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.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 2 August 2024, to Question 905, on Civil Servants: Workplace Pensions, what recent estimate he has made of the percentage employer contribution to the Alpha pension scheme by pay band; and what the estimated yearly monetary cost to the public purse of such employer contributions is.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This information is publicly available in the “Central Government Supply Estimates 2024-25” documents and the Civil Service Pension Scheme Valuation Results” document.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the provision of accommodation at a below market rate to a Minister is a declarable interest to the (a) Cabinet Office Propriety and Ethics Team and (b) Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests under the Ministerial Code.
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, with reference to the Cabinet Office guidance entitled Non-corporate communication channels for government business, published in March 2023, what the Government's policy is on Ministers using personal devices for conducting official business.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There are arrangements and guidance in place for the management of all electronic communications in relation to the Government’s business as detailed in the guidance on Non Corporate Communication Channels.
Asked by: John Glen (Conservative - Salisbury)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much 10 Downing Street has spent on (a) cosmetics and (b) make-up artists for media appearances since 4 July 2024.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There has been no such expenditure.
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.