Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 16510 on Public Sector: Procurement, what his timetable is for publishing the National Procurement Policy Statement; and whether he plans to consult with stakeholders on his proposed procurement policy.

The government will publish a new National Procurement Policy Statement under the Procurement Act that will support the Government’s missions, drive value for money and deliver social value. We have been consulting with stakeholders on the development of the statement. This has included a series of roundtable discussions, and an online NPPS stakeholder survey. The new National Procurement Policy Statement will be completed in time for the commencement of the Procurement Act on 24 February 2025.

Whether the Ministerial residence in 10 Downing Street pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence and (b) second home.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is currently allocated the flat above 10 Downing Street and pays full council tax.

When he plans to publish a list of the salaries of special advisers.

Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs is published annually in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration. The 2025 Annual Report on Special Advisers will be published next year

With reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2664 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, whether the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I will be permanently installed in 11 Downing Street.

The Government Art Collection website lists the artworks on display in Downing Street https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/?s=downing+street&display=artworkonly

What information the Government Communications Service holds on the level of cross-government spending on external public relations firms in the last year for which figures are available.

This information is not centrally held by the Cabinet Office.

What information his Department holds on whether the former Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. hon. Member for Doncaster North, accepted a severance payment upon his departure as Leader of the Opposition via the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

Certain office-holders, including the Leader of the Opposition, are entitled to a severance payment when they leave office under the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991. Under this provision, the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP received a severance payment when he left the office of Leader of the Opposition in 2015. Severance payments to office-holders are paid from the Consolidated Fund and published in the Consolidated Fund Annual Account. The relevant account is available on gov.uk at the following address: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a75a0dfe5274a545822cfbe/consolidated_funds_web.pdf.

Whether the Civil Service pension scheme administrator MyCSP is a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

MyCSP is a private company and carries out most of the day-to-day administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, under a contract with the Cabinet Office. As a private company, MyCSP is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Cabinet Office is a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act.

How many non-departmental public bodies has the Government (a) announced it will open, (b) opened, (c) announced it will close and (d) closed since 4 July 2024.

Cabinet Office maintains records and oversight of formally established Arm’s Length Bodies, including NDPBs. No NDPBs have been formally established since 4 July 2024. Similarly, there have been no formal closures of NDPBs since 4 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13327 on DCMS: Official Visits, when he plans to announce when he plans to publish the (a) Q1 and (b) Q2 transparency data.

Quarterly transparency data for 1 April to 30 June 2024 was published on 28 November 2024. Quarterly transparency data for 1 July to 30 September 2024 will be published shortly.

With reference to his Department's transparency data on meetings with senior media figures, whether (a) Meta, (b) X and (c) other social media organisations are classed as media.

Guidance on ministers’, special advisers’, and senior officials’ transparency returns is published on GOV.UK and includes details of who would be considered senior media figures for these purposes.

With reference to his Department's guidance entitled Freedom of Information - FOI Clearing House Review, updated on 14 December 2023, if he will make it his policy to produce a regular digest of Round Robin lists.

Details of the FOI Round Robin process are published on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-and-freedom-of-information. As with the previous administration, this Government will continue to look into the possibility of producing a regular digest of Round Robin lists.

With reference to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question HL2359 on Ministers: Pay, which Minister is paid by the Labour Party; and whether they receive a Ministerial pension contribution.

The Member for Lewisham West and East Dulwich is paid by the Labour Party for her position as party chair. She also serves as the Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office. She does not receive a salary under the provisions of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975, and therefore is not entitled to receive a ministerial pension contribution.

How many civil servants work in the Government People Group; and what the annual cost of the Group is.

As at 9th December 2024, 836 (789 full time equivalent) civil servants work in Government People Group. Government People Group also currently directly employs 2097 Fast Streamers, through 14 centrally managed, profession based Fast Stream leadership development schemes. All Fast Streamers are deployed across government in roles covering a range of government professions.2023/24 financial year operating costs relating to activities and services delivered by the Group were £254m. This includes the cost of Fast Streamers employed and deployed across government on non Government People Group activities.

Pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 13821 on Infrastructure and Projects Authority: Departmental Responsibility, which Minister will be responsible for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.

The Government will confirm the responsible Minister for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority in due course.

If he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of variations in practice on the publication of Government Procurement Card and Electronic Purchasing Card transaction data by Government Departments.

The policy setting out the requirement to publish Government Procurement Card transactions over £500 remains in place. This is available to all government departments on gov.uk at the following link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5e8b402686650c18ce2cb541/Procurement_Cards_-_Pan_Government_Policy_V4_06042020.pdf The policy clearly sets out the standard that departments must publish to, which includes transaction date, transaction reference, merchant name and the amount spent.

What information the Government holds on how many Ministers have criminal convictions.

There is an established process in place for the appointment of ministers.Expectations of the standards of conduct expected of all government ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.

With reference to the Civil Service Jobs advertisement reference 378636, why four positions are being recruited; whether they are new positions; and whether the former incumbents left since 4 July 2024.

The roles advertised are to support No10 buildings facilities team. They are replacement roles due to vacancies and upcoming retirement, which existed under the previous government – not new roles.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Conclusion of His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme, published on 28 November 2024, if he will list each (a) UK, (b) Welsh and (c) Scottish Government public body which was eligible for but did not order a free portrait.

Public authorities throughout the United Kingdom were given an opportunity to apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King if they wanted to display it in their building. This was a voluntary scheme to mark the accession of His Majesty The King. The announcement was originally made on 1 April 2023 and the scheme was launched in November that year and closed for applications in August 2024.As it was a voluntary scheme, there was no obligation for public authorities to apply for a portrait. It would therefore be inappropriate to disclose the list of individual authorities and institutions which did not order a free portrait.

When the Prime Minister became aware of the previous fraud conviction of the former Transport Secretary, the Rt Hon. Member for Sheffield Heeley.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the statements the Prime Minister has already made about the former Transport Secretary’s resignation at Prime Minister’s questions on 4 December.

With reference to the press release entitled Conclusion of His Majesty the King’s free portrait scheme, published on 28 November 2024, which local authorities did not request a portrait, excluding town and parish councils.

Public authorities throughout the United Kingdom were given an opportunity to apply for a free portrait of His Majesty The King if they wanted to display it in their building. This was a voluntary scheme to mark the accession of His Majesty The King. The announcement was originally made on 1 April 2023 and the scheme was launched in November that year and closed for applications in August 2024.As it was a voluntary scheme, there was no obligation for public authorities to apply for a portrait. It would therefore be inappropriate to disclose the list of individual authorities and institutions which did not order a free portrait.