15 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to the transparency data, Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP official charity receptions, July to September 2025, updated on 19 December 2025, what was the cost to the public purpose of each of the listed official receptions.
ReplyAs under previous administrations, details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.
15 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Cabinet Office publication, Public Appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister, of 30 October 2025, what does the inclusion of a regulated public appointment in that list entail for the process of that appointment; and whether the No10 Public Appointments Unit is consulted by the sponsor department on the (a) panel members, (b) longlist, (c) shortlist and (d) proposed final appointment by the sponsor department.
ReplyThis Government is continuing to ensure the highest standards in the public appointments process. The process for public appointments is set out on gov.uk, including a transparent list of appointments that by their nature may be of interest to the Prime Minister’s Office.
15 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has negotiated a signed data sharing agreement with the Labour Party in relation to the operation of the Number 10 Political Office.
ReplyI refer the Hon Member to the answer of 31 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 39119.
14 Jan 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, Pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2025, to Question 91404, on Embassies: Royal Mint, if he will publish the Note Verbale dated 4 May 2018 relating to the consent to the People's Republic of China for Royal Mint Court; and whether that Note Verbale was conditional on the Embassy obtaining the necessary planning and listed building permission.
ReplyThe Government does not routinely publish Notes Verbales outside of legal proceedings, or comment on their contents, as they are regarded by international custom as private diplomatic correspondence and presumed confidential.
14 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 97796, what the estimated financial value was of the Downing Street property in the 2022-23 valuation.
ReplyA professional revaluation of the Downing Street estate was last carried out under the previous government. The estimated value is included in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23.
14 Jan 2026·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWith reference to his Department's register of board members' interests, 2025 to 2026, published on 5 September 2025, what business A.M.Strategy undertakes.
ReplyThe Rt. Hon. Alan Milburn has declared A.M. Strategy Ltd in the Department’s register of interests. This is the business through which he has provided advisory services for several years.
14 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 92610, on Special Advisers, what were the topics of the presentations.
ReplyThis was an internal meeting, and the topics of discussion are not a matter of public record.
14 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025, to Question 96790, on Tim Allan, how Tom Baldwin is classified in the published list of external meetings.
ReplyThe Special Adviser Code of Conduct sets out the categories of meetings, gifts and hospitality that are declared publicly. Any relevant meetings within this category will be published via this process in the normal way.
14 Jan 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether there was a cost to the public purse for external legal advice relating to the departure of Lord Mandelson as (a) Ambassador and (b) from the Civil Service.
ReplyThe Government has established processes to seek external legal advice in line with normal practice. The Government does not routinely comment on specific legal advice that it may or may not have received.
14 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 9 December 2025, to Question 92614, on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, if he will publish the Government Property Agency letter of June 2025.
ReplyCommunications between officials and third parties are not published as their disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the effective conduct of public affairs. The release of individual names would also be a breach of data protection under the General Data Protection Regulations.
13 Jan 2026·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning shotgun and firearm licensing systems on (a) public safety and (b) police licensing resource capacity.
ReplyThe Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We intend to publish this consultation shortly.We will carefully consider all of the views put forward during the consultation once it is completed, before deciding whether and what changes are necessary in the interests of public safety. We will also provide an impact assessment in relation to any changes that we intend to bring forward after the consultation including, as appropriate, impact on the police, the rural economy, sports, wildlife management and crop protection, in the normal way.
13 Jan 2026·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning shotgun and firearm licensing systems on (a) the rural economy, (b) legitimate sporting shooting and (c) essential wildlife management and crop protection.
ReplyThe Government response to the 2023 firearms licensing consultation, published on 13 February 2025, included a commitment to having a public consultation on strengthening the licensing controls on shotguns to bring them more into line with the controls on other firearms in the interests of public safety. We intend to publish this consultation shortly.We will carefully consider all of the views put forward during the consultation once it is completed, before deciding whether and what changes are necessary in the interests of public safety. We will also provide an impact assessment in relation to any changes that we intend to bring forward after the consultation including, as appropriate, impact on the police, the rural economy, sports, wildlife management and crop protection, in the normal way.
12 Jan 2026·Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission·Answered
AskedRepresenting the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2025, to Question 97532, on Local Government: Elections, when the Electoral Commission was informed by the Government of the decision to cancel the 2026 mayoral elections.
ReplyThe Commission was first made aware of the UK Government’s proposals on the same day as the publication of the Secretary of State’s written ministerial statement on 4 December 2025.
12 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedOn what dates his Department has received Freedom of Information requests relating to the Downing Street flats since 4 July 2024; what information was requested; and what the substantive decision was in each case.
ReplyRequests made under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act (2000) are handled on a case by case basis. The relevant records are not structured in such a way that would provide an answer without incurring a disproportionate cost.
12 Jan 2026·Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission·Answered
AskedRepresenting the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission would request information on the type of cryptocurrency used to make political donations when such donations are reported to the Commission.
ReplyIn line with guidance issued by HMRC and the Financial Conduct Authority, donations in crypto assets are treated as non-monetary donations. Recipients are required to identify the nature of non-monetary donations. For crypto assets, this means identifying the type and amount of crypto asset. This will be underlined in the forthcoming update to the Commission’s guidance.
12 Jan 2026·Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission·Answered
AskedRepresenting the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, whether the Electoral Commission has provided guidance on requirements for candidates for election to report cryptocurrency donations in their Representation of the People Act returns.
ReplyThe Electoral Commission’s guidance states that candidates must report all monetary and non-monetary donations they accept or return as impermissible, including donations in crypto assets. The Commission will shortly publish updated guidance for parties and candidates on the reporting and valuation of donations in crypto assets.
12 Jan 2026·Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs·Answered
AskedFood and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 December 2025 to Question 94727 on Water Charges, if she will provide a hyperlink to that information.
ReplyPrice Review 2024 Final Determinations financial models for each water company can be found on the Ofwat website.
12 Jan 2026·House of Commons Commission·Answered
AskedRepresenting the House of Commons Commission, whether guidance has been provided to any hon. Members on receiving donations in the form of cryptocurrencies.
ReplyThe House of Commons Commission has no responsibility for issuing such guidance.It may be helpful to know that the Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules on Registration does not directly reference crypto currencies.Paragraphs 14 to 20 of the Guide to the Rules on Registration set out the requirements for registering donations under Category 2: Donations and other support for activities as a Member of Parliament.Electoral Commission Guidance on political party donations and loans in Great Britain includes guidance on cryptoassets and says:“The same rules apply to donations received in cryptocurrencies as any other donations. Sufficient information must be collected to check permissibility. There must be a means of valuing the donation given in any cryptocurrency.”Political party donations and loans in Great Britain
12 Jan 2026·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 96203 on Admiralty House, for what reason the Secretary of State for Defence occupied the residence as a second home for the period September to November 2024.
ReplyAs has been the case under successive administrations, the allocation of official Ministerial residences, including Admiralty House, is determined by the Prime Minister on the grounds of security or to enable Ministers to better perform their official duties.
12 Jan 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 15 December 2025, to Question 92616, on Admiralty House: Valuation, for what reason the valuation report of a wholly-owned government building is commercially sensitive; and whether he plans to sell Admiralty House in the future.
ReplyThe valuation report is provided by the valuer to His Majesty’s Government on a confidential basis and is relevant only for that point in time considering prevailing market comparables. The valuer provides their report on condition it is not shared with third parties. There are no plans to sell Admiralty House.