Written questions by Holden.

With reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2999 on Ministers: Official Cars, to which Department each of the (a) electric and (b) hybrid cars was allocated.

Departments are allocated a combination of electric and hybrid vehicles based on operational and security requirements. However, details of the specific vehicles allocated to individual Ministers or departments are not disclosed. Sharing this information, particularly when combined with other publicly available details, could compromise the security of Ministers and their transport arrangements.

With reference to Question 70 of the oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 4 December 2024 on The work of the Cabinet Office, HC 463, what the (a) current and (b) target size is for the number of staff in the EU Relations Secretariat.

On 24 July 2024, the Prime Minister announced via a Written Ministerial Statement that responsibility for the UK’s relationship with the EU, including co-chairing the ministerial structures under the UK’s treaties with the EU, would move to the Cabinet Office. The EU Relations Secretariat was established in the Cabinet Office to give effect to the Government's manifesto commitments to reset the relationship with the EU, deliver on our commitments in the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement, and implement the Windsor Framework in good faith and protect the UK's internal market. The EU Relations Secretariat brings together civil servants who were already working on EU relations from across the government. The data on this headcount will be published in the usual way.

With reference to Question 28 of the oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 4 December 2024 on The work of the Cabinet Office, HC 463, what his planned timetable is for publishing the modernised public directory of Arm’s Length Bodies.

The Cabinet Office's Arm's Length Bodies Landscape Analysis 2023 was published on 17 December 2024.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2024 to Question 16595 on Cabinet Office: Pay, what the mean salary is of a civil servant in the (a) Women's Equality Unit, (b) Race Disparity Unit and (c) Disability Unit.

Salaries ranges for each civil servant grade are set by the Cabinet Office and are not at the discretion of the individual business units such as the Office for Equality and Opportunity. Details of Cabinet Office structure and salaries are due to be published on the 30th of January 2025 as part of transparency reporting.

Pursuant to the answer of 5 December 2024 to Question 16596 on Cabinet Office: Senior Civil Servants, how he plans to publish details of the panel members.

Details of panel members will be published on Gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 November 2024 to Question 14352 on Government Departments: X Corp, and with reference to the SAFE Framework: the 4 principles for HMG Brand Safety, how many platforms have been removed from the HMG Inclusion List in the last 12 months; what the reasons for their removal were; and what appeals process is available for platforms seeking reinstatement.

HMG operates an inclusion list of websites for programmatic advertising that meet the existing HMG acceptable standards. This inclusion list does not cover platforms, which are assessed separately. No platforms have been removed in the last 12 months.

With reference to Question 28 of the oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 4 December 2024 on The work of the Cabinet Office, HC 463, if he will publish a breakdown of the £105 million of potential savings; and which of those savings have been implemented.

The details of the savings identified by each public body review under the Public Bodies Review Programme are already published individually on gov.uk. Each department is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the relevant savings by its public bodies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 17545 on Prime Minister: Public Appointments, if he will list the public appointments for which the Prime Minister is directly responsible; and when the term of office ends for each.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer of 11 December, Official Report, PQ 17545. The end dates of appointments are published alongside their announcement on gov.uk.

With reference to Questions 10 to 12 of the oral evidence to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 4 December 2024 on The work of the Cabinet Office, HC 463, whether his Department plans to publish a formal response to Lord Maude’s review on governance and accountability in the Civil Service.

The Department will consider Lord Maude's recommendations as this government develops its strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 December 2024 to Question 16598 on Ministers: Official Cars, whether he has a target date for the Government Car Service to move to a fully-electric fleet.

The Government remains committed to its target for all government vehicles to be zero emission by the end of 2027. The Government Car Service will continue working towards this goal, aligning its transition plans with the broader objectives set for the fleet.

Whether he plans to publish a prospectus to allow public bodies to bid for the Public Sector Reform and Innovation Fund.

The Test & Learns are a new way of working. The Cabinet office will be working across government and with local partners to codesign the detailed approach to the allocation of the Innovation Fund in early 2025.

Which Minister is the legal owner of 10 Downing Street.

The registered legal title of 10 Downing Street is held in the name of the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, as has been the case under successive governments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 16510 on Public Sector: Procurement, if he will exempt SMEs from the new National Procurement Policy Statement’s requirements on (a) social value and (b) trade union recognition and access.

The government will publish a new National Procurement Policy Statement shortly. The Procurement Act, due to come into force in February 2025, requires contracting authorities to have regard to the particular barriers facing SMEs, and to consider what can be done to overcome them.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to staff in the (a) Cabinet Office, (b) Office for Equalities and Opportunities and (b) Civil Service People Group on holding in-house Christmas parties.

The position on parties and personal conduct has not changed since the previous administration.The “Away days, staff days, and celebrations” policy covers any proprietary issues and the approvals required. Additionally, the standards of behaviour which all staff are expected to adhere to and their responsibilities both in and outside of the workplace are outlined in the Civil Service Code, and Cabinet Office “Personal conduct” and “Alcohol, drug misuse and smoking” policies. All internal policies are published on the Cabinet Office intranet and available to all staff.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s speech of 5 December 2024 on Plan for Change at Pinewood Studios, what the cost to the public purse was of that event, including the cost of the backdrop and branding.

In line with successive governments, departmental spending on official events that meet the criteria are published online quarterly.

With reference to (a) the Crown Prosecution Service, Annual Report and Accounts 2013–14, July 2014, HC6, page 73, and (b) The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013, what the metric is by which the Keir Starmer QC Pension Scheme has been uprated by inflation each year; and if he will list the pension benefits offered to pension scheme’s member.

I refer the right honourable member to the answer given to PQ UIN 2321 on 2 September 2024. The uprating mechanism and benefits have not changed since the Scheme was made in 2013.

With reference to Qs8 and 17 of the oral evidence given by the Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee on 4 December 2024, HC 463, if he will list each of the 40 distinct groups within the Cabinet Office.

As of December 2024, there were 37 established business units within the Cabinet Office. This number will change following recent Machinery of Government changes. . CABINET OFFICE BUSINESS UNITS (as at 19 Dec 2024)NO 10 AND DELIVERY GROUPPrime Minister's OfficeMission Delivery UnitSECRETARIATS, SECURITY AND PARLIAMENTNational Security SecretariatEconomic and Domestic SecretariatBordersPropriety and Constitution GroupGovernment in ParliamentJoint Intelligence OrganisationGovernment Security FunctionUK Security VettingEuropean Relations SecretariatGOVERNMENT FUNCTIONSGovernment Digital ServiceCentral Digital and Data OfficeGovernment Communication ServiceGovernment Commercial and Grants FunctionPublic Sector Fraud AuthorityInfrastructure and Projects AuthorityOffice of Government PropertyGovernment People GroupGovernment People Group - Government Recruitment ServicePublic Sector Reform and EfficiencyCORPORATE SERVICESCO Operating Officer OfficeOffice for Veterans' AffairsCO People and PlacesCO Strategy, Finance, and PerformanceCO HMT CommercialCO DigitalCO Strategy DirectorateINQUIRY RESPONSEPublic Inquiry Response UnitInfected Blood Inquiry - Response TeamOFFICE FOR EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITYOffice for Equality and OpportunitiesINDEPENDENTIntelligence and Security CommitteeGrenfell InquiryInfected Blood InquiryCovid InquiryCivil Service CommissionOffice of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

Whether the new National Security Adviser can direct civil servants; and for what reason he was appointed as a special adviser.

In line with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, special advisers cannot manage civil servants.

What the Government’s priorities are for the honours system.

The priorities for the honours system are available online: https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/governance/#primeminister

For what reason Sue Gray was not appointed as Envoy for the Nation and Regions.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given by my Noble Friend on 4 December, Official Report, PQ HL2660.