Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are working on matters relating to common sense at the instruction of the Minister without portfolio within the Cabinet Office.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Minister’s official role is the Minister without Portfolio, a role which has a large scope across government. The Minister supports the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to identify where our public sector delivery is inhibited by bureaucracy and inefficiencies. The Minister’s overarching aim is to ensure efficiency and value for money for the taxpayer.
Further information on the Minister without Portfolio’s role can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/people/esther-mcvey.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the 10 pilot programs are that have been funded through the Incubator for AI.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Last November, the Deputy Prime Minister established the ‘Incubator for AI’, a team who sit in the Cabinet Office. This team’s mission is to help departments harness the potential of AI to improve lives and the delivery of public services.
The early work of the Government’s AI incubator has already proven that it is possible to make effective AI tools for use in the UK Government, and that building these in-house represents strong value for money. As this is an incubator, there are projects at varying stages of development.
I can share that details about some of their pilot projects can be found on their website at https://ai.gov.uk, and include
A consultation response tool that can read, summarise and triage responses to consultations. As the Government initiates more than 700 consultations every year, this tool can free up time for us to undertake more engagement with the public on a broader range of issues.
Caddy, an AI powered co-pilot for customer service functions everywhere, which is currently in trial in Manchester. Built in collaboration with Citizens Advice, it seamlessly integrates into existing systems and provides expert advice to advisors and call handlers. A bespoke Civil Service AI assistant called ‘Redbox Multitool’ (based on the Ministerial RedBox previously announced) which is tailored for the use of UK government, including a range of secure efficiency-generating features appropriate for central government work.
Signing a Collaboration Charter with NHSE to work together on AI, as well as data infrastructure projects to support better operations in healthcare.
Information about other pilots will be released as they pass development and testing gateways.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to fulfil the requirements of the National Resilience Framework, last updated on 4 December 2023.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Strengthening national resilience is a key priority for the Government.
The Deputy Prime Minister delivered the first Annual Statement to Parliament on risk and resilience in December 2023. Since then, in February he has convened the UK Resilience Forum to garner insight from key stakeholders from across the resilience system and drive a whole of society approach. He will do so again in July.
The Government has already taken significant steps to implement the Resilience Framework, including publishing the most transparent ever National Risk Register, an updated list of Lead Government Departments for the risks it sets out and testing Emergency Alerts.
Asked by: Valerie Vaz (Labour - Walsall South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what funding is available for resilience support in case of emergencies for (a) local authorities, (b) Walsall Council and (c) the Black Country Integrated Care Board.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
As part of broad civil contingencies duties, all local authorities are expected to assess the risks of emergencies and have plans in place to respond to a range of scenarios.
In extreme emergency circumstances, discretionary funding may be made available where the expenditure of local authorities is more than could be reasonably expected to cover, such as severe weather events.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, from which schools have pupils attended Lessons at 10 in 10 Downing Street.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Lessons at 10 aims to bring education to life, encourage a love for learning, and inspire children from across the UK, with any school being able to take part. Over 50 schools have taken part in the last year. Schools can apply through an application available on the Prime Minister’s Office page on the gov.uk website.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, whether he plans to meet with Figen Murray to discuss Martyn's Law.
Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union
My thoughts continue to be with all the victims of the terrible attack that took place in Manchester Arena in 2017. I pay tribute to Figen Murray for her courage and the bravery of her campaigning in Martyn’s memory.
I spoke to Figen Murray after becoming Prime Minister to discuss Martyn’s Law, and more recently, she met the Minister for Security (my right hon. Friend, the Member for Tonbridge and Malling). As set out in The King’s Speech, this government is committed to bringing in Martyn’s Law.
Details of my official engagements will be announced by my Office is the usual way.
Asked by: Yasmin Qureshi (Labour - Bolton South East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of issuing a statement of principle that all services should be provided in-person where possible.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to ensuring that everyone has affordable access to public services, whether online or offline.
Departments are required by the Government's Service Standard to provide support via alternative channels for all their online services to all users, including disabled people, people with other legally protected characteristics, people who do not have access to the internet and/or lack the skills and/or confidence to use it.
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the contract agreed by his Department with Enterprise Rent-A-Car on 19 April 2024, procurement reference CCVH23A01, if he will publish the specification of requirements set out in schedule 20 of that contract.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
It is Cabinet Office policy to publish Contracts with a value of over £10,000 on Contracts Finder within 30 days of Contract Award. Crown Commercial Service, Cabinet Office’s procurement arm, has published the Contract Schedules in accordance with the publication timescales and the information is now available.
Asked by: Andrew Bridgen (Independent - North West Leicestershire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make a cost benefit analysis of the introduction of direct democracy.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy whereby, through general elections, voters are entitled to elect an MP to represent them in the House of Commons. Parliament is responsible for making legislation and has, on occasion, made provision for specific issues to be considered by the electorate through referendums.
Asked by: John Healey (Labour - Wentworth and Dearne)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence entitled Defence Personnel Data Breach of 7 May 2024, Official Report, column 469, who will lead the Cabinet Office review of Government contracts with Shared Services Connected Ltd; and what estimate he has made of when that review will be completed.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The review of Shared Services Connected Ltd is being led by the Government Security Group in the Cabinet Office. The timelines for this review are still being determined as part of the commissioning process.