Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Holden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 2,121–2,140 of 2,912 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question HL6032 on Arm's Length Bodies, whether the Child Protection Authority for England will be a new public body.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Home Office, Minister Jess Phillips, announced on 8 April that the Government will establish a new Child Protection Authority which will be delivered from within the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel. It is not currently planned to be an arm’s-length body.
Pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2025 to Question 48561 on Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, if he will ask the (a) National Statistician and (b) Chief Executive of UK Statistics Authority to publish a response to the recommendations once they have considered the report.
The UK Statistics Authority (UKSA), including the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is a Non Ministerial Department and is accountable to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Parliament, the Sennedd and the Northern Ireland Executive. As an independent statutory body, it is a matter for the UKSA and the ONS as to how they choose to respond to the independent review of data, statistics and research on sex and gender that was published by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on 19 March 2025.
Whether the (a) electricity, (b) gas and (b) water utilities of the Admiralty House residences are individually metered.
Utilities in Admiralty House residences are not individually metered.
Whether the Cabinet Office Public Bodies Team has assessed the Ethics and Integrity Commission against the requirement that the creation of a new arm's-length body should only be considered as a last resort; and whether his Department has provided evidence that alternative delivery models are being considered.
Any proposals to create new public bodies will be considered by the government’s ongoing review of all ALBs, announced on 7 April. This review is part of the government’s plan to streamline the state by closing, merging or repatriating public bodies into departments unless their separate existence can be strongly justified.
Pursuant to the Answer of 6 May 2025 to Question 49055 on Government Departments: Equality, if he will publish the facility time framework.
A copy of the Facility Time Framework and its supporting guidance has been deposited in the House Library.
What assessment he has made of the potential impact of China General Nuclear Power Corporation’s involvement in the construction of Hinkley Point C on cyber-security.
To build and operate a nuclear site, a security plan, which includes cyber security, must be put in place and approved by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR). The ONR, an independent regulator, then ensures that plan is effectively enforced. The security of nuclear facilities will continue to remain paramount for ONR and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Innovation and Technology, whether a Data Protection Impact Assessment has been undertaken on the Gov.UK One Login system.
A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) has been undertaken for GOV.UK One Login. We continually develop our DPIA to take into account the new identity verification journeys, such as the no photo ID route.
Whether trade union activity must be declared by people who are appointed to regulated public appointments.
The Governance Code on Public Appointments requires that candidates for regulated public appointments must be asked to declare potential conflicts of interest in their application. It is the responsibility of the Advisory Assessment Panel to satisfy itself that all candidates for appointment can meet the standards set out in the Seven Principles of Public Life and have no conflicts of interest that would call into question their ability to perform the role. All potential conflicts of interest and how they might be managed must be discussed with an individual during the interview. A potential conflict should not preclude a candidate from being shortlisted or appointed provided that appropriate arrangements are made.
With reference to the publication entitled DHSC register of board members' interests, 2024 to 2025, published on 16 January 2025, who the health and social care related clients of A.M. Strategy Ltd are.
Declarations of interest, and any updates to them, are published in the Register of Interests in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, and on the GOV.UK website, in alignment with Government policy.
With reference to his Department's press release entitled New DHSC Permanent Secretary Appointed, published on 22 April 2025, whether the new Permanent Secretary was appointed by (a) open and fair competition, (b) temporary appointment and (c) exception.
The Department launched a fair and open competition to appoint a Permanent Secretary in January 2025. As a result of this process, Samantha Jones was found to be an appointable candidate for this role. However, during the recruitment process it was announced that NHS England would be brought back into the Department. This significantly changed the scale and objectives required of this role. In light of these changes the Civil Service Commission agreed a three-year fixed term appointment by exception, on the Senior Civil Service Model contract.
What proportion of regulated public appointments have had substantive information published on who the members of the appointments advisory panel are since 4 July 2024.
The Governance Code on Public Appointments sets out guidance on the role and composition of Advisory Assessment Panels. The Code requires, for all regulated public appointment competitions, that there should be full transparency of the Advisory Assessment Panel. Departments generally publish such details via the public appointments digital service on gov.uk as part of the details of the adverts for individual roles.
Whether her Department has provided guidance to the police on pro-Palestinian encampments at universities.
The College of Policing is responsible for providing guidance to police.The College’s Public Order Public Safety authorised professional practice covers a wide range of events and operations, including protests and disorder.
How many (a) Permanent Secretary and (b) Second Permanent Secretary roles are (i) being advertised through open and fair competition, (ii) have advertised but the recruitment is now closed and the appointment has not yet been made, (iii) are being advertised only internally and (iv) are unfilled with no recruitment process.
There are six Permanent Secretary roles currently being advertised through fair and open competition: five have closed and waiting final interviews, and one is live on CS Jobs. There is one Permanent Secretary level role that has been advertised internally only (Secret Intelligence Service). There is one Second Permanent Secretary role (DSIT) that is currently unfilled with no recruitment process underway.
How many civil service roles for the Mission Boards are unfilled.
Delivering the Missions is a task for the entire government. The Prime Minister has established five Mission Boards which bring together ministers from across government to drive progress on missions. They are chaired by the respective lead Secretaries of State, and attendance varies depending on the topic being discussed by the Board. As such, there are no unfilled civil service roles for the Mission Boards. Directors General (DGs) have been appointed as Senior Responsible Officers for each of the Missions. Relevant departments are responsible for resourcing the delivery of policies and programmes related to the Missions. The Cabinet Office’s Mission Delivery Unit works in partnership with the Missions to support delivery and drive progress.
What proportion of regulated public appointments are published on the Apply for a public appointment gov.uk page.
All regulated public appointments that are made through open competition are advertised on the public appointments Apply for a Public Appointment webpage on Gov.uk.
Whether (a) Crown Representatives and (b) Health Crown Representatives are required to make declarations of political activity when they are appointed.
All Crown Representatives complete conflict of interest declarations on appointment and then every six months.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what the Government Art Collection (a) reference number and (b) title is of each item (i) installed and (ii) removed from each (A) Embassy, (B) High Commission and (C) residence since 4 July 2024.
The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224 on Pay: Publicity, if he will place a copy of the business case for the Millions got a pay rise campaign in the Library.
My department’s final stage impact assessment (IA) in respect of The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025, was laid in draft before Parliament on 4 February and is available on GOV.UK. It provides the high-level rationale for the campaign, which is to increase awareness and understanding of the changes to the rates that came into effect on 1 April 2025. The campaign supports the policy objectives by minimising compliance costs and ensuring that the benefits are realised, including a direct pay rise for over 3 million workers. The Impact Assessment can be viewed here: The National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Regulations 2025 - Impact Assessment
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224, on Pay: Publicity, what the total cost is for Millions get a pay rise campaign; whether it was approved under communications spending controls; and what the cost was for the beer mats.
The 2025 National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage campaign is running until 31 May 2025 and is budgeted to cost up to £650,000. This was approved under Cabinet Office’s advertising, marketing and communications spending controls. The cost to advertise in pubs using beer mats was £35,580, which was approved at Official level.The 2024 campaign saw an increase in reach to eligible workers. However, recognition remained low, reinforcing the need for bolder, more engaging formats for the 2025 campaign, which expected to deliver an estimated 3.2 million impressions.It offered a unique opportunity to engage audiences in a social, high-dwell environment where financial conversations naturally occur. This setting encourages discussion and word-of-mouth sharing about rate changes and offers an effective nudge for audiences to "check their pay."
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2025 to Question 50224 on Pay: Publicity, which advertising channels were used to promote the Millions got a pay rise campaign.
The advertising channels used for the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage campaign include radio, community radio, paid search, online video, paid social, programmatic digital display, digital influencer activity, and out-of-home advertising such as bus and train advertising panels, gym advertising panels and hospitality environments. Our channels are planned and carefully considered to ensure we can reach the right audiences, including using the learnings from previous campaigns.