Written questions by Dewhirst.

With reference to the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority's Annual Report 2024–25, published on 11 August 2025, for what reason no evaluation was completed for the Rosa renewal project.

The Rosa Renewal Project was subject to the appropriate National Infrastructure Service Transformation Authority oversight, with the project coming to a formal close in March 2025. The project achieved a GREEN Delivery Confidence Assessment as part of its final Gate 5 assessment. Delivery of the specific products set out in the business case was achieved and, therefore, has now formally closed but evaluation and lessons learned activity continue under the Rosa Service Organisation’s business as usual governance.

What his Department's policy is on levying VAT on (a) private health insurance and (b) private health care.

Both private health insurance and private health care are currently exempt from VAT. However, the responsibility for any future amendments to the VAT regime would not fall to the Department of Health and Social Care, but to HM Treasury.

With reference to his Department's news story entitled Appointment to Cabinet Office Board, published on 19 August 2025, for what reason Greg Jackson’s appointment was announced after his term started.

Greg Jackson was appointed before the Summer Recess on 21 July to allow for the onboarding process, including conducting security checks, to be completed over the recess period. The announcement was made on 19 August, following fact checking and clearances as part of the onboarding process.

If he will publish the FOI disclosure reference (a) IC-390141-T8J5 and (b) FOI2025/01532.

I refer the honourable member to PQ 69874 where the FOI information sought is disclosed.

What assessment he has made of the implications for his Department's policies of the Review of the Arms Length Body Landscape; and if he will provide an update.

The government is undertaking a comprehensive review of the entire Arm's Length Body (ALB) landscape, as announced on 6 April 2025, and is a core part of creating a productive and agile state. The review is ongoing, and outcomes will be communicated in due course.

Whether (a) the National Security Adviser and (b) his Department has had meetings with Inter Mediate since 4 July 2024.

The National Security Adviser meets with a range of individuals and organisations as part of his role providing advice to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on national security matters. Such meetings are often sensitive in nature, and the Government does not routinely comment on them or their content.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2025 to Question 64058 on DBT: Directors, whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments was informed of her political background when his Department made the request.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments was consulted prior to Nita Clarke's appointment without open competition as a DBT Non-Executive Board Member, in line with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. As required under the Code, Nita Clarke declared her political activity for the Labour Party during the appointments process.

Pursuant to the Answer of 17 July 2025 to Question 66296 on Armed Forces: Conferences, if he will place in the Library a copy of the (a) 6 February guidance and (b) previous edition of the guidance.

The MOD's policy for officials on contact with the media and communicating in public is available on gov.uk and has been in place for at least ten years: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/defence-instruction-contact-with-media-and-public Copies of Defence Information Notices are not placed in the Library.

Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have been fined by the Environment Agency for fishing with a rod licence since 4 July 2024.

All anglers caught fishing without a licence are subject to enforcement action as outlined in the Environment Agency’s Enforcement and Sanctions Policy here. Rod licence income is ring fenced to be used by the Environment Agency to maintain, improve and develop freshwater fisheries in England and Wales. Please see below the number people and actions for Offences for fishing without a Rod licence (Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act Section (1) (a). Actions taken betweenNumber of ProsecutionsAdvice & Guidance LettersWarning LettersCaution04/07/2024 to 01/09/202552763144111204/07/2023 to 01/09/2024475124381146 NB: The table includes for actions taken between 04/07/2023 to 01/09/2024, for comparison purposes. Please note, the EA has brought prosecutions against people, however the court imposes penalties after convictions, and the EA itself does not have the power to fine individuals for Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries Act offences. Fines are imposed by the courts and go to Treasury.

With reference to the Written Statement of 21 July 2025 on Government of service, HCWS870, whether the appointment of members to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be made under the Public Appointments Order in Council; and which Department will be responsible for approving those appointments.

The Ethics and Integrity Commission will be established on 13 October 2025 by the Government strengthening and reforming the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). The appointment of independent members to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will continue to be subject to the Governance Code for Public Appointments and regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, as has been the case with CSPL. As an Arm's Length Body of the Cabinet Office, appointments to the Ethics and Integrity Commission will be the responsibility of Cabinet Office Ministers.

Further to page 142 of the Home Office annual report and accounts 2024-25, published in July 2025, for what reason £30,000 of the exit payment to the Permanent Secretary was deemed non-taxable.

Decisions about Permanent Secretary exit payments are made by the Cabinet Office. In line with other exit payments, the first £30,000 of this payment was not taxable, and the remaining balance was taxable.Tax on termination payments: What you pay tax and National Insurance on - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the Answer of 4 August 2025 to Question HL9820 on Cryptocurrencies, whether the Government’s crypto-asset holdings are deemed to be held in the Consolidated Fund under the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1866; and what the Government’s methodology is for valuing crypto-assets.

The Consolidated Fund is a sterling denominated fund and therefore does not hold cryptocurrencies. Departments are responsible for applying relevant accounting standards on a case by case basis to value any assets held.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 July 2025 to Question 68773 on Civil Service: Equality, if she will publish the (a) handouts and (b) presentations used at the conference.

The Crown Prosecution Service does not, as a matter of practice, publish materials used in internal conferences.

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

The Summer Internship Programme is a pan-Civil Service initiative designed to increase the representation of those from a working-class background into the Civil Service, and support opportunities to join the Fast Stream within this group. As such, it has a number of eligibility requirements, including socio-economic status. Children of Armed Forces personnel are subject to the same eligibility criteria as other applicants.

Whether the payment of armed forces pensions counts towards the 5% NATO defence spending target.

In line with the current NATO definition, spend on armed forces pensions is already included as part of core defence spending. This will continue to be the case against the 5% defence spending target.

What estimate he has made of the amount of trade union facility time given to the BMA across the NHS.

This estimate has not been made. The Department for Health and Social Care does not collect data on trade union facility time given to the British Medical Association (BMA) across the NHS in England. The Cabinet Office routinely publishes overall public sector trade union facility data. However, data is not collected to the level of granularity requested. Data is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/public-sector-trade-union-facility-time-data

Whether her Department has made payments to digital influencers since July 2024.

There has been no spend on influencer marketing within the time frame specified.

If he will make it his policy to repeal the assimilated EU law of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/1816 in relation to the classification of controversial weapons under the (a) UK Climate Transition Benchmarks and (b) UK Paris-aligned benchmarks to prevent divestment in (i) Trident renewal and (ii) sub-contractors who undertake Trident-related contracts.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my hon. Friend the former Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Ms Reynolds) on 9 April 2025 to Questions 43043 and 43449 to the hon. Member for Salisbury (Mr Glen).

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether senior members of the Diplomatic Service are permitted to attend the Labour Party political conference.

All senior civil servants, including members of the Diplomatic Service, are subject to the Civil Service Management Code.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the National Cyber Security Centre has issued guidance for (a) politicians and (b) the public on using Virtual Private Networks.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides advice and guidance for high risk individuals (https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/defending-democracy/guidance-for-high-risk-individuals). NCSC also works closely with the Parliamentary Authorities on their advice and support to Members of both Houses of Parliament.Personal Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are not primarily used for cyber security purposes, and their use can introduce security risks to a user, not just mitigate them. As such NCSC neither recommend nor discourage the use of VPNs by private individuals.