Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which Cabinet committees are responsible for (1) the recovery of public services following the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) co-ordinating the delivery of public services across Government; and which Ministers chair these committees.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
There are a number of Cabinet Committees that could take issues related to public service delivery and recovery. These include, for example; the Domestic and Economic (Operations), the Government Priorities Delivery Committee, Covid-19 Operations, the Health Promotion Taskforce and the Crime and Justice Taskforce. All of these are listed on GOV.UK along with their membership and Terms of Reference. This list of Cabinet Committees on GOV.UK is updated regularly.
It is a long-established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not normally shared publicly.
Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the people appointed to (1) arms-length bodies, and (2) other public bodies, since 1 January have a political affiliation; and which political parties they were affiliated to in each case.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The government publishes annual data reports on public appointments, including information on gender, ethnic background and political affiliation. The latest report published on 21 October provides data on those appointed during the 2020-21 financial year and appointees in post on 31 March 2021. Data on those appointed during the 2021-22 financial year and those in post on 31 March 2022 will be published next year.
Latest figures show that in 2020-21, 44% of appointees were women and 10% were from an ethnic minority background. 6% stated they had taken part in political activity in the past five years across a range of political parties.
Public appointments are announced on the HM Government Public Appointments website https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who they have appointed to (1) arms-length bodies, and (2) other public bodies, since 1 January; and how many of these appointments were (a) women, or (b) people from a minority background.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The government publishes annual data reports on public appointments, including information on gender, ethnic background and political affiliation. The latest report published on 21 October provides data on those appointed during the 2020-21 financial year and appointees in post on 31 March 2021. Data on those appointed during the 2021-22 financial year and those in post on 31 March 2022 will be published next year.
Latest figures show that in 2020-21, 44% of appointees were women and 10% were from an ethnic minority background. 6% stated they had taken part in political activity in the past five years across a range of political parties.
Public appointments are announced on the HM Government Public Appointments website https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 28 September (HL2731), what commitments they have to ensure diversity of public appointments.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
On 21st October, the Government published the Public Appointments Data Report 2021. This set out the diversity data for public appointments held and made. The Government previously published a plan for increasing diversity in public appointments, the Public Appointments Diversity Action Plan, available on GOV.UK. We are keeping the plan under review to ensure that we continue to attract a broad range of talented people from across the UK to these roles.
Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the process for appointing the Commissioner for Public Appointments.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The role was advertised on the Government’s Public Appointments website and also through a number of other channels and networks. Applications were assessed by a panel, which included an independent member, against the advertised criteria. Shortlisted candidates were interviewed and the panel recommended to ministers which candidates they found appointable. Subject to consideration by Ministers of the select committee’s report, the formal appointment will be made by Order in Council.
Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of interference by Russian sources with the referendum in the UK on 23 June 2016.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
As the Prime Minister made clear in her Mansion House speech, Russia makes aggressive use of cyber capability to mount sustained campaigns of espionage and disruption.
To date, we have not seen evidence of successful interference in UK elections or referendums. We take any allegations of interference in UK democratic processes by a foreign government extremely seriously.
Asked by: Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will list those persons appointed as chairs of non-departmental public bodies by the Cabinet Office.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The current chair appointments to non-departmental public bodies made by the Cabinet Office are listed below:
Baroness Browning Advisory Committee on Business Appointments
Lord Bew Committee on Standards in Public Life
Lord Kakkar House of Lords Appointments Commission
Dr Martin Read CBE Senior Salaries Review Body
Sir Peter Ainsworth Big Lottery Fund
Sir George Newman Security Vetting Appeals Panel
Sir David Normington GCB First Civil Service Commissioner
The Speaker of the House of Commons (ex officio) Boundary Commissions for England and Wales
In addition, the Cabinet Office publishes a list of chairs of non-departmental public bodies on Gov.uk as part of the Public Bodies series of reports. The most recent report is as of 31 March 2015. Public Bodies is an online publication (gov.uk and data.gov) and a hard copy of each annual report is available in the Library of the House.