20 Feb 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 November 2025 to Question 91405 on China: Embassies, on what statutory basis was the conditional diplomatic consent granted.
ReplyI refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 28 October 2025 in response to Question 84207.
20 Feb 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chines Government made representation to her Department, outside of the planning process, on permissions for the proposed Chinese Embassy.
ReplyAs the Hon Member knows, the decision on the planning application was made by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government independent from the rest of Government in line with his quasi-judicial role.
20 Feb 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101764 on Diplomatic Service, if she will publish the (a) manuals, (b) desk notes and (c) other guidance which outline those HR processes.
ReplyThe Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code are already publicly-available on GOV.UK.
20 Feb 2026·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to protect the security of onshore telecommunication cables within Great Britain.
ReplyThe Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure.As the lead government department for telecoms, DSIT is responsible for developing policies, including legislation, to help ensure the security of the UK’s public telecoms networks and services, and where appropriate works closely across government to ensure a coordinated approach. In doing so, it works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as the UK’s lead technical authority for cyber security.The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 sets out a robust telecoms security framework, requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for the risk of security compromises to their networks and services. The government consulted on updating the associated Code in 2025.Public telecoms providers are responsible for the cyber-security of their own networks, including onshore telecommunications cables, in line with their obligations under this framework. Ofcom, as the telecoms regulator, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing their compliance with those obligations.
20 Feb 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 24 November 2025 to Question 91039 on Trade Unions: Equality, how many (a) chairs and (b) committee members are entitled to use their work time for network activity; and what the name is of each diversity network in (i) his Department and (ii) NHS England.
ReplyThe Department advises that up to three individuals per network, including chairs, co-chairs and committee members, may receive a 10% work time allocation for network activity, with line manager agreement. The Department has eight recognised diversity networks which align with characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010 and/or characteristics particularly important to our organisational demographic:Age Network;Disability, Neurodiversity, Long-term Conditions and Carers Network;Faith and Belief Network;Parenting Network;Race Network;Sex Network ("sex" in the Equality Act 2010 refers specifically to biological sex recorded at birth, not acquired gender, and as such this network covers sex, with supporting forums discussing 'men's' and 'women's' issues);Sexuality and Gender Network; andSocial Equality and Support Network.NHS England does not set an organisation wide allocation or entitlement of protected time for staff network chairs or committee members. Any arrangements for time spent on network activity are agreed locally, based on business need.NHS England has 12 staff networks:Ability;Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic;Carers and Family Network;Christian Network;Disability and Well-being;Jewish;LGBTQIA+;Menopause;MultiKultural;Muslim;Neurodiversity; andWomen’s.
20 Feb 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWith reference to pages 92 and 96 respectively of NHS England's annual report and accounts 2024-25 and 2023-24, if he will set out the business case for the increase in (a) facility time headcount to 88, (b) facility time paybill to £193,550, and (c) paid trade union activities to 1,068 hours.
ReplyThe increased facility time in 2024/25 noted in NHS England’s Annual Report and Accounts was due to NHS England undergoing organisational change. This followed the transfers of Health Education England and NHS Digital into NHS England, which required formal consultation under employment legislation with recognised trade unions. This is also the reason for the increased facility time paybill and paid trade union activities.
20 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhat 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.
ReplyThe 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.
20 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWho is responsible for his Department's review of Labour Together; or whether any Ministers has recused themselves.
ReplyThe 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.
20 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWho 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.
ReplyThe 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.
20 Feb 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2026 to Question 102817 on Public Houses: Business Rates, if he will provide a hyperlink to the requested information cross-referenced by each individual billing authority in England.
ReplyI refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN102817 on 13 January 2026 which provides a link to the published data available.
20 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether a permanent Director General for the Proprietary and Constitution Group has been appointed; and recruitment process was for that position.
ReplyThe 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.
20 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether the Deputy Director of the Constitution Group remains (a) on a fixed term contract and (b) with that job title.
ReplyIn line with data protection obligations, the Cabinet Office cannot disclose the personal contractual arrangements of individual members of staff
10 Feb 2026·Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission·Answered
AskedRepresenting the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 29 April 2025 to Question 45681 on Electoral Commission: Companies House, whether the Electoral Commission has used the powers conferred on it under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 in relation to Companies House data to date.
ReplyThe Electoral Commission has not used the powers conferred on it under the provisions in the Economic Crime and Transparency Act 2023, in relation to the Company House data.
10 Feb 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 101775 on 1 Carlton Gardens: Council tax, whether the Chancellor’s residence in Downing Street is her primary residence.
ReplyI refer the Hon. Member to the answer given on 8 January 2026 to Question 101771.
10 Feb 2026·Treasury·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2026 to Question 101767 on Jeffrey Epstein, whether Jeffery Epstein visited HM Treasury offices in Whitehall during the period 1997 to 2010.
ReplyVisitor information for HM Treasury offices in Whitehall is not retained for the time periods specified.
10 Feb 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Rt hon. Member for (a) Tottenham and (b) Ashton-Under-Lyne made representations on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States.
ReplyI refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
10 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether 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.
ReplyI 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
10 Feb 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat role Lord Mandelson played while Ambassador to the United States on advising on the awarding of defence contracts to Palantir.
ReplyDetails of central Government contracts above £12,000 for procurements commenced before 24 February 2025 are published on Contracts Finder. Contracts procured under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025, are published on the Central Digital Platform Find a Tender service. The details published online include whether each contract was let through competitive tendering or via direct award.
10 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether 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.
ReplyI 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.
10 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhat 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.
ReplyI 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.