Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to commission an independent review into the granting of government contracts to Carillion after that company declared itself to be in financial difficulty; what assessment they have made of the sufficiency of the attention given to the solvency and liquidity of the company before granting those contracts; and what consideration was given to rules relating to state aid relating to the grant of those contracts.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Following the news of the collapse of Carillion, the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into how the Government and public sector manages the risks of outsourcing the delivery of public services. The government will fully cooperate with this Inquiry.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments has ever advised a former minister not to accept an appointment.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments provides its advice direct to the former Minister in question.
The Committee’s final advice is published online when an appointment has been taken up and/or publicly announced. Until this point, the process is confidential between the Committee and the former Minister in question, to allow for free and frank discussion.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the effectiveness of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government believes that the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments discharges its remit effectively and efficiently.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any former employees of Macquarie are acting as special advisers, or in an advisory capacity, in (1) Downing Street, (2) the Cabinet Office, or (3) the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to publish the savings in public sector procurement as a result of following the advice of Sir Philip Green; and whether they will consider inviting Sir Philip to review the adequacy and effectiveness of implementation.
Answered by Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
I refer the noble Lord to the answers I gave him on 11 April 2016 to Question HL7227 and on 9 May to Question HL7900.
We have published details of savings made through efficiency and reform each year since 2010-11. The most recent report can be found on www.gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the effectiveness of the recommendations on public sector procurement by Sir Philip Green.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
I refer the noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 11 April 2016 to Question HL7227.
As a result of the commercial and procurement reforms we made during the life of the last Parliament, we saved more than £21 bn.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have reviewed the implementation of the recommendations on public sector procurement made by Sir Philip Green; and whether they will ask Sir Philip to conduct a further review on policy options to reduce government borrowing.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
Sir Phillip's report contributed enormously to the development of the Coalition Government's policies in respect of common goods and services. Many of the recommendations have been taken forward, including the creation of the Crown Commercial Service. The Crown Commercial Service brings together policy, advice and direct buying, providing commercial services to the public sector and saving money for the taxpayer.
The 2016 Budget announced that The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, with the support of the Minister for the Cabinet Office, will lead an efficiency review, reporting in 2018. We will set out details of this in due course.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who will determine when the House of Lords first sits after the general election.
Answered by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
The date on which Parliament will return will be set out in a Royal Proclamation from Her Majesty the Queen.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint was appointed as an adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on banking issues; when he was appointed to the Cabinet Committee on banking reform; how many meetings of that committee he attended; and when he ceased to be a member of that committee.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
Lord Green was a member of the Banking Reform Committee for the period 11 January 2011 to 11 December 2013. His interest in HSBC is a matter of public record. As was the case under previous administrations, information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet and which Ministers have attended, is generally not disclosed.
Asked by: Lord Myners (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint disclosed an interest in, and knowledge about, HSBC before he was appointed as a member of HM Treasury’s Banking Reform Committee; and when he joined and left that Committee.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
Lord Green was a member of the Banking Reform Committee for the period 11 January 2011 to 11 December 2013. His interest in HSBC is a matter of public record. As was the case under previous administrations, information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet and which Ministers have attended, is generally not disclosed.