27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedIf he will amend his Department's public sector facility time data collection to include trade union diversity time.
ReplyDepartments facility time data publications, were based on Schedule 2 of the Trade Union (Facility Time Publication Requirements) Regulations 2017, which specified what data needed to be collected and reported.This did not include a specific category for the collection and reporting of time spent by trade union representatives on diversity matters. The Regulations were repealed under Section 66 of the Employment Rights Act 2025.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhat guidance his Department has issued on (a) the selection and use of KPIs in government procurement and (b) whether failure to meet KPIs is grounds for termination of contracts.
ReplyThe Procurement Act 2023, introduced by the previous Government, empowers contracting authorities to terminate their contracts for serious breaches of contract or poor performance. It also now makes it a statutory requirement for contracting authorities, where appropriate, to set and publish at least three key performance indicators for public contracts with an estimated value of more than £5 million. Additionally, the Cabinet Office provides guidance on the selection and use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through the Sourcing Playbook. This guidance provides that all new projects should include relevant and proportionate performance measures designed to incentivise delivery. While specific grounds for termination are subject to individual contract terms, it is the responsibility of each contracting authority to manage supplier performance.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Ethics and Integrity Commission’s Implementation Plan, whether the Commission’s staff will be employed independently of his Department; what budget has been allocated to the Commission for each of the next three financial years; and how many full time equivalent staff the Commission will employ during that period.
ReplyThe Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) is an advisory Non-departmental Body of the Cabinet Office. As such it is not a separate legal entity from the Cabinet Office and the staff employed within it are Cabinet Office civil servants and there are no plans to change this. However, the EIC is operationally independent from the Cabinet Office and is led by an independent Chair and a majority independent Committee of members to safeguard its independence and advice to the Prime Minister. The indicative budget for the EIC for the 2026/27 financial year is £1m and it is expected to have approximately 18 FTE staff in this period. The budget and staffing allocation for future years is expected to grow and will be determined at a later date in response to the EIC’s remit and requirements. Further details will be published in the EIC's Annual Report in the usual way.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhen the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ethics and Integrity Commission and his Department will be agreed and published; and whether HM Opposition will be consulted on its terms prior to publication.
ReplyThe Ethics and Integrity Commission’s (EIC) terms of reference are available on its website here - https://eic.independent-commission.uk/what-we-do/terms-of-reference/ A new Memorandum of Understanding between the EIC and the Cabinet Office is expected to be published in the coming financial year. As with Framework Documents, there is no requirement to consult the Opposition on these documents prior to publication. The EIC has members nominated by the main political parties.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 9 February 2026 to Question 110409 on Disinformation, what types of content the Storyzy tool has monitored in the last four weeks.
ReplyThe Government Communication Service utilises tools such as Storyzy to monitor publicly available media posts, under strict controls, to measure communication effectiveness, understand public narratives, and address potential mis/disinformation.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 2 June 2025 to Question 54277 on Cabinet Office: Freedom of Information, when the document will be published.
ReplyThe 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.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether Peter Mandelson has a (a) Ministerial and (b) Civil Service pension.
ReplyIn accordance with the Government Financial Reporting Manual, since 2005, information regarding the remuneration and pension interests of Ministers is published in the annual Resource Accounts (as then named) of the relevant departments for the periods an individual served in a qualifying role.Historical information concerning Lord Mandelson’s Ministerial pension membership during his periods of government service can be found within the relevant departmental annual reports and accounts dating to 2005/6.Regarding civil service pensions, the Cabinet Office does not disclose personal information relating to specific individuals' pension arrangements. Such information constitutes personal data and is protected under the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK General Data Protection Regulation. It is a long-standing policy that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding their financial affairs and pension entitlements, disclosing such details to a third party would conflict with data protection principles.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 8 July 2025 to Question 64569 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, whether OCS has now submitted an application for payment.
ReplyOCS have submitted their invoice for the repairs and maintenance. The invoice was dated 6th November 2025 and paid on 12th November 2025. The payment appears in the January transparency publications for Cabinet Office expenditure over £25,000 when the Cabinet Office reimbursed the GPA.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether Varun Chandra remains employed as a special adviser.
ReplyIn January, Mr Chandra was appointed as the Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to the United States on Trade and Investment. Mr Chandra remains employed as a special adviser to the Prime Minister.
27 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedIf he will publish Chris Wormald’s contract as Cabinet Secretary.
ReplyI refer to Minister Turley’s answer 88716, a copy of the Permanent Secretary model contract has been placed in the House Library. This applies to the Cabinet Secretary.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, who the customer is for the contract GBNI - Provision of Public Sector Air Capability (NEWMAT PM-R) with the KPI of Achieve High Level of Customer Satisfaction.
ReplyThe Cabinet Office is the customer for the contract "GBNI - Provision of Public Sector Air Capability (NEWMAT PM-R)".
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the answer of 12 February 2026 to Question 110008 on Peers: Leave of Absence, whether the consent of the peer is required to remove a peer from the Roll of Peerage.
ReplyThe Roll of the Peerage was established by Royal Warrant in June 2004. There is no set criteria for removal from the Roll of the Peerage but, under the terms of the Warrant, any person entered on the Roll may apply to be removed from it. The Government has announced that it will introduce legislation to allow peerages to be removed from disgraced peers.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has issued guidance on whether the internal members of Mission Boards should be fixed.
ReplyMissions Boards, including their membership, are the responsibility of each of the lead Secretaries of State: Kickstarting Economic Growth - Chancellor of the ExchequerAn NHS Fit for the Future - Secretary of State for HealthSafer Streets - Secretary of State for the Home DepartmentBreak Down Barriers to Opportunity - Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and EqualitiesMake Britain a Clean Energy Superpower - Secretary of State for Energy and Net Zero
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has paid for social media influencers to undertake promotional activity in (a) the United States and (b) other countries outside the United Kingdom.
ReplyThe Cabinet Office has recently engaged social media influencers to support international campaigns, including the United States and France.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether his Department has issued guidance to social influencers who are paid by the Government on stating that they are paid by the Government on their social media posts.
ReplyI refer the Hon Member to Question 113587.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhen he plans to publish the Public Bodies Directory for 2025-26.
ReplyAn updated version of the Public Bodies landscape, covering data from 2024-25 will be published on gov.uk before the end of May 2026.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhether the guidance entitled Rules on lobbying for non-departmental public bodies, published in October 2010, remains Government policy.
ReplyThe principles of the Rules on lobbying for non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) guidance, published in October 2010, remain Government policy.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedFor what reason the Downing Street Press Office no longer holds afternoon lobby media briefings.
ReplyAs the media landscape has transformed over the last few years, the previous lobby arrangements were no longer fit for purpose. The afternoon lobby was sparsely attended, repetitious of morning lobby, and not a good use to taxpayer-funded Government communications resource. It has therefore been replaced with more technical briefings which allow journalists a greater ability to access information about government policies
26 Feb 2026·Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office·Answered
AskedCommonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Lord Mandelson was involved in the China Audit.
ReplyI refer the Hon. Member to the Government's response to the Urgent Question tabled on 12 February, the Written Ministerial Statement in the name of the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister that same day, and Oral Statement on the 23 February which set out an update on the Government's process. We will set out further details in due course. The Government wishes to ensure that Parliament's instruction is met with the urgency and transparency that it deserves.
26 Feb 2026·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedIf he will issue guidance to Arm’s Length Bodies on stopping the recruitment of Government Relations Advisers to influence central government bodies.
ReplyThe Cabinet Office does not issue specific guidance on this matter and does not intend to do so. However, Section 4.1 of the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies states that ‘it will always be an improper use of public funds for public bodies to employ consultants or other companies to lobby Parliament, government or political parties.”