Written questions by Wood.

With reference to the Government press release entitled Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published on 1 August 2025, how many Civil Service internship schemes the Government will run in 2026; and what the eligibility requirements of each will be.

As we set out in August, we will be opening our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme exclusively for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. We will determine eligibility based on parental occupation at age 14 in line with guidance from the Social Mobility Commission. The Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme is a cross government internship programme led by the Cabinet Office. All other internship programmes across the Civil Service, arm’s length bodies and public corporations are responsible for setting their own eligibility criteria to suit the specific needs of the recruiting organisation. The exact number of other internship programmes and their eligibility criteria is not held centrally. For those who do not meet the criteria for the Summer Internship Programme but wish to pursue a career in the Civil Service, there are other opportunities for them to explore via the Civil Service Jobs website (https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/) or the Civil Service Fast Stream (https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/fast-stream/).

Pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2025 to Question 41436 on Government Departments: Communication, if he will publish each substantive programme of advertising, marketing and communications spending above the £100,000 control threshold that has been approved since 4 July 2024.

Spending above the £100,000 control threshold is published as standard on the transparency data page of gov.uk, found at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases?parent=cabinet-office&keywords=advertising+marketing+and+communications&organisations%5B%5D=cabinet-office&order=relevance

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 January 2025 to Question 25855 on Business Interests, what progress his Department has made on reviewing and updating the post-government employment rules.

I refer the member to the written statement that was provided to the House by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 21 July 2025 (HCWS870). Further information on the new Business Appointment Rules process will be published when it becomes operational on 13 October 2025.

With reference to the FOI Internal Review response IR2025/05101 of 29 May 2025, if he will make it his policy to reduce the size of the Government Communication Service.

The Government Communications Service (GCS) is in the process of completing its annual data collection of the Government Communications profession. In GCS, we are constantly focused on providing value for money to the taxpayer. The Spending Review announced that all departments will reduce their administration budgets by at least 16% in real terms by 2029-30. Departmental comms teams are employed by their department who apply the Gov Comms standards and best practice to maintain the most efficient and effective operation.

What his planned timetable is for the next audit of the Government Communication Service.

The Government Communications Service (GCS) is in the process of completing its annual data collection of the Government Communications profession. In GCS, we are constantly focused on providing value for money to the taxpayer. The Spending Review announced that all departments will reduce their administration budgets by at least 16% in real terms by 2029-30. Departmental comms teams are employed by their department who apply the Gov Comms standards and best practice to maintain the most efficient and effective operation.

With reference to the Work Order for Project_7114 published on Contracts Finder on 9 July 2025, how value for money will be assessed in relation to (a) strategic storytelling, (b) coaching and (c) experimental design and evaluation referenced in the contract scope.

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is modelling and scaling an approach to public service reform and mission delivery that closes gaps between policy, delivery and service users, and speeds up learning and improvement. Work is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership. The value for money of the contract scope will be assessed both through comprehensive programme and place-level evaluations delivered by the Government Outcomes Lab at the University of Oxford, which is part of the Partnership, and through broader contract management and oversight by the Cabinet Office.

How many civil servants in the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Civil Service claim a London weighting on their salary, in the most recent period for which data is available.

The Cabinet Office does not have a London Weighting Allowance. There are separate London and National pay ranges. An individual’s pay, paid as a salary, is determined by the location of their designated office, as set out in their contract. Decisions on pay, including London weighting, are delegated to individual departments for grades below the Senior Civil Service (SCS); data on London weighting is not collected centrally. The SCS pay framework is managed centrally and only operates a national pay range.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54761 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the OCS invoice for the No9 media room works has now been (a) received by the Cabinet Office and (b) paid.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 8 July 2025, Official Report, PQ 64569.

Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54804 on Public Bodies: Statistics, whether the (a) UK Statistics Agency and (b) ONS have reviewed the use of Social Time Preference Rate discounting by the Government in the context of the cost of the Chagos Islands deal.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 6 January 2025 to Question 21256 on Government: Policy, what the total cost was for the Plan for Change event on 5 December 2024.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 6 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 21256.

Which public body is responsible for investigating corruption in government procurement.

Tackling corruption wherever it persists is a foremost priority for this government. One key step has been appointing Tom Hayhoe as the Covid Counter Fraud Commissioner, whose role includes a focus on the procurement of PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government is also bringing forward the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill which, once implemented, will give the Public Sector Fraud Authority new robust powers to investigate fraud, including procurement fraud, across the public sector.It is the responsibility of each contracting authority to investigate corruption in their own procurement processes; the Procurement Act 2023 places a duty on them to take all reasonable steps to identify and keep under review actual or potential conflicts of interest in their procurements.The Procurement Review Unit within the Cabinet Office has responsibility for investigating contracting authorities’ compliance with the Procurement Act 2023 and investigating suppliers where their behaviour or circumstances mean that, potentially, they should not be allowed to participate in procurements or be awarded public contracts, for example because they have been convicted of certain bribery or fraud offences.

How much his Department spent on (a) advertising and (b) other services for the recruitment of the Director of the Government Communications Service.

The Department spent nil on advertising for the recruitment of the Director of Communications. The competition was supported by Odgers: details of the contract award and value are available here: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/d8567b6f-e373-4d10-b258-4becc193c100

Pursuant to the Answers of 4 July 2025 to Question 63007 on Government Departments: Equality and of 12 June 2025 to Question 54833 on Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Equality, whether he considers the appointment of the Diversity and Inclusion Manager in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to be consistent with the application of the ban on standalone Equality, Diversity and Inclusion roles.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Expenditure Guidance requires that departments consider whether any standalone EDI related roles should be incorporated into broader HR. Recruitment is a delegated matter where departments make their own decisions to reflect their individual circumstances.

How much facility time is provided to the PCS trade union in (a) ONS and (b) UKSA in (i) monetary terms, (ii) headcount and (iii) as a percentage of paybill; and whether check-off facilities are provided.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Further to the PCS press release entitled PCS industrial action escalated at ONS, published on 7 August 2025, what steps are being taken by the Office of National Statistics in response to the zero-office attendance policy.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.A response to the Hon Gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 29th August is attached.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37432 on Prime Minister: Communication, and with reference to the Cabinet Office FOI Internal Review response IR2025/05101 of 29 May 2025, for what reason the Answer of 19 March 2025 2025 to Question 37432 on Prime Minister: Communication states that there are 43 FTE civil servants in the 10 Downing Street communications team and the Government Communications Service audit states that there are less than 5 FT communications staff in 10 Downing Street.

The Government Communications Service audit provided in IR2025/05101 was a placeholder figure due to incomplete data. As caveated in the response to IR2025/05101, the GCS data collection is voluntary, and some organisations were not captured by this process.

What information the Civil Service HR Secondments Unit holds on the number of secondments (a) into the Civil Service from outside organisations and (b) from the Civil Service to outside organisations.

Secondments into the Civil Service from other sectors are a key route to bring essential skills and experience into the right roles and teams, enabling talented individuals from outside the Civil Service to contribute to the work of Government by sharing critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time. A secondments data commission was introduced in April 2023 to provide insight on inward and outward secondments taking place across government. The Cabinet Office has worked closely with departments to increase the amount, detail and quality of the data available. Responses are now received from all ministerial departments. Data captured includes the number of secondments into and out of the Civil Service by Department, organisations seconded to and from, and secondees’ grades.

With reference to the official statistics publication entitled UK Public Survey of Risk Perception, Resilience and Preparedness 2025: Technical Report, published on 23 July 2025, for what reason data on gender was collected instead of data on sex.

The question used by our data supplier is in line with Office for Statistics Regulation and Market Research Society guidance, and is appropriate and proportionate for the research being conducted. We will continue to keep the survey questions under review.

What guidance the Government has issued on diversity network events taking place during work hours.

The Cabinet Office has issued an internal policy for Civil Service Staff Networks which includes information on the timing of diversity network events. The Policy states where possible events should be arranged outside of peak business activities and attendees would be expected to attend Network Events in their own time. Events that relate directly to a business outcome or to an individual’s learning & development could be attended in work time with the relevant approvals.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 July 2025 to Question 66653 on Military Aircraft: Costs, what the annual operating costs are of the Airbus A321-Neo aircraft, registration G-GBNI.

The annual fixed operating cost of the Airbus A321neo registration G-GBNI is currently £10.7m.