Question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps her Department has taken to monitor compliance by executive agencies and arm's-length bodies with the rules on purchasing Government-branded merchandise; and whether her Department holds information o
Answer
The government is keen to reduce all non-essential spend - including restricting branded merchandise. In April 2025, the then Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster asked Departments to implement appropriate controls within their Departments, and where relevant and possible their arm's-length bodies. Information on what exemptions have been utilised is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.
Verdict: AMBER (62/100)
The reply explains the policy aim of restricting branded merchandise and says that in April 2025 departments were asked to put controls in place within their own organisations and, where relevant, their arm's-length bodies. It does not say how compliance is monitored, so that part of the first question is only partly answered. On the second point, which appears to concern whether exemptions are recorded, the reply plainly states that information on which exemptions have been used is not held centrally, which is a complete answer. The second question appears truncated in the record, so that reading is less certain.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| What steps the department has taken to monitor compliance by executive agencies and arm's-length bodies with the rules on purchasing Government-branded merchandise | Partially Addressed | Direct | Statement 2 gives a concrete step: in April 2025 the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster asked departments to implement controls within their departments and, where relevant and possible, their arm's-length bodies. Statement 1 gives the general policy aim of restricting branded merchandise. Neither describes any mechanism for monitoring compliance, so the 'monitor compliance' part of the item is only partly answered. |
| Whether the department holds information on the subject that is truncated in the provided question text (the question is cut off after 'holds information o') | Addressed | Direct | The item is truncated, so its exact wording is unknown, but it appears to concern whether the department holds information on exemptions. Statement 3 directly states that information on which exemptions have been used is not held centrally, which is a plain, complete answer on holding status. |