Written questions by Wood.

Whether the Cabinet Office or 10 Downing Street have asked former special advisers to provide material they personally hold as part of the return for the Humble Address on Lord Mandelson, and whether the fact they have left Crown Service affects such requests.

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.

What the authorisation process is for starting a leak inquiry.

Permanent Secretaries can initiate leak inquiries in their respective departments, should their information be released in an unauthorised way. These are conducted by departmental security teams. For particularly serious leaks, or leaks of information held by more than one department, the decision to launch an inquiry sits with the Cabinet Secretary. Leak inquiries initiated by the Cabinet Secretary, or involving more than one department, are referred to the Government Security Group (GSG).

With reference to the guidance entitled Non-corporate communication channels for government business, published on 30 March 2023, whether his Department has any other information management policies.

In addition to the Non-Corporate Communications Channels (NCCC) guidance, Cabinet Office has the following relevant policies in force: An Information and Records Management Policy, and An Information and Records Retention and Destruction Policy.

Pursuant to the answer of 10 March 2025, to Question 118208, on Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee: Public Appointments, when the competition for the Parliamentary and Political Service honours Committee originally (a) opened and (b) closed; whether the competition for applicants has been reopened at any point; and how many places are still to be filled.

The Parliamentary and Political Service Independent Honours Committee Member recruitment campaign opened for competition on 21 October 2024, concluding on 11 November 2024. This campaign has not been reopened. There remains up to three active vacancies to be filled.

If the Prime Minister will initiate a leak inquiry into the media reports of 12 March 2025 on the discussions in the National Security Council of 27 February, including who was responsible for the media briefings regarding the Air Chief Marshal.

The Government Security Group is conducting an inquiry into the unauthorised disclosure of proceedings of the National Security Council, drawing on the full range of powers at their disposal. In line with normal practice, the Government does not comment on a live inquiry.

With reference to the entry for Global Counsel Limited, published on the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme register, which special advisers since July 2024 were contacted by Global Counsel in relation to Qatar.

The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold this information.

Whether the Government response to the Humble Address will include records of phone calls made to Lord Mandelson’s mobile phone from Downing Street connected through the No10 switchboard.

I refer the Hon Member 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.

How many staff work in the Cabinet Office Command Unit.

As of the 28th of February 2026 there is no “Command Unit” in the Cabinet Office structure.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to special advisers on using Google Docs.

Special advisers are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers at all times. No specific guidance has been issued centrally from the Cabinet Office to special advisers on using Google Docs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 10 March 2026 to Question 115825 on Resolution Foundation, which (a) senior official and (b) Minister approved the award of the contact to the Resolution Foundation.

In her opening statement Baroness Hallett, the Chair to the Inquiry, stated that she will hear from expert groups with wide-ranging scientific and other expertise to ensure she has the widest and most diverse evidence possible in making her recommendations. This included drawing upon the knowledge of clinical experts, historians, social scientists, political scientists, data governance experts, statisticians and others.The C19SF08RF25 contract, which involves the analysis and input of 2 expert witnesses, was then procured and awarded in line with the procurement rules as well as Cabinet Office Commercial policies and procedures.

With reference to the speech Move fast. Fix things, delivered on 20 January 2026, whether Ministers will have the authority to prevent Senior Civil Servants subject to performance processes from taking up new posts secured through fair and open competition.

The Government is clear that issues surrounding underperformance in the Civil Service must be robustly managed and not left unaddressed. Any work undertaken does not conflict with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.

Pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2026, to Question 117761 on Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure, whether the Prime Minister’s Office a Department in its own right.

The Prime Minister's Office is a business unit of the Cabinet Office.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was given the London Allowance after he was dismissed as Head of Mission and returned to the United Kingdom and before he left the Civil Service.

No.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson received classified briefings prior to him obtaining Developed Vetting with Strap clearance.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether (a) her Department and (b) the British Embassy in Washington has an auto-deletion policy on emails relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026, what discussions the Permanent Under-Secretary had on the appointment of Lord Mandelson as Ambassador.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 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.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, further to the Humble Address dated 4 February 2026 on what basis was a payout made to Lord Mandelson.

I refer the Hon Member to the Government's statement and release of information on 11 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.

Further to the Part of a Return to an Address of the Honourable the House of Commons dated 4 February 2026 relating to the appointment of Lord Mandelson as HM Ambassador to Washington, Volume 1, HC1774-I, 11 March 2026, whether the Prime Minister was informed of the concerns by (a) Jonathan Powell and (b) Philip Barton about Lord Mandelson’s appointment.

I refer the Hon Member 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 10 March 2026, to Question 114884, on Lord Doyle, whether (a) the Cabinet Office, (b) No10 Political Office or (c) Prime Minister’s Office will be giving evidence to the Review into Lord Doyle.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 10 March 2026, Official Report, PQ 114884.

Pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2026 to Question 114888 on Treasury: pay, how many of the Direct Ministerial Appointments are (a) paid and (b) unpaid.

I refer the Hon. Gentleman to PQ 96208.