Written questions by Wood.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 August 2025 to Question 69070 on Syria: Inter Mediate, what meetings the Prime Minister’s National Security Adviser has had with Inter Mediate.

I refer the member back to PQ 73311.

Whether the iphones provided to No.10 staff use a Virtual Private Network.

It is a longstanding principle that for security reasons, it would not be appropriate to comment on 10 Downing Street’s IT systems.

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 (a) House of Commons Ministers and (b) civil servants will be eligible to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in 2026.

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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51154, if he will publish the declaration by the Ambassador to the United States of America.

It has been the long-standing policy under successive governments to require ambassadors to declare personal or business interests and report gifts and hospitality. These declarations are reviewed internally on a regular basis.

With reference to the press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether prison wardens are defined as working class, for the purpose of their children applying to the internship scheme.

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.

What information (a) his Department and (b) the Crown Commercial Service hold on the fee structures used by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd under the NEPRO3 framework; and what proportion of public contracts awarded through NEPRO3 in the 2024–25 financial year involved an undisclosed intermediary fee.

The price of each individual work order procured through Bloom Procurement Services Ltd for the Cabinet Office includes the 5% Delivery Partner’s Managed Services Fee. No other fees are applied.The Crown Commercial Service holds no information on the fee structures or intermediary fees used by Bloom Procurement Services Ltd under the NEPRO3 framework.

What his Department's policy is on whether (a) trade union diversity networks are eligible for trade union facility time and (b) whether staff can claim both diversity network time and facility time.

Trade unions are separate organisations from the Civil Service and they may have their own diversity networks for their members.In line with the Cabinet Office Facility Time Framework, trade union representatives are entitled to be granted reasonable unpaid time off to participate in trade union activities.

With reference to p.382 of the document entitled Central Government Supply Estimates 2024-25, Main Supply Estimates, HC139, published on 17 July 2025, what policy area relates to the Cabinet Office’s contingent liabilities that are subject to legal privilege.

The contingent liabilities referred to are related to a small number of cases and disputes which are subject to legal privilege. Given this, we are unable to disclose any details.

If he will place in the Library copies of each HR Connect newsletter issued since 1 January 2025.

HR Connect is an internal staff digital newsletter which provides updates and news relevant to civil servants in the People Function. As was the case under the previous administration, it is an internal document and therefore not intended for external publication

If he will undertake a public consultation on the proposed duty of candour.

The Government has committed to implement a ‘Hillsborough Law’ which will place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities, and criminal sanctions for those who do not comply.We remain fully committed to bringing in this legislation and we will continue to work with families and stakeholders.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2025, to Question 64828, on Central Government: Empty Property, if he will list the datasets that (a) were previously held on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service and (b) are now held on InSite.

The datasets previously held on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service comprised information on property, buildings, land, occupation, vacant space, and surplus assets. These were made publicly available on gov.uk at https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/c186e17f-654d-4134-aed7-b3f13469546a/epimstransparency. These datasets have now been superseded by the datasets now held on the InSite system, which include property, contract, building, land, occupation, vacant space, and surplus assets. These are also published on gov.uk at https://www.data.gov. uk/dataset/a3ad62cf-d8a2-4d3b-b3c6-24c35c5e0f71/the-government-property-estate-including-buildings-and-land to ensure continued transparency.

For what reason the Civil Service Board has ceased operation; and whether its functions have been taken over by (a) a new or (b) pre-existing body.

Following the appointment of the current Cabinet Secretary, a review of the Civil Service Governance arrangements took place, to identify what steps could be taken to make it simpler and more effective. As a consequence of the review, CSB ceased operations in January 2025. CSB’s functions are undertaken by a combination of the Head of Department, the People Board and the Civil Service Operations Board.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 40919 on Civil Servants: Personnel Management, if he will publish the Mutually Agreed Exits guidance.

Guidance on Mutually Agreed Exits will be published in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the policy paper entitled Profile: GRU cyber and hybrid threat operations, published on 18 July 2025, whether the GRU has (a) engaged with and (b) targeted UK (i) trade unions, (ii) political parties and (iii) party political activists.

The Government does not comment on specific operational national security matters and cannot comment on individual cases of victims.In July, the UK exposed Russia's persistent and increasing use of cyber and information operations for irresponsible, destructive and destabilising hybrid activity targeting the UK, Ukraine, and across the world. Our long-held position is that we respond to malicious cyber activity strategically, at a time of our choosing, and in a manner of our choosing but the UK and our allies will continue to expose those that aim to do us and our institutions harm. The UK is fully committed to combatting the full spectrum of malign activity emanating from Russia.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 40584 on 9 Downing Street: Media, if he will publish the (a) social value outcomes reports and (b) diversity reports from the last four quarters.

OCS will complete their own Social Value Outcome and Diversity reports. The GPA does not have any other plans or routes to publish Social Value delivery or diversity reports.

With reference to the Answer of 31 July 2025 to Question HL9824 on Government Departments: Public Lavatories, when that guidance was last updated.

The Government Workplace Design Guide was publicly updated in March 2022 and it is publicly available on gov.uk. The Government Property Agency's Inclusive Design Standards were published internally in March 2020 and is not currently available online. Both the Government Workplace Design Guide and the Inclusive Design Standards are actively being updated and guidance relating to toilet provision in government hubs will be updated to align with the requirements of Toilet Accommodation: Approved Document T. The guidance will also be updated accordingly on receipt of further guidance from the Equalities and Human Rights Commission expected in the Autumn.

With which (a) external processors and (b) IT suppliers are (i) special category data and (ii) other personal data shared under the College for National Security Privacy Notice, published on 19 June 2025; and whether any data is stored outside the UK.

No identifiable information is currently collected or stored by or with external processors or IT suppliers. Basic information required to allow courses to operate is stored on Cabinet Office systems and in line with information management best practice. As the College for National Security develops, personal data will need to be collected, managed and stored, and the College is currently considering how best to do that.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 April 2025 to Question 41254 on Ministers: Aviation, how much his Department has spend on carbon offsetting under the RM6251 Energy Supply Framework since July 2024; and how many tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent have been offset.

All travel using the GBNI aircraft is offset. This reflects the policy of successive administrations. The total carbon dioxide offset for FY24/25 was 4,582 tCO2e, costing £47,148.78. The offset for FY25/26 will be calculated at the end of the financial year, reflecting GBNI usage.

Whether his Department has made payments to Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office has no record of any payments made to Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024

With reference to his Department's guidance entitled Public Bodies Handbook – Part 2: The Approvals Process for the Creation of New Arm’s-Length Bodies, whether his Department's public bodies team assessed Passenger Standards Authority against the requirement that the creation of a new arm's length body should only be considered as a last resort; whether the Department for Transport provided evidence that alternative delivery models were considered; and which of the three tests in Chapter 2 of that guidance Great British Railways met.

The Department for Transport (DfT) is currently considering delivery options for the Passenger Watchdog.