Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will sign his Department up to the UK Steel charter.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Government is working hard to make sure that UK producers of steel have the best possible chance of competing for contracts.
In 2015, we introduced the steel procurement guidelines (Procurement Policy Note 16/15, revised in 2016) to level the playing field for UK steel producers by requiring public authorities to include wider social and economic benefits in their procurement decisions, not just price. This means UK firms can compete more effectively with international suppliers for major projects.
However, the Cabinet Office itself does not buy steel and consequently we will not be signing the UK Steel Charter.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has had discussions with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the UK Steel charter.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
We have regular discussions about the procurement of steel with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which has asked all government departments to consider guidance on steel procurement and to notify of any upcoming opportunities for industry.
More broadly, the government is committed to supporting the steel sector to realise the broader commercial opportunities that are open to it, which could be worth an additional £3.8 billion a year by 2030. We are establishing the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – backed by up to £315m of investment – to help businesses with high energy use (including steel companies) to cut their bills and transition UK industry to a low carbon future.
We are also providing up to £66m through the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund to help steel and other foundation industries develop radical new technologies.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the additional cost to Government Departments of the House of Commons sitting through what was originally intended to be the February recess.
Answered by David Lidington
Government departments continue to work throughout the year, whether or not Parliament is in recess.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many scientists sit on the UK Honours Science and Technology Committee.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Four members of the Science and Technology Honours Committee are scientists by background. Membership of the Committee can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/honours-committees.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what percentage of adults with a learning disability in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and Humberside and (c) Scunthorpe constituency were in paid work in (i) 2015, (ii) 2016 and (iii) 2017.
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: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Government Ministers are routinely accompanied by Government officials when they meet foreign government ministers and officials.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
It is longstanding and established practice that Ministers are accompanied by officials when meeting foreign Government Ministers and officials.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, whether she discussed the Secretary of State for International Development's meetings with Israeli Government Ministers and officials at her meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister on 2 November 2017.
Answered by Theresa May
No.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2017 to Question 9289, on iron and steel: procurement, what progress each Government department is making in delivering greater UK steel content in line with the Government's new public procurement guidelines published in April 2016.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
This information is not held centrally.
All public authorities are required to implement government guidelines that set out how government buyers should source steel for major projects so that the true value of UK steel is taken into account in major procurement decisions.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to embed the family test into its policy making.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Officials in my Department have liaised with the Department for Work and Pensions as the lead Department for the Family Test to embed it into the policy process. This has included training officials on applying the Test, disseminating relevant evidence, learning materials and best practice.