Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many of the original 5,000 community organisers from the Government's Community Organising Programme are still in post.
Answered by Rob Wilson
As of October 2014, 57% of the Senior Community Organisers who have finished their training year have remained employed as a community organiser for a second progression year. This represents a strong progression rate in light of our tough match funding requirements for the second year employment start up grant and the fact that some community organisers opt out of progression due to personal circumstances.
The Cabinet Office does not monitor how many Senior Community Organisers remain employed as community organisers following their progression year.
The Cabinet Office has not issued a pass to Stephen Kearney.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Stephen Kearney has a pass to the Cabinet Office.
Answered by Rob Wilson
As of October 2014, 57% of the Senior Community Organisers who have finished their training year have remained employed as a community organiser for a second progression year. This represents a strong progression rate in light of our tough match funding requirements for the second year employment start up grant and the fact that some community organisers opt out of progression due to personal circumstances.
The Cabinet Office does not monitor how many Senior Community Organisers remain employed as community organisers following their progression year.
The Cabinet Office has not issued a pass to Stephen Kearney.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he considered any other candidates for the post of Chair of the Charity Commission before reappointing William Shawcross to that position.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
Decisions on reappointment are matters for Ministers. As was the case under previous administrations, there is no requirement for a separate appointments process or a consultation exercise. As required under the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice, the decision to reappoint William Shawcross for a second term as Chair of the Charity Commission followed a performance appraisal conducted by the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary. William Shawcross’ original appointment followed a pre-appointment hearing with the Public Administration Select Committee (there is no requirement for another hearing ahead of reappointment).
A candidate's political impartiality is one of the matters assessed in the initial appointment process, and Mr Shawcross has remained politically impartial. He is not a member of any political party, and has not undertaken any party political activity during his term of office.
The National Audit Office recently found that the Commission had made good progress under Mr Shawcross’ leadership, and developed a credible business model and an ambitious change programme. The timing of the reappointment gives Mr Shawcross and the Commission the certainty that he will remain in post to lead the implementation of the transformation programme which is now at a critical phase. As was the case under previous administrations, there is no guidance on how far in advance of the end of a term of office an appointment can be renewed.
Details of the reappointment were published at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/william-shawcross-reappointed-as-chair-of-the-charity-commission
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what procedure he used for the reappointment of William Shawcross as Chair of the Charity Commission.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
Decisions on reappointment are matters for Ministers. As was the case under previous administrations, there is no requirement for a separate appointments process or a consultation exercise. As required under the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ Code of Practice, the decision to reappoint William Shawcross for a second term as Chair of the Charity Commission followed a performance appraisal conducted by the Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary. William Shawcross’ original appointment followed a pre-appointment hearing with the Public Administration Select Committee (there is no requirement for another hearing ahead of reappointment).
A candidate's political impartiality is one of the matters assessed in the initial appointment process, and Mr Shawcross has remained politically impartial. He is not a member of any political party, and has not undertaken any party political activity during his term of office.
The National Audit Office recently found that the Commission had made good progress under Mr Shawcross’ leadership, and developed a credible business model and an ambitious change programme. The timing of the reappointment gives Mr Shawcross and the Commission the certainty that he will remain in post to lead the implementation of the transformation programme which is now at a critical phase. As was the case under previous administrations, there is no guidance on how far in advance of the end of a term of office an appointment can be renewed.
Details of the reappointment were published at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/william-shawcross-reappointed-as-chair-of-the-charity-commission
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what criteria the locations for the Community Organiser programme were chosen.
Answered by Rob Wilson
Senior Community Organisers are hosted by locally rooted community organisations. These organisations had to apply to Locality (who deliver the programme on behalf of government) to host a community organiser. The application process included questions on how the organisation would support the community organiser, their understanding of community organising and the case for a community organiser in their particular area. Applications were then assessed by a panel which included representation from the Office for Civil Society and Locality.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2014 to Question 217639, on Government departments: meetings, for what reasons the Government has decided not to publish those details.
Answered by Rob Wilson
This government has pursued an ambitious transparency agenda and has released more information and data than any before it. As part of this, Government publishes details of who Ministers are meeting. However there is an appropriate balance to strike and there is nothing to add to the answers of 2, 5 and 8 December 2014.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to publish minutes and lists of attendees of ministerial meetings with external organisations alongside other information available to the public on the gov.uk website.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
There are no such plans.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence between the Prime Minister and the Big Lottery Fund.
Answered by Rob Wilson
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions and correspondence are not usually disclosed.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, If he will place in the Library copies of all correspondence between the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Big Lottery Fund.
Answered by Rob Wilson
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions and correspondence are not usually disclosed.
Asked by: Lisa Nandy (Labour - Wigan)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will place in the Library (a) a copy of the minutes and (b) a list of attendees of the meeting between the Minister for Civil Society and the Big Society Network in January 2013.
Answered by Rob Wilson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 2 December 2014 to PQs UIN216289, UIN 216290, UIN 216291, UIN 216292, and UIN 216293.