Written questions by Holden.

Innovation and Technology, for what reason the Gov.uk Design System section entitled Ask Users for Equality Information refers to gender identity rather than gender reassignment.

The GOV.UK Design System provides guidance and components to departments, so that there is a consistent style and experience for users interacting with government information and services online. This guidance is continually iterated with input from external experts and specialists across government, to help ensure that digital services are inclusive, easy to use and comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty. Following the recent Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, we will review the Design System’s guidance in line with any changes to the Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

Who the members are of the Race Equality Engagement Group; and how they were appointed.

On 18 March, I announced our plans to establish a Race Equality Engagement Group to help us develop measures to tackle race inequality. The Group will be chaired by Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon. We are in the process of appointing the other members of the Group. Members are being recruited to bring a range of expertise from across the public, private and voluntary sectors and from across the country. These are informal ministerial appointments, by invitation, and are not within the scope of the Governance Code for Public Appointments.

Pursuant to the Answer of 20 March 2025 to Question 37814 on Public Bodies: Reviews, which reviews have been paused.

The Public Bodies Review Programme closed as planned on 31st March 2025, and we will no longer be tracking reviews proposed as part of this programme.On the 7th of April 2025, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced a process to rapidly review every arms length body across government.

What recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on road connectivity between England and Wales.

Cross-border travel is crucial for people between Wales and England to unlock economic growth, employment opportunities and better connect the Union. Improving transport connectivity is a priority for me, and I have been working in partnership with the Transport Secretary and the Welsh Government through the Wales Rail Board to deliver the transport improvements Wales needs.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39582 on Public Appointments, if he will provide the information in relation to public appointment competitions within the remit of (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street.

It is important that any recommendations made by Advisory Assessment Panels, and any exchanges they have with Ministers, remain confidential to ensure the flow of free and frank advice during the public appointment process. To uphold this confidentiality, disclosure of such information would likely affect the effectiveness of central government and other public services and will therefore not be released.

Whether he plans to provide a manual for householders on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.

Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.

Whether he plans to introduce capability-based pay in the civil service.

The government believes pay and reward structures should incentivise expertise and high performance. The Cabinet Office is reviewing capability-based pay arrangements that already exist in the Civil Service to analyse their impact on organisations that have implemented such arrangements already.

If he will provide a manual to each household on safety measures in the event of (a) military and (b) natural dangers.

Updated advice for the general public on how to prepare for emergencies is published on GOV.UK. GOV.UK/Prepare provides simple and effective steps that individuals, households and communities can take to be more prepared for a range of risks.

How many times equality, diversity and inclusion spending control decisions been delegated to permanent secretaries since May 2024.

Since May 2024, eight departments have reported to the Cabinet Office that they have delegated decisions regarding external equality, diversity and inclusion spending controls to their Permanent Secretary.

Whether the UK Statistics Authority plans to implement recommendation 56 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 22nd April is attached.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of recommendation 57 of the Sullivan Review of Data, Statistics and Research on Sex and Gender, published on 19 March 2025.

The Civil Service Code, which is published and available here, sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants. Work is currently in development to issue model guidance on the management and governance of Staff Networks and apply this to all voluntary employee networks to ensure the Civil Service position is clear for all civil servants.

Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024, to Question 11648, on FCDO: Cultural Heritage, whether the Government Art Collection holds a record of each artwork in each (a) Embassy, (b) High Commission and (c) Residence.

Artworks and their locations can be searched for on the Government Art Collection website.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2024 to Question 11266 on UK Special Representative for Climate Change, what the declaration of interest is that has been made by the Special Representative; and what steps his Department has taken to reduce any associated conflict of interest.

The Special Representative for Climate Change submitted a Declaration of Interests Form as per the standard procedure for an appointment of this sort. Provisions in her terms of engagement on conduct in office include mechanisms to address any conflict of interest should it arise.

Whether the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is taking steps to protect the expression of gender-critical views within that organisation.

The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) is fully committed to being a place of work where people can be themselves, feel included and where all voices are heard. Dstl values and embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities in all its employment practices, and this forms an integral part of the way people in Dstl work and behave.

With reference to the publication entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated in May 2024, what statistics are collated on departmental timeliness to responding to correspondence from people and organisations other than Parliamentarians.

The Cabinet Office currently publishes performance data on departmental timeliness in responding to Parliamentarians only. While the report on responding to MPs and Peers is published annually, the data is broken down in the report on a quarterly basis.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39687 on Government Departments: Aviation, whether Ministers’ travel on helicopters will be (a) published in quarterly travel returns and (b) listed in each Department’s spending data (i) in aggregate and (ii) individually.

As was the case under the previous administration, data on ministers’ travel is published on a quarterly basis which includes defining the mode of transport used. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministers-transparency-publications#2024

With reference to the publication entitled Data on responses to correspondence from MPs and Peers, updated in May 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing this data quarterly.

The Cabinet Office currently publishes performance data on departmental timeliness in responding to Parliamentarians only. While the report on responding to MPs and Peers is published annually, the data is broken down in the report on a quarterly basis.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39690 on Ministers: Aviation, whether all of the RAF Envoy flights were domestic flights; and how many different Minsters travelled on them.

The RAF Envoy flights over the period were predominantly international, not domestic and were taken by 2 ministers. It has been the practice of successive administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of Ministers and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. Information about official overseas Ministerial travel is published as part of the Cabinet Office transparency returns and made available on the GOV.UK website.

What procurement process was used to appoint D F Press Ltd as the media adviser to the Committee on Standards in Public Life; whether the appointment was subject to open competition; and what the (a) value and (b) duration of the contract is.

The current contract’s duration is from 1st August 2023 to 31st July 2025 with a value of £110,000 excluding VAT. The contract was procured via Single Tender Action.

What discussions Ministers in his Department had relating to Government business at Labour Party Conference in 2024; whether (a) meetings and (b) other engagement will be recorded in transparency returns; and whether all discussions relating to Government business were reported back to civil servants.

Meetings and engagements held in a political capacity are not declared in transparency returns. Those not held in a political capacity, including at the 2024 Labour Party Conference, can be found at Gov.uk between returns for July to September, and October to December, which will be published soon.