Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the answer of 22 May 2025, to Question 51870, on Government Departments: Sanitation, whether any gender-neutral toilets have been installed on the Government estate since 4 July 2024.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) uses the terms single-sex toilet and universal toilet (in line with Building regulation Approved Document T) when referring to toilet facilities. All new Government Hubs which the GPA are developing are planned to have both single-sex and universal toilet facilities. Any projects completed since July 2024 should have both single-sex and universal toilet facilities in line with GPA guidance unless a derogation was agreed. Since July 2024, we have completed two projects:2 Ruskin Square, Croydon - has both single-sex and universal toilet facilities.22 Whitehall (Kirkland House), London - has both single-sex and universal toilet facilities. This response only relates to projects undertaken by the GPA since July 2024 and not other parts of the Government estate for which the GPA is not responsible.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 May 2025 to Question 51967 on Admiralty House, what was the cost of (a) removing gas appliances and (b) purchasing new electric cookers in the kitchens of the Ministerial residences.

The Government Property Agency (GPA) does not hold this information. The removal of the gas appliances and subsequent purchasing of replacement electric appliances was over 10 years ago.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 May 2025 to Question 51870 on Government Departments: Sanitation, what the (a) Department and (b) location is of each gender-neutral toilet that has been removed; and whether each gender-neutral toilet was repurposed into a (i) male-specific, (ii) female-specific, (iii) disabled and (iv) universal toilet.

Within the Government Property Agency (GPA)’s managed estate, there have been 22 gender-neutral toilets repurposed at 3-8 Whitehall Place. These have been converted into 11 male and 11 female toilets. The building maintains suitable provision of accessible and universal toilets alongside sex-specific toilets. This response only relates to projects undertaken by the GPA since July 2024 and not other parts of the Government estate for which the GPA is not responsible

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2025 to Question 51120 on Admiralty House, what is the council tax liability for each of the unoccupied Admiralty House Ministerial residences in 2025-26.

Admiralty House residences are valued in Council Tax Band H.

How many days each Minister in his Department has worked in (a) Departmental offices and (b) Government hubs outside London since 5 July 2024.

The Cabinet Office does not hold specific information regarding how many days Cabinet Office Ministers have worked in departmental offices and government hubs outside of London since 5 July 2024.

If he will make an estimate of the (a) capital and (b) notional market rent of the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House.

Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency for commercial and residential use. There is not an up-to-date assessment of market rent for residential space within this.

How many bedrooms the Deputy Prime Minister's residence in Admiralty House has.

For security and operational reasons we do not disclose the layout of individual residences.

For how long each of the unoccupied dwellings in Admiralty House has been empty.

For security and operational reasons we do not disclose occupancy timings of individual residences.

Whether any services are provided to the Deputy Prime Minister’s residence in Admiralty House; and who is responsible for paying for those services.

The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.

How much has been spent on (a) refurbishment and (b) fixtures and fittings for the Deputy Prime Minister’s flat in Admiralty House since 4 July 2024.

The maintenance of Admiralty House is managed by the Government Property Agency with costs accrued in the usual way, as has been the case for successive governments and Ministers.

Whether any gender-neutral toilets have been removed from the Government estate since 4 July 2024.

A number of gender-neutral toilets have been repurposed into alternative toilet types within the Government Property Agency’s managed estate since 4 July 2024, in response to feedback from users of those buildings about the provision of single-sex and gender neutral toilets, and to ensure compliance with changes to Building Regulations.

Which Department is responsible for paying the council tax bill for the empty Ministerial residences in Admiralty House.

The payment of Council Tax (Domestic Rates) costs relating to Admiralty House is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office.

Whether the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team has issued guidance on the council tax second homes premium for ministerial residences.

Ministers who are allocated an official residence are reminded of their responsibility for all personal tax liabilities, including council tax. The Propriety and Ethics team does not provide advice on personal tax arrangements.

Whether the two unused Ministerial residences in Admiralty House are now paying the empty homes council tax premium to Westminster City Council in 2025-26.

The residential accommodation within Admiralty House does not attract Westminster Council’s Empty Property Premium. The property, including the residential flats, are managed and maintained by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The GPA ensures that all rates due (business and domestic) in relation to the property are paid.

If he will ensure that Environmental Information Regulation requests are treated equally to Freedom of Information requests.

All access to information requests are answered on a case by case basis and in adherence with the relevant legal framework. Guidance on the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office at ico.org.uk

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 April 2025 to Question 43478 on Admiralty House, how many of the flats are occupied.

There has been no change to the allocation of the flats in Admiralty House since my Noble Friend’s answer of 17 December 2024, Official Report, HL2901.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure consistency of approach in its engagement policy.

We take engagement seriously and adopt best practice as outlined by the Government's principles of engagement.These principles of engagement are published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

What Admiralty House is used for; and if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of using that building for civil servants in his Department.

Admiralty House is a Grade I listed building, and is not an office workspace in the traditional sense. The building contains state rooms, which are used for events, and three flats, which can be allocated at the request of the Prime Minister.This is the same approach to the use of Admiralty House as taken under the previous Government.

With reference to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question HL5597 on Political Parties: Finance, if he will place in the Library an unredacted version of the guidance.

As set out in response to question HL5597, the guidance document in question is owned by the House of Lords Appointments Commission and is an internal document for Commission members. When ordering release of the guidance in December 2021, the Information Commissioner decided that some of the information in the document should be redacted in order to protect the integrity of the Commission's vetting process.

Whether every regulated public (a) appointment and (b) re-appointment is published on the Announcement section of the website entitled Apply for a public appointment; and how long each announcement page remains on that website.

All regulated appointment and reappointment announcements should be published on the Apply for a public appointment digital service, unless the appointing department determines that the appointment is of a sensitive nature. All announcements remain on the service indefinitely and are archived within the National Archives catalogue.