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Written question asked by Baroness Finn (Conservative) on Monday, 8 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 22 June 2026. It was answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Labour) on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 on behalf of the Cabinet Office.


Summer Internship Programme

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the press release Internship Scheme To Get More Working Class Students Into Civil Service, published 1 August 2025, and the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 5 February (HL13977), whether the occupation of (a) a Minister of the Crown, or (b) the Prime Minister, would be classified as working class for the purpose of determining the socio-economic background of a parent of an applicant to the Civil Service Summer Internship Programme.

Answer

An applicant’s socio-economic background is determined by their responses to questions designed by the ONS. For questions regarding parental occupation, this is at the age the candidate was 14. In line with other schemes of this nature across the public and private sector, the Cabinet Office uses self-certification for the socio-economic data of applicants. This is the same approach taken under the programme's predecessor - the Summer Diversity Internship Programme - from 2010 to 2023.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL740
Session
2026-27
Related items
Summer Internship Programme
Thursday, 5 February 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Ministers: Social Class
Thursday, 9 July 2026
Written questions
House of Lords
Summer Internship Programme
Friday, 28 August 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Summer Internship Programme
Friday, 28 August 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Children Ministers Summer internship programme
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk