Written questions by Holden.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2024 to Question 6066 on Helicopters: Official Visits, what the budget is for the replacement service to the Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport Helicopter Service.

The Ministry of Defence is not placing a contract for replacement of the Rotary Wing Command Support Air Contract. Future Ministry of Defence senior leader rotary wing transport will be met through a Cabinet Office administered Commercial Travel Contract and will use existing Department transport budgets.

Pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2024, to Question 10992, on Ministers: private property, whether the Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention submitted a claim to the Department for the costs relating to the theft of her personal effects whilst on official duties at the Police Superintendents' Association conference in Kenilworth in September 2024.

The Minister for Policing, Fire and Crime Prevention has not submitted a claim to the Department for the costs relating to the theft of her personal effects whilst on official duties at the Police Superintendents' Association conference in Kenilworth in September 2024.

Pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 15237 on Civil Servants: Political impartiality, whether there has been a disciplinary investigation into party political campaigning by officials in her Department during the Rochdale by-election in February and March 2024.

The information you have requested is not on a central system. Gathering this information would require input from team leaders and will incur disproportionate costs.

With reference to Qs8 and 17 of the oral evidence given by the Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet Office to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee on 4 December 2024, HC 463, if he will list each of the 40 distinct groups within the Cabinet Office.

As of December 2024, there were 37 established business units within the Cabinet Office. This number will change following recent Machinery of Government changes. . CABINET OFFICE BUSINESS UNITS (as at 19 Dec 2024)NO 10 AND DELIVERY GROUPPrime Minister's OfficeMission Delivery UnitSECRETARIATS, SECURITY AND PARLIAMENTNational Security SecretariatEconomic and Domestic SecretariatBordersPropriety and Constitution GroupGovernment in ParliamentJoint Intelligence OrganisationGovernment Security FunctionUK Security VettingEuropean Relations SecretariatGOVERNMENT FUNCTIONSGovernment Digital ServiceCentral Digital and Data OfficeGovernment Communication ServiceGovernment Commercial and Grants FunctionPublic Sector Fraud AuthorityInfrastructure and Projects AuthorityOffice of Government PropertyGovernment People GroupGovernment People Group - Government Recruitment ServicePublic Sector Reform and EfficiencyCORPORATE SERVICESCO Operating Officer OfficeOffice for Veterans' AffairsCO People and PlacesCO Strategy, Finance, and PerformanceCO HMT CommercialCO DigitalCO Strategy DirectorateINQUIRY RESPONSEPublic Inquiry Response UnitInfected Blood Inquiry - Response TeamOFFICE FOR EQUALITY AND OPPORTUNITYOffice for Equality and OpportunitiesINDEPENDENTIntelligence and Security CommitteeGrenfell InquiryInfected Blood InquiryCovid InquiryCivil Service CommissionOffice of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists

Media and Sport, what her policy is on which flags other than the Union flag should be flown on Government buildings to mark days of (a) national and (b) international significance; and if she will publish her Department's proposed schedule for which flags should be flown on which days in 2025.

There is a standing encouragement for Government Buildings to fly the Union Flag every day, and the Ukrainian Flag on a second flagpole if they are able. Government Departments are generally free to fly whichever other flags they deem appropriate, provided they have the necessary consent from their local planning authority.Regarding the flags flown by DCMS, a decision has not yet been taken on which non-Union flags will be flown in 2025. Over the last two years, this decision was finalised in February.

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 October 2024 to Question 6066 on Helicopters: Official Visits, whether the replacement to the Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport Helicopter Service will be outsourced to the private sector.

The Ministry of Defence is not placing a contract for replacement Rotary Wing Command Support Air Contract. Future Ministry of Defence senior leader rotary wing transport will be met through a Cabinet Office administered Commercial Transport Contract and will use existing Department transport budgets.

Pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2024,to Question HL1878, on Armed Forces: Equality, if he will list each of the actions from the previous EDI review that were endorsed by his Department's People Committee.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my noble Friend, the Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (Lord Coaker), on 19 December 2024 to Question HL3228 in the House of Lords.

With reference to (a) the Crown Prosecution Service, Annual Report and Accounts 2013–14, July 2014, HC6, page 73, and (b) The Pensions Increase (Pension Scheme for Keir Starmer QC) Regulations 2013, what the metric is by which the Keir Starmer QC Pension Scheme has been uprated by inflation each year; and if he will list the pension benefits offered to pension scheme’s member.

I refer the right honourable member to the answer given to PQ UIN 2321 on 2 September 2024. The uprating mechanism and benefits have not changed since the Scheme was made in 2013.

Whether his Department collates information on (a) which flights use sustainable aviation fuel and (b) the proportion of sustainable aviation fuel used for flights (i) from a military airfield and (b) by a military vehicle.

Due to the increasingly routine use of blended sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), the Department does not collate detailed information on which flights use blended SAF, nor the proportion of SAF used against individual flights. For example, alongside conventional fuel RAF Lossiemouth took delivery of over nine million litres of blended SAF in 2024 for routine use in refuelling all aircraft at the Station.As part of the UK SAF mandate and the Government pathway to net-zero aviation, from 1 January 2025 all aviation fuel procured will include SAF.

Whether the new National Security Adviser can direct civil servants; and for what reason he was appointed as a special adviser.

In line with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, special advisers cannot manage civil servants.

For what reason Sue Gray was not appointed as Envoy for the Nation and Regions.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given by my Noble Friend on 4 December, Official Report, PQ HL2660.

What information (a) his Department, (b) the Certification Officer and (c) the Central Arbitration Committee hold on (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful trade union recognition ballots in each of the last ten years.

Information from the Central Arbitration Committee in relation to the outcome of statutory trade union recognition ballots is provided below for each of the last 10 years: SuccessfulUnsuccessful201544201651201754201876201962202020202184202251202335202445

What recent progress his Department has made on providing a new gonorrhoea vaccine through the NHS.

On 10 November 2023, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) issued advice on standing up a targeted, routine vaccination programme for the prevention of gonorrhoea.Officials across the Department, the UK Health Security Agency, and NHS England are developing policy options based on the JCVI’s advice, taking into account a number of factors, including programme deliverability, interrelationship with other immunisation programmes, and National Health Service delivery options. A decision on the vaccination programme is expected shortly after the outcome of this process.

Whether the Ministerial residence in 10 Downing Street pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence and (b) second home.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is currently allocated the flat above 10 Downing Street and pays full council tax.

What the Government’s priorities are for the honours system.

The priorities for the honours system are available online: https://honours.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/about/governance/#primeminister

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 16510 on Public Sector: Procurement, what his timetable is for publishing the National Procurement Policy Statement; and whether he plans to consult with stakeholders on his proposed procurement policy.

The government will publish a new National Procurement Policy Statement under the Procurement Act that will support the Government’s missions, drive value for money and deliver social value. We have been consulting with stakeholders on the development of the statement. This has included a series of roundtable discussions, and an online NPPS stakeholder survey. The new National Procurement Policy Statement will be completed in time for the commencement of the Procurement Act on 24 February 2025.

Communities and Local Government, with reference to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution in response to the question from the hon. Member for Birmingham Hall Green and Mosely, of 27 November 2024, Official Report, column 768, what steps the Government is taking to help tackle the desecration of (a) all religious texts and (b) the prophets of the Abrahamic religions.

Desecration of religious texts and abusing or targeting people for their faith or belief is awful and should be condemned. The Government is working with partners to tackle all forms of prejudice, division and hatred experienced by religious and other communities.To champion freedom of religion or belief abroad, my Hon Friend the Member for North Northumberland has been appointed Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief, promoting tolerance and mutual respect through and alongside the UK’s diplomatic network.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) lowering the required member percentage from 10% to 2% for the statutory trade union recognition ballot process, (b) removing the likely majority support at the application stage and (c) removing the 40% support threshold at the recognition ballot stage on the number of recognised trade unions.

The Government has published a final stage impact assessment on strengthening workers’ rights to access, recognition and representation. This is available at: Impact assessment: Strengthening workers’ rights to trade union access, recognition and representation

When he plans to publish a list of the salaries of special advisers.

Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs is published annually in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration. The 2025 Annual Report on Special Advisers will be published next year

With reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2664 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, whether the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I will be permanently installed in 11 Downing Street.

The Government Art Collection website lists the artworks on display in Downing Street https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/?s=downing+street&display=artworkonly