Written questions by Dewhirst.

What estimate he has made of the annual cost to the public purse of joining the European Defence Security Fund.

This Government has delivered an ambitious security and defence partnership with the European Union. The Strategic Defence Review will strengthen NATO, the cornerstone of the UK’s defence, and it will help grow the economy. It allows us to step up on Euro-Atlantic security together and ensures we are able to explore UK access to Security Action for Europe (SAFE). We are working with our European partners to understand how an arrangement might work. The exact detail of UK participation will be subject to discussions on the specific terms of a UK-EU bilateral participation agreement; we do not wish to pre-empt the outcome of any such negotiations. This Government wants the right deal on the right terms.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Jonathan Powell was involved in the negotiation of the UK–Mauritius agreement on the Chagos Archipelago as National Security Adviser.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Answer given on 24 February 2025 to Question 30609.

With reference to the Department's register of board members' interests 2024-2025, updated on 16 January 2025, whether Alan Milburn has recused himself from (a) discussions and (b) activity relating to NHS dentistry.

Mr Milburn has agreed to recuse himself from discussions and activity relating to National Health Service dentistry. Declarations of interest and any updates to them are published in the Register of Interests in the Department’s Annual Report and Accounts, and on the GOV.UK website, in alignment with Government policy.

Innovation and Technology, with reference to his Department's press release entitled New mapping tool launched to help bring healthy food to those who need it most, published on 8 July 2025, who will run the state-subsidised eateries in (a) Dundee and (b) Nottingham; and if he will publish the project (a) specification and (b) plan for the DISHED: co-designing innovative infrastructure for sustainable healthy and equitable diets’ piloting public restaurants scheme.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has funded six projects under its “Health inequalities in the food system” programme, announced on 8 July 2025. These projects aim to understand the causes of dietary health inequalities and explore interventions for equitable, healthy consumption. ‘DISHED: co-designing innovative infrastructure for sustainable healthy and equitable diets’ is a funded project within this programme, which will examine different models of public restaurants in Dundee and Nottingham to assess their feasibility in current UK contexts. The project is led by an academic principal investigator. Full grant details will be published on the UKRI Gateway to Research website in due course.

With reference to the written statement of 13 March 2025, HCWS517, on Board of Trade, when the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council appointed for the consideration of all matters relating to Trade and Foreign Plantations last met.

The Board of Trade last met on the 21st May 2025.

With reference the UK Visas and Immigration guidance entitled (a) Skilled Worker visa: going rates for eligible occupation codes and (b) Skilled Worker visa: temporary shortage list, updated on 22 July 2025, what the evidential basis is for (i) a shortage of Equality, diversity and inclusion managers and (ii) the impact on the UK economy of granting visas for such roles; and whether the Migration Advisory Committee has advised on the matter.

On 12 May, we published our Immigration White Paper, outlining our future approach to legal migration routes and the 22 July changes to the Immigration Rules delivered key steps, including raising the skills threshold governing Skilled Worker route to RQF 6, which removed access to over 100 occupations.The Skilled Worker system relies on Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes, which are managed by the Office for National Statistics. Occupations which are recognised as meeting the skills threshold for the Skilled Worker immigration route can continue to be sponsored through the route.

Innovation and Technology, what guidance the National Protective Security Authority has provided on using Virtual Private Networks.

As part of our ongoing monitoring of the potential impact of circumvention techniques on the effectiveness of the Online Safety Act, Government is engaging with relevant bodies. However, the National Protective Security Authority has not provided the department with guidance on the use of VPNs.The child safety duties are newly implemented and represent a major milestone in the protection of children online. It is now much harder for children to accidentally or intentionally access harmful content. Services that deliberately target UK children and promote VPNs to circumvent online safety measures could face enforcement action under the Act.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to paragraph 2 of the document entitled DSR 2: General Principles of Conduct of the Diplomatic Service Code, if he will publish a copy of any supplementary guidance on political activities in addition to the guidance in DSR 36.

No such supplementary guidance has been published, nor is any considered necessary.

Innovation and Technology, what funding (a) the Government Digital Service and (b) his Department has provided to DigiGov Expo 2025.

No funding has been provided to DigiGov Expo 2025 by either the Government Digital Service or the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54390 on Data Statistics Research on Sex and Gender Independent Review, if he will make a statement to Parliament with a formal government response to that report.

As outlined in previous Answers of 3 June to Question 54390 and 2 May 2025 to Question 47834, relevant departments and policy teams will consider the findings in light of their ongoing policy work.

What his policy is on the (a) re-use and (b) disposal of branded (i) goods and (ii) signage out of date following machinery of Government changes.

The Cabinet Office does not issue guidance on the re-use and/or disposal of branded goods and signage made obsolete as a result of Machinery of Government changes. It is the responsibility of individual departments to ensure their branded assets are managed appropriately following changes in government structures.

With reference to the style guide entitled Writing about ethnicity, updated in October 2024, for what reason the reference to communities was removed.

The ‘Writing about ethnicity’ style guide is kept under review, in order to ensure it aligns with government communication preferences.The guide was updated by the Office for Equality and Opportunity in October 2024.

With reference to the written ministerial statement of 21 July 2025, HCWS870, on Government of service, ⁠what criteria will be used to distinguish a breach from a serious breach for the purposes of severance payment recovery.

Issues that arise under the Ministerial Code are handled on a case by case basis. From 13 October 2025, if a minister leaves office having been found to have seriously breached the Ministerial Code, they will be expected to forgo a ministerial severance payment.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 March 2025 to Question 32929 on Cabinet Office: Palantir, which non-civil service organisations have seconded staff to the Downing Street business unit since July 2024.

There have been no secondments from non-Civil Service organisations to Downing Street since July 2024.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Extension of Generalist Member to the Senior Salaries Review Body, published on 5 August 2025, whether the Public Appointments Commissioner was consulted on the decision to reappoint the Generalist Member for 12 months.

Under the Governance Code on Public Appointments, departments must notify the Commissioner for Public Appointments of “exceptional reappointments or extensions”. An exceptional reappointment or extension is one that requires a postholder to serve for more than two terms or ten years.On 10 July 2025, Pippa Greenslade’s appointment to the Senior Salaries Review Body was extended for 12 months. This is not considered an “exceptional extension” and therefore the Commissioner for Public Appointments was not notified.

How much has been spent on alcohol for the 10 Downing Street business unit via (a) the Government Wine Cellar, (b) Berry Bros and (c) other suppliers since 4 July 2024.

Official receptions in 10 Downing Street are hosted by Ministers across Government, with details published each quarter as part of the Government's transparency returns. The cost of hospitality in 10 Downing Street is published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

How much funding (a) his Department and (b) the Crown Commercial Service has provided to the DigiGov Expo 2025.

No funding has been provided to DigiGov Expo 2025 by either the Crown Commercial Service or the Cabinet Office.

Further to the press release entitled NHS App overhaul will break down barriers to healthcare and reduce inequalities, published on 25 June 2025, whether those convicted of (a) violent offences and (b) sexual offences will be eligible for the new recruitment scheme.

Anyone taking part in the Widening Access Demonstrator programme will be subject to the same employment checks as existing NHS and social care staff.Roles providing health or personal care are considered ‘regulated activity’ and are subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS check), which would disclose any details related to violent and sexual offences whether spent or unspent. In addition, these roles are subject to a check against the DBS barred list. The DBS barred lists ensure that individuals who have been convicted of the most serious crimes such as violent and sexual offences, where there is an ongoing risk of harm to vulnerable groups (patients), are prevented from seeking employment to gain access to these groups.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2025, to Question 52869 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs on (a) refurbishment and (b) fixtures and fittings for each of the three flats since 4 July 2024.

Costs relating to the Government Property Agency are included in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. A detailed breakdown of refurbishment, fixtures and fittings relating to the Former Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House has been provided in response to FOI2025/12565, which is in the public domain. I will arrange for a copy of this response to be deposited in the Commons Library.

Pursuant to the Answer of 28 July 2025 to Question 68480 on Government Legal Service, if she will publish that guidance.

The Government Legal Department (GLD) received a request in July 2025 made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 for the guidance listed in the Answer to Question 68480. The GLD’s response to that request, which includes extracts of some of the guidance requested, is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68f9fca6e200d653d8b636eb/FOI_25_159_Response_07-10-25_Redacted.pdf. The appendices to the response are available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gld-policy-foi-releases.The Attorney General’s Guidance on Legal Risk, published in November 2024, is publicly available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-attorney-generals-guidance-on-legal-risk.