Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on introducing a deed of undertaking to make the requirements of the Business Appointment Rules enforceable for Ministers.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government expects all former Ministers to abide by their obligations with regard to the Business Appointment Rules, as set out in the Ministerial Code. The work to develop a ministerial deed is ongoing and an update will be made in due course.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will hold discussions with Boris Johnson on the requirements upon him under the business appointment rules to make applications to the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, in the context of his role with Merlyn Advisors.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government expects all former Ministers to abide by their obligations with regard to the Business Appointment Rules, as set out in the Ministerial Code. The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments writes to the Government if they consider there to have been a breach of the Rules.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraphs 7.16 and 7.17 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions have ministers in his department informed the Law Officers that they are the defendants in a libel action in (a) their personal capacity, (b) their official position and (c) both since 19 December 2019.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As set out in paragraph 2.13 of the Ministerial Code: “The fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority”. As a result, the Government is unable to provide the details requested.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the cross-Whitehall Crime and Justice Taskforce was created; and who the members of that Taskforce are.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ107708. The membership of the Taskforce is available on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the dates were of each of the meetings of the Crime and Justice Taskforce.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to PQ107708. The membership of the Taskforce is available on Gov.uk.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the equity for workers of the outcomes achieved by the pay review bodies that determine public sector pay.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The remit of the Pay Review Bodies continues to be to provide evidence based advice on pay. We will consider their recommendations when they report from Spring 2018. Our assessment of public sector pay shows that wages in the public sector are roughly equivalent to those in the private sector, and, in addition, public sector workers benefit from more generous pensions.
In line with their duties under equalities legislation, Ministers fully consider equalities impacts and implications when setting the Government’s pay policy. It is for Departments to consider the equalities impacts of their proposals on workforce strategy and pay.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Strategy, how much funding has been allocated to the Action Fraud helpline.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
In November 2016 the Government published a new five year National Cyber Security
Strategy 2016 - 2021, which defines our vision and ambition for the future: a UK that is
secure and resilient to cyber threats. The strategy is being implemented through the
National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP), which allocates transformative investment to
lead government departments to support delivery of the objectives set out in the strategy.
In 2017/18, we have committed £30 million of NCSP money for law enforcement and
combating cyber crime. Of this, £4,801,300 has been allocated to the City of London
Police, which includes £3,200,000 funding specifically for Action Fraud.
In 2016/17, the City of London Police received £3,153,296 NCSP funding, of which
£2,775,000 was spent on funding for Action Fraud.
The Home Office also separately funds the Action Fraud/ National Fraud Intelligence
Bureau (NFIB) capability. In 2016/17 this totalled £7,443,000. £8 million has been
allocated to this capability in 2017/18.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the cyber security standards set out in paragraph 5.3.11 of the National Cyber Security Strategy were implemented.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Government is committed to ensuring that the commitments set out in the National Cyber
Security Strategy 2016 – 2021 are carried out and that we accurately monitor and regularly report
on progress in meeting them. The Cyber Security Standards, which define the minimum security
measures that departments must implement with regards to protecting their technology and digital
services to meet HMG Security Policy Framework obligations, are due to be issued in November
2017.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Cyber Security Strategy, if he will list spending on each project supported by the Cyber Investment Fund.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Government has allocated £10 million to establish a Cyber Innovation Fund which will support the UK’s national security requirements by providing innovative start-ups with financial and procurement support. This investment forms part of a suite of innovation initiatives within the National Cyber Security Strategy that will develop the cyber security sector and support the UK’s national security requirements in cyber. The mechanism to deliver funding is currently under evaluation in consultation with industry partners.
Asked by: Nick Thomas-Symonds (Labour - Torfaen)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the security ratings for new products set out in paragraph 5.2.6 of the National Cyber Security Strategy were implemented.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is considering the need for the right incentives to be in place to build security into internet-connected products and services. The National Cyber Security Centre website provides clear information to consumers directly and via its website, for example on the use of password managers.