Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 June 2026. It was answered by Satvir Kaur (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Special Advisers: By-elections

Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Cabinet Office special adviser HR function holds on whether any special advisers have (a) been seconded or (b) taken unpaid leave to undertake political activity in Parliamentary by-elections since 1 January 2026.

Answer: As per the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, where a special adviser wishes to undertake work for a political party which does not arise out of government business they may do this either in their own time, outside office hours, or under a separate contract with the Party, working part-time for the Government. They may not use annual or unpaid leave for this purpose. Details of where a special adviser has undertaken work for the Party, while working part-time for the Government, will be published as part of the declaration of interest process.

Secondary information