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Written question asked by Mike Wood (Conservative) on Thursday, 10 September 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 14 September 2026. It was answered by Mark Ferguson (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 September 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.

Public Appointments: Political Activities

Question

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 8 September 2026, to Question 20539, on Government Departments: Data Protection, what is the advice of the Cabinet Office data protection officer on whether the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR allows for the publication by the Cabinet Office of the declared political activity of a Cabinet Office direct ministerial appointment.

Answer

The Cabinet Office Data Protection Officer has not been asked to advise on whether the declared political activity of a Cabinet Office direct ministerial appointment can be published.

Under the existing Data Protection Impact Assessment for the Cabinet Office public appointments team there is no arrangement in place for the declared political activity of a direct ministerial appointment to be published.

Political opinions constitute special category data under UK GDPR. Before such data could be published it would be necessary for the department to comply with all data protection principles and legal requirements. This would form part of a Data Protection Impact Assessment that would need to be undertaken by the department.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
28767
Session
2026-27
Related items
Government Departments: Data Protection
Monday, 7 September 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Data protection Public appointments Political activities
Legislation
Data Protection Act 2018
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk