Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to increase public sector productivity.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
The government has a relentless focus on getting the most out of every pound spent by boosting public sector productivity and by focusing spending on the government’s priorities.
In June, the Chancellor announced the Public Sector Productivity Programme as a means of assessing how productivity can be improved and to ensure the long-term sustainability of our public services.
The programme has focused on embracing the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence, reducing the amount of time our key frontline workers spend on administrative tasks and strengthening preventive action to reduce demand on public services.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of trends in public sector productivity since 2019.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
ONS publish annual National Statistics on public service productivity up to 2020. The next annual statistic for 2021 will be published on 26 March. ONS also publish estimates of public service productivity which currently include annual estimates for 2021 and 2022 and quarterly estimates up to 2023 Q3. These are official statistics in development.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department takes into account local attitudes to active travel projects when assessing requests for funding from local authorities.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department recognises the importance of active travel schemes that work for and reflect the wishes of the public. This is why funding guidance for local authorities is clear that all schemes must be developed in consultation with local communities, in line with responsibilities under existing legislation such as the Public Sector Equality Duty and Road Traffic Regulation Act. This will enable a range of views to be considered and given due regard. Effective consultation is a condition of funding and it may result in the downgrading of local authority capability ratings if it is not adequately fulfilled.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department has issued recent guidance on challenging the imposition of 20 mph zones by local authorities.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department is finalising the details to the guidance update on setting local speed limits and in respect of 20mph speed limits, as announced in the Plan for Drivers. This will be published in due course.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what the carbon dioxide output of the Government estate was in (a) 2019 and (b) 2024.
Answered by Rebecca Pow - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Since 2011 the Greening Government Commitments (GGCs) have set targets for greening the government estate and reported progress against them.
In financial year 2018-2019 the estate within the scope of the GGCs emitted 1,641,131 tonnes of CO2, 46% less than financial year 2009-2010. Full data is available in the 2018-2019 Greening Government Commitments annual report.
We will continue publishing CO2 emissions data in future GGCs annual reports. Data for financial year 2020-2021 is the latest year for which data is available and can be accessed here.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria are used to determine when temporary air quality speed limits are used on the M4 near Heathrow.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways implemented a speed restriction of 60mph on the M4 westbound at junctions 3 to 4 in December 2022 to achieve nitrogen dioxide (NO2) compliance in the shortest possible time.
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what ministerial involvement there is in (a) setting budgets, (b) preparing annual reports and (c) approving annual reports for arms length public bodies.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
How budgets are set and the process for preparing and approving annual reports for arm’s length bodies (ALBs) are dependent on their classification status and their source of income.Further information on the reporting requirements for ALBs can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/657b04390467eb001355f84d/MASTER_FINAL_DRAFT_2024-25_FReM___1_.pdf Further information on the accounting process for each type of ALB can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a74d700e5274a59fa715592/Classification-of-Public_Bodies-Guidance-for-Departments.pdf
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what UK Government Investments Ltd.'s targets are for (a) rates of return, (b) dividends and (c) capital investment.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
UK Government Investments (UKGI) provides governance and corporate finance expertise to UK Government departments in support of their policy objectives.
UKGI performs the shareholder function for a portfolio of arm’s length bodies (ALBs) on behalf of government departments.
The targets and objectives for the individual ALBs within UKGI’s portfolio are set by the relevant department.
Whilst some of these bodies return dividends, others exist to deliver public services such as National Highways.
For example, the UK Infrastructure Bank (UKIB) is an ALB within UKGI’s portfolio. HM Treasury (HMT) are the sponsor department for UKIB and own the shares in UKIB. UKGI advise HMT on corporate governance and act as HMT’s representative on the Board. HMT set relevant targets for UKIB, including a return on equity target of 2.5% - 4% by the end of the financial year 2025-26 (Link here).
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what was the balance of UK Government Investment Ltd. holdings in (a) 2023 and (b) 2024 to date.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
UK Government Investments (UKGI) provides governance and corporate finance expertise to government departments in support of their policy objectives.
The shareholdings of the arm’s length bodies in UKGI’s portfolio are held by the government department that own each organisation rather than held on the UKGI balance sheet.
Details on the UKGI balance sheet can be found in their Annual Report and Accounts (Link here)
Asked by: John Redwood (Conservative - Wokingham)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has made an estimate of the steel required to be imported following the potential closure of UK blast furnaces.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
We have agreed to invest a historic £500 million at Port Talbot, so we can secure domestic steel production for the long term.
While transitioning to electric arc, Tata plan to temporarily import steel substrates. These materials will then be processed at Tata Steel’s existing UK facilities, continuing to serve customers.
Following the completion of the Electric Arc Furnace, domestic self-sufficiency would increase – from 10% of UK-sourced raw materials today to about three-quarters with an electric arc furnace, making UK steel production more resilient to adverse global events and supply chain risks.