CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

CABINET OFFICE – MPs' ACCESS TO MINISTERS' PRIVATE OFFICE STAFF (2) [35213] - 04 March 2025

CABINET OFFICE – MPs' ACCESS TO MINISTERS' PRIVATE OFFICE STAFF (2) [35213] - 04 March 2025

Sir Julian Lewis:  To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 27 February 2025 to Question 32906 on Government Department: Telephone Services, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of dedicated telephone numbers from the List of Ministerial Responsibilities on the ability of hon. Members to speak to staff in Ministers' private offices; and whether the default method of corresponding by email is the only option now available to hon. Members.  [35213]

[Due for Answer on 7 March]

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office (Abena Oppong-Asari): Departments publish email addresses as the first means of contacting Ministers. All departments have processes to ensure correspondence via email reaches the intended Minister or team in a rapid manner, meaning there should be no reduction in the ability of MPs to contact Ministers' private offices. MPs may, in any such email correspondence, request a phone call with a departmental official or a member of the Minister's private office.