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 2,041–2,060 of 2,860 · this parliament
Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2025 to Question 48565 on Proof of Identity: Databases and Digital Technology, whether he has had recent discussions with (a) Tony Blair and (b) the Tony Blair Institute on proposals for a national digital identity database.
The department has not had any recent discussions or meetings with (a) Tony Blair or (b) Tony Blair Institute on proposals for a national identity database.
With reference to the publication HM Treasury: Ministers' Hospitality February 2025, published on 25 April 2025, if she will list the Global Counsel representatives she met on 19 February 2025.
The Cabinet Office publish a monthly register of the hospitality that Ministers have received, which can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality It should be noted, however, that the Cabinet Office state in their guidance that the names of individuals should only be reported where the individuals are representing their own interests, with the exception of Senior Media Figures.
What (a) gifts and (b) hospitality she has (i) accepted and (ii) reimbursed the donor for since 4 July 2024.
The Cabinet Office publish a monthly register of Ministers’ gifts and hospitality. These returns, including the Chancellor’s, can be found on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality
With reference to the document entitled HM Treasury: Ministers’ Hospitality - January 2025, published on 27 February 2025, whether the she discussed the foreign influence registration scheme in relation to China with (a) the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade and (b) HBSC on 11 and 12 January 2025.
The Chancellor did not discuss the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme with HSBC or the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade during the lunch and dinner referred to in the HM Treasury: Ministers’ Hospitality - January 2025, published on 27 February 2025.
Media and Sport, if she will place in the Library a copy of the declaration of interests made by Mr David Kogan in his application for the role of independent football regulator chair.
Mr Kogan’s declaration of interests was provided to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee prior to his pre-appointment scrutiny hearing in May. The Committee published this alongside their report, which endorsed his appointment.
Media and Sport, what discussions the Permanent Secretary to her Department has had with Mr David Kogan on his donations to the Labour Party.
The Independent Football Regulator Chair process has been run in accordance with the Governance Code on appointments, including the declaration of significant political activity at application and interview.
Whether the guidance entitled Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance has been updated since 4 July 2024; and whether any other further guidance related to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion expenditure has been published since that date.
The controls outlined in the Civil Service Equality Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance which was published on 14 May 2024 remain in place and no additional guidance has been published since then.
Whether civil servants who defer taking their Civil Service pension after the normal retirement age for that pension receive (a) a higher pension and (b) an actuarial enhancement; whether any unclaimed pension from normal retirement age is subsequently payable as a lump sum when the person retires and claims the pension; how the policy varies by Civil Service pension type; and what approach is applied to people who have more than one type of Civil Service pension.
Civil servants may have benefits under several schemes, depending on their length of service. There are four closed (or legacy) schemes (Classic, Classic Plus, Premium and Nuvos) The fifth scheme (alpha) is the only defined benefit scheme open to civil servants at this time.Civil Servants who defer taking their Civil Service pension after normal retirement age for the pension from which they are claiming benefits would receive:Classic, Classic Plus & Premium Pension schemes: This group does not receive a higher pension or actuarial enhancement. Pension will be backpaid to normal retirement age without interest added.Nuvos and alpha Pension schemes: This group would receive actuarial enhancement for late payment and this would apply to any lump sums taken at the time.For Civil servants who are members of more than one scheme, each pension is dealt with separately and in line with the scheme rules.
Which business units in 10 Downing Street use the AI Redbox tool; and whether submissions to the Prime Minister are written using AI tools.
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer of 23 January 2025, Official Report, PQ 24138
Whether (a) electricity, (b) gas and (c) water in the (i) 10 and (ii) 11 Downing Street residences are individually metered.
The No. 10 Downing Street and No. 11 Downing Street residences are not individually metered for any listed utility.
How much his Department has spent on services provided by Saatchi and Saatchi since July 2024; and for what purposes.
The Department has not spent any money with Saatchi and Saatchi since July 2024, nor does it have a contract for services with them.
Whether his Department plans to establish the new Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement as an arm’s length body.
The government is committed to strengthening equal pay and ending pay discrimination. As part of this, we will establish an Equal Pay Regulatory and Enforcement Unit.In April, we launched a call for evidence on a number of areas of equality policy, including this commitment. We will consider the views from the call for evidence to understand the challenges and find the appropriate solutions to equal pay enforcement.We are holding this call for evidence (which closes on 30 June 2025) while policy is at a formative stage in order to enable businesses, trade unions, civil society and others to share their knowledge and experiences. Officials in the Office for Equality and Opportunity will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders as this policy develops.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answers of 28 April 2025 and 4 December 2024 to Questions 47334 and 16604 on DCMS: Art Works and 11 Downing Street: Artworks, if she will publish the Government Art Collection (a) reference number and (b) title for each item (i) installed and (ii) deinstalled from her Department since 4 July 2024.
I refer the Right Honourable Member to the answer I gave on 28 April 2025 to Question UIN 47334.
Pursuant to the answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 43230 on Prime Minister: Electronic Purchasing Card Solution, whether his Department is (a) stopping future transactions being made on the Downing Street cards and (b) stopping the procurement of additional cards for Downing Street.
All areas of the Cabinet Office have significantly reduced the number of cards held and strict processes are in place for new applications.
What (a) discussions and (b) correspondence staff in 10 Downing Street have had with (i) Tony Blair and (ii) the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on (A) identity cards and (B) climate change since July 2024.
Relevant meetings are declared in transparency publications.
How are aggregate disproportionate cost thresholds reviewed for (a) written Parliamentary Questions and (b) Freedom of Information Act requests; how often do these reviews take place; and on what dates have changes been made since 2000.
The Guide to Parliamentary Work, which is published online and available here, sets out that there is an advisory cost limit known as the disproportionate cost threshold which is the level above which departments can decide not to answer a written question. The current disproportionate cost threshold is £850; the limit does not apply to oral questions. The threshold is pegged at 140% of the Freedom of Information Act cost limit, currently £600, to the nearest £50. Where a change in the FOI cost limit occurs, the Cabinet Office will make a written statement to advise Parliament of the new disproportionate cost threshold. Section 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows public authorities to refuse to deal with any requests where they estimate that responding to the request would exceed the “appropriate limit”, known as the “cost limit”. If a public authority calculates that responding to a request will take it over the appropriate limit it is not obliged to provide a substantive response. The cost limit is calculated at a flat rate of £25 per hour and since 2004 has been set at £600 for central government departments and £450 for other public authorities.
With reference to the Civil Service Commission's publication entitled How Departments are doing on fair and open recruitment: what the Commission’s audits found, published in April 2025, in which departments audits found errors on the management of appointments by exception.
The Civil Service Commission is operationally independent of the Government. The Commission reports on its audit activity each year in its Annual Report but does not publish individual departmental audits. The Commission additionally published a review into appointments by exception in November 2024.
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13326, on Government Departments: Flags, if he will publish a list of the flags purchased by the Government Property Agency since 4 July 2024; how much each cost; and the purpose for which each flag was bought.
Since 4th July 2024 the Government Property Agency has purchased two flags: Pride Flag - Darlington - Purchased for flying during events - Cost: £674.17Flag of Ukraine - London - Purchased to show solidarity with Ukraine - Cost: £104.60 All costs include supplier fees and exclude VAT. There have been no changes to the range of flags held by the department since the election.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20252 on Universities: China, what the terms of reference are of the audit of the UK’s interests with regards to China; and whether he plans to publish a report at the end of the exercise.
The China Audit will improve the UK's ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses. The widespread consultation process, within and beyond government, has already informed the government's approach to and engagement with China. The audit will set out a long-term, consistent approach to our relationship. Its findings, which will also inform other important developments such as the forthcoming National Security Strategy and Industrial Strategy, will be shared with Parliament and other stakeholders in due course.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2025 to Question 23482 on 11 Downing Street: Council Tax, whether he pays council tax on his official Ministerial residence in Carlton Gardens as a (a) sole or main residence, (b) single person discount and (c) second homes premium in 2025-26.
The Foreign Secretary pays the necessary council tax on 1 Carlton Gardens.