Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultants his Department has hired since 2016; and at what cost to the public purse.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Details on consultancy expenditure are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultations by his Department (a) are open, (b) are closed awaiting a Government response and (c) have been initiated since 2016.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
There is currently one open Cabinet Office consultation. Nine closed Cabinet Office consultations are awaiting a Government response. Eighteen Cabinet Office consultations have been initiated since 1st January 2016
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what checks HMRC makes to ensure that the supply chains of government contractors are tax compliant.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Regulation 57 of the Public Contracts Regulations sets out the conditions in which contracting authorities must exclude bidders from a procurement process where they have established by verification or are otherwise aware, of a final and binding judicial or administrative decision that a bidder is in breach of tax and social security obligations. Contracting authorities may also exclude a bidder from participation in a procurement procedure where the contracting authority can demonstrate by any appropriate means that the bidder is in breach of its obligations relating to the payment of taxes or social security contributions.
Regulation 71(8) extends these powers to exclude subcontractors.
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on the number of independent or Government-led reviews which are under consultation or awaiting a government response across all Departments as of 1 June 2018.
Answered by David Lidington
Granular information on reviews across government is not centrally held in the form requested. Individual departments are responsible for any reviews they conduct or commission, and any associated consultation process. The Cabinet Office is responsible for the Government Consultation Principles, which provide departments with guidance on conducting consultations. That guidance sets out that consultations, and any response to them, should be published on gov.uk
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been raised from selling government buildings in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012, (d) 2013, (e) 2014, (f) 2015, (g) 2016 and (h) 2017.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Government has raised the following from the sale of Government land and buildings in the following financial years.
2010-11 £257,256,884
2011-12 £617,322,479
2012-13 £388,855,250
2013-14 £311,519,975
2014-15 £224,541,513
2015-16 £973,430,475
In the autumn the Government will be publishing details of Government land and buildings sold in 2016/17 including the money raised. Selling surplus land and property is an important part of delivering an efficient and fit-for-purpose Government estate. It delivers value for the taxpayer and supports local growth, including unlocking land for new homes.
Asked by: Peter Dowd (Labour - Bootle)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of Government purchasing currently comes from small and medium-sized enterprises.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
I refer my Hon Friend to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Edinburgh North and Leith on 18 July 2017 to UIN: 4273.