Asked by: Martin Rhodes (Labour - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, in what ways the provisions in his Department's National Procurement Policy Statement, updated on 4 March 2025, will help the UK meet its environmental obligations in relation to supply chains.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The National Procurement Policy Statement sets out that public procurement should support the delivery of the government’s missions, including making Britain a clean energy superpower. It sets out considerations for contracting authorities around our environmental obligatoins. It also underscores the government's commitment to increasing the procurement of food that meets higher environmental standards, supporting local suppliers and upholding ethical sourcing practises across public sector contracts.
Asked by: Matt Turmaine (Labour - Watford)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to reduce fraud in the public sector.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In January, the government introduced the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill as part of the biggest fraud crackdown in a generation. The measures in the Bill will give us more tools to combat fraud, recover public money and allow the government to investigate fraud.
The Public Sector Fraud Authority is also developing artificial intelligence tools to tackle fraud - and is expected to surpass the PSFA’s £250m 2024-25 audited benefits target from these services.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to prioritise British products in public procurement.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government is committed to supporting British businesses and ensuring they have the best chance to win public contracts.
The new Procurement Act creates a simpler and more transparent system that will support British small businesses bidding for work.
The Act also allows contracting authorities to set standards that recognise the quality and standard of UK businesses and products.
Alongside this, our new National Procurement Policy Statement encourages contracting authorities to consider this government’s industrial strategies and the sectors vital to our economic growth.
Asked by: Danny Chambers (Liberal Democrat - Winchester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on improving public engagement with politics.
Answered by Ellie Reeves - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Public engagement and participation are vital to the health of our democracy, and the Government will continue to support the public to make their voices heard.
Engagement with the political process must be built on trust. The Government is committed to returning to a politics of service, for example by exploring further tightening of the rules on MPs' outside interests via the House of Commons Modernisation Committee.
Asked by: David Reed (Conservative - Exmouth and Exeter East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for (a) the Home Department and (b) Science, Innovation and Technology on the potential merits of updating the Computer Misuse Act 1990 to enhance national cyber resilience through strengthened legal protections for cybersecurity researchers.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government recognises the significant role that UK cybersecurity professionals play in enhancing and protecting the country’s resilience against cyber threats; it is essential that we provide them with the necessary support. The Home Office is currently reviewing the Computer Misuse Act, and as part of this process, officials are considering the issue of strengthened legal protections for legitimate cybersecurity researchers. However, this work is complex and requires careful consideration. Without robust safeguards and oversight, the introduction of legal protections could significantly hinder law enforcement's ability to prosecute cyber criminality.
To address this, the Home Office is collaborating with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the National Cyber Security Centre, law enforcement agencies, and the cybersecurity industry to evaluate the safeguards that would need to accompany any implementation of strengthened legal protections. An update will be provided in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Finn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the six-month extension of contract C2980 with KPMG at no additional cost (modification notice 2025/S 000-005296) and the upcoming Learning Frameworks 2.0 procurement (notice 2025/S 000-004188), whether a bridging arrangement with an alternative supplier was considered; whether KPMG has received any new contractual guarantees or assurances as part of the extension and, if so, whether these will be published; and what measures are in place to ensure that KPMG’s incumbency does not confer an unfair advantage in the forthcoming Learning Frameworks 2.0 competition.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As part of the contract extension, KPMG has not received any new contractual guarantees or assurances.
For the Learning Frameworks 2.0 competition, the procurement is being run as a fair and open competition.
Asked by: Peter Bedford (Conservative - Mid Leicestershire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the press release entitled Hundreds of quangos to be examined for potential closure as Government takes back control, published on 7 April 2025, what estimate he has made of the potential reduction in Government spending arising from this review.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The review of all arms length bodies is ongoing. Further information, including on savings, will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the name is of the division of the Cabinet Office formerly known as the clearing house.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Matters relating to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 sit with the Freedom of Information Policy Team in the Cabinet Office.
Further information about the role Cabinet Office plays in ensuring compliance with the Freedom of Information Act across government is published here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-and-freedom-of-information
Asked by: Charlie Dewhirst (Conservative - Bridlington and The Wolds)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many standalone equality, diversity and inclusion roles are employed by (a) his Department and (b) the Office for Equality and Opportunity.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There are 6 full-time equivalents working in standalone EDI roles. These sit in HR teams across the different Cabinet Office functions and the central HR team in line with the EDI Expenditure guidance published in May 2024, delivering statutory obligations and government priorities. In May 2024, the Cabinet Office had 7 full time equivalent working in standalone EDI roles.
The Office for Equality and Opportunity is responsible for external government policy on equality. It does not have any internal roles focused on equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 7760 on Marian Mazzucato, whether she is an adviser to the Government in any other capacity.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Ministers regularly liaise with a wide range of stakeholders. Mariana Mazzucato is not employed within government as a special adviser. Nor does she hold a position in a role as a regulated public appointee.