Written questions by Holden.

What guidance his Department has issued to Ministers on declaring dual nationality to (a) their department and (b) the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of ministers’ private interests, which ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. More information about the process by which ministers declare interests and the categories of interests declared is available in the List of Ministers’ Interests, which is published on Gov.uk

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 January 2025 to Question 23894 on Eurostat: Office for National Statistics and the associated correspondence of 17 January 2025 from the National Statistician, if he will make it his policy to (a) publish on gov.uk and (b) deposit in the Library of the House the agreement with Eurostat.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 4th February is attached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18211 on Prime Minister: Aviation, whether this approach is different to that of the previous Prime Minister.

The approach remains the same as that of previous Prime Ministers.

What the estimated spending on Government (a) communications and (b) marketing is in 2024-25 (a) before and (b) after the Autumn Budget 2024.

Historical data on communication and marketing spend is listed by department on the Government efficiency, transparency and accountability page on GOV.uk. The Government Communications Service is expecting to save £85 million in 2024-25 from reducing unnecessary communications spend.

How many all-staff calls have been held in his Department since 4 July 2024; and how many staff attended each of those calls.

There have been a total of 10 all-staff calls during this period. The number of staff attending these calls were:2552233219262078188519161702390327253003

If he will make it his policy to fly the Cross of St George from 10 Downing Street on Saint Crispin’s Day in 2025.

I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer of 18 December 2024, Official Report, PQ 21060. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-12-18/21060

Pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23475 on 10 Downing Street: Shops, which items were manufactured in China; if he will provide a description of each item; and what the retail price is of each items.

Many of the items sold in the 10 Downing Street gift shop are made in the UK. A very small number of items, such as water bottles from a well known British supplier, are made globally, including in China. This was the case under the previous government.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question HL2719 on Legislation: Impact Assessments, if he will publish that letter.

It is a long-established precedent that internal government correspondence is not normally shared publicly, therefore we will not publish the letter. However, we continue to press Departments on their responsibility on these matters.

What the email address is for correspondence from hon. Members to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards.

As was the case when the Rt Hon member was a Minister in the department, correspondence from Members of Parliament addressed to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards can be submitted to the Cabinet Office using the contact details available in the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-ministers-and-responsibilities/list-of-ministerial-responsibilities-html

Whether his Department has issued guidance on the publication of declarations of political activity for public appointees.

I refer the Rt Honorable Gentleman to the answer to PQ 25696, answered on 30th January 2025.

Whether any staff in his Department are seconded from the London Borough of Camden.

Secondments are part of a range of ways of bringing talent and experience into the civil service for short periods of time and have been used by successive governments. Secondments are arranged at a business unit level and must follow the processes as set out in the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. Under the Plan for Change, the Cabinet Office is drawing together multi-disciplinary teams across the country including front line public service workers, policy officials and those with digital and data skills to pioneer public service reform.This includes one secondee from the London Borough of Camden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 26089 on Ministers and Public Appointments, whether that legal advice was sought.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 30 January in response to PQ 26089.

Whether the Government has received legal advice on the compatibility of (a) Ministerial and (b) special adviser appointments with section 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

As is a longstanding practice under successive administrations, Civil Service or legal advice on appointments is treated in confidence.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 December 2024 to Question 20833 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, if he will issue a Ministerial Correction with a working weblink to the Government Art Collection works from Downing Street.

The Government Art Collection lists artwork under the search term 'Downing Street' here: https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/?s=downing+street&display=artworkonly

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16512 on Government Communication Service and his Department's statistical bulletin entitled Civil Service Statistics: 2024, last updated August 2024, for what reason the figure of Government communicators differs between the answer provided and the headcount of all civil servants working in the Communications profession listed in the statistical bulletin.

The figures differ due to the different collection methodologies utilised, for example GCS’ data includes a greater number of organisations including public servants, public corporations and the NHS.

Whether the Prime Minister has met members of the 48 Group Club.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.

With reference to his Department's policy document entitled Governance Code on Public Appointments, published on 8 February 2024, whether recruitment competitions for public appointments can be re-opened once closed.

The Governance Code on Public Appointments, which has not changed since the General Election and is publicly available on gov.uk, advises that, as a recruitment competition closes, ministers should be consulted on the quality and diversity of the field and whether a competition should be extended. The Code also allows ministers to reject an Advisory Assessment Panel’s advice following the completion of a competition, and not appoint any candidates recommended to them, and if they desire to re-run a competition.

If the Prime Minister will ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to return part of her salary.

No. The Chancellor is paid according to the usual arrangements for ministerial salaries, which are unchanged since the previous government.

What diversity and inclusion (a) days and (b) weeks (i) his Department and (ii) the Office for Equality and Opportunity plans to mark in 2025.

In January, February and March the Carers’ networks are planning coffee drop-in sessions, but these are not linked to any particular days or weeks. We also expect to find appropriate ways to mark external events such as International Women’s Day on 8 March. We currently have no forward look of such events beyond the end of March.

What the policy of the Government Property Agency is on (a) retaining or (b) removing gender neutral toilets from the Government Estate, in the context of building regulations on toilets for new and refurbished buildings which came into effect in October 2024.

This policy is currently being reviewed following the launch of ‘Approved Document T: Toilet Accommodation’, including close consultation with MCLHG, the Health and Safety Executive and the Building Safety Regulator.