Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s press release of 5 May 2019, Government safeguards UK elections, what progress he has made on each of the four commitments made by his Department to safeguard UK elections.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government takes the integrity and security of our democratic processes very seriously.
Further to my answers on 27 February (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 449), this Government is committed to ensuring elections are secure and fit for the modern age. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish his Department’s consultation on electoral integrity.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government takes the integrity and security of our democratic processes very seriously.
Further to my answers on 27 February (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 449), this Government is committed to ensuring elections are secure and fit for the modern age. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to tackle (a) verbal and (b) non-verbal bullying of (i) civil servants and (ii) consultants working in Government departments.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Civil Service takes bullying very seriously and has taken robust steps to ensure behaviours in our workplaces are acceptable for all employees. We will not tolerate bullying in any form, whether it is verbal or non-verbal, and where it is identified, it will be addressed.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taken to promote awareness of the Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Action plan among Ministerial colleagues.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government is committed to ensuring that all staff are treated with dignity and respect. Ministers are subject to the Ministerial Code which they are asked to familiarise themselves with upon appointment.
Dame Sue Owen’s report ‘Review of Arrangements for Tackling Bullying, Harassment and Misconduct in the Civil Service was published in September 2018 and is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/744907/TacklingBullyingHarassmentMisconduct-CivilService.pdf
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Written Statement of 22 July 2019, Official Report, HCWS1772, what progress the Government has made on the defending democracy programme.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Defending Democracy programme is led by the Cabinet Office, working closely with other departments, to take forward work to:
Protect and secure UK democratic processes, systems and institutions from interference, including from cyber, personnel and physical threats.
Strengthen the integrity of UK elections, ensuring that they are fit for the digital age.
Encourage respect for open, fair and safe democratic participation.
Promote fact-based and open discourse, including online.
Details of further next steps to ensure electoral integrity will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what RAG rating the Infrastructure and Projects Authority has given to delivery confidence for the 2021 Census.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Infrastructure and Projects Authority’s Annual Report was published on 18 July 2019 and is available on gov.uk. It includes the Government Major Projects Portfolio dataset.
Asked by: Preet Kaur Gill (Labour (Co-op) - Birmingham, Edgbaston)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on what date the ONS supplied the draft Census Order to his Department.
Answered by Chloe Smith
I refer the Hon Member to the response which I gave to question 1394 on 15 January 2020.
The Census Order remains policy in formulation. It will be presented to both Houses in due course.