Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many special advisers were engaged with supporting the Prime Minister in 10 Downing Street and the Cabinet Office in (1) 1995, (2) 2005, (3) 2015, and (4) currently.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Information about special advisers is published on GOV.UK.
To assist the noble Lord:
the 2021 data is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1002880/Annual_Report_on_Special_Advisers_2021_-_Online_Publication.pdf,
the 2015 data is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486829/List_of_Special_Advisers_in_post_at_17_December_2015.pdf,
the 2005 data is available at: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo050721/wmstext/50721m12.htm,
and the 1995 data is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/336889/9th_report.pdf.
Special advisers only represented 0.06 per cent of the Civil Service pay bill in 2021. They protect the integrity and impartiality of the civil service by clearly separating out the provision of political advice to Ministers.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were employed in 10 Downing Street or associated buildings, connected directly to serving the Prime Minister of the day, leaving aside cleaning, maintenance, and security staff in each of the years (a) 1995, (b) 2005, (c) 2015, and (d) 2021; and in each case, how many of those were permanent civil servants.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested is not centrally held or collated, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
10 Downing Street is a constituent part of the Cabinet Office; information on its staffing is provided within the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.
To assist the noble peer:
the 2020-21 accounts are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-2021,
The 2015-16 accounts are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2015-to-2016 and
the 2005 accounts are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-resource-accounts-2005-to-2006.
The Cabinet Office accounts for 1995 were presented to Parliament; the House of Lords Library can assist members in retrieving reference copies from 1995.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 27 October 2021 (HL3353), why there are more unsalaried Ministers in the House of Lords, who are not in receipt of a parliamentary salary, compared to unsalaried Ministers in the House of Commons, who do receive a parliamentary salary; and how many unsalaried ministers are currently members of each House.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Ministerial and other Salaries Act (1975) sets limits on the numbers of salaries that can be paid and for individual offices. Within those statutory limits the organisation of the Executive is a matter for the Prime Minister and at his discretion.
There are currently fourteen unsalaried Ministers, of which eleven are Members of the House of Lords, and three are members of the House of Commons.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord True on 20 October (HL3106), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what criteria are used in deciding which Ministers are not in receipt of a ministerial salary.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The recommendation of Ministerial appointments to the Sovereign is a matter for the Prime Minister, taking into account such factors as the Prime Minister sees fit. The main determinant will be whether or not there are salaries available within the limits set out in the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many ministers are not in receipt of a ministerial salary from public funds, and (2) in which House they sit.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the organisation of the Executive. It is for the Prime Minister alone to advise the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative powers in relation to government, such as the appointment, dismissal and acceptance of resignation of other Ministers.
The Ministerial and other Salaries Act (1975) sets limits on the numbers of salaries that can be paid, and for individual offices. As per the act, there are:
Up to 21 salaries payable to the Cabinet, excluding the Lord Chancellor, available under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the act
1 salary payable to the Lord Chancellor as per Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the act,
Up to 29 salaries payable under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the act (non-Cabinet) at Minister of State level, assuming all 21 salaries in the Cabinet are used,
3 salaries payable under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the act for the Law Officers,
Up to 33 salaries payable to Parliamentary Secretaries (other than the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act, assuming all 50 Cabinet and Minister of State salaries are used,
and 22 salaries payable to office holders other than Parliamentary Secretaries under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act
Parliamentary Private Secretaries are not members of the Government and, therefore, are not paid as such.
There are currently thirteen Ministers who do not receive a ministerial salary. Of these, three sit in the House of Commons and ten sit in the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of the Government, at each level of seniority, can be paid a ministerial salary.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the organisation of the Executive. It is for the Prime Minister alone to advise the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative powers in relation to government, such as the appointment, dismissal and acceptance of resignation of other Ministers.
The Ministerial and other Salaries Act (1975) sets limits on the numbers of salaries that can be paid, and for individual offices. As per the act, there are:
Up to 21 salaries payable to the Cabinet, excluding the Lord Chancellor, available under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the act
1 salary payable to the Lord Chancellor as per Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the act,
Up to 29 salaries payable under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the act (non-Cabinet) at Minister of State level, assuming all 21 salaries in the Cabinet are used,
3 salaries payable under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the act for the Law Officers,
Up to 33 salaries payable to Parliamentary Secretaries (other than the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act, assuming all 50 Cabinet and Minister of State salaries are used,
and 22 salaries payable to office holders other than Parliamentary Secretaries under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act
Parliamentary Private Secretaries are not members of the Government and, therefore, are not paid as such.
There are currently thirteen Ministers who do not receive a ministerial salary. Of these, three sit in the House of Commons and ten sit in the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what legislative steps they would need to take in order to extend the payment of a ministerial salary to all (1) Government ministers; and (2) all Parliamentary Private Secretaries.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the organisation of the Executive. It is for the Prime Minister alone to advise the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative powers in relation to government, such as the appointment, dismissal and acceptance of resignation of other Ministers.
The Ministerial and other Salaries Act (1975) sets limits on the numbers of salaries that can be paid, and for individual offices. As per the act, there are:
Up to 21 salaries payable to the Cabinet, excluding the Lord Chancellor, available under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the act
1 salary payable to the Lord Chancellor as per Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the act,
Up to 29 salaries payable under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the act (non-Cabinet) at Minister of State level, assuming all 21 salaries in the Cabinet are used,
3 salaries payable under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the act for the Law Officers,
Up to 33 salaries payable to Parliamentary Secretaries (other than the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act, assuming all 50 Cabinet and Minister of State salaries are used,
and 22 salaries payable to office holders other than Parliamentary Secretaries under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act
Parliamentary Private Secretaries are not members of the Government and, therefore, are not paid as such.
There are currently thirteen Ministers who do not receive a ministerial salary. Of these, three sit in the House of Commons and ten sit in the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the criteria they use in deciding which Government ministers receive a ministerial salary paid for by public funds.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Prime Minister has overall responsibility for the organisation of the Executive. It is for the Prime Minister alone to advise the Sovereign on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative powers in relation to government, such as the appointment, dismissal and acceptance of resignation of other Ministers.
The Ministerial and other Salaries Act (1975) sets limits on the numbers of salaries that can be paid, and for individual offices. As per the act, there are:
Up to 21 salaries payable to the Cabinet, excluding the Lord Chancellor, available under Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the act
1 salary payable to the Lord Chancellor as per Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the act,
Up to 29 salaries payable under Part 2 of Schedule 1 to the act (non-Cabinet) at Minister of State level, assuming all 21 salaries in the Cabinet are used,
3 salaries payable under Part 3 of Schedule 1 to the act for the Law Officers,
Up to 33 salaries payable to Parliamentary Secretaries (other than the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act, assuming all 50 Cabinet and Minister of State salaries are used,
and 22 salaries payable to office holders other than Parliamentary Secretaries under Part 4 of Schedule 1 to the act
Parliamentary Private Secretaries are not members of the Government and, therefore, are not paid as such.
There are currently thirteen Ministers who do not receive a ministerial salary. Of these, three sit in the House of Commons and ten sit in the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter sent to peers by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 29 June, how much money will be needed to fulfil their pledge to guarantee the current annual budget for financial support for farmers in every year of this Parliament.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The UK Government’s election manifesto guaranteed the current annual budget in every year of the new Parliament, giving significant certainty on funding for the coming years. In England this will enable the Government to provide financial support for the purposes set out in the Agriculture Bill. Funding for future years, including delivering the government’s manifesto commitment to guarantee the current annual budget to farmers in every year of the new Parliament, will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Jopling (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue guidance on how to criticise the government of Israel without being antisemitic.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
We became the first country to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism in 2016. The IHRA definition is an invaluable tool for public bodies and the wider public to understand how antisemitism manifests itself in the 21st century. The IHRA definition is already used in guidance for the Police and Crown Prosecution Service, providing examples of the kinds of behaviours which, depending on the circumstances, could constitute antisemitism.