Written questions by Wood.

Whether he plans to publish a Regulatory Impact Assessment for the measures contained in the (a) UK-EU Summit - Common Understanding and (b) UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership.

The Common Understanding between the UK and the EU sets out the results of exploratory discussions and a new agenda for cooperation. The UK and the EU have agreed to take forward these commitments swiftly through technical negotiations. The government will follow normal processes for any necessary legislative changes.No legislative changes are currently proposed as a result of the Security and Defence Partnership.

Pursuant to the Answer of 19 May 2025 to Question 51160 on Office for National Statistics: Industrial Disputes, what the average daily occupation is for (a) Newport, (b) Titchfield, (c) London, (d) Manchester, (e) Edinburgh and (f) Darlington, in the most recent period for which figures are available, expressed as the average over a five day period of (i) proportion of desks occupied and (ii) proportion of assigned workforce to that office location attending that office.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 20th May is attached.

Whether new staff members of the (a) National Wealth Fund and (b) Great British Energy will be eligible to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme; and whether existing civil servants who transfer to those new bodies will have their Civil Service pension membership continued under their new employment.

The Cabinet Office, as Scheme Manager for the Civil Service Pension Scheme (CSPS), considers all requests to join the CSPS as part of an employer’s application process. Neither Great British Energy nor National Wealth Fund have submitted an application to join the CSPS, but any such application would be considered by the Cabinet Office in the normal way.

What unpaid advisers have been appointed by (a) 10 Downing Street and (b) his Department since the general election.

Since 5 July 2024, the Cabinet Office has made one unremunerated Direct Ministerial Appointment. This individual is providing advice on security and defence policy.

Pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2025 to Question 52340 on Government Departments: Equality, in which departments have decisions on EDI spending controls been delegated to their Permanent Secretary.

The following Departments have formally informed the Cabinet Office that their Minister has delegated the decision to approve external Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) expenditure to the Permanent Secretary: Department for Science, Innovation and TechnologyHM TreasuryMinistry for Housing, Communities and Local GovernmentDepartment for Business and TradeCabinet OfficeHome OfficeDepartment for Culture, Media and SportDepartment for Transport

With reference to the Answer of 19 October 2023 to Question 202664 on Cabinet Office: Senior Civil Servants, how many (a) Directors and (b) Director Generals there are in the Cabinet Office; and how many of those are on secondment from other departments.

As of the 30th April 2025 there were less than 5 individuals on secondment to the Cabinet Office as Directors or Director Generals. Details of the number of Directors and Director Generals can be found in the quarterly organogram published at https://www.data.gov.uk/dataset/ff76be1f-4f37-4bef-beb7-32b259413be1/organogram-cabinet-office.

What costs have been re-charged from (a) Downing Street and (b) the Cabinet Office to the Labour Party since 4 July 2024.

I refer the Hon. Member to my answer of 28 May 2025, Official Report, PQ 53200.

Which Ministers have used Admiralty House as an office workplace in the last 30 years.

We do not hold this information.

Whether appointments to Skills England will be included in the Public Bodies Order in Council; and whether the chair appointment will be classified as a Significant Appointment.

The department will give due consideration on whether to request the inclusion of Skills England in the Public Appointment Order in Council at the point when the Cabinet Office invites departments to nominate bodies for inclusion in the Order. Concurrently, we will assess whether the Chair position falls within the scope of appointments deemed significant under the criteria specified by Cabinet Office at the time of the request.

Whether his Department has issued guidance to Ministers on whether they can undertake a personal holiday following an official visit to a foreign country.

The standards of conduct expected of ministers are set out in the Ministerial Code.

With reference to paragraph 13 of the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, what estimate he has made of the annual number of EU visitors there would be under a youth experience scheme; whether he plans to negotiate a cap; and whether the scheme would provide a full right to work in the UK.

We have agreed that we will work towards the establishment of a balanced youth experience scheme with the EU. We have agreed that any scheme will be time-limited and capped, and we have also been clear that it should be in line with the UK’s existing schemes with countries like Australia and New Zealand. The exact parameters will be subject to negotiation.

With reference to paragraph 14 of the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, whether he has estimated the number of EU participants in the Erasmus+ programme who will be eligible to enter the UK each year.

We have agreed to work towards the association of the UK to the EU Erasmus+ programme. The specific terms of this association will be discussed going forward. Erasmus+ offers a broad range of opportunities across education, youth, and sport sectors. Historically, many UK and EU participants took up opportunities under Erasmus+, which is about short-term exchanges, after which participants return to their home countries.

With reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, whether (a) primary and (b) secondary legislation will be (i) repealed and (ii) amended to facilitate the agreement.

The UK has taken a sovereign decision to agree to dynamic alignment of some laws. By regulating consistently with the EU in specific areas, we will unlock further market access for UK firms with one of our largest trading partners, thereby improving growth for British people. Where we are making new commitments to introduce new laws Parliament will play a role in scrutinising the legislation that implements those commitments.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether Ministers may use diplomatic passports for personal overseas travel.

Where Ministers exceptionally hold a diplomatic passport, this is for official use only and not for personal overseas travel.

With reference to paragraph 14 of the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, whether young people will be given voting rights in local elections in (a) England and (b) Northern Ireland under the proposed youth experience scheme from an EU Member State (i) that are residing in the UK and (ii) where there is not a bilateral reciprocal agreement between the UK and that EU Member State under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

Prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, in December 2018, the Government wrote to all 27 EU member states signalling willingness to enter into bilateral agreements to ensure continuity of local election voting and candidacy rights for each other's citizens. EU citizens from countries that have a bilateral agreement with the UK can therefore vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland (alongside those who have been legally resident in the UK prior to withdrawal from the EU). We have such agreements with Denmark, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain. These agreements are separate from Youth Mobility Schemes.

With reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, if he will list the policy areas that dynamic alignment will apply to.

The UK has taken a sovereign decision to agree to dynamic alignment of some laws. By regulating consistently with the EU in specific areas, we will unlock further market access for UK firms with one of our largest trading partners, thereby improving growth for British people. Where we are making new commitments to introduce new laws Parliament will play a role in scrutinising the legislation that implements those commitments.

With reference to the policy paper entitled Security and defence partnership between the European Union and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on 19 May 2025, what additional financial payments will the United Kingdom be required to make to the European Union and its agencies in each of the next four years.

The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO. This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer. I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.

With reference to the news story entitled PM secures new agreement with EU to benefit British people, published on 19 May 2025, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of participation in the EU's Security Action for Europe defence fund in each of the next four years.

The Security and Defence partnership (SDP) agreed with the EU at the UK-EU Summit on 19 May 2025 demonstrates that this Government is delivering on our manifesto pledge to strengthen European security, support growth, and reinforce NATO. This is a legally non-binding instrument that sets a framework for deeper cooperation on key issues like Ukraine, defence industry and peace building and crisis management; opening up the potential possible opportunity to engage with the EU’s proposed €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) mechanism. We are in discussion with the EU on implementation and the future modalities of cooperation. We would only agree to future financial contributions to EU programmes that provide value to the UK taxpayer. I would refer to the Prime Minister’s statement and answers on 20 May, regarding the role of the European Court of Justice. However, I can confirm that the SDP is clear that our participation in defence initiatives will be in accordance with our respective legal frameworks.

With reference to the policy paper entitled UK-EU Summit: Common Understanding, published on 19 May 2025, in which areas the European Court of Justice would have oversight that is not permitted by existing treaties in (a) Great Britain and (b) Northern Ireland.

The Common Understanding between the UK and the EU sets out the results of exploratory discussions ahead and a new agenda for cooperation. The UK and the EU have agreed to take forward these commitments swiftly through technical negotiations. The Common Understanding does not provide for oversight of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) within Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Instead it provides that the CJEU will have a limited role in assisting an independent arbitration tribunal responsible for deciding a dispute between the UK and the EU, and only where there is dynamic alignment of laws under any future SPS agreement, ETS linking agreement or an electricity agreement. The Windsor Framework continues to apply in Northern Ireland with a role for the CJEU within that framework.

With reference to the publication of the EU/UK Common Understanding of 19 May 2025, whether any of the measures directly affect (a) the Channel Islands and (b) Gibraltar.

The Common Understanding has the same territorial scope as the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Crown Dependencies will be able to benefit from many of the measures if they wish to, including the SPS Agreement. The Government has separate negotiations concerning Gibraltar.