Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to follow the United States, Canada, and the European Union in restricting the use of TikTok on government-issued devices.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We continue to monitor potential threats to our systems and data and will not hesitate to take further action if necessary.
With regards to potential security risks, His Majesty’s Government does not comment on these matters.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that all public sector bodies follow their new procurement rules designed to exclude suppliers linked to human rights abuses.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Government is committed to preventing human rights abuses in the global economy, including in our own supply chains.
The Public Contracts Regulations allow contracting authorities to exclude bidders in particular situations, such as for human rights abuses, and must be considered by the contracting authority on a case by case basis.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to updating (1) the Ministerial Code of Conduct, (2) the Special Advisers Code of Conduct, and (3) the Civil Service Code of Conduct, in response to allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in public life and the awareness raised by the MeToo campaign.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Ministerial Code was revised in January 2018 to include new wording to make clear that harassing, bullying or other inappropriate or discriminatory behaviour wherever it takes place is not consistent with the Ministerial Code and will not be tolerated. We will be looking to make similar amendments to the Civil Service Code and the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Helic (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review will incorporate preventing sexual violence in conflict as a component of building security overseas.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government is committed to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS), and to driving forward the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative. This commitment will inform work on the relevant aspects of the 2015 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review.