Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to Figure 6: High-priority lane for the procurement of personal protective equipment, Data on sources on page 28 of the National Audit Office report entitled Investigation into government procurement during the COVID-19 pandemic, HC 959, published 26 November 2020, what the categories were of the three leads from other identified sources that did not fall into the categories identified in Figure 6.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There are active legal proceedings at the moment in relation to this matter and, as such, it would not be appropriate to comment while these are ongoing.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 3 March 2023 to Question 151266, whether probity checks on honours lists include consideration of the avoidance of (a) a conflict of interest and (b) the perception of a conflict of interest in the conferring of an honour on a person who is closely related to the Prime Minister who has nominated them; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As is the case under successive administrations, probity and propriety checks are carried out on all honours lists, including resignation honours lists. Checks are carried out with government departments including HMRC and relevant vetting and other professional bodies, as well as using open source information.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, if he will make a commitment to publish the reply to the letter of 8 March 2023 to him from the General Secretary of the FDA on a communication from the Home Secretary to Conservative Party members on the announcement of the Illegal Migration Bill; if he will instruct the Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests to conduct an investigation into whether the Home Secretary has upheld her obligations under paragraph 5.1 of the Ministerial Code to uphold the political impartiality of the civil service; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I have been asked to reply to the hon. Member’s question. I have responded to the letter on behalf of HM Government. I will place a copy in the Library of the House, which outlines the Government’s position on this matter.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the FOI release Honours nominations probity and propriety checks completed by HM Revenue and Customs, updated on 27 October 2022, whether the probity checks to preserve the integrity of the honours system have been carried out on the persons nominated in the resignation honours list put forward by the former Prime Minister, the Rt hon. member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip; which Departments have been contacted to carry out probity checks on the people on that list; whether the probity checks undertaken include consideration of the avoidance of (a) a conflict of interest and (b) the perception of a conflict of interest in the conferring of an honour on a person who has made substantial donations to the political party of the Prime Minister who has nominated them; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Probity checks are carried out on all honours lists, including resignation honours lists. Checks are carried out with government departments including HMRC and relevant vetting and other professional bodies, as well as using open source information.
In general, donations to any political party should not be regarded as a reason for disqualification from receiving an honour.
It would be inappropriate to speculate about a possible list.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement on Infected Blood Inquiry of 15 December 2022, Official Report column 1249, if he will publish a plan for the delivery of compensation to the infected blood community
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As I said in my statement of 15 December 2022, it is my intention to update Parliament as we make progress in consideration of compensation. Work is underway across Government in order to ensure that the Government is ready to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered. I welcome the fact that both Sir Robert Francis’ Study and Sir Brian’s Inquiry have engaged extensively with the infected and affected community and I plan to meet and hear from people impacted as our work progresses, and I expect to do so soon.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement on Infected Blood Inquiry of 15 December 2022, Official Report column 1249, when the process of verification and registration of the affected groups of people who are part of the infected blood community will begin.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As I said in my statement of 15 December 2022, it is my intention to update Parliament as we make progress in consideration of compensation. Work is underway across Government in order to ensure that the Government is ready to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered. I welcome the fact that both Sir Robert Francis’ Study and Sir Brian’s Inquiry have engaged extensively with the infected and affected community and I plan to meet and hear from people impacted as our work progresses, and I expect to do so soon.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the oral statement on Infected Blood Inquiry of 15 December 2022, Official Report column 1249, what steps he is taking to consult the infected blood community on compensation for that group.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As I said in my statement of 15 December 2022, it is my intention to update Parliament as we make progress in consideration of compensation. Work is underway across Government in order to ensure that the Government is ready to act swiftly in response to Sir Brian Langstaff’s final report when it is delivered. I welcome the fact that both Sir Robert Francis’ Study and Sir Brian’s Inquiry have engaged extensively with the infected and affected community and I plan to meet and hear from people impacted as our work progresses, and I expect to do so soon.
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Prime Minister will make it his policy to increase the powers and independence of the Independent Ethics Adviser by (a) giving the Adviser the right to initiate inquiries, (b) making the appointment a fixed term and (c) implementing the other recommendations to strengthen the (i) appointments process, (ii) powers and (iii) remit of the Independent Adviser set out in the report Upholding Standards in Public Life by the Committee on Standards in Public Life, published on 1 November 2021; and if the Prime Minister will make a statement.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my honourable friend, the member for Brentwood and Ongar, Alex Burghart MP, in response to the Urgent Question on 30 November.
In May, the Government published a policy statement alongside revised Terms of Reference, which set out reforms to the role of Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. This included an enhanced process for the initiation of investigations under the Ministerial Code. The appointment has been for a five-year fixed term since April 2021.
The appointment process for the Independent Adviser is ongoing, and the House will be updated on this when an appointment has been made.
The Prime Minister set out his clear intention to appoint an Independent Adviser when he assumed office.
I would also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 15 July 2022, Official Report, HCWS208. As explained in that statement, work on further reforms recommend by the Committee on Standards in Public Life continues and will be informed by the new Prime Minister. That statement can be found here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-07-15/hcws208
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the recruitment process for the Independent Ethics Adviser began.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my honourable friend, the member for Brentwood and Ongar, Alex Burghart MP, in response to the Urgent Question on 30 November.
In May, the Government published a policy statement alongside revised Terms of Reference, which set out reforms to the role of Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests. This included an enhanced process for the initiation of investigations under the Ministerial Code. The appointment has been for a five-year fixed term since April 2021.
The appointment process for the Independent Adviser is ongoing, and the House will be updated on this when an appointment has been made.
The Prime Minister set out his clear intention to appoint an Independent Adviser when he assumed office.
I would also refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement of 15 July 2022, Official Report, HCWS208. As explained in that statement, work on further reforms recommend by the Committee on Standards in Public Life continues and will be informed by the new Prime Minister. That statement can be found here https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2022-07-15/hcws208
Asked by: Caroline Lucas (Green Party - Brighton, Pavilion)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 20 September to Question 45769 on Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: Aramco, what criteria are used to determine whether engagements are listed as hospitality or meetings in transparency data; and if he will make it his policy that all types of ministerial meeting must be declared as meetings in departmental transparency releases.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Departments declare all meetings with external organisations and individuals on a quarterly basis. An external organisation means any group, company, organisation or individual person external to Government. Departments also declare all hospitality in accordance with these criteria on a quarterly basis. Where hospitality is provided as part of a meeting both elements should be declared.