Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will have discussions with the Metropolitan Police on the steps being taken to help ensure political parties do not exchange financial contributions for honours.
Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary
It is against the law to 'sell' honours or peerages - offering cash for awards - under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925.
Honours are earned, not bought, and there are clear procedures in place to protect the honours system and to ensure the integrity of the selection process.
Donations to any political party should not be regarded as a reason for disqualification from receiving an honour.
More broadly, fundraising by political parties is a legitimate part of the democratic process. The alternative is taxpayer-funding of political campaigning, which would mean less money for frontline services like schools, police and hospitals.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which team in his Department is responsible for arrangements for Scottish people to demonstrate their (a) consent and (b) opposition to the Union; and what the work priorities of that team are for 2021.
Answered by Julia Lopez
The Cabinet Office is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the Union. The UK Government’s full focus is on ensuring the whole of the United Kingdom overcomes the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has created, including helping our NHS, our schools and our economic recovery. These are challenges that all parts of the UK face and our collective priority must be to tackle them together.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to make arrangements for the Scottish people to demonstrate their (a) consent and (b) opposition to the Union.
Answered by Julia Lopez
Our full focus must be on recovering from the challenges that the Covid-19 pandemic has created, on helping our NHS, our schools and our economic recovery. These are challenges that all parts of the UK face and our collective priority right now should be on tackling them together. That is what people across the UK want and expect.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Government department has responsibility for (a) oversight of and (b) answering questions on matters relating to trade between the UK and the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Lord Frost, Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, has Ministerial responsibility for the overall relationship between the UK and the EU, including the core elements of the trade relationship. Within this framework, relevant departments have responsibility for implementing the Trade and Cooperation Agreement in their policy areas.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) the Trade Partnership Council and (b) any of its 16 sub-committees have met to date.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Further to the answer given to PQ138410 on 20 January, there have been no meetings of the Trade Partnership Council to date. It has however agreed by committee procedure, the extension of the provisional application of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
From 1 March Lord Frost, as Cabinet Office minister, is the UK co-chair of the Partnership Council as of 1 March 2021, and is accountable for its overall operation. Departments will lead on the Trade and Cooperation Specialised Committees in their areas.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Government (a) is asking for grace periods from the EU and (b) did not ask in June 2020 for an extension to the transition period.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the Honourable Member to the letters my Right Honourable Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster sent to Vice-President Maros Sefcovic on 2 February 2021, and to Mike Russell MSP on 14 June 2020.
The Government was elected in 2019 on a manifesto which was clear that we would leave the EU in January 2020 and that the transition period would end on 31 December 2020.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Trade Partnership Council and Trade Partnership Committee is planned to meet.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement establishes a standard set of committees to oversee its operation. The Government is considering carefully the process around the establishment of these committees. Further announcements will be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what contingency plans he has with respect to the UK's future relationship with the EU in the event of lorries queuing to cross the Channel after the transition period.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
I refer the hon. Member to the oral statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 23 September about the Reasonable Worst Case Scenario planning assumptions which were published to support these planning activities.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, what plans he has to appoint a new Advocate General for Scotland.
Answered by Boris Johnson
An appointment will be announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Angus Brendan MacNeil (Independent - Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials of his Department, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies have the word trade in their job title.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We do not currently hold data on roles in the Cabinet Office that would enable us to provide you with a response.
I can confirm that no current roles in both the Big Lottery Fund and the Crown Commercial Service have the word “trade” in their job title.