Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps to (a) ensure consistency in the accessibility of departmental communications and (b) support the use of (i) sign language videos, (ii) audio recordings and (iii) other accessible formats in such communications across Departments.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
On 5 February 2024 the government published the final Disability Action Plan together with the independent analysis of the consultation findings. The Disability Action Plan sets out 32 practical actions which the government will take forward over the next 12 months.
Action 28 outlines steps the government is taking to ensure consistency in the accessibility of departmental communications. These steps include the publication of accessible standards, revising and improving guidance, training, and monitoring. The accessibility guidance emphasises the need for government organisations to consider the communication needs of individuals and, where appropriate, the provision of BSL and commonly-requested alternative formats.
In July 2024, the government will publish the second BSL report that will outline what ministerial departments have done to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in their communications with the public. This follows the publication of the first BSL report in July 2023, which included a number of actions to continually improve the government’s use of BSL in public communications (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-british-sign-language-bsl-report-2022)
Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 23 May 2022 (HL67), on what date the Office of Parliamentary Counsel completed updating its drafting guidance on the use of gendered language, and whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Office of the Parliamentary Counsel’s guidance on legislative drafting, which includes the use of sex-specific references in legislation, was deposited in the Library on Wednesday 27 March and is available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate she has made of the number of illegal drug related deaths in (a) Romford constituency and (b) England.
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 gentleman Parliamentary Question of 21st March is attached.
Asked by: Charlotte Nichols (Labour - Warrington North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will extend the offer of a free portrait of King Charles to churches.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government does not currently have any plans to extend the offer of a free portrait of The King to churches or other places of worship.
The UK Government launched an Official Portrait scheme in November 2023 to enable certain Public Authorities across the UK to apply for a free, framed official portrait of His Majesty The King for display in their buildings.
The scheme is ongoing and is due for completion by mid year 2024. His Majesty’s accession has marked the beginning of a new reign and the UK Government considers it is right that public authorities, as part of the fabric of our nation, have the opportunity to commemorate this moment, strengthen civil pride and reflect the new era in our history.
A portrait will be available for purchase in due course for those not eligible for this scheme and details will be communicated at the time.
Asked by: Rachel Maclean (Conservative - Redditch)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has provided funding to 50:50 Parliament in the last five years.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office finance system does not show any transactions to 50:50 Parliament in the last five years, including grants issued by the department. The Cabinet Office does not hold financial data for other departments.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times since 2015 ministers have asked to forego a ministerial salary, either full or in part; and who were those ministers.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The number of ministerial salaries available to the government at any one time is 109. This is a statutory limit governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
It is routinely the case that some ministers will be asked to serve in an unpaid capacity given the statutory limitations on the number of available salaries. A list of ministers who are currently serving in an unpaid capacity are as follows:
Richard Holden MP, Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) in the Cabinet Office (receives a salary from the Conservative Party)
The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Minister of State and Paymaster General, Cabinet Office
The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.
The Earl of Minto, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence.
The Rt Hon. the Earl Howe, Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Benyon, Minister of State, jointly at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Baroness Barran MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Government Equalities Spokesperson in the Lords.
The Lord Douglas-Miller OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Markham CBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Lord Bellamy KC, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice
The Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Lord Offord of Garvel CVO, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Lord Cameron of Lochiel, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office.
The Lord Roborough, Lord in Waiting (Government Whip)
The list of all government ministers on GOV.UK is updated following each reshuffle. The current government list is on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.
It would be a significant undertaking to calculate the exact number of unpaid ministers since 2015, especially given some ministers have dual roles (where they are paid in one role but not in another) such as if they hold more than one ministerial position. We can estimate however that over the last decade, this number has been approximately 10-20 at any given time.
It is ultimately for the Prime Minister to decide how to organise the executive and which ministers are paid a salary. While the Cabinet Office provides advice to the Prime Minister on the number of salaries available, the department does not decide the allocation of salaries.
Ministers are continuing to voluntarily waive part of their salaries, foregoing any pay increase to their Ministerial salaries. This means ministers in the Commons’ salaries have not increased since 2010; and ministers in the House of Lords have received frozen salaries since 2019. Further information is published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-salary-data.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times since 2015 ministers have been asked to forego a ministerial salary; and what were the reasons for those requests.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The number of ministerial salaries available to the government at any one time is 109. This is a statutory limit governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
It is routinely the case that some ministers will be asked to serve in an unpaid capacity given the statutory limitations on the number of available salaries. A list of ministers who are currently serving in an unpaid capacity are as follows:
Richard Holden MP, Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) in the Cabinet Office (receives a salary from the Conservative Party)
The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Minister of State and Paymaster General, Cabinet Office
The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.
The Earl of Minto, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence.
The Rt Hon. the Earl Howe, Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Benyon, Minister of State, jointly at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Baroness Barran MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Government Equalities Spokesperson in the Lords.
The Lord Douglas-Miller OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Markham CBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Lord Bellamy KC, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice
The Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Lord Offord of Garvel CVO, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Lord Cameron of Lochiel, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office.
The Lord Roborough, Lord in Waiting (Government Whip)
The list of all government ministers on GOV.UK is updated following each reshuffle. The current government list is on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.
It would be a significant undertaking to calculate the exact number of unpaid ministers since 2015, especially given some ministers have dual roles (where they are paid in one role but not in another) such as if they hold more than one ministerial position. We can estimate however that over the last decade, this number has been approximately 10-20 at any given time.
It is ultimately for the Prime Minister to decide how to organise the executive and which ministers are paid a salary. While the Cabinet Office provides advice to the Prime Minister on the number of salaries available, the department does not decide the allocation of salaries.
Ministers are continuing to voluntarily waive part of their salaries, foregoing any pay increase to their Ministerial salaries. This means ministers in the Commons’ salaries have not increased since 2010; and ministers in the House of Lords have received frozen salaries since 2019. Further information is published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-salary-data.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many times since 2015 a minister has foregone a ministerial salary at the request of the Cabinet Office.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The number of ministerial salaries available to the government at any one time is 109. This is a statutory limit governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
It is routinely the case that some ministers will be asked to serve in an unpaid capacity given the statutory limitations on the number of available salaries. A list of ministers who are currently serving in an unpaid capacity are as follows:
Richard Holden MP, Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) in the Cabinet Office (receives a salary from the Conservative Party)
The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Minister of State and Paymaster General, Cabinet Office
The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.
The Earl of Minto, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence.
The Rt Hon. the Earl Howe, Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Benyon, Minister of State, jointly at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Baroness Barran MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Government Equalities Spokesperson in the Lords.
The Lord Douglas-Miller OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Markham CBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Lord Bellamy KC, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice
The Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Lord Offord of Garvel CVO, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Lord Cameron of Lochiel, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office.
The Lord Roborough, Lord in Waiting (Government Whip)
The list of all government ministers on GOV.UK is updated following each reshuffle. The current government list is on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.
It would be a significant undertaking to calculate the exact number of unpaid ministers since 2015, especially given some ministers have dual roles (where they are paid in one role but not in another) such as if they hold more than one ministerial position. We can estimate however that over the last decade, this number has been approximately 10-20 at any given time.
It is ultimately for the Prime Minister to decide how to organise the executive and which ministers are paid a salary. While the Cabinet Office provides advice to the Prime Minister on the number of salaries available, the department does not decide the allocation of salaries.
Ministers are continuing to voluntarily waive part of their salaries, foregoing any pay increase to their Ministerial salaries. This means ministers in the Commons’ salaries have not increased since 2010; and ministers in the House of Lords have received frozen salaries since 2019. Further information is published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-salary-data.
Asked by: Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is a cap on the combined total for ministerial salaries in any financial year.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The number of ministerial salaries available to the government at any one time is 109. This is a statutory limit governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
It is routinely the case that some ministers will be asked to serve in an unpaid capacity given the statutory limitations on the number of available salaries. A list of ministers who are currently serving in an unpaid capacity are as follows:
Richard Holden MP, Minister of State (Minister without Portfolio) in the Cabinet Office (receives a salary from the Conservative Party)
The Rt Hon John Glen MP, Minister of State and Paymaster General, Cabinet Office
The Lord Johnson of Lainston CBE, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Baroness Neville-Rolfe DBE CMG, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office.
The Earl of Minto, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence.
The Rt Hon. the Earl Howe, Minister of State and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords.
The Rt Hon. the Lord Benyon, Minister of State, jointly at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Andrew Griffith MP, Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Baroness Barran MBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education and Government Equalities Spokesperson in the Lords.
The Lord Douglas-Miller OBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The Lord Markham CBE, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Lord Bellamy KC, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice
The Viscount Camrose, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The Lord Offord of Garvel CVO, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Business and Trade.
The Lord Cameron of Lochiel, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office.
The Lord Roborough, Lord in Waiting (Government Whip)
The list of all government ministers on GOV.UK is updated following each reshuffle. The current government list is on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.
It would be a significant undertaking to calculate the exact number of unpaid ministers since 2015, especially given some ministers have dual roles (where they are paid in one role but not in another) such as if they hold more than one ministerial position. We can estimate however that over the last decade, this number has been approximately 10-20 at any given time.
It is ultimately for the Prime Minister to decide how to organise the executive and which ministers are paid a salary. While the Cabinet Office provides advice to the Prime Minister on the number of salaries available, the department does not decide the allocation of salaries.
Ministers are continuing to voluntarily waive part of their salaries, foregoing any pay increase to their Ministerial salaries. This means ministers in the Commons’ salaries have not increased since 2010; and ministers in the House of Lords have received frozen salaries since 2019. Further information is published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-salary-data.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the number of sitting peers in the House of Lords.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The House of Lords has a key role in scrutinising the executive and as a revising chamber. The Government has made no assessment of the merits of reducing the number of sitting peers and notes that unlike the Commons, peers are not full-time salaried legislators. It is important to focus on the number of peers who attend, and not just the number eligible to sit. Existing mechanisms allow sitting peers to retire or resign.