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 1,541–1,560 of 2,899 · this parliament
Whether she has had discussions with her European Union counterpart on the display of flags by the National Agency that will manage the UK's participation in the Erasmus+ programme.
Under European Commission communication and visibility rules, managing authorities and implementing partners of EU funding are required to use the EU emblem in their communications. This requirement therefore applies to the National Agency responsible for delivering the Erasmus+ programme for the UK.
Pursuant to the answer of 11 December 2025 to Question 94707 on Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England: Flags, if he will list each flag, for flying from buildings that his Department hold.
The Department holds a range of flags including the National Health Service flag and the commonwealth flag that are flown when instructed to by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Union flag is flown the majority of the year.
With reference to the Commissioner for Public Appointment annual report 2024-25, published in December 2025, Appendix: direct appointments, what the business case was for appointing a non-executive director for three years; and whether she has had correspondence with the Commissioner.
The departmental board provides important strategic oversight and challenge. We had an existing non-executive director vacancy and made this appointment to bring in highly valuable delivery expertise. The direct appointment process was followed in full in line with the guidance, including consultation via correspondence with the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
With reference to the answer of 20 May 20213, Official Report, House of Lords, Column WA22, on Government Departments: Fax Machines, whether his Department has operational fax machines or faxing facilities.
The Department does not have any operational fax machines or faxing facilities.
Pursuant to the answer of 16 December 2025 to Question 98794 on Mission Boards, who the internal and external members are of the Health Mission Board.
Mission boards have been reformed to become delivery-focused forums benefitting from external and industry expertise, led by the relevant Secretary of State. The 10-Year Health Plan, published in July 2025, is delivering our Health Mission. Ministers and external stakeholders are involved in a variety of forums to take forward the various elements of the 10-Year Health Plan.
With reference to the transparency data entitled the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025 for all departments, published on 25 December 2025, whether the KPI of 0% gender pay gap for the contract entitled Approach Social Work C24 - C26 supplied by The Frontline Organisation applies to all aspects of her Department's work.
The performance data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, for the contract titled ‘Approach Social Work C24 - C26 (con_20840)’, and specifically in relation to the ‘Key Performance Indicator con_20840-KPI-SV’ supplied by The Frontline Organisation reporting a 0% gender pay gap, is only in relation to this contract and is not for all aspects of the department.
Pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 74531 on Ministers' Private Offices: Civil Service, what the title and grade was of that appointment; and for what reason that appointment was made by exception.
The appointment related to a short-term transfer from another Government department that was made at a junior grade. An exception was used to make this appointment quickly, selecting an individual who already possessed the essential skills and experience required to perform the role. This role was subsequently confirmed through fair and open competition.
With reference to the press release entitled 16 year olds to be given right to vote through election reforms, published on 17 July 2025, if she will take steps to prevent political campaigning by teachers on school premises.
The Education Act is clear that schools and teachers must remain politically impartial. The department has published clear and comprehensive guidance which should help those working with and in schools to better understand legal duties on political impartiality. The guidance can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/political-impartiality-in-schools/political-impartiality-in-schools.
Pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2025, to Question 92594, on Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure, if he will publish the (a) evidential basis and (b) research underpinning the estimated regulatory cost; and whether this included assimilated EU law.
The methodology and evidence for the estimated baseline of the administrative burden of regulation on businesses of £22.4bn a year in 2024 prices is set out in the technical annex to the policy paper ‘A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’, published on 21st October 2025.The baseline and resulting target apply from the start of April 2025 and reflect (by the methodology stated in the technical annex) our estimates of administrative burden of all UK government regulation at the time, including assimilated EU law.
Whether Ministers in his Department have received coaching in foreign languages since July 2024.
No Ministers have received any coaching in foreign languages since July 2024.
Pursuant to the answer of 21 November 2025, to Question 86250, on NHS: Industrial Disputes, whether (a) his Department and (b) the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service has provided guidance to employers on trade union representative access to the building of the employer on strike days.
The Department has issued a range of guidance, available on Gov.UK, for employers, workers, and trade unions, on handling industrial disputes. Acas provides joint employer-worker guidance on industrial action. Neither the Department, or Acas, have issued specific employer guidance on trade union representatives’ access to the employers’ building on strike days.Trade union representatives may have a right of access if a recognition agreement provides it, but responsibility for managing access to buildings during industrial action rests with individual employers, who are best placed to assess local circumstances and ensure arrangements align with operational needs, agreements, and legal obligations.
Pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2025 to Question 92594 on Cabinet Office: Public Expenditure, whether any types of regulation are excluded from the regulation reduction target; and whether taxation measures which create regulation are counted.
We have committed to reduce the administrative burden of regulation on businesses by £5.6bn by the end of this Parliament. As set out in the Regulation Action plan progress update in October 2025, Taxes, duties, levies and charges administered by HMRC are not included within the baseline and target. Mirroring the approach taken in the successful 2005-10 Administrative Burden Reduction Programme, HMRC will take a complimentary approach to reduce the administrative burden of taxation. Building Safety provisions relating to the safety of tenants, residents and building occupants, are also exempt, to enable the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tragedy.
Whether any leadership and promotion schemes run by the Care Equality Commission are restricted to ethnic minorities and other protected characteristics.
The Department has interpreted the question as referring to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as there is no public body called the ‘Care Equality Commission’.The CQC operates a positive action development programme aimed at addressing barriers to career progression, aligning with the ambitions set out in the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, to support colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds and disabled colleagues.Participation in the programme does not guarantee promotion, as all appointments are made through fair and open competition in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
With reference to the Commissioner for Public Appointment’s annual report 2024-25, published December 2025, Appendix: direct appointments, what the business case was for appointing a non-executive director for three years without open and fair competition; and if he will publish relevant correspondence to and from the Public Appointments Commissioner.
The rationale for appointing without competition was made public at the time of announcement, following consultation with the Commissioner. A fair and open competition was undertaken with a strong applicant field. However, it needed to be strengthened further by the appointment of Nita Clarke, who is bringing vital skills in employee engagement, partnership and employee voices in the workplace drawn from a distinguished career including as Vice President for Employee Relations at the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.
With reference to the Media Buying contract with MANNING GOTTLIEB OMD, for what reason the requirement to promote diversity, inclusion and social mobility is a key performance indicator.
The KPI is intended to incentivise the supplier to address issues of workforce inequality.In line with Government procurement policy on social value, and because we are required to include a related KPI, this KPI was selected from an approved list in the Social Value Model linked to the policy.
Whether (a) he and (b) the Permanent Secretary approved the use of paid facility time for trade union activities in NHS England in the 2024-25 NHS England annual report and accounts.
The use of paid facility time for trade union duties and activities is a matter for NHS England as the employer. Trade union representatives are entitled to paid time for trade union duties and unpaid time for trade union activities by law under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULCRA), with local agreements with trade unions determining specifics. Section 25 of the National Health Service staff terms and conditions of service, the Agenda for Change, handbook gives NHS employers the flexibility to determine what union activities are paid. Approval for these payments is not required by my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, or the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Media and Sport, if she will place in the Library a copy of the Freedom of Information Act disclosure, reference FOI2025/05106, of 8 July 2025.
I will deposit a copy of FOI2025/05106 in the Libraries of both Houses.
Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to the answer of 17 December 2025 to Question 98120 on DEFRA: Public Appointment, whether any made a declaration of political activity.
Direct Ministerial Appointees are not typically expected to submit declarations of political activity. However, they are expected to comply with the provisions on political activity set out in the code of conduct for board members of public bodies. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-conduct-for-board-members-of-public-bodies.
If he will publish emails and documents from 2009-10 held by Integrated Corporate Service containing the words Jeffery Epstein.
A search has been conducted by Integrated Corporate Service containing the words “Jeffrey Epstein” and no records were found. In compliance with the Public Records Act, the Department has no plans to publish emails and documents from 2009-10 held by Integrated Corporate Service.
Food and Rural Affairs, for what reason Ofwat's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2025-28 refers to gender rather than sex awareness.
Ofwat's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion strategy makes reference to "gender" in relation to the statutory Gender Pay Gap. Further references to gender are intended to be interpreted broadly and to include both sex and gender identities that do not align with sex at birth. This helps Ofwat to meet the Public Sector Equality Duty, which covers protected characteristics including both sex and gender reassignment, as set out in the Equality Act 2010.