The contract with Churchill Cleaning is jointly held with the House of Commons. Parliament has outsourced the majority of its cleaning services for more than 15 years for operational efficiency and financial reasons. It is for our contractor to explain the reasons for its employment decisions. However, the House Administrations have made clear their concerns to Churchill Cleaning about the pace and scale of the proposed changes and have received assurances regarding continued delivery to contractual standards. Our cleaners are highly valued members of our community and we are emphasising this to Churchill Cleaning in our discussions with them.

Employment decisions are the responsibility of our contractor. However, the House Administrations have made clear their concerns to Churchill Cleaning about the pace and scale of the proposed changes and have received assurances regarding continued delivery to contractual standards. Our cleaners are highly valued members of our community and we are emphasising this to Churchill Cleaning in our discussions with them.

When we were in opposition, I promised the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation, and we are now working in government to deliver exactly that. The Government Property Agency contract that expires in 2028 will come back in house, so people working at around 40 locations across government in London and around the country will find that instead of being employed by an outsourcing company, they will be employed directly by the Government. They will have the same terms and conditions as other civil servants, making a huge difference to them and their families.

Last week, the Chancellor announced the biggest insourcing of Government caterers, cleaners and security officers that we have seen in a very long time, when the current contract ends. Does she agree that that move will finally recognise workers who have been undervalued and under-appreciated for far too long?

On 31 May 2026, the Thameslink Service transferred into public ownership to deliver more reliable, passenger-centred services across the network. As part of a programme of planned improvements, the train operator is wrapping Thameslink train toilets with a tough protective film to deter graffiti and reduce cleaning times and costs. It expects half the fleet of Class 700s to be fitted by the end of this year with full completion anticipated by the end of 2027.

The operator is also carrying out a programme of enhanced internal cleaning across the Thameslink fleet, with all unit interiors scheduled for completion by August and external cleaning of all exterior paintwork due to be completed by October 2026.

The train operator is also taking a range of wider anti-graffiti initiatives including trialling rapid detection technology and enhancing collaboration with Transport for London and the British Transport Police to improve intelligence gathering and support enforcement action.

The Resilience Action Plan sets out the Government’s approach to improving the United Kingdom’s domestic resilience, and we work closely with partners across the health and social care sector to strengthen resilience to a range of risks. While the Resilience Action Plan does not specifically reference the commercial laundry sector, we recognise the importance of the laundry sector, and the National Health Service works closely with all critical suppliers on resilience planning.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the case for including commercial laundry services within hospitality sector support. Our support for hospitality is focused on businesses directly operating within that sector, including through measures such as business rates relief and wider cross‑economy support. Businesses providing services to hospitality can benefit from broader schemes available to all sectors, including access to finance and business support programmes.

The British Industry Supercharger supports businesses by relieving them of certain electricity policy and network costs. The list of eligible sectors is based on European Commission guidelines, since eligibility was established when the UK was an EU Member State. The scheme currently targets businesses in sectors like steel and chemicals who are at the highest risk of carbon leakage and who meet specific trade and electricity intensity thresholds. The Government intends to review the scheme this year and interested stakeholders can engage with the associated public consultation. Any amendments to the policy are subject to ministerial and UK Parliament approval.

The Department has not made a specific assessment of the potential health benefits of encouraging care homes to have their laundry services fulfilled by an external commercial laundry provider.

Good laundry management is an important element of effective infection prevention and control (IPC) in residential care settings. The Department has published detailed guidance on IPC in Adult Social Care, which includes guidance on laundry management. The guidance regularly updated in line with the latest evidence to reduce the spread of infection, and is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infection-prevention-and-control-in-adult-social-care-settings

Care providers are responsible for ensuring that all aspects of their operations, including laundry management, are managed safely and in line with this guidance, whether they choose to fulfil this in-house or by external contractors.

The Care Quality Commission, as the regulator of health and adult social care in England, assess whether providers are delivering safe, effective, and high-quality care, including through their infection prevention and control arrangements.

The Government recognises that commercial laundry services provide an essential service, supporting the daily operations of key sectors such as hospitality and tourism. The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment of the sector’s contribution to the economy, and there are currently no plans to do so.

The Industrial Strategy focuses on driving growth through priority sectors and cross-economy policies. The Government continues to engage with businesses to understand the interdependencies between service providers and the wider economy.

It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.

Sodexo are contracted to deliver facilities management services, including cleaning, in Erskine House and Carne House on an output specification basis. This means it is for Sodexo to determine the level of resourcing required to achieve the contracted standards and specifications.

HMRC regularly audits contract performance and meets on a weekly basis to discuss performance against the contracted standards and key performance indicators.

Sodexo are contracted to deliver facilities management services, including cleaning, in Erskine House and Carne House on an output specification basis. This means it is for Sodexo to determine the level of resourcing required to achieve the contracted standards and specifications.

HMRC regularly audits contract performance and meets on a weekly basis to discuss performance against the contracted standards and key performance indicators.

The NHS England estates, commercial, and emergency preparedness, resilience, and response teams are undertaking an assessment of the provision of laundry services, in-house and out-sourced, in the National Health Service. This includes the NHS requirements for laundry services, available capacity, and the most efficient approach to their provision.

The Government recognises that commercial laundries provide an essential service that supports the daily operations of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industries.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment, nor does it have any current plans to, on the contribution of the commercial laundry industry to the economy.

The Government recognises that commercial laundries provide an essential service that supports the daily operations of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industries.

The Department for Business and Trade has not made a formal assessment, nor does it have any current plans to, on the contribution of the commercial laundry industry to the economy.

DCMS recognises that commercial laundries provide an essential service that supports the daily operations of the UK’s hospitality and tourism industries.

DCMS has not made a formal assessment of the role of commercial laundries in the resilience of the hospitality supply chain. However, officials maintain regular engagement with a wide range of business stakeholders and trade associations to monitor the health of the hospitality supply chain and to understand the interdependencies between service providers and the wider economy.

The Government remains committed to ensuring a resilient business environment and continues to keep the challenges facing these interconnected sectors under review.

Prior to receiving internal, Home Office Commercial approvals, to award this contract supplier performance was reviewed and due diligence was carried out. Necessary external approvals from Cabinet Office Spend Controls were also obtained prior to the contract award. The guidance for Cabinet Office Spend Controls applies to commercial activities costing £20 million or more, and is published on gov.uk at: Commercial spend controls (version 7) - GOV.UK.

The final contract signature was completed on 24 March 2023.

All Home Office contracts are procured in line with public sector procurement regulations. As part of these regulations, robust checks are carried out on suppliers’ ability to deliver the contract in question and, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to exclude bidders in line with relevant regulations.

CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract was a direct award under the CCS Travel and Venue Solutions Framework Agreement (RM6217) – Lot 2. CTM were the sole supplier within Lot 2.

Financial information cannot be provided in the granular detail requested.

Prior to receiving internal, Home Office Commercial approvals, to award this contract supplier performance was reviewed and due diligence was carried out. Necessary external approvals from Cabinet Office Spend Controls were also obtained prior to the contract award. The guidance for Cabinet Office Spend Controls applies to commercial activities costing £20 million or more, and is published on gov.uk at: Commercial spend controls (version 7) - GOV.UK.

The final contract signature was completed on 24 March 2023.

All Home Office contracts are procured in line with public sector procurement regulations. As part of these regulations, robust checks are carried out on suppliers’ ability to deliver the contract in question and, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to exclude bidders in line with relevant regulations.

CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract was a direct award under the CCS Travel and Venue Solutions Framework Agreement (RM6217) – Lot 2. CTM were the sole supplier within Lot 2.

Financial information cannot be provided in the granular detail requested.

Prior to receiving internal, Home Office Commercial approvals, to award this contract supplier performance was reviewed and due diligence was carried out. Necessary external approvals from Cabinet Office Spend Controls were also obtained prior to the contract award. The guidance for Cabinet Office Spend Controls applies to commercial activities costing £20 million or more, and is published on gov.uk at: Commercial spend controls (version 7) - GOV.UK.

The final contract signature was completed on 24 March 2023.

All Home Office contracts are procured in line with public sector procurement regulations. As part of these regulations, robust checks are carried out on suppliers’ ability to deliver the contract in question and, in certain circumstances, it may be necessary to exclude bidders in line with relevant regulations.

CCTM22A01 Provision of Bridging Accommodation and Travel Services Contract was a direct award under the CCS Travel and Venue Solutions Framework Agreement (RM6217) – Lot 2. CTM were the sole supplier within Lot 2.

Financial information cannot be provided in the granular detail requested.