Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Departments have introduced the cycle to work scheme.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Seventeen of the eighteen main Whitehall departments have a Cycle to Work Scheme in place. As this policy falls under delegated authority, it is for individual departments to decide whether to offer this scheme to their employees.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has plans to implement the cycle to work scheme across all Departments; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Seventeen of the eighteen main Whitehall departments have a Cycle to Work Scheme in place. As this policy falls under delegated authority, it is for individual departments to decide whether to offer this scheme to their employees.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which senior public appointments have been made by the Government from January to April 2018.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Details of public appointments are on the Centre for Public Appointments website:
https://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/announcements/
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the timetable is for the Government's announced unit to tackle fake news to commence operations.
Answered by David Lidington
Two complementary teams are addressing the Government’s response to the communication challenge posed by disinformation, or so-called “fake news”.
The National Security Communications Team, which is already in operation, has as its purpose to allow government to tackle more effectively the communications elements of complex, interconnected challenges to our national security, including (but not limited to) disinformation.
The Rapid Response Unit, has been recently launched with the remit to expand existing digital analysis (including, but not limited to, misinformation and disinformation) and content capability to communicate public information that is accurate, clear and responsive. The Unit is part of the Government Communications Service (GCS) and based in No10 & the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the planned effective operational date is for the Government's dedicated national security unit to tackle fake news and disinformation.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The National Security Communications Team is already in operation. Its purpose is to allow government to better tackle the communications elements of interconnected complex challenges to our national security, including (but not limited to) disinformation.
This work differs to that of the Rapid Response Unit which has been recently launched based in No10 & the Cabinet Office, as part of the Government Communications Service (GCS) with the remit to expand existing digital analysis (including, but not limited to, misinformation and disinformation) and content capability to communicate public information that is accurate, clear and responsive.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the staffing complement is by grade of the Government's dedicated national security unit to tackle fake news and disinformation.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The National Security Communications Team is expanding in capacity on the recommendations of the National Security Capability Review, published on the 28 March. The enhanced capability provided by the unit will ensure Government has the right mix of skills and expertise to use communications as a lever to support key national security objectives, and allow Government to better tackle the interconnected complex challenges to our national security, including (but not limited to) disinformation.
Recruitment to the National Security team is ongoing.
This work differs to that of the Rapid Response Unit which has been recently launched as a six-month pilot, based in No10 & the Cabinet Office, as part of the Government Communications Service (GCS) with the remit to expand existing digital analysis (including, but not limited to, misinformation and disinformation) and content capability to communicate public information that is accurate, clear and responsive.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the planned effective operational date is for the Government's dedicated national security unit to tackle fake news and disinformation.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The National Security Communications Team is already in operation. Its purpose is to allow government to better tackle the communications elements of interconnected complex challenges to our national security, including (but not limited to) disinformation.
This work differs to that of the Rapid Response Unit which has been recently launched based in No10 & the Cabinet Office, as part of the Government Communications Service (GCS) with the remit to expand existing digital analysis (including, but not limited to, misinformation and disinformation) and content capability to communicate public information that is accurate, clear and responsive.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the staffing complement is by grade of the Government's dedicated national security unit to tackle fake news and disinformation.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The National Security Communications Team is expanding in capacity on the recommendations of the National Security Capability Review, published on the 28 March. The enhanced capability provided by the unit will ensure Government has the right mix of skills and expertise to use communications as a lever to support key national security objectives, and allow Government to better tackle the interconnected complex challenges to our national security, including (but not limited to) disinformation.
Recruitment to the National Security team is ongoing.
This work differs to that of the Rapid Response Unit which has been recently launched as a six-month pilot, based in No10 & the Cabinet Office, as part of the Government Communications Service (GCS) with the remit to expand existing digital analysis (including, but not limited to, misinformation and disinformation) and content capability to communicate public information that is accurate, clear and responsive.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, what the total cost to the public purse was of the visit by the Prime Minister, ministers and officials to Florence on 22 October 2017.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office, my right hon. Friend the Member for Ashford (Mr Green) on 2 November 2017, UIN 109813.
Asked by: Christian Matheson (Independent - City of Chester)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, how many times since President Trump's inauguration she has made a telephone or other call to the President; and how many times she has received a telephone or other call from President Trump.
Answered by Theresa May
Dates of the telephone calls between myself and President Trump are available on the gov.uk website.