Questioner: David Davis (CON - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the results of 16 polls on public opinion on covid-19 conducted or commissioned by his Department which took place on Sundays between March and July 2020, which covered public opinion on Covid-19.
Answered by Julia Lopez
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.
Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.
The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.
Questioner: David Davis (CON - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the (a) contents and (b) results of the 265 covid-19 polling files held by his Department's Insight and Evaluation Team.
Answered by Julia Lopez
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.
Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.
The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.
Questioner: David Davis (CON - Haltemprice and Howden)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which companies the Cabinet Office's Insight and Evaluation Team commissioned to carry out covid-19 polling on behalf of the Government.
Answered by Julia Lopez
I refer the Rt Hon. Member to the answer given to PQs 82315 and 82316 on 9 September 2020, and PQ 156454 on 2 March 2021.
Covid-19 polling for the cross-government public information campaign has been conducted regularly since the start of the pandemic. This work allows the Cabinet Office to optimise campaign messaging and maximise effectiveness, ensuring vital public health information reaches as many people as possible. The insight gathered continue to inform the Government’s ongoing communications strategy and response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and so shall not be published at this time.
The Cabinet Office publishes details of all contracts over £10,000 on Contracts Finder and spend over £500, including on public information campaigns, on a rolling basis. This will include expenditure on this campaign and will be broken down by supplier.
Questioner: Zarah Sultana (LAB - Coventry South)
Question
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which transgender charities the Government consulted with prior to the removal of gender neutral language from the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Questioner: Angela Eagle (LAB - Wallasey)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any Crown Representatives or strategic suppliers are also employed by Francis Maude Associates.
Answered by Chloe Smith
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Questioner: Rachel Reeves (LAB - Leeds West)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the date on which the Prime Minister repaid the costs of the refurbishment of the 11 Downing Street flat.
Answered by Chloe Smith
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Questioner: Andrew Rosindell (CON - Romford)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of removing covid-19 restrictions on funeral services before 20 April 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
We understand that losing a loved one is always a very difficult time. Throughout the pandemic, restrictions on funerals have sought to balance the needs of the bereaved with the need to minimise the spread of COVID-19. Therefore, the government has had to take the difficult decision to put measures in place to ensure funerals can continue whilst reducing risk, particularly if vulnerable people wish to attend.
The Government is taking a gradual and cautious approach to removing restrictions on end of life gatherings, guided by science and the data. Further information can be found in the guidance for arranging or attending a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic:
Questioner: Claire Hanna (SDLP - Belfast South)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on the end of the grace period for medical consumables on 30 September 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Lord Frost and his team are in regular contact with Vice President Šefčovič and the Commission about the various issues for which the Northern Ireland Protocol presents difficulties, including medicines and medical consumables. The Government remains in close contact with the Northern Ireland Executive as these discussions continue.
Questioner: Lord Myners (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) Bill Crothers, or (2) his consultancy company, were employed by the Government on (a) project work, or (b) any other work, after Mr Crothers ceased to be a civil servant.
Answered by Lord True
Cabinet Office does not have records of Bill Crothers working on project work or any other work during the specified time.
With regard to his consultancy company, details of Government contracts above £10,000 should be published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.
I also refer the noble peer to the letters on the ACOBA website relating to business appointments and Mr Crothers.
Questioner: Lord Myners (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any records of the Rt Hon David Cameron (1) contacting, or (2) arranging meetings with, (a) ministers, or (b) senior civil servants, over the last three years, in connection with Afiniti Limited.
Answered by Lord True
Ministers and permanent secretaries’ meetings on official government business with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are made available on GOV.UK.
Questioner: Lord Myners (CB - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government who was responsible for the appointment of Lex Greensill as a Crown Representative in March 2014, including him being issued a Cabinet Office entry pass; whether Bill Crother's appointment to the UK Board of Greensill Capital was (1) reviewed, and (2) approved, by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments; and, if so, when.
Answered by Lord True
The Prime Minister has asked Mr Boardman to conduct a review that will look into the decisions taken around the development and use of supply chain finance (and associated schemes) in government, especially the role of Lex Greensill and Greensill Capital. The full terms of reference are set out at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-into-the-development-and-use-of-supply-chain-finance-in-government-terms-of-reference.
The review will report to the Prime Minister by 30 June 2021. The Government will publish and present to Parliament the Review’s findings and the Government’s response in due course thereafter.
Correspondence between the Cabinet Office and the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crothers-bill-government-chief-commercial-officer-cabinet-office-acoba-recommendation.
Questioner: Nick Smith (LAB - Blaenau Gwent)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he had (a) discussions and (b) text communication with former Prime Minister David Cameron on Government support for Greensill Capital.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Prime Minister has asked Mr Boardman to conduct a review that will look into the decisions taken around the development and use of supply chain finance (and associated schemes) in government, especially the role of Lex Greensill and Greensill Capital. The full terms of reference are set out at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/review-into-the-development-and-use-of-supply-chain-finance-in-government-terms-of-reference
The review will report to the Prime Minister by 30 June 2021. The Government will publish and present to Parliament the Review’s findings and the Government’s response in due course thereafter.
Correspondence between the Cabinet Office and the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crothers-bill-government-chief-commercial-officer-cabinet-office-acoba-recommendation
Questioner: Dan Carden (LAB - Liverpool, Walton)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government response to the Justice Committee's report Post-legislative scrutiny of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, HC 96-I, published in July 2012, what progress the Government has made on implementing its response to the recommendation that the time limit for prosecution of offences under section 77 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should be extended; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ182093 on 21 April 2021.
Questioner: Baroness Randerson (LDEM - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to publish the register of Ministerial interests up to the end of 2020; and the registers of Ministerial interests for 2021.
Answered by Lord True
The Prime Minister has today announced the appointment of Rt Hon Lord Geidt to serve as the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. The Independent Adviser oversees the production of a List of Ministers' Interests, and the next publication will occur once Lord Geidt has concluded that process.
Questioner: Nick Smith (LAB - Blaenau Gwent)
Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to provide an Answer to Question 178999, tabled on 29 March 2021 by the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 178999 on 29 April 2021.