Written questions by Wood.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2025 to Question HL12794 on Government Art Collection, if she will list the (a) date received, (b) reference number, (c) date substantively answered, (d) substantive response, and (e) broad request, of each Freedom of information request received by his Department relating to the Government Art Collection across the last 12 months.

DCMS has received 45 requests relating to the Government Art Collection since 4 July 2024. All Freedom of Information requests are considered on their individual merits in accordance with the relevant legislation.

Media and Sport, how much funding (a) her Department and (b) the Arts Council has allocated to Decolonise Fest since July 2024.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has not allocated any funding to Decolonise Fest.The Arts Council England, which awards funding independently of the government, has awarded a grant of £18,808 in 2025.In addition, the Decolonise Festival has also received £3,500 funding via the PRS Foundation, a charity funding new music and talent development that receives Art Council Funding.

Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to Ofwat’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2025-28, how much Ofwat has spent on external equality, diversity and inclusion training since July 2024; via which suppliers; and what the estimated cost of mandatory EDI training is in 2026.

The total expenditure on EDI training since July 2024 to date is £7,495 (not including VAT). These details can be broken down as requested: Name of supplierSession topicCostAndrew Pain LtdMen's mental health£800Champions UKBlack History Month£1,200Powered by DiversityA monthly session on a range of EDI topics (i.e. International Women's Day, Time to Talk Day)£2,000Wellity GlobalSupporting neurodivergent individuals through times of change and stress£3,495

Pursuant to the answer of 10 November 2025, to Question HL11348, on Industrial Disputes: Trade Unions, whether the Government will take steps to revise the Code of Practice on picketing to ban leverage tactics during industrial disputes.

The government has laid a revised Code of Practice on Picketing before Parliament, that reflects legislative updates made by the Employment Rights Act 2025. We also intend to consult publicly on wider updates to the Code of Practice on Picketing in due course, noting that this Code has not been substantively updated for some time. We encourage all interested parties to respond to that consultation, with their views on the content of the Code.

Further to the Ofcom "Call for input: Review of postal regulation – pricing and affordability", of 4 November 2025, whether stamp prices for ordinary customers will have to cross-subsided the proposed reduction in stamp prices for those on the social tariffs.

As the independent regulator for postal services, Ofcom is responsible for decisions on price controls. The government does not have a role in Ofcom’s regulatory decisions.Affordability is at the heart of Ofcom's regulatory framework. Ofcom will consult on any proposals, ahead of the expiry of the current control on Second Class letter prices in early 2027.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2025 to Question 88693 on Stamp Advisory Committee, if he will list the dates that officials have attended meetings of the Stamp Advisory Committee since July 2024.

Stamp Advisory Committee meetings are confidential and a matter for Royal Mail. However, our records show that, since July 2024, a government official attended five meetings.

Pursuant to the answer of 13 November 2025, to Question 88692, on Companies House: Recognition of States, if he will list each foreign nationality that is recognised by Companies House for the purposes of the Register of Companies that is not formally recognised by the UK Government as a nation.

The list of nationalities that are accepted for company filings is available here:Nationalities and countries for company filings - GOV.UKThe use of a standard list of nationalities ensures that information in the Register of Companies is captured consistently and is transparent to users of the Register.Presence of a nationality on the list does not imply formal recognition by Companies House or the UK Government more widely.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 26 November 2025 to Question 88704 on UK Space Agency, whether he plans to reduce the total headcount as a result of the merger of the UK Space Agency into the department.

The merger of UKSA into DSIT will deliver efficiencies for how the combined directorate will deliver on government priorities. Designing a more efficient organisation will reduce running costs and remove duplication ensuring even more of the funding allocated to civil space can reach the sector while also protecting staff in both organisations where possible. There are currently no planned redundancies.

What departmental receptions have taken place in the offices of consultant lobbying firms since 4 July 2024, and what was the rationale in each case.

The Department for Business and Trade hosted an Industrial Strategy Business reception at the offices of FGS Global on 23 June 2025. The Department had worked with several businesses to find a suitable central London business location to host the reception.The Department does not hold a centralised list of every Departmental reception event. This event is the only reception at a consultant lobbying firm that the department has a record of taking place since June 2024.

Innovation and Technology, how much his Department has spent in the last 12 months on X premium, and on which tier.

No expenditure has been made by Department for Science, Innovation and Technology on X premium.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025, to Question 88707, on Research: Finance, what estimate he has made of the (a) monetary and (b) regulatory cost of the inclusion of equality, diversity and inclusion targets in publicly funded research.

The Government does not hold an estimate of any monetary or regulatory cost because it does not set equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) targets in publicly funded research. EDI considerations form part of existing research funding assurance and governance processes, and no additional reporting burdens or dedicated compliance mechanisms have been introduced beyond those already in place. Rather than mandating specific EDI targets, the Government expects research organisations to foster fair and inclusive environments that support excellence, in line with established funding terms and conditions.

Pursuant to the answer of 7 November 2025, to Question 86249, on Department for Business and Trade: Social Media, if he will name the specific social media influencers who were commissioned by the department to undertake paid advertising for the department for the National Minimum and Living Wage campaign.

Influencer marketing is a credible promotional channel, which is considered for government advertising campaigns and can be an effective way to reach audiences that the Government and traditional marketing channels find hard to reach.The activity aimed to raise awareness of the new National Minimum and Living Wage rates to ensure audiences such as young people, part-time female workers, ethnic minorities and disabled groups are paid correctly.Six influencers were used as part of the Department for Business and Trade’s 2025 National Minimum and Living Wage campaign. They were: Bella RobertsKrishnan KaraNoah BrierleyRotimi Merriman-Johnson (Mr MoneyJar)Beth FullerJasmin Shum

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 3 March 2025 to Question 32640 on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Buildings, whether civil servants in 22 Whitehall are required to book a specific desk, or book an unspecified space on a particular floor.

Civil Servants in 22 Whitehall book an unspecified space on a specific floor.

If he will place in the Library a copy of the Freedom of Information Act disclosure, reference FOI2025/09531, of 16 September 2025.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I’ve given him on 29 January 2026 for question UIN 107051. Given that the information the hon. Member seeks has been published in that answer, I have no plans to place a copy of the Freedom of Information disclosure he mentions in the Library.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 to Question 88700 on Civil Service: Equality, whether the civil servants attended the humanists convention using staff time or annual leave.

Pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2025 the Civil Servant who attended the Humanist Convention did so in working time.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 to Question 88696, if he will publish he business case for the rainbow pins.

Pursuant to the answer of 18 November 2025 we are not be publishing the business case for rainbow pins. To confirm the business case was reviewed in line with Government Guidance, declined, and no public money was spent.

Innovation and Technology pursuant to the answer of 20 November 2025 to Question 88695, on Government Departments: Mobile Phones, whether there is any guidance given to public bodies on creating new apps.

The Service Manual sets out guidance for public servants on designing and delivering digital services, including making sure services work well with mobile technology, technology use more broadly, and understanding users before designing around their needs. The guidance makes clear that native mobile apps should only be considered when there are clear and evidenced needs that a responsive website cannot meet. It also states that if any users can not access the required features then a web based alternative should also be available.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 18 December 2025 to Question 98126, on DSIT: Public Appointments, whether any of the Direct Ministerial Appointments made a declaration of political activity when appointed.

All Direct Ministerial appointees must complete a declaration of interest form before their appointment can be finalised. If appointees declare any political activity, the detail is reviewed, assessed for risk and appropriate mitigations implemented where necessary.

With reference to the regulated public appointment, Regulatory Policy Committee (RPC) - Committee Members - 5 roles, with application deadline of 23 October 2024, who was the Advisory Assessment Independent Panel Member listed on gov.uk as "To be confirmed".

The Independent Panel Member for this public appointment was Dr Alison Walker-Fraser. Alison is a business consultant and Chair of Trustees at Anaphylaxis UK. She is an experienced IPM for non-executive recruitment campaigns.

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2025, to Question 90732, on DSIT: Remote Working, whether the 40% office attendance policy for departmental staff is a target of (a) those staff being in their assigned office for 40% of the working week or (b) 40% of the desks in that office being occupied over the working week.

The 40% office attendance policy for departmental staff referred to in the answer I gave the Hon. Member on 28 November 2025 to Question 90732, is for staff being in their assigned office for 40% of the working week.The Department’s office attendance (Hybrid Working) policy states that as the norm, employees are expected to spend, when calculated over a 4-week period, 40-60% of their working hours in the office. Time spent training at a different location, on visits to off-site or other work locations, where there is an official reason to attend that location, will count in the same way as time spent in a staff member’s normal office. The remaining time can either be spent working in the office, working from home in the UK, or a combination of the two.