Written questions by Glen.

Whether the Prime Minister has appointed a director of trade union relations.

I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer of 31 July, Official Report, PQ 1243.

With reference to the Cabinet Office guidance entitled Non-corporate communication channels for government business, published in March 2023, what the Government's policy is on Ministers using personal devices for conducting official business.

There are arrangements and guidance in place for the management of all electronic communications in relation to the Government’s business as detailed in the guidance on Non Corporate Communication Channels.

Whether the Government plans to issue a revised Cabinet Manual in 2024.

The Government is aware of the function of the Cabinet Manual and we will keep this under review.

Whether the Prime Minister plans to grant the right to switch off to (a) No10 special advisers, (b) civil servants in his private office and (c) staff in the Downing Street Parliamentary branch.

Expected working hours are set out for all Cabinet Office employees in their terms and conditions of employment.

Whether the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has responsibility for (a) trade unions and (b) equalities.

A new List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published in due course.

Whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals that create a criminal offence of deception by elected representatives, as legislated for in the Welsh Parliament.

The Government has no plans to bring forward legislation to create an equivalent criminal offence for elected representatives. It is for the House of Commons in accordance with the principle of exclusive cognisance to determine whether to treat the making of a deliberately misleading statement as a contempt.

Whether the Prime Minister sent a (a) written and (b) video message for the Durham Miners Gala on 13 July 2024.

A message from my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister, celebrating Gala Day, was published by the Northern Echo on 13 July 2024. For the convenience of the Rt Hon Member I will arrange for a copy to be deposited in the House Libraries for him to read.

Whether there is a recognised trade union for No. 10 special advisers.

As per the published Model Contract for Special Advisers, which was last updated in December 2023, no collective bargaining agreements apply to special advisers.All special advisers have the right to join a trade union.

Whether the Prime Minister plans to nominate members of the House of Lords who (a) are over 80 and (b) will become over 80 before the end of the Parliament.

1. The minimum age requirement for someone to be a member of the House of Lords is 21. This is provided for in the Standing Orders of the House, and as such this is a matter for the House2. Any future nominations to the House of Lords are a matter for the Prime Minister. The Government has set out its commitment to modernise the Lords, including introducing a mandatory retirement age. The Government will continue to engage on this and the wider reform agenda.

If the Prime Minister will make an assessment of the potential merits of reducing the minimum age at which one can become a member of the House of Lords to 16.

1. The minimum age requirement for someone to be a member of the House of Lords is 21. This is provided for in the Standing Orders of the House, and as such this is a matter for the House2. Any future nominations to the House of Lords are a matter for the Prime Minister. The Government has set out its commitment to modernise the Lords, including introducing a mandatory retirement age. The Government will continue to engage on this and the wider reform agenda.

Whether he plans to revise the transparency publication guidance for (a) Ministers, (b) special advisers and (c) senior officials.

There are no immediate plans to revise transparency guidance issued to departments following the recent publication of new transparency guidance relating to ministers, special advisers and senior officials on GOV.UK at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6604110bf9ab41001aeea39c/2024_04_02-Ministers-Transparency-Guidance.pdf

Whether the Prime Minister plans to (a) maintain, (b) update and (c) donate a book to the Prime Minister's Library in 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister will consider this at an appropriate time.

Whether the Prime Minister plans to place the Ministerial Code on a statutory basis.

The Government is committed to restoring public confidence in government and ensuring that all of those in public service are held to the highest standards. We will take the time to consider the best means to deliver this.When meeting with the new Cabinet for the first time, the Prime Minister was clear about the standards he expects of them and their ministerial teams. He will issue a Ministerial Code in due course which will set out the standards of behaviour expected of ministers.

If the Prime Minister will publish the list of special advisers before the summer recess.

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.

Whether the Prime Minister plans to issue special advisers with Government Procurement Cards.

There are only very limited circumstances in which a Procurement Card would be required by Special Advisers and, in such circumstances, procurement methods are a matter for individual departments. As per the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, special advisers cannot authorise expenditure of public funds.

What his policy is on penalties applied under the Ministerial Code in the event that a Minister (a) breaks the law and (b) misleads Parliament.

As the Prime Minister has made clear, public service is a privilege. When meeting with his new Cabinet for the first time, the Prime Minister was clear about the standards he expects of all ministers.The Prime Minister will issue a Ministerial Code in due course which will set out the standards of behaviour expected of ministers.

Whether the Prime Minister plans to change the (a) remit and (b) powers of the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests.

This Government is committed to ensuring that the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests has the powers to start investigations into misconduct and that they will have access to the evidence they need. Further detail on this will be set out in due course.

What the remit of the proposed Ethics and Integrity Commission would be in relation to (a) the Committee on Standards in Public Life, (b) the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, (c) parliamentary standards and (d) devolved institutions.

The Government is a government of service and it is committed to restoring trust and confidence in public life. We will establish a new independent Ethics and Integrity Commission, with its own independent Chair. We will ensure that this Commission has the powers and remit necessary to fulfil its responsibilities and will provide an update in due course

Whether the Government plans to consult on (a) a mandatory retirement age and (b) the removal of hereditary peers from the House of Lords.

The Government set out clear plans for House of Lords reform in the manifesto. As a first step in reform, the Government announced in the King’s Speech that it would introduce the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill, which will remove the right for Hereditary Peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. This is a long overdue measure. The continued presence of hereditary peers in the House of Lords is outdated and indefensible.We will engage with peers to consider how best to implement this and our other manifesto commitments on Lords reform.

Whether the Government plans on introducing a mandatory retirement age for Ministers in the House of Commons.

The Government has no current plans to introduce a mandatory retirement age for Ministers in the House of Commons.