Written questions by Holden.

With reference to the written statement of 17 December 2024 on Progress towards a modern industrial strategy, HCWS319, if he will publish the declarations of interest of each member of the Strategic Advisory Council; and whether they include declarations of political interest.

All members of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council were appointed in line with the Cabinet Office’s Direct Ministerial Appointments guidance based on their broad range of skills and experience from across business, academic and trade unions to inform the Industrial Strategy. All conflicts and interests were declared in line with this appointments process to ensure these are appropriately managed. Direct Ministerial appointees are politically impartial in their roles and there is no requirement for conflicts to be made public under Cabinet Office guidance.

If he will publish the declared interests of each of the external reviewers to the Strategic Defence Review 2024-2025.

The Reviewers were all Direct Ministerial Appointments (DMAs) and are required to adhere to the Code of Conduct for Board Members and follow the Seven Principles of Public Life.

With reference to the consultation on the implementation of the new subscription contracts regime, published on 18 November 2024, whether the provisions on subscription contracts will apply to the (a) sale and (b) marketing of trade union membership.

The subscription regime will apply to contracts between a trader (a person acting for business purposes) and a consumer (an individual acting outside of their business) which have auto-renewal features and where the consumer receives goods, services or digital content from the trader in return for payment.Generally, individuals are likely to join a trade union for purposes solely to do with their trade or profession. Although there are variations, they are joining a collective of workers that will represent their interests at work. Unions are democratic organisations, controlled by members, allowing them to influence how their membership fees are used.

What the cost to the public purse was of the reception held for trade unions and other stakeholders in her Department on 11 July 2024; what (a) food and (b) alcohol was provided; and who attended.

This event was held to enable my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education to outline the new government’s priorities for education and social care to a wide range of delivery partners and stakeholders. This acknowledges the key role played by stakeholders across education, business and civil society in working with government to break the link between a child’s background and their future success.269 stakeholders were invited to this event representing all areas of the department’s work, including businesses, school staff, charities and education experts.The event was modest in style and format for an event of this size. Delivered in the department using existing suppliers, the total cost of the event was £7,625. This included event production costs and catering. A standard low-cost catering option was provided, including light refreshments, wine, orange juice and water.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36276 on Military Aircraft: Helicopter, which Ministers are now eligible to use the rotary wing air transportation service.

All Defence Ministers have access to the Cabinet Office Ministerial Air Transport Office administered helicopter transport contract, in line with their cross-Government peers. This contract is not administered by the Ministry of Defence.

If he will publish the learning content for the diversity and inclusion elements of the Defence Leadership Centre portfolio.

The Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) elements of the Defence Leadership Centre portfolio include D&I Fundamentals, D&I Practitioner, D&I Advisor, Holistic Allies Training, Leading Diverse and Inclusive Organisations (currently pending revision) and Active Bystander. Further information on these courses can be found on the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom website at the following links:https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/diversity-and-inclusion-fundamentals/https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/diversity-and-inclusion-practitioner/https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/diversity-and-inclusion-adviser/https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/holistic-allies-training/https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/leading-diverse-and-inclusive-organisations/https://www.da.mod.uk/courses/active-bystander-fundamentals/ These courses are consistently reviewed and updated, to ensure that they are in accordance with relevant policies.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39113 on Armed Forces: Equality, if he will list the terms of reference of the previous review into Armed Forces equality, diversity and inclusion.

As previously advised in the answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39113 on Armed Forces: Equality, the review was commissioned by the previous Government and was not published. As such, there is no intention to publish any internal correspondence related to this work.

Whether the appointment of a Diversity and Inclusion Learning and Development Professional was approved by Ministers as an exception to the Civil Service equality, diversity and inclusion spending controls.

The appointment of a Diversity and Inclusion Learning and Development professional within the Defence Academy was in keeping with Civil Service recruitment policy and did not require Ministerial approval. Recruitment in this case was compliant with internal efficiency measures as stipulated in the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion spending controls.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, which public bodies have a live television feed to Parliament other than BBC Parliament; and what the annual cost is of such a subscription.

Other than BBC Parliament, there are no other live television feeds from public bodies to Parliament. Before migration to the internet over five years ago, the following channels from public bodies were available (in addition to BBC Parliament):Northern Ireland AssemblyScottish ParliamentSenedd Cymru/Welsh ParliamentEuropean ParliamentUK Parliament’s sound and vision contractor provisioned the broadcast signals from these public bodies onto the Parliamentary Estate as part of their overall contract. It is not possible to separate out this cost from the overall contract.

Whether his Department plans to extend the swap to stop scheme for smoking cessation; and whether he plans to allocate ring-fenced funding for a future extension of that scheme.

The Swap to Stop scheme provides local services with vape starter kits to support smokers to quit, alongside behavioural support. The Swap to Stop scheme was launched in November 2023, and has provided local services with vape starter kits to the value of £3.2 million in 2023/24 and £17 million in 2024/25. This funding is ringfenced and is supplementary to the additional £70 million of ringfenced funding for Local Stop Smoking Services, along with existing funding through the Public Health Grant.The extension of the Swap to Stop scheme for the coming year, 2025/26, was recently announced, with up to £19 million of funding available. Future settlements for this programme are being considered as part of the Spending Review.

With reference to the Spring Statement 2025 on 26 March 2025, whether changes have been made to the Government’s missions’ (a) metrics and (b) methodology.

The Plan for Change set out clear and transparent milestones, and our plan to achieve them. These milestones allow the public to track our progress and hold the government to account for their delivery. There have been no changes to these milestones since the publication of the Plan for Change.

Pursuant to the Answer of 25 March 2025 to Question 39591 on Crown Commercial Service and Government Property Agency: Equality, which diversity and inclusion (a) days and (b) weeks have been recognised by (i) Government Property Agency and (ii) the Crown Commercial Service since 4 July 2024.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 2 April 2025 in response to question 41107.

What guidance his Department has issued on whether the requirement to record informal lobbying approaches applies to special advisers.

The expectations surrounding the conduct of special advisers are outlined in the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers. No additional guidance has been issued by the Department to special advisers concerning the requirement to record informal lobbying approaches.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what guidance has been provided to hon. Members on whether they must declare the date that a political donation was (a) received by the linked recipient and (b) given by the ultimate donor.

This is not a matter for the House of Commons Commission.The rules are set out in the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022 (HC 1083).https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdfMembers seeking advice on the registration of specific interests should contact the Registrar of Members’ Interests.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2025 to Question 24487 on Members’ Interests, whether (a) gifts and (b) hospitality which are registered and then (i) returned and (ii) repaid remain on the published list of interests.

This is not a matter for the House of Commons Commission.The rules are set out in the Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members, approved by the House on 12 December 2022 (HC 1083).https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmcode/1083/1083-1.pdfMembers seeking advice on the registration of specific interests should contact the Registrar of Members’ Interests.

Whether allegations of bullying under paragraph 1.5 of the Ministerial Code are assessed by the impact of behaviour on individuals; whether an absence of awareness of any harm caused is a relevant factor in determining whether a breach has occurred; and whether the Government has a definition of bullying for the purposes of interpreting the Code.

I refer the Hon Member to PQ43119.

Whether his Department provided helicopter journeys for Ministers from other Departments between 4 July 2024 and 31 December 2024.

No Command Support Air Transport helicopter flights were provided to Ministers from other Departments between 4 July 2024 and 31 December 2024.

Representing the House of Commons Commission, what (a) portraits and (b) other artwork from the Parliamentary Art Collection that were previously on display have been moved to storage since (i) the dissolution of the last Parliament and (ii) 4 July 2024.

80 artworks moved from display to storage between dissolution (30 May 2024) and 4 July 2024, of which none were portraits. Since 4 July 2024, 405 artworks have moved to store, of which one was a portrait.These changes have been for a number of reasons: movement of Members’ offices, required conservation work, or temporary storage due to maintenance projects. Many artworks in store are currently under consideration by Members for new office selections.

How much funding for local stop smoking services was allocated to swap to stop schemes in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024; and how much funding for local stop smoking services his Department plans to allocate to swap to stop schemes in (i) 2025 and (ii) 2026.

The Swap to Stop scheme provides local services with vape starter kits to support smokers to quit, alongside behavioural support. The Swap to Stop scheme was launched in November 2023, and has provided local services with vape starter kits to the value of £3.2 million in 2023/24 and £17 million in 2024/25. This funding is ringfenced and is supplementary to the additional £70 million of ringfenced funding for Local Stop Smoking Services, along with existing funding through the Public Health Grant.The extension of the Swap to Stop scheme for the coming year, 2025/26, was recently announced, with up to £19 million of funding available. Future settlements for this programme are being considered as part of the Spending Review.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 21 February 2025 to Question 28503 on USA: Diplomatic Service, if he will publish that guidance on publication of declarations of interest.

Cabinet Office guidance outlines the process for declaring and resolving conflicts of interest for Senior Civil Servants. The guidance can be found on Gov.uk.