Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how long on average it takes his Department to respond to a subject access request; and what proportion of such requests are answered after 20 days.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office endeavours to respond to all Subject Access Requests (SARs) received within the Statutory timescales listed within the DPA2018 and UK GDPR legislation which is within one month. This commitment is reflected in our performance data for SARs responses: in the last fiscal year (2022-2023) we received 686 requests, of which 678 requests (over 98%) were responded to within the legal deadline of one calendar month. We extended the deadline for the remaining 8 requests due to their complexity and responded to these requests within the 3 month extension period.
The Cabinet Office Data Protection Officer (DPO) is responsible for investigating any SAR complaints. The DPO’s investigation provides independent oversight to resolve complaints. In all of our responses to subject requestors, we proactively emphasise that there is a complaints process, and advise anyone who has concerns about how their personal data has been handled to contact the department's DPO directly. We also inform the subject requester of their legal right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the independent regulatory body, should further resolution be required. We, in the Cabinet Office, fully cooperate with any subsequent investigations by the ICO.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department takes to resolve complaints about unsatisfactory responses to subject access requests.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office endeavours to respond to all Subject Access Requests (SARs) received within the Statutory timescales listed within the DPA2018 and UK GDPR legislation which is within one month. This commitment is reflected in our performance data for SARs responses: in the last fiscal year (2022-2023) we received 686 requests, of which 678 requests (over 98%) were responded to within the legal deadline of one calendar month. We extended the deadline for the remaining 8 requests due to their complexity and responded to these requests within the 3 month extension period.
The Cabinet Office Data Protection Officer (DPO) is responsible for investigating any SAR complaints. The DPO’s investigation provides independent oversight to resolve complaints. In all of our responses to subject requestors, we proactively emphasise that there is a complaints process, and advise anyone who has concerns about how their personal data has been handled to contact the department's DPO directly. We also inform the subject requester of their legal right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the independent regulatory body, should further resolution be required. We, in the Cabinet Office, fully cooperate with any subsequent investigations by the ICO.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have met representatives of the veterans charity Stoll to discuss its financial situation since 2018.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of whether the veterans' charity Stoll is meeting its obligations under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions property and land on the health of veterans.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has provided advice to military housing charity Stoll on the proposed majority sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had discussions with Stoll on the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions to Chelsea Football Club.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of refusing any housing support funding requests made by the veterans’ charity Stoll.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential financial impact of the proposed sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions on the veterans that live there.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.
Asked by: Luke Pollard (Labour (Co-op) - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to provide (a) financial and (b) other support to veterans impacted by the proposed sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
Officials from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs continue to engage with Stoll regarding the sale of Sir Oswald Stoll Mansions and the support being provided to residents during the transition period.
This Government has dedicated nearly £30m towards the provision of veteran housing. This includes £8.55m through the Reducing Veteran Homelessness Programme for veteran supported housing; the launch of Op FORTITUDE as the single referral pathway for homeless veterans and the £20m Capital Housing Fund which will increase the stock of veteran housing through the refurbishment of existing properties and the construction of new builds.
We remain committed to upholding the Armed Forces Covenant and ensuring that the UK becomes the best place in the world to be a veteran.