Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to respond formally to Lord Maude of Horsham's independent review of governance and accountability in the civil service.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Department will consider Lord Maude's recommendations as this government develops its strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service.
Asked by: Greg Smith (Conservative - Mid Buckinghamshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the level of inward foreign direct investment was in each of the last 10 financial years.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 11th September is attached.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on the potential impact of European Court of Justice rulings on the UK, in the context of the Government's plans to change its relationship with the EU.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
There has been no change in the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice rulings in relation to the UK.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the policy of the (a) Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team and (b) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests is on the provision of gifts, donations or donations in-kind to Ministers from donors who (i) are and (ii) are not permissible under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of ministers’ private interests. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any potential or perceived conflicts of interest.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish details of surplus public sector property according to the data held on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service database.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Register of Surplus Land provides data on the availability of surplus land for government departments.
Asked by: Lord Forsyth of Drumlean (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the salaries and allowances of each of the Ministers and Whips in the House of Lords.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 sets out the terms on which salaries can be paid to government ministers. The salaries claimed by ministers and whips in the House of Lords are available on gov.uk at the following address:
A list of all government ministers, which indicates whether each minister receives a salary or is unpaid, is available on gov.uk at the following address:
https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.
In addition, ministers who are members of the House of Lords are entitled under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 to receive the Lords Office-Holders Allowance (LOHA). It has been long-standing government policy over successive administrations for ministers whose main residence is in Greater London to waive their entitlement to claim this allowance and instead claim it at a reduced rate equivalent to the London Area Living Payment set annually by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority; details are available at the following address:
Ministers who are members of the House of Lords who do not receive a salary may choose between claiming LOHA or the Lords Daily Attendance Allowance.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to revise the factors they take into account when considering the suitability of individuals to be nominated for a life peerage.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government committed in its manifesto to reform the process of appointments to the House of Lords to ensure the quality of new appointments and to seek to improve the national and regional balance of the second chamber and is actively considering how this can be achieved.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of fee-charging agencies offering coaching to prospective applicants for membership of the House.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Neither the Government nor the House of Lords Appointments Commission endorse any service or company charging for advice on how to make and complete an application to the House of Lords.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the status of the Civil Service Muslim Network is; and whether network time is allocated to that diversity network as of 10 September 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Civil Service Muslim Network voluntarily suspended their activity earlier this year, but has now resumed activity, with senior sponsors appointed to ensure all network activity is in line with relevant guidance.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Staff Network time allocation is agreed between networks and departments as the employer. The majority of staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary and unpaid.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the answer of 30 July 2024 to House of Lords Question HL517 on Civil Service: Expenditure, if he will make it his policy to ensure that Civil Service staff should not spend time on diversity network activities during core working hours.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The management of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion networks is delegated to departments and any network time allocation is agreed between the network and the department as the employer. The majority of Civil Service staff time spent on diversity staff networks is voluntary.