Written questions by Wood.

What the annual cost has been of the META programme in the past financial year, including the development centre, executive coaching, workshops, senior mentorship and all administration, and how many individuals participated in the past year.

The total expenditure for the delivery of the META Leadership Programme in the last financial year (20024/25) totalled to £534,225. This figure incorporates £355,782 in resourcing/administration, allocated to delivery of META and an additional programme conducted during this timeframe, as well as alumni activities. Over this period, 133 core participants took part over two intakes.

On what evidential basis his Department has estimated the number of officials who plan to leave through the voluntary exit scheme; and how many plan to leave by Department and public body.

The Cabinet Office collects some data on projected exits through its management of the Redundancy and Compensation control, based on departmental returns.In terms of exits, I refer you to my previous answer PQ 82675. The most accurate data is held by individual departments, and will be reported in their Annual Report and Accounts.

With reference to his Department's documents entitled House of Lords Appointments Commission - Independent Member (up to 2), opening date 3 January 2025, and the Governance Code on Public Appointments, updated on 30 October 2025, if he will state who was the independent panel member.

As published on the GOV.UK Public Appointments webpage when the campaign was first advertised, the Independent Panel Member for the House of Lords Appointments Commission - Independent Member (up to 2) was initially Lord Adebowale. Althea Loderick (Southwark Council CEO) took on the role in July 2025, when Lord Adebolwale became unavailable in the latter stages. The Public Appointments webpage was updated accordingly.

Whether she has made an estimate of the yearly number of (a) EU students who will study in the UK and (b) UK students who will study in the EU when the Erasmus+ is fully operational.

In 2018/19, there were approximately 31,000 inbound higher education student mobilities via the Erasmus+ programme. There were approximately 16,000 outbound higher education student mobilities in the same year. The department expects there will be a greater number of higher education mobilities on reassociation, given the expansion of the programme. We expect that over 100,000 people could benefit from mobility and partnership opportunities from participation in 2027 across all sectors.

With reference to the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for government’s most important contracts, Data for July to September 2025, published on 25 December 2025, for what reason (a) using soft copy and (b) travelling by rail is a key performance indicator for the covid inquiry contract with Burges Salmon LLP.

The CCLL23A10 contract with Burges Salmon LLP was procured under Public Contract Regulations 2015. The KPI referenced refers to the contract's Social Value KPI. A Social Value KPI was included in the contract as per para 4.6 of the 'Guide to using the Social Value Model'. As per the ‘Social Value Model’, Social Value KPIs must be informed by the themes and policy outcomes chosen for the procurement. In the case of the procurement of the CCLL23A10 contract with Burges Salmon LLP, the Social Value KPI was informed by theme 3 ‘Fighting Climate Change’ and the ‘Effective stewardship of the environment’ policy outcome. Working in soft copy (where possible) and choosing travel by rail (where the most time efficient method of transportation) were the measurables chosen to encourage minimised environmental impact and demonstrate that the supplier can provide social value under this contract.

Further to the Cabinet Office press release, Young people from all backgrounds to get opportunity to study abroad as UK-EU deal unlocks Erasmus+, of 17 December 2025, whether the Turing scheme will be continued, and whether she plans any changes to the Turing scheme’s funding or scope.

The government remains committed to international mobility. That’s why we have announced the UK has agreed to join the Erasmus+ programme in 2027. The Turing Scheme continues to deliver these opportunities and is confirmed for the 2026/27 academic year.Guidance on the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year has been published on GOV.UK, with applications for funding opening at 12:00 on Tuesday 20 January and closing at 16:00 on Monday 16 March.The aims of the Turing Scheme for the 2026/27 academic year are to enhance transferable skills, widen opportunity and drive value for money.We are continuing to focus the scheme’s funding on students from disadvantaged and underrepresented backgrounds and those with special educational needs and disabilities.Further details, including guidance for providers and application information, are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/turing-scheme-international-placements-2026-to-2027.

Pursuant to 16 December 2025 to Question 96684 on Tim Allan, whether he made an assessment of the potential merits of requiring the shareholding in Strand Partners to be (a) sold and (b) moved into a blind trust.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer of 16 December 2025, Official Report, PQ 96684.

Pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2025 to Question 95644 on Cabinet Office: OCS Group, whether the (a) Cabinet Office and (b) Government Property Agency have access to the information entered onto the Social Value Portal.

The Cabinet Office does not have access to the information entered onto the Social Value Portal in relation to OCS Group. However, The GPA has access to the Social Value Portal in respect of its OCS Group contracts.

What discussions he has had with the Office for National Statistics to (a) remove and (b) amend questions on gender identity in the next Census.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th January is attached.

With reference to the Environment Agency's job vacancy, Strategy and Government Relations Advisor, reference 32597, closing date 4 January 2026, what is his policy on public bodies hiring advisors to engage with the Government.

The Environment Agency is a Non-Departmental Public Body, and does not form part of HM Civil Service. Non-Departmental Public Bodies are expected to engage with a range of stakeholders, including relevant Government departments, Parliamentarians across both Houses, Parliamentary Select Committees, and other key stakeholders pertinent to their work.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to departments on how private corporations wholly-owned by HM Government should exercise their accountability to Parliament, including answering Parliamentary Questions.

I refer the Hon. member to PQ 57252. Detail on arrangements for Parliamentary accountability and governance of government companies and public corporations are set out in Annex 7.3 of Managing Public Money. While there is no specific guidance aimed at how private corporations wholly-owned by HM Government should exercise their accountability to Parliament. The Guide to Parliamentary Work sets out the wider Government's guidance on Parliamentary Questions.

Whether the Cabinet Office uses the Global Disinformation Index service.

The Government Communication Service in the Cabinet Office does not use this service.

Whether he has had discussions with the European Commission on the EU's Buy European policy.

The Government routinely engages with the EU across a whole range of issues. Given the UK is one of Europe’s largest economies, and an integral part of existing supply chains, we have been clear with EU counterparts that the UK and EU should be working together to tackle the challenges we all face in terms of promoting economic security as well as boosting growth and productivity.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, whether he has made an estimate of the cost of the UK being a member of the EU electricity market.

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. To unlock these benefits, we are prepared to make an appropriate and proportionate financial contribution to support relevant costs, such as accessing specific agencies or databases required for market participation. Nothing has been agreed yet and we will work through the specific details in negotiations to ensure any contribution represents value for money for the UK taxpayer.

Further to the policy paper, Outcome of the exploratory discussions on the possible participation of the United Kingdom in the European Union’s internal electricity market, published on 22 December 2025, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of dynamic alignment on the ability of the UK Government to deregulate.

An electricity agreement with the EU will cut the cost of trading electricity with the EU - this means lower wholesale costs and ultimately lower bills. To unlock these benefits we are prepared to take the pragmatic decision to align with EU rules in the national interest. The outcome from exploratory talks is clear that where we align with EU rules as part of any future electricity agreement there would be adaptations and phasing-in periods to ensure the rules work for the UKelectricity sector, as well as decision-shaping rights when new EU policies are made.

Further to the Cabinet Office, Government Procurement Card spend over £500 - September 2025, published 30 October 2025, what was the conference or event relating to the transactions (a) "MRS" for £696 and (b) FOAM CONVERSATION for £897.60.

The two transactions are (a) a payment to the Market Research Society in relation to the Behavioural Science Summit 2025, and (b) the procurement of audio equipment for the New Media Unit.

What steps are being taken by the Cabinet Office public appointments unit to improve processes on regulated public appointments following recent findings of breaches by the Governance Code by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

The Commissioner for Public Appointments’ 2024-25 Annual Report praised overall departmental compliance with the Governance Code. Out of 449 new regulated appointments made by UK government ministers in 2024-25, the Commissioner reported that five breaches of the Code were identified. The Cabinet Office provides a range of training, support and guidance for departments to ensure compliance with the Code.

Whether Ministers in his Department authorised the recall of National Archives papers due for release in December 2025 in relation to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

As a matter of routine and under the terms of the Public Records Act redactions are made to government documents where FOI exemptions that persist for historic records apply. Closures are approved by the Advisory Council on National Records and Archives before transfer to The National Archives. Any release is subject to an extensive review process, including engaging expert stakeholders and no list should be considered final until it is released to the public.

If he will publish FOI response FOI2025/18072, of 5 December 2025.

I refer the Hon Member to the answer given in UIN 99528.

Pursuant to the answer of 23 September 2025, to Question 70484, on Government Departments: Training, how many quarterly Statements of Work have been agreed to date under the Work Order for Project 7114; and if he will publish those statements.

The Test, Learn & Grow programme is being delivered jointly by the Cabinet Office, MHCLG and local authority partners, complemented by a support partner, the Test, Learn & Grow Partnership. Due to the nature of personal data, we are precluded from publishing information on the evaluation panel. The procurement followed standard best practice in line with the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 (PCR15), and the contract is being managed proactively with use of benchmarking and performance data. Two quarterly statements of work have been agreed under the Work Order. Due to commercial sensitivities, we cannot publish the statements nor can we disclose the key performance indicators.