Every parliamentary written question tabled by Mike Wood this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 821–840 of 2,899 · this parliament
Whether the provisions of the model Permanent Secretary contract applies to Permanent Secretaries who were in post before the introduction of the fixed term contract.
I refer to my answer for PQ 88716. The provisions of the model Permanent Secretary contract apply to all Permanent Secretaries.
Innovation and Technology, whether she has issued guidance on whether firms in administration are subject to Subject Access Requests.
All organisations in the UK that act as data controllers are required to comply with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, including data subject rights such as the right of access.When a firm enters administration, it continues to trade and remains in existence, although it is financially distressed and technically insolvent. Where it continues to act as a data controller, it remains subject to subject access requests in accordance with data protection law.
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 of protecting the interests of former Governments and former Ministers.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Pursuant 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.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Whether he has had discussions with JP Morgan on business rate discounts on offices in Canary Wharf.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Hon Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Pursuant to the Answers of 18 March 2026 to Question 119321 and of 2 June 2025 to Question 54277 on Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information, if he will place in the Library the version of the handbook released under Freedom of Information Act request reference FOI2025/05759, dated 16 May 2025.
As stated in the response to PQ 116510, the Honours Committee handbook released through this request is a version from January 2023 which is no longer accurate. The current handbook is currently being updated. An updated version with relevant redactions will be laid in the House Library as soon as is practicable.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 25 February 2026 to Question 114438 on Clean Energy: China, how many (a) Memorandums of Understanding and (b) non-legally binding agreements have been agreed between HM Government and the People's Republic of China since 4 July 2024 that have not been published on gov.uk.
There is no consolidated list on the number of Memorandums of Understanding and other non-legally binding instruments across government and there is no central requirement to routinely publish or collate this information.
With reference to the Cabinet Office news story published on 26 March 2026, Modernising public procurement: backing British businesses and building a fairer economy, if he will publish his new definition of social value.
On 26 March, the government announced plans for a new definition of social value that will strengthen the importance of community impact, putting it at the heart of future buying decisions. The Cabinet Office is developing this definition with input from businesses, trade unions, community groups and civil society organisations. We plan to publish this new definition shortly.
With reference to the transparency data entitled Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for October to December 2025 for all departments, published on 31 March 2026, for what reason the UK Export Finance contract for Media Buying Services with Optimum Media Buying Limited requires the supplier to ensure 33% multicultural representation by year 2 in the media advertising; and what the definition used is for multicultural representation.
The contract in question was called off in 2022 under the previous government from the Crown Services Framework, RM6123 Media Services. That framework required suppliers to consider social value policy themes, and to support contracting authorities to deliver a diverse supply chain. It was as a consequence of that requirement that a KPI for social value (specifically, promoting diversity, inclusion & social mobility in attraction recruitment) was set at ‘33% multicultural representation by year 2 (media industry avg. 18.7%). For the purposes of this key performance indicator, the supplier uses self-identification of participants across a range of ethnicities.UK Export Finance is currently reprocuring the contract under the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force in February 2025. These negotiations, which are currently at an early change, will include new and different key performance indicators.
Whether she plans to publish a (a) summary of responses and (b) response to the Equality law call for evidence, published on 7 April 2025, for the measures not covered by the Consultation on mandatory ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting: government response, of 25 March 2026; and what the status is of the socio-economic duty proposal.
This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, can thrive. Therefore, as set out in our response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report, we agree with the recommendation that commencement of the socio-economic duty could drive the routine consideration of the impact decisions might have on those most at risk in an emergency.The Government is giving careful consideration to responses to the equality law call for evidence as we consider next steps. We will publish a summary of responses and a Government response in due course on: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/equality-law-call-for-evidence. The socio-economic duty will require specified public bodies to actively consider how their strategic decisions might help to reduce the inequalities of outcome associated with socio-economic disadvantage. We are now taking forward work to make sure that commencement of the duty in England is as effective as possible.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 March 2026 to Question 120317 on Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information and with reference to the Cabinet Office guidance on Non-corporate communication channels for government business of March 2023, paragraph 27, whether government information that has not been transferred back to the official record following off-boarding, remains subject to and in the scope of the Freedom of Information regime after staff members have left Crown Service.
Freedom of Information requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Reasonable searches are made to identify information within the scope of each request and to ensure compliance with the legislation.
Pursuant to the Answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 119909 on Erasmus+ Programme, what estimate she has made of the number of (a) outbound and (b) inbound students in the first year of UK participation in Erasmus+.
I refer the hon. Member for Kingswinford and South Staffordshire to the answer of 23 March 2026 to Question 119909.
With reference to the government transparency data, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for October to December 2025 for all departments, published on 31 March 2026, for what reason the OCO Global contract for DBT Investment Services requires the supplier to deliver 12+ wellbeing initiatives as a key performance indicator.
Under the 2020 Procurement Policy Note (since updated) departments must explicitly evaluate Social Value (SV) in most procurements above the relevant financial threshold, where it is related and proportionate to the contract. This is to ensure that public spending delivers wider economic, social and environmental benefits alongside the goods or services being purchased. The policy note also mandates an appropriate KPI. The Government’s SV Model at the time provided a menu of outcomes for selection aligned to government priorities. The outcome selected, focused on wellbeing of the workforce, seeking to address staff turnover challenges experienced in the predecessor contract.
With reference to the written statement, HCWS1456, on UK Government Response to Covid-19 Inquiry Module 2 Report, of 25 March 2026, what his planned timetable is for the proposed commencement of the socio-economic duty; and whether he plans to respond to the Equality law call for evidence, published on 7 April 2025.
This Government is committed to ensuring that everyone, no matter their background, can thrive. Therefore, as set out in our response to the UK Covid-19 Inquiry’s Module 2 report, we agree with the recommendation that commencement of the socio-economic duty could drive the routine consideration of the impact decisions might have on those most at risk in an emergency.The Government is giving careful consideration to responses to the equality law call for evidence as we consider next steps. We will publish a summary of responses and a Government response in due course on: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/equality-law-call-for-evidence. The socio-economic duty will require specified public bodies to actively consider how their strategic decisions might help to reduce the inequalities of outcome associated with socio-economic disadvantage. We are now taking forward work to make sure that commencement of the duty in England is as effective as possible.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 March 2026 to Question 114747 on Erasmus+ Programme, if she will place in the Library the guidance for higher education institutes to apply for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education; and whether applications to the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education are to the (a) European Education and Culture Executive Agency or (b) UK managing authority.
The deadline for applying for the Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) for institutions intending to participate in the 2027 funding call was 24 March 2026. The ECHE is awarded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Applications are submitted directly to the EACEA via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.The guidance for higher education institutions on applying for the ECHE is published by the European Commission and is publicly available on its Erasmus+ webpages.
With reference to the government transparency data, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for October to December 2025 for all departments, published on 31 March 2026, for what reasons the Food Standards Agency contract for the Delivery of Official Controls in Approved Establishments in England and Wales with Eville and Jones requires the supplier to ensure that at least 2% of companywide headcount progresses through internal opportunities.
People and resourcing are central to the successful delivery of the Food Standards Agency Delivered Official Controls contracts and the social value targets for these contracts are:recruitment and retention of Supplier Personnel in the Delivery of Meat Official Controls on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA);promotion of an inclusive working environment that supports retention; andcompany culture that supports progression of Supplier Personnel. The purpose of these targets is to support the objective of lower attrition and higher experience levels of the workforce delivering these controls, ultimately improving the service that the FSA delivers for the public.
Whether Gordon Brown’s letter to the Cabinet Secretary on Lord Mandelson, and the response, is in scope of the inclusion of documents for publication following the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson.
I refer you to the Government's statement and release of information on 11th March, providing an update on the response to the Humble Address. The Government is working to ensure that Parliament’s instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
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.
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