Asked by: Baroness Randerson (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when their planned Border Target Operating Model will be implemented.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The implementation of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) is well underway in accordance with the published timeline (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-border-target-operating-model-august-2023). The first two major milestones were introduced respectively on 31 January 2024 and 30 April 2024, while the last milestone, which requires Safety and Security (S&S) declarations for EU imports, is scheduled to be implemented on 31 October 2024.
We will announce a date for physical checks on EU and Irish Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) goods imports on the West Coast of Great Britain shortly. In order to provide traders time to prepare, we can confirm that these checks will not be introduced before Spring 2025.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of hybrid working models in the Civil Service; and what steps they are taking to adapt policies to balance the benefits of both remote and in-office work.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Work is ongoing to update policies and practices to ensure we maximise the benefits of both remote and face to face working, including investing in our estate to ensure we provide a positive workplace experience with the right technology and facilities and enhancing our line managers capabilities to manage effectively in a hybrid working environment.
The Civil Service has had a hybrid working model for some years now, and it is applying this flexibly to help balance business and personal requirements. Hybrid working is part of the Civil Service approach to flexible working as set out in the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy: 2022-2025, which recognises the importance of flexibility in the ways of working and location as key to increasing innovation, performance and engagement as well as attracting diverse talent and representing the UK as a whole.
Carrying out tasks in the right place allows us to maximise efficiency and helps us to identify parts of the estate that are not optimally configured or can be released at the earliest opportunity, with appropriate lease breaks.
Hybrid working is important in making a success of the government’s Places for Growth Programme, including the creation of the non-London headquarters announced by ministers over the last year. The Treasury, for example, is positioning the new economic campus in Darlington as a full second headquarters with senior policy roles currently performed in Whitehall. Without hybrid meetings combining colleagues online and others ‘in the room’ this model cannot work.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of the Great Futures programme in Saudi Arabia.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
GREAT FUTURES showcases how UK expertise can help Saudi Arabia deliver against Vision 2030, their ambitious strategy to drive economic and societal change across the country. Including trade, investment, tourism, education and cultural engagement, GREAT FUTURES is designed to create opportunities, connect with senior government and business decision-makers from Saudi Arabia’s ultra-ambitious giga-projects, and establish long-lasting relationships.
The requested information is not currently available as the final costs are still being reconciled.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of (a) cars and (b) other vehicles used by his Department were made in Britain.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
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 establish a representative panel consisting of (a) victims and (b) victims' families to scruitnise the contaminated blood compensation scheme.
Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General
The Infected Blood Compensation Scheme is subject to further engagement with a group of key representatives from the infected blood community. This will be led by the interim chair of the Infected Blood Compensation Authority, Sir Robert Francis KC. Additionally, the Government has committed to utilise the provision in the Victims and Prisoners Bill to ensure there is representation of the Infected Blood community on the Infected Blood Compensation Authority’s committees and subcommittees.
Asked by: Chris Bryant (Labour - Rhondda and Ogmore)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many Ministers attended the Great Futures conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 14 and 15 May 2024.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
5 UK Ministers attended the conference.
The GREAT FUTURES launch event in Riyadh on 14-15 May 2024 is the flagship moment that kickstarts a year-long programme bringing to life the sheer scale of opportunities for UK businesses in Saudi Arabia linked to Vision 2030. The purpose is to forge partnerships across a number of sectors by gathering together some of the UK's most creative and innovative companies with their Saudi counterparts.
The Deputy Prime Minister led a strong Ministerial delegation comprising Kemi Badenoch, Secretary of State for Business and Trade; Lucy Frazer, the Culture Secretary; Lord Johnson, Minister for Investment; Lord Markham, Minister of Health; and Sir Steve Smith the PM’s Special Representative for Higher Education. The delegation of more than 450 UK companies made this the largest trade delegation the UK has sent anywhere for a decade.
Some 50+ agreements and MOUs were signed during the two days. The Deputy Prime Minister and Saudi Minister of Commerce convened a Pillar 1 meeting of the UK-Saudi Strategic Partnership where they agreed the ambition of increasing bilateral trade from £17bn to £30 billion by 2030.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what they will ensure that the Infected Blood Compensation Authority and Scheme accepts applications from people who are not able to register for the existing support schemes, such as (1) people who have recovered after receiving infected blood, and (2) people infected after the current cut-off dates.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Under the proposed Infected Blood Compensation Scheme those who have been infected with hepatitis C whose infection lasted less than 6 months will be eligible for compensation. People who were infected after the current cut-off dates will be eligible to apply. However, the introduction of testing will be considered as a factor when assessing their application. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority website launched on 21 May and interested people can register their interest in being involved in the IBCA and receiving updates.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how, and when, infected and affected people not currently registered with a support scheme will be able to register to apply for compensation.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Under the proposed Infected Blood Compensation Scheme those who have been infected with hepatitis C whose infection lasted less than 6 months will be eligible for compensation. People who were infected after the current cut-off dates will be eligible to apply. However, the introduction of testing will be considered as a factor when assessing their application. The Infected Blood Compensation Authority website launched on 21 May and interested people can register their interest in being involved in the IBCA and receiving updates.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Veterans’ Career Development Fund on employment levels for veterans.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans and their families have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, including access to the qualifications, training and skills development they may need to progress in their careers.
The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding includes the £700,000 Veterans’ Career Development Fund grant, which makes funding available to organisations providing qualifications, training and skills development to veterans and their families in locally based communities across the country.
The Veterans’ Career Development Fund is administered as a grant by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, and includes a planned evaluation of the overall Op PROSPER programme and its outcomes.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2024 to Question 18036 on Civil Servants: Veterans, whether he plans to capture regional data on veterans who access employment through the Great Work for Veterans initiative.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
This Government is committed to making sure that all veterans have equal opportunities and can access valuable, sustainable careers, including in the Civil Service, after they leave the Armed Forces.
A breakdown of demographics and locations of veterans who apply to Civil Service roles is not held in the format requested.