Written questions by Holden.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that public sector bodies use the King's cypher rather than Queen Elizabeth II’s cypher.

The Cabinet Office, in collaboration with the Royal Household and the College of Arms, has developed and issued guidance on the use of all state symbols, including the royal cypher.This guidance is intended for use by the entire public sector.

What steps his Department is taking to help ensure that civil servants can express their lawful beliefs on (a) biological sex and (b) other issues.

Civil servants can express their lawful beliefs, as long as how they do so is consistent with the Civil Service Code, which outlines the standards of behaviour all civil servants are expected to uphold.

With reference to Table 14.1 of his Department's publication entitled Statistical bulletin - Civil Service Statistics: 2024, published on 31 July 2024, if he will publish a breakdown of the communications staff by public body.

Information on the number of civil servants by profession (including communications) in each government department and agency are published annually by Cabinet Office as part of the accredited official statistics publication ‘Civil Service Statistics’. Statistics for 2024 can be found at Table 8 in the data tables available at the following web address: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/civil-service-statistics-2024/statistical-bulletin-civil-service-statistics-2024#overview

When the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals last met.

The Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (known as the HD Committee) which is the policy-making body for the honours system, last met on 19th November 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 8125 on Government Departments: Staff, whether the transparency team in his Department reminds other Departments to update their organogram data; and how often Departments should publish that data.

Each individual department is required to publish this information regularly on gov.uk and is responsible for their own publication. Where possible departments should publish this information quarterly, and they have been issued guidance which contains a publishing schedule.

What the terms of reference of the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ 1251 on 31 July 2024.

Which Minister is responsible for the Infrastructure and Projects Authority; and for what reason the Authority is not in the List of Ministerial Responsibilities updated on 6 November 2024.

As Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office, I am the Minister responsible for the Infrastructure and Projects Authority. The List of Ministerial Responsibilities does not cover all responsibilities relating to every Arms-Length Body. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced on 10 October that the Government will be establishing the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA), which will be operational by spring 2025. NISTA will be formed by combining the functions of the National Infrastructure Commission and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority.

What the estimated aggregate cost was of employer contributions to Civil Service pension schemes in the most recent year for which figures are available.

The answer to the question raised is available in the public domain and can be found in the 2022/23 Civil Superannuation accounts on the UK Government website and the resources section of the Civil Service Pension website.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1207 on Ministers: Media and the Answer of 15 October 2024 to Question 7434 on Political Parties: Donors, whether his Department has issued guidance to Departments on what constitutes a senior media figure for the purposes of publishing that data.

Details of official meetings held in a ministerial capacity with external organisations or individuals are declared quarterly, alongside details of all meetings with senior media figures. Ministers’ Transparency Guidance, which is published on GOV.UK, details what constitutes a senior media figure for the purposes of publishing this data.

What guidance is available to the partners of Ministers on the acceptance of gifts.

The new Ministerial Code sets out the guiding principles ministers should consider when offered any gift, hospitality or service. These principles also apply to their family members. The new Ministerial Code also sets out details of a new Register of Ministers' Gifts and Hospitality, which brings the publication of ministerial transparency data more closely into line with the parliamentary regime for gifts and hospitality. Gifts, hospitality or services given to ministers in their capacity as constituency MPs or members of a political party fall within the rules relating to the Registers of Members’ and Lords’ Interests.

With reference to the announcement on freeports in October 2024 at the Commonwealth visit, what processes are in place to coordinate policy announcements between Departments and the Prime Minister's office.

The Budget announced five custom sites within Freeports will be opening, meaning that there will now be eight operational Freeports. I will not comment on internal Government processes.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7430 on the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals, if he will make an assessment of the current merits of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, as a British order of chivalry.

There is no further update to my answer of 10 October 2024, Official Report, PQ 7430.

With reference to the Prime Minister’s speech of 6 July 2024 and to the Cabinet Office guidance entitled List of Cabinet Committees and their membership, updated on 21 October 2024, for what reason the Prime Minister is not chairing the Mission Delivery Boards.

Missions are a priority for the Government. The Prime Minister has established a Cabinet committee structure, including mission boards, to support his policy agenda. Secretaries of State chair mission boards to drive delivery of mission outcomes, supported by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who is responsible for driving mission delivery across government, ensuring mission-led government is at the heart of the administration.

For what reason the Prime Minister’s new Envoy for the Nations and Regions did not attend the first meeting of the Council for the Nations and Regions.

The attendee list at the first meeting of the Council for the Nations and Regions was: the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, the First Ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, and the regional Mayors.

With reference to (a) written statement entitled Cabinet Committees, published on 10 October 2024, HCWS118 and (b) his Department's publication entitled List of Cabinet Committees, updated on 21 October 2024, for what reason the Deputy Prime Minister was not listed as a member of the National Security Committee in the version published on 10 October.

The National Security Council is a Cabinet Committee, membership of Cabinet Committees is decided by the Prime Minister. In recognition that the Deputy Prime Minister would be regularly invited to attend, she has been made a permanent member as of 21 October 2024.

Whether there was a cost to the public purse of the performance by Sir Elton John at the International Investment Summit.

There was no fee for Sir Elton John to perform at the International Investment Summit.

Pursuant to the answer of 21 October 2024, to Question HL1279, on Ministers: Official Gifts, whether the Prime Minister will pay a tax charge on his gifts from Lord Alli.

I refer the Right Hon. Member to my Noble Friend's answer of 07 October 2024, Official Report, HL1279. The Prime Minister follows the rules outlined in the Employment Income Manual.

Whether the Prime Minister plans to reinstate the portrait of Horatio Nelson in 10 Downing Street once it has undertaken its restoration work by the Government Art Collection.

The portrait of Horatio Nelson is currently with the Royal Museum Greenwich for frame conservation, and the portrait will be reinstated in 10 Downing Street once that work is complete.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 7568 on Civil Service: Productivity, what metrics his Department uses to assess productivity in the (a) Civil Service and (b) wider public sector.

Over the coming months the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury will continue to work with departments to improve productivity and efficiency both in the public sector and in the Civil Service. More detail on this work will be provided at the next multi-year Spending Review, due to conclude in Spring 2025. The Government is also developing a strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes quarterly and annual estimates for public service productivity. To further improve this world leading measure the ONS is undertaking a review of public service productivity, partnering with government departments, academics and expert users to help develop and improve methodology and data sources.

What steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) increase productivity in the civil service.

This Government is committed to improving the productivity of the public sector to deliver high quality public services, achieve value for money and support economic growth. The Government will develop a strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service, including bold options to improve skills, harness digital technology and drive better outcomes for public services.