Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the franchise to EU nationals for the 8 June 2017 UK general election.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The franchise for the Parliamentary election remains unchanged as set out in the Representation of the People Acts 1983 and 1985.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, whether she raised the use of torture as an interrogation technique by US intelligence services at her meeting with President Trump on 27 January 2017.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Mrs West) on 31 January 2017, UIN 50210.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will take steps to make the consultation process operated through the Sewel Convention a statutory requirement.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Sewel convention recognises that the Parliament of the United Kingdom will not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters without the consent of the relevant devolved legislature. Both the Scotland Act 2016 and the Wales Act 2017 place the Sewel convention on a statutory footing, as committed to in the cross-party Smith Commission and St David’s Day agreements.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the average salary was in (a) Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, (b) Scotland and (c) the UK in each of the last five years.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, when she was made aware of the results of the tests of the UK's nuclear deterrent in June 2016; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the hon. Member to the Statement made by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sevenoaks (Mr Fallon) on 23 January 2017, Official Report, columns 23-42.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, if she will publish minutes of her meeting with the Wall Street Editorial Board in September 2016.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Denton and Reddish (Mr Gwynne) on 28 October 2016, UIN 50210.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, when information on her external meetings from July to September 2016 will be published.
Answered by Theresa May
Information covering the period from July to September 2016 was published on 21 December 2016 and is available on the gov.uk website.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will bring forward legislative proposals to extend the franchise to 16 and 17 year olds for the next UK general election.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government has no plans to lower the voting age for the next UK general election.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has appointed a UK Digital Champion to replace Martha Lane Fox; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Ben Gummer
Baroness Lane-Fox of Soho CBE, stepped down from her role as UK digital champion in 2013. She continues to be a member of the Government Digital Service Advisory Board, whose remit includes supporting government to deliver better services for users, reviewing progress, sharing experience, providing external expertise and raising public awareness. The current membership can be found here:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/gds-advisory-board
The Government’s focus on digital is comprehensive and expanding, something underlined by the creation of three new senior roles. The Government Digital Service has been strengthened with the appointment of its first Director General of Digital, Kevin Cunnington. In addition, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has appointed Matthew Gould, as its first Director General for Digital and Media, and Liam Maxwell as the Government’s first National Technology Adviser.
Asked by: Margaret Ferrier (Independent - Rutherglen and Hamilton West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the remit is of the Gulf Strategy Unit; when the Unit was established; how many staff the Unit is intended to employ; and what the proposed budget for the Unit is.
Answered by Ben Gummer
The Gulf Strategy Integrated Delivery Team was established in 2015.
Its remit is to coordinate the Government’s strategic approach to UK engagement with the Gulf States as set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015.
It employs three full-time and one part-time Government employees. One is military and three are civilian.
Administration costs were £70,004 in the 2015-16 financial year and the budget for administration costs in the 2016-17 financial year is £423,000. The 2015-16 figure reflects the fact the unit was established later in the financial year.