Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mike Wood this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1,681–1,700 of 2,405 · this parliament
If she will list (a) the members of the Budget Board and (b) its terms of reference.
At the Budget, this Government will focus on building an economy that works for working people using investment and reform as our tools for renewal. The government does not routinely comment on internal processes and meetings, including those in advance of fiscal events.
Pursuant to Answer of 11 September 2025 to Question 73326 on NHS: Strikes, whether more detailed guidance has been provided by (a) NHS England and (b) his Department on this matter.
Further guidance is provided for employers by NHS Employers and doctors should reference the Good Medical Practice Guide outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC) when making decisions about working during periods of strike action.Information for employers can be found here:https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/industrial-action-guidance-resources-and-faqsInformation for doctors can be found here:https://www.gmc-uk.org/professional-standards/ethical-hub/industrial-actionThe GMC guidance states that if a doctor is due to work but is not attending due to strike action, it is advised that the doctor still prepares and remains available during their scheduled working hours to respond appropriately if circumstances change during a period of industrial action.
When the Prime Minister was informed of the content of the files obtained by Bloomberg relating to Lord Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein.
The Prime Minister knew the content of the emails obtained by Bloomberg early in the evening of Wednesday 10 September.
Whether any Ministers from the Department for Business Innovation and Skills were involved in the disposal of RBS Sempra Commodities to JP Morgan in the 2009-10 financial year.
Any such information is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
If he will publish guidance for civil servants on conduct in the pre-election period prior to (a) UK parliamentary and (b) devolved legislature by-elections.
There are no plans to publish guidance for civil servants on conduct in respect of UK parliamentary by-elections or devolved legislature by-elections. The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants and civil servants are expected to adhere to these standards at all times.
With reference to the Civil Service 2024/2025 External Expenditure on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, published on 30 May 2025, whether his Department holds data on arm’s length bodies expenditure authorised by those bodies in 2024-25.
Expenditure which is exempted under the requirements of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance must be reported to the Cabinet Office by departments and ALBs who employ civil servants.Reported expenditure is published annually.
What guidance his Department issues to serving personnel who are oversees on utilising Virtual Private Networks on personal phones.
The Ministry of Defence provides all Serving personnel, military and civilian, with guidance on the utilisation of Virtual Private Networks on personal phones overseas. I am unable to share specific details of the guidance in order to protect operational security.
With reference to page 16 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, whether the (a) Defence Research and Evaluation organisation and (b) UK Defence Innovation will be public sector arm’s length bodies.
A decision on the delivery model for a Defence Research and Evaluation (DRE) organisation has not yet been made and will be aligned with the National Armaments Director (NAD) Group organisational design as part of Defence Reform. Details of which will be announced in due course. The Strategic Defence Review stated that in forming the DRE the Department may wish to keep the Dstl brand. Dstl is a widely respected brand internationally and nationally. Dstl has been part of the NAD Group since April, and Dstl’s CEO reports to the National Armaments Director. Dstl is an Arms Length Body (ALB), but its status is being reviewed as part of a review of ALBs and the work to form the NAD Group. The UK Defence Innovation organisation will not be an ALB. It will report to the National Armaments Director as part of the wider NAD Group.
How many times the Defence Growth Board has met since March 2025.
The Defence Growth Board met on 30 July 2025. Since then, His Majesty's Government (HMG) has acted on the 8 July recommendations of the UK Defence and Economic Growth Task Force to unleash the defence sector's potential. HMG published the Defence Industrial Strategy on 8 September to set out how Defence will act as an engine for economic growth, backing British jobs. Growth continues to be this Government’s priority, and defence is an engine for growth in every nation and region of the UK.
With reference to page 6 of the Strategic Defence Review 2025, published in June 2025, what his Department’s definition is of a sovereign warhead.
The requirements, design, manufacture and maintenance of our nuclear warheads are independent to the UK. We utilise certain U.S. non-nuclear components, including the aeroshell, to remain compatible with the Trident missile. This is consistent with our obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Pursuant to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025, on Events at Orgreave, HCWS855, by what mechanism the panel of independent experts will be (a) selected and (b) appointed; whether they will be paid; and what steps she is taking to ensure transparency over declarations of interest.
As set out in the previous Home Secretary’s Written Ministerial Statement of 21 July 2025, the Orgreave Inquiry will be established as a statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005, with a small panel of independent experts to be appointed in due course.The appointment of panel members will therefore be made in accordance with provisions in the Inquiries Act 2005. Those appointments and any related remuneration matters remain to be determined.Details of panel members and the Inquiry’s terms of reference will be provided to both Houses at the earliest opportunity.
How many staff by headcount are employed by HM Prison and Probation Service to work on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI); at what grades they are employed; and how many of these are standalone EDI roles.
Our workforce data does not identify what proportion of each employee’s role involves working on equality, diversity and inclusion. It is therefore not possible to provide the requested information without incurring disproportionate cost.
With reference to the Answer of 16 June 2025 to Question HL7882 on Defence: Equality, for what reason the groups representing women were labelled gender networks.
The Ministry of Defence classified network groups representing women under the broader designation of gender networks reflecting an inclusive and integrated approach to equality, diversity and inclusion. This approach aligns with the Defence People Strategy’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for all personnel.
What recent estimate she has made of the aggregate value of crypto-assets held by (a) her Department and (b) police forces.
The Government does not currently publish the amount of cryptocurrency restrained / recovered under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.The Home office is reviewing plans to publish new statistics on Crypto assets as part of future annual stats bulletins on asset recovery in response to the new powers that came into effect in April 2024.Official statistics published by the Home Office are kept under review in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics, taking into account a number of factors including user needs, the resources required to compile the statistics, as well as quality and availability of data. These reviews allow us to balance the production of our regular statistics whilst developing new statistics for future release.
Whether the proposed new socio-economic duty will apply to the (a) Sentencing Council and (b) Parole Board.
The socio-economic duty will require specified public bodies to actively consider how their strategic decisions might help to reduce the inequalities of outcome associated with socio-economic disadvantage. We are currently working toward commencement of the duty, which includes drafting statutory guidance that will clarify how the duty can be applied effectively and include more detail on which public bodies the duty applies to.
With reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of police officers will be eligible to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in her Department in 2026.
I refer to the answer given to PQs UIN 74202 and 74515. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-02/74202https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2025-09-02/74515
Pursuant to the answer of 4 September 2025, to Question 70499, on Public Bodies: Unpaid Work, whether the parental occupations of a (a) tool-maker and (b) factory owner are deemed to be eligible working class socio-economic background for applicants to the Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme.
As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.
Pursuant to the answer of 18 July 2025 to Question 66652 on Military Aircraft: Ministers, whether the RAF Command Support Air Transport fleets include (a) Airbus A321 G-GBNI, (b) Airbus A330 ZZ336, (c) Dassault Falcon 900LX Envoy IV G-ZAHS and G-ZABH.
No, the RAF Command Support Air Transport (CSAT) fleet comprises of two Envoy IV Dassault Falcon 900LX aircraft, G-ZAHS and G-ZABH. The Voyager aircraft, ZZ336, is operated alongside the main fleet of RAF Voyagers, on behalf of the RAF by AirTanker. It has a secondary role and can be tasked under Op VESPINA for the use of Head of State or Head of Government on State business only. The Airbus A321 (G-GBNI) is not a military aircraft. It is tasked by the Cabinet Travel Office under Government contract. CSAT is a military function, delivered to aid operational effectiveness including senior military leader partner engagements, crisis early entry, and the movement of operational information. It is separate to wider Government and Royal VIP passenger movement, delivered through the Ministerial Air Transport Contract and Royal Transport Office respectively. Military tasking of CSAT remains the priority throughout. This Government is committed to securing value for money for taxpayers. We cancelled the VIP helicopter contract which wasted millions under the previous Government. The money saved from cancelling this contract will be returned to Defence’s core budget- an estimated £40 million.
If the Government will make it its policy to ensure that the former Deputy Prime Minister is not given a severance payment.
This Government has introduced reforms to Ministerial severance pay to ensure severance payments are proportionate and fair. These changes will come into effect from 13 October. In the interim, while this is implemented, decisions as to whether a Minister accepts a severance payment is for the outgoing Minister.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2025 to Question 70748 on Disinformation, what (a) outputs and (b) reports on disinformation have been produced by the Government Communication Service using the Storyzy service.
Government Communication Service (GCS) has not produced any standalone reports on disinformation using Storyzy. The tool is used to assess factually incorrect information during crises or threats to national security/public safety that may require a government communications response.