Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what the running costs of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and Advocate-General for Scotland were in each year 2015–2022; how much of the budget in each year was allocated to (a) staff costs, (b) maintenance, (c) travel costs and (d) other expenditure.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
The running costs of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and Advocate-General for Scotland in each year between 2015–2022, broken down by (a) staff costs, (b) maintenance, (c) travel costs and (d) other expenditure are shown below:
Financial Year | Staff Costs | Maintenance (Accommodation Costs) | Travel Costs | Other Expenditure |
| £000 | £000 | £000 | £000 |
2015-16 | £5,926 | £1,585 | £587 | £633 |
2016-17 | £6,821 | £1,293 | £628 | £1,051 |
2017-18 | £6,204 | £1,620 | £546 | £950 |
2018-19 | £6,838 | £1,360 | £643 | £773 |
2019-20 | £7,611 | £1,591 | £752 | £1,452 |
2020-21 | £7,806 | £3,405 | £119 | £832 |
2021-22 | £8,479 | £1,865 | £297 | £564 |
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
Currently there are two full-time officials working solely on the proposed Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill. They are supported by policy advice from a further 32 officials in the Department.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
No additional full time staffing resource has been required to work on retained EU law legislation. At present, approximately ten DWP officials are working on the retained EU law belonging to DWP in much the same way as they would be reviewing and amending other DWP owned legislation. This work is in addition to their other duties.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The information requested could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
We can confirm that HM Treasury does not hold information within the scope of your request.
HMT holds a large body of Retained EU Law (REUL), primarily in relation to Financial Services. A number of officials from across HMT work on REUL legislation. This work is carried out as part of officials’ normal business activities, and we do not record the amount of staff time spent specifically on this work.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Coordinating work related to the proposed Retained EU Law (Reform and Revocation) Bill is spread across several teams in Defra, with cumulative staff time spent on this work amounting to approximately three FTE officials. In addition, Defra policy officials and legal officials are supporting this work as part of their normal business activities.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Minister for Brexit Opportunities on legislative proposals for the amendment of retained EU law.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I discuss the benefits of boosting the competitiveness of the UK economy whilst maintaining high standards, including by reforming retained EU law, with my Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has had recent discussions with the Prime Minister on legislative proposals for the amendment of retained EU law.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
I discuss the benefits of boosting the competitiveness of the UK economy whilst maintaining high standards, including by reforming retained EU law, with my Cabinet colleagues on a regular basis.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Scotland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many officials in their Department are working on Retained EU Law legislation.
Answered by Alister Jack - Secretary of State for Scotland
Officials in my Department support the UK Government's legislative programme across all legislation, including on the development of legislation reforming retained EU law, but there is not a specific FTE allocation of time against individual bills.
Asked by: Stewart Hosie (Scottish National Party - Dundee East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it his policy that there will be public consultations on the replacement of retained EU law with new legislative proposals.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
It is the responsibility of Government Departments to consult on policy or legislative change.