Cabinet Office Alert Sample


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View the Parallel Parliament page for the Cabinet Office

Information between 5th March 2024 - 15th March 2024

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Calendar
Wednesday 20th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Legislation - Main Chamber
Subject: Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – committee stage (day 1)
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill 2022-23 View calendar
Wednesday 17th April 2024
Cabinet Office
Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Legislation - Main Chamber
Subject: Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill – committee stage (day 2)
Economic Activity of Public Bodies (Overseas Matters) Bill 2022-23 View calendar


Parliamentary Debates
Security and Intelligence Agencies: Contingencies Fund Advance
1 speech (163 words)
Thursday 7th March 2024 - Written Statements
Cabinet Office
The Elizabeth Emblem
1 speech (169 words)
Monday 11th March 2024 - Written Statements
Cabinet Office
Cabinet Office
3 speeches (308 words)
Monday 11th March 2024 - Ministerial Corrections
Cabinet Office
Business and Trade
9 speeches (583 words)
Tuesday 12th March 2024 - Ministerial Corrections
Cabinet Office
Ministers: Legal Costs
25 speeches (1,406 words)
Tuesday 12th March 2024 - Lords Chamber
Cabinet Office
Covid-19: Lockdown Costs and Benefits
21 speeches (1,547 words)
Wednesday 13th March 2024 - Lords Chamber
Cabinet Office
Scottish Government: Devolved Competences
21 speeches (1,606 words)
Wednesday 13th March 2024 - Lords Chamber
Cabinet Office


Written Answers
Construction: Suicide
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of how many construction workers killed themselves in each of the last three years for which data is available.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon Members Parliamentary Question of 27th February is attached.


Northern Ireland Protocol
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide a list of the measures adopted by the EU within the scope of the Northern Ireland Protocol between January 2021 and July 2022, referred to in the paper Northern Ireland Protocol: the UK’s Solution, published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 14 July 2022.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Windsor Framework disapplies swathes of EU rules that applied under the old Northern Ireland Protocol to support internal UK trade. It completely carves out whole areas of EU law on issues such as VAT, medicines and food. Those limited areas that remain apply principally in order to secure NI access to the EU market.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the final compensation recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry in 2023, what plans they have to make interim payments to bereaved parents and children.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

First, and most importantly, the suffering of the victims must be recognised. The Government understands that no measures can fully compensate for the losses and hardships that they have suffered. The priority here must be to ensure that victims get the justice they deserve. We are actively looking at the recommendations of the Inquiry, including the recommendation for more interim payments. The Government will respond to the recommendations of the final report following its publication on 20 May.

Windsor Framework
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to introduce legislation to direct Northern Ireland bodies regarding the UK internal market scheme in the operation of the Windsor Framework.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government will take direct powers at Westminster to direct NI bodies to protect the UK internal market as soon as parliamentary time allows. This will allow us to provide clear legal direction to DAERA and other UK Government authorities to eliminate any physical checks when goods move within the UK internal market system, except those conducted by UK authorities and required as part of a risk-based or intelligence-led approach.

Public Sector: Recruitment
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there are controls on external recruitment of (a) new and (b) replacement (i) civil servants and (ii) other public sector administrators.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

There are specific statutory provisions in place that control all appointments to new and replacement Civil Service roles arising from external recruitment.

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 requires that selection to the Civil Service must be on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition. The Civil Service Commission has a statutory duty to ensure that the merit requirement is upheld and is not being undermined. The Commission’s interpretation of this statutory requirement is outlined to Civil Service departments in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles 2018.

The Aliens’ Employment Act 1955 outlines the eligibility for employment in the Civil Service on the grounds of nationality. The Cabinet Office has published the Civil Service Nationality Rules on Gov.uk to support departments in the interpretation of this statutory requirement.

The Civil Service Management Code delegates authority to individual departments to determine their recruitment approach within the scope of these statutory requirements. Additional policy provisions can be applied such as the Civil Service Recruitment Framework. Since January 2016, the Framework has been committed to opening up all Senior Civil Service (SCS) vacancies by advertising them externally to the public by default. In May 2022, this commitment was strengthened, requiring departments to obtain approval from the responsible minister when seeking to limit an SCS vacancy to existing civil servants only.

For other public administrators outside of the Civil Service, it would be down to their respective organisations to comment on whether they have such controls in place.

Civil Servants: Re-employment
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of reinstating former civil servants on public finances.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Individual departments are responsible for the recruitment of their staff and are able to set their own policies accordingly, subject to the framework of instructions set out in the Civil Service Management Code and the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. This includes the reinstatement of former civil servants under exception five of the Recruitment Principles.

Civil Servants: Re-employment
Asked by: Martyn Day (Scottish National Party - Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) male and (b) female former civil servants have applied for reinstatement after taking time off for caring responsibilities in the last five years.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The information requested is not held by the Government Recruitment Service (GRS). Reinstatements are managed by each individual Department who will hold their own data rather than centrally by GRS.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to make interim payments to bereaved parents and children as part of the Infected Blood Interim Compensation Payment Scheme.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

First, and most importantly, the suffering of the victims must be recognised. The Government understands that no measures can fully compensate for the losses and hardships that they have suffered. The priority here must be to ensure that victims get the justice they deserve. We are actively looking at the recommendations of the Inquiry, including the recommendation for more interim payments. The Government will respond to the recommendations of the final report following its publication on 20 May.

Refugees: Afghanistan
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans that all eligible under the (a) Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy and (b) Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme will be relocated from (i) Iran, (ii) Pakistan and (iii) other third countries to the UK.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

The UK has made an ambitious and generous commitment to help at-risk people in Afghanistan and, so far, we have brought around 24,600 people to safety, including over 21,600, people eligible for the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) schemes, as of September 2023. The Government is committed to relocating all eligible persons who remain in Pakistan and third countries as soon as possible, and have made significant progress in the last few months.

Civil Servants
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full time equivalent civil service personnel there were in (a) 2019 and (b) 2024.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

National Statistics on the number of civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published 12 December 2023 and showed the number of civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable

Public Sector: Employment
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full time equivalent non-civil service public sector administrators there were in (a) 2019 and (b) 2024.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Information on the number of non-civil service public sector administrators is not held centrally by the Cabinet Office.

Government Departments: Energy
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reduce energy bills across government.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office supports departments and coordinates across government to improve energy efficiency and reduce costs. The 2022-2030 Government Property Strategy sets out how the estate will be transformed to become more efficient and sustainable.

The Government Buying Standard for Construction requires new build developments to meet BRE’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) ‘Excellent’ or equivalent standards, while refurbishment projects have a target of ‘Very Good’, ensuring new and upgraded properties meet high standards of energy efficiency.

In addition, Crown Commercial Services has developed an energy procurement strategy that has delivered significant commercial benefits from aggregation of government buying power and hedging future demand on commodity markets.

Keir Starmer
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any staff in (a) his Department and (b) 10 Downing Street sent messages to the media by (i) email, (ii) text, (iii) WhatsApp and (iv) other social media messaging services on the career of the Leader of the Opposition between 5 September 2023 and 8 February 2024.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As has been the case under successive Administrations, the Prime Minister is assisted by special advisers in preparation for the Parliamentary exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions with the Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition.

All activity is undertaken in line with the Special Advisers’ Code of Conduct. Such exchanges are available to the hon. Member in the Official Report.

More broadly, such work is led by staff of the governing party (as evident by the answer of 6 June 2023, Official Report, PQ 186524; deposited paper DEP2023-0475).

Keir Starmer
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Downing Street (a) office space, (b) computer equipment, (c) printers and (d) stationery have been used in the (i) preparation, (ii) production and (iii) dissemination of research on the Leader of the Opposition.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As has been the case under successive Administrations, the Prime Minister is assisted by special advisers in preparation for the Parliamentary exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions with the Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition.

All activity is undertaken in line with the Special Advisers’ Code of Conduct. Such exchanges are available to the hon. Member in the Official Report.

More broadly, such work is led by staff of the governing party (as evident by the answer of 6 June 2023, Official Report, PQ 186524; deposited paper DEP2023-0475).

Keir Starmer
Asked by: Andrew Gwynne (Labour - Denton and Reddish)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether government resources have been used for research on the Leader of the Opposition.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As has been the case under successive Administrations, the Prime Minister is assisted by special advisers in preparation for the Parliamentary exchanges at Prime Minister's Questions with the Leader of His Majesty’s Opposition.

All activity is undertaken in line with the Special Advisers’ Code of Conduct. Such exchanges are available to the hon. Member in the Official Report.

More broadly, such work is led by staff of the governing party (as evident by the answer of 6 June 2023, Official Report, PQ 186524; deposited paper DEP2023-0475).

Government Departments: Consultants
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Tuesday 5th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much was spent on consultants across Government in the financial year 2022-3.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Government Departments draw on the advice of external specialists for a range of services. Consultancy includes staff who provide objective advice relating to strategy, structure, management or operations of an organisation and may include the identification of options with recommendations.


Departments' total spend on consultancy in 2022/23 can be found on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-reports-and-accounts-for-central-government-departments

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to (a) identify and (b) contact people in South Antrim constituency who were (i) infected and (ii) affected by the contaminated blood scandal as part of Government preparations for responding to Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the number of people that would be eligible for compensation under the terms of the recommendations of the second interim report of Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 5 April 2023, in South Antrim constituency.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in South Antrim constituency have received interim compensation payments as a result of (a) their infection and (b) their family member’s infection resulting from contaminated blood or blood products.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Robin Walker (Conservative - Worcester)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the number of people that would be eligible for compensation under the terms of the recommendations of the second interim report of Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 5 April 2023, in Worcester.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Robin Walker (Conservative - Worcester)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people in Worcester have received interim compensation payments as a result of (a) their infection and (b) their family member’s infection resulting from contaminated blood or blood products.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to (a) identify and (b) contact people in Liverpool, Walton constituency who were (i) infected and (ii) affected by the contaminated blood scandal, in the context of the Government's planned response to recommendations on compensation made by the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the number of people that would be eligible for compensation under the terms of the recommendations of the second interim report of Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 5 April 2023, in Liverpool, Walton constituency.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have received interim compensation payments for (a) their and (b) their family member’s infection from contaminated blood or blood products in Liverpool, Walton constituency.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4000 individuals. The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable member’s questions on his constituency.

Cabinet Office: Diaries
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish his diary for 13 November 2023.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Ministers regularly meet with departmental officials and external stakeholders. Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations and individuals are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK.

Cabinet Office: Advertising
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding his Department (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on advertising in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office spent the following on advertising in the last three financial years:

20/21: £376,029,723.21

21/22: £168,730,321.96

22/23: £27,485,611.31

Detail on this and other spending is routinely published by the Cabinet Office on GOV.UK here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-spend-data

Advertising spend in 20/21 and 21/22 was considerably higher due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Cabinet Office played a leading role in providing the public with information about the Pandemic. Increased advertising was essential to doing this and keeping the country safe.

The Cabinet Office budgets for advertising and other public relations activity is set in order to provide flexibility to the Cabinet Office to deal appropriately with what are often unforeseen events. This has been a long standing budgetary good practice under successive administrations.

The overall budget for Marketing and Media for the years in question are set out below:

20/21: £558,297,000

21/22: £242,177,000

22/23: £39,501,000

Work on advertising is primarily carried out by communications staff employed by departments and like all areas of government spending, costs are reviewed regularly to ensure value for money.

Infected Blood Inquiry: Pay
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2024 to Question 14610 on Infected Blood Inquiry, whether members of the expert group will receive payment for their work on the group.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I can confirm that members of the expert group will receive remuneration for their work. On 7 February 2024, the Government published details of the legal experts contract award on Contracts Finder.

Cabinet Office: Diaries
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish his diary for 14 November 2023.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.

Infected Blood Inquiry
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the terms of reference of the expert group to provide technical advice on compensation for the Government's response to the Infected Blood Inquiry will include the recommendations of the reports entitled (a) Compensation and redress for the victims of contaminated blood recommendations for a framework, published on 7 June 2022, and (b) Second interim report of the infected blood inquiry, published by the Infected Blood Inquiry on 5 April 2023.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government is actively considering all recommendations of the Second Interim Report which reviews the recommendations of Sir Robert Francis’ Compensations Framework Study. The expert group is providing technical assistance in understanding how the Inquiry’s recommendations could work in practice. This will enable the Government to make an informed decision on responding to recommendations in a manner which considers the needs of the community and the far reaching impacts this scandal has had on their lives, alongside the associated costs to the public sector.

As the work of the expert group relates to the formulation and development of Government policy, their advice, evidence and methodologies as well as the terms of reference, minutes and agendas of their meetings has not been not be published at this time.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department will (a) identify and (b) contact people in Luton South who were (i) infected and (ii) affected by the contaminated blood scandal as part of Government preparations for responding to Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations on compensation.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on her constituency.

Blood: Contamination
Asked by: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have received interim compensation payments because of (a) their and (b) their family member’s infection from contaminated blood or blood products in Luton South constituency.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on her constituency.

Former Ministers: Redundancy Pay
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many ministerial redundancy payments have been repaid since 2019; and by whom those repayments have been made.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Departments are responsible for making salary and loss of office payments to their Ministers. This information would only be held by individual departments.

Stormont Brake
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish each individual EU law and regulation which is outside the scope of the Stormont Brake in Northern Ireland.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The scope of the Stormont Brake is provided for in domestic law under the Windsor Framework (Democratic Scrutiny) Regulations 2024. The restoration of the devolved institutions in Northern Ireland allowed those regulations to come into force and facilitated new democratic safeguards that would be unavailable to the people of Northern Ireland if the failure of those institutions to function continued. The Government has published clear operational arrangements that underpin the democratic mechanisms contained within the Windsor Framework.

Government Departments: Artificial Intelligence
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to complete algorithmic transparency reports for the ten pilot programs being developed by the Incubator for AI.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government has made transparency around automated decision-making a priority through the publication of the Algorithmic Transparency Recording Standard (ATRS). The ATRS was endorsed by the Data Standards Authority (DSA), and the first approved version was published in January 2023. Any standards that have been designated by the DSA have an expectation that they will be adopted where there is a use case.

The i.AI team are committed to the development of safe, secure and transparent government AI. The pilot programmes are at various stages of development, and each will be subject to robust testing and evaluation in collaboration with other government expert teams including CDDO, DSIT and the AISI. This will include the completion of Algorithmic Transparency Standards for projects that move past Alpha stages, informed by user testing and pilot programmes.



Cabinet Office: Publishing
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what reports and guidance his Department and has produced in the last three years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Reports and guidance that the Department has published can be found on gov.uk. Examples include the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts), Strengthening Ethics and Integrity in Central Government (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strengthening-ethics-and-integrity-in-central-government) and policy papers such as the Disability Action Plan (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-action-plan).

Cabinet Office: Domestic Visits
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to which domestic destinations Ministers in his Department have attended overnight visits in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

I refer the Rt Hon. Member to my response to UIN 17515 on 12th March 2024.

Civil Servants: Recruitment
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of civil service recruitment campaigns failed to fill the post advertised in each financial year from 2019/20.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Government Recruitment Service collaborates with departments, functions and professions to develop and deliver high quality, customer-focused recruitment that identifies and attracts the best people for roles whilst offering a wide range of services. It offers core low-cost solutions to meet routine recruitment needs and handles more complex or specialist campaigns by tailoring its approach to attract and recruit the highest quality candidates.

The following table presents civil service recruitment campaigns with successful and unsuccessful vacancy outcomes for campaigns managed by the Government Recruitment Service.

Year

Vacancy Outcome Successful

Vacancy Outcome Unsuccessful

Total number of vacancies

2020

10080

5146

15226

2021

15871

9511

25382

2022

16047

9851

25898

2023

13909

9576

23485

Total

55907

34084

89991

The Government Recruitment Service does not hold any data on why candidates are not successful. However, there could be a range of reasons for non-appointment. All candidates will have been sifted or interviewed out of the recruiting process.

Cabinet Office: Fraud and Maladministration
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government is proud of its record in proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud in the system. As part of wider cross-government counter fraud investment, the government established the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In its first year, the PSFA delivered £311 million in audited counter fraud benefits.

The PSFA produces a Fraud Landscape Report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-government-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2022). This provides data on fraud and error detection, loss and recoveries in central government, outside of the tax and welfare system and includes the Cabinet Office. The 2020/21 Report was published in March 2023. To note it outlines all figures rounded to the nearest £0.1m.

In 2022-23, as published in the department’s Annual Reports and Accounts, the Cabinet Office detected error of £3.48m, of which £3.43m was recovered in year and detected fraud of £60k of which none has been recovered to date. Efforts to recover the detected fraud are continuing at this time. The Cabinet Office does not hold specific data on fraud for previous years.

The Cabinet Office does not recognise a loss arising from error or fraud until efforts to recover the funds have been explored. This means that write-offs of error and fraud usually occur in the years after the original problem arose.

Losses recognised and written off by the Cabinet Office for the last three years are:

2022/23 - £4,800

2021/22 - £327,400

2020/21 - £703,300

Deputy Prime Minister: USA
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January to Question 7525, for what reason the finalised costs for the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to the United States from 19 to 23 September have not yet been confirmed; and when he plans to publish the data.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Costs for the Deputy Prime Minister’s visit to the United States to lead the UK delegation to the UN General Assembly from 19 to 23 September are in the final stages of validation and will be published shortly.

Former Ministers: Redundancy Pay
Asked by: Emily Thornberry (Labour - Islington South and Finsbury)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 25 January to Question 8377 on Peter Bone, whether the severance payments incorrectly paid to (a) Mr Peter Bone, (b) Ms Nadine Dorries, (c) the Rt hon. Member for Bexleyheath and Crayford, (d) the hon. Member for Erewash and (e) the former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in the Lords, have been recovered.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

We have previously set out that in any case where a former minister has been paid severance incorrectly, the relevant department will seek to recover the payment. It would not be appropriate to comment further on individual cases.

Cabinet Office: Diaries
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish his diary for 15 November 2023.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.

Public Sector: Vetting
Asked by: Lord Blunkett (Labour - Life peer)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how long, on average, it takes for security vetting to be completed in (1) security and policing jobs, and (2) other public service jobs which require security clearance.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

As Minister for State at the Cabinet Office responsible for United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) I am able to provide a response in relation to National Security Vetting (NSV). Police Vetting and NSV remain two separate and distinct processes. Whilst all police personnel are required to undertake a level of police vetting, only police personnel within certain specific roles are required to undertake NSV. Whilst UKSV acts as service providers for NSV, they have no involvement in processing police vetting. This remains the responsibility of police authorities.

Following a stabilisation programme initiated in 2023, there have been sustained and stable improvements in performance against Key Performance Indicators (KPI) across all service levels of National Security Vetting clearances which includes Counter Terrorist Check (CTC), Security Check (SC) and Developed Vetting (DV). Across core services:

  • The KPIs for both CTC and SC are 25 days, on 29th February 2024 96% of cases were being processed within that time frame.

  • The KPI for DV is 95 days; on 29th February 2024 93.48% of initial DV cases were being processed within that time frame.The Performance Indicator for DV Renewals is also 95 days; on 29th February 2024 13.78% of these cases were being processed within that time frame. However we expect that DV renewals submitted from 1st April 2024 will be delivered within the KPI of 95 days.

Security roles are based across many departments and partner agencies and therefore it is not possible to provide confirmation of the performance of NSV in relation to these specific roles. In relation to the police requirement for NSV specifically, I can confirm that UKSV are meeting the KPIs across the SC and initial DV products.

In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters, including average actual processing times.

Government Departments: Energy
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what proportion of the central Government administrative estate has installed smart meters.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Within the Government Property Agency managed estate of 65 sites, 100% of these are confirmed to have smart meters installed. Data for other sites would need to be provided by the utility provider or by Departments managing those sites.

The transition to a more flexible energy system plays a vital role in decarbonising the Government office portfolio. Smart meters are one simple step on this journey and that is why one of the work streams identified for investment by Government Property Agency is the adoption of programmes to install smart meters and ensure automatic meter readings across their portfolios.

Government Departments: Smoking
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many designated smoking and vaping areas are currently located within the central Government administrative estate.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Within the Government Property Agency managed estate there are 6 designated smoking and vaping areas. These are at the following GPA locations:

  • 10 South Colonnade

  • Whitechapel Building

  • 70 Whitehall

  • Leicester

  • Stoke on Trent

  • Mold

These are either legacy arrangements or provided by the superior landlord for all tenants.

Government Departments: Public Consultation
Asked by: Lord Kempsell (Conservative - Life peer)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government to provide an update on the principles or guidelines that are currently in place for the design and execution of public consultations by central Government; and whether the Government holds a cross-departmental register of all consultations across departments and their public bodies.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK Government has a set of consultation principles which give guidance to government departments and other public bodies on the principles they should adopt for engaging with stakeholders on developing policy and legislation.

These principles encourage policy makers to consider what they are seeking to achieve through any consultation when determining when, with whom and how to consult. The guidance directs policy teams to design consultations on a case-by-case basis to best engage the cohorts of relevance to the subject of the consultation and gather the best possible information to assist with policy development. The consultation principles were last updated in 2018 and are published on gov.uk at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consultation-principles-guidance

A list of policy papers and consultations is also published on gov.uk at the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations

Cabinet Office: Domestic Visits
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many domestic overnight visits were undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost of those visits was.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).

But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Cabinet Office: Diaries
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish his diary for 16 November 2023.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 16454 on 6th March 2024.

Darlington Economic Campus
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions Ministers from all departments have (a) held meetings at and (b) worked from the Darlington Economic Campus since August 2021.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

With reference to your enquiry regarding the naming of the Darlington Economic Campus 'William McMullen House' I am happy to advise we will consider this suggestion, alongside other suggestions, when finalising the name of building.

Naming of all new Government Hubs and other Government buildings must go through a process whereby all options must undergo sufficient due diligence. Selection of a preferred option will need to be agreed to by the Government Property Agency (GPA), occupying departments, local leaders and authorities including the Post Office.

Naming of a new Government Hub will happen nearer to the point when the building is being delivered. In the case of Darlington Economic Campus this will be in 2025/26.

Under the current programme, and subject to planning consent being granted mid-year and approval of the Full Business Case in the last quarter of this year, works will commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Darlington Economic Campus
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of naming the permanent home of the Darlington Economic Campus, William McMullen House.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

With reference to your enquiry regarding the naming of the Darlington Economic Campus 'William McMullen House' I am happy to advise we will consider this suggestion, alongside other suggestions, when finalising the name of building.

Naming of all new Government Hubs and other Government buildings must go through a process whereby all options must undergo sufficient due diligence. Selection of a preferred option will need to be agreed to by the Government Property Agency (GPA), occupying departments, local leaders and authorities including the Post Office.

Naming of a new Government Hub will happen nearer to the point when the building is being delivered. In the case of Darlington Economic Campus this will be in 2025/26.

Under the current programme, and subject to planning consent being granted mid-year and approval of the Full Business Case in the last quarter of this year, works will commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Darlington Economic Campus
Asked by: Peter Gibson (Conservative - Darlington)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he expects the works on the permanent site for the Darlington Economic Campus at Brunswick Street to commence.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

With reference to your enquiry regarding the naming of the Darlington Economic Campus 'William McMullen House' I am happy to advise we will consider this suggestion, alongside other suggestions, when finalising the name of building.

Naming of all new Government Hubs and other Government buildings must go through a process whereby all options must undergo sufficient due diligence. Selection of a preferred option will need to be agreed to by the Government Property Agency (GPA), occupying departments, local leaders and authorities including the Post Office.

Naming of a new Government Hub will happen nearer to the point when the building is being delivered. In the case of Darlington Economic Campus this will be in 2025/26.

Under the current programme, and subject to planning consent being granted mid-year and approval of the Full Business Case in the last quarter of this year, works will commence in the first quarter of 2025.

Details of Ministers’ and Permanent Secretaries' meetings with external individuals and organisations are published quarterly in arrears on GOV.UK. Published declarations include the purpose of the meeting and the names of any additional external organisations or individuals in attendance.

Ministers: Defamation
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal support provided to Ministers of the Crown in relation to claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel connected with their official duties since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Ministers: Defamation
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Neston)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is the Government's policy to pay (a) legal costs and (b) damages in relation to allegedly defamatory comments made by Ministers.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Ministers: Defamation
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, from what budget (a) legal fees for defamation cases brought against ministers and (b) settlement in such cases will come.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Ministers: Defamation
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is for settling claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel by Ministers since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Ministers: Defamation
Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many individual occasions the provision of legal support has been (a) authorised and (b) declined on claims for (i) defamation and (ii) libel connected with the official duties of Ministers of the Crown since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.

Cabinet Office: Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group
Asked by: Anneliese Dodds (Labour (Co-op) - Oxford East)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the document entitled Draft terms of reference for the Anti-Muslim Hatred Working Group, what updates his Department has provided on relevant developments in its area of work to that group since 2019.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities over a range of issues. More broadly, I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 1 March 2024, Official Report, PQ 16019 on tackling anti-Muslim hatred.

Civil Servants: Equality
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which external (a) speakers and (b) organisations have spoken in Civil Service diversity, equity, and inclusion training since 2020.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

In the Autumn Statement last year, the Chancellor set out that the Government is considering introducing a presumption against external EDI spending and increasing ministerial scrutiny of EDI spending whilst streamlining EDI training and HR processes with a view to getting value for the taxpayer.

The Civil Service offers limited diversity and inclusion specific training through the cross Civil Service learning offer. The Civil Service work with a range of external suppliers to design and deliver these courses, a full list of which is provided here. Speakers are not part of the training provided in the learning offer.

  • Civil Service Expectations - e-learning course

  • Collaborating effectively in cross-cultural teams - MindGym

  • Creating an Inclusive Culture - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Creating Inclusive Virtual Teams - Bailey & French

  • Creating Team Inclusivity - Capital Training Ltd

  • Cultivating your Cultural Intelligence - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Dealing with Everyday Racism - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Disability inclusive management - KPMG Specialist Faculty

  • Ignite inclusion - MindGym

  • Inclusive leadership - KPMG Specialist Faculty

  • Leading inclusive teams - KPMG Specialist Faculty

  • Managing Inclusion - Korn Ferry

  • Modern Leadership – skills for managing a diverse workforce - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Neurodiversity in the workplace - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Power of choice - Korn Ferry

  • Respect Training - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Sexual Harassment - Red Snapper

  • Understanding multiple perspectives - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

  • Working with different cultures – a Managers Toolkit - Berkshire Consultancy Ltd

Civil Servants: Equality
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any materials used in Civil Service diversity, equity, and inclusion training make reference to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The only cross Civil Service course provided by the Cabinet Office on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) is Civil Service Expectations, which does not have any reference to the Black Lives Matters movement.

Civil Servants
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants on full-time contracts there were in each year since 2019.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

National Statistics on the number of full-time and part-time civil servants are published each quarter by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as part of their Public Sector Employment statistical release. The latest available statistics were published in December 2023 and at Table 8 show the number of full-time civil servants as at 30 September 2023. The next ONS publication is scheduled for release on 12 March 2024 and will show the number of civil servants as at 31 December. Statistics for 2019 and all previous and upcoming releases can be found on the ONS website at https://www.ons.gov.uk/employmentandlabourmarket/peopleinwork/publicsectorpersonnel/datasets/publicsectoremploymentreferencetable

Cabinet Office: WhatsApp
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In common with all other departments in central government, and arms lengths bodies, Cabinet Office applies the published guidance: Using Non-Corporate Communication Channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS, etc.) for Government Business, found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business. This guidance, which was published by Cabinet Office in March 2023, applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers).

Civil Servants: Veterans
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Going Forward into Employment initiative for veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

Regular updates on a range of veteran specific initiatives, including Going Forward into Employment, are published as part of the Veterans’ Strategy Action Plan 6 monthly report and in the Armed Forces Covenant and Veterans Annual Report.

The latest updates report that over 200 veterans have been employed in the Civil Service through Going Forward into Employment, and over 1,000 Civil Service jobs secured through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

This is matched by the all-time high of veterans’ employment in the UK, with 89% employed within six months of leaving service when engaging with available support.

Infected Blood Inquiry: Pay
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North)
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2024 to Question 16659 on Blood: Contamination, how much members of the expert group who are not legal experts will be paid.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As set out in my response to Question 16659, members of the expert group will receive remuneration for their work. However, the Government will not be releasing the details of how much individual members of the expert group are being paid.

Import Controls
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1358), whether they plan to publish (1) the questions posed in the business readiness survey, and (2) a detailed summary of the responses from businesses, for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether, given UK internal market requirements, the EU still has any control of trade from Great Britain to Northern Ireland through Regulations 2023/1231 and 2023/1128.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The EU does not have control over the movement of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. The operation of the UK internal market system is the responsibility of UK competent authorities.

The Government has guaranteed the smooth flow of these and other goods between Great Britain and Northern Ireland through the new UK internal market system, which complements the Windsor Framework and its associated legislation. Taken together, these will protect historic trade flows and reduce burdens and formalities on businesses seeking to trade across the UK, backed by a UK internal market guarantee and independent scrutiny.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland
Asked by: Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Irish sea border has been removed.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

By any sensible comparison with any other trade border in the world, there is no sense of a trade border for goods moving within the UK internal market. The smooth flow of goods within the UK internal market is secured and strengthened through our commitments in the Safeguarding the Union Command Paper.

Government Communication Service: Civil Servants
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants in ministerial departments worked in the Government Communication Service profession in each financial year from 2010/11.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The information requested is not held centrally from 2010 to date.

Prime Minister: Databases
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what projects have been undertaken by the 10 Downing Street Data Science Team since its establishment, and in each case what were the objectives and outcomes, and what is the current status, of these projects.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The No10 Data Science Team has a remit to improve the way in which key decisions are informed by data, analysis, and evidence using cutting-edge data science techniques. This enables the Government to use the best available evidence, throughout the policy and decision-making process, to drive long-term systems change and enable staff to collectively solve the most pressing policy challenges. They also use data to track delivery of government priority programs, working closely with Delivery Unit. The Government would not normally comment on the details of policy development and formation nor the process by which collective decisions are made across government.

The team also runs a transformation program including: (1) project rAPId, a free, open source, lightweight data sharing system; (2) the No10 Innovation Fellowships, bringing industry expertise in AI into central government on year-long secondments to improve public services; (3) Evidence House, a program to upskill civil servants in data science, AI and software engineering; and crowdsource technical solutions to complex problems; and (4) creating and managing the new Incubator for Artificial Intelligence, a 30-strong team of AI experts who are working on rapid delivery of AI projects in line with the Prime Minister’s priorities.

Electronic Government: Proof of Identity
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many government services have onboarded to One Login.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The GOV.UK One Login system is fully operational, providing a simple and secure way for people to access government services online. Users can create an account, login and prove (and then reuse) their identity - through either a web-based journey, smartphone app or in-person route - to access an initial set of 30 government services. This includes important services such as ‘Request a Disclosure and Barring Service Basic Check’, ‘Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card’ and ‘Sign Your Mortgage Deed’.

We are on track to onboard additional services - including in HMRC, DWP and DVLA - over the next year, bringing the total number to at least 145.

Central Digital and Data Office: Staff
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the Government Digital and Data profession on 11 March (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Digital and Data profession issues a Workforce Planning data Commission twice a year in April and October. Below are the number of full-time Civil Servant professionals in filled positions for the years 2022 and 2023:

a) 2022, April commission: 16,662

b) 2023, April commission: 20,163

c) 2023, October commission: 21,366

The 2024 April commission is being issued this month (March 2024), workforce data is therefore not yet available. We are firmly on track to reach its target 6% of the overall civil service workforce by 2025.

Import Controls
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1361), which businesses have been selected to take part in live testing; how those businesses were selected; and whether the businesses include a mix of large and small operators.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Import Controls
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1358), why they do not plan to publish the readiness assessment for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Import Controls
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 27 December 2023 (HL1077), what level of Common User Charge was included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.

Import Controls
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 5 January (HL1357), what information and guidance that the final Border Target Operating Model committed to publish remains outstanding.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

In the Draft Border Target Operating Model (BTOM), published in April 2023 the UK Government asked industry to provide information on their readiness for the proposed regime. The questions included:

  1. What challenges exist for the private sector in meeting the proposed timeline for introducing the new model and how can specific business models for importing be further supported to prepare?

  2. What further detail is needed in order for businesses to prepare for and implement the new Border Target Operating Model?

A summary of responses from stakeholders can be found in the Final BTOM, published in August 2023. In response to stakeholder feedback on the Draft BTOM, we made a change to the timeline for the introduction of Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) controls to give more businesses time to prepare. The Government is delivering a programme of engagement with stakeholders across all sectors in all parts of the country and with key European Union trading partners to ensure readiness. There are no current plans for further publications on industry readiness as such, although discussions with stakeholders continue.

However, we expect to publish the Government Response to the charging arrangements at government-run border control posts consultation in the coming weeks. Arrangements for physical checks for goods from the island of Ireland will be announced in due course - the UK Government is continuing to work with the Scottish and Welsh Government as well as the newly restored Northern Ireland Executive on this issue. We aim shortly to publish revised rules for importing animal products, plants and plant products into Great Britain for personal use, including those sent as post and parcels. All other supplementary guidance outlined in Annex H of the Final BTOM that was due to be published by end February 2024 has been released, and technical information surrounding the BTOM was issued in mid-February here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/border-target-operating-model-information-leaflets-for-businesses.

With regards to live testing, traders, carriers and hauliers have been selected to take part in operational testing in conjunction with Defra and local Port Health Authorities and include a mix of large and smaller traders where possible. The tests vary according to route route, mode and commodity. Onboarding of traders into the testing regime, including some smaller businesses, is ongoing at this time with operational testing continuing in March and April.

Estimates for the Common User Charge were included in the modelling of the inflationary impact of the Border Target Operating Model. The government used a wide array of data to input into the peer-reviewed model, including commercially sensitive data sources. To publish only a partial picture would not be in keeping with statistical propriety.



Petitions

Limit Mayoral positions to a maximum of two continuous terms

Petition Open - 446 Signatures

Sign this petition 8 Sep 2024
closes in 5 months, 1 week

Bring forward a Bill to limit all Mayoral positions to a maximum of two continuous terms.

Call an immediate General Election

Petition Open - 61 Signatures

Sign this petition 8 Sep 2024
closes in 5 months, 1 week

We believe that our Government has let our country down and that an immediate General Election should be called.

Make Care Experience a Protected Characteristic across England

Petition Open - 79 Signatures

Sign this petition 14 Sep 2024
closes in 5 months, 2 weeks

Make 'care experience' a protected characteristic. This could give care leavers a higher chance of positive outcomes in their future and stop discrimination against people with care experience.

Make the oath of allegiance to the King/Monarchy optional for MPs

Petition Open - 315 Signatures

Sign this petition 14 Sep 2024
closes in 5 months, 2 weeks

We think that republican politicians should have the option of pledging allegiance to their constituents rather than the Crown.

Ban MPs from insulting each other in the House of Commons

Petition Open - 20 Signatures

Sign this petition 12 Sep 2024
closes in 5 months, 2 weeks

I want the MPs to be banned from insulting each other in the House of Commons. I believe this is toxic. Instead, I think kinder and more caring exchanges and debates should take place on the serious issues facing our country.

Allow 14+ children to vote in elections

Petition Open - 7 Signatures

Sign this petition 5 Sep 2024
closes in 5 months, 1 week

I want the Government and Parliament to allow children over the age of 14 to vote in elections because children have to live with the impacts of what the adults choose. Basically they are choosing the future for everyone. If children could vote they could decide what they want for their future.



Department Publications - Transparency
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022 (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)
Tuesday 5th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Cabinet Office: ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings, October to December 2022
Document: (webpage)


Department Publications - Guidance
Wednesday 6th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Choose a .gov.uk Approved Registrar
Document: Choose a .gov.uk Approved Registrar (webpage)
Wednesday 6th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Identify a registrant for your .gov.uk domain name
Document: Identify a registrant for your .gov.uk domain name (webpage)
Saturday 9th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: The Elizabeth Emblem - application guidance and eligibility
Document: The Elizabeth Emblem - application guidance and eligibility (webpage)
Saturday 9th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: The Elizabeth Emblem - application guidance and eligibility
Document: (webpage)
Monday 11th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Amending bills: style manual
Document: Amending bills: style manual (webpage)
Monday 11th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Amending bills: style manual
Document: Style Manual for Amendments to Bills (PDF)


Department Publications - News and Communications
Saturday 9th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: New ‘Elizabeth Emblem’ unveiled to commemorate public servants who died in line of duty
Document: New ‘Elizabeth Emblem’ unveiled to commemorate public servants who died in line of duty (webpage)
Monday 11th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee members to visit Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Document: Queen Elizabeth Memorial Committee members to visit Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (webpage)
Wednesday 13th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: Government delivers further expansion of health services to former armed forces personnel
Document: Government delivers further expansion of health services to former armed forces personnel (webpage)
Thursday 14th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: “Criminals should be aware” says Minister as Government upgrades AI fraud detection tool
Document: “Criminals should be aware” says Minister as Government upgrades AI fraud detection tool (webpage)


Deposited Papers
Thursday 7th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: I. Letter dated 29/02/2024 from Alex Burghart MP to David Davis MP regarding correspondence with Fujitsu. 1p. II. Letter dated 06/02/2024 from Dave Riley, Head of UK Public Sector, Fujitsu to Vincent Kelly, Crown Representative regarding Fujitsu public sector bidding. 2p. III. Email dated 18/01/2024 from Paul Patterson, Fujitsu Europe CEO to Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer regarding government contracts. 1p.
Document: 2024-03-04-Letter_to_David_Davis-Library_Deposit_letter.pdf (PDF)
Thursday 7th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: I. Letter dated 29/02/2024 from Alex Burghart MP to David Davis MP regarding correspondence with Fujitsu. 1p. II. Letter dated 06/02/2024 from Dave Riley, Head of UK Public Sector, Fujitsu to Vincent Kelly, Crown Representative regarding Fujitsu public sector bidding. 2p. III. Email dated 18/01/2024 from Paul Patterson, Fujitsu Europe CEO to Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer regarding government contracts. 1p.
Document: 2024-02-06-Letter_from_Fujitsu_to_Crown_Rep.pdf (PDF)
Thursday 7th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: I. Letter dated 29/02/2024 from Alex Burghart MP to David Davis MP regarding correspondence with Fujitsu. 1p. II. Letter dated 06/02/2024 from Dave Riley, Head of UK Public Sector, Fujitsu to Vincent Kelly, Crown Representative regarding Fujitsu public sector bidding. 2p. III. Email dated 18/01/2024 from Paul Patterson, Fujitsu Europe CEO to Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer regarding government contracts. 1p.
Document: 2024-02-29-Letter_from_Minister_Burghart_to_David_Davis.pdf (PDF)
Thursday 7th March 2024
Cabinet Office
Source Page: I. Letter dated 29/02/2024 from Alex Burghart MP to David Davis MP regarding correspondence with Fujitsu. 1p. II. Letter dated 06/02/2024 from Dave Riley, Head of UK Public Sector, Fujitsu to Vincent Kelly, Crown Representative regarding Fujitsu public sector bidding. 2p. III. Email dated 18/01/2024 from Paul Patterson, Fujitsu Europe CEO to Gareth Rhys Williams, Government Chief Commercial Officer regarding government contracts. 1p.
Document: Email_to_Government_Chief_Commercial_Officer_from_Fujitsu_Europe_CEO.pdf (PDF)



Cabinet Office mentioned

Calendar
Tuesday 19th March 2024 3:15 p.m.
Liaison Sub-Committee on Scrutiny of Strategic Thinking in Government - Oral evidence
Subject: Scrutiny of Strategic Thinking in Government
At 3:30pm: Oral evidence
Sophie Daud - Co-Founder at Youth Negotiators Academy
Sophie Howe - Former Future Generations Commissioner for Wales (2016-2022)
At 4:00pm: Oral evidence
Rt Hon John Glen MP - Minister for the Cabinet Office at Cabinet Office
Simon Case CVO - Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Civil Service at Cabinet Office
View calendar


Parliamentary Debates
Business of the House
99 speeches (12,069 words)
Thursday 14th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Leader of the House
Mentions:
1: Penny Mordaunt (Con - Portsmouth North) The other issue he raises would be a matter for the Cabinet Office. - Link to Speech

United Kingdom: Union
33 speeches (19,703 words)
Thursday 14th March 2024 - Lords Chamber

Mentions:
1: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) Select Committee on which I have the honour to serve took evidence yesterday from Steve Baker, the Cabinet - Link to Speech

Animal Welfare (Livestock Exports) Bill
40 speeches (9,275 words)
Committee stage
Thursday 14th March 2024 - Grand Committee
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Mentions:
1: None Minister or his department wanted to do it, there are people at much higher levels—let us say in the Cabinet - Link to Speech

Business of the House
85 speeches (10,217 words)
Thursday 7th March 2024 - Commons Chamber
Leader of the House
Mentions:
1: Penny Mordaunt (Con - Portsmouth North) The propriety and ethics team at the Cabinet Office also oversees such things. - Link to Speech



Select Committee Documents
Friday 15th March 2024
Report - Twenty-First Report - Levelling up funding to local government

Public Accounts Committee

Found: Ukraine HC 69 15th Managing government borrowing HC 74 16th HMRC performance in 2022–23 HC 76 17th Cabinet

Wednesday 13th March 2024
Correspondence - Letter from Rt Hon. Steve Baker MP (Minister of State, Cabinet Office) to Lord Jay of Ewelme re: Windsor Framework implementation, 29 February 2024

Windsor Framework Sub-Committee

Found: Steve Baker MP (Minister of State, Cabinet Office) to Lord Jay of Ewelme re: Windsor Framework implementation

Wednesday 13th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - Wales Office Supplementary Estimate Memorandum 2023–24

Welsh Affairs Committee

Found: • -£0.024m – Budget transfer to the Cabinet Office (reduction in administration costs) to cover

Wednesday 13th March 2024
Report - Fourth Report - Accessibility of products and services to disabled people

Women and Equalities Committee

Found: Learning Disability, Department of Health and Social Care; Marcus Bell , Director of the Equality Hub, Cabinet

Wednesday 13th March 2024
Report - Twentieth Report - Monitoring and responding to companies in distress

Public Accounts Committee

Found: The Cabinet Office has published a new Resilience Framework focusing on prevention and preparation for

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Written Evidence - Adarga
dgz0006 - Defence in the Grey Zone

Defence in the Grey Zone - Defence Committee

Found: towards, and to do so with its allies, is essential, while cross-departmental coordination, with a Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Written Evidence - Centre for the Study of Subversion, Unconventional Interventions and Terrorism (University of Nottingham)
dgz0005 - Defence in the Grey Zone

Defence in the Grey Zone - Defence Committee

Found: The fact that counter disinformation is done by disparate groups in FCDO, Cabinet Office and MOD

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Written Evidence - Ministry of Defence
dgz0009 - Defence in the Grey Zone

Defence in the Grey Zone - Defence Committee

Found: Government level is delegated to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Written Evidence - RAND Europe
dgz0008 - Defence in the Grey Zone

Defence in the Grey Zone - Defence Committee

Found: Caves, et al. (2022). 27 Cabinet Office (2022).

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Written Evidence - Food Standards Agency (FSA)
VSH0003 - Vet shortages

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Found: We did explore an exemption to these requirements with the Cabinet Office but that was not available

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - HMRC 2023-24 Supplementary Estimate memorandum tables

Treasury Committee

Found: Transfer of asset from DFT 0.0 0.0 Estimating, forecasting and reprofiling changes sub-total: -19.7 34.9 Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - HMRC 2023-24 Supplementary Estimate memorandum

Treasury Committee

Found: (DfE)) • Reform the UK border to increase economic growth and drive prosperity (lead department, Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - HM Treasury 2023-24 Supplementary Estimate memorandum tables

Treasury Committee

Found: charge 0.1 0.1 Neutral funding changes between departments:- Machinery of government changes:- Mains: Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, and Department for Science, Innovation and Technology

Science and Technology Committee (Lords)

Found: We are not the lead in some areas, like procurement, which is Cabinet Office.

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Correspondence - Letter from Professor Sir Ian Diamond, National Statistician, UK Statistics Authority on additional written evidence following the 5.9.23 oral evidence session, dated 6.3.24

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Found: The Cabinet Office mandates that all functions conduct such exercises.

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Oxford University, Cabinet Office, and Cabinet Office

Transforming the UK’s Evidence Base - Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Found: Oxford University, Cabinet Office, and Cabinet Office Oral Evidence

Monday 11th March 2024
Correspondence - Letter from Nusrat Ghani MP (Department for Business and Trade Minister) to Lord Jay of Ewelme re: Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill - Article 2, 24 November 2023

Windsor Framework Sub-Committee

Found: Department for Business and Trade and Minister of State for the Investment Security Unit at the Cabinet

Monday 11th March 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from James Bowler CB, Permanent Secretary, HM Treasury, re Senior staff changes at HM Treasury, dated 29 February 2024

Public Accounts Committee

Found: sure you will have seen the news of Cat Little’s appointment as the new Permanent Secretary to the Cabinet

Monday 11th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Scottish Government, Scottish Government, and Scottish Government

Intergovernmental relations: 25 years since the Scotland Act 1998 - Scottish Affairs Committee

Found: I mentioned my interaction with Chloe Smith, who, at the time, was in the Cabinet Office.

Monday 11th March 2024
Special Report - Second Special Report - A hostage to fortune: ransomware and UK national security: Government Response to the Committee’s First Report

National Security Strategy (Joint Committee)

Found: As part of the reinvigorated Cabinet Office-led National Exercising Programme (NEP), lead government

Friday 8th March 2024
Government Response - Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Sixth report from Session 2023-24

Public Accounts Committee

Found: 47 Sixth report of Session 2023- 24 Cabinet Office Competition in public procurement Introduction

Friday 8th March 2024
Government Response - Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the First report from Session 2023-24

Public Accounts Committee

Found: PAC recommendation: D HSC should work with HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office to develop a strategy

Friday 8th March 2024
Report - Sixth Report - Sexism in the City

Treasury Committee

Found: Session 2017–19, Women in finance: Government Response to the Committee’s Fifteenth Report , HC 1567 125 Cabinet

Friday 8th March 2024
Report - Nineteenth Report - MoD Equipment Plan 2023–2033

Public Accounts Committee

Found: Ukraine HC 69 15th Managing government borrowing HC 74 16th HMRC performance in 2022–23 HC 76 17th Cabinet

Thursday 7th March 2024
Formal Minutes - Formal Minutes 2023-24

Public Accounts Committee

Found: Office, dated 22 November 2023 Work of Ofwat Amiblu [WOO0001] Mencap [WOO0002] Royal Society

Thursday 7th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - Supplementary Estimates Memoranda 2023-24 - Cabinet Office

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Found: Supplementary Estimates Memoranda 2023-24 - Cabinet Office Estimate memoranda

Thursday 7th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - Supplementary Estimates Memoranda 2023-24 - The Statistics Board

Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Found: • +5.457m : RDEL Budget Cover Transfer s with DLUHC , Home Office and Cabinet Office.

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - British Red Cross
GEX0011 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: It said: We expected our panel of witnesses to include a Cabinet Office Minister: this is almost

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC)
GEX0016 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: Wildfires cross over the remit of the Home Office, Cabinet Office, and Department for Environment

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - National Trust
GEX0015 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: the National Trust recommends the creation of a new Minister for Adaptation, located within the Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - Wildlife and Countryside Link
GEX0019 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: building resilience to climate change is a key priority across Government, through making this a Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - St John Ambulance
GEX0004 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: its commitments to strengthen leadership, accountability, and transparency by: Delivering the Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - Dr Nicola Power, Charlotte Betts, Dr Richard Philpot, and Prof Mark Levine
GEX0025 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: assets-hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/uploads/joint-emergency- services-interoperability-principles-review.pdf 5 Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Written Evidence - Institution of Civil Engineers
GEX0005 - Government resilience: extreme weather

Public Accounts Committee

Found: This would help prioritise investments and help the UK Government develop resilience further. 3 Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Oral Evidence - 2024-03-06 15:00:00+00:00

EU Entry/Exit and the UK border - European Scrutiny Committee

Found: We have frequent standing meetings with DfT and the Cabinet Office.

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - Department for Transport Supplementary Estimates Memorandum 2023-24

Transport Committee

Found: for PNT Office funding from CO for Evaluation Accelerator Fund to Cabinet Ofice for CS Live 2023 to Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from the Chief Executive, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency related to the backlog of driving tests, dated 28 February, dated 28 February 2024

Transport Committee

Found: requires rigorous governance, including approvals at DfT’s Investment Portfolio D irecting Committee, Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Supplementary Estimates Memoranda 2023-24

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Found: Office .

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Correspondence - Correspondence from the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology relating to review of cyber security and economic growth

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Found: Oliver Dowden CBE MP Deputy Prime Minister Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall London SW1A 2AS

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Estimate memoranda - Ministry of Justice Supplementary Estimate Memorandum 2023-24

Justice Committee

Found: Office Special Adviser Costs (£0.457m) Cabinet Office Public Appointments Digital Service -

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Oral Evidence - The University of Glasgow, and Department for Exiting the European Union

The Governance of the Union: Consultation, Co-operation and Legislative Consent - Constitution Committee

Found: These were new agencies that had started off in the Cabinet Office and then got hijacked into DLUHC

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Oral Evidence - Government Equalities Office, Department for Work and Pensions, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office, and Department for Work and Pensions

Impact of the rising cost of living on women - Women and Equalities Committee

Found: Government Equalities Office, Department for Work and Pensions, Equality Hub, Cabinet Office, and Department

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Oral Evidence - England's Economic Heartland, Oxford to Cambridge Science Supercluster Board, and Bedford Borough Council

Strategic transport objectives - Transport Committee

Found: better location somewhere else in the centre of Government, whether that is a Cabinet Committee, the Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Oral Evidence - 2024-03-06 09:15:00+00:00

National Audit Office Strategy and Main Estimate 2024-25 - Public Accounts Commission Committee

Found: Q45 Chair: Wouldn’t you expect the Cabinet Office, as part of its remit to help ensure value for



Written Answers
Non-governmental Organisations: Visas
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee West)
Thursday 14th March 2024

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps he is taking to work with Cabinet colleagues on visas for representatives of international NGOs to take part in (a) advocacy meetings and (b) other UK-hosted events.

Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)

UKVI routinely works with colleagues across Government, including the Cabinet Office, to ensure attendees to UK supported events are able to proceed legally and securely.

Employees of certain international organisations based in, or with offices in, the UK who have been recruited overseas, as well as representatives and officials of the international organisations listed when travelling to the UK in their official capacity on the official business of that organisation, are exempt from immigration control. Employees of the international organisations listed on the following site would qualify for exempt entry clearances: List of International organisations whose employees qualify for exempt entry clearances (accessible version) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

When a visa is required, UKVI works towards a 15 working day customer service standard, which includes options for priority (5 working days) and super priority (24 hours) decisions where available.

Department for Education: Equality
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which unit in her Department is responsible for equalities.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

Every department across government has a responsibility for equalities. The Human Resources and Transformation Directorate is responsible for equalities in the Department for Education. The department also has a Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) team who can provide colleagues with advice on equalities-related issues. Under the PSED, all public authorities, including government departments, are required by law to ensure that they have due regard to certain equality considerations when carrying out their functions.

The government is auditing the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June, to ensure value for money for taxpayers. The Minister for Cabinet Office will be outlining the final proposals in response to the review in due course.

Department for Business and Trade: Equality
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many staff in their Department have job titles that include the words (a) equality, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT and (f) race.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Nine DBT staff members have the words equality and/or gender in their job titles. These roles are all externally facing roles, responsible for negotiating provisions and chapters within bilateral and multilateral contexts. There are no DBT staff members with diversity; inclusion; LGBT; or race in their job title.

The Government is auditing the cost-effectiveness of all activities that support the

equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of the workforce, through the review of EDI

spending announced last June. As stated in the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister for Cabinet Office will be outlining the final proposals in response to the review in due course.

Digital Technology
Asked by: Derek Thomas (Conservative - St Ives)
Wednesday 13th March 2024

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, with reference to the Government response to paragraph 62 of the Third Report of Session 2022-23 by the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee on Digital exclusion, HL 219, published on 20 October 2023, what progress the dedicated cross-Whitehall ministerial group has made.

Answered by Saqib Bhatti - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government established a cross-Whitehall ministerial group in response to a recommendation from the House of Lords Communication and Digital Committee’s report on ‘Digital Exclusion’, published in June 2023. The ministerial group aims to drive progress and accountability on digital inclusion priorities across Government.

The first ministerial group meeting took place in September 2023, chaired by the then Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, Paul Scully. Ministers attended from the Cabinet Office, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Education, and His Majesty's Treasury.

The group agreed to undertake a departmental mapping exercise to drive and increase coherence across departmental work. It has also discussed specific priority issues, including the viability of each department joining device donation scheme, options to increase the accessibility of parking payments and accessibility of online government services. The group will receive an update on these issues at its next meeting later this month.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport: WhatsApp
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). DCMS uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Department for Education: Whatsapp
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The department adheres to the published Cabinet Office guidance on use of non-corporate communication channels, which is incorporated into the department’s IT acceptable use policies. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business/using-non-corporate-communication-channels-eg-whatsapp-private-email-sms-for-government-business-html.

WhatsApp
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Graham Stuart - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business, which was published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero provides additional advice to the central guidance in its internal non-corporate communications guidance.

Attorney General: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Attorney General:

To ask the Attorney General, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Robert Courts - Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Please note that I am responding on behalf of the AGO only, and not the departments superintended by myself and the Attorney General (the Crown Prosecution Service, HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, Government Legal Department, and Serious Fraud Office).

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Whatsapp
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

All departments in central government, including arm’s lengths bodies, apply the published guidance: Non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). Defra uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Department of Health and Social Care: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

All departments in the Government, including arms lengths bodies, apply the published guidance, Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business, published by the Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in the Government, including ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers. The Department uses this central guidance, and has applied it since March 2023.

Ministry of Defence: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

In accordance with Cabinet Office Policy [Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business (HTML) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)] the Ministry of Defence discourages the use of WhatsApp for anything other than keeping in touch purposes, and policy reinforces that personnel must not share or confirm any information above OFFICIAL.

Wales Office: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

All Departments in central government, including arms-length bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Wales Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Treasury: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department follows the Cabinet Office policy on non-corporate communication channels for Government business https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business

Scotland Office: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland

All Departments in central government, including arms-length bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Scotland Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Department for Business and Trade: WhatsApp
Asked by: Pat McFadden (Labour - Wolverhampton South East)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business). This was published by the Cabinet Office in March 2023.

It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Department for Business and Trade uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Northern Ireland Office: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)

All Departments in central government, including arms-length bodies apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Northern Ireland Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

The Northern Ireland Office provides additional advice to supplement the central guidance which is published on the departmental intranet.

Ministry of Justice: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nia Griffith (Labour - Llanelli)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies, apply the published guidance: ‘Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business’ published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Ministry of Justice uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

The Ministry of Justice also provides additional advice to supplement the central guidance, in a Social Media Policy and Guidance.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: WhatsApp
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Monday 11th March 2024

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business], published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Environment Agency and Rural Payments Agency: Equality
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in the (a) the Environment Agency and (b) Rural Payments Agency have job titles which include the words (i) equality, (ii) diversity, (iii) inclusion, (iv) gender, (v) LGBT and (vi) race.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

There are 8.8 full-time equivalent staff in the Environment Agency who work for a team with the title EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion). None of their job titles individually refer to equality, diversity, inclusion, gender, LGBT or race.

As of 27 February, the Rural Payments Agency has no staff with job titles which include the words equality, diversity, inclusion, gender, LGBT or race.

The Government is auditing the cost-effectiveness of all activities that support the EDI of the workforce, through the review of EDI spending announced last June. As stated in the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister for the Cabinet Office will be outlining the final proposals in response to the review in due course.

Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: WhatsApp
Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies, apply the published guidance: Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business published by Cabinet Office in March 2023.

It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). Department for Science, Innovation and Technology uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Department for Work and Pensions: Equality
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)
Thursday 7th March 2024

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which unit in his Department is responsible for equalities.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Every Department across Government has a responsibility for equalities.

Under Public Sector Equality Legislation every person working for the Department has a personal responsibility for implementing and promoting commitment to equality in their day-to-day dealings with everyone – including members of the public, other colleagues, employers and partners.

The Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing team are responsible for providing advice on Equality Analysis where activity is colleague facing.

For customer focussed work, the responsibility sits across multiple teams in Policy and Service Delivery.

DWP has a specialist equalities team who can provide their colleagues with advice on equalities-related issues, including the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED). Under the PSED, all public authorities, including Government departments, are required by law to ensure that they have due regard to certain equality considerations when carrying out their functions.

The Government is auditing the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June, to ensure value for money for taxpayers. The Minister for Cabinet Office will be outlining the final proposals in response to the review in due course.

Treasury: Equality
Asked by: Neil O'Brien (Conservative - Harborough)
Wednesday 6th March 2024

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in their Department have job titles that include the words (a) equality, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT and (f) race.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government is auditing the cost-effectiveness of all activities that support the equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) of the workforce, through the review of EDI spending announced last June. As stated in the Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Minister for Cabinet Office will be outlining the final proposals in response to the review in due course.

There are two members of staff in HM Treasury with the words (a) equality/equalities, (b) diversity, (c) inclusion, (d) gender, (e) LGBT or (f) race included in their job title.



Bill Documents
Mar. 14 2024
HL Bill 30 Running list of amendments
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill 2022-23
Amendment Paper

Found: (4C) The Cabinet Office must maintain a register of public sector risk assessments published

Mar. 14 2024
Research briefing on progress of the Bill
Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill 2023-24
Briefing papers

Found: Mr Tomlinson also noted correspondence published by the Cabinet Office confirming that civil servants

Mar. 14 2024
Bill 183 2023-24 (as introduced) - large print
Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2024
Bill

Found: .* The Debt Management Office.164 Cabinet Office Estimate Net resources authorised for current purposesNet

Mar. 14 2024
Bill 183 2023-24 (as introduced)
Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act 2024
Bill

Found: The Mortgage Guarantee Scheme (MGS).49 Cabinet Office Estimate Net resources authorised for current

Mar. 13 2024
HL Bill 30 Running list of amendments
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill 2022-23
Amendment Paper

Found: (4C) The Cabinet Office must maintain a register of public sector risk assessments published

Mar. 12 2024
HL Bill 30 Running list of amendments
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill 2022-23
Amendment Paper

Found: (4C) The Cabinet Office must maintain a register of public sector risk assessments published

Mar. 07 2024
HL Bill 30 Running list of amendments
Data Protection and Digital Information Bill 2022-23
Amendment Paper

Found: assessment can be published in part. 31 Data Protection and Digital Information Bill (4C) The Cabinet



National Audit Office
Mar. 15 2024
Use of artificial intelligence in government (webpage)

Found: Our primary focus for this report is the role of the Cabinet Office and DSIT in supporting the adoption

Mar. 15 2024
Summary - Use of artificial intelligence in government (PDF)

Found: Our primary focus for this report is the role of the Cabinet Office and DSIT in supporting the adoption

Mar. 15 2024
Report - Use of artificial intelligence in government (PDF)

Found: Our primary focus for this report is the role of the Cabinet Office and DSIT in supporting the adoption

Mar. 13 2024
Civil service leadership capability (webpage)

Found: Office has adopted a whole system approach to leadership capability examining whether the Cabinet Office

Mar. 13 2024
Report - Civil service leadership capability (PDF)

Found: Cabinet Office that undertakes the Human Resources role for the civil service.

Mar. 13 2024
Summary - Civil service leadership capability (PDF)

Found: The Government People Group, which the Cabinet Office launched in February 2023, is a team within the



Department Publications - News and Communications
Friday 15th March 2024
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Source Page: Extension of appointments to the Natural England board
Document: Extension of appointments to the Natural England board (webpage)

Found: been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet



Department Publications - Transparency
Thursday 14th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: FRAB minutes and associated papers: 23 November 2023
Document: FRAB 151 (02) 2022-23 Reporting Cycle Update (PDF)

Found: However, several departments continue to lay after the deadline (DEFRA, BEIS/DSIT, Cabinet Office),

Thursday 14th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: FRAB minutes and associated papers: 23 November 2023
Document: FRAB 151 (03) NAO update to FRAB November 2023 (PDF)

Found: Office •International Trade •FCO/DfID (now FCDO) Post recess: •HM Treasury •Defence •Transport •BEIS

Thursday 14th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: FRAB minutes and associated papers: 23 November 2023
Document: FRAB 151 (10) Performance Report Thematic Review (PDF)

Found: received 42 Non-budget consolidated fund extra receipts Budget transfer Net expenditure in SoCNE 1,032 Cabinet

Thursday 7th March 2024
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
Source Page: Sport England Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023
Document: Sport England Annual Report and Accounts 2022-2023 (PDF)

Found: the Cabinet Office through theannual pay remit process.



Department Publications - Policy and Engagement
Wednesday 13th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: British Council framework document
Document: British Council framework document (PDF)

Found: Cabinet Office requirements extend beyond the deleg ations set out at Annex B . 12.Freedom of Information



Department Publications - Guidance
Wednesday 13th March 2024
Home Office
Source Page: Immigration Rules archive: 22 February 2024 to 10 March 2024
Document: Immigration Rules archive: 22 February 2024 to 10 March 2024 (PDF)

Found: Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006, equi valent statutory transfer schemes, or the Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Source Page: Flexible AI Upskilling Fund pilot: Expression of Interest
Document: Flexible AI Upskilling Fund pilot: Expression of Interest (PDF)

Found: Please note, Cabinet Office Government Grants Managed Service will be the Delivery Partner for the



Department Publications - Research
Monday 11th March 2024
Department of Health and Social Care
Source Page: Equity in medical devices: independent review - final report
Document: Equity in medical devices: independent review - full report (web accessible) (PDF)

Found: Dr Laura Blackburn, Dr Mark Kroese, Dr Colin Mitchell, Dr Sowmiya Moorthie • Race Disparity Unit, Cabinet

Monday 11th March 2024
Department of Health and Social Care
Source Page: Equity in medical devices: independent review - final report
Document: Equity in medical devices: independent review - full report (print ready) (PDF)

Found: Dr Laura Blackburn, Dr Mark Kroese, Dr Colin Mitchell, Dr Sowmiya Moorthie • Race Disparity Unit, Cabinet



Department Publications - Statistics
Thursday 7th March 2024
Ministry of Justice
Source Page: Civil justice statistics quarterly: October to December 2023
Document: (ODS)

Found: 0.333333333333333 1 0.111111111111111 5 2 0.4 0 0 8 5 0.625 4 0.5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cabinet

Thursday 7th March 2024
Ministry of Justice
Source Page: Civil justice statistics quarterly: October to December 2023
Document: (ODS)

Found: 5 2 0.4 0 0.0 8 5 0.625 4 0.5 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 [X] 0 [X] 0 0 [X] 0 [X] 0 0 [X] 0 [X] Cabinet



Department Publications - Policy paper
Wednesday 6th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: Spring Budget 2024
Document: Spring Budget 2024 (web) (PDF)

Found: Office 0.7 0.9 0.2 Scotland3 35.8 37.6 37.7 Wales3 15.4 16.5 16.0 Northern Ireland 13.7

Wednesday 6th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: Spring Budget 2024
Document: Spring Budget 2024 (print) (PDF)

Found: Office 0.7 0.9 0.2 Scotland3 35.8 37.6 37.7 Wales3 15.4 16.5 16.0 Northern Ireland 13.7

Wednesday 6th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: Spring Budget 2024
Document: Spring Budget 2024: Data Sources (PDF)

Found: (IHYQ ) Unemployment rate % (MGSX ) US Bureau of Economic Analysis Statistics Canada Japan Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Department for Transport
Source Page: Appraisal of sustainability for National Networks National Policy Statement
Document: National Networks National Policy Statement appraisal of sustainability appendix 2 – scoping report (PDF)

Found: Available at: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010/432/contents/made [Accessed 28/02/2022]. 86 Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024
Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities
Source Page: North East deeper devolution deal
Document: North East deeper devolution deal (PDF)

Found: A direct contact in Government could also be sought from the Cabinet Office to support in the long-term



Department Publications - Consultations
Wednesday 6th March 2024
HM Treasury
Source Page: Vaping Products Duty consultation
Document: Vaping Products Duty Consultation (PDF)

Found: The Consultation Principles are available on the Cabinet Office website: http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk



Non-Departmental Publications - News and Communications
Mar. 15 2024
Natural England
Source Page: Extension of appointments to the Natural England board
Document: Extension of appointments to the Natural England board (webpage)
News and Communications

Found: been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet

Mar. 14 2024
Public Sector Fraud Authority
Source Page: “Criminals should be aware” says Minister as Government upgrades AI fraud detection tool
Document: “Criminals should be aware” says Minister as Government upgrades AI fraud detection tool (webpage)
News and Communications

Found: Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office:  Criminals should be aware

Mar. 12 2024
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Source Page: Sharma, Alok - President for COP26 - ACOBA Advice
Document: Advice letter: Alok Sharma, Senior Advisor, EQT AB (PDF)
News and Communications

Found: for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero3, and Cabinet

Mar. 12 2024
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Source Page: Sharma, Alok - President for COP26 - ACOBA Advice
Document: Advice Letter: Alok Sharma, Speaker, Chartwell Speakers (PDF)
News and Communications

Found: The Cabinet Office confirmed the details you provided in this application. 5.

Mar. 12 2024
Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Source Page: Sharma, Alok - President for COP26 - ACOBA Advice
Document: Advice Letter: Alok Sharma, Climate and Finance Fellow, The Rockefeller Foundation (PDF)
News and Communications

Found: The Cabinet Office and the DESNZ provided their views on this application. 5 9.

Mar. 06 2024
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Source Page: AI and Public Standards: 2023 regulators survey and responses
Document: Responses from regulators on how they are adapting to the challenges posed by AI (PDF)
News and Communications

Found: We are also linked into wider civil service and for example my team and I will dial into a GDS Cabinet

Mar. 06 2024
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Source Page: AI and Public Standards: 2023 public bodies survey and responses
Document: Responses from public bodies on how they are adapting their governance processes for AI (PDF)
News and Communications

Found: working with key partners and others across HMG, including the Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO) in Cabinet



Non-Departmental Publications - Policy paper
Mar. 14 2024
Public Sector Fraud Authority
Source Page: Government Counter Fraud Functional Strategy 2024-2027
Document: Cross Government Counter Fraud Functional Strategy 2024-2027 (PDF) (PDF)
Policy paper

Found: Functional Strategy 2024-2027 4 Ministerial Foreword Baroness Neville-Rolfe, Minister for the Cabinet

Mar. 13 2024
British Council
Source Page: British Council framework document
Document: British Council framework document (PDF)
Policy paper

Found: Cabinet Office requirements extend beyond the deleg ations set out at Annex B . 12.Freedom of Information



Non-Departmental Publications - Transparency
Mar. 14 2024
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Source Page: Response to FOI request about staff networks
Document: (webpage)
Transparency

Found: The CSPL is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office and any staff networks are

Mar. 14 2024
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Source Page: Freedom of Information responses from the MHRA - week commencing 27 November 2023
Document: FOI 23/858 (PDF)
Transparency

Found: expectation th at it will be published at a future date in line with the best practice recommended in the Cabinet

Mar. 13 2024
Committee on Standards in Public Life
Source Page: Response to FOI request about unconscious bias training
Document: (webpage)
Transparency

Found: The CSPL is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Cabinet Office and as such, operates under

Mar. 11 2024
Small Business Commissioner
Source Page: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2022 to 2023
Document: Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023 (print-ready version) (PDF)
Transparency

Found: A code of practice is in place for Board members, consistent with the Cabinet Office Code of Conduct

Mar. 11 2024
Small Business Commissioner
Source Page: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2022 to 2023
Document: Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023 (PDF)
Transparency

Found: A code of practice is in place for Board members, consistent with the Cabinet Office Code of Conduct

Mar. 11 2024
Small Business Commissioner
Source Page: Office of the Small Business Commissioner annual report and accounts 2022 to 2023
Document: Office of the Small Business Commissioner Annual Report and Accounts 2022 to 2023 (large-print version) (PDF)
Transparency

Found: Office of the Small Business Commissioner BoardAnnual Report 2022-2023 93 consistent with the Cabinet



Non-Departmental Publications - Guidance and Regulation
Mar. 11 2024
Government Finance Function
Source Page: Debt Fairness Charter
Document: Economic Abuse Toolkit, (PDF)
Guidance and Regulation

Found: organisations, the following helped shape this toolkit to make it effective across the public sector: • Cabinet



Deposited Papers
Thursday 14th March 2024
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Source Page: Framework document: Animal and Plant Health Agency. 33p.
Document: APHA_Framework_Doc_signed_19-02-24.pdf (PDF)

Found: Office, HM Treasury, or wider government.

Wednesday 13th March 2024

Source Page: Westminster Foundation for Democracy Independent Public Body Review 2023. 16p
Document: Westminster_Foundation_for_Democracy_Public_Body_Review.pdf (PDF)

Found: WFD was last reviewed in 2018 under the Cabinet Office Tailored Review Programme.

Friday 8th March 2024
Department for Transport
Source Page: I. Rail Reform Bill: delegated powers memorandum. 26p. II. Rail Reform Bill: explanatory notes. Incl. annex. 27p. III. Plan for Rail. Impact Assessment supporting the draft Rail Reform Bill. Incl. annexes. 123p. IV. Letter dated 26/02/2024 from Huw Merriman MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding 3 documents for deposit in the House libraries. 1p.
Document: Bill.docx (webpage)

Found: accountable to Parliament for the proper discharge of its statutory functions) and is consistent with Cabinet

Thursday 7th March 2024

Source Page: Horserace Betting Levy Board framework document: Incl. annexes. 44p.
Document: Horserace_Betting_Levy_Board_Framework_Document.pdf (PDF)

Found: HBLB has been administratively classified by the Cabinet Office as a non - departmental public body (

Thursday 7th March 2024
Department for Transport
Source Page: I. The Plan for Rail. A consultation on legislation to implement rail transformation: Government response. 106p. II. Draft Rail Reform Bill. 32p.
Document: E02943394.pdf (PDF)

Found: accountable to Parliament for the proper discharge of its statutory functions and is consistent with Cabinet

Wednesday 6th March 2024

Source Page: Framework document: Marshall aid commemoration commission. Incl. annex. 32p.
Document: MACC_Framework_Document.pdf (PDF)

Found: It has been administratively classified by the Cabinet Office as a n Executive Non- Departmental Public

Wednesday 6th March 2024

Source Page: Framework document: Historic England. 54p.
Document: Framework.pdf (PDF)

Found: It has been administratively classified by the Cabinet Office as a non-departmental public body (NDPB




Cabinet Office mentioned in Scottish results


Scottish Government Publications
Tuesday 12th March 2024
Chief Economist Directorate
Source Page: Public Sector Employment in Scotland Statistics for 4th Quarter 2023
Document: Public Sector Employment Scotland Tables Q4 2023 (ODS)

Found: Treasury, Office of Gas and Electricity Markets, Office of Rail and Road, UK Statistics Authority, Cabinet

Tuesday 12th March 2024
Chief Economist Directorate
Source Page: Public Sector Employment in Scotland Statistics for 4th Quarter 2023
Document: Public Sector Employment Scotland Q4 2023 (PDF)

Found: Related Publications Cabinet Office publish annual Civil Service employment statistics .

Thursday 7th March 2024
Digital Directorate
Source Page: Correspondence relating to the UK Government's AI safety summit: FOI release
Document: FOI 202300383965 - Information Released - Correspondence (PDF)

Found: I’m looking for a route to raise an objection with Cabinet Office, through our Strategy colleagues.

Tuesday 5th March 2024

Source Page: Senior Civil Service pay: March 2019
Document: Senior Civil Service pay: March 2019 (webpage)

Found: and Social Care1Paid outward secondment to Edinburgh University105,000 - 109,999Note: In line with Cabinet

Tuesday 5th March 2024

Source Page: Senior Civil Service pay: March 2020
Document: Senior Civil Service pay: March 2020 (webpage)

Found: and Social Care1Paid outward secondment to Edinburgh University105,000 - 109,999Note: In line with Cabinet

Tuesday 5th March 2024

Source Page: Senior Civil Service pay: March 2021
Document: Senior Civil Service pay: March 2021 (webpage)

Found: and Social Care1Paid outward secondment to Edinburgh University105,000 - 109,999Note: In line with Cabinet