Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was spent on consultancy services by the Cabinet Office and its related agencies in the 2019/20 financial year; and what was the (1) cost of, and (2) reason for, each such contract.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
As set out on page 57, section 2.10 of the Cabinet Office Annual Account (2019-2020) and available on gov.uk, expenditure on consultancy reduced from £43.647 million in 2018-19 to £35.380 million in 2019-20.
Cabinet Office publishes all contracts over £10,000. Details of all consultancy contracts can be found on Contracts Finder.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report on Major Projects 2019–20, published on 9 July, which categorised the HS2 project as a red risk, what recent assessment they have made of (1) the construction, and (2) the whole life costs, of the consented HS2 Phase One scheme at Wendover.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA) has not conducted a review of the Wendover area since its dedicated review in 2018. The review in 2018 of the Wendover area was of the process by which HS2 Ltd had considered and rejected the mined tunnel proposal. However, the IPA was not asked to review either the construction costs or the whole life costs, but whether HS2 Ltd had followed a competent process in making its decision. The review concluded that HS2 Ltd had followed a competent process in reaching its decision.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, when negotiating future trade arrangements with the EU, they plan to adopt a policy of linking greenhouse gas trading systems in relation to common operational procedures and technical standards, similar to that included in the proposed agreement between the European Union and the Swiss Confederation (COM (2020) 255).
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
As stated within the Government’s publication: The Future Relationship with the EU, The UK’s Approach to Negotiations, the UK is committed to carbon pricing as a decarbonisation tool. We will establish a UK system that supports our world leading climate ambition, including net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. This will enable UK energy generators, heavy industry and aviation to decarbonise their operations in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
In the context of our approach to carbon pricing, the UK remains open to considering a link between any future UK Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the EU ETS (as Switzerland has done with its ETS), if it suited both sides’ interests.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) review, and (2) update, the imagery used on awards given in the honours system.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
We are aware of a petition on the Order of St Michael and St George. The premise of this petition is factually incorrect – the insignia for the Order of St Michael and St George was updated in 2011, and the design referred in the petition is no longer used. Any current recipient of a pre-2011 insignia is able to receive one with the updated design, on request.
Matters regarding insignia are for the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (also known as the ‘HD Committee’). The independent Officers of the Order of St Michael and St George may advise the Committee in relation to their Order. The Committee then gives advice to the Sovereign.
In light of the change in 2011, it is the view of Ministers in Her Majesty's Government that there is no need for any specific review.
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to include in the terms of reference for their commission on race and ethnic disparities the replacement of the references to the British Empire in the honours system with honours that recognise the UK’s multi-racial society.
Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords
The terms of reference will be announced in due course.