Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the report by Sir Robert Francis KC entitled Compensation and Redress for the Victims of Infected Blood, Recommendations for a Framework, published on 7 June 2022, what his planned timetable is for the publication of the Government response to that report.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I recognise the importance of the issue and the desire of the honourable Member to receive an update on Government work in relation to Sir Robert Francis’ recommendations.
It is my intention to provide an update to the House as soon as possible.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will hold discussions with his Egyptian counterpart on (a) political prisoners and (b) other alleged human rights violations in Egypt during the COP27 conference.
Answered by Rishi Sunak
I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave during my statement on 9 November 2022 on COP27, Official Report, Columns 259-277.
Asked by: Dan Carden (Labour - Liverpool Walton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has plans to make interim compensation payments to infected blood support scheme beneficiaries before a compensation scheme is established; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Michael Ellis
On 16 August 2022, I wrote to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, confirming that the Government accepts his recommendation in full. These interim payments are the first step in addressing this historic wrong and recognise the urgent need of infected and affected people.
I have also made a Written Ministerial Statement (HCWS279) that was released on Monday, 5th September on this matter.
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.