Written questions by Wood.

With reference to her Department's document entitled Financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England: Memorandum of Understanding, published in February 2025 and pursuant to the Answer of 14 July 2025 to Question 65148 on Bank Notes, if she will make it her policy to amend the Memorandum of Understanding to require (a) the use of historical British figures on banknotes and (b) the representation of her Department on the Banknote Imagery Advisory Group.

The Bank of England is responsible for all aspects of the design, production, and issuance of banknotes, including the selection of characters, design features, and security measures. The Bank of England is required to seek HM Treasury approval only for the introduction of new denominations, as set out in section 1(1) of the Currency and Bank Notes Act 1954 and Section 9C of the Memorandum of Understanding on the financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England.The Memorandum of Understanding is reviewed every five years and was last updated in February 2025. The current version can be found here:Financial relationship between HM Treasury and the Bank of England Memorandum of Understanding The Bank of England may keep HM Treasury informed of developments on a non-statutory, informal basis, but there is no requirement for consultation with HM Treasury on matters of design or character selection. As a consequence, HM Treasury is not represented on the Bank of England’s Banknote Character Advisory Committee.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 November 2024 to Question 11978 on Government Departments: Cost Effectiveness, if her Department holds data that breaks down how the savings were delivered by each department.

All savings and investments announced at the July statement in 2024 were factored into the departmental budgets. Departments are responsible for managing spend within that budget.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 84210 on Jeffery Epstein, whether records held by Integrated Corporate Services for that period are held in (a) electronic and (b) hard copy format.

Records for that period are held in electronic format.

Innovation and Technology, what the salary is of the Director General for Digital Centre Design.

The salary of the Director General for Digital Centre Design is published in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s transparency data, which is available on data.gov.uk. The published salary range for this role is £150,000 to £154,999. This information is part of the Department’s regular transparency reporting and is publicly accessible.

Innovation and Technology, whether the Director General for Digital Centre Design has been involved in procurement decisions in her role as a member of the programme board for Test, Learn and Grow.

Emily Middleton has had no involvement in procurement decisions related to the Cabinet Office Test Learn and Grow Programme. Ms Middleton was invited to join the programme board in February 2025, alongside representatives of other departments. This was in her capacity as Director General for Digital Centre Design. Ms Middleton has not attended any of the board meetings, and has delegated attendance to other officials within DSIT.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68774 on Civil Service: Equality, how attendance at the Humanists Convention engages his Department’s remit and responsibilities.

The Civil Service People Plan 2024-27 sets the standard for inclusive workplaces where people achieve their full potential. We want the Civil Service and the department to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes diversity of faith and belief.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 October 2025, to Question 82331, on Unite: Conference Centres and Hotels, when he expects the Certification Officer to publish the conclusion of the inspection; if he will set out who paid for the BDO report; and if he will name the inspector who has been appointed.

The Certification Officer is required to publish a final report following an inspection, which includes the name of the inspector appointed to any such inspection. While the legislation does not specify a timeline for publication, it is expected that the Certification Officer will take a short period to reflect on the findings, consider any next steps, and provide a copy of the report to the union before publication. In respect of the funding of the BDO report, this is a matter for the union itself. The Certification Officer received this report to assist in fulfilling his statutory duties.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 31 October 2025 to Question 84243 on DSIT: Disinformation, and to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25857 on Written Questions: Government Responses, if he will provide relevant hyperlinks to the specific contracts with third-party providers.

Details of contracts between DSIT and third-party contractors used to address online information threats are available on GOV.UK:Contract OneContract TwoContract ThreeContract Four

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85189 on National Wealth Fund: Workplace Pensions, and with reference to page 123 of her Department's document entitled National Wealth Fund Limited's Annual Report and Accounts 2024–2025, published on 31 October 2025, and paragraphs 5.2.1 and 5.8.1 of her Department's joint document entitled UK Infrastructure Bank Framework Document, published on 9 January 2024, what the name is of the pension provider for the defined contribution pension scheme for staff; and if she will list the names of the pension funds that the scheme invests in.

I refer the Honourable Member to my answer given on 4 November to PQ UIN 85189.

With reference to paragraph 2.43 of the Spring Statement 2025 and pursuant to the answer of 22 October 2025 to Question 81329 on Civil Service: Redundancy, how much of the £150 million government employee exit scheme fund remains unspent for which the latest data is available.

The £150m government employee exit funding was allocated at Spending Review 2025 across 2025/26 and 2026/27. Information on how much departments have spent will be published in departmental Annual Reports & Accounts.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question HL5508 on Research: Finance, if she will make it her policy to stop the inclusion of equality, diversity and inclusion targets in publicly-funded research.

Government recognises the important role of a positive research environment in attracting and retaining diverse talent essential for maintaining the UK’s global competitiveness in research. Research funders have legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 and public sector funders must also have due regard for the Public Sector Equality Duty to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations. Government is committed to ensuring inclusive participation in publicly funded research while continuing to foster the UK’s reputation for research excellence.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68774 on Civil Service: Equality, whether there was a business case for the purchase of rainbow pins.

A business case for the rainbow pins was approved by the Permanent Secretary (under delegated powers from the Secretary of State). This decision was reviewed when the government guidance on branded merchandise was introduced in May 2025 and was not taken forward as this purchase was classified as non-essential.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 50225 on Government Digital Service: Gender and Sex, if he will ensure that sex is used in updated Government Digital Service Design guidance.

Following the Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers earlier this year, GDS will review the GOV.UK Design System’s guidance in line with changes, once agreed, to the Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Innovation and Technology, what is his Department’s definition of disinformation is.

The UK government defines disinformation as the deliberate creation and spreading of false and/or manipulated information that is intended to deceive and mislead people, either for the purposes of causing harm, or for political, personal or financial gain. Misinformation is the inadvertent spread of false information.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 50225 on Government Digital Service: Gender and Sex, whether any (a) diversity staff network and (b) external organisation advised the Government Digital Service on the Design System Guidance.

No diversity staff networks advised GDS in developing the Design System guidance. GOV.UK Design System guidance has been iterated with input from specialists external to the Government Digital Service, including the Government Statistical Service and the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 October 2025 to Question 82331 on Unite: Conference Centres and Hotels, what steps the Certification Officer is taking to obtain (a) documents and (b) digital information from Unite.

The Certification Officer has appointed an inspector to carry out the inspection in accordance with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992. Under this process, the inspector has the statutory authority to require the production of relevant documents and digital information, and is empowered to request assistance, attendance and documentation, from officials and agents connected to the union, as well as from others who may be in possession of materials and information he considers relevant to his inspection, and it is their duty to comply. These powers ensure that the inspector can conduct a thorough and effective investigation.

What estimate he has made of the potential cost of the requirement in the Employment Rights Bill to give facility time to trade union equality representatives to (a) public and (b) private sector employers.

The Employment Rights Bill creates a new statutory right for equality representatives to take reasonable paid time off to fulfil their duties. These representatives play a key role in raising awareness and promoting equal rights, including arranging training and consulting with employers on matters such as collective policies and practices. This will enable organisations to realise the benefits of being an equal opportunities employer. The Department published an impact assessment on the Employment Rights Bill on 21 October 2024.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question HL8844 on Affordable Housing: Finance and pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2025 to Question 78177 on Affordable Housing: Finance, for what reason the Social Time Preference Rate discount has not been applied to the Social and Affordable Homes Programme.

At the Spending Review, the government announced £39 billion, in nominal terms, for a new Social and Affordable Homes Programme (SAHP) over 10 years from 2026-27 to 2035-36.Economic appraisal for the SAHP business case was carried out following HMT Green Book methodology and used the Green Book discount rate (known as the Social Time Preference Rate) to assess the economic value for money of the programme in present value terms.I otherwise refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 78177 on 3 November 2025 for further details.

Innovation and Technology, how many different (a) iOS and (b) Android apps are run by government departments.

There is currently no central register of apps across government.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2025 to Question 81183 on Electronic Government: Logos, what was the total cost to (a) Cabinet Office and (b)DSIT of the redesign.

Three contracts were awarded with external agencies to support the redesign of the GOV.UK brand, in December 2023, March 2024 and July 2024. Expenditure under these contracts totalled £532,000. Of this, £421,750 was paid by Cabinet Office and £110,250 was paid by DSIT.Out of the total, £219,620 was spent between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024.The refreshed GOV.UK brand comprises designs, guidance and components that underpin the whole GOV.UK product suite – including the GOV.UK website, GOV.UK App, GOV.UK One Login and GOV.UK social media channels – which enable a modern, coherent and accessible user experience that appeals to the broadest possible audience.