Mike Wood MP: written questions 2025
1186 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Special Advisers: National Insurance ContributionsCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90748More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether special advisers have been informed by the Cabinet Office that they lose their employer contributions on the Civil Service pension scheme if they leave before two years of employment unless they transfer
Answer: Special Advisers are provided with guidance regarding Civil Service Pension schemes during onboarding and offboarding, as well as throughout their tenure. Special Advisers are also directed to published Civil Service Pension scheme resources.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSenior Salaries Review Body: Public AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90747More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Cabinet Office news story of 5 August entitled "Extension of Generalist Member to the Senior Salaries Review Body", whether Pippa Greenslade was reappointed by open and fair competition; an
Answer: Pippa Greenslade was appointed through a fair and open competition in 2019. Her second term as Generalist Member of the Senior Salaries Review Body was extended by 12 months, ending on 1 June 2026. Extensions do not require an open competition. The majori...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordSpecial Advisers: National Insurance ContributionsCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90746More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether all special advisers who have joined since July 2024 were informed by Cabinet Office Special Adviser HR that they will lose their employer contributions if they leave before two years of employment unles
Answer: Special Advisers are provided with guidance regarding Civil Service Pension schemes during onboarding and offboarding, as well as throughout their tenure. Special Advisers are also directed to published Civil Service Pension scheme resources.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: Political ActivitiesCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90745More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 17 October 2025, to Question 77543, on Political Parties: Conferences, whether Cabinet Office HR division collates information on (a) junior and (b) senior civil service staff who are g
Answer: Cabinet Office Human Resources does collate information centrally on both junior and senior civil service staff who are given permission to run for local election. However, information on staff attending party political conferences is not collated central...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: Social MediaCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90744More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86056, on Government Departments: Social Media, and with reference to paragraph 1.6(d) of the Ministerial Code, what the public interest basis is for not pl
Answer: Due to commercial and broader sensitivities surrounding this expenditure, we are unable to provide a more detailed breakdown as this could negatively affect the government's ability to engage with influencers in the most cost-effective manner.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: VettingCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90743More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Developed Vetting clearances have been completed within 95 days in each of the past six months.
Answer: United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) continues to meet its agreed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) across each product type, including Developed Vetting (DV) clearances.UKSV KPIs are set and regularly reviewed in consultation with customer groups, gove...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90742More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff his Department intends to hire for the new Digital ID policy directorate; and what the total annual budget for that division is.
Answer: The digital ID policy team is in the process of being established. The staffing and budget will be considered as part of the Cabinet Office Business Plan in the normal way.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUnited Kingdom Security Vetting: Temporary EmploymentCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90741More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of UK Security Vetting’s total workforce is made up of contingent labour or contractors.
Answer: The proportion of UK Security Vetting's total workforce made up of contingent labour or contractors is 5%. The use of this resource allows UKSV to maximise skills and meet dynamic resourcing requirements, set by the customer departments across His Majesty...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: IslamophobiaCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90740More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office Staff Handbook has a definition of Islamophobia; and whether the Cabinet Office has adopted a definition for HR disputes.
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not hold a definition of Islamophobia. We take all allegations of inappropriate language, hostility, discrimination or prejudice very seriously. We have robust processes in place to investigate such matters. Possible sanctions as a...
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90739More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place the desk note on Direct Ministerial Appointments in the House of Commons Library.
Answer: On 30 October the government published for the first time guidance for departments on the process for ministers making Direct Ministerial Appointments. This replaced earlier internal desk note guidance for departments, which had been rewritten to provide ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Calder ConferencesCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90738More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 10 October, to Question 71230, on Cabinet Office: Calder Conferences, what the specific event was for each of the individual room hires since 4 April 2025 other than Civil Service Live
Answer: As stated in my previous answer to Question 71230, to provide additional background information on each booking would incur disproportionate costs as this information is not centrally held.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Remote WorkingCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90737More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Office still operates a Hybrid Development Working Group.
Answer: The Civil Service has a number of cross-government groups to address common issues, find solutions to complex policy challenges and support the sharing of best practice.The Cross-Government Group on Working Flexibly meets on an adhoc basis and focuses on ...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordUnited Kingdom Security Vetting: StaffCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90736More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of UK Security Vetting staff are currently based in (a) York, (b) Glasgow and (c) other locations.
Answer: United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) is part of the Government Security Group (GSG) hosted by the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office is committed to growth in both York and Glasgow; to help ensure HMG retains resilience, certain existing and specialist ...
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordGovernment Departments: SanitationCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90735More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 June 2025 to Question 54273 on Government Departments: Sanitation, if he will publish all written submissions sent by PCS to the Cabinet Office on toilet provision in government build
Answer: The Cabinet Office does not publish correspondence between unions and officials as this would undermine the ability to communicate freely.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Bodies: Flexible WorkingCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90734More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on whether any public bodies operate (a) a four day week on full pay and (b) compressed hours for a week compressed into four days.
Answer: The department does not hold any information on whether public bodies operate four day weeks.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: Social MediaDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90733More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 10 October 2025 to Question 76804 on DSIT: Social Media, what campaigns or topics social media influencers paid for by her Department have been promoted.
Answer: The Department for Science Innovation and Technology has only spent money on social media influencers for reasonable expenses such as travel.We have worked with social media influencers to drive public awareness on the following topics; how the government...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDepartment for Science, Innovation and Technology: Remote WorkingDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90732More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the answer of 10 October 2025, to Question 71941, on DSIT: Remote Working, and of 10 October 2025, to Question 71222, on Civil Service: Recruitment, for what reason staff in
Answer: DSIT’s hybrid working policy requires employees to spend between 40% to 60% of their working hours in the office as the norm (with a minimum of 40%). DSIT allows some limited flexibility for minimum office attendance to reflect the size of the available o...
Answered 28 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDisinformationDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90731More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2025 to Question 82664 on Disinformation, whether the software has been used to monitor comment relating to (a) gender criticism, (b) asylum hotels
Answer: No. This software is used to analyse mis and disinformation narratives from publicly available information online. It is only used to analyse narratives that pose a risk to UK national security or public safety.
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordMinisters: Official CarsCabinet OfficeTabled 13 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90730More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 5 November 2025, to Question 86664, on Ministers: Official Cars, how much has been invoiced to each department in each month since July 2024; and how much has been paid through an inter
Answer: The Government Car Service (GCS) transferred to the Cabinet Office from the Department of Transport, as a result of a machinery of government change, on 1st April 2025. Therefore all invoicing data prior to that date remains with the Department for Transp...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordAdvisory Committee on Business AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90253More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Correspondence from the Interim Chair of ACOBA to the Permanent Secretary of the Cabinet Office on the closure of ACOBA and reform of the Rules, published on 12 October 2025, for what reaso
Answer: The correspondence was published in error and therefore it was removed from GOV.UK.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Lord-lieutenantsCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90252More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many complaints concerning (a) Lord-Lieutenants, (b) Vice Lord-Lieutenants and (c) Deputy Lieutenants have been received under the new Cabinet Office procedure since its introduction; and what the outcomes o
Answer: There have been no complaints since the Cabinet Office guidance was updated on 7th October 2025.
Answered 18 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOffice for National Statistics: PublicationsCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90251More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy that the Office for National Statistics' December publication of its plans is drawn to the attention of the House via a written Ministerial Statement.
Answer: The ONS’ planned publication of the Economic Statistics Plan and the Survey Improvement and Enhancement Plan updates on 4 December is an important milestone in the ONS’ recovery plan. The Government welcomes the ONS’ open and transparent approach to its e...
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordDeputy Prime Minister: Admiralty HouseCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90250More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 5 November 2025 to Question 85495 on Deputy Prime Minister: Admiralty House, on what date was Westminster City Council informed by his Department that the official residence was liable
Answer: Before the Second Home premium was introduced in Westminster, the Cabinet Office were aware that the former Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) was occupying Admiralty House (AH) as a second home and that council tax would therefore be payable by Government. In l...
Answered 21 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordChagos Islands: TreatiesCabinet OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90249More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the UK Statistics Authority will make it their policy to undertake an assessment whether HM Government's use of the Social Time Preference Rate to discount the total cost of the Chagos Islands Treaty is in li
Answer: The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon. gentlemen’s Parliamentary Question of 14th November is attached.
Answered 20 Nov 2025
Original Parliament recordOfficial Cars: Prime MinistersHome OfficeTabled 12 Nov 2025AnsweredUIN 90248More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what is the annual cost to the public purse of the Prime Minister’s official cars provided by the Metropolitan Police.
Answer: This is a matter of national security and therefore we cannot comment.
Answered 19 Nov 2025
Original Parliament record
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