Written questions by Hollinrake.

Pursuant to the answer of 4 November 2025 to Question 85189 on National Wealth Fund: Workplace Pensions, and with reference to page 19 of the UK Infrastructure Bank's document entitled Framework document, published on 9 January 2024, whether the Civil Service Pay guidance applies to the National Wealth Fund; and whether the Chief Secretary to the Treasury’s pay controls apply to the body.

National Wealth Fund employees are subject to the Civil Service Pay guidance, including pay controls.

Innovation and Technology, Pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 85833, on Telephone Exchanges: Tower Hamlets, whether she has had discussions with BT Openreach on the potential closure or relocation of the CL-WAP telephone and internet exchange adjacent to the site of the planned Chinese Embassy.

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure.The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework, requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for the risks of security compromise. Public telecoms providers are responsible for the cyber-security of their own networks, in line with their obligations under this framework. Ofcom, as the telecoms regulator, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing their compliance with those obligations.DSIT is responsible for developing policies, including legislation, to help ensure the security of the UK’s public telecoms networks and services. DSIT works with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as the UK’s lead technical authority for cyber security. The NCSC provides advice to government and industry on cyber-security threats and vulnerabilities.HM Government, including the NCSC, has regular engagement with the UK’s largest telecoms providers across a range of policy areas, including national security. However, it would not be appropriate to comment on discussions related to national security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will publish the minutes of the meeting between Baroness Chapman of Darlington and Inter Mediate of 22 October 2024.

Consistent with long-standing policy, the Government does not routinely publish the minutes of meetings held by ministers or officials with external organisations.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what information her Department holds on whether the Chinese government’s sanctions on UK Parliamentarians, former Parliamentarians and their families have been removed.

I refer the Hon Member to the Prime Minister's statement to the House on 2 February, and to the responses provided in the Private Notice Question debate held in the House of Lords on the same date.

Commonwealth 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.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he received on 28 October 2025 in response to Question 84207.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Chines Government made representation to her Department, outside of the planning process, on permissions for the proposed Chinese Embassy.

As 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.

Commonwealth 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.

The Civil Service Code and the Civil Service Management Code are already publicly-available on GOV.UK.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 6 February 2026 to Question 109257 on Chinese Embassy: Construction, and with reference to page 11 of the Government’s Cyber Action Plan, published on 6 January 2026, whether the (a) Government Cyber Unit, (b) Government Cyber Coordination Centre, (c) Government Security Group, (d) National Cyber Security Centre or (e) Government Technology Risk Group is responsible for the cyber-security of the telecommunication cables adjacent to site of the new Chinese Embassy.

The Government is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of the UK’s telecommunications infrastructure.The Telecommunications (Security) Act 2021 introduced a robust security framework, requiring public telecoms providers to identify, reduce and prepare for the risks of security compromise. Public telecoms providers are responsible for the cyber-security of their own networks, in line with their obligations under this framework. Ofcom, as the telecoms regulator, is responsible for monitoring and enforcing their compliance with those obligations.DSIT is responsible for developing policies, including legislation, to help ensure the security of the UK’s public telecoms networks and services. DSIT works with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as the UK’s lead technical authority for cyber security. The NCSC provides advice to government and industry on cyber-security threats and vulnerabilities.HM Government, including the NCSC, has regular engagement with the UK’s largest telecoms providers across a range of policy areas, including national security. However, it would not be appropriate to comment on discussions related to national security.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has had discussions with the US Government on that Government's funding of UK think tanks and charities.

Ministers and officials in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office are in constant discussion with their US counterparts across a wide range of issues.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2026 to Question 105773 on Chinese Embassy: Royal Mint, if she will provide a summary of what the Note Verbale stated on the granting of permission.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer cited in his question.

Innovation and Technology, what steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to protect the security of onshore telecommunication cables within Great Britain.

The 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.

With 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.

The 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.

Pursuant 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.

The 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.

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.

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 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.

Pursuant 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.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given to Question UIN102817 on 13 January 2026 which provides a link to the published data available.

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

Representing 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.

The 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.