Written questions by Dewhirst.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 29217 on Prime Minister: Aviation, what the cost of domestic air travel by the Prime Minister is since 4 July 2024.

The Government has ended the routine use of helicopter travel, unless operationally required. It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of protected individuals and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

Pursuant to the Answer of 12 February 2025 to Question 28652 on Ministers: Aviation, what the amount of air passenger duty that is paid on an individual domestic RAF flight each way was in (a) March 2025 and (b) April 2025, excluding Northern Ireland and the Scottish Highlands and Islands travel; and whether the higher rate of APD is paid.

The Government introduced the domestic rate of Air Passenger Duty (APD) with effect from 1 April 2023 and this is paid on flights from qualifying airports within the UK. Flights on the RAF Envoy incur the higher rate of APD as this relates to an aircraft of 20 tonnes or more equipped to carry fewer than 19 passengers. This rate was set at £78 per person. From 1 April 2025 the rate will increase to £84 per person.

Pursuant to the Answer of (a) 21 February 2025 to Question 30825, on Ministers: Helicopters, and (b) 18 February 2025, to Question 30467 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what the expected cost to the Department is of an individual flight under the new contract, including any variation by distance travelled; and on what date the new provision went live.

The new method of Ministry of Defence senior leader helicopter travel commenced on 1 January 2025. Costs vary on the basis of a range of factors, including number of passengers, distance, length of time of usage and availability. The Ministerial Air Transport administered contract is available via HM Government Contract Finder here: Provision of Corporate Travel contract - Contracts Finder

Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 1248 on Military Aircraft: Helicopter, whether there will be a public procurement exercise for the new helicopter service.

There is no procurement of a new helicopter service. The Ministry of Defence has accessed an existing cross-Government helicopter air transport contract to allow cost-effective, operationally important helicopter transport when needed.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question HL3879 on Ministers’ Private Offices: Official Cars, what criteria his Department uses to determine whether departmental officials may have use of a car from the Government Car Service.

The Government Car Service (GCS) does not determine the allocation of vehicles to senior officials - this is carried out by individual Departmental Private Offices. The arrangements relating to the use of vehicles from the Government Car Service are set out in the Civil Service Management Code. There has been no change in this policy since 2023.

With reference to page 9 of his Department's publication entitled Security and Intelligence Agencies Financial Statement 2023-24 published on 2 December 2024, what specific weaknesses in risk management and internal control the Principal Accounting Officer identified; and what corrective action has since been taken.

As has been the policy of successive governments, the government does not comment on matters relating to the intelligence agencies. The Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament scrutinises the policies, expenditure, administration and operations of the intelligence agencies on behalf of Parliament.

Pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2024 to Question 8434 on Prime Minister: Aviation, if he will publish the percentage of sustainable aviation fuel used for each of the Prime Minister's last 10 domestic flights.

Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset and use Sustainable Aviation Fuel where either are possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29022 on Ministers: Aviation, whether the Prime Minister’s (a) RAF and (b) charter flights other than GBNI are carbon offset.

It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 February 2025 to Question 29217 on Prime Minister: Aviation, what the cost of helicopter travel for Defence Ministers is since 4 July 2024.

The Ministry of Defence has spent £1,154.03 on helicopter travel for Defence Ministers since 4 July 2024.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 13 February 2025 to Question 29620 on DCMS: Flags, what flags other than the Union flag and the Ukraine flag, have been flown to date in 2024-25; and on what dates.

The following flags other than the Union Flag and the Ukraine flag have been flown from the DCMS/HM Treasury Building (100 Parliament Street/1 Horse Guards Road) in the calendar years 2024 and 2025:20241 March (St David's Day): Flag of Wales11 March (Commonwealth Day): Commonwealth Flag4 April (NATO Founding Day): NATO Flag23 April (St George's Day): Flag of England26 April (75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth): Commonwealth Flag17 May (Anti Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia Day): Rainbow Flag24 June-29 June (Armed Forces Day): Armed Forces Day Flag27 June-29 June (London Pride): Rainbow Flag14 July (Men's Euros Final): Flag of England30 November (St Andrew's Day): Flag of Scotland2025None

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2025 to Question 26614 on Center for Countering Digital Hate, what the methodology is used to check whether (a) direct or (b) indirect funding has been provided previously, including by predecessor departments.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s financial systems were checked for record of any payments to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate. Other departments were not consulted.

Innovation and Technology, which government departments and agencies are responsible for (a) civil contingency planning, (b) warning and (c) mitigation in relation to (i) Near-Earth Objects and (ii) space debris.

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology is responsible for civil contingency planning, warning and mitigation in relation to Near-Earth Objects and space debris.Risks associated with these events are considered as part of the national risk assessment process and proportionate mitigation activity identified. Risks are published in the National Risk Register.Contingency planning and event warnings are delivered through the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC).

If he will make it his policy to ensure that the criteria which define when impact assessments can be released are the same for Freedom of Information requests and Parliamentary Questions.

All freedom of Information requests are considered on their individual merits and in accordance with the legislation in all circumstances. Section 9 of the Ministerial Code sets the standard of conduct expected of ministers in relation to Parliament and how they discharge their duties, including for government responses to written parliamentary questions.

What information her Department has on the number of applications for the grant of certificates for firearms refused on the grounds of an unsatisfactory reference in the last ten years for which figures are available.

The Firearms Act 1968 gives responsibility for the issuing of firearms licences to Chief Officers of Police. Police forces hold the data on local applications.

With reference to the transparency data entitled Cabinet Office: The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Hospitality - 5 July to 31 October 2024, published on 30 January 2025, which representatives of (a) UEFA and (b) the Football Association of Ireland the Prime Minister met with when receiving hospitality from those organisations.

Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 27226 on 10 Downing Street: Government Art Collection, if she will make it her policy to release information on changes to Government Art Collection works on display in line with Freedom of Information Act requests.

The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of her Department's policies on the legal ownership of firearms on people living in rural areas.

On 5 February 2025, increased fees came into effect for firearms licensing applications processed by police forces. This gave effect to a commitment in the Government’s manifesto. It is essential for both public safety and police efficiency that full cost recovery fees were introduced. The need to increase firearms licensing fees to help address shortcomings in firearms licensing was highlighted by the Senior Coroner in his Preventing Future Deaths reports into the fatal shootings in Plymouth in August 2021.As well as supporting public safety, the increased fees will support police forces to provide an improved service to firearms applicants through better resourced and trained licensing teams. The National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on Firearms Licensing is developing a new performance framework for firearms licensing teams, which will be published in order to provide greater transparency on application turnaround times. This will include for the first time a performance target for forces to complete applications for the grant or renewal of firearm and shotgun certificates within four months, unless there are concerns about the suitability of the applicant.I have written to all Police and Crime Commissioners and Chief Constables to make clear that the income from increased fees must be invested into their firearms licensing operations, in the interests of both public safety and to support improvements in the service provided by their firearms licensing teams.A full impact assessment was published alongside the Firearms (Variation of Fees) Order 2025, the Statutory Instrument that brought the new fees into effect.The impact assessment covers the impact of increased fees on farmers and rural communities. Any future changes to firearms licensing will be subject to further impact assessments in the normal way.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25696 on Public Appointments: Political Activities, whether the Commissioner for Public Appointments has issued guidance on whether declarations of political activity should be published when a public appointment is made as part of the announcement.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments has not issued guidance on the publication of declarations of political activity. As set out in previous answers, rules on political activity by prospective or existing public appointees are already clearly set out within both the Governance Code on Public Appointments and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies, and the process for declaring interests, including how they should be published by departments, is also set out in detail on Gov.uk.

Pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25454 on 9 Downing Street: Media, what advice the (a) Cabinet Secretary and (b) Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team provided on whether the colours (i) red and (ii) blue are party political.

As has been the case under successive administrations, it is a long-standing principle that Civil Service advice is given and treated in confidence. This includes detailing whether or not advice has been given and by whom.

With reference to the publication entitled Number 10 special advisers hospitality, July to September 2024, published on 30 January 2025, for what reason the transparency data does not include an indicative financial value for the lunches received.

The Government is committed to publishing details of all special advisers' gifts, hospitality and meetings with senior media figures on a quarterly basis. As has been the case under successive administrations, this information does not contain the value of hospitality.