Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 20702 on Foreign Investment in UK: National Security, if his Department will modify the National Security and Investment Act 2021 annual reporting to ensure a separate categorisation for sectors grouped within Artificial Intelligence.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and national security considerations. Sectors are reported in line with definitions presented in the Notifiable Acquisition (Specification of Qualifying Entities) Regulations 2021. Acquisitions are often associated with multiple areas of the economy. Information is only gathered at the sector level as the Act does not define more granular areas of the economy.

How many arms length bodies have been (a) created and (b) abolished since July 2024.

Please see my previous answer of 8 January 2025. Individual departments are responsible for any proposals to open or close ALBs.

How many civil servants jobs the Government plans to remove in this Parliament.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has made public commitments to a smaller centre of government. The Government is taking forward a number of measures to deliver greater efficiency and transformation in the Civil Service, including setting an admin spend reduction target. Each department will take a decision on its individual size and shape as per the financial settlement it agrees with HMT in the Spending Review, due for conclusion in June 2025.

Whether decisions on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure will be published in Departmental annual reports; and whether his Department has had discussions with Departmental accounting officers on this matter.

Due to the timing of the publication of the EDI Expenditure Guidance, reporting external equality, diversity and inclusion spend in Annual Reporting Accounts will be possible from the 2025/2026 financial year.

Whether his Department has a log of the exemptions permitted to the guidance on Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion expenditure for (a) departments and (b) arm’s length bodies.

Yes, a log of exemptions which have been reported to the Cabinet Office is held. This relates to exemptions reported by Civil Service organisations only.

With reference to the letter from the Leader of the House to the Rt hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 14 April 2025 on Written Parliamentary Questions, reference LP/MP657, if he will provide a substantive reply to the issues raised.

I have nothing further to add to the letter from the Leader of the House to the Rt Hon Member for Billericay and Basildon.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2025 to Question 21386 on Workplace Pensions: Inheritance Tax, what the benefits are of the The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013; and how those benefits differ from the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993.

The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Sir Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013 only provide for pension increases. The pension scheme to which these regulations relate was made by the then Minister for the Cabinet Office and laid before Parliament on 15 March 2012. The terms of the "Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC" are akin to those of the Judicial Pensions and Retirement Act 1993 (JUPRA).

Pursuant to the answer of 26 March 2025 to Question 39118 on Prime Minister: Press Conferences, what his Department’s policy is on the use of political party (a) fittings and (b) furniture at official government events.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the Ministerial Code and Propriety and Ethics Guidance for Government Communicators, available on gov.uk.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to the section entitled Gender or sex in the Gov.uk Design System, if he will make it his policy to require the Government Digital Service to use sex rather than gender when requesting information on sex.

The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from external experts and specialists across government, to help ensure that digital services are inclusive, easy to use and comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Following the recent Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, we will review the Design System’s guidance in line with any changes to the Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

For what reason agendas for National Security Council meetings are not available to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy.

It remains longstanding precedent that information relating to discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its sub-committees, including agendas, are not disclosed. This Government is committed to providing spaces for Ministers to debate freely and frankly in private. This convention applies to engagement with Parliament and Select Committees and the Government routinely rejects requests for this information from other Select Committees. Therefore, whilst this Government is actively pursuing greater transparency with Parliament, this principle of non-disclosure continues to cover this matter.

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2025 to Question 37428 on Government Departments: Disclosure of Information, if he will ask the Government Digital Service to develop a website database allowing (a) cumulative and (b) cross-Government transparency data to be (i) searched and (ii) exported.

Government integrity data is already published in a format which can be exported. The government publishes this data in CSV files in an accessible open data format, as per the standard and best practice guidance from the Government Digital Service and Central Digital and Data Office. In addition, since January, data on ministers’ gifts and hospitality has been published in one central register. The government does not have current plans to make any further changes to how this data is published.

Whether she plans to review the civil resilience of Heathrow airport.

UK aviation operates in the private sector. Therefore, the resilience and contingency plans in place are the responsibility of the industry. However, we recognise the importance of aviation to critical national infrastructure, and our ability to travel and do business. The Energy Secretary has commissioned an urgent investigation which will help to build a clear picture of the circumstances surrounding the recent incident at Heathrow, and the UK’s energy resilience more broadly, so that it’s prevented from ever happening again. Heathrow Airport has also announced an internal review by Ruth Kelly, former Transport Secretary and an independent member of Heathrow's board. This review will be presented to Heathrow’s board in May.

Who appointed each member of the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; what the appointment process was; and on what dates each person was appointed.

The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.

Who sits on the Research Advisory Board of the Committee on Standards in Public Life; and whether the list of members has been published.

The Board is no longer a standing body with formal membership. Former members of the Research Advisory Board were appointed by the Committee’s membership at that time.

Innovation and Technology, for what reason the Gov.uk Design System section entitled Ask Users for Equality Information refers to gender identity rather than gender reassignment.

The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from external experts and specialists across government, to help ensure that digital services are inclusive, easy to use and comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Following the recent Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, we will review the Design System’s guidance in line with any changes to the Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Who the members are of the Race Equality Engagement Group; and how they were appointed.

On 18 March, I announced our plans to establish a Race Equality Engagement Group to help us develop measures to tackle race inequality. The Group will be chaired by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon. We are in the process of appointing the other members of the Group. Members are being recruited to bring a range of expertise from across the public, private and voluntary sectors and from across the country. These are informal ministerial appointments, by invitation, and are not within the scope of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

Whether he plans to introduce capability-based pay in the civil service.

The government believes pay and reward structures should incentivise expertise and high performance. The Cabinet Office is reviewing capability-based pay arrangements that already exist in the Civil Service to analyse their impact on organisations that have implemented such arrangements already.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on road connectivity between England and Wales.

Cross-border travel is crucial for people between Wales and England to unlock economic growth, employment opportunities and better connect the Union. Improving transport connectivity is a priority for me, and I have been working in partnership with the Transport Secretary and the Welsh Government through the Wales Rail Board to deliver the transport improvements Wales needs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39582 on Public Appointments, if he will provide the information in relation to public appointment competitions within the remit of (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street.

It is important that any recommendations made by Advisory Assessment Panels, and any exchanges they have with Ministers, remain confidential to ensure the flow of free and frank advice during the public appointment process. To uphold this confidentiality, disclosure of such information would likely affect the effectiveness of central government and other public services and will therefore not be released.

Whether he plans to provide a manual for householders on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.

Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.