Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 21 October (HL1282), how many substantive disclosures have been issued, since the general election, by the Department for Work and Pensions in response to Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) requests on Civil Service workplace occupancy across the department; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each FOI disclosure, redacting the name of the applicant.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Since the General Election on 4^th July 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions has received and responded to one Freedom of Information (FOI) request relating to Civil Service workplace occupancy across the department.

We will place a copy of this FOI, FOI2024/58197 in the House libraries.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when monthly reporting of Ministerial data on gifts and hospitality will begin; what the gap will be between events each month and the publication of the details; when the Gov.uk platform containing such data will go live; and whether it will include senior officials and special advisers as well as Ministers.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government will introduce a register for ministers’ gifts and hospitality bringing publication of ministerial transparency data on a broadly equivalent basis to the parliamentary register.

Work on the new register is progressing and further details will be published in due course. Transparency data for ministerial meetings and overseas travel, special advisers and senior officials will continue to be published quarterly as it has been under previous administrations.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government when Universal Music originally made the offer of hospitality of two sets of Taylor Swift concert tickets to the Prime Minister.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

16 August 2024.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the Model Contract for Special Advisers, what is the value of any severance payment in lieu of notice if a special adviser is dismissed during, or at the conclusion of, a special adviser’s four-month probationary period.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Paragraph 6c of the Model Contract for Special Advisers sets out a special adviser's entitlements if they are dismissed during or at the conclusion of their 4-month probationary period, or if they terminate their employment by giving notice during that same period.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of trade union access requirements planned for the national procurement plan on the ability of small business to compete for and win government and local authority contracts.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The new National Procurement Policy Statement will set out a mission-led procurement regime which meets the challenge of applying the full potential of public procurement to deliver value for money, economic growth and social value. We are consulting on the policy statement, including on how we encourage and support SMEs bidding for contracts. Vital work on this is now underway with stakeholders, including small businesses and representative organisations in the development of the new NPPS.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their planned changes to the Government’s national procurement policy statement on the ability of small business to compete for and win government and local authority contracts.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The new National Procurement Policy Statement will set out a mission-led procurement regime which meets the challenge of applying the full potential of public procurement to deliver value for money, economic growth and social value. We are consulting on the policy statement, including on how we encourage and support SMEs bidding for contracts. Vital work on this is now underway with stakeholders, including small businesses and representative organisations in the development of the new NPPS.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) discussed the escorted policing protection to be given to Taylor Swift and her entourage at her concerts this year.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The first job of this Government is to ensure that the British people are safe and we make absolutely no apology to ensure our citizens are protected. As you would expect with events of this size in the capital, there would be meetings between the government, police and the mayor on planning to ensure events happen safely. But decisions on security arrangements are made by the police independent of politicians.

The government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the High Court ruling of [2024] EWHC 418 (Admin) of 28 February, what are (1) the current terms of reference for, and (2) the organisations sitting on, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC); and how Ministers’ views on (a) policy, and (b) operational matters are represented on the committee by their representatives,

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The current terms of reference for the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) were agreed in 2021, as set out in the High Court’s judgement.

These terms of reference set out the roles and responsibilities of the Committee, including those of the Committee as a whole and each organisation on the Committee.

The Committee’s membership includes the Home Office, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the Metropolitan Police Service, and the Royal Household.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Basildon on 21 October (HL1282), how many substantive disclosures have been issued, since the general election, by the Department for Business and Trade in response to Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOI) requests on Civil Service workplace occupancy across the department; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each FOI disclosure, redacting the name of the applicant.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Since the general election on 4th July 2024, the Department for Business and Trade received and issued one substantive Freedom of Information request pertaining to the civil service workplace occupancy data across the Department. A copy of the letter issued to the requestor will be deposited in the Libraries of both Houses with relevant redactions to the name of the applicant.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what policy, memorandum of understanding or guidance is held by the Home Office as a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 in relation to the operation of the Special Escort Group’s blue-light policing on public highways.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Special Escort Group (SEG) is part of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and is operationally independent. The policy for the deployment of the SEG is a matter for the MPS.

The government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Twycross on 19 September, whether the Cabinet Office holds a Ministerial Code declaration made to the Permanent Secretary when Jessica Sarjeant was appointed as a civil servant; and if so, whether they will place a copy of the declaration in the Library of the House.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Cabinet Office does not comment on individuals.

The Ministerial Code sets out that 'It is the personal responsibility of each Minister to decide whether and what action is needed to avoid a conflict or the perception of a conflict, taking account of advice received from their Permanent Secretary and the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ interests.'

The Code also sets out that 'The personal information which Ministers disclose to those who advise them is treated in confidence. However, a statement covering relevant Ministers’ interests will be published twice yearly.'

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 17 September (HL1071), how many Departmental meetings since the last general election Alan Milburn has attended where Ministers were not present.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Central Government Corporate Transparency Commitments require Government Departments to publish details of Ministers and Senior Officials meetings with external individuals or organisations on a quarterly basis. We will be publishing the meetings that Alan Milburn attended, in accordance with the Transparency guidelines.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance has been given to Government special advisers on whether they can campaign in the United States presidential elections.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Special advisers are required to follow the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

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