Written questions by Dewhirst.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 98107 on Department for Business and Trade: Public Appointments, whether any of those direct ministerial appointees have made a declaration of political activity.

Of the 30 direct ministerial appointees, 6 have declared political activity.Due diligence is conducted and individuals are required to complete a formal declaration of interests, in line with Cabinet Office guidance. These appointees deliver vital expertise to government and there is no bar to political activity for these roles.

With reference to paragraph 2.1.2 of her Department’s policy paper entitled UK Government Green Financing Framework, published on 26 November 2025, for what reason facilities intended for the production of weapons grade nuclear material or for other primarily military uses are excluded; and what assessment she has made with the Secretary of State for Defence of the potential impact of this exclusion on the level of private sector participation in the Trident renewal programme.

The Green Financing Framework, updated in 2025, explains how proceeds from green gilts and NS&I’s retail Green Savings Bonds will finance public expenditures that have the goal of delivering a direct and positive environmental impact. Eligible expenditures are assessed on the basis of their contribution to the government’s climate and environmental objectives. Military nuclear spending, including the Trident renewal programme, is primarily for national defence purposes and as such is not eligible to be financed under the Framework. This exclusion is in line with international norms for green bond frameworks and enables the UK’s green gilts to be accessible to the greatest possible pool of investors, improving value-for-money. The Green Financing Framework only applies to public expenditures and does not apply to private investment. Eligible expenditures are drawn from departments’ confirmed Spending Review settlements. There has been no rationale for HM Treasury and the Ministry of Defence to assess the potential impact on private sector participation in the Trident renewal programme.

If she will ask the Financial Conduct Authority to make an assessment of the adequacy of the (a) security and (b) stability of monies invested in the Tether cryptocurrency.

The government recognises that stablecoins stand to drive important innovation in payments and settlement, but like other financial instruments they also have the potential to cause consumer harm, especially if not properly regulated. That is why the UK has worked closed with international partners through the Financial Stability Board to develop global standards for cryptoassets and stablecoin. It is also why the government is creating a comprehensive UK regulatory regime under the Financial Conduct Authority for cryptoassets, including to regulate the issuance of stablecoin.

Whether HMRC’s apps and website are accessible via the One Login system.

HMRC customers currently access digital services via the GOV.UK website or via the HMRC app by logging in with their Government Gateway credentials. HMRC will be transitioning its customers (individuals, agents and organisations) to GOV.UK One Login. Once HMRC customers have transitioned to GOV.UK One Login they will be able to access their digital HMRC services in the same way they currently do (via the GOV.UK website or the HMRC app) using their GOV.UK One Login credential instead of Government Gateway. More details on HMRC’s plans to transition to GOV.UK One Login can be found in HMRC’s Transformation Roadmap, published in July 2025: HMRC's Transformation Roadmap - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 94022, on Katie Martin, what her salary and grade is in the new role.

The position is unpaid.

What methodology is used by HMRC to determine a “low”, “medium” or “high” probity risk rating in the honours vetting process.

HMRC’s role in the honours system is advisory and not decision making – it provides an advisory low, medium or high risk rating which is considered by the Honours Committees, alongside information from other departments, in their decision making. The probity risk rating is based on information held at the time of the check. HMRC does not disclose taxpayer details. The legal basis for disclosure of the rating is set out in published Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with other government departments (see https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmrc-awards-and-appointments) and the criteria for determining ratings are set out at Annex C of the MOUs. Senior HMRC officials receive reports of nominee’s tax behaviour and apply the published Risk Rating Matrix in the MoU to arrive at a rating. HMRC has been providing advisory risk ratings under this framework since 2023.

Whether the Autumn Budget 2025 made changes to efficiency savings required of departments in (a) 2025-26, (b) 2026-27 and (c) 2027-28.

No changes were made to efficiency targets in 2025-26, 2026-27 or 2027-28.

Further to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published by Cabinet Office on 25 December 2025, for what reason the requirement to reduce dependency on advisory services based in the Global North is a key performance indicator in the contract with DAI Global UK.

This KPI relates to a contract with DAI Global UK for the delivery of an overseas development assistance (ODA) funded programme to strengthen institutional capacity in developing countries. The KPI aims to encourage delivery through downstream partners based in developing countries in order to build local leadership and expertise, reducing long-term reliance on UK aid. The headline contract was competitively tendered and awarded to a UK-based supplier.

Further to the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s annual report 2024-25, published December 2025, Appendix: direct appointments, what the business case was for appointing Climate Change Committee members for three years without open and fair competition; and if he will publish relevant correspondence to and from the Public Appointments Commissioner.

Professor Swenja Surminski was appointed to the CCC's Adaptation Committee in 2022 following a fair and open competition. She was subsequently appointed as a member of the Climate Change Committee to enhance collaboration between the two Committees, as allowed for under the Climate Change Act 2008. The Commissioner for Public Appointments was consulted, in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Which pension provider maintains the staff pension scheme for the National Energy System Operator; and whether staff are offered (a) defined benefit and (b) defined contribution pensions.

The employees of the National Energy System Operator (NESO) are not civil servants and are not part of civil service pension schemes. As noted in NESO’s latest annual report and accounts, Legal & General administer the company’s defined contribution pension scheme. There is a legacy defined benefit scheme, transferred as part of the acquisition by government, however this scheme is closed to new members/employees.

With reference to page 48 of the Autumn Budget HC1492, published on 26 November 2025, if she will publish the monetary savings in each year on which the 16% back-office administrative costs figure is based.

These are published in Table 1.1 of the Spending Review 2025 (page 13).

With reference to paragraph 9 of the document entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential of the environmental protection clause on costs for consumers.

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. Any agreement will naturally involve a balance of rights and obligations to ensure a level playing field in the trade of electricity between the Parties. The detail of environmental commitments in this agreement, as with other areas, is a matter for negotiations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2025 to Question 86245 on Alex Chisholm and Simon Case, what was the business case for the approval of the severance payment for Simon Case in March 2025.

The severance payment for Simon Case was made in line with his contract of employment, and guidance concerning special severance payments as defined in HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money.

Whether staff at the National Energy System Operator are permitted to own shares in National Grid.

New employees at the National Energy System Operator (NESO) are required to divest any holding of energy sector shares, including in National Grid plc. For employees transferring from National Grid Energy System Operator there are legacy arrangements in place. They have been allowed to keep their existing shares in the energy sector to prevent any individuals unfairly losing out in the NESO transaction. Employees are required to disclose shareholdings, seek approval for any share sales, and cannot purchase new shares. The board and Executive team cannot acquire new energy sector shares and have to divest all existing holdings over time.

Whether any gifts or hospitality given to the Chancellor of the Exchequer in a Ministerial capacity since July 2024 by Lord Alli have been returned or refunded.

The Chancellor has not received any gifts or hospitality from Lord Alli since July 2024.

How much HMRC has spent on social media influencers through (a) Pablo in partnership with the Unlimited Group and (b) OmniGov since July 2024.

Spend since July 2024 totals £436,700 through Pablo/Unlimited Group (excluding agency fees) and £85,719 through OmniGov. This expenditure has primarily been directed at campaigns promoting digital channels for interacting with HMRC. In 2025, this activity generated an additional 4.2 million HMRC app downloads, taking total users during this period to over 7 million.

How much the National Wealth Fund spent on trade union facility time in the 2024-25 financial year; how many FTE staff were funded by facility time, and if this included paid time for trade union activities.

As set out in the National Wealth Fund’s Annual Report and Accounts for the 2024-25 financial year, no expenditure was incurred.

With reference to Box 2.D of the Autumn Budget 2025, HC1492, published on 26 November 2025, what information will Departments’ published delivery plans include.

Departmental Efficiency Plans were published alongside the Spending Review 2025 on 11 June 2025 and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/departmental-efficiency-delivery-plans/departmental-efficiency-plans

Pursuant to the answer of 2 December 2025, to Question 93748, on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, how much has been spent from public funds by Cabinet Office, HM Treasury or the Government Property Agency on the Chancellor’s official Ministerial residence in 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.

Following the departure of previous occupants, the official Ministerial residence was provided unfurnished. To address this, £19,759.61 was spent since 4 July 2024 on furnishings which remain government property and will be retained for future occupants.

With reference to the Downing Street press release, "Appointment of Axel Heitmueller as Head of the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and Expert Adviser on Delivery", of 6 January 2026, what is (a) the time commitment expected of the role, (b) the expected end date of the appointment, (c) the monetary amount of his remuneration, and (d) his terms of reference.

Information about this role was published by the government on the new Direct Ministerial Appointments Announcements Portal: https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/direct-ministerial-appointments-announcements.