Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what new measures they are considering (1) to reduce the time for hiring and vetting, and (2) to attract and develop more applicants with STEM skills, in order to improve socio-economic diversity in recruitment to the Civil Service fast stream summer internship programme.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Initiatives are under way to improve time to hire across the Civil Service, which include establishing and benchmarking standardised recruitment metrics and using ‘test and learns’ to find new ways to attract and recruit talent.
UK Security Vetting (UKSV) has made significant progress in improving overall times to process applications for National Security Vetting. Performance continues to track at an all time high and UKSV remains committed to continuous improvement.
Our Fast Stream Summer Internship Programme will be for undergraduates from lower socio-economic backgrounds for 2026. The annual recruitment exercise aligns to the academic year, with vetting and recruitment conducted in time for the students summer start dates.
The Fast Stream, for which the Summer Internship is a feeder route, continues to focus on its 2022 ambition that 50% of hires to the Fast Stream will have a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) qualification. This was exceeded in 2023 and 2024.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the opportunities to strengthen public procurement policy to incentivise and increase the use of UK-made steel in publicly funded projects.
Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK steel sector plays a crucial role in our economic security. The public sector is an important buyer of steel, procuring it both directly and indirectly, to build critical infrastructure such as our railways, roads, buildings, defence equipment, schools and hospitals.
Public procurement data published by the Department for Business and Trade shows that where steel procured in FY 2023/24 could be made in the UK, around 97% was actually UK-made.
This Government is developing a steel strategy that will set a long-term vision for a revitalised and sustainable industry. The strategy will articulate what is needed to secure UK steel supply chains and create a competitive business environment in the UK.
The Cabinet Office has recently published new procurement policy measures to require central government departments, their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies to consult UK Steel’s Digital Catalogue prior to design and procurement decisions being made; and to apply the national security exemption to relevant steel procurements.
This Government is also considering further options to ensure public procurement supports critical UK industry and can boost jobs and growth.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the final compensation recommendations made by the Infected Blood Inquiry in 2023, what plans they have to make interim payments to bereaved parents and children.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
First, and most importantly, the suffering of the victims must be recognised. The Government understands that no measures can fully compensate for the losses and hardships that they have suffered. The priority here must be to ensure that victims get the justice they deserve. We are actively looking at the recommendations of the Inquiry, including the recommendation for more interim payments. The Government will respond to the recommendations of the final report following its publication on 20 May.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the manufacturing output in the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether steps are being taken to amend European Union procurement rules to ensure more United Kingdom companies' involvement in government projects.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The new EU Directive on Public Procurement was transposed in the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which came into effect earlier this year. The Regulations implement a range of reforms, including offering flexibility for contracting authorities to take into account relevant wider social and economic considerations, where consistent with best value for money, in Government procurement activities. We have also published new Cabinet Office guidance which will help steel suppliers compete on a level playing field with international suppliers for major government contracts.