Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32970 on Government Departments: Consultants, how the baseline for the communication and marketing spending reductions were calculated; and what the baseline aggregate figure is.

The baseline for communication and marketing spending reductions was calculated using the planned spend figures submitted by departments to the Cabinet Office as part of the advertising, marketing and communications spending control process. As a result, Autumn Budget 2024 confirmed an £85 million saving from reducing unnecessary communications spend in 2024-25 and up to £96m in 2025-26 – exceeding the £50 million target set out in the Chancellor's July 2024 Inheritance speech.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20698 on Foreign Investment in UK: National Security, if his Department will modify the National Security and Investment Act 2021 annual reporting to include the (a) number and (b) nature of transactions that relate to links to a company owned in (i) part and (ii) whole by a foreign state.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations. By publishing information on the origin of acquirer associated with acquisitions reviewed under the National Security and Investment Act 2021, the Cabinet Office goes beyond its obligations under Section 61 of the Act, providing greater transparency on the nature of acquisitions scrutinised. The reports do not specifically include the number or proportion of transactions that relate to links to a company owned in (a) part or (b) whole by a foreign state, however, they include the number of accepted notifications, call-in notices issued, final notifications issued, withdrawals from a called in acquisition and final orders issued by origin of investment. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK and includes the named Parties subject to the final order.

Whether decisions on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure will be published in Departmental annual reports; and whether his Department has had discussions with Departmental accounting officers on this matter.

Due to the timing of the publication of the EDI Expenditure Guidance, reporting external equality, diversity and inclusion spend in Annual Reporting Accounts will be possible from the 2025/2026 financial year.

How many arms length bodies have been (a) created and (b) abolished since July 2024.

Please see my previous answer of 8 January 2025. Individual departments are responsible for any proposals to open or close ALBs.

How many civil servants jobs the Government plans to remove in this Parliament.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has made public commitments to a smaller centre of government. The Government is taking forward a number of measures to deliver greater efficiency and transformation in the Civil Service, including setting an admin spend reduction target. Each department will take a decision on its individual size and shape as per the financial settlement it agrees with HMT in the Spending Review, due for conclusion in June 2025.

Whether his Department has a log of the exemptions permitted to the guidance on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure for (a) departments and (b) arm’s length bodies.

Yes, a log of exemptions which have been reported to the Cabinet Office is held. This relates to exemptions reported by Civil Service organisations only.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 21386 on Workplace Pensions: Inheritance Tax, what the benefits are of the The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013; and how those benefits differ from the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993.

The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Sir Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013 only provide for pension increases. The pension scheme to which these regulations relate was made by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office and laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. The terms of the "Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC" are akin to those of the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (JUPRA).

With reference to the letter from the Leader of the House to the Rt hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 14 April 2025 on Written Parliamentary Questions, reference LP/MP657, if he will provide a substantive reply to the issues raised.

I have nothing further to add to the letter from the Leader of the House to the Rt Hon Member for Billericay and Basildon.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39118 on Prime Minister: Press Conferences, what his Department’s policy is on the use of political party (a) fittings and (b) furniture at official government events.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Ministerial Code and Propriety and Ethics Guidance for Government Communicators, available on gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37428 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, if he will ask the Government Digital Service to develop a website database allowing (a) cumulative and (b) cross-Government transparency data to be (i) searched and (ii) exported.

Government integrity data is already published in a format which can be exported. The government publishes this data in CSV files in an accessible open data format, as per the standard and best practice guidance from the Government Digital Service and Central Digital and Data Office. In addition, since January, data on ministers’ gifts and hospitality has been published in one central register. The government does not have current plans to make any further changes to how this data is published.

Who sits on the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and whether the list of members has been published.

The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.

Who appointed each member of the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; what the appointment process was; and on what dates each person was appointed.

The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.

For what reason agendas for National Security Council meetings are not available to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

It remains longstanding precedent that information relating to discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its sub-committees, including agendas, are not disclosed. This Government is committed to providing spaces for Ministers to debate freely and frankly in private. This convention applies to engagement with Parliament and Select Committees and the Government routinely rejects requests for this information from other Select Committees. Therefore, whilst this Government is actively pursuing greater transparency with Parliament, this principle of non-disclosure continues to cover this matter.

Whether he plans to introduce capability-based pay in the civil service.

The government believes pay and reward structures should incentivise expertise and high performance. The Cabinet Office is reviewing capability-based pay arrangements that already exist in the Civil Service to analyse their impact on organisations that have implemented such arrangements already.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39582 on Public Appointments, if he will provide the information in relation to public appointment competitions within the remit of (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street.

It is important that any recommendations made by Advisory Assessment Panels, and any exchanges they have with Ministers, remain confidential to ensure the flow of free and frank advice during the public appointment process. To uphold this confidentiality, disclosure of such information would likely affect the effectiveness of central government and other public services and will therefore not be released.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37814 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews have been paused.

The Public Bodies Review Programme closed as planned on 31st March 2025, and we will no longer be tracking reviews proposed as part of this programme.On the 7th of April 2025, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a process to rapidly review every arms length body across government.

If he will provide a manual to each household on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.

Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.

Whether he plans to provide a manual for householders on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.

Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.

How many times equality, diversity and inclusion spending control decisions been delegated to permanent secretaries since May 2024.

Since May 2024, eight departments have reported to the Cabinet Office that they have delegated decisions regarding external equality, diversity and inclusion spending controls to their Permanent Secretary.

Whether the UK Statistics Authority plans to implement recommendation 56 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 22nd April is attached.