Every parliamentary written question tabled by Richard Holden this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 261–280 of 775 · Cabinet Office
Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of discontinuing unconscious bias training.
The decision to discontinue unconscious bias training was made in 2020 under the previous administration. No subsequent assessment of the policy has since been made.
Whether his Department has received any correspondence from external organisations on the Ethics and Integrity Commission since 4 July 2024.
The Cabinet Office regularly receives correspondence on a range of policy issues, including on manifesto commitments.
With reference to the document entitled Committee on Standards in Public Life 334th Meeting, Thursday 15 May 2025: Minutes, published on 30 June 2025, if he will place in the Library a copy of the research paper by José Pedro Lopes of the University of Manchester.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is an independent advisory body. It is a matter for the Committee to determine the information it publishes.
If he will list the secretary to each Cabinet (a) committee and (b) sub-committee.
The Cabinet Secretariat works on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary to support Cabinet committees. Cabinet committees are supported by the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat, the National Security Secretariat and the European and Global Issues Secretariat according to the Terms of Reference of the committee.
With reference to the document entitled Cabinet Office spend approvals: January to March 2025, published on 27 June 2025, what the purpose is of the Advertising, Marketing and Communications spending on Q4 mission activity; what (a) suppliers and (b) firms have been contracted to undertake this work; and what media channels will be used.
The Q4 mission activity spend formed part of ongoing New Media Unit (NMU) work. The NMU utilises a wide range of digital and social media channels to reach target audiences. The frameworks used for this spend were Campaign Solutions 2 (RM6125) and Media Services (RM6123).
Pursuant to the Answer of 8 May 2025 to Question 48185 on Government: Policy, whether Mission Champions may have access to internal government papers.
I refer the Rt.Honorable Member to the response to PQ48185.
Pursuant to the Answer of 2 July 2025 to Question 62332 on Civil Service: Redundancy, whether his Department has made an estimate of the potential number of exits under the Civil Service Compensation Scheme in each financial year until 2028-29.
Departments have been commissioned to provide information on their planned use of exits to inform the development of the Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan, due to be published later this year.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 June 2025 to Question 57252 on Arms Length Bodies: Parliamentary Scrutiny, whether written Parliamentary Questions on the work of (a) public corporations and (b) private companies owned by the Government are expected to be answered by (i) the sponsoring minister or (ii) through correspondence from the Chief Executive of that body.
Written Parliamentary Questions about specific arm’s-length entities, including public corporations or government-owned companies, should be directed to the relevant sponsoring department. The arrangements for answering such questions are a matter for sponsoring departments to agree in consultation with individual arm’s length entities.
If he will publish the (a) address and (b) building condition metric of central government buildings.
As has been longstanding practice under successive administrations, on security and operational grounds, details of specific central government building addresses and conditions are not published. However, The State of the Estate report containing the aggregated insights across government estate is laid before parliament on an annual basis. The Cabinet Office is currently working on plans to publish aggregate building condition data and insights for the reporting period of FY2026/27.
Pursuant to the Answer of 29 January 2025 to Question 25449 on Government Communication Service, what his Department's planned timetable is for publishing its review of the size of the Government Communications Service as part of Phase 2 of the Spending Review.
The Government Communications Service (GCS) regularly evaluates communications teams to ensure value for money and operational effectiveness. GCS is currently recruiting a Director of Government Communications who will lead the redesign of the service to ensure it reflects both the evolving communications landscape and government priorities.
Pursuant to the Answer of 30 June 2025 to Question 62624 on Public Buildings: Concrete, which three Government Property Agency buildings have been found to have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Due to operational and security sensitivities, we do not disclose sites in which Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete is present.
With reference to the UK Statistics Authority and Cabinet Office response to the Devereux Review, published on 26 June 2025, what plans he has to publish a response to each recommendation of the Devereux Review.
The UK Statistics Authority and Cabinet Office response to the Devereux Review was published on 26 June. A further announcement was made on 7 July regarding the timeline for appointing new leadership to both the UK Statistics Authority and the Office for National Statistics. While there are no plans to publish further responses, additional updates may be announced as and when deemed appropriate. The Government welcomes the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee's inquiry into the UK Statistics Authority, launched earlier this year, and looks forward to engaging with the Committee.
How many and what proportion of the attendees at the Plan for Change launch event on 5 December 2024 were invited by the Government.
All invitations were sent by the Government.
If he will require the National Security Adviser to publish details of meetings with external organisations other than senior media executives.
As a special adviser, the National Security Adviser is bound by the transparency obligations set out in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54828 on Civil Servants: Training, if he will publish the full training (a) documentation and (b) modules prepared for the course.
It is not possible to share these products as they are interactive e-learning and videos that need to run on learning management systems. We would not publish learning content or materials themselves, as they might contain internal policy details, or intellectual property owned by a third party.
What guidance has been given to Cabinet ministers by the (a) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Standards and (b) Cabinet Office on whether Ministers who personally receive donations from trade unions (i) must and (ii) need not recuse themselves from (A) official government meetings and (B) decisions relating to those specific trade unions.
As set out in the Ministerial Code, there is an established process in place for the declaration and management of private interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest. Any advice given to ministers as part of this process would be in confidence.
Pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2025 to Question 54280 on Civil Servants: Pay, whether civil servants in her Department that are relocated outside of London will have their pay reduced; and whether civil servants employed in new locations outside of London will lose their London weighting.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer on 3 July (PQ 63008). The Cabinet Office does not have London Weighting. There are separate London and National pay ranges. If an employee relocates from a London to National location on a voluntary basis, their salary would reduce to the equivalent point on the opposite pay range.
With reference to his Department's press release entitled Conclusion of His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme, published on 28 November 2024, what the percentage take-up rate was for (a) UK Government departments and (b) arm's-length bodies separately.
His Majesty The King’s free Portrait Scheme was a voluntary programme offering a free, framed portrait of The King to any eligible public institution that requested one. Following the conclusion of the scheme, a breakdown of the take up was published on gov.uk.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54822 on Cabinet Office: Directors, whether Baroness Casey will be a member of the Cabinet Office Board.
I refer the Hon. member to PQ 54822.
Pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54820 on Civil Service: Equality, if he will make it his policy to (a) publish the new network guidance on gov.uk and (b) place it in the House of Commons Library once finalised.
Guidance for Civil Service Staff Networks is in development. This will be internal guidance which is not usually published.