Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made a recent assessment of the effectiveness of the Recruiting for vacancies requiring National Security Vetting clearance: code of practice; whether he has made a recent estimate of the (a) number and (b) proportion of vacancies advertised that do not comply with the code of practice; and what recourse applicants have if they are unable to apply for an advertised vacancy which does not comply with the code of practice.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The code of practice is in place to ensure that those who do not already hold National Security Vetting are not at a disadvantage when applying for a role in the Civil Service.
Whilst the Cabinet Office does not currently collect data on the number or proportion of vacancies advertised that do not comply with the code of practice, the government aims to reduce non-compliance.
Candidates unable to apply for an advertised vacancy which does not comply with the National Security Vetting Code of Practice may raise a complaint with the recruiting department in the first instance. If they remain dissatisfied and the vacancy was advertised publicly, they may bring their complaint to the Civil Service Commission on the basis they feel the selection for appointment has not met the requirements of the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. In open competitions anyone who wishes must be allowed to apply.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are entitled to leave for (a) trade union and (b) activities; what assessment he has made of the total value of facilities provided to trade unions; and what estimate he has made of the total cost to the public purse of facility time.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
There are 4,427 Trade Union representatives across the civil service. Trade union representatives have a statutory right to reasonable unpaid time off to carry out trade union activities. Facility time in the Civil Service as of the most recently reported annual data cost approximately £10 million.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of holding elections to the European Parliament in May 2019.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government has made it clear that the UK intends to leave the EU with a deal and not take part in the European Parliamentary Elections (EPE) in May if possible, however, all the necessary preparations will be made for the election to take place on 23 May.
As is normal practice, the Cabinet Office is currently in the process of finalising cost estimates and these will be published in the relevant Charges Order in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many polling stations based in schools will be used in the event that elections to the European Parliament are held in May 2019 in each local authority area; how many of those schools will have to close on polling day; and how may pupils will be affected by each school closure.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Government does not hold information on which schools will be used as polling
stations for the potential European elections. Local authorities are responsible for
designating which buildings are used as polling places within their area.