Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have issued instructions to any government departments to cease or avoid the use of (1) Hikvision, or (2) Dahua, equipment; and if so, (a) which departments, and (b) with what justification.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the noble Lord to PQ HL4954 of 23 January 2023 but, for the benefit of the House, on 24 November 2022, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster laid a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) instructing departments to cease deployment of surveillance equipment on sensitive sites on the government estate, where such equipment is produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People’s Republic of China. Departments have been advised to consider whether there are sites to which they would wish to extend the same risk mitigation.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November (HL3410), which ministers (1) applied for, or (2) have received, salary payments equal to a quarter of their annual salary following their appointment by Prime Minister Truss and subsequent dismissal by Prime Minister Sunak; and what was the sum paid in each case.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As indicated in the Written Answer of 23 November, Ministers’ entitlement to a payment on ceasing to hold office is set out in the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (section 4). As such payments are a statutory entitlement, they are made as a matter of course by the relevant department where a minister meets the criteria, unless the entitlement is waived by the minister in question.
Any payments made under section 4 of Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 to ministers who served under the former Prime Minister will be published by departments in their audited annual reports and accounts in due course.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers appointed by Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss who were either (1) demoted, or (2) dismissed on the appointment of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are entitled to (a) severance, or (b) any other form of payment for the period during which they were in office.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, Ministers who leave office are entitled to receive a payment equal to a quarter of their annual salary. This applies only where a Minister is under 65 and is not appointed to a ministerial office within three weeks of leaving government.
Salary entitlements for ministers are set out in Schedule One of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975, and ministerial salary information is published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord True on 14 July (HL Deb, col 1546), whether they will place a copy of any correspondence relating to their expenditure so far on the possible relocation of the House of Lords to York in the Library of the House.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Prime Minister’s letter to the CEO of the Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority and the CEO of the R&R Sponsor Body, which requests that it give consideration to decant locations outside of London, were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 15 July. This letter is also publicly available on the parliamentary website.
The Government is keen to ensure the R&R of the Palace of Westminster delivers best value for money and would like the Sponsor Body to advise Parliament regarding a range of options as part of this process. As per the principle of exclusive cognisance, the location of Parliament is a matter for Parliament itself.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the value of each contract awarded to Trimble Manhattan Space Scheduling by the House of Lords administration in each of the last four years.
Answered by Lord Laming
The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. Trimble Manhattan Space Scheduling (Trimble) are engaged by Parliament to provide room booking software utilised by the Attendants office in managing meeting and committee rooms.
This contract has been held by the Parliamentary Digital Service (PDS) since 1 August 2012 and to date £95,536 has been spent. It is due to expire on 28 December 2020 and no further spend is expected on this contract.
Spend over the last four years with Trimble:
Financial Year 2016/17 spend - £0;
Financial Year 2017/18 spend - £23,868 (PDS);
Financial Year 2018/19 spend - £11,506 (PDS);
Financial Year 2019/20 spend - £7,956 (PDS).
The only parliamentary contract awarded to Trimble in the last four years is held by the Commons Northern Estate Programme (NEP).
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they will require of disability of persons standing as Police and Crime Commissioners who have disability-related expenses which are not to be included under rules governing candidate spending limits in their proposed secondary legislation.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
A candidate does not have to report evidence of their disability in order to use the exemption brought forward by The Police and Crime Commissioner Elections (Amendment) Order 2020. This upholds the confidentiality of the candidate and is consistent with disability exemptions in place for elections across the UK, including UK Parliamentary general elections.
A candidate will need to make an assessment as to whether their disability meets the definition of disability provided in the 2020 Order. This uses the definition of disability contained within the 2010 Equality Act. There is also statutory guidance available on the meaning of disability under the Equality Act which should help candidates undertake this assessment.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the cost to (1) local authorities, and (2) the Electoral Commission, of preparation for, and administration of, the scheme of individual electoral registration, since that scheme was introduced.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Cabinet Office has provided funding to Local Authorities to reflect the increase in costs of registration under individual electoral registration compared to the previous household system. This means that the cost of individual electoral registration has been borne directly by central Government. The amount of funding provided to local authorities in 2013-15 was some £49 million. This was shared between all Electoral Registration Officers in Great Britain. This sum includes £10 million allocated to boost voter registration during the transition. The Cabinet Office continues to provide funding to assist Electoral Registration Officers with the management of electoral registration.
The Electoral Commission was a major supporter of the introduction of individual electoral registration and played an essential role in its successful implementation. Her Majesty’s Government is not in a position, however, to report on costs incurred by the Electoral Commission which is an independent body.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what dates since 30 March the House of Lords Appointments Commission has met to consider nominations for a peerage.
Answered by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
The independent House of Lords Appointments Commission (HoLAC) accounts for its proceedings in its Annual Report and publishes minutes of Commission meetings on its website: http://lordsappointments.independent.gov.uk/
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are still committed to greater proportionality in the appointment of members to the House of Lords; and if not, what consultations took place prior to their decision not to continue with this commitment.
Answered by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
I refer the noble Lord to my written answer of 23 June 2015 (HL371, HL372, HL373 and HL509), which I attach for ease of reference.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what dates in 2015 the names of persons nominated for a peerage were first communicated to the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
Answered by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
I refer the noble Lord to my written answer of 23 June 2015 (HL371, HL372, HL373 and HL509), which I attach for ease of reference.