Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51165 on Government Departments: Flags, whether VAT was paid on the purchases; what the size of the flags purchased was; and whether the flags were (a) printed and (b) sewn.

VAT was paid at point of purchase by the Government Property Agency (GPA) Regional Supply Chain Provider. Where GPA is making a purchase, to ensure quality and longevity, where possible, sewn flags are purchased. The size of the Pride flag is 4 yards. This is a sewn flag and was provided roped and toggled. The size of the Ukraine flag is 3 yards. This is a sewn flagged and was provided roped and toggled.

Media and Sport, if he will ask Ofcom to withdraw its consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on 12 May 2025.

Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.

Media and Sport, if he will make an estimate of the cost of the Ofcom consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on 12 May 2025.

Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.

Media and Sport, whether he has had recent (a) discussions, (b) meetings and (c) correspondence with Ofcom on its consultation entitled Politicians presenting news: Consultation on proposed amendment to Rule 5.3 of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, published on 12 May 2025.

Ofcom is required by legislation to draw up and enforce a Broadcasting Code. This Code must include rules to ensure that broadcast news is reported with due accuracy and presented with due impartiality. Ofcom must then keep the contents of the Code under regular review. Ofcom, by law, carries out its duties independently of the Government. For this reason, it would not be appropriate for the Department to either assess the impact of, or ask Ofcom to withdraw, its present consultation addressing whether or not to amend rule 5.3; and, for the same reason, the Secretary of State has not discussed this issue with them.

How many instances there have been of foreign-owned companies using shell companies to bypass the National Security and Investment Act 2021 since 5 July 2024.

Under the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, the Government identifies and takes action in investments and other acquisitions of control in the UK economy that could harm our national security. Our powers apply to all types of acquirer. Acquisitions in the most sensitive parts of our economy are subject to mandatory notification regardless of the type of acquirer. The Government also monitors the market at all times to identify acquisitions of potential national security interest. The Government will conduct due diligence on acquisitions under review. This is backed up by statutory information gathering powers and the ability to impose civil or criminal penalties for noncompliance. Further guidance on the NSI Act and how it applies to different types of acquisition is available on GOV.UK.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51962 on Abellio Greater Anglia and c2c: Standards, what her planned timeline is for the improvements to Cambridge South Station; when the Transport and Works Act Order for the project was issued; when did construction begin; and when it is expected to be completed.

The Transport and Works Act Order for Cambridge South was granted in December 2022, and construction work began on site in February 2023. We expect the new station to open early in 2026; an exact date will be confirmed later in the year.

Pursuant to the Answer of 2 May 2025 to Question 47820 on Office for Value for Money: Aviation, if she will make it her policy to instruct the Office for Value for Money to undertake an assessment into the value for money of Ministers’ use of non-scheduled flights.

At the Autumn Budget, the Chancellor tasked the Office for Value for Money with supporting Value for Money (VfM) decisions as part of the spending review, including supporting departments to develop efficiency targets underpinned by credible delivery plans, scrutinising investment proposals and conducting studies into cross-cutting issues where there is a high-risk of poor VfM. The OVfM will also recommend reforms to the spending framework. The OVfM’s remit has not changed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2025 to Question 47817 on Ministry of Justice: Equality, if she will publish all documentation associated with the training on creating inclusive virtual teams.

Training materials associated with the Ministry of Justice’s course Creating Inclusive Virtual Teams are subject to copyright and confidentiality considerations.The documentation includes proprietary material provided by third-party training providers under licence and therefore cannot be published in full.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48551 on Trade Union Recognition, what criteria he will use to assess whether to lower the recognition threshold.

The Government will consider what criteria to assess whether to lower the recognition threshold in due course, including through the public consultation process.

What steps he is taking to support dementia-friendly adaptations in pubs and hospitality venues.

We want people with dementia to live well and remain independent for as long as possible in their communities.Through the Dementia Friendly Communities programme, we are making society more inclusive, with communities and organisations committing to support people to continue to do the things they want to do, including going to the pub or attending hospitality venues, for as long as possible.For example, we continue to support initiatives, such as the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Support initiative, which link people, their families, and carers with local support services.

With reference to the press release of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament of 1 May 2025, whether he plans to re-locate the Committee's secretariat to outside the Cabinet Office.

We are engaging constructively with the Intelligence and Security Committee and will continue to do so over the coming months.

Further to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51956 on 10 Downing Street: Energy Performance Certificates, (a) what steps have been taken to date and (b) what steps are planned for the future.

10-12 Downing Street is a listed building. The building’s Display Energy Certificate (DEC) shows the building’s energy performance operational rating at C which is above average for a building of this type. Recent energy reduction measures include thermal insulation and installation of low energy lighting.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13435 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether there are non-routine circumstances in which (a) Ministers, (b) senior officials and (c) senior members of the armed forces remain eligible to use military helicopters for official travel.

Ministry of Defence policy allows for senior leader use of military helicopters in emergency circumstances, linked to matters of immediate national security only.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 47348 on Conditions of Employment, what comparative estimate he has made of the workload of the (a) Fair Work Agency and (b) existing bodies being merged into Fair Work Agency.

The Fair Work Agency will take over responsibility for the labour market enforcement currently undertaken by the Employment Agency Standards Inspectorate, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and HMRC’s National Minimum Wage team. It will also, in time, take on enforcing additional rights such as holiday pay and sick pay. The specific legislation the Fair Work Agency will enforce is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 7 of the Employment Rights Bill.More detail will be provided around the details of how the Fair Work Agency will operate including workload and funding in due course.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the proposed deal with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands amends the status of (a) the waters of the British Indian Ocean Territory's Water and (b) the Blue Belt Programme.

The agreement will be supported by an enhanced partnership between the UK and Mauritius on conservation. This partnership will prioritise high conservation standards, with the UK supporting Mauritius' ambitions to establish a Marine Protected Area (MPA) that protects the globally significant ecosystems in the Chagos Archipelago.

Media and Sport, what her planned timetable is for future public appointment competitions for the Charity Commission when existing terms expire.

Preparations are currently being made to launch the process to appoint a new Chair of the Charity Commission for England and Wales and the role will be advertised on gov.uk in due course. This will be a fair and open process, run in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

What steps his Department has taken to improve transparency in the decision making process for foreign acquisitions of UK firms under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK. The government also publishes annual reports to provide information about the transactions that it has been notified about and those it subsequently called in for a national security assessment. Extensive guidance is available on GOV.UK to help those interested understand how they may be affected by the Act, including the NSI Section 3 Statement, which sets out how the government expects to exercise its call-in power under the NSI regime. Decisions made under the Act may be subject to judicial review. By providing businesses and investors with legally defined timelines and processes for decisions on acquisitions, the Act seeks to protect the UK’s national security whilst giving businesses the certainty they need to invest and help to grow the economy. We keep the NSI Act under regular review to ensure it is working effectively.

Whether the Government has amended its risk assessment criteria for foreign-state linked acquisition companies under the National Security and Investment Act since 5 July 2024.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK. The government also publishes annual reports to provide information about the transactions that it has been notified about and those it subsequently called in for a national security assessment. Extensive guidance is available on GOV.UK to help those interested understand how they may be affected by the Act, including the NSI Section 3 Statement, which sets out how the government expects to exercise its call-in power under the NSI regime. Decisions made under the Act may be subject to judicial review. By providing businesses and investors with legally defined timelines and processes for decisions on acquisitions, the Act seeks to protect the UK’s national security whilst giving businesses the certainty they need to invest and help to grow the economy. We keep the NSI Act under regular review to ensure it is working effectively.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2024 to Question 5278 on Cabinet Office: Departmental responsibilities, whether he plans any further changes.

Any such changes would be announced in the normal way.

Whether his Department plans to expand the methods by which UK companies can appeal decisions made by the Government under the powers of the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act 2021, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK. The government also publishes annual reports to provide information about the transactions that it has been notified about and those it subsequently called in for a national security assessment. Extensive guidance is available on GOV.UK to help those interested understand how they may be affected by the Act, including the NSI Section 3 Statement, which sets out how the government expects to exercise its call-in power under the NSI regime. Decisions made under the Act may be subject to judicial review. By providing businesses and investors with legally defined timelines and processes for decisions on acquisitions, the Act seeks to protect the UK’s national security whilst giving businesses the certainty they need to invest and help to grow the economy. We keep the NSI Act under regular review to ensure it is working effectively.