Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he takes to measure the performance of Government against its (a) manifesto commitments, (b) proposed legislative programme and (c) other proposed programmes of work.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government regularly tracks and reviews the delivery of its commitments and legislative programme.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is his policy that the Procurement Bill will help ensure that the auditing of contracts let as part of his levelling up agenda is (a) transparent and (b) accessible to the public.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The Procurement Bill will deliver a step change in transparency and openness, with notices mandated for direct awards and publication requirements extended from planning to termination, including contract performance.
A single central platform for contract data will give everyone wider access to procurement information, strengthening the new Procurement Review Unit’s ability to investigate concerns around both awards and transparency.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to help ensure that people appointed to public bodies reflect the diversity of the UK.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government is committed to making sure that these important opportunities are available to talented people across the UK. Work to support this includes a number of virtual and face-to-face events held across the UK and the phased rollout of a new digital system that will make it easier for anyone to apply for these roles. The Cabinet Office also publishes annual data on public appointments diversity. The latest figures, published on 21st October 2021, show that compared to the previous year there were more women, people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and people from outside London and the South East in these vital roles.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 scrutiny of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is an office holder, established to provide an independent complaint handling service for complaints that have not been resolved by the NHS and UK Government departments.
The Ombudsman is accountable to Parliament through the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, who hold an annual scrutiny session to evaluate his performance.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the findings of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman Stakeholder (PHSO) Survey 2021, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of reforming the operation of the PHSO.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The government has no plans at this time to introduce an Ombudsman Bill to Parliament.
Whilst the government will consider specific proposals on Ombudsman reform, we do not currently view more large scale Ombudsman reform as a priority for this Parliament.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to retain UK Security Vetting Services in York after the disposal of Imphal Barracks.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
The Cabinet Office as a department is committed to growth in both York and Glasgow. Cabinet Office jobs, including United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV), are likely to move to a new Hub in York; the location and timing of which has yet to be decided.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to ensure that the scope of the Covid-19 Inquiry includes an assessment of the potential impact on people bereaved by covid-19 of the findings of the Cabinet Office report entitled Findings of Second Permanent Secretary's investigation into alleged gatherings on Government premises during covid restrictions.
Answered by Michael Ellis
In March, the Prime Minister published the draft terms of reference for the public inquiry into COVID-19. The Prime Minister asked Baroness Hallett - the inquiry’s chair - to consult publicly on the draft and to make proposals for further refinements. Following that consultation, Baroness Hallett has now published her recommendations. In accordance with the terms of the Inquiries Act, the Government will now consider her proposals fully, consult the devolved administrations, and will publish the inquiry's final terms of reference in due course.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to require the proposed covid-19 inquiry to collect evidence on the impact of breaches of covid-19 restrictions at 10 Downing Street on people who were bereaved during covid-19.
Answered by Michael Ellis
In March, the Prime Minister published the draft terms of reference for the public inquiry into COVID-19. The Prime Minister asked Baroness Hallett - the inquiry’s chair - to consult publicly on the draft and to make proposals for further refinements. Following that consultation, Baroness Hallett has now published her recommendations. In accordance with the terms of the Inquiries Act, the Government will now consider her proposals fully, consult the devolved administrations, and will publish the inquiry's final terms of reference in due course.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the Investigation into alleged gatherings during Covid Restrictions: Final Report published on 25 May 2022, when he was first made aware of the treatment experienced by security and cleaning staff by officials.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wirral South during my oral statement on 25 May. And in addition to the apology I made in my statement, I have personally spoken and apologised to members of staff affected.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, with reference to the Investigation into alleged gatherings during Covid Restrictions: Final Report published on 25 May 2022, when the Second Permanent Secretary first raised the treatment experienced by security and cleaning staff with him.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Wirral South during my oral statement on 25 May. And in addition to the apology I made in my statement, I have personally spoken and apologised to members of staff affected.