Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, for what reasons he sought the advice of Lord Geidt in his former role as Independent Adviser on Ministers' Interests on the matter relating to the Trade Remedies Authority referred to by the Prime Minister in his letter of 16 June 2022 in response to Lord Geidt's resignation letter of 15 June 2022.
Answered by Boris Johnson
As I set out in my letter of 16 June, this request for advice related to a matter in the national interest on protecting a crucial industry that would otherwise suffer material harm.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with (a) his Deputy Chief of Staff and (b) Lynton Crosby on the potential merits of a windfall tax on oil and gas company profits; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Prime Minister has regular discussions with Downing Street special advisers on a wide range of issues; Sir Lynton Crosby is not a Government adviser.
I would draw the hon. Member’s attention to the oral statement made by my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Thursday 26 May, which announced a £15 billion package of targeted Government support to help households across the UK with the rising cost of living, and includes a temporary Energy Profits Levy on oil and gas firms.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will make it his policy to publish transparency data from the Cabinet Office on ministerial gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings on a monthly basis; if he will undertake an assessment of the impact on the ability of interested parties to scrutinise Ministers of providing updates three months in arrears on a quarterly basis; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Departments publish details of ministers' gifts, hospitality, travel and meetings on a quarterly basis. The government will continue to look at how the range of information published by Government can be improved and made as useful as possible to the public, press and Parliament.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 May 2022 to Question 162, on Russia: Subversion, whether he has seen evidence of unsuccessful interference in the EU Referendum by (a) internet trolls linked to the Kremlin or (b) other actors.
Answered by Michael Ellis
As the Government has said previously, we did not see evidence of successful foreign interference in the EU referendum. That remains the case.
The Intelligence and Security Agencies produce and contribute to regular assessments of State Threats, including around potential interference in UK democratic processes. We keep such assessments under review and, where necessary, update them in response to new intelligence.
The Government has robust structures in place to identify threats to democracy and, where necessary, takes proportionate action to mitigate them. Furthermore, we have brought forward new legislation to provide the security services and law enforcement agencies with the tools they need to disrupt state threats, including foreign interference.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2022 to Question 163 on the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests and with reference to the letter from Rt Hon Lord Geidt, Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests, Cabinet Office to the Chair of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, of 6 January 2022, whether a decision was taken to publish his report after the elections on 5 May 2022; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the hon. Member back to my answer to PQ 163 of 16 May. The timing of publication of the Annual Report is a matter for the Independent Adviser.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, how many times he has met in any (a) formal and (b) informal capacity to discuss climate and energy issues with (i) representatives and (ii) members of the (A) Global Warming Policy Foundation and (B) Net Zero Scrutiny Group in the last two years.
Answered by Boris Johnson
Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk as part of the government’s transparency agenda.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to FCDO Press Release of 1 May 2022 entitled UK exposes sick Russian troll factory plaguing social media with Kremlin propaganda, whether the Kremlin's trolling activities were in operation during the referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum. There are no plans to make a statement.
It is, and always will be, an absolute priority to protect the UK against foreign interference. The National Security Bill was introduced to Parliament on 11 May. The Bill will provide new tools and powers for the intelligence agencies and law enforcement, including offences for foreign interference, supporting a foreign intelligence service and sabotage.