Written questions by Holden.

What criteria was used to allocate locations for test-and-learn pilots; and how much funding will be allocated to each local authority.

The pilots were selected due to their potential impact and alignment with a new way of working (Test, Learn and Grow). No funding has been allocated in this initial phase but there is in kind resource from the Government complementing local teams. The Cabinet Office and MHCLG will be working across government and with local partners to co-design the detailed approach to the allocation of the Public Service Reform and Innovation Fund for next financial year. We will partner with the Local Government Association (LGA) on this process.

What the cost to the public purse was of repainting the Downing Street media room.

Information will be published in due course in the Cabinet Office’s dataset detailing expenditure above £25,000, which is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Answer of 22 November 2024 to Question HL2411 on FCDO: Flags, how much has been spent on lighting up his Department’s buildings in relevant colours since 5 July 2024; and on what (a) occasions and (b) dates.

The FCDO's joint headquarters at King Charles Street in London and Abercrombie House in East Kilbride have been illuminated with coloured lighting on 3 occasions since 5 July 2024. These occasions were: in support of Southport victims (3-4 August, lit in pink); Red Wednesday (20 November, lit red); the state visit of the president of South Korea (21-22 November, lit red, white and blue). There is no direct cost to lighting our buildings, as they are programmed through existing lighting systems. Other FCDO buildings in the UK are not ordinarily illuminated, although our Hanslope Park site, near Milton Keynes, might occasionally be lit on the same dates as our headquarters.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 18205 on Former Prime Ministers: Convictions, and with reference to paragraph 1.6 of the Ministerial Code, if the Prime Minister will take steps to correct the record of his oral contribution of 4 December 2024, Official Report, column 291.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer of 8 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 18205. The Prime Minister stands by the relevance of raising to the attention of the House that two former Conservative Prime Ministers were fined by the police for breaking the COVID rules that they put in place for others.

With reference to the Answer of 12 April 2024 to Question HL3689 on EU Budget: Contributions, if she will make an estimate of the impact of the UK's withdrawal from the EU on the public finances in financial years (a) 2024-25 and (b) 2025-26.

Since the previous response on 12 April 2024 to Question HL3689 on EU Budget Contributions, the UK has received two invoices from the EU relating to the Financial Settlement under the Withdrawal Agreement, which was agreed by the then previous government in 2020 . The April invoice, paid between June 2024 and September 2024, was a €1,413,436,944 receipt to the UK. The September invoice, paid between October 2024 and May 2025, was a €1,791,580,305 payment from the UK to the EU. Each invoice is paid in equal monthly instalments. In the next iteration of the EU Finances Statement, expected in Spring 2025, HM Treasury will publish details of UK payments under the Financial Settlement in 2024 and its latest estimate for outstanding UK liabilities as at 31st December 2024.

With reference to his Department's guidance entitled The Approvals Process for the Creation of New Arm’s-Length Bodies, published on 15 March 2018, which of the three tests in Chapter 2 the Regulatory Innovation Office meets.

The Regulatory Innovation Office is not an arm’s length body. On 8 October 2024, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology announced that the Regulatory Innovation Office would be set up as an office within the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 22100 on Genetics: Diseases, how many additional (a) midwives and (b) close relative neonatal nurses were provided for the Genetic Risk Equity project; and what proportion of funding that represented.

There were an additional 3.8 working time equivalent (WTE) midwives and 1 WTE neonatal nurse in post in 2024/25. Staff costs represented 22% of project costs, or 59% if full recruitment to funded posts was secured.

If his Department will publish (a) the business case for and (b) analysis held of the Genetic Risk Equity project.

There is not a business case for the project and therefore there is no plan to publish one. The project was approved through the maternity transformation programme board and business planning and prioritisation processes.The project expert reference group has engaged with pilot sites throughout implementation and qualitative feedback has informed development of Phase 2 of the programme. There will be an evaluation of the project due in spring 2025 that will include quantitative and qualitative analyses. The intention is to publish this.

Whether the Ministerial residence in 11 Downing Street pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence, (b) single person discount and (c) second home.

The Prime Minister is allocated the flat in 11 Downing Street and personally pays full council tax.

Whether any products originating from China are stocked by the 10 Downing Street gift shop.

Most suppliers of the 10 Downing Street gift shop are British companies, and many of the items are made in the UK. A very small number of items are manufactured overseas, including China. This was the case under the previous government.

Whether he plans to lay an Official Statistics Order to designate Skills England’s statistical outputs as official statistics.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 13th January is attached.

If she will publish all internal equality impact assessments produced for measures included in the Autumn Budget 2024 and lay copies of them in the House of Commons library.

HM Treasury carefully considers the impact of its decisions on those sharing protected characteristics in line with both our legal obligations and our strong commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity.In the interests of transparency, HM Treasury and HMRC also publishes summaries of equality impacts for tax measures being legislated for in the Finance Bill in tax information and impact notes (TIINs).

With reference to the Cabinet Secretary Letter to UK Government Ministers of 3 October 2024 on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, for what reason Ministers were told not to take part in the public debate.

The Cabinet Secretary’s letter set out for Ministers the Prime Minister’s decision on the government’s approach to legislation on assisted dying. As the letter said, collective responsibility on the merits of this Bill have been set aside and the Government will therefore continue to remain neutral on the passage of the Bill and on the matter of assisted dying. The letter was clear that the matter of assisted dying is one for Parliament and not Ministers to decide.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2024 to Question 10436 on Special Advisers: Training and with reference to the Freedom of Information Act request with reference FOI2024/14571, for what reason the requested information was released under the Freedom of Information Act; and if he will publish that response.

All Freedom of Information requests are considered on their individual merits in accordance with the relevant legislation. A copy of the information released in the response will be deposited in the House Library.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will publish Lord Mandelson's declaration of interests as the new Ambassador to the United States.

There is an established mechanism in place for the management of interests held by all Senior Civil Servants. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. In line with guidance, the FCDO does not publish declarations of interest.

With reference to the Answer of 19 November 2024 to Question HL2339, on Cabinet Office: TikTok, how many staff are assigned to the New Media Unit; whether it includes special advisers; and whether it is based inside (a) 10 Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office.

The New Media Unit will initially draw expertise through departmental staff loans and will sit within the Cabinet Office with oversight from the Prime Minister's Office.

What estimate HMRC has made of levels of money laundering from Bangladesh into the UK property market.

HM Revenue and Customs continually reviews and monitors international risks and threats on an ongoing basis, deploying the full range of investigative tools and capabilities to address such issues as they arise. HMRC cannot provide information requested if its release would be likely to prejudice the prevention or detection of crime.Disclosing details in relation to our analysis and estimates of money laundering from Bangladesh or any other jurisdiction could reveal where we have focussed or are focussing our activities and put our compliance activities at risk.

With reference to the Financial Conduct Authority’s consultation entitled Diversity and inclusion in the financial sector – working together to drive change, which closed on 18 December 2023, if she will recommend that the Financial Conduct Authority does not introduce a new regulatory framework on diversity and inclusion in the financial sector.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is a non-governmental body which is independent from the Treasury. Parliament has given it broad powers to make rules for the purpose of advancing its statutory objectives. It is for the FCA to determine the next steps following its consultation, taking into account its objectives and the responses received. The government does not have powers to intervene in their decision making. The government continues to engage closely with the FCA on issues relating to financial services regulation.

Whether he plans to include appointments to the Fair Work Agency in the Public Bodies Order in Council; and whether the chair appointment will be classified as a significant appointment.

The Employment Rights Bill is the first stage of Fair Work Agency implementation, and we will publish further details around the establishment of the FWA in due course. We will make the FWA Chair appointment in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments, as regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

If he will issue new guidance to (a) the civil service and (b) public bodies to prevent practices which limit (i) recruitment and (ii) internships on the basis of protected characteristics.

Individual departments are responsible for recruitment decisions and they are required to meet all obligations of relevant legislation, including the Equality Act 2010. If a department wants to restrict an internship programme to a specific group or groups, it would be expected to ensure on a case by case basis that it complies with the relevant legislation. As a result, as was the case under the previous administration, no central guidance is provided on this matter.