Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 May 2019 to Question 249954, if the Government will publish the recommendations of the Joint Funds Unit audit of Overseas Security and Justice Assistance; what steps have been taken in response to the recommendations of that audit; who was responsible for conducting that audit; and what the cost was to the public purse of that audit.
Answered by David Lidington
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office lead HMG policy on the Overseas Security and Justice Assistance (OSJA) Guidance. The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) takes its responsibility to do no harm seriously. At the direction of the Joint Funds Unit (JFU), the Stabilisation Unit (SU) commissioned Palladium, a SU provider, to undertake an audit of OSJAs across CSSF programmes, at a cost of £31,801.64.
The audit showed that the majority of programme teams have a good understanding of the human rights risks their programmes are operating in, and a realistic view of the extent to which risks can be mitigated. The audit’s findings also highlighted areas where the process could be improved.
In response to the audit’s recommendations, the JFU is updating CSSF programmatic guidance and the Stabilisation Unit is also updating its core security and justice training for HMG staff to align with the revised guidance.
As the Government stated in its response to Question 249954, there are no plans to publish the OSJA audit.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress he is making on improving the transparency of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund.
Answered by David Lidington
The CSSF has now published two Annual Reports, 83 programme summaries for 2018/19 (in addition to the 62 programme summaries published for 2017/18) and 64 Annual Review summaries for 2017/18 (in addition to the 49 published for 2016/17.
The CSSF is working towards meeting a “good” International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) rating by 2020 in line with the government’s commitment. There is a presumption to publish programme information for all CSSF programmes, and for 2018/19 83 out of our 90 programmes, had programme summaries published. The two key reasons why we may not be able to make programme documentation public are to protect national security and to protect the safety and security of beneficiaries, partners and partner governments.
The latest Annual Report and programme summaries took on many of the suggestions received from stakeholders in the development sector. The Annual Report included a chapter on spend with break downs by ODA and non-ODA, department, region, theme and discretionary and non-discretionary budgets. In addition, Programme summaries broke down project spend by ODA/non-ODA splits.
We are also working to publish more Official Development Assistance (ODA) spend information on Devtracker. We have published data for all FCO and DFID CSSF programmes for the last six quarters and are currently working on the next quarter.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to review the way Government shares information with the devolved administrations.
Answered by David Lidington
The UK Government and devolved administrations are carrying out a joint review of intergovernmental relations including how information is shared between the four administrations. We are also working with the devolved administrations to develop common frameworks, including information sharing arrangements, in policy areas where powers returning from the EU intersect with devolved competence.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to implement the findings of the 2018 Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government laid the final reports of the four Boundary Commissions in the Boundary Review before Parliament in September 2018. A draft Order in Council will be required to give effect to the recommendations contained in the reports. The final proposals will be debated and there will be a vote in both Houses in due course in the usual way.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has consulted key stakeholders on changes proposed to the Consolidated Guidance; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the Prime Minister’s Written Ministerial Statement of 15 September 2016 (HCWS157).
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of successful Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were from (a) each of the nine English regions, (b) Northern Ireland, (c) Scotland and (d) Wales in each financial year since 2013.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Fast Stream data relating to the 2017 and 2018 intake is currently being processed. The Fast Stream and Early Talent Annual report 2017 will be published later this year.
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office,what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were black Asian or minority ethnic in each financial year since 2013.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The proportion of BAME applicants to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2013-2016 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were women in each financial year since 2013.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The proportion of women applicants to the Civil Service Fast Stream in each financial year since 2013 is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of successful Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were women in each financial year since 2013.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The proportion of women recommended for appointment to the Civil Service Fast Stream from 2013-2016 is available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
Asked by: Dan Jarvis (Labour - Barnsley Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of successful Civil Service Fast Stream applicants were black Asian or minority ethnic in each financial year since 2013.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The proportion of BAME candidates recommended for appointment to the Civil Service Fast Stream is available online at; https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/678425/FSET_Annual_Review_2016.pdf