Neil O'Brien MP: written questions

864 published records · newest first.

Written questions

Department for Work and Pensions: Redundancy PayDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98541More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing departmental staff in the last year.
Answer: This information is available in DWP’s Annual Report and Accounts 2024/25: DWP Annual Report and Accounts 2024 to 25
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Work and Pensions: Performance AppraisalDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98540More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of departmental staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.
Answer: DWP’s performance management policy utilises a team-based approach. The policy requires the performance of every employee to be robustly assessed on an ongoing basis. However, the approach does not involve employees below the Senior Civil Service being as...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Work and Pensions: Career DevelopmentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98539More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of departmental staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.
Answer: This information is not held centrally.
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Work and Pensions: Sick LeaveDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98538More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) the Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and how many formal p
Answer: DWP’s absence data is publicly available in the https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence., which includes the average working days lost. The Cabinet Office collates sickness absence data from DWP on a quarterly basis, and this management...
Answered 5 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Department of Health and Social Care: Disciplinary ProceedingsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98537More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in the past twelve months, how many disciplinary cases were concluded against civil servants in (a) the Department and (b) its agencies broken down by (i) outcome and (ii) whether the primary alleg
Answer: In the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), poor performance is handled under DHSC's Supporting Performance Improvement Policy, so all disciplinary cases relate only to alleged misconduct.In DHSC there were 23 formal disciplinary cases concluded b...
Answered 21 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Department of Health and Social Care: Redundancy PayDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98535More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing departmental staff in the last year.
Answer: During the period 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025, the total cost of settlement agreements to the Department was £15,000. Under HM Treasury’s rules, payments made under settlement agreements are classed as Special Severance Payments.
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department of Health and Social Care: Performance AppraisalDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98534More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of departmental staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.
Answer: Senior civil servants (SCS) and delegated grades follow different performance management frameworks. SCS’ operate within the framework for SCS performance management prescribed by Cabinet Office. For delegated performance there is a flexible framework tha...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department of Health and Social Care: Career DevelopmentDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98533More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of departmental staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.
Answer: As of 28 November 2025, the Department had 112 employees, or 3%, on a temporary promotion to a higher grade from their substantive grade. The following table shows the percentage of employees on temporary promotion, broken down by grade: GradePercentage o...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department of Health and Social Care: Sick LeaveDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98532More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) the Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and how many for
Answer: The average number of working days lost per full-time equivalent member of staff in the Department in the period between October 2024 and September 2025, the most recent period for which records are available, was 5.12.The average number of working days l...
Answered 22 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Apprentices: PayDepartment for EducationTabled 9 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 98513More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the median annual earnings were for apprentices whose prior attainment was equivalent to (a) 4 As or above, (b) 360 points, (c) 300-359 points, (d) 240-299 points, (e) 180-239 points, (f) below 180 points,
Answer: The department publishes annual data on the learning and employment outcomes of apprentices, including earnings up to 5 years after completion in the Further Education Outcomes publication available here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.u...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: Disciplinary ProceedingsMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97909More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in the past twelve months, how many disciplinary cases were concluded against civil servants in (a) his Department and (b) its agencies broken down by (i) outcome and (ii) whether the primary allegation related t
Answer: The Ministry of Justice holds all staff to high standards of professional conduct. Where behaviour falls short of those standards, appropriate action is taken in line with established policies and procedures.Number of Conduct and Discipline cases in the M...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: Redundancy PayMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97908More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in his Department in the last year.
Answer: For the last financial year, the total cost to the Ministry of Justice of payments associated with settlement agreements is set out in Annual Report and Accounts. Where relevant, this includes special severance payments that have associated settlement agr...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: Performance AppraisalMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97907More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of staff in each grade in his Department were rated in the top performance category in the last year.
Answer: The Ministry of Justice operates a continuous performance management approach based on a rolling cycle of regular performance conversations between line managers and staff members. As such, the Department does not hold the data requested.
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: Career DevelopmentMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97906More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many and what proportion of staff in his Department were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.
Answer: Number and Rate of Promotions for Ministry of Justice (excluding HMPPS) employees by Grade between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025Previous Grade of EmployeeAverage Staff in PostNumber of PromotionsRate of Promotions per 100 StaffSenior Civil Servant26041.5...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Ministry of Justice: Sick LeaveMinistry of JusticeTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97905More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) his Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and how many formal performance
Answer: The Ministry of Justice annual report and accounts include information on the average number of working lost across the Department including its executive agencies. The report is available here with the relevant information on page 141 - Ministry of Justi...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Disciplinary ProceedingsDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97904More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many disciplinary cases were concluded against civil servants in (a) the Department and (b) its agencies in the past twelve months, broken down by (i) outcome and (ii) whether the primary
Answer: There were 24 concluded disciplinary cases recorded in the past twelve months in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Data is not held centrally for Departmental Agencies and ALBs. Broken down by outcome (i):*Final written warning – ^First wri...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Redundancy PayDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97903More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in the last year.
Answer: For the last financial year, the total cost to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) of payments associated with settlement agreements and special severance payments was £60,000.
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Performance AppraisalDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97901More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and what proportion of staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.
Answer: The table below summarises numbers and proportion of DESNZ staff in the top performance category for the most recent performance year as reported at end March 2025: GradeNumberPercentageAO514%EO2510%HEO9913%SEO19213%G728516%G611921%SCS12515%SCS2614%Any sa...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Career DevelopmentDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97900More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how many and what proportion of staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.
Answer: The Department or Energy Security and Net Zero does not promote in-grade. Performance markings are not held centrally. Table 1 Grade (No. and %) between April 2024 and March 2025 GradeNo. Promoted% of those still in dept who were promotedAO 0.0%EO3117%HEO...
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Sick LeaveDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 8 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97899More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) the Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and how ma
Answer: The current AWDL for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is 3.8. The department does not have any Arms length’s bodies that are requested to submit AWDL figures. The requested data is not held centrally in a reportable format.
Answered 16 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Disciplinary ProceedingsDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many disciplinary cases were concluded against civil servants in (a) the Department and (b) its agencies broken down by (i) outcome and (ii) whether the primary allegation related
Answer: In the last 12 months the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs concluded 51 disciplinary cases. All 51 disciplinary cases were conduct related and not performance related. Outcomes from these cases were: DismissalFinal written warningInforma...
Answered 14 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Redundancy PayDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the total cost was of (a) settlement agreements and (b) special severance payments made to departing staff in the last year.
Answer: For the last financial year, the total cost to Defra of payments associated with settlement agreements is set out in pg. 167 of Annual Report and Accounts. Where relevant, this includes special severance payments that have associated settlement agreements...
Answered 23 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Performance AppraisalDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97203More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff in each grade were rated in the top performance category in the last year.
Answer: In core Defra, high performance substantive senior civil servants are those with an end-year performance rating of “Exceeded”. The headcount and proportion of each grade for those employed during the period November 2024 – October 2025 were: Grade*Number ...
Answered 6 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Career DevelopmentDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97202More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of staff were promoted (a) in-grade and (b) to a higher grade in the last year broken down by (i) performance marking in the previous year and (ii) grade.
Answer: With regards to a) the in-grade promotions: We are unclear how “in-grade promotion” should be defined in relation to the data we do hold. Information on b) promotions to a higher grade is not held centrally. In particular, the information held centrally o...
Answered 7 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Sick LeaveDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 4 Dec 2025AnsweredUIN 97200More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the average number of working days lost to sickness absence per full-time equivalent member of staff was in (a) her Department and (b) its executive agencies in the last year; and
Answer: In relation to the average number of working days lost to sickness absence, as of year ending 31 October 2025, Defra can confirm the following: Department/AgencyAverage Working Days Lost Core Defra4.4APHA5.7RPA7.6VMD2.4Cefas3.83 The Cabinet Office publish...
Answered 17 Dec 2025
Original Parliament record

Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →