Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government at what level in Government the drafting instructions to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for the original clause 11 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill were approved; and whether they were approved at Ministerial level.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The policy for clause 11 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill, as introduced to Parliament, was approved by the Cabinet through the standard processes for collective agreement. Drafting instructions to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to give legal effect to this policy were approved at official level in accordance with normal practice. The final drafting of the clause was then collectively agreed by the Cabinet for introduction of the Bill.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Young of Cookham on 25 January (HL Deb, cols 1083–1085), what action they are taking to widen the pool of talent for appointment to public bodies.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
In December 2017, the Government published a Public Appointments Diversity Action Plan which sets out the range of activities we are undertaking to attract and to support new and diverse talent into public appointments. It sets out our ambition that, by 2022, 50% of all public appointees should be female and 14% of all public appointments should be from ethnic minorities (currently 43% and 10% respectively). It also announced a review of the barriers preventing disabled people from taking up public appointments. Other actions include improving the recruitment process to maximise opportunities for candidates from the broadest range of backgrounds, developing the networks through which to raise awareness of public appointments, and establishing a group of mentors who will provide peer-to-peer support for new and high potential candidates.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 5 December 2017 (HL3493), what significant increase in the decision-making powers for the devolved administrations they are considering; and whether they will retain any of the powers returned from Brussels which are currently vested in the devolved administrations.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government is working closely with the devolved administrations to determine where common approaches will and will not be required in the future. The Government is clear that none of the existing decision-making powers of the devolved administrations will be taken away and that it expects an increase in the decision making powers for the devolved administrations as a result of this process.
Asked by: Lord Morris of Aberavon (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they gave an accurate statement to Buckingham Palace regarding the state of negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party following the 2017 General Election.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Updates were provided to the Palace following the 2017 General Election accurately reflecting the latest understanding of discussions with the Democratic Unionist Party on reaching a Confidence and Supply Agreement.