Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he made of the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard in evaluating the suitability of Andrew Sabisky for employment in Government.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many meetings did Andrew Sabisky attend as a Government advisor with (a) officials, (b) members of the Cabinet, and (c) the Prime Minister.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what Andrew Sabisky's (a) role, (b) title and (c) salary was during his employment as a special adviser.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was Andrew Sabisky's daily rate of pay as a contractor for the Government.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Andrew Sabisky's employment history was verified prior to his recruitment as a special adviser.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Asked by: Jon Trickett (Labour - Normanton and Hemsworth)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether Andrew Sabisky's employment was subject to (a) the Baseline Personnel Security Standard, (b) a Counter-Terrorist Check, (c) a Security Check or (d) Developed Vetting.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Mentions:
1: Bill Esterson (LAB - Sefton Central) Was Andrew Sabisky recruited to work on the defence and security review that the Prime Minister announced - Speech Link
2: Michael Gove (CON - Surrey Heath) Mr Sabisky was dismissed before the review embarked on its work. - Speech Link
3: Richard Thomson (SNP - Gordon) Gentleman will agree that, when it comes to Andrew Sabisky, we should call a Spad a Spad. - Speech Link
Mentions:
1: Stephen Doughty (LAB - Cardiff South and Penarth) to the Prime Minister earlier—about the appointment of the racist, sexist and eugenics supporter Andrew - Speech Link
Asked by: Ed Davey (Liberal Democrat - Kingston and Surbiton)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many advisers have been hired under the same arrangements as Andrew Sabisky.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given by my Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister at Prime Minister’s Questions on 26 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 313), and the answers given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and myself to Oral Questions and Topical Questions on 27 February 2020 (Official Record, Vol.672, Col 456-457, 461-466), Andrew Sabisky was hired as a contractor between 10 and 17 February, and not as a Special Adviser.
Contractors are subject to the principles of the Civil Service Code. Information about the numbers of contingent labour workers in the Cabinet Office, which also covers 10 Downing Street, is published annually.
Government contractors are paid for from departmental budgets. The Government does not normally comment on individual personnel matters such as pay, or recruitment processes. The Government also does not normally disclose the names of individual line managers.
It has been the practice of successive administrations that the Government does not disclose details of internal meetings. Classified information is made available only to those with appropriate security clearance and whose responsibilities require it.
It would be inappropriate to comment further on the vetting status, checks or contractual arrangements of any individual.
Mentions:
1: Lord Young of Cookham (CON - Life peer) We had the recent case of Andrew Sabisky, the super-forecaster who could not predict that his own employment - Speech Link
2: Lord True (CON - Life peer) special adviser code of conduct.As far as contractors are concerned—I was away for a week when Mr Sabisky - Speech Link