Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what has been the cost to the public purse of appealing the Information Commissioner’s Decision Notice of 18th December 2019, reference FS50772671.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the hon. Member to his previous Parliamentary Question answered on 8 March PQ133263.
The government does not comment on the costs of ongoing litigation and will publish the costs after the conclusion of the case.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Committee on Standards and Public Life's report on MPs' Outside Interests and the Committee on Standards' report entitled, New Code of Conduct and Guide to the Rules: promoting appropriate values, attitudes and behaviour in Parliament, published on 24 May 2022, if the Government will take steps to implement the recommendations in those reports on the rules on (a) paid advocacy and (b) the provision of advice on parliamentary affairs.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government is carefully considering the Committee on Standards' report, the Committee’s draft Procedural Protocol and covering report. The Government will be responding in full to the report and its various recommendations. The Code of Conduct for MPs rightly remains a matter for Parliament and any changes must be taken forward on a cross-party basis, in order to ensure a standards system that is robust, fair and has the backing of the public and MPs.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of (a) length of time and (b) costs for resolving procurement challenges and disputes; and what plans he has to make the system faster and more efficient.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
Current procurement laws allow for the exclusion of suppliers from bidding for procurements where they have been convicted of, or there is evidence of, bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion. The Procurement Bill, introduced to Parliament on 11 May, broadens and strengthens the exclusion grounds. It is for contracting authorities to consider whether suppliers must or may be excluded from each procurement. We intend to publish guidance to assist authorities in conducting due diligence, for instance by pointing to relevant sources of information.
The Procurement Bill also includes new, clearer and more transparent measures for how procurement can be conducted in an emergency. It makes provision for contracting in an emergency, for example where necessary to protect life. This will give people confidence that contracts are being let appropriately even when there is a need to procure at speed. New rules will also continue to allow buyers to run a quick informal competition in situations of extreme urgency (currently they are more likely to opt for a direct award to reduce the risk of delay).
The Government’s response to the Green Paper on Transforming Public Procurement discussed the costs and duration of legal challenges and we are continuing to explore feasible options for faster and more accessible routes for valid challenge of procurement decisions. We intend to establish a new Procurement Review Unit to improve capability and compliance, thereby reducing the need for legal challenges, and providing an alternative mechanism for complaints to be addressed.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to ensure effective parliamentary oversight of the use of emergency procurement measures.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
Current procurement laws allow for the exclusion of suppliers from bidding for procurements where they have been convicted of, or there is evidence of, bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion. The Procurement Bill, introduced to Parliament on 11 May, broadens and strengthens the exclusion grounds. It is for contracting authorities to consider whether suppliers must or may be excluded from each procurement. We intend to publish guidance to assist authorities in conducting due diligence, for instance by pointing to relevant sources of information.
The Procurement Bill also includes new, clearer and more transparent measures for how procurement can be conducted in an emergency. It makes provision for contracting in an emergency, for example where necessary to protect life. This will give people confidence that contracts are being let appropriately even when there is a need to procure at speed. New rules will also continue to allow buyers to run a quick informal competition in situations of extreme urgency (currently they are more likely to opt for a direct award to reduce the risk of delay).
The Government’s response to the Green Paper on Transforming Public Procurement discussed the costs and duration of legal challenges and we are continuing to explore feasible options for faster and more accessible routes for valid challenge of procurement decisions. We intend to establish a new Procurement Review Unit to improve capability and compliance, thereby reducing the need for legal challenges, and providing an alternative mechanism for complaints to be addressed.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to tackle potential enforcement loopholes to ensure the effectiveness of proposals for (a) failure to prevent offences, (b) deferred prosecution agreements and (c) other proposals for the exclusion of bidders from public procurement in respect of companies involved in (i) bribery, (ii) fraud, (iii) money laundering and (iv) tax evasion.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
Current procurement laws allow for the exclusion of suppliers from bidding for procurements where they have been convicted of, or there is evidence of, bribery, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion. The Procurement Bill, introduced to Parliament on 11 May, broadens and strengthens the exclusion grounds. It is for contracting authorities to consider whether suppliers must or may be excluded from each procurement. We intend to publish guidance to assist authorities in conducting due diligence, for instance by pointing to relevant sources of information.
The Procurement Bill also includes new, clearer and more transparent measures for how procurement can be conducted in an emergency. It makes provision for contracting in an emergency, for example where necessary to protect life. This will give people confidence that contracts are being let appropriately even when there is a need to procure at speed. New rules will also continue to allow buyers to run a quick informal competition in situations of extreme urgency (currently they are more likely to opt for a direct award to reduce the risk of delay).
The Government’s response to the Green Paper on Transforming Public Procurement discussed the costs and duration of legal challenges and we are continuing to explore feasible options for faster and more accessible routes for valid challenge of procurement decisions. We intend to establish a new Procurement Review Unit to improve capability and compliance, thereby reducing the need for legal challenges, and providing an alternative mechanism for complaints to be addressed.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the covid-19 inquiry will not hold public evidence hearings until 2023.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The timing of a statutory inquiry’s various stages are, under the Inquiries Act 2005, a matter for its independent chair to determine.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent steps he has taken with the Prime Minister to hold Ministers to account for the performance of their Departments.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The Prime Minister set up the No 10 Delivery Unit (10DU) in June last year as a new, powerful capability in the heart of government to drive forward his ambitious agenda for the country.
10DU focuses on core elements of the PM's mission - levelling up, recovery and reform of public services, jobs and skills, and net zero. It works as an integral part of No10, acting as the guardian of the centre's delivery priorities and the associated tools and techniques for effective delivery. As such, it supports capacity building in government departments and takes a leading role in the delivery of the Government's agenda.
The Prime Minister also holds ministers to account via Cabinet meetings and Cabinet Committees. To complement this, the Cabinet Secretary holds regular Departmental stocktakes on departmental delivery with Permanent Secretaries across government.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2021 to Question 3128 on Earl Mountbatten of Burma: Disclosure of information, if he will provide a breakdown of the costs to the public purse incurred in relation to this matter to date.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I refer the hon. Member to his previous Parliamentary Question answered on 24 May PQ 3128.
The government does not comment on the costs of ongoing litigation and will publish the costs at the conclusion of the case.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what cost has been incurred to the public purse in respect of not allowing the public release of the Mountbatten archive as at 21 February 2022.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I refer the hon. Member to their previous Parliamentary Question answered on 24 May 2021 PQ3128.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool, Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish Sir Robert Francis' study into options for a framework for compensation for people infected and affected by infected blood upon his Department receiving it.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The study will report to the Paymaster General no later than 14 March 2022. The Government will give full consideration to Sir Robert's study - which is separate from the independent public inquiry. The Government's response and Sir Robert's study will be published.