Written questions by Wood.

If he will publish his Department’s internal guidance on answering written Parliamentary Questions.

As was the case under previous administrations, there are currently no such plans to publish this guidance.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22196, on Senior Civil Service: Recruitment, for what reasons can these individuals not be identified.

Under the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), we are prohibited from providing information about individuals, or which can be used to identify individuals, to third parties without their express permission. By providing job titles, this could lead to individuals being identifiable. While the details regarding some Senior Civil Service appointment processes are made public, many are not.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 December 2024 to Question 20750, on Public Sector: Procurement, if he will publish (a) a list each stakeholder that was consulted, (b) the dates of the roundtable discussions including which organisations attended and (c) the online NPPS stakeholder survey; and whether there will wider public consultation.

Details of ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications. The NPPS survey was available on gov.uk and received 436 responses including 114 from businesses and/or public sector suppliers, of which 56 identified as SME or VCSE organisations. A further 11 responses were received from Trade Associations representing the views of their wider business membership.

With reference to page 16 of the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025, published on 24 February 2022, what progress the Government has made on delivering the additional 50 Enterprise Advisers.

The action in the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2022-2025 to deliver an additional 50 Enterprise Advisors has been met.

Pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2025 to Question 22198 on Civil Servants: Freedom of Information, what grade thresholds does the Government apply in Freedom of Information Act requests when determining whether a civil servant is sufficiently senior that a Section 40 exemption would not apply to the disclosure of their personal information.

All Freedom of Information requests are considered on their own merits in all circumstances.

Whether any private sector companies with contracts with his Department will receive higher payments to compensate for the increase in employer National Insurance contributions; and whether there are contractual obligations on passing on increased fees.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21348 on Departmental Responsibilities, whether Government departments produce internal Outcome Delivery Plans.

I refer the Honorable Member to the answer given to the Honorable Member for Brentwood and Ongar on 13 January 2025 (PQ UIN 21348).

Whether any suppliers to his Department have contractual terms and conditions requiring pricing reviews due to changes to employer National Insurance contributions.

The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Whether civil servants conducting email audits can review the email inboxes of (a) other civil servants and (b) special advisers.

The Cabinet Office does not routinely conduct email audits of its staff. Staff email inboxes cannot typically be accessed by colleagues without permission, but email data can be retrieved for security or HR purposes in exceptional circumstances.

What preparations his Department is making for currently unknown pathogens that could emerge in future.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has a comprehensive epidemic intelligence system to detect, assess, and communicate infectious health threats to the United Kingdom. Horizon scanning and intelligence gathering functions are designed to identify and monitor outbreaks, even when the cause is unknown, such as in the World Health Organization’s hypothetical "Disease X" scenario. Robust risk assessment processes are also in place to implement effective mitigation strategies, ensuring the protection of public health.For diseases of pandemic potential, the UKHSA’s Centre for Pandemic Preparedness (CPP) works to identify gaps in preparedness and opportunities to enhance readiness. The CPP also serves as the UK secretariat for the 100 Days Mission, a global initiative which aims to ensure that safe and effective diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines can be equitably deployed within the first 100 days of a pandemic.Further information on the Government’s ambition to protect the UK and ensure it is resilient to a spectrum of biological threats is set out in the Biological Security Strategy, which is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-biological-security-strategy

Pursuant to the Answer of 27 November 2024 to Question 14712, on Honours: Public Appointments, at what stage was each of the honours competitions when they were closed and then re-opened; and whether there had there been (a) interviews and (b) shortlists of individual applicants.

PQ 14712 relates to three Honours Committee campaigns which were launched and closed in the summer of 2024: (i) Community and Voluntary Service (ii), Parliamentary and Political Service, and (iii) Diversity and Outreach (formerly called Representation and Outreach).For all three campaigns no applicants were shortlisted nor did any interviews take place before the campaigns were relaunched

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 20 January 2025 to Question 23476 on USA: Diplomatic Service, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of Lord Mandelson's previous interests in relation to China.

There is an established mechanism in place for the management of interests held by all Senior Civil Servants. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest. I can confirm that this mechanism applies in the usual way to Lord Mandelson's appointment. In line with guidance, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office does not publish declarations of interest.

How much of the £500 million grant to support the installation of an electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot steelworks has been paid.

Grant payments are made in arrears and subject to confirmation that pre-payment conditions have been satisfactorily met. HMG has committed to provide Tata Steel with a grant of up to £500m to support the installation of an electric arc furnace at the Port Talbot site. The precise amounts and timelines for payments are commercially sensitive.

If he will ensure that public appointments of Departmental non-executive directors publish declarations of interest.

The Cabinet Office, and indeed all departments with Non-Executive Board Members, will publish declarations of interest of departmental Non-Executive Board Members in accordance with the guidance which can be found on gov.uk.

What the Government's policy is on dynamic alignment with the European Union.

We are committed to resetting the relationship with our European friends to strengthen ties to deliver growth and security for the UK. We have been clear that there will be no return to the single market, the customs union, or freedom of movement.

What changes have been made to the guidance entitled Additional information on Exemptions, Thresholds, Expectations and Compliance, and Breaches of Spend Controls, updated on 20 January 2025.

Changes were made to the guidance entitled, Additional information on Exemptions, Thresholds, Expectations and Compliance, and Breaches of Spend Controls. These changes were to:Remove the text belowThreshold: Expenditure over £100,000 for the duration of the commitment (freehold acquisition cost or total rental expenditure to lease expiry)Replace with new text showing an increased threshold figure -Threshold: Expenditure over £500,000 for the duration of the commitment (freehold acquisition cost or total rental expenditure to lease expiry)All transactions of £1m per annum or over will require Ministerial approvalThese changes to the guidance were made to reflect changes to Cabinet Office controls which were made at the start of the 2023-24 financial year.

What the Government's policy is on regulatory alignment with the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689).

The UK is committed to establishing a proportionate AI regulatory approach which is grounded in science and supports growth and innovation, in the UK’s national interest. As we develop our approach to regulating AI, we recognise the need to engage with a range of international partners.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of joining the Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention.

We are always looking at ways to reduce barriers to trade - within our clear red lines - because having a smooth trading relationship with European partners is essential to driving growth at home. This is one of the options we are open to looking at to reduce barriers, and it’s right and responsible that we are looking at it to determine what is in the UK’s national interest. But we do not currently have any plans to join PEM.

Media and Sport, what Freedom of Information disclosures her Department have made on Government Art Collection artwork in 10 Downing Street in the last five years.

In the last 5 years DCMS has disclosed information about the Government Art Collection artworks held at 10 Downing Street 20 times. Each request is looked at and handled on a case-by-case basis and where there is a non-disclosure or exemption applied, the reasons and rationale are clearly explained in the response.

If she will request that the National Crime Agency undertakes an investigation into the (a) laundering of funds from Bangladesh into the United Kingdom and (b) role of the Awami League.

The UK is committed to fighting corruption and illicit finance both domestically and internationally. As with all cases, it is for independent law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to determine whether to undertake investigationsThe National Crime Agency is part of the UK's effort to support Bangladesh in tackling corruption as well as wider law enforcement issues. As a matter of policy, we do not routinely confirm or deny NCA investigations.