Written questions by Burghart.

With reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, whether children of Hon. Members will be able to apply for the Summer Internship Programme in 2026.

As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission and the Office for National Statistics definition.

Whether Departments will be required to produce internal Outcome Delivery Plans (a) to monitor spending outlines in the Spending Review 2025 and (b) as part of the Mission Board delivery programme.

The Government has published its Plan for Change, which sets out clear and ambitious milestones to reach over this Parliament from each of the Government’s national missions. Detail on wider government commitments will continue to be provided by relevant departments.

What metrics are tracked on his Department's internal dashboards; and if he will make it his policy to publish them on gov.uk.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally record the total number of metrics captured. Our teams and business units maintain a wide array of dashboards tailored to their specific functions and business requirements. A precise, aggregated figure is not available. The dashboards contain internal management information, and it is not Cabinet Office policy to publish them.

Whether the appointment of the (a) chair and (b) members of the Ethics and Integrity Committee will be (i) a regulated public appointment and (ii) subject to Select Committee pre-appointment scrutiny.

We are restoring confidence in government and the highest standards in public life and have already taken steps to improve probity and transparency, including through issuing a new Ministerial Code which highlights the importance of the principles of public life, by strengthening the terms of reference for the Independent Adviser, and by introducing a new monthly Register of Gifts and Hospitality. An update on the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be provided in due course.

If he will place in the Library a copy of the standard template for submissions to (a) Cabinet Office Ministers and (b) the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer on 17 February 2025 (PQ HL4631) and on 7 April 2025 (PQ 42819).

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of trade tariffs imposed on the EU by the United States on businesses in Northern Ireland.

We have a strong and proud tradition over centuries of free trade here in the United Kingdom, and we will continue to make the case for that. With regard to our specific trading relationship with the United States, after conversations between the Prime Minister and the President in the Oval Office in February, we wish to deepen our trading relationship with the United States. We will continue to monitor the impact of any such policy on Northern Ireland and I continue to regularly discuss issues with my European counterpart Maroš Šefčovič.

When the Prime Minister plans to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar dated 29 November 2024.

A response will be sent in due course.

Whether members of the Senior Salaries Review Body have made declarations of political activity.

Political party activity is declared by all members of the Senior Salaries Review Body and is publicly available in the Pay Review Body members’ register of interests: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ome-review-body-members-register-of-interest...

Whether he plans to publish the civil service EDI dataset.

We are considering the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Review commissioned by the previous Government.

If he will make it his policy that the Civil Service Commission should be informed of recent political donations from people appointed to the Civil Service by exception.

The Civil Service Commission’s prior approval is required for appointments by exception at SCS PB2 or above. Individual Civil Service departments and organisations have delegated authority to appoint by exception at grades below SCS PB2. For appointments ...

Whether his Department plans to issue Outcome Delivery Plans.

The Government has published its Plan for Change, which sets out clear and ambitious milestones to reach over this Parliament from each of the Government’s national missions. Detail on wider government commitments will continue to be provided by relevant ...

In what circumstances people in receipt of a civil service pension who re-join the civil service are subject to abatement.

The circumstances have not changed since the Rt Hon Gentleman was a Minister in the department, and can be found at https://www.civilservicepensionscheme.org.uk/.

With reference to the Answer of 18 September 2024 to Question HL835 on Government Departments: Remote Working, whether the Civil Service meets the requirement to attend the office or work face-to-face with colle

The Civil Service Headquarters (HQ) Occupancy statistics are published quarterly on GOV.UK.

Whether there is a Framework Agreement between his Department and the Senior Salaries Review Body.

A Framework Agreement between the Cabinet Office and the Senior Salaries Review Body will be finalised in due course.

Whether his Department has issued guidance on non-contingent labour contracts.

Departments are directed that Contingent labour contracts should only be used in government where better value alternatives are not available and that a justifiable need to use contingent labour has been identified as part of their workforce plans. Cabine...

With reference to the press release entitled New partnership between statistical authorities of the UK and the EU, published by the Office for National Statistics on 9 October 2024, if he will publish the agreem

On 9 October 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Eurostat signed an agreement on statistical cooperation. This arrangement is provided for under Article 730 of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The publication of the text is a matt...

With reference to the press release entitled New partnership between statistical authorities of the UK and the EU, published by the Office for National Statistics on 9 October 2024, whether the agreement with Eu

On 9 October 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and Eurostat signed an agreement on statistical cooperation. This arrangement is provided for under Article 730 of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The publication of the text is a matt...

How many referrals to his Department under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 of acquisitions of UK firms in the (a) defence, (b) cybersecurity and (c) AI sectors have resulted in a transaction being

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and reputational considerations. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK. The Government also publishes an...

How many acquisitions of UK firms in the (a) defence, (b) cybersecurity and (c) AI sectors have been referred to his Department under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 since 5 July 2024.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and reputational considerations. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK. The Government also publishes an...

If he will publish an updated transparency report on decisions made under the National Security and Investment Act 2021.

Transparency is a crucial part of the National Security and Investment (NSI) Act, whilst also balancing commercial and reputational considerations. Information related to publication of final orders is available on GOV.UK. The Government also publishes an...