Every parliamentary written question tabled by Alex Burghart this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 201–220 of 482 · this parliament
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Ministers in her Department were (a) consulted on and (b) approved the exit payment to Lord Mandelson.
I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 18 March in response to Question 120384.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122146 on Lord Mandelson, whether the steps taken to retain material include (a) accessing tape backups or (b) turning off the auto-delete policy on Number 10 computers.
I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out an update on the Government's process and that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion.
Whether the Cabinet Secretary plans to issue a new edition of the Cabinet Manual in 2026-27.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
What guidance he has given to Departments on whether (a) prior performance and (b) end-of-year appraisal are a material consideration in the Civil Service promotion process.
Departments and agencies have authority to determine promotion and lateral transfer arrangements for their own staff, in addition to the personal review arrangements for their own staff outside the Senior Civil Service. A condition of this authority is that promotion within the Civil Service must follow a decision as to the fitness of individuals, on merit, to undertake the duties concerned.The Civil Service uses the Success Profiles framework to attract and retain talent. This framework covers the expected levels for different grades, helping people understand suitability requirements for promotion or level transfer.
With reference to Office for Value for Money: Reforming the spending control and accountability framework, published 26 November 2025, whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasury will be required to approve exit payments under the new regime that operates from April 2026.
For contractual exit payments, any costs that exceed the Department’s delegated authority limit will need normal spending approvals. For non-contractual exit payments, the approval requirements, including the criteria for Chief Secretary to the Treasury approval, are set out in Public Sector Exit Payments Guidance on Special Severance Payments - GOV.UK.
Whether the Government will make payments to the European Union to participate in the Youth Mobility Scheme.
We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. This will provide a valuable form of cultural exchange for young Brits and EU citizens with the opportunity to travel, work, study and experience other cultures. We have agreed that any scheme will be capped, subject to a visa requirement, as well as time-limited. We have been clear that the scheme should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes, such as Australia and New Zealand, but the exact parameters are subject to ongoing negotiation. This will not include financial contributions to the European Union - that is not how youth mobility schemes operate.
What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the EU Capital Requirements Directive VI on the UK banking sector.
As with all significant financial regulation developments in other jurisdictions, HMT is considering the potential implications of the EU Capital Requirements Directive VI on the UK banking sector. Strengthening our relationships with international partners, including the EU, is a key focus of the Government’s Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy.
Whether the UK will be liable for early termination payments if it does not renew Erasmus+ for a second year.
The UK will not be liable for any termination payments should the UK choose not to associate to the Erasmus+ programme from 2028.
When he will answer Question 119975, tabled on 11 March 2026, on Prime Minister: Correspondence.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation
If he will ask the Prime Minister to reinstate the conventions on the Prime Minister's Library and the policy of acquisitions from current and former members of the Cabinet.
The Government is taking the necessary steps to allow Cabinet Ministers to make donations to the Library.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment was made of the potential impact of Lord Mandelson's shareholdings in Global Counsel on his suitability to be appointed as UK Ambassador to the United States prior to that appointment being made.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 March 2026 to Question 116167 on Peers, whether a sitting peer removed from the Roll of the Peerage is eligible to be receive a Writ of Summons from the Lord Chancellor to Parliament.
The Roll of the Peerage is an officially compiled and maintained list, intended to contain the names of all living peers. If a title has been removed from the Roll of the Peerage, it can no longer be used in official documents. Removal would not affect an individual’s membership of the House of Lords, where relevant, and an individual would still be entitled to receive a writ of summons if already eligible.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026, whether the Permanent Under-Secretary had discussions with Lord Mandelson, when Ambassador to the United States, about the Epstein files released by the United States Department of Justice.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Further to pages 106 and 107 of the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026 and with reference to paragraph 3.1 of her Department's document entitled Guidance on Public Sector Exit Payments, published in November 2025, and Annex A4.13 of her Department's document entitled Managing Public Money, published in June 2025, what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Developments Affairs on whether the Special Severance Payment was paid to Lord Mandelson because it was (a) exceptional, (b) novel, (c) contentious and (d) repercussive.
The Chancellor did not have any discussions with the Foreign Secretary on this issue.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was investigated for misconduct under the Civil Servant Code.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether the Propriety and Ethics Team who produced the due diligence on Lord Mandelson were involved in the substantive response to the Humble Address motion of 4 February 2026.
Staff from across the Cabinet Office including but not limited to the Public Inquiry Response Unit and the Propriety and Constitution Group are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary.
With reference to his statement on Lord Mandelson: Response to Humble Address Motion of 11 March 2026, Official Report, Column 360, which document had a limited redaction.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether he considers papers relating to Global Counsel to be in scope of the response to the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Whether the information Lord Mandelson provided as part of the vetting process for his appointment to UK Ambassador to the United States impacted his dismissal from that role.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
Who was interviewed by the General Counsel to the Prime Minister in his fact-finding exercise in the context of the return to the Humble Address; and how many people were interviewed.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.