Mike Wood MP: written questions 2025
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Written questions
Civil Servants: EqualityCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49383More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the Supreme Court judgement in the case of For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers of 16 April 2025 on diversity staff networks.
Answer: The Civil Service remains an inclusive employer and will continue to comply with its legal obligations to all employees. Departments will review their internal policies wherever necessary.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament record9 Downing Street: Repairs and MaintenanceCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49382More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 44026 on 9 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance, when the Government Property Agency will pay OCS for the works on 9 Downing Street.
Answer: The cost and payment date of these works will be published in due course in Cabinet Office transparency returns.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Flexible WorkingCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49381More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time civil servants in the business unit of 10 Downing Street work a four day working week using compressed hours.
Answer: I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 10 April 2025 in response to PQ 42051.
Answered 20 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil ServiceCabinet OfficeTabled 30 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 49380More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, over what period of time he plans to reduce the size of (a) his Department and (b) the civil service; and what estimate he has made of the net cost saving.
Answer: This government is committed to fundamentally reshaping the way the British state delivers and serves working people by becoming more tech-driven, productive, agile and mission-focused. This is a whole of government effort and each department will take it...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Servants: Redundancy PayCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48962More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to make reforms to the Civil Service Compensation Scheme.
Answer: The Government has taken the decision to close the consultation to reform the Civil Service Compensation Scheme, which began in 2017. The scheme terms as set out in 2010 will remain in place but the Government remains open to reviewing the terms of the sc...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordBusiness: RegulationWomen and EqualitiesTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48961More
Question: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, with reference to the press notice entitled Radical action plan to cut red tape and kickstart growth, published on 17 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of measures in the Equal
Answer: The Call for Evidence on Equality Law, published on 7 April 2025, seeks evidence on how we can better remove barriers to ambition and success for everyone, to improve the lives of working people and strengthen our country as part of our Plan for Change.Th...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: StaffCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48960More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2025 to Question 42039 on Cabinet Office: Staff, what the average number of staff attached to the Skills Match Hub was in each of the last six months.
Answer: The Skills Match Hub operates with a dynamic staffing model that adapts to the evolving needs of various business units. Consequently, the number of individuals associated with the Hub at any given moment can fluctuate. These variations typically arise fr...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament record10 Downing Street: FlagsCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48959More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to fly the bisexual flag at 10 Downing Street.
Answer: There are currently no plans to fly the bisexual flag at 10 Downing Street.
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordElectionsCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48958More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has issued guidance on policing announcements during the pre-election purdah period.
Answer: The Cabinet Office published guidance on conduct for civil servants during the pre-election period on 20 March. The guidance includes advice on government announcements during the pre-election periodThe guidance can be found here:https://www.gov.uk/govern...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordNational Audit Office: StonewallPublic Accounts CommissionTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48957More
Question: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 42602 on Stonewall: Subscriptions, whether the National Audit Office pays subscription fees to Stonewall.
Answer: The National Audit Office does not pay subscriptions to Stonewall.
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign Influence Registration Scheme: ChinaHome OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 2 April 2025 to Question 41050 on Foreign Influence Registration Scheme: China, if she will place in the Library a copy of each representation from CityUK in relation to Chin
Answer: The Government does not routinely publish correspondence from external organisations and stakeholders as this may inhibit the free exchange of views and information necessary for the effective conduct of policy development.
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordMI5: StonewallHome OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 8 April 2025 to Question 42602 on Stonewall subscriptions, whether MI5 pays subscription fees to Stonewall.
Answer: MI5 last renewed its paid membership as a 'Diversity Champion' of Stonewall in October 2024.
Answered 14 May 2025
Original Parliament recordRussia: Overseas TradeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of (a) utilising or (b) amending the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Act 1939 to designate Russia as an enemy f
Answer: The Trading with the Enemy Act 1939 can only be used in relation to countries that are at war with the UK. The UK is not at war with Russia, so we cannot use the Act. The UK has implemented extensive sanctions against Russia, which already significantly r...
Answered 8 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Government Art CollectionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the planning application to Westminster City Council, reference number 25/01451/LBC, whether his Department plans to display Government Art Collection artwo
Answer: The outcome of the Listed Building Consent application is not yet known. A decision about artwork will be finalised after approval has been granted and the cost of purchasing and installing picture rails has been determined.
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordForeign, Commonwealth and Development Office: StonewallForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 29 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 22 April 2025 to Question 44591 on Stonewall: Arms Length Bodies and Government Bodies, if he will make it his policy to discontinue his Department'
Answer: The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) works closely with a range of civil society organisations to defend the human rights of LGBT+ people around the world. This has included valuable work with Stonewall to reduce violence and discrimina...
Answered 12 May 2025
Original Parliament recordSenior Civil Servants: RecruitmentDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 28 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 48432More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, how many Senior Civil Service vacancies have been filled through the succession select tool.
Answer: Zero Senior Civil Servant vacancies have been filled through the succession select tool; it does not form part of the recruitment or selection process for Senior Civil Servants. It is a tool used to aid internal talent management and is not used to fill v...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic AppointmentsCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47691More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have been reappointed to public appointments since 4 July 2024;, who they were; and what the bodies were.
Answer: There have been 194 reappointments to regulated public appointment roles recorded on the Cabinet Office’s public appointments digital service since 4 July 2024. These reappointments are published on the announcement page of the public appointments website...
Answered 15 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Appointments: PayCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47690More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department has issued on transparency in relation to levels of remuneration for direct ministerial appointments.
Answer: The Cabinet Office has not issued specific guidance on transparency around remuneration offered when making direct ministerial appointments.
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordEquality: Private SectorCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47689More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to stop public bodies imposing equality, diversity and inclusion requirements on private sector companies which are not otherwise directly required by primary legislation.
Answer: The Public Sector Equality Duty (the PSED) requires organisations in scope to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different people. The scope of the PSED is set out in...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordUK Relations with EU: FisheriesCabinet OfficeTabled 24 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47688More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with the European Union on fishing rights.
Answer: We are discussing a range of issues with the EU and I met my counterpart Maroš Šefčovič in London last week (29 April). We will not give a running commentary on those discussions. We remain committed to protecting the interests of our fishers and meeting ...
Answered 2 May 2025
Original Parliament recordArtificial Intelligence: TakeoversCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47247More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on the acquisition of UK Artificial Intelligence firms by foreign-owned firms.
Answer: The government has powers under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 to review and, where required, intervene in investments that may pose a risk to national security. The NSI Act both facilitates investment into sensitive sectors - such as artif...
Answered 7 May 2025
Original Parliament recordPublic Appointments: Artificial IntelligenceCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47246More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to use AI technology for public appointments.
Answer: AI technology is not currently used in the public appointments process. AI technology may be used in the future to support certain elements of the process.
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCivil Service: EqualityCabinet OfficeTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47245More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to publish a frequently asked questions section as part of the Civil Service Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Expenditure Guidance, published on 14 May 2024.
Answer: There are no plans to publish a frequently asked questions section for this guidance.
Answered 6 May 2025
Original Parliament recordTreasury: MediaTreasuryTabled 23 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 47244More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2024 to Question 20489 on Treasury: Media, on what basis Freuds Communication was given the contract for Ministerial media training; and whether there was a competitive tenderin
Answer: The award of the contract complied with HM Treasury’s standard procurement procedure for requirements of this value and was awarded following a competitive process. Guidance for the award of below-threshold contracts is publicly available on gov.uk: Guida...
Answered 1 May 2025
Original Parliament recordCabinet Office: Trade UnionsCabinet OfficeTabled 22 Apr 2025AnsweredUIN 46760More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18221 on Supreme Court: Judgments, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Supreme Court ruling on the (a) practices of the Cabinet Offic
Answer: As the ruling has no direct impact on the Cabinet Office, no considerations have been made as yet. The Cabinet Office will consider the impact, on the department and its Arms Length Bodies, in due course.
Answered 30 Apr 2025
Original Parliament record
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