Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) charities and (b) other bodies were involved in the organisation of the Prime Minister's visit to Haughton Academy in Darlington on 29 January 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As has been the practice under successive administrations, official visits by the Prime Minister are organised by his or her office - in this case, liaising directly with the Academy.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much funding his Department has (a) budgeted for and (b) spent on software updates to legacy computer systems in each of the last three years.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Most of the systems within Cabinet Office operate on the basis of updates being provided within the licence costs. As such there is no specific budget or spend for updates.
The Cabinet Office employs the Legacy IT Assessment Risk Framework, a standardised methodology designed by the Central Digital and Data Office, to assess the risks associated with legacy digital technology assets across His Majesty's Government. The highest category of risk within the framework is known as ‘red-rated’. This approach enables the Cabinet Office to generate a prioritised overview of our legacy technology, clearly highlighting assets that necessitate remediation plans and the allocation of suitable funding for implementation.
Where we have allocated funding to develop, sustain or migrate legacy systems of our Red Rated Systems we have:
Budgeted £21,405,400 over the last three years and;
Spending within that timeframe has been consistent with the budget.
In addition, the Cabinet Office is currently refining its approach to the definition and management of Legacy Systems.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department's data on expenditure over £500 for September 2023, what the purpose of the hospitality event held at The Botanist, Sheffield on 14 September 2023 was; how much was spent on alcoholic beverages; and how many people attended that event.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The purpose of the event was to bring national government and local authority communication directors together to improve joint working, and complied with departmental hospitality guidance.
The event was booked for 24 people with a set menu that included a single complimentary drink. The venue was secured free of charge.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government Property Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, published on 14 July 2023, HC 1724, whether he had discussions with relevant stakeholders prior to the termination of the Government Hub projects set out in that report.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
No Government Hub projects have been cancelled. The GPA works with many stakeholders as part of its Government Hubs Programme, with a range of factors taken into account when making decisions on potential locations and solutions. These include demand, future need, economic benefits and funding. The Hubs Programme supports the Governments’ priorities of Levelling Up and Places for Growth.
Good progress is being made on the Hubs Programme with HMRC delivering fourteen Hubs under Phase 1. The GPA is leading Phase 2 and has opened three Hubs in Birmingham, Peterborough and London with four further Hubs in Bristol, Croydon, Darlington and Manchester in delivery. Market searches and commercial negotiations continue to source appropriate solutions for further locations. As these locations are agreed, further announcements will be made.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government Property Agency Annual Report and Accounts 2022-23, published on 14 July 2023, HC 1724, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the progress of the hub project entitled Birmingham 3; which Department the project relates to; and how many jobs will be relocated to Birmingham as part of that project.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to launching new Hubs across the UK including in Birmingham, and commercially sensitive discussions regarding prospective solutions for Birmingham 3 are ongoing. The Government has committed to relocate over 1,150 roles to Birmingham from London by March 2025 with over 850 roles already relocated.
Two Hubs are already in operation in Birmingham at 23 Stephenson Street, supporting 1,607 full time equivalent roles and 21 client departments, as well as 3 Arena Central, supporting 4,000 full time equivalent roles from HMRC, VOA and DWP.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many leak inquiries the Cabinet Office undertook in the last year; and what the outcomes of those inquiries were.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
It is government policy not to comment on the details of leak investigations.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of her Department's policies on securing Government devices from external influence.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Government takes matters of security very seriously. Appropriate arrangements and guidance are in place for the management of electronic communications within Government. As with all guidance, this is kept under review and updated as necessary.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he will update the List of Ministerial Responsibilities.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
A revised List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published in due course. In the meantime, departments are updating their ministers' pages on GOV.UK which also include portfolio information.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Secretary of State for Education who served from 5 to 7 July 2022 will be awarded the statutory resignation pay award of three months’ salary for her time served as Secretary of State.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 sets out the detail and circumstances under which former Ministers are eligible for a severance payment. Any Minister, regardless of the length of time they have served in post, who is below the age of 65 and who has not been otherwise reappointed to a Ministerial position within 3 weeks of their last day of service, is eligible for a severance payment of 25% of their annual claimed salary at the time at which they ceased to hold office.
The above position will apply to the former Secretary of State for Education as it would for any other Minister that has left office. Departments routinely publish the details of any loss of office payments made to former Ministers within their Annual Report & Accounts.
Asked by: Julie Elliott (Labour - Sunderland Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of trends in the number of veterans who have died from suicide in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
I refer the hon. Members to the answer given to PQ 88289 on 21 September 2020.