each booking would incur disproportionate costs as this information is not centrally held.

How many staff his Department intends to hire for the new Digital ID policy directorate; and what the total annual budget for that division is.

The digital ID policy team is in the process of being established. The staffing and budget will be considered as part of the Cabinet Office Business Plan in the normal way.

What information his Department holds on whether any public bodies operate (a) a four day week on full pay and (b) compressed hours for a week compressed into four days.

The department does not hold any information on whether public bodies operate four day weeks.

Whether special advisers have been informed by the Cabinet Office that they lose their employer contributions on the Civil Service pension scheme if they leave before two years of employment unless they transfer in another pension scheme.

Special Advisers are provided with guidance regarding Civil Service Pension schemes during onboarding and offboarding, as well as throughout their tenure. Special Advisers are also directed to published Civil Service Pension scheme resources.

Pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2025, to Question 77543, on Political Parties: Conferences, whether Cabinet Office HR division collates information on (a) junior and (b) senior civil service staff who are given permission to (i) run for local election and (ii) attend party political conferences.

Cabinet Office Human Resources does collate information centrally on both junior and senior civil service staff who are given permission to run for local election. However, information on staff attending party political conferences is not collated centrally as previously referenced in my answer to Question 77543.

With reference to the Cabinet Office news story of 5 August entitled "Extension of Generalist Member to the Senior Salaries Review Body", whether Pippa Greenslade was reappointed by open and fair competition; and what the (a) status and (b) cost of the competition to appoint such members to the Senior Salaries Review Body is.

Pippa Greenslade was appointed through a fair and open competition in 2019. Her second term as Generalist Member of the Senior Salaries Review Body was extended by 12 months, ending on 1 June 2026. Extensions do not require an open competition. The majority of the Cabinet Office’s public appointments are delivered internally; staff and administrative costs are absorbed within the department's existing budget.

Whether the Cabinet Office Staff Handbook has a definition of Islamophobia; and whether the Cabinet Office has adopted a definition for HR disputes.

The Cabinet Office does not hold a definition of Islamophobia. We take all allegations of inappropriate language, hostility, discrimination or prejudice very seriously. We have robust processes in place to investigate such matters. Possible sanctions as a result of such behaviours could include dismissal.

If he will place the desk note on Direct Ministerial Appointments in the House of Commons Library.

On 30 October the government published for the first time guidance for departments on the process for ministers making Direct Ministerial Appointments. This replaced earlier internal desk note guidance for departments, which had been rewritten to provide greater clarity for a wider audience, including setting out publicly where Direct Ministerial Appointments sit within the various routes into government. On 3 November the Cabinet Secretary, during his evidence session before the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, agreed to send - and subsequently sent - a copy of the previous internal departmental desk note to the Committee. A copy of this now superseded desk note guidance will be placed in the House of Commons Library.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82664 on Disinformation, whether the software has been used to monitor comment relating to (a) gender criticism, (b) asylum hotels and (c) national flags being placed on lampposts.

No. This software is used to analyse mis and disinformation narratives from publicly available information online. It is only used to analyse narratives that pose a risk to UK national security or public safety.