Written questions by Wood.

If he will introduce a mandatory retirement age for (a) regulated public appointments and (b) direct ministerial appointments.

Departments follow published guidance when making regulated public appointments and direct ministerial appointments: The “Governance Code on Public Appointments” sets out the process for making Public Appointments and includes the principle of appointment on merit. The “Guidance on making Direct Ministerial Appointments” explains the processes departments should follow when making a Direct Ministerial Appointment.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 January 2026, to Question 104191, on Ministers: Public Appointments, whether the Cabinet Office holds desk notes on the appointment of peers.

The Governance Code on Public Appointments sets out the process and principles on making regulated public appointments. The Cabinet Office regularly provides advice to help departments implement government policy as part of the normal workings of government.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026, to Question 110815, on Special Advisers: ICT, what the status is of electronic records held on non-corporate communication devices by Morgan McSweeney; and what is the retention policy in relation to information held on his corporate devices and systems, including (a) no10 email and (b) no10 whatsapp.

Special Advisers are expected to comply with the Cabinet Office policies on the management of information and records. All official business should be conducted using official systems wherever possible. Where official information is created or received on non corporate communication devices, it must be handled in accordance with records management requirements, including being transferred to an appropriate official system where it forms part of the official record.

Pursuant to the answer of 26 February 2026, to Question 114869, on Civil Servants: Media and Public Speaking, and with reference to the policy development referenced in the answer of 3 February 2026, to Question HL13976, whether following the letter from the Institute for Government of 28 July 2025 and the reply from the Minister for the Cabinet Office of 14 October 2025, there is an intention to amend the current version of the guidance to Civil Servants on media and public speaking, separate to the guidance in the Civil Service Management Code.

I refer the Right Hon Gentleman to the answer to Parliamentary Question 114869.

Pursuant to the answer of 1 April 2025, to Question 40914, on Prime Minister: Email, and Pursuant to the answer of 4 April 2025, to Question 41645, on Cabinet Office: Email, whether (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) 10 Downing Street has disapplied the automatic deletion policy on emails, in light of the Humble Address of 4 February 2026.

I refer you to the Oral Statement on the 23rd February, in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, which set out that Departments have been instructed to retain material that may be relevant to the motion. I also 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

Whether Ministers who are providing cover for a Minister who is on maternity leave receive an exit payment if they leave Ministerial office at the end of the maternity cover period.

Since 13 October 2025, ministers who serve for fewer than six months are expected to forgo their severance payment. Ministers who return to office within three months of leaving will be asked to forgo their salary until the end of that three-month period. Ministers providing temporary leave cover, outside of the provisions of the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021, are asked to waive their entitlement to a severance payment. Unpaid ministers are not entitled to a severance payment under the terms of the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

Whether special advisers provided advice to the Prime Minister on the appointment of the new Cabinet Secretary.

As set out in the GOV.uk announcement of the Cabinet Secretary appointment. “the Prime Minister and the First Civil Service Commissioner agreed a process to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary”.

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026 to Question 105916 on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether the £19,759.51 included or excluded VAT; and if she will provide an itemised breakdown of each item purchased.

Across successive governments, Prime Ministers and Chancellors have received allowances to contribute towards the costs associated with maintaining and furnishing of the residency within the Downing Street estate. HM Treasury furnished the Ministerial residence upon entering office, which was empty, on a modest basis. Item choices are restricted to what is available from pre-agreed suppliers and are permanently retained by Government. The £19,759.61 is inclusive of VAT and was funded from within HMT budgets for 2024-25. The breakdown per item is provided below: Item typeCost per item (£ ex. VAT)Stools 1 (x4)720Sofa 11950Sofa 21500Table 1725Rug640Table 2850TV unit850Chairs 1 (x8)1993.33Table 31040.83Table 4312.08Bed450Mattress750Table 5 (x2)880Table 6900Stool 2295Chair 2695Table 7 (x2)440Drawers475Installation & handling fee750Item total inc. VAT at 20%19459.49Additional/delivery fee300.12TOTAL19759.61

Pursuant to the answer of 20 February 2026 to Question 105916 on 10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, from what budget the £19,759.61 of furnishings came from; and whether the cost has been assigned to her Department.

Across successive governments, Prime Ministers and Chancellors have received allowances to contribute towards the costs associated with maintaining and furnishing of the residency within the Downing Street estate. HM Treasury furnished the Ministerial residence upon entering office, which was empty, on a modest basis. Item choices are restricted to what is available from pre-agreed suppliers and are permanently retained by Government. The £19,759.61 is inclusive of VAT and was funded from within HMT budgets for 2024-25. The breakdown per item is provided below: Item typeCost per item (£ ex. VAT)Stools 1 (x4)720Sofa 11950Sofa 21500Table 1725Rug640Table 2850TV unit850Chairs 1 (x8)1993.33Table 31040.83Table 4312.08Bed450Mattress750Table 5 (x2)880Table 6900Stool 2295Chair 2695Table 7 (x2)440Drawers475Installation & handling fee750Item total inc. VAT at 20%19459.49Additional/delivery fee300.12TOTAL19759.61

With reference to the Answer of 23 February 2026 to Question HL14053 on Public Appointments: Political Activities, if he will place in the Library a copy of the full political activity data for each public appointment where political activity was declared for the 2024-25 year.

I refer the Hon. Gentleman to PQ 103784.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113587,on Government departments: social media, whether the (a) Government Communications Service and (b) the sponsoring department monitor paid social influencers compliance with Advertising Standards Authority guidance.

The Government works closely with its creative agency to ensure all partnerships with creators comply with ASA guidance. This requirement is built into creators' contracts.

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 113608 on Government Communication Service, whether departmental efficiency savings agreed at the Spending Review 2025 will reduce the net size of the Government Communication Service.

I refer the Hon Gentleman to the answer given to Question 113608.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 March 2025 to Question 37424 on Parliamentary and Political Service Honours Committee: Public Appointments, whether the competition for the Parliamentary and Political Service honours Committee is ongoing.

The campaign for the Parliamentary and Political Service Independent Honours Committee Member recruitment is under active consideration.

What guidance is issued to work coaches on the provision of equipment through the Flexible Support Fund.

There is clear guidance in place for work coaches to follow when making awards. Work coaches must explore all other potential sources of financial support before using the Flexible Support Fund (FSF), so that spend does not duplicate provision which is funded elsewhere by government, partners or commercial providers. Post-award checks are in place to confirm funded items, including equipment and technology, are being used as intended, with explanations or repayment sought where concerns arise. A new digital FSF application system, due to launch nationally by the end of March, will strengthen oversight by providing improved data and enabling more detailed scrutiny of awards. This will ensure funding is used appropriately and delivers value for money.

What assessment his Department has made of the value for money of providing equipment and technology through the Flexible Support Fund, and whether alternative models have been considered.

There is clear guidance in place for work coaches to follow when making awards. Work coaches must explore all other potential sources of financial support before using the Flexible Support Fund (FSF), so that spend does not duplicate provision which is funded elsewhere by government, partners or commercial providers. Post-award checks are in place to confirm funded items, including equipment and technology, are being used as intended, with explanations or repayment sought where concerns arise. A new digital FSF application system, due to launch nationally by the end of March, will strengthen oversight by providing improved data and enabling more detailed scrutiny of awards. This will ensure funding is used appropriately and delivers value for money.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 115433 on Cabinet Office: Social Media, how much the Prime Minister’s Office has spent on social media influencers since July 2024.

10 Downing Street has not spent money on social media influencers since July 2024.

What away days has his Department organised for locations outside departmental buildings since March 2025, and at what cost.

Cabinet Office guidance which was issued by the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, is that government offices should not hold away days in non-government buildings and DWP complies with this guidance. Government-branded merchandise and away days banned - GOV.UK

Pursuant to the answer of 24 February 2026 to Question 110815 on Special Advisers: ICT, whether he is taking steps to prevent information in scope of the Humble Address of 4 February 2026 being auto-deleted.

I refer you to 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 many job advertisements were published on the Civil Service jobs website in 2025 which were (a) available on public website and (b) only available to Civil Services within the passworded website.

In 2025, there were 45,566 job adverts published on Civil Service Jobs. Of these, 24,865 (54.6%) were available to the public. The remaining 20,701 (45.4%) were advised internally and/or cross-government, meaning they were available only to existing civil servants.

Pursuant to the answer of 2 March 2026 to Question 108235 on Senior Civil Servants: Recruitment, what the (a) departments and (b) job titles are of the 90 senior civil servants recruited internally.

I refer to my answer to UIN 108235 from 2 March 2026.