Written questions by Holden.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recommendation 57 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.

The Civil Service Code, which is published and available here, sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants. Work is currently in development to issue model guidance on the management and governance of Staff Networks and apply this to all voluntary employee networks to ensure the Civil Service position is clear for all civil servants.

With reference to the publication entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated in May 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing this data quarterly.

The Cabinet Office currently publishes performance data on departmental timeliness in responding to Parliamentarians only. While the report on responding to MPs and Peers is published annually, the data is broken down in the report on a quarterly basis.

With reference to the publication entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated in May 2024, what statistics are collated on departmental timeliness to responding to correspondence from people and organisations other than Parliamentarians.

The Cabinet Office currently publishes performance data on departmental timeliness in responding to Parliamentarians only. While the report on responding to MPs and Peers is published annually, the data is broken down in the report on a quarterly basis.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39687 on Government Departments: Aviation, whether Ministers’ travel on helicopters will be (a) published in quarterly travel returns and (b) listed in each Department’s spending data (i) in aggregate and (ii) individually.

As was the case under the previous administration, data on ministers’ travel is published on a quarterly basis which includes defining the mode of transport used. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications#2024

What procurement process was used to appoint D F Press Ltd as the media adviser to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; whether the appointment was subject to open competition; and what the (a) value and (b) duration of the contract is.

The current contract’s duration is from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2025 with a value of £110,000 excluding VAT. The contract was procured via Single Tender Action.

What guidance his Department has issued on whether the requirement to record informal lobbying approaches applies to special advisers.

The expectations surrounding the conduct of special advisers are outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. No additional guidance has been issued by the Department to special advisers concerning the requirement to record informal lobbying approaches.

Whether allegations of bullying under paragraph 1.5 of the Ministerial Code are assessed by the impact of behaviour on individuals; whether an absence of awareness of any harm caused is a relevant factor in determining whether a breach has occurred; and whether the Government has a definition of bullying for the purposes of interpreting the Code.

I refer the Hon Member to PQ43119.

With reference to the Spring Statement 2025 on 26 March 2025, whether changes have been made to the Government’s missions’ (a) metrics and (b) methodology.

The Plan for Change set out clear and transparent milestones, and our plan to achieve them. These milestones allow the public to track our progress and hold the government to account for their delivery. There have been no changes to these milestones since the publication of the Plan for Change.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39591 on Crown Commercial Service and Government Property Agency: Equality, which diversity and inclusion (a) days and (b) weeks have been recognised by (i) Government Property Agency and (ii) the Crown Commercial Service since 4 July 2024.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 in response to question 41107.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 October 2024 to Question HL1472 on Government Department: Directors, whether the (a) No10 Appointments Unit and (b) Cabinet Office Appointments Team hold information on the number of (i) non-executive and (ii) other public appointment posts that have become available before the expiry of their set term since 4 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office does not hold this information.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 30828 on 9 Downing Street: Media, and with reference to the Cabinet Office: spend data over £25,000 - February 2025, published on 27 March 2025, whether the £122,086.70 entry for OCS UK&I Limited is the full cost of the No.9 media room refurbishment; and if he will publish the associated invoices.

The referenced entry is unrelated to the 9 Downing Street media room. The cost of these works will be published in due course in Cabinet Office transparency returns.

If he will place in the Library a copy of the request from FDA for voluntary recognition of a trade union for special advisers.

The government does not publish such information.

In what circumstances new public bodies do not have to meet the last resort test in the Approvals Process guidance for new Arm's Length Bodies.

An ALB needs to pass at least one of three tests: (1) it is a technical function that requires external expertise (2) it needs to be delivered with political impartiality, or (3) it needs to be delivered independently from Ministers to establish facts and figures with integrity. The Cabinet Office makes an assessment based on the information provided by the department.

Whether officials in Downing Street use the Signal app.

Ministers and officials use a range of communication methods and there are longstanding appropriate arrangements and guidance in place for the management of electronic communications.

How many lecterns are (a) held by Downing Street and (b) on loan from Downing Street to other public bodies.

Downing Street holds 7 lecterns, all of which were inherited from previous governments.

How many civil servants exits will be funded by the £150 million government employee exit schemes; and whether this will include civil service compensation scheme payments for (a) voluntary and (b) compulsory exits.

The Cabinet Office and HM Treasury are working together to determine how best this investment can be used by departments to support their individual exit schemes, the terms of which will vary from organisation to organisation.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29019 on Civil Servants: Recruitment, what is the process by which a Minister can request a department (a) appoint and (b) consider appointing a specific individual to the Civil Service without open and fair competition below SCS2 level.

The Civil Service Recruitment principles outline the process by which grades below SCS can be appointed without fair and open competition. This includes guidance about the involvement of Ministers in the recruitment process. The process and approach remains consistent with that applied by the previous administration.

With reference to the transparency data entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated on 23 May 2024, for what reason there are different target response times for different Departments.

As outlined in the Guide to Handling Correspondence, all Government departments and agencies must aim to respond to correspondence within 20 working days. Government departments and agencies can set their own more ambitious deadlines if they want to do so.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to Ministers on whether they may undertake personal visits whilst on official Ministerial visits overseas.

Guidance on overseas visits by Ministers is found in Chapter 10 of the Ministerial Code.

With reference to paragraph 1.5 of the Ministerial Code, published on 6 November 2024, whether civil service workplace standards are used to interpret these requirements; and whether the Prime Minister is responsible for determining what constitutes (a) bullying and (b) harassment.

The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of behaviour which the Prime Minister expects of ministers. As set out at paragraph 2.1, the Prime Minister is the ultimate judge of those standards of behaviour and of the appropriate consequences for any breach of those standards.