Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to update the Dissolution Principles when the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill passes into law.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Dissolution Principles paper was published as a draft statement to inform debate on the principles that underpin the revived prerogative powers to dissolve one Parliament and call another. There has been careful scrutiny of these principles, including by the Joint Committee on the Fixed-term Parliaments Act, and the Government expanded on its views on the conventions on dissolution, government formation and confidence in its response to the Committee.
Through these debates, the Government considers that the Dissolution Principles document has served its purpose in supporting informed scrutiny of the non-legislative constitutional principles that apply to dissolution. Moreover, the Government has committed to updating the Cabinet Manual so that it continues to play a useful role as a guide to the operations and procedures of government and the associated conventions. This will include revisiting chapter 2 on Elections and Government formation to reflect the passage of the Dissolution and Calling of Parliament Bill.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to progress a public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the covid-19 outbreak; and when the commencement date will be announced.
Answered by Michael Ellis
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 will be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. The independent chair of the inquiry will be appointed by the end of this year. Further details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on holding a public inquiry into the Government’s handling of the covid-19 outbreak; and when will that inquiry's commencement date will be announced.
Answered by Michael Ellis
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 will be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. The independent chair of the inquiry will be appointed by the end of this year. Further details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government Department is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the policies set out in the Government's Covid-19 Response: Spring 2021 document, published in February 2021, CP 398.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The COVID-19 Task Force in the Cabinet Office is responsible for coordinating the Government’s response to the pandemic. The Task Force has oversight of the implementation of the policies set out in the Covid-19 Response - Spring 2021, however accountability for individual COVID-19 related programmes rests with Senior Responsible Owners within Government departments.
The COVID-19 Task Force works with departments across Government to perform this role including: supporting decision-making through Cabinet committees; developing overarching strategy; and providing data and analysis.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what (a) correspondence and (b) representations he has received on proposals to engage citizens in the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government has received assorted correspondence on the proposals for a Commission. The Government will publish more details on this work programme in due course.
Asked by: Alex Norris (Labour (Co-op) - Nottingham North and Kimberley)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Prime Minister's oral Answer of 15 January 2020, Official Report column 1019 on Constitutional Reform, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including citizen engagement in plans for the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government has received assorted correspondence on the proposals for a Commission. The Government will publish more details on this work programme in due course.