Written questions by Wood.

How much has been spent on hospitality by the No10 business unit since 4 July 2024.

10 Downing Street engages with businesses from a variety of sectors to deliver economic growth, in collaboration with other government departments. There has been no hospitality expenditure by the No10 Business Team since 4 July 2024.

What is the annual cost to the public purse of the Prime Minister’s official cars provided by the Metropolitan Police.

This is a matter of national security and therefore we cannot comment.

With reference to his Department's data entitled Expenditure Over £25,000 - September 2025 (Cabinet Office Core), published on 30 October 2025, which events the expenditure with reference SINV-000028834 with Calder Conferences relates to; and what venues were used.

The payment relates to a cancellation fee for CCS Live, an all-staff Crown Commercial Service internal engagement event. The venue booking was made in 2023 - under the previous administration - and at an external venue because no suitable government property was available.Following the 2025 announcement prohibiting the use of non-government venues for government events, the in-person event was cancelled and delivered virtually.This decision was made after considering the cancellation costs against running the event in-person. The decision ensured that no additional costs were incurred, while also mitigating any challenges associated with using an external venue.

How many meetings the National Security Adviser has had with representatives of the Egyptian Government.

The National Security Adviser meets with a range of individuals and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.

Whether 10 Downing Street flew the NATO flag on NATO day in April 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 02 May 2025, Official Report, PQ 48180.

Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 13 October 2025 to Question 77003 on Department of Health and Social Care: Social Media, which influencers have been contracted by (a) his Department and (b) its marketing agencies.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government currently has no contracted influencers directly through the department or via marketing agencies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82677 on Civil Service: Equality, whether the Office for Equality and Opportunity will provide guidance on staff diversity networks to the wider public sector.

The Civil Service does not have responsibility for staff networks in other public sector organisations and therefore does not issue any such guidance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 70488 on Common Purpose: Finance, what the (a) cost and (b) topic of that training was.

Common Purpose was paid £6,900.00 to provide a one-off day of team development covering the subject of ‘leadership’ for the Office of Equality and Opportunity in February 2025.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 82341 on Identity Cards: Digital Technology, whether officials from (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street have had discussions with (i) Larry Ellison and (ii) Oracle on Digital ID Cards.

We are not talking to Larry Ellison or Oracle about digital ID. Throughout the development of the new digital ID, the Government will work closely with expert stakeholders, including civil society groups, technology companies and industry bodies to make it as effective and inclusive as possible. The Digital ID will be designed, built and run by government digital teams. Any additional specialist external services that may be needed to support delivery will be subject to the usual competitive processes.

How much his Department has spent on social media influencers since July 2024.

I refer the honourable Member to the reply I gave on 6 November 2025 to PQ 86469.

If he will publish an updated list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries.

A list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries was published by the Cabinet Office in November 2025 on gov.uk and is available here. It will be updated periodically.

What steps she is taking to prevent discrimination against children from independent schools in the provision of public services.

Access to public services is based on need, not the type of school a child attends. Parents or carers concerned about their child’s health can consult a GP, who may refer them to relevant National Health Services (NHS). The NHS provides care free at the point of use and considers referrals based on clinical need, ensuring equity regardless of school type.

Whether he plans to increase Ministerial pay in the next four years.

The entitlement of government ministers to receive a salary is set out in the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975. Ministerial salaries currently remain frozen. In addition, the government has introduced reforms to ministerial severance pay. Ministers will be expected to forgo their severance pay if they serve in office for fewer than six months, or if they leave office following a serious breach of the Ministerial Code.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2025, to Question 64917 on Stamp Advisory Committee, whether papers for that Committee are held by officials in his Department.

The Stamp Advisory Committee advises Royal Mail on future stamp designs. The Postal Museum’s online catalogue lists copies of Stamp Advisory Committee minutes which are available to the public for research in line with Royal Mail’s retention policy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2025, to Question 82332 on Companies: Registration, for what reason Companies House recognises nations that the UK Government does not itself recognise.

The composition of the list of nationalities permitted for the purposes of company filings is a practical measure to ensure that the nationalities of directors are recorded consistently in the Register of Companies and are transparent to users of the Register.

With reference to the Answer of 8 July 2025 to Question HL8787 on Taxation: Electronic Government, for what reason the functionality of HMRC IT systems does not allow taxpayers to submit their Making Tax Digital reporting requirements for income tax through their online (a) personal and (b) business tax accounts.

Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax requires users to use software to keep digital tax records, submit quarterly updates of income and expenditure and submit a tax return. HMRC’s Personal and Business Tax Accounts are not able to provide this level of functionality and ensuring that the software is digitally linked directly to a taxpayer account helps users avoid the errors that could occur when transposing figures manually. The government is encouraging a thriving third-party software market to support the diverse range of business that will be using MTD. This will deliver flexible and tailored ways for users to manage their tax affairs, including integration with other business software and management tools as well as free and low-cost options.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26828 on Cabinet Office: Revenue and Customs, what the legal basis is to permit the sharing of confidential information on ministers’ tax affairs between (a) Cabinet Office, (b) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and (c) HM Revenue and Customs.

Data sharing between HMRC and other departments is considered on a case-by-case basis, to comply with HMRC’s obligations under its duty of confidentiality and other information law, including the UK GDPR. HMRC supports other government departments in their awards and appointments processes by providing advice on potential tax risks, by reference to a low, medium or high rating. HMRC discloses this information as it supports its functions, including the collection and management of tax. Details of Memoranda of Understanding (“MOU”) HMRC has with other government departments for these purposes can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-awards-and-appointments. The published MOUs explain the legal basis for disclosure. The MOUs are clear that data must not be shared other than for the purpose set out in the MOU and that data may only be shared with individuals/teams explicitly named in the MOU. There is no specific data sharing agreement between HMRC and the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85917 on Lobbying: Official Hospitality, if she will list (a) the receptions her Department has held in the offices of consultant lobbying firms since 4 July 2024 and (b) the rationale in each case.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the department have not held any receptions in the offices of consultant lobbying firms since 4 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 81881 on Coinage: Design, whether the (a) Royal Mint Advisory Committee, (b) Sub-Committee on the Selection of Themes and (c) her Department have issued guidance on reflecting diversity in coinage (i) themes and (ii) designs.

The Royal Mint Advisory Committee advises the Chancellor of the Exchequer (in her capacity as Master of the Mint) and His Majesty the King on the themes and designs of new coins. Committee members are appointed for their distinguished expertise in areas including design, art, history and heritage, and apply their professional judgement when considering coin themes and designs. Recommendations to the Master of the Mint and His Majesty the King on coin themes and designs are made collectively by the Committee and Sub-Committee, drawing on the professional judgement and expertise of their members. There is no formal policy on diversity considerations as part of this process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 September 2025 to Question 71198 on Unherd: Advertising, whether the SAFE framework permits government advertising on the Spectator website.

Following assessment under the SAFE Framework, government advertising is permitted on spectator.co.uk.