Every parliamentary written question tabled by Kevin Hollinrake this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 41–60 of 237 · Cabinet Office
What guidance his Department has issued on the use of merit order when using a reserve list for the appointment of a (a) Cabinet Secretary and (b) Permanent Secretary.
The Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles set out rules on reserve list appointments (here, page 5). This applies to all appointments, and there is no separate guidance for appointment of a Cabinet Secretary or Permanent Secretaries.
Whether the Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition is consulted on Cabinet Secretary appointments.
The Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition is not required to be consulted on these appointments. The First Civil Service Commissioner published the letter she sent to the Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition on the recent appointment of the Cabinet Secretary (here).
Whether the Prime Minister plans to appoint a permanent Chief of Staff.
A complete list of Special Advisers is published on an annual basis in the Special Advisers Annual Report. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual staffing matters.
Whether Jonathan Powell attended the meeting between the Prime Minister and Pravind Jugnauth on 23 July 2024.
The meeting between the Prime Minister and Pravind Jugnauth was before Jonathan Powell’s appointment as Special Envoy for BIOT negotiations.
With reference to the Answer of 12 March 2024 to Question 16665 on Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Offenders, whether Ministers are asked to declare a criminal convention when joining the Department.
I refer the Honourable Member to the government’s response to his previous question of 9 December 2025, reference 96210.
What the name is of his Department's Freedom of Information casework database.
The Cabinet Office uses Fivium's e-Case for the management of Freedom of Information requests made to the department.
Whether his Department has issued guidance on whether Ministers on official overseas visits are required to declare visits to external commercial organisations.
Guidance on the declaration of ministers' overseas travel and meetings can be found on GOV.UK at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance/ministers-overseas-travel-and-meetings-publication-guidance.
Whether the self-employed earnings are included in the (a) Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, (b) Average Weekly Earnings and (c) Labour Force Survey.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 20th February is attached.
Whether there is a desk note on exit payments to (a) Senior Civil Servants and (b) Permanent Secretaries.
Thank you for your question, I refer to the terms of the Civil Service Compensation Scheme (CSCS), a statutory Scheme for all civil servants, including the SCS and Permanent Secretaries, which allows the payment of compensation to members who leave on early departure terms.
What the (a) status is and (b) terms of reference are of his Department's review into Labour Together; who commissioned the review; who it will report to; and whether its findings will be published.
The Prime Minister asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team to establish the facts in relation to allegations concerning the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. These facts were reported to the Prime Minister, who referred the matter to the independent adviser on Ministerial standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk As a private organisation, any questions related to Labour Together are a matter for the board of Labour Together.
Who is responsible for his Department's review of Labour Together; or whether any Ministers has recused themselves.
The Prime Minister asked civil servants in the Cabinet Office propriety and ethics team to establish the facts in relation to allegations concerning the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State jointly in the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Cabinet Office, Josh Simons MP. These facts were reported to the Prime Minister, who referred the matter to the independent adviser on Ministerial standards. The Independent Adviser’s subsequent advice to the Prime Minister is published on gov.uk As a private organisation, any questions related to Labour Together are a matter for the board of Labour Together.
Who has a role in his Department's (a) inquiry into Lord Mandelson, (b) response to the Humble Address and (c) review of Labour Together; and whether anyone has recused themselves from these matters.
The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required. The Cabinet Secretary has asked the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary, to lead on the response to the Humble Address. Staff from across the Cabinet Office are involved in compliance with the Humble Address motion as necessary.The Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics team were asked by the Prime Minister to carry out an exercise to establish the facts in response to allegations made about the conduct of Josh Simons. Following the conclusion of that process, the Prime Minister referred the matter to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and asked for his advice. The Independent Adviser provided advice to the Prime Minister on 27 February. Civil Servants remain bound by the Civil Service Code at all times, and by their departmental policies on managing conflicts of interest.
Whether a permanent Director General for the Proprietary and Constitution Group has been appointed; and recruitment process was for that position.
The Director General for Propriety and Constitution Group is currently filled on an interim basis, a permanent appointment has not been made. The recruitment campaign is still currently in planning stages and details will be released in due course.
Whether the Deputy Director of the Constitution Group remains (a) on a fixed term contract and (b) with that job title.
In line with data protection obligations, the Cabinet Office cannot disclose the personal contractual arrangements of individual members of staff
Whether the Prime Minister was informed of Gordon Brown's letter to the Cabinet Secretary of February 2025 on the relationship between Lord Mandelson and Jeffery Epstein.
I refer the Hon Member to the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister’s words to the House during the debate on the ‘US Department of Justice Release of Files’ on Monday 2 February (Hansard Vol 780, Col 49). https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2026-02-02/debates/10A2B314-165E-4992-A7BF-0F30739D7BBD/USDepartmentOfJusticeReleaseOfFiles
Whether the Cabinet Office due diligence exercise for the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States considered (a) the Financial Times report entitled Links between Peter Mandelson and Jeffrey Epstein detailed in JPMorgan report, published on 21 June 2023 and (b) the associated material on the Epstein-Mandelson relationship detailed in JP Morgan's Project Jeep released by the US courts, reference: Government of the United States Virgin Islands v. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. (1:22-cv-10904), District Court, S.D. New York, published on 20 June 2023, Exhibit 4.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
What role Jonathan Powell, as national security adviser, had in the (a) advice to the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary and (b) due diligence, over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.
I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
If he will ask the Cabinet Secretary to investigate Peter Mandelson's role (a) as an adviser to the then Leader of the Opposition and (b) in the selection of Parliamentary Candidates.
The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.
Further to the oral statement of 2 February 2026, Official Report, Column 47, on US Department of Justice Release of Files, and with reference to the Cabinet Secretary’s review into Peter Mandelson, whether the review will be assisted by the Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team, including the members of PET who assisted in the drafting of the due diligence on Mandelson.
The former Cabinet Secretary was asked to review available information regarding Peter Mandelson’s contacts with Jeffrey Epstein during his period as a Minister. After an initial review of some documents, the matter was referred to the police. In light of the ongoing criminal investigation that was announced, that review has now been paused. The government is cooperating fully with the police investigation and providing any assistance required.
What information his Department holds on the number of times Jeffery Epstein visited (a) No10 and (b) No11 from 1997 to 2010.
This information is not retained for the time periods specified.