Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has made to ensure charities contracted by (a) government departments, (b) local authorities and (c) NHS bodies to deliver public services can pay their operational costs including paying a fair wage.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
It is a legal obligation that employers pay the National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage, introduced by this Conservative Government, and the National Minimum Wage for workers under 23. Departments can also require suppliers to pay above these rates, such as the London Living Wage, where it is relevant to do so.
UK public procurement policy is to award contracts on the basis of value for money, which means the optimum combination of cost and quality over the lifetime of the project.
The Sourcing Playbook sets out the Government's policies with regards to outsourcing. It was introduced to improve decision making and the quality of contracts government places with suppliers. The Playbook is focussed on getting things right from the start, and includes 11 key policies which help government and industry work together to deliver high quality public services while maximising value for money.
By getting things right from the start and driving better contracting with the private sector, the playbook policies prioritise high quality outcomes, whilst also driving efficiencies and savings.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government plans to make interim compensation payments to the estates of (a) people who have died as a result of infected blood products and (b) people affected whose parents have died.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon Member to the statement I made in the House on 15 December where I announced that the moral case for compensation was formally accepted. I also set out the work being carried out across government in consideration of the compensation framework study - which included specific reference to those groups who were not able to claim interim compensation.
This work is intended to ensure that the Government is prepared to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 11 January 2023 to Question 117872 on Blood: Contamination, how many times the cross-government working group on administering compensation payments to people affected by the infected blood scandal has met; and how many of those meetings involved a Minister.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
A cross government working group of officials meets formally on a regular basis to take forward the work of the infected blood Compensation Framework Study. As needed, meetings also take place on an ad-hoc basis. I also have regular meetings with my officials to receive updates on their work.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Infected Blood Inquiry report will be published (a) in full, and (b) directly after it is submitted to the Government.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement, HCWS681, made on 15 March.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to answers to Written Parliamentary Questions that are written or drafted by external contractors, what steps his Department is taking to verify that the information in those answers is (a) complete and (b) accurate.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Written Parliamentary Questions receive final sign off from Ministers.
The Cabinet Office has produced guidance for civil servants on drafting answers to parliamentary questions. This can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance
Civil servants and Ministers conduct these duties in line with their respective Codes of Conduct.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure that answers to Written Parliamentary Questions that are written or drafted by external contractors are drafted in accordance with the Civil Service Code.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Written Parliamentary Questions receive final sign off from Ministers.
The Cabinet Office has produced guidance for civil servants on drafting answers to parliamentary questions. This can be found on the gov.uk website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/drafting-answers-to-parliamentary-questions-guidance
Civil servants and Ministers conduct these duties in line with their respective Codes of Conduct.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, when he plans to respond to the the letter dated 3 September 2020 entitled Overdue Social Care Reform Must Start With Parity of Respect for the Workforce, from signatories including former Ministers at the then Department of Health; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Boris Johnson
My Office has no record of receiving this letter. I have asked my Office to contact the signatories to see if they can re-send the correspondence.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 14 September 2020 to Question 85069, what the timeframe is for establishing a framework of compensation for the (a) victims and (b) families of the contaminated blood scandal.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Work is currently underway and I will update Parliament as soon as possible on this.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to produce comprehensive covid-19 guidance in (a) easy read, (b) BSL videos and (c) other accessible formats.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 107140 on 21 October 2020.
It is vital public health information in this pandemic is accessible to all. Covid-19 guidance is provided in alternative formats including Easy Read, British Sign Language and Audio. Covid-19 press briefings with BSL are published on the 10 Downing Street and UK Government social media channels. The BBC News Channel has live signing for the briefings and has been made available across the UK via Freeview, cable, satellite and online.
We have also used publicly held contact details to communicate with those who may need support, and our on the ground teams have directly spoken to local residents. The Government Digital Service has published detailed accessibility standards and guidelines to help departmental channel owners improve content. We will continue to review this and all Covid-19 communication through regular feedback sessions with disability charities.
Asked by: Barbara Keeley (Labour - Worsley and Eccles South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the compliance of covid-19 guidance with accessible information standards.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 107140 on 21 October 2020.
It is vital public health information in this pandemic is accessible to all. Covid-19 guidance is provided in alternative formats including Easy Read, British Sign Language and Audio. Covid-19 press briefings with BSL are published on the 10 Downing Street and UK Government social media channels. The BBC News Channel has live signing for the briefings and has been made available across the UK via Freeview, cable, satellite and online.
We have also used publicly held contact details to communicate with those who may need support, and our on the ground teams have directly spoken to local residents. The Government Digital Service has published detailed accessibility standards and guidelines to help departmental channel owners improve content. We will continue to review this and all Covid-19 communication through regular feedback sessions with disability charities.