Written questions by Wood.

If he will place in the Library a copy of the Cabinet Office Subject Access Request (SAR) Manual.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the Answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, if he will place in the Library a copy of the OCS invoice dated 6 November 2025 relating to the works on the 9 Downing Street media room.

Awaiting answer.

Whether (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street Freedom of Information determine Government emails held on tape backups to be information held by the public authority.

The Freedom of Information Code of Practice, issued in 2018 under the previous administration, states that information which is only held by a public authority in electronic backup files should generally be regarded as ‘not held’ for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120843 on Government Departments: Communication, if he will publish the most recent version of his Department's (a) information and records management policy and (b) Information and Records Retention and Destruction Policy, including policies that apply to 10 Downing Street.

The Cabinet Office follows guidance issued by the Information Commissioner’s Office, and information on how the department handles Subject Access Requests is available on Gov.uk - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office/about/personal-information-charter.

With reference to the Cabinet Secretary's objectives 2026-27 published on 7 April 2026, what steps the Cabinet Secretary plans to take to deliver her 2026-27 objective that the civil service retains the confidence of all political parties.

Awaiting answer.

Whether Ministers can have Ministerial responsibilities removed and remain in post.

As per paragraph 7.1 of the Ministerial Code, the Prime Minister is responsible for the overall organisation of the executive and the allocation of functions between ministers in charge of departments.

With reference to the EU press release, of 30 March 2026, EU-UK relations: Council greenlights talks on electricity and cohesion deals, what estimate he has made of the potential cost to the public purse of these financial commitments in (a) 2026-27 and (b) 2027-28.

The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy,, alongside an electricity agreement. This is not a proposal by the Government. Following exploratory talks on an electricity agreement, we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the EU’s work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. Details are subject to negotiation, and we will not provide a running commentary.The UK anticipates that formal negotiations on electricity market participation will begin shortly. The agreement will come into force following the successful outcome of these negotiations.Association to Erasmus+ in 2027 will not involve a contribution towards the EU’s Cohesion Policy.

With reference to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120844 on Google: Special Advisers, what assessment he has made of whether information is being exchanged between special advisers via Google Docs outside the retention policy required by Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Public Record Act 1958.

No specific guidance has been issued centrally from the Cabinet Office to special advisers on using Google Docs.

With reference to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118531 on Peers, whether the Cabinet Office holds a desk note that is separate from the Governance Code on the processes to be followed for appointing political peerages by the Prime Minister.

For information regarding the appointment of peers, I refer the Hon Member to the Written Ministerial Statement made by the Prime Minister on 19 June 2025, Official Report, HCWS718.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, if he will place in the Library the revised guidance issued to the Civil Service on consultation; and whether the Cabinet Office guidance on consultation principles will be amended.

All options are currently being considered to facilitate the removal of unnecessary consultation requirements. Where changes are made, revised guidance will be placed in the Library where appropriate, in line with standard procedure.

With reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 124834 on Intelligence and Security Committee: Press Releases, whether the uplift in resourcing to the Intelligence and Security Committee included resource to obtain legal advice on the Humble Address independent from (a) Cabinet Office legal advisers and (b) the Government Legal Service.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the answer of 25 March 2026 to Question 116506 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, what the transaction number, value and date is for the reimbursed payment to the Government Property Agency; and whether the January publication referenced is the January data published in February 2026.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office during the Opposition Day debate on Lord Mandelson on 2 February 2025, Official Report, column 372, what was the name of the KC previously paid by the Cabinet Office to assist on the review into Lord Mandelson.

Awaiting answer.

With reference to his Department's press release entitled Ministers rip up consultation culture, published on 26 March 2026, whether his Department compiles statistics on the number of open consultations across Government.

Details of open and closed government consultations are published here.

What types of information are routinely recorded from the Number 10 private office on the internal PMPost system for the official record.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 26 March 2026, Official Report, PQ 121754.

Whether the Cabinet Office guidance entitled May 2026 Elections: guidance on conduct for civil servants, updated on 2 March 2026, has affected the timing of the publication of the Defence Investment Plan.

We will publish the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) when it is ready. It is essential that we take the time required to ensure decisions are robust and support the transformation of the Armed Forces outlined in the Strategic Defence Review. Once finalised, the DIP will be laid before Parliament in accordance with the appropriate Parliamentary procedures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Jonathan Powell was subject to security vetting (a) before or (b) after he was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on the Chagos negotiations.

Awaiting answer.

Whether UK (a) schools, (b) colleges, (c) universities and (d) teacher training institutions participating in the Erasmus+ programme will be required to follow the publicity requirements set out by the European Commission, Erasmus+ Programme: Model Grant Agreement, November 2024, section 17.2, Visibility — European flag and funding statement.

UK schools, colleges, universities and teacher training institutions participating in Erasmus+ will be required to follow any publicity requirements set out in their grant agreements. There is no requirement to fly the EU flag. Visibility requirements primarily relate to documents such as publicity and communications material about the funded activity. For example, a brochure about an Erasmus+ opportunity may need to acknowledge EU support by including the EU emblem and stating that it has been funded or co-funded by the EU. This applies whether funding is received from the European Education and Culture Executive Agency or via the UK’s National Agency and relates only to activities funded by Erasmus+.

With reference to the EU press release entitled EU-UK relations: Council greenlights talks on electricity and cohesion deals, published on 30 March 2026, what the planned timetable is for (a) completion of the negotiations and (b) the agreements coming into force.

The EU is seeking an appropriate UK financial contribution to the EU’s cohesion policy,, alongside an electricity agreement. This is not a proposal by the Government. Following exploratory talks on an electricity agreement, we are prepared to make an appropriate financial contribution to support the relevant costs associated with the EU’s work in this policy area, for example to access EU agencies or databases. Details are subject to negotiation, and we will not provide a running commentary.The UK anticipates that formal negotiations on electricity market participation will begin shortly. The agreement will come into force following the successful outcome of these negotiations.Association to Erasmus+ in 2027 will not involve a contribution towards the EU’s Cohesion Policy.

With reference to the Answer of 8 September 2025 to Question 73331 on Home Office: Redundancy Pay, whether the £30,000 tax-free redundancy allowance also applied to the severance payment to the outgoing Cabinet Secretary.

It is a longstanding policy not to comment on individual employment matters. The guidance on tax on severance payments is here: https://www.gov.uk/termination-payments-and-tax-when-you-leave-a-job/what-you-pay-tax-and-national-insurance-on