Written questions by Wood.

What steps are being taken to improve the timeliness of (a) Hon Member and (b) public correspondence replies by the Cabinet Office.

The Cabinet Office is committed to providing timely and high-quality responses to correspondence from Parliamenterians and the wider public. The Cabinet Office regularly reviews and refreshes departmental processes, including the use of new digital tools, to ensure it meets these commitments. Annual Government data on response rates to Parliamenterian correspondence will be published in due course.

With reference to the Council of the European Union's press release entitled EU-UK relations: Council greenlights talks on electricity and cohesion deals, as well as UK’s participation in Erasmus+ for 2027, published on 30 March 2026, whether the UK will be required to contribute toward the EU's Cohesion Policy in relation to Erasmus+ and the energy and electricity provisions.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51163 on Prime Minister: Email, whether emails which 10 Downing Street which are automatically removed after 90 days that have not otherwise been saved for long-term storage are still considered to be held for the purposes of Government responses to Humble Addresses.

I refer you to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12th February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out an update on the Government's process and that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion.

How much the Cabinet Office has spent on safes since July 2024.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Pursuant 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.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2025, to Question 52906, on Department of Health and Social Care: Permanent Secretaries, what was the benchmark used to set the salary of the new DHSC Permanent Secretary.

The salary of the DHSC Permanent Secretary was approved in line with the senior pay control process.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 March 2026, to Question 112179, on Ethics and Integrity Commission and Lobbying, whether the terms of reference will include revolving door issues of civil servants and regulators joining companies which they previous regulated or worked with.

On 11 March the Prime Minister wrote to the Chair of the Ethics and Integrity Commission, Doug Chalmers, to commission a review into lobbying, disclosure and access to government. As set out in the terms of reference, this includes looking at whether the current Business Appointment Rules are sufficient, in particular in respect of managing potentially improper access to, and influence within, government..

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

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation

Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122723 on Inter Mediate: Contracts, whether his Department has provided guidance on (a) the difference between (i) commercial contracts and (ii) grants and (b) how procurement of goods and services between the Government and external organisations should be (A) published and (B) recorded.

It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Whether the Cabinet Secretary has permission to speak to the press directly.

The Civil Service Code sets out the rules for Civil Servants speaking to the media. The Civil Service Management Code provides further guidance for civil servants on their obligations.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2026 to Question 120845 on Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee: Public Appointments, for what reason the campaign has not been reopened for the three vacancies.

The Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee is quorate: there are more independent members than official members. Additional members can be appointed if wider skills or experience are required. Following the appointment of the new Chair, recruitment of additional members is now under consideration.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 119320 on Cabinet Office: Public Appointments, if he will make it his policy to publish the information on outside individuals in an anonymised or Barnardised format.

I refer to my answer to PQ 119320, in accordance with data protection regulations, we do not provide information about candidates in Civil Service recruitment processes, and there are no plans to publish in an anonymised or Barnardised format.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 114881 on Jonathan Powell, what his remuneration was.

Details of individual renumeration arrangements are not routinely disclosed. The Special Envoy's appointment and terms of engagement were agreed in accordance with established procedures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 114881 on Jonathan Powell, how much Mr Powell was paid as Special Envoy for British Indian Ocean Territory negotiations.

Details of individual renumeration arrangements are not routinely disclosed. The Special Envoy's appointment and terms of engagement were agreed in accordance with established procedures.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 118787 on Jonathan Powell, if she will list each meeting that Jonathan Powell had with external organisations, including foreign governments, whilst the Prime Minister's Special Envoy.

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

Pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2026, to Question 119977, on Proof of Identity: Digital Technology, for what reason 16 and 17 year olds are not eligible to join the People's Panel, and whether they are deemed not to be of sufficient capacity to have views on Digital ID.

This has been answered with PQ 124822.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 April 2026, to Question 122728, on Cabinet Office: Email, whether John Pond's emails be transferred to the National Archives.

The Cabinet Office manages its departmental records in accordance with the provisions of the Public Records Act 1958. Section 3 of the Act sets out the provisions for selecting and preserving public records.

How many phones Morgan McSweeney used for Government business when he was Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister; and how many had disappearing messages turned on.

There is established guidance in place for the management and recording of electronic communications on non-corporate communications channels. This can be found on gov.uk here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business/using-non-corporate-communication-channels-eg-whatsapp-private-email-sms-for-government-business-html

How many auctions have taken place since July 2024 in relation to the disposal of gifts given to the Prime Minister and his predecessors that were retained by the department at the time.

Hospitality and gifts received by Ministers in their ministerial capacity are declared in accordance with the Ministerial Code on gov.ukThe Cabinet Office publishes guidance setting out the process that departments should follow to complete the publication of the Register of Ministers’ Gifts and Hospitality: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-gifts-and-hospitality-publication-guidance/ministers-gifts-and-hospitality-publication-guidance

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 122723 on Inter Mediate: Contracts, if he will place a copy of the grant agreement with Inter Mediate in the Library.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer he was provided on 30 March in response to Question 118788, and to the previous answer to which his questions refer.