Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, whether he plans to meet with Figen Murray to discuss Martyn's Law.

Answered by Rishi Sunak - Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, and Minister for the Union

My thoughts continue to be with all the victims of the terrible attack that took place in Manchester Arena in 2017. I pay tribute to Figen Murray for her courage and the bravery of her campaigning in Martyn’s memory.

I spoke to Figen Murray after becoming Prime Minister to discuss Martyn’s Law, and more recently, she met the Minister for Security (my right hon. Friend, the Member for Tonbridge and Malling). As set out in The King’s Speech, this government is committed to bringing in Martyn’s Law.

Details of my official engagements will be announced by my Office is the usual way.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to fulfil the requirements of the National Resilience Framework, last updated on 4 December 2023.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Strengthening national resilience is a key priority for the Government.

The Deputy Prime Minister delivered the first Annual Statement to Parliament on risk and resilience in December 2023. Since then, in February he has convened the UK Resilience Forum to garner insight from key stakeholders from across the resilience system and drive a whole of society approach. He will do so again in July.

The Government has already taken significant steps to implement the Resilience Framework, including publishing the most transparent ever National Risk Register, an updated list of Lead Government Departments for the risks it sets out and testing Emergency Alerts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what funding is available for resilience support in case of emergencies for (a) local authorities, (b) Walsall Council and (c) the Black Country Integrated Care Board.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

As part of broad civil contingencies duties, all local authorities are expected to assess the risks of emergencies and have plans in place to respond to a range of scenarios.

In extreme emergency circumstances, discretionary funding may be made available where the expenditure of local authorities is more than could be reasonably expected to cover, such as severe weather events.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the 10 pilot programs are that have been funded through the Incubator for AI.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Last November, the Deputy Prime Minister established the ‘Incubator for AI’, a team who sit in the Cabinet Office. This team’s mission is to help departments harness the potential of AI to improve lives and the delivery of public services.

The early work of the Government’s AI incubator has already proven that it is possible to make effective AI tools for use in the UK Government, and that building these in-house represents strong value for money. As this is an incubator, there are projects at varying stages of development.

I can share that details about some of their pilot projects can be found on their website at https://ai.gov.uk, and include

• A consultation response tool that can read, summarise and triage responses to consultations. As the Government initiates more than 700 consultations every year, this tool can free up time for us to undertake more engagement with the public on a broader range of issues.

• Caddy, an AI powered co-pilot for customer service functions everywhere, which is currently in trial in Manchester. Built in collaboration with Citizens Advice, it seamlessly integrates into existing systems and provides expert advice to advisors and call handlers. A bespoke Civil Service AI assistant called ‘Redbox Multitool’ (based on the Ministerial RedBox previously announced) which is tailored for the use of UK government, including a range of secure efficiency-generating features appropriate for central government work.

• Signing a Collaboration Charter with NHSE to work together on AI, as well as data infrastructure projects to support better operations in healthcare.

Information about other pilots will be released as they pass development and testing gateways.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are working on matters relating to common sense at the instruction of the Minister without portfolio within the Cabinet Office.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Minister’s official role is the Minister without Portfolio, a role which has a large scope across government. The Minister supports the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to identify where our public sector delivery is inhibited by bureaucracy and inefficiencies. The Minister’s overarching aim is to ensure efficiency and value for money for the taxpayer.

Further information on the Minister without Portfolio’s role can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/people/esther-mcvey.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, from which schools have pupils attended Lessons at 10 in 10 Downing Street.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Lessons at 10 aims to bring education to life, encourage a love for learning, and inspire children from across the UK, with any school being able to take part. Over 50 schools have taken part in the last year. Schools can apply through an application available on the Prime Minister’s Office page on the gov.uk website.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2024 to Question 25364 on Bahrain: Official Visits, whether any (a) Departments, (b) agencies and (c) public bodies were responsible for (i) arranging, (ii) coordinating and (iii) advising the meeting between Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HM the King on 3 May 2024.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office had no involvement in the meeting between Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and HM the King on 3 May 2024.

Information regarding any other departments, agencies and public bodies involved in arranging, coordinating, or advising this meeting is not held centrally.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress the Government Property Agency has made on the erection of hoarding for the Brunswick site of the Darlington economic campus.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Like my Honourable Friend I am very keen to see the hoarding at the Brunswick site erected as soon as possible.

We have recently appointed Kier for precontract (design) services.

One of the first tasks they will undertake is the completion of the hoarding design.

We aim to have the hoarding proposals in place so that we may commence installation as soon as planning permission is granted.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 19 of the Integrated Review Refresh 2023, published on 13 March 2023, what progress the Government has made on updating its Russia strategy.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The HMG Russia Strategy is a living document, the details of which are kept under constant review by the Government. However, the broad principles of the Strategy were designed to be enduring, and remain as set out on page 42, paragraph 28, of the Integrated Review Refresh.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's policy is on the procurement of (a) food and (b) drinks produced in Britain for use in its canteens and restaurants.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Government Property Agency (GPA) is responsible for the procurement of food and drink for canteens and restaurants in a number of government buildings across Britain, including Cabinet Office buildings.

Contractually, all suppliers appointed by GPA are required to comply with the Government Buying Standards, owned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

The relevant part of the standards is local and environmentally sustainable sourcing.

Wherever possible, contracting authorities and/or tier 1 suppliers should aim for at least 50% of food spending to be on locally produced food or food certified to higher environmental production standards. Progress towards this target must be reported annually.

This contractual provision will be monitored as part of the governance and report requirements of GPA's new contracts.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress his Department has made on implementing the recommendations of the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The statement I made on 21st May to Parliament provided clarity on the Government response to the Inquiry’s second interim report. The Scheme responds directly to and is in line with the recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry in its second interim report, which considered the earlier study into compensation by Sir Robert Francis KC.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of publishing a new counter-terrorism strategy on state threats.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As set out in the 2023 CONTEST refresh, the Government is focusing on the nexus between terrorism and state threats, utilising our counter-terrorism powers, capabilities and expertise, to protect the UK. Alongside our counter-terrorism toolkit, the powers in the National Security Act 2023 will help to keep the UK safe by making it harder for those states who seek to conduct hostile acts against us.

In addition, the UK’s approach to state threats has been set out in the Integrated Review Refresh, which recognises that state threats are increasing and diversifying. It lays out the overarching objectives of our response; to protect the UK and its interests abroad; build consensus internationally and domestically; compete to disrupt and deter threat activity; and understand the evolving threat.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that British overseas territories nationals are security vetted to national standards.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

All individuals who hold UK National Security Clearance (NSV) are vetted to a consistent standard based on central policy set by the Cabinet Office. The level of clearance required is assessed by the sponsoring department or organisation subject to the particular role and responsibilities and access to sensitive assets required for the post.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Minister for Veterans Affairs will provide the Independent inquiry into alleged unlawful activity by UK Special Forces during deliberate detention operations in Afghanistan the names of officers that contacted him with information on such alleged activity.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

This question relates to ongoing legal proceedings therefore it would be inappropriate to provide any commentary until the legal process has concluded.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of annual vehicle theft in the UK is accomplished by offenders cloning the signal from the vehicle owner’s remote locking device.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

The Lord Birt

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

9 May 2024

Dear Lord Birt,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of annual vehicle theft in the UK is accomplished by offenders cloning the signal from the vehicle owner’s remote locking device (HL4379).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) publish figures on the levels and trends of crime in England and Wales primarily based on two sets of crime statistics: the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and police recorded crime data. The CSEW provides estimates of the prevalence of crime and different crime types as experienced by victims, which may not always be reported to the police.

Table 1 shows an estimate of the percentage of households who have experienced theft of a vehicle, where the method of entry into the vehicle was through manipulation of the signal from the remote locking device. This is taken from our Nature of crime: vehicle-related theft tables for the year ending March 2023 published on 3 April 2024. Due to the suspension of the CSEW during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, data are not available for the year ending March 2021 and the year ending March 2022.

Unfortunately, we do not hold any information from police-recorded crime which shows what percentage of annual vehicle theft in England and Wales is accomplished by offenders cloning the signal from the vehicle owner’s remote locking device.

Crime and justice statistics for Scotland can be found on the Scottish Government website and for more information please contact Justice_Analysts@gov.scot. The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) are responsible for producing crime and justice statistics for Northern Ireland and can be contacted at statistics.research@justice-ni.x.gsi.gov.uk.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Table 1: Estimated percentage of theft of vehicles where method of entry was through manipulation of the signal from remote locking device, year ending March 2019 to year ending March 2023 CSEW

Source: Office for National Statistics – Crime Survey for England and Wales

[1]CSEW estimates for the year ending March 2023 have been temporarily suspended of their National Statistics status. Caution should be taken when interpreting these estimates because of the impact of lower response rates, and reduced interviewer numbers on the quality of the estimates.

[2]This category was added into the survey from the year ending March 2019.

[3]Estimates that are based on fewer than 50 respondents should be interpreted with caution.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the employment rate for veterans was in financial year (a) 2018-19, (b) 2021-22 and (c) 2022-23.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

This Government is committed to making the United Kingdom the best place in the world to be a veteran. This includes making sure all veterans have equity of opportunity and access to valuable, sustainable careers after they leave military service.

Veterans’ employment in the UK is at an all-time high, at 89% within six months of leaving service for those who engage with the available support. Previously, this was at 88% in 2021/22, and 86% in 2018/19.

Op PROSPER, the first-of-its kind initiative backed by £2.1 million of government funding, will further support our veterans into valuable, fulfilling roles which make full use of their capabilities, in sectors at the forefront of the UK’s innovation and economic growth.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 22836 on Veterans: Social Rented Housing, if he will list the locations awarded grants by the Veteran Capital Housing Fund.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

The Government launched the £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund to ensure the sustainable supply of veteran housing through the refurbishment of affordable rental accommodation and the delivery of new build projects for veterans.

The Fund is a three-year programme with multiple awards planned over that period. Grants supported to date are located in North East England; South East England; and Wales. More details on these grants can be found at https://covenantfund.org.uk/veterans-capital-housing-fund-refurbishment.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 May 2024 to Question 22837 on Office for Veterans' Affairs: Finance and Staff, how many veterans work in the Office for Veterans’ Affairs.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

The information is not held in the format requested.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what are the most recent statistics on the Economic Activity Rate of each of the UK's four nations, and what were the equivalent rates (1) 10, and (2) 20, years earlier.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

Please see the letter attached from the National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority.

The Rt Hon. the Lord Wigley

House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW

Dear Lord Wigley,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what are the most recent statistics on the Economic Activity Rate of each of the UK’s four nations, and what were the equivalent rates (1) 10, and (2) 20, years earlier (HL4552).

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects information on the labour market status of individuals through the Labour Force Survey (LFS), which is a survey of people resident in households in the UK.

The responses allow us to identify how many people are economically active; that is, those who are engaged with the labour market, either through employment or who are unemployed and actively seeking work. We are also able to calculate economic activity rates by region using these data.

Due to the current smaller sample sizes being achieved by the LFS, recent estimates are showing increased volatility and should be treated with additional caution. We are currently undertaking a programme of work to improve our estimates of the UK labour market. As part of this work, we have updated our labour market estimates from July to September 2022 onwards to incorporate more up to date estimates of the UK population. Labour market estimates prior to this remain based on older population estimates. Therefore, the latest available estimates of the UK labour market, for January to March 2024, are on a different population basis than those ten and twenty years earlier. As a result of this we recommend caution when considering long-term movements in these series.

The latest available estimates (January to March 2024) of the economic activity rates, for people aged 16 to 64 years, resident in each of the UK’s four nations are presented in Table 1, alongside estimates for January to March 2014 and January to March 2004.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

Table 1: Economic Activity Rates, people aged 16 to 64 years, England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, seasonally adjusted.

Source: Labour Force Survey

[1] Estimate based on more up to date population estimates and subject to greater volatility due to smaller achieved sample sizes. We advise caution when interpreting movements in these series.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether secondary legislation could be used to increase the number of ministers that can be paid in order that all ministers receive the relevant current rate, and if not how might this be done.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The payment of ministerial salaries is governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act (MOSA) 1975. To answer these questions, we have treated ministers who hold more than one office (“joint ministers”) but are paid only for one as paid ministers, and therefore have counted only those ministers who do not receive a salary under MOSA.

There are currently 108 ministers who receive a government salary. The current number of ministers in total is 125, meaning that 17 are unpaid, 3 in the House of Commons and 14 in the House of Lords.

If the 17 unpaid ministers were to claim a ministerial salary on the same basis as those who receive a salary the additional sum payable would be £1,146,358 per annum, excluding pension contributions. We have counted the Party Chair, the Rt Hon Richard Holden MP in these calculations, as he is unpaid by the government. He is, however, by convention paid by the party.

Primary legislation would be required to increase the number of ministers entitled to receive a salary to include the 17 ministers who are currently unpaid. Secondary legislation in the form of an Order in Council under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 may be used to increase the rate at which ministerial salaries are payable.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many ministers in each House receive a government ministerial salary, and how many receive none; and what the total extra cost of paying all ministers the relevant current rate would be.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The payment of ministerial salaries is governed by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act (MOSA) 1975. To answer these questions, we have treated ministers who hold more than one office (“joint ministers”) but are paid only for one as paid ministers, and therefore have counted only those ministers who do not receive a salary under MOSA.

There are currently 108 ministers who receive a government salary. The current number of ministers in total is 125, meaning that 17 are unpaid, 3 in the House of Commons and 14 in the House of Lords.

If the 17 unpaid ministers were to claim a ministerial salary on the same basis as those who receive a salary the additional sum payable would be £1,146,358 per annum, excluding pension contributions. We have counted the Party Chair, the Rt Hon Richard Holden MP in these calculations, as he is unpaid by the government. He is, however, by convention paid by the party.

Primary legislation would be required to increase the number of ministers entitled to receive a salary to include the 17 ministers who are currently unpaid. Secondary legislation in the form of an Order in Council under the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975 may be used to increase the rate at which ministerial salaries are payable.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 17 April 2024, to Question 19773, on Veterans: Cost of Living, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing cost of living support for veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

This Government has successfully reduced inflation by more than half, which will make the cost of living more affordable for veterans along with every other resident in the UK.

Veterans’ employment is at an all-time high, with 89% of those leaving service finding employment within six months, but we're determined to go further. The recently launched OP PROSPER backed by £2.1million in government funding will support veterans and their families into valuable, fulfilling employment in roles which fully utilise their skills and capabilities, based in sectors at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

This government also introduced, and continued for at least one further year at the Autumn statement, 12-month National Insurance relief to eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after service.

My officials continue to drive forward efforts to ensure that veterans and their families are fully aware of the benefits and support available to them, including in relation to easing the Cost of Living.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps their Department is taking to support the Disability Confident scheme; how many officials in their Department work directly on supporting that scheme; what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of that work in supporting the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of disabled people in their Department; and what further steps they are taking to support their Department’s recruitment and retention of disabled people.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Cabinet Office successfully accomplished Disability Confident (DC) level 3 leader status in February 2024. We have been Disability Confident in Level 3 for the last 4 years. We continue to work closely with the Business Disability forum that validated our DC and are working through our recommendations in all areas.

Cabinet Office takes a departmental approach to Disability Confidence to embed core areas across the department. Some examples of officials supporting this are the Workplace Adjustments Team and the Recruitment Team. All colleagues involved in the end to end process of recruitment campaigns undertake activities that support the scheme such as Vacancy Managers, HR Business Partners and Civil Service Resourcing colleagues.

The effectiveness of that work in supporting the scheme in both recruitment and retention was postively reflected in the feedback as part of the assessment in the Disability Confident Scheme. The re-accreditation of Disability Confidence Level 3 Leader status demonstrates the effectiveness of all the work we do in the department.

All areas received positive feedback and also some recommendations to support the development of those areas. We will be working through the recommendations from the validator to continue to be a leader in Disability Confident.

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 - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

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.

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.

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 - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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.

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 - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of collecting data on minority ethnic veterans employed through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Going Forward into Employment scheme for supporting ethnic minority veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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.

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.

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.

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 - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

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.

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 - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

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.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of proposals to extend a legal duty of candour on public bodies other than healthcare providers.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government firmly believes in the benefits of having a bespoke approach to different parts of the public sector and is not persuaded that a single overarching duty would work well in practice.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that there are no time limits on starting or completing applications for compensation for infected blood.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government is committed to ensuring that all those eligible to receive compensation receive an award as quickly as possible. For those whose infections are diagnosed before 1 April 2025, the Scheme is anticipated to be open for 6 years (31 March 2031). However, the anticipated closing date of the Scheme for people with existing diagnoses will be reviewed after 3 years to ensure that it is appropriate.The Government recognises that some people may not yet have been diagnosed with an eligible infection. Where people are newly diagnosed after 1 April 2025, the Scheme will remain open to applications for compensation for 6 years after their diagnosis date.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government from which (1) departments, (2) arms-length bodies, and (3) other organisations the number of civil servants will be reduced to help fund the commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2030.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The detail of how individual organisations will be affected by the return to pre-pandemic numbers will form a key part of the next comprehensive spending review. The longer-term reductions will build on the shorter-term headcount cap put in place through to March 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2024 to Question 18033 on Civil Servants: Veterans, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans from minority ethnic backgrounds that were employed through the Great Place to Work for Veterans scheme in the last 12 months.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member on 20 May 2024. (UINs PQ26837-PQ26838-PQ26840).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to help increase access to (a) mental health services and (b) employment opportunities for Veterans in Southport constituency.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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, and to health, including mental health support whenever it is needed.

Op COURAGE is the NHS England veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service, funded by over £21m per year. Op COURAGE works with several charities and local organisations to provide help with wider health and wellbeing needs.

Earlier this year we launched a campaign with NHS England and the Royal College of GPs to boost the uptake of Op COURAGE, and to encourage GP practices to become veteran friendly accredited.

Veterans employment is at an all-time high, with 89% with six months of leaving service, of those engaging with Career Transition Partnership support.

Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will offer tailored support to veterans and their families entering into employment or taking the next step in their careers wherever they may be based in the UK, at any point in their lives after leaving service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2024 to Question 15550 on Civil Servants: Veterans, if he will make an estimate of the number of veterans that were employed through the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative in the West Midlands in the last 12 months.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member on 20 May 2024. (UINs PQ26837-PQ26838-PQ26840).

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that every family who lost a relative from infected blood is compensated.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

It is important that the Scheme recognises the immense suffering endured by people whose lives and families have been impacted by infected blood. Affected persons will be eligible for compensation in their own right where their case is linked to that of a person eligible under the compensation scheme. This includes affected partners; children; parents; siblings; and other friends and family members who cared for loved ones with an infection without reward or remuneration. Where a person has multiple family members who have been infected, multiple injury awards will be made to reflect the scale of their loss.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to (a) monitor and (b) manage risk across the public sector.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Cabinet Office provides leadership to the whole system of resilience across Government, with Secretaries of State responsible for specific risk areas, in line with the Lead Government Department model. The Government’s assessment of the most serious risks to the nation are set out in the National Risk Register, which is now more transparent than ever before.

The Government has also taken steps to further develop risk management effectiveness across government. This includes updating the Orange Book (which contains principles for managing risk) to include a new risk control framework. The Civil Service Board also considers emerging risks to the public sector.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether it is his policy to ensure that interim payments are made to those who have been affected by infected blood.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

The Victims and Prisoners Bill includes provisions which place a statutory duty on the Government to make interim payments of £100,000 to estates of the deceased infected people who were registered with existing or former support schemes before 17 April 2024 for deaths not yet recognised.

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 - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure public accountability for decision making in government.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

Accountability to Parliament and to the public is one of the core values of this government. That is why within the Cabinet Office we have taken significant steps to ensure that ministers and civil servants act with integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level. For example, each of 244 major government projects in the Government Major Projects Programme now has a publicly named senior responsible officer accountable for project delivery. Departments and agencies are required to publish in their Annual Reports and Accounts public performance updates against their priority outcomes, ensuring that public scrutiny of departmental delivery is embedded across Whitehall.The accountability of arm’s length bodies has been sharpened up by the public bodies reviews programme and by updating the arm’s length body sponsorship code of good practice.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of taking further steps with private sector employers to help support more veterans into employment.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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, and to working with employers to make this vision a reality.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will work closely with employers and industry bodies to establish new clear and accessible routes for veterans and their families into employment which makes the most of their skills and capabilities, in key industries at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

We have also introduced and continued 12-month National Insurance relief for eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after leaving military service, which is of benefit to all businesses and employers across the country.

This work is supported by the OVA-launched Employers Guide to Hiring Veterans which showcases innovation and best practice and the OVA-hosted Veteran Employers’ Group brings together leading employers from across the UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has had with private sector employers on the employment of veterans.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

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, and to working with employers to make this vision a reality.

The recently announced Op PROSPER backed by £2.1 million in government funding will work closely with employers and industry bodies to establish new clear and accessible routes for veterans and their families into employment which makes the most of their skills and capabilities, in key industries at the forefront of innovation and economic growth.

We have also introduced and continued 12-month National Insurance relief for eligible employers recruiting veterans in their first civilian role after leaving military service, which is of benefit to all businesses and employers across the country.

This work is supported by the OVA-launched Employers Guide to Hiring Veterans which showcases innovation and best practice and the OVA-hosted Veteran Employers’ Group brings together leading employers from across the UK.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2024 to Question 18034 on Civil Servants: Veterans, what his planned timetable is for implementation of those improvements.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

Further to question 18034, the Office of Veterans’ Affairs plans to launch the improvements by October.

Updated guidance on GOV.UK for veterans is underway, and will be updated iteratively as we work through the pages available.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how the infected blood compensation scheme will include people infected with other hepatitis viruses, such as (1) hepatitis B, and (2) hepatitis D.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Those living with a chronic Hepatitis B infection, and those with acute Hepatitis B infections who died from their infection during the acute period, will be eligible under the scheme. More detail can be viewed online here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infected-blood-compensation-scheme-summary/infected-blood-compensation-scheme-summary. The Inquiry’s second interim report sets out that as the Hepatitis D virus does not cause infection in the absence of Hepatitis B, it is not necessary to make Hepatitis D an additional class of infection. Therefore Hepatitis D infections are not separately considered for compensation.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether payments of compensation to contaminated blood victims will be funded outside the projected annual expenditure on health and social security budgets.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

Given the uncertainty over costs, the scheme will be scored as Capital Annually Managed Expenditure. Annually Managed Expenditure is spend on programmes which are demand led - such as welfare, tax credits or public sector pensions. It is spent on items that may be unpredictable or not easily controlled by departments, as opposed to Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) which are allocated to and spent by Government departments. We will set out what this means for the public finances in the usual way at the next fiscal event.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what legal or other support will be made available to infected and affected people when making applications for compensation for infected blood; and how the compensation authority will assist people whose medical records have been destroyed.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Government will make arrangements for the Infected Blood Compensation Authority to provide support to applicants and within this support will consider the provision of legal support services. The Government amendments to the Victims and Prisoners Bill allow for that support to be provided for victims and the House can expect the Government to work with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority on the support that is required.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Infected Blood Inquiry: The Report published on 20 May, when infected and affected people will receive new interim compensation payments; and when full compensation payments will be made.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It is the Government’s intention for the first interim payments of £210,000 to the living infected to be delivered within 90 days, to begin in summer. Full Compensation Scheme payments will be made as quickly as possible and our aim is that payments will start before the end of the year.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what support his Department is providing to veterans to help them become entrepreneurs.

Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

This Government is committed to making sure that our veterans have equitable access and opportunity to a full range of career options after leaving military service, including self-employment, SME (small & medium-sized enterprise) ownership and entrepreneurship.

The Government-owned British Business Bank has a specialist delivery partner, X-Forces Enterprise, for its Start Up Loans programme which specifically supports veterans, members of the wider Armed Forces community and their family members. Since 2013 there have been over 3000 Start Up Loans delivered by X-Forces Enterprise, totalling over £33 million of finance provided.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department is taking steps to prevent public contracts from being awarded to companies that blacklist workers.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 contain exclusion grounds which allow contracting authorities to exclude suppliers from procurements where their tender does not comply with labour law or where the supplier is guilty of grave professional misconduct.

For example, a breach of the The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010, which prohibit the compilation, usage, sale or supply of blacklists of trade union members and activists, would render the supplier liable to potential exclusion.

In all cases, individual departments and other public sector bodies are responsible for their own decisions on these matters.

The Procurement Act, which is expected to go live in October 2024, builds on and clarifies the exclusions measures in the existing regime. This includes specific measures enabling the exclusion of suppliers for professional misconduct.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to prevent public contracts being awarded to companies that blacklist workers.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 contain exclusion grounds which allow contracting authorities to exclude suppliers from procurements where their tender does not comply with labour law or where the supplier is guilty of grave professional misconduct.

For example, a breach of the The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010, which prohibit the compilation, usage, sale or supply of blacklists of trade union members and activists, would render the supplier liable to potential exclusion.

In all cases, individual departments and other public sector bodies are responsible for their own decisions on these matters.

The Procurement Act, which is expected to go live in October 2024, builds on and clarifies the exclusions measures in the existing regime. This includes specific measures enabling the exclusion of suppliers for professional misconduct.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps to ensure that that public contracts are not awarded to companies that blacklist workers.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 contain exclusion grounds which allow contracting authorities to exclude suppliers from procurements where their tender does not comply with labour law or where the supplier is guilty of grave professional misconduct.

For example, a breach of the The Employment Relations Act 1999 (Blacklists) Regulations 2010, which prohibit the compilation, usage, sale or supply of blacklists of trade union members and activists, would render the supplier liable to potential exclusion.

In all cases, individual departments and other public sector bodies are responsible for their own decisions on these matters.

The Procurement Act, which is expected to go live in October 2024, builds on and clarifies the exclusions measures in the existing regime. This includes specific measures enabling the exclusion of suppliers for professional misconduct.

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Found: Cabinet Office coordination of both Brexit and COVID was welcomed by industry, and cross-departmental

Found: The Cabinet Office should also update its list of public appointments subject to Select Committee pre

Found: jurisprudence highlighting ultimate decision-making control belongs to the UK Parliament. to the Cabinet

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Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps their Department is taking to support the Disability Confident scheme; how many officials in their Department work directly on supporting that scheme; what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of that work in supporting the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of disabled people in their Department; and what further steps they are taking to support their Department’s recruitment and retention of disabled people.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department proudly supports the Disability Confident Scheme, and has renewed its status as a Disability Confident employer. No single official works directly on the scheme, and in line with Civil Service guidance, we have moved away from standalone roles and teams to embed equality, diversity, and inclusion activities within existing human resource portfolios and roles. Activity to support the recruitment and retention of colleagues with a disability is undertaken across our recruitment, talent, and employee experience teams.

In the last calendar year, 11.3% of successful applicants applied under the Disability Confident Scheme. This is a slight increase from last year, at 10.9%. We additionally review our disability representation rates on a regular basis to monitor the impact of our recruitment practices and policy changes. We also have dedicated staff networks to support our disabled employees and celebrate achievements. Turnover of permanent employees who have declared they have a disability is currently approximately 6%, which is significantly lower than the average permanent staff turnover of colleagues who do not have a declared disability.

In 2023, we launched a new Workplace Adjustments policy, process, and passport. The new process is designed to ensure everyone in the Department can access the support they need as easily and quickly as possible via a person-centred approach that identifies and seeks to remove workplace barriers.

We also delivered several talent schemes that can assist in supporting the retention and development of disabled colleagues. This includes Beyond Boundaries, a 12-month programme for the Senior Executive Officer grade and below, to support candidates in reaching their full potential. As part of the programme, to support disability positive action, last year we ringfenced six job places out of 30, based on the proportionality of our disabled workforce, the People Survey, and recruitment data. We expect to take similar action this year.

In addition, the Future Leaders Scheme (FLS) is a 12-month accelerated development scheme for Grade 6 or 7 colleagues, who have the potential to progress to the Civil Service’s most senior and critical leadership roles. There is an option for those candidates who declare a disability or long-term health condition, or both, to enrol on the Disability Empowers Leadership Talent Association (DELTA) integrated scheme. In 2022, we had four candidates participate in DELTA out of the 21 successful FLS candidates, and two out of 26 in 2021, as per the data from the Cabinet Office. It should be noted that due to the sensitive nature of the programmes, not all participants are comfortable in being open about participation in DELTA, especially those with disabilities who have yet to disclose this to their colleagues or managers.

Finally, the Department’s mutual mentoring programme encourages underrepresented groups, including colleagues with disabilities, to mentor senior civil service colleagues to help increase the engagement and retention of underrepresented staff, and increase cultural intelligence in senior leaders.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in her Department in each of the last five years.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The government has audited the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June.

On 14 May, the Minister without Portfolio made a written statement on the latest findings from the review. This can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-05-14/hcws464.

In response to these findings, the Cabinet Office is publishing the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance. This includes an end to all external spending on EDI activity, unless cleared and authorised by Ministers.

Further guidance on diversity staff networks is being developed, and the department will seek to publish additional data on historic spending to assist transparency in this area.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, what the total cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in his Department in each of the last five years.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government has audited the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June. On 14 May the Minister without Portfolio made a written statement [https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-05-14/hcws464] on the latest findings from the review. In response to these findings, the Cabinet Office is publishing the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance. This includes an end to all external spending on EDI activity, unless cleared and authorised by Ministers. Further guidance on diversity staff networks is being developed, and we will seek to publish additional data on historic spending to assist transparency in this area.

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether any ministerial redundancy payments have been repaid to their Department since 2019.

Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

No ministerial redundancy payments have been repaid to the Department since 2019.

The Provision of severance payments for Ministers is set out in legislation. Details of the severance payments made to ministers when leaving office are published in departments’ annual reports and accounts.

Similarly, the provision of severance payments for special advisers is set out in the Model Contract, which is available on gov.uk, including provisions for repayment of severance if reappointed. The cost of severance payments made to special advisers across government is published annually by the Cabinet Office.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of mandating the use of domestic steel in defence procurement contracts.

Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Steel is procured in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines with many defence programmes requiring specialised steels that are not manufactured in the UK.

Steel for our major defence programmes is generally sourced by our prime contractors from a range of UK and international suppliers. This Government is committed to creating the right conditions in the UK for a competitive and sustainable steel industry. It publishes its future pipeline for steel requirements, together with data on how Departments are complying with steel procurement guidance. This enables UK steel manufacturers to better plan and bid for Government contracts.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in his Department in each of the last five years.

Answered by Mike Freer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has audited the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June.

On 14 May, the Minister without Portfolio made a written statement on the latest findings from the review.

In response to these findings, the Cabinet Office is publishing the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance. This includes an end to all external spending on EDI activity, unless cleared and authorised by Ministers.

Further guidance on diversity staff networks is being developed, and we will seek to publish additional data on historic spending to assist transparency in this area.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what the total cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in her Department in each of the last five years.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government has audited the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June.

On 14th May the Minister without Portfolio made a written statement on the latest findings from the review.

In response to these findings, the Cabinet Office is publishing the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance. This includes an end to all external spending on EDI activity, unless cleared and authorised by Ministers.

Further guidance on diversity staff networks is being developed, and we will seek to publish additional data on historic spending to assist transparency in this area.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in his Department in each of the last five years.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

Our financial records show that for the five financial Years 19/20 to 23/24 costs recorded for our staff networks total £215, 835.

This does not include expenditure by all staff networks which may have had costs met through central budgets based on specific business cases and other ad-hoc requests during the period. Disproportionate effort would be required to identify such costs.

In addition, the Government has audited the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June. On 14th May the Minister without Portfolio made a written statement on the latest findings from the review.

In response to these findings, the Cabinet Office has published the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance. This includes an end to all external spending on EDI activity, unless cleared and authorised by Ministers.

The Cabinet Office is also developing new guidance for staff diversity networks. This will outline clear expectations and parameters around the role and function of networks so that they support productivity and are aligned to Civil Service Values, Civil Service D&I Strategy and Government Reform commitments.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the cost to the public purse was of staff diversity networks in his Department in each of the last five years.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government has audited the cost-effectiveness of all equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) activities, through the review of EDI spending announced last June.

On 14th May the Minister without Portfolio made a written statement on the latest findings from the review. In response to these findings, the Cabinet Office is publishing the Civil Service EDI Expenditure Guidance. This includes an end to all external spending on EDI activity, unless cleared and authorised by Ministers.

Further guidance on diversity staff networks is being developed, and we will seek to publish additional data on historic spending to assist transparency in this area.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with reference to the Seventh Report of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee of Session 2022-23 on Food Security, HC622, published on 28 July 2023, whether he has undertaken a comprehensive review of Departmental responsibilities and structures on food policy.

Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)

As we have previously articulated in the Government Response to the recommendations for the House of Commons, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee - Food Security report, the Government agrees with the need for policy coherence and for strong leadership on food-related issues. Food supply is one of the UK's 13 Critical National Infrastructure sectors. Defra and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are joint Lead Government Departments (LGDs), with Defra leading on supply and the FSA on food safety. As such Defra works closely with the Cabinet Office and other LGDs ensuring food supply is fully incorporated as part of emergency preparedness, including consideration of dependencies on other sectors. There are clear accountabilities within Cabinet, and attendant Departmental responsibilities, with cross-Whitehall structures enabling coordination.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to appoint an Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration; and in what timeframe.

Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)

The process to recruit a new Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration follows the principles set out within the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65c4f9a19c5b7f0012951b7a/governance_code_on_public_appointments.pdf

The competition opened on 21 February, and the closing date for applications was 2 April 2024. Our intention is to make the appointment as soon as possible, and an indicative timetable is available on the Public Appointments website:

Role details – Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration – Apply for a public appointment – GOV.UK (apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2024 to Question 25812 on Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Contracts and with reference to the Minister without Portfolio's article of 12 May 2024 in The Sunday Telegraph, whether the DVLA intends to cancel the contract with Political Engagement Ltd.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The DVLA is reviewing a range of commitments, in line with Cabinet Office guidance. There has been no spending under this particular contract.

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Found: of candour in relation to major incidents (1) The Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet

Found: of candour in relation to major incidents (1) The Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet

Found: of candour in relation to major incidents (1) The Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet

Found: (10) The Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet Office may by regulations repeal

Found: non-executive member appointed by the Secretary of State or the Minister for the Cabinet Office

Found: arrangements 2.2 In April 2021, the National Economic and Recovery T askforce, established by the Cabinet

Found: OfficeCAD022AcademiesAcademiesCAP074CMA Trust StatementCMA Trust StatementCBA033NHS EnglandNHS EnglandCBADJ1CLS - CABINET

Found: Undertakings (P rotection of Employment) Regulations 2006, equivalent statutory transfer schemes, or the Cabinet

Found: to the following government departments and pension schemes: No Name Government Departments 1 Cabinet

Found: This appointment is subject to confirmation by the new administration as set out in the cabinet office

Found: appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet

Found: is a response rate of 70%, as advised by the European Human Rights Commission (and endorsed by the Cabinet

Found: 0.666666666666667 0 0 9 3 0.333333333333333 1 0.111111111111111 5 2 0.4 0 0 8 5 0.625 4 0.5 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 Cabinet

Found: 9 3 0.333333333333333 1 0.111111111111111 5 2 0.4 0 0.0 8 5 0.625 4 0.5 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 1 0 0.0 0 0.0 Cabinet

Found: The Cabinet Office of Japan leads on multilateral science cooperation such as G7, as well as coordinates

Found: Internal training 172,082 HM Treasury HMT 27/02/2024 Facilities Service Charges Non-recoverable HR Team Cabinet

Found: Details The Minister for the Cabinet Office has committed government to publishing procurement card

Found: Ltd 316105 IT costs 1,199,300 HM Treasury HMT 26/03/2024 Printing & Binding (Admin) HR Ops Central Cabinet

Found: Details The Minister for the Cabinet Office has committed government to publishing procurement card

Found: Details The Minister for the Cabinet Office has committed government to publishing procurement card

Found: Delivery Refinitiv 307521 Market Data 84,658 HM Treasury HMT 31/01/2024 Telephony   New Tower Services Cabinet

Found: The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chief Secretary to the Treasury wrote to all Secretaries of

Found: The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chief Secretary to the Treasury wrote to all Secretaries of

Found: one of a number of post -war interrogation reports in Geschichte des Oberbefehlshabers West held at Cabinet

Found: The Cabinet Office commissioned IFF research to undertake an evaluation of the Student Electoral Registration

Found: The Cabinet Office commissioned IFF research to undertake an evaluation of the Student Electoral Registration

Found: Documents SCS secondary paid employment details 2023 to 2024 HTML Details The Cabinet

Found: £47,612.42 IT Infrastructure and Software Support CMA 26/03/2024 External Training Costs CMA Academy Cabinet

Found: We have published our spend in line with Cabinet Office guidelines which allow for data protection of

Found: de Botton, Amber, Director of Communications at No.10, Cabinet Office - ACOBA advice

Found: de Botton, Amber, Director of Communications at No.10, Cabinet Office - ACOBA advice

Found: de Botton, Amber, Director of Communications at No.10, Cabinet Office - ACOBA advice

Found: de Botton, Amber, Director of Communications at No.10, Cabinet Office - ACOBA advice

Found: de Botton, Amber, Director of Communications at No.10, Cabinet Office - ACOBA advice

Found: Chisholm, Alex- Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, the Cabinet Office

Found: Chisholm, Alex- Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, the Cabinet Office

Found: Chisholm, Alex- Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary, the Cabinet Office

Found: The Cabinet Office noted he may have access to privileged information on the UK system but did not think

Found: The Cabinet Office noted he may have access to privileged information on the UK system but did not think

Found: BUSINESS APPOINTMENT APPLICATION: Sir Patrick Vallance, former Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Cabinet

Found: ACOBA Advice Advice to Sir Patrick Vallance, former Government Chief Scientific Adviser at the Cabinet

Found: The Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed the details you provided

Found: FCDO and the Cabinet Office confirmed the details you provided in this application. 5.

Found: publish advice when roles are announced or taken up, in line with General Election guidance issued by the Cabinet

Found: The Minister for the Cabinet Office outlined the Government’s commitment to deliver compensation on the

Found: This appointment is subject to confirmation by the new administration as set out in the cabinet office

Found: appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet

Found: been made in accordance with the Ministerial Governance Code on Public Appointments published by the Cabinet

Found: Technology and Democracy, University of Cambridge ● Mike Potter, Government Chief Digital Officer, Cabinet

Found: UK Civil Service core development programmes, commis sioned from the Cabinet Office, can draw on UK

Found: has a commitment to improving the understanding of the cost of living for disabled people with the Cabinet

Found: The UK Government’s Cabinet Office Disability Unit, has commissioned the Research Institute for Disabled