Written questions by Glen.

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1240 on Morgan McSweeney, what the responsibilities are of Mr McSweeney in his role as a special adviser.

It’s a longstanding policy to not comment on individuals.

How many special advisers in each department are on (a) four month probationary contracts, (b) six month fixed term contracts and (c) full contracts with no probationary period.

All special advisers are subject to the Model Contract for Special Advisers, which is published online at gov.uk. It stipulates that the first four months of their appointment will be a probationary period. There are no special advisers on six month fixed...

Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with her counterpart in the Greek government on (a) loaning and (b) donating the Elgin Marbles to Greece.

None.

With reference to the then Prime Minister’s Written Statement of 4 November 2015, Official Report, HCWS291, on the Wilson doctrine, what the Government’s policy is on the Wilson doctrine.

The Wilson Doctrine is unchanged from the position set out in the Prime Minister's predecessor's Written Statement of 4 November 2015 (HCWS291).Since the then Prime Minister’s statement to the House in 2015, the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 was commenced...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the Joint statement on the Middle East, published on 12 August 2024, if he will publish a list of the allies of Iran.

Iran continues to proliferate advanced weaponry, alongside providing financial and political support to its proxies and partners including Lebanese Hizballah, Hamas, the Houthis and other groups in Iraq and Syria. Since 7 October, these groups have conduc...

How many proposals by departmental Ministers to appoint a special adviser have been refused by 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.

It is the longstanding policy of successive governments to not discuss individual staffing matters.

Whether any changes have been made to the goods on sale in the Downing Street shop since 4 July 2024; and if he will publish the price list for goods available in that shop.

There has been no change to either the goods on sale or prices that were available under the last Government. These items are paid for personally by members of staff at full cost price and with no subsidy from the taxpayer. A list will be placed in the li...

Pursuant to the answer of 2 August 2024, to Question 905, on Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the percentage employer contribution to the Alpha pension scheme by pay band;

This information is publicly available in the “Central Government Supply Estimates 2024-25” documents and the Civil Service Pension Scheme Valuation Results” document.

With reference to the answer of 30 July 2024 to House of Lords Question HL517 on Civil Service: Expenditure, if he will make it his policy to ensure that Civil Service staff should not spend time on diversity ne

The management of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion networks is delegated to departments and any network time allocation is agreed between the network and the department as the employer. The majority of Civil Service staff time spent on diversity staff ne...

What the status of the Civil Service Muslim Network is; and whether network time is allocated to that diversity network as of 10 September 2024.

The Civil Service Muslim Network voluntarily suspended their activity earlier this year, but has now resumed activity, with senior sponsors appointed to ensure all network activity is in line with relevant guidance. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)...

How much was spent on civil service diversity networks in the most recent year for which figures are available.

As part of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Review commissioned in 2023 by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Cabinet Office collected information on spend on EDI staff networks. We are currently considering this information.

Whether the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests is able to initiate an investigation into the conduct of a Minister without the consent of the Prime Minister.

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

Pursuant to the Answer of 31 July 2024 to Question 1222 on JK Rowling, whether 10 Downing Street plans to take steps to arrange a meeting.

I have nothing further to add to the answer given to the Rt Hon Member on 31 July 2024.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 August 2024 to Question HL548 on Government Departments: Remote Working, if he will publish comparative data for August 2024.

The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period. We will provide an update on future publication plans in due course.

If he will publish the occupancy rate for 70 Whitehall in the most recent week for which data is available since 4 July 2024.

The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period. We will provide an update on future publication plans in due course.

How long a civil service vacancy must be advertised for to qualify as open and fair competition.

There is no prescribed duration for the advertising of publicly advertised vacancies for them to be considered compliant with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

If he will publish details of surplus public sector property according to the data held on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service database.

The Register of Surplus Land provides data on the availability of surplus land for government departments.

With reference to the Answer of 12 August 2024 to Question HL427 on Civil Servants: Equality, whether his Department has a list of each diversity network by department.

Responsibility for, and management of, departmental diversity networks is delegated to individual departments. Lists are not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

With reference to page 8 of the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, Volume 2, published in 2000, whether it remains convention that Ministers of a current Administration may not generally have access to policy

The convention on Access to Papers of a Previous Administration is also set out in the Cabinet Manual (paragraph 11.23 to 11.24), and remains in place. The Cabinet Manual was published in 2010 and is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/gove...

How many times the hon. Member for Beckenham and Penge has visited 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.

The member for Beckenham and Penge has not visited 10 Downing Street since 4 July 2024.