Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 10 July 2025 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Emma Foody asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster about supporting growth in her constituency through infrastructure improvements.
  • Alex Burghart inquired about the Cabinet Office investigating a civil servant's breach in engaging in public fundraising for political parties.
  • Alison Griffiths questioned the steps the Cabinet Office is taking to ensure public bodies adopt robust cyber-security frameworks.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Emma Foody Labour (Co-op) Cramlington and Killingworth
Economy Housing Local Government
Context

The Government has made changes to the Green Book for place-based business cases which are positive for regions like the north-east. Emma Foody is concerned about specific infrastructure projects in her constituency.

Question

Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster set out how the Cabinet Office will support cross-departmental work on identifying test cases, such as the Moor Farm and Seaton Burn roundabouts in my constituency, where infrastructure is holding back growth and housing and is needed to help the Government achieve our growth and housing missions?

Answer from The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Pat McFadden)

My hon. Friend is a brilliant champion for her community. It is precisely because this Government want to support growth in communities like hers that the Chancellor has set out that the new Green Book will support place-based business cases. Rapid work is happening to deliver that over the coming months.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details on how the Cabinet Office will support cross-departmental work on identifying test cases for infrastructure projects in Emma Foody's constituency.

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Q2 Alex Burghart Con Brentwood and Ongar
Standards & Ethics
Context

Senior civil servant Lord Mandelson spoke at a Labour Party fundraising event, raising concerns about the rules for civil servants.

Question

Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster confirm that civil servants should not engage in public fundraising for political parties and will he assure the House that this breach will be properly investigated?

Answer from The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Pat McFadden)

I believe there has been correspondence to the Cabinet Secretary about this. He will reply in due course, but let me add this: Lord Mandelson is doing an excellent job as our ambassador to the United States.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a clear confirmation that civil servants should not engage in public fundraising and did not commit to a proper investigation.

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Q3 Chris Webb Lab Blackpool South
NHS
Context

Andy, a constituent of Chris Webb's, is one of several former civil servants affected by the McCloud judgment and faces financial hardship due to delays.

Question

While Andy recovers from major surgery, he now faces financial hardship due to many missed deadlines and delays. Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss Andy’s case and the cases of three other constituents affected who have contacted me to ensure that their cases are resolved urgently?

Answer from The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Georgia Gould)

I was deeply sorry to hear about Andy’s circumstances, and I will of course meet my hon. Friend to discuss this case. The Cabinet Office continues to stress the importance of contractual performance to the MyCSP administrator.

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Q4 Alison Griffiths Con Bognor Regis and Littlehampton
Standards & Ethics
Context

Recent cyber-attacks have highlighted the need for robust cyber-security measures in public bodies.

Question

What steps is the Cabinet Office taking to ensure that all public bodies adopt robust cyber-security frameworks, and what is the timetable to ensure their compliance?

Answer from Pat McFadden

As I said a few moments ago, the recent cyber-attacks have been a wake-up call to Government, business and the whole of society. This is part of our national defence, and it is taken extremely seriously. The National Cyber Security Centre works with victims of these attacks and gives advice in peacetime.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps or a timeline for ensuring compliance with robust cyber-security measures.

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Q5 Leigh Ingham Lab Stafford
Climate Energy Business & Trade
Context

A UK-based company was not chosen for a procurement contract despite having a lower-cost bid.

Question

Would the Minister meet me and GE Vernova to discuss current procurement policy and whether it does enough to support UK manufacturing and ensure our energy security and net zero commitments?

Answer from Georgia Gould

While I cannot comment on the individual procurement, I can say that we are changing procurement rules to strengthen the focus on British jobs and skills and to support British industries critical to our national security like energy. We are consulting on this at the moment, and I would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend and the company to discuss this further.

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Q6 Gavin Williamson Con Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The MP wants the Government to publish details of ministerial attendance in offices outside London to ensure Ministers are present.

Question

I think the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I are politically completely at one, because if it was down the two of us, we would relocate all civil servants to Wolverhampton and Staffordshire. What is also incredibly important is Ministers being in those offices. Will he commit to publishing the details of ministerial attendance in offices outside London, including how long they stayed in those offices?

Answer from Pat McFadden (The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster)

I am not sure I will. While Ministers should attend on occasion, Ministers having to be in a certain place just to keep up with a published record is not the best use of their time. I very much welcome civil servants working in Wolverhampton. The Cabinet Office has a fantastic building in Glasgow, which I have enjoyed visiting and working in on several occasions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to publish details of ministerial attendance

How: Ministers Having To Be In Certain Places Just For Records Is Not The Best Use Of Their Time

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Q7 David Mundell Con Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP is disappointed with the UK Government's decision not to go ahead with proposals for a Glasgow campus for UK Government offices. The proposal was aimed at upgrading facilities available to FCDO staff in East Kilbride.

Question

I was disappointed that the UK Government did not go ahead with proposals for a Glasgow campus for UK Government offices. One reason behind that proposal was upgrading the facilities available to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff who are located at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride, which had been assessed as lacking the facilities required to be a second FCDO headquarters. Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster work with the FCDO to ensure that that investment goes into Abercrombie House so that it can be a second headquarters?

Answer from Pat McFadden (The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster)

If the right hon. Gentleman’s ambition is to move the staff out of East Kilbride, he should perhaps have a word with my hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride and Strathaven (Joani Reid). We have good locations in both Glasgow and East Kilbride, and we welcome them both. To refer to the previous question, I recently spent time working in the East Kilbride office. I hope that it is a good home for civil servants for some time to come.

Not addressed: Commitment to invest in Abercrombie House facilities

How: Discussed Alternative Locations And Personal Visits Without Addressing Investment

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