Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will (a) issue guidance to the general public and (b) make a public announcement advising people living in England not to enter Scotland in order to help contain the spread of covid-19.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Government will not be issuing such guidance. It is important that people travelling to Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland adhere to the laws and guidelines of the relevant devolved administrations at all times.
We will continue to confront the virus as one United Kingdom, but as the virus may be spreading at different speeds across the UK, measures may need to change in different ways and on different timetables.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 June 2020 to Question 52215, in what respect the conduct of Special Adviser Mr Dominic Cummings was in his official role during his trips to (a) Durham from March 27 2020 and (b) Barnard Castle on April 12 2020.
Answered by Chloe Smith
On 24 May, the Prime Minister explained that Dominic Cummings had given him a full account of his actions and the reasons for his decisions.
The Prime Minister asked Mr Cummings to repeat his account to the public on 25 May.
This was in the context of allegations surrounding Mr Cummings’ conduct in his role as special adviser to the Prime Minister.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to raise awareness of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the Hon Member to the statement of 8 June by my Rt Hon Friend the Prime Minister, published on GOV.UK:
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/prime-minister-message-on-black-lives-matter
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Special Adviser Dominic Cummings sought advice from his Department on the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers in advance of making a public statement on 25 May 2020.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Prime Minister authorised Mr Cummings’ statement to the media of 25 May, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
The Cabinet Secretary has set out that as the event related to his conduct in his official role, it was considered appropriate for the No 10 Press Office to facilitate it on Government premises.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Dominic Cummings media appearance on 25 May 2020 was in breach of clause 14 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Prime Minister authorised Mr Cummings’ statement to the media of 25 May, in accordance with paragraph 13 of the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
The Cabinet Secretary has set out that as the event related to his conduct in his official role, it was considered appropriate for the No 10 Press Office to facilitate it on Government premises.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support the Government plans to provide to veterans of the Iraq Conflict who are concerned by the findings of the Chilcot Report and its implications for their service records.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The report of the Chilcot Inquiry was published on 6 July and is available to access online in searchable format. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to all military veterans, especially those who have been injured in conflict, and a range of support mechanisms are available to Iraq veterans where required, including support in the transition to civilian life and access to pension and compensation schemes where injured as a result of their service. We will, of course, engage with and support any individuals who are concerned by any findings of Sir John Chilcot’s report.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department has taken to provide similar support for injured veterans of the Iraq conflict following the publication of the Chilcot Report to that provided to the next of kin of people who lost their lives in that conflict.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The report of the Chilcot Inquiry was published on 6 July and is available to access online in searchable format. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to all military veterans, especially those who have been injured in conflict, and a range of support mechanisms are available to Iraq veterans where required, including support in the transition to civilian life and access to pension and compensation schemes where injured as a result of their service. We will, of course, engage with and support any individuals who are concerned by any findings of Sir John Chilcot’s report.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 June 2016 to Question 38697, what steps his Department has taken to provide injured veterans of the Iraq conflict with free copies of the Chilcot Report.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The report of the Chilcot Inquiry was published on 6 July and is available to access online in searchable format. The Government takes very seriously its responsibility to all military veterans, especially those who have been injured in conflict, and a range of support mechanisms are available to Iraq veterans where required, including support in the transition to civilian life and access to pension and compensation schemes where injured as a result of their service. We will, of course, engage with and support any individuals who are concerned by any findings of Sir John Chilcot’s report.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's policy is on providing early sight of the Chilcot Inquiry report to injured veterans of the Iraq Conflict.
Answered by Matt Hancock
I refer the Hon Member to my answer to the Hon Member for South West Wiltshire of today to UIN: PQ38695-PQ38697-38695.
Asked by: Owen Thompson (Scottish National Party - Midlothian)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what bonuses were paid to (a) senior civil servants and (b) special advisers in his Department in each of the last three financial years; and for what reasons those bonuses were paid.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Information on non-consolidated awards paid to officials in my Department for performance during the years 2012-2014 is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-data