Written questions by Dewhirst.

Whether the Government plans to publish a further round of the UK National Action Plan for Open Government; and which department is the lead for progress on previous action plans.

The Cabinet Office holds responsibility for coordinating the UK National Action Plan for Open Government 2024-2025, including leading progress on actions set out in the current plan. Named departments hold responsibility for specific commitments, as set out on gov.uk. We will share a further update in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 January 2025 to Question 23884 on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will publish the Freedom of Information Act response with reference FOI2025/01530.

A copy of the response to FOI2025/01530 has now been deposited in the House Library. The media suite is in a listed part of 9 Downing Street.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 December 2024 to Question 18212 on Prime Minister: Special Advisers, when he plans to publish a list of special advisers and their salaries.

Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs will be published in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 37425 on Office for National Statistics: Industrial Disputes, what the disputed issues are.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. Member's Parliamentary Question of 26th March is attached.

Whether he plans to publish guidance on diversity networks.

Government Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) networks are internal, volunteer staff networks and so any guidance would not routinely be published. The Civil Service Code, which is published and available here, sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29022 on Ministers: Aviation, how that carbon offsetting is calculated; and if he will publish the contract with EDF.

Carbon offsetting is calculated by determining the total tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) emissions that need to be offset. This amount is then multiplied by the cost per tonne of CO2e for the specific offsets being purchased, such as Certified Emissions Reduction offsets. The final cost can vary based on market conditions at the time of purchase.The Cabinet Office utilises the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework with EDF to offset these emissions: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6251

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29022 on Ministers: Aviation, what the cost-metric is by which carbon offsetting is calculated; and if he will place a copy of the EDF contract in the House of Commons Library.

Carbon offsetting costs are determined by the tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) that are being offset, multiplied by the cost per tonne of CO2e from the Certified Emissions Reduction offsets provided by EDF under the framework contract. These costs can fluctuate based on the timing of purchase, as market trading demands affect the price.The calculation metric used indicates that 1 kilogram of aviation fuel burned results in approximately 3.15 kilograms of CO2 emitted.The Cabinet Office uses the HMG Crown Commercial Services (CCS) RM6251 Energy Supply Framework (Additional Services) with EDF for offsetting these emissions. For more information, please refer to the following link: https://www.crowncommercial.gov.uk/agreements/RM6251.

Whether Ministers can consider applications to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments which have not been considered when making Government appointments.

All government appointees, whether regulated or unregulated, are subject to due processes to manage outside interests, which may include external employment.

Which Minister most recently donated a book to the Prime Minister’s Library.

No donations have been made to the Prime Minister's Library since 5 July 2024.

Whether any Cabinet Ministers have donated a book to the Prime Minister's Library since 5 July 2024.

No donations have been made to the Prime Minister's Library since 5 July 2024.

Whether the Government advertises on X.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the previous response given to Question 14352. Between October 2023 and October 2024, the Cabinet Office has spent £0 advertising on X.

Whether some public sector pension schemes have a retire and return option.

It is possible for members of the main statutory Public Service Pension Schemes to return to public service employment after retiring and taking pension. The rules on further employment of individuals who are in receipt of relevant pension benefits are set out in scheme regulations for each of the workforces. Some Public Service Pension Schemes also allow for partial retirement, where a member can draw their accrued pension and continue working.

For what reasons was there no public consultation on the new joint Framework Agreement for Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and Commissioner for Public Appointments.

There is no requirement to carry out a public consultation on Framework Agreements, as was the case under the previous government. As such, none was undertaken on the new joint Framework Agreement for Civil Service Commission, Advisory Committee on Business Appointments and Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Whether Ministers in receipt of a political donation from an (a) unincorporated association and (b) members' association must declare the identity of the ultimate donor behind the donation to their (i) Permanent Secretary and (ii) the Independent Advisor.

There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. As part of this process, ministers and their permanent secretaries are asked to consider together whether any recent donations may have a bearing on the minister’s portfolio and duties and to agree appropriate mitigations. Ministers are also required, as MPs and peers, to adhere to the relevant parliamentary code of conduct with regards to declaring interests. This includes registering donations and other support, details of which are made public on Parliament’s website.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1208 on Government Communication Service, if he will publish a breakdown of the staff for each of the non-departmental public bodies that are not included in the Section 14 of the published Annual Civil Service Employment Survey.

I refer the Hon. Member to Question 16512, answered on 5 December 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32906, on Government Departments: Telephone Services, whether the Government Communication Service provides a departmental press office telephone number to members of the press.

It is up to the individual departments to decide their preferred method of communication with members of the press. Within the Cabinet Office press office, there is not a single telephone number, communication takes place via pressoffice@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

How many Departments have an Outcome Delivery Plan for 2024-25.

I refer the Honorable Member to the answer given to the Honorable Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 13 January 2025 (PQ UIN 21348).

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 October 2024 to Question 5282, on Senior Civil Servants: Pay, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing performance related incentives in the junior civil service.

Individual Government Departments have delegated authority to determine pay, including performance related incentives, for their workforce, excluding Senior Civil Servants, subject to the parameters of the Civil Service Pay Remit Guidance. Currently, non-consolidated performance payments are already in place across many departments. The Government recently announced new measures for performance-related pay for the Senior Civil Service.

Through which mechanisms non-ministerial departments are accountable to Parliament.

A non-ministerial department (NMD) is a government department, but one that does not have its own minister. An individual NMD is accountable to Parliament through its sponsoring ministers, and the NMD Permanent Secretary, who is the accounting officer. Non-ministerial departments have their own budgets, and are required to produce annual reports and accounts, which can be examined by Parliament.

Pursuant to the Answers of (a) 12 February 2025 to Question 28577 and (b) 16 January 2025 to Question 21390 on Armed Forces: Equality, whether the work on the Armed Forces’ EDI review was led or undertaken by his Department.

The Cabinet Office has not carried out a review of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure for the Armed Forces. The Civil Service EDI Expenditure Review, which was carried out under the previous administration between June 2023 and May 2024, included EDI expenditure relating solely to civil servants, including those who may have been undertaking work on behalf of the Armed Forces, but not in relation to Armed Forces personnel.