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 541–560 of 775 · Cabinet Office
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 19065 on Migration, what estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of levels of net migration in each year between 2024-25 and 2029-30; and how those estimates are calculated.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 19th March is attached.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21066, how many full time equivalent staff work in each of those established business units.
The information you requested can be found from the quarterly transparency publication on Cabinet Office structure which can be found via the following link: Organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries - data.gov.uk
Whether the (a) Government Property Agency and (b) Crown Commercial Service plan to recognise any diversity and inclusion (a) days and (b) weeks in 2025.
As in previous years, the Government Property Agency and the Crown Commercial Service engage with staff networks and other relevant stakeholders on any plans for diversity and inclusion days.
What guidance his Department has issued on (a) the rules surrounding the communication of market sensitive information to the media and the public and (b) how the Market Abuse Regulation applies to government departments.
As part of their work, officials may handle commercial or market sensitive information, which may be in scope of the UK Market Abuse Regulation, in which case they should familiarise themselves with their obligations under the law.As the relevant authority, the Financial Conduct Authority publish best practice guidance for government departments, industry regulators and public bodies to help them comply with the relevant obligations under the UK Market Abuse Regulations: https://www.fca.org.uk/markets/best-practice-note-identifying-controlling-and-disclosing-inside-information.
Pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2025 to Question 25448 on 48 Group, whether Minsters are permitted to attend meetings of the 48 Group.
I refer the Hon. member to the answer to UIN 22184 of 14 January.
Pursuant to the Answer of 13 January 2025 to Question 21391 on Cabinet Office: Christmas, if he will publish the guidance on away days, staff days and celebrations.
An internal awayday, staff days and celebrations policy was introduced in September 2023, under the previous administration. The previous administration did not publish this policy externally, and as with many internal staff policies, there are no current plans to publish it. The policy seeks to provide a framework that delivers benefits of collaborative ways of working whilst prioritising and demonstrating value for money to the taxpayer. This policy is separate from the official hospitality policy. The policy states that staff must exercise care when spending taxpayers’ money and ensure that value for money can be clearly evidenced. The public rightly expects to see civil servants setting modest standards for all expenditure, especially for internal meetings and events. Budgets holders must demonstrate a clear business justification, value for money and that they have sufficient budget. Approval from the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is also required in some instances. All public servants are bound by the Civil Service Code, Management Code and must operate within the guidance of Managing Public Money.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 24882 on Tulip Siddiq, how many staff work in the (a) Independent Adviser’s secretariat and (b) Propriety and Ethics directorate excluding that secretariat.
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer of 17 September 2024 (UIN 4672), which sets out the responsibilities of the Propriety and Ethics Directorate. There are currently 20.47 FTE working on propriety and ethics functions within the directorate. Within that headcount, 2 FTE staff currently work in the Independent Adviser's Secretariat.
How many transactions under review under the National Security and Investment Act remain under review beyond the 30-working-day statutory deadline.
The Government publishes information on the operation of the National Security and Investment Act in the NSIA Annual Report. The most recent report, covering the 2023/24 reporting period, can be found on GOV.UK. Of the 847 notifications reviewed by the Government in this period, 810 (96%) were told within 30 days that no further action would be taken. The other 37 (4%) were called in for further assessment.
What estimate the Office for National Statistics has made of the change in headcount of the public sector since June 2024.
Employment in the public sector was estimated at 6.14 million in December 2024. This is an increase of 50,000 (0.8%) since June 2024. This trend is due in part to the conversion of some local authority schools (classified in local government) becoming academies (classified in central government), with an estimated 17,000 (2.4%) people in employment converting during this period. Without these conversions, there would be an estimated employment increase of 8,000 (0.4%) in local government between June and December 2024. Within central government, the NHS is the single biggest contributor to the increase, with employment up 24,000 (1.2%) between June and December 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2024 to Question 14099 on Permanent Secretaries: Recruitment, what his planned timetable is for the implementation of those recommendations.
I refer the honourable gentleman to my previous response for PQ 14099.
Pursuant to the Answer of 16 December 2024 to Question 18401 on Government People Group: Civil Service, what is the (a) remit and (b) function of the 836 staff in the Government People Group; and what the annual staffing cost of the non fast streamers in that group was in the 2024-25 was in that financial year.
The remit and function of Government People Group (GPG) is set out on gov.uk. The annual staffing cost of all Civil Servants employed by GPG is estimated to be £49.5m for 2023/24, the last full financial year for which data is available. This excludes the payroll costs for all Fast Streamers currently employed on centrally managed Fast Stream programmes.
Pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 17764 on Civil Servants: Remote Working, what the (a) author, (b) title, (c) publication and (d) publication date was of each of the studies on remote working reviewed by his Department.
I refer the honourable gentleman to the response given to the previous question PQ 8429.
Pursuant to the Answers of (a) 26 November 2024 to Question 14705 and (b) 21 October 2024 to Question 8434 on Prime Minister: Aviation, whether the Cabinet Office collates information on which flights (i) use Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and (ii) the proportion of SAF used.
The Cabinet Office records when Sustainable Aviation Fuel is used, and on which flights. The Government uses sustainable aviation fuel wherever possible.
With reference to his Department's press release on making the state more like a start up, published on 9 December 2024, what his target is for the number of secondments; and over what time period.
Secondments into the Civil Service from other sectors are encouraged as a means of bringing in individuals from outside the Civil Service to contribute to the work of Government by sharing critical capabilities and innovative thinking for a set period of time. All departments, functions, and professions have been encouraged to embed secondments as a key part of their resourcing strategies. The Test, Learn and Grow Programme, will use an inward secondment programme for public service delivery experts working near the frontline to help drive public service reform in their field. The scheme will be flexible in terms of duration and location, and specifically for those with experience relevant to the public service reform project. We do not have a specific target for the number of secondments over the course of the programme.
In what ways he plans to use funding previously allocated to the Vetting Transformation Programme to improve United Kingdom Security Vetting.
The funding for the Vetting Transformation Programme (VTP) was provided by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) customers. Prior to the closure of the VTP, investments were made in digital system enhancements, resulting in increased assurance and improvement in the applicant user journey. Funding not used will be returned to UKSV customers.In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
With reference to the transparency data entitled Rt hon. Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP and Rt hon. Rishi Sunak MP official charity receptions, July to September 2024, updated on 30 January 2025, if he will publish the (a) names and (b) organisations of people who attended the (a) business reception on 23 July, (b) missions receptions on 27 July and (c) London Fashion Week reception on 16 September.
As under previous administrations, details of official receptions are published in quarterly transparency returns on gov.uk.
How many business units are in his Department; what the names are of those business units; what their allocated full-time equivalent headcounts were for each month in 2024-25; and what their actual headcounts were for each month in 2024-25.
The information you requested can be found from the quarterly transparency publication on Cabinet Office structure which can be found via the following link: Organogram of Staff Roles & Salaries - data.gov.uk
How many flights using Government (a) owned and (b) chartered planes the Prime Minister has taken in the United Kingdom since 4 July 2024.
I refer the Rt Hon Member to my answer of 6 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 34453.
Pursuant to the Answers of 14 January and 20 February 2025 to Questions 22185 and 30473 on Prime Minister: Furniture and Prime Minister: Press Conferences, for what reason a Labour Party lectern was used at the Plan for Change event; and whether the Labour Party was involved with the organisation of that event.
This was an official government event organised by officials and special advisors, as has been the case under successive administrations and in line with the relevant guidance. The lectern was loaned by the Labour Party.
With reference to the document entitled Cabinet Office: The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Gifts - 5 July to 31 October 2024, published on 19 February 2025, on what date the Prime Minister purchased the Taylor Swift merchandise he was given by Universal Music Operations Ltd.
Gifts and hospitality declarations are made in line with guidance in the Ministerial Code.