First elected: 5th May 2005
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
These initiatives were driven by Emily Thornberry, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Emily Thornberry has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Emily Thornberry has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)
Officials, advisers and ministers from my department have had no such discussions.
Any purchase of a football club is a matter for the owners and potential purchasers to resolve, including meeting any relevant requirement of the league in which they compete.
As of 1 February, 4 ministerial folders bearing the inscription ‘Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’ were in use by the Department. The cost of each folder was £495 (including a £15 delivery fee).
The 12 main questions, 28 sub-questions and associated answer options that the Equality Hub have included in the 2022 British Social Attitudes Survey are in the attached document.
The 27.5 items relate to 12 main questions, 28 sub-questions and associated answer options that the Equality Hub have included in the 2022 British Social Attitudes Survey. They provide useful information on public attitudes on equalities issues including over long-term trends. The questions cover areas of gender, sexuality, disability and social mobility.
This information is not held centrally. Proceedings under the Equality Act 2010 are brought against individual Government departments, or the employing public sector body.
The tender exercise for Expert Advisers on the Social Mobility Commission's Policy and Evidence Advisory Panel has concluded. The outcome can be found on the Contracts Finder website: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/aa001085-f74f-4840-a39f-c93c3d1be71a?origin=SearchResults&p=1.
We are unable to publish the names of private individuals contracted at this stage for reasons of data protection. While individual names have been redacted, seven of the Policy & Evidence Advisory Panel members applied through their respective organisations or companies and these details are available on the Contracts Finder website cited above.
Under the UK G7 Presidency, the Prime Minister has reconvened the Gender Equality Advisory Council (GEAC). I am delighted to act as Ministerial Lead working with the independent Council and building on the foundations laid by the Canadian and French G7 presidencies, and to champion the core principles of freedom, opportunity, individual humanity and dignity for women around the world.
The Government remains deeply committed to tackling global poverty and helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Despite the economic challenges we face, the UK will remain a major donor spending 0.5 per cent of GNI on Overseas Development Aid (ODA).
The Foreign Secretary’s Strategic Framework for UK ODA announced in the House on 26 November 2020 will see us focus on global challenges where the UK can make the most impact: on climate change and biodiversity; girls’ education; COVID and global health security; on open societies, conflict resolution, humanitarian crises and trade and economic development.
FCDO supports a range of programmes that promote the importance of data to inform policy-making and programme delivery focused on the needs of the most vulnerable. Having joined the Inclusive Data Charter last year, we will produce an Action Plan on improving the quality, quantity, financing, and availability of inclusive and disaggregated data, as well as the capacity and capability to produce and use it.
The Prime Minister has made absolutely clear our continued commitment to stand up for the right of every girl to 12 years of quality education. ODA spending is only one of our tools in achieving our ambitions; this year we will be co-hosting the Global Partnership for Education Replenishment with Kenya and using our G7 Presidency to rally the international community to step up support to girls’ education.
This Government is fully committed to fulfilling our obligations under international agreements, and remains steadfast in its commitment to advance gender equality and women and girls’ rights.
Our landmark Domestic Abuse Bill is on track to achieve Royal Assent by the end of April 2021 and represents our determination to tackle this abhorrent crime. We remain determined to better protect and support the victims of abuse and their children and bring perpetrators to justice.
Importantly, provision within this Bill brings us even closer to compliance with the Istanbul Convention and this Government’s commitment to ratifying it, as set out in the most recent annual report on progress towards ratification published by the Home Office in October 2020.
This Government is committed to delivering an international LGBT conference that will bring together governments from around the world, international civil society, businesses and Parliamentarians to address the safety of LGBT people at home and abroad.
Safe To Be Me: A Global Equality Conference was planned to take place in London between 27 and 29 May 2020.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Conference had to be postponed. We are considering a variety of alternative options on how we can address this commitment in a way that is fit-for-purpose and safe for our delegates. We will be announcing the rescheduled dates shortly, followed by the programme and invitations in due course.
Purchasing non-cash vouchers as reward and recognition bonuses for staff is standard practice across Government.
The Government Legal Department spent £240,605 on purchasing non-cash vouchers for staff as reward and recognition bonuses in 2022-23.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not disclose the costs associated with its cases as this risks prejudicing the administration of justice and is against the public interest. Information on how the SFO uses resources is published in aggregate in its Annual Report and Accounts.
Planned outages
There were two planned outages on working days, namely 25th April and 27th June.
Further, there was a planned outage on the weekend of Saturday 19th August to Sunday 20th August, which included an outage during the CPS core working hours of Saturday morning.
Unplanned outages
There were three unplanned outages, namely on the 4th August, 16th August, and 17th August.
Further, there were two periods on the 20th June and 15th August of degraded service. During these periods some users were not able to log in to the system.
Planned outages are normally scheduled outside the CPS core working hours (Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm and Saturday 8am – 1pm) to minimise impact.
The table below sets out:
a) Days and dates when the case management system (CMS) experienced its ten longest outages;
b) The number of hours the case management system could not be used on each date; and
c) whether each outage was planned or unplanned.
Outage Start | Outage End | Duration (Hrs/Mins) | Planned / Unplanned |
Sunday 23/04/2023 08:00 | 23/04/2023 13:00 | 05:00 | Planned |
Tuesday 25/04/2023 19:15 | 25/04/2023 23:30 | 04:15 | Planned |
Thursday 11/05/2023 19:00 | 11/05/2023 20:00 | 01:00 | Unplanned |
Wednesday 07/06/2023 19:15 | 07/06/2023 20:45 | 01:30 | Planned |
Tuesday 27/06/2023 17:30 | 27/06/2023 21:30 | 04:00 | Planned |
Tuesday 11/07/2023 19:15 | 12/07/2023 00:15 | 05:00 | Planned |
Friday 04/08/2023 17:36 | 04/08/2023 20:28 | 02:52 | Unplanned |
Sunday 06/08/2023 08:00 | 06/08/2023 13:30 | 05:30 | Planned |
Wednesday 16/08/2023 13:00 | 16/08/2023 15:11 | 02:11 | Unplanned |
Saturday 19/08/2023 14:00 | 20/08/2023 19:00 | 29:00 | Planned |
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Police issue all postal requisition letters following Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) advice to charge, and have sole responsibility for decisions on, and issue of, postal requisition letters. The CPS does not hold the relevant data.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not have a central record of the number of victim personal statements made, updated or where a victim declined to provide one.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not have a central record of the number of victim personal statements made, updated or where a victim declined to provide one.
As at 30 June 2023, there were (a) 113 Asscociate Prosecutors and (b) 235 Crown Prosecutors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In total, there were 3304 people employed by the CPS as proseuctors on 30 June 2023, with 3040 in post for at least 12 months. The CPS manages its workforce data systems separately from its prosecution casework and the response would require disproportionate and significant manual input. *Data extracted is accurate at point of enquiry on 18 July 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. |
As at 30 June 2023, there were (a) 113 Asscociate Prosecutors and (b) 235 Crown Prosecutors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). In total, there were 3304 people employed by the CPS as proseuctors on 30 June 2023, with 3040 in post for at least 12 months. The CPS manages its workforce data systems separately from its prosecution casework and the response would require disproportionate and significant manual input. *Data extracted is accurate at point of enquiry on 18 July 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. |
The data for the financial year 2022/23 will be available from 20 July 2023 on the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) website in line with CPS quarterly data publications. |
Training on the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) and other elements of equality law is provided to GLD staff in a range of formats, including live training sessions and on demand video content and e-learning modules.
The table below provides the total number of individuals recorded as having engaged with all formats of training during the time periods in question.
Time period | Number of individuals |
13 February 2020 to 2 August 2022 | 637 |
3 August 2022 to 6 September 2022 | 6 |
7 September 2022 to 15 May 2023 | 178 |
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) do not undertake Leesman surveys. Any such office surveys are completed by the Government Property Agency (GPA). The Government Legal Department (GLD) holds no data on this. At the time of the last survey, none of the core GLD buildings were managed by the GPA. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) scored 52.7 out of 100 on the latest Leesman Office survey. |
The total of 2,800 in the answer to question 90844 includes 414 prosecutors (including managers) employed in CPS Direct and CPS Central Casework Divisions. |
The total 3,025 in answer to question 90844 includes 436 prosecutors (including managers) employed in CPS Direct and CPS Central Casework Divisions |
The total of 3,118 in the answer to question 90844 includes 438 prosecutors (including managers) employed in CPS Direct and CPS Central Casework Divisions. The figures were not from the same date. As stated in answer to question 90844, the data was correct as of 30 November 2021. As stated in answer to question 16370, the data was correct as of 31 December 2021. |
They are not equivalent figures. As stated in answer to Question 163750, the grand total was 2,703. Whereas the table in answer to Question 139145 gave a breakdown and not a grand total. In addition to the 2,389 prosecutors in that table are Crown Advocates; Associate Prosecutors; and qualified and experienced prosecutors in corporate roles such as legal trainers. Further, as stated in answer to Question 163750, consequential changes to data input may mean that the data will change at some point in the future. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
The responses to parliamentary questions 163738-163750 have been grouped. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent posts and has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database. It is accurate at point of enquiry on 20 March 2023. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future. Data is unavailable for 2010 and 2012 as we do not retain detailed data such as business unit specific information for more than 6 years. Due to the size of the data available, it is presented on a separate document. |
Please find data in response attached.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold any data which shows the number of defendants prosecuted for, or convicted of, the offence of rape. However, management information is held showing the number of defendants by prosecution outcome, flagged as involving offences of rape since 1st January 2010 to the end of September 2022 by quarter. The tables below show the number of completed prosecutions and convictions in rape flagged cases.
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The Attorney General’s Office, HMCPSI and Government Legal Department are all based in shared buildings, which are either managed by the Government Property Agency or another Government department. The data regarding food waste is collated on data provided per building, and cannot be broken down by department. The Greening Government Commitment accepts that, with the exception of greenhouse gas emissions, targets are aggregate central government targets and not bespoke minimum performance targets for individual departments. |
Following her appointment on 25 October 2022, the Attorney General has not written to the state authorities in Goa, India regarding the issues raised in your question. From the period from June 2022 to the 25 October 2022, and having undertaken relevant searches across my office, there have been no written communications from the holders of this office issued by this office with the state authorities in Goa, India regarding the issues raised in your question. |
Following her appointment on 25 October 2022, the Attorney General has made no representations to (a) the Indian High Commission, (b) the Indian Government or (c) the state authorities in Goa in relation to the matters raised in your question. For the period from 1 January 2022 to 25 October 2022, and having undertaken relevant searches across the department, no written representations from the holders of the office of Attorney General have been issued by this office to (a) the Indian High Commission, (b) the Indian Government or (c) the state authorities in Goa in relation to the matters raised in your question. |
Since her appointment on 25 October 2022, the Attorney General has received no representations by (a) UK and (b) non-UK citizens in relation to the matters raised in your question. For the period from 1 January 2022 to the 25 October 2022, and having undertaken relevant searches across the department, no written representations have been made to this office by (a) UK and (b) non-UK citizens in relation to the matters raised in your question. |
The Government Legal Department spent the following on non-cash vouchers for staff: 2021- 22 £287,750 2020- 21 £255,300 2019- 20 £274,145 2018- 19 £107,395 2017- 18 £79,527 |
The Attorney General’s office spent the following on non-cash vouchers for staff: 2021- 22 £1,860 2020- 21 £4,460 2019- 20 £3,700 2018- 19 £4,780 2017- 18 £2,100 |
Bonuses paid out as non-cash vouchers is a standard practice across Government. The Edenred contract came into effect in 2017 which allows departments access non-cash vouchers for staff. The Attorney General’s office does not offer non-cash vouchers for performance-related bonuses. |
Approximately £6,000 was incurred in relation to the Government’s submissions to the High Court on the question of costs. Having successfully obtained an injunction in this case, it was and is the Government’s duty to seek value for money for the taxpayer by seeking its costs. |
As at 23 November 2022, the Government incurred £376,775.18 in legal costs arising from the proceedings in which the Government successfully obtained an injunction.
In line with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and the Model Contract for Special Advisers, a Special Adviser's appointment automatically terminates following a change of Administration; when their appointing Minister leaves office; or in the event of a General Election. Between 29 June and 9 November 2022, the employment contracts of four Special Advisers in the Attorney General’s Office were automatically terminated following the cessation of their appointing Minister’s tenure in the department. Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs, including pay bands, is published annually in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the 2010 Act. |
The individual costs of the former Attorney General’s trip to Poland were,
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The Provision of severance payments for Ministers is set out in legislation. Details of the severance payments made to ministers when leaving office are published in departments’ annual reports and accounts. Similarly, the provision of severance payments for special advisers is set out in the Model Contract, which is available on gov.uk, including provisions for repayment of severance if reappointed. The cost of severance payments made to special advisers across government is published annually by the Cabinet Office. |
The flights to Poland were for four individuals. This included the former Attorney General and three officials. The former Attorney General’s ticket is included in the £816.43 figure, which appears on the Transparency GPC Transaction Return. There are two transactions because the individuals did not travel together on the same flight. |
The Ministerial Transparency returns for meetings, overseas travel, hospitality, and gifts for January to March 2021 was published on the Attorney General’s Office official website on 15 July 2021. This transparency return was published under an incorrect title. The Attorney General’s Office has now corrected the title of the transparency data, and this can be viewed by the public on the official website. |
There is a place for the use of a variety of digital channels in fast moving modern environments. Ministers will have informal conversations from time to time, in person or remotely, and relevent content from such discussions is passed back to officials. They will also use a variety of digital communications channels for personal, political, and Parliamentary matters.
There is a place for the use of a variety of digital channels in fast moving modern environments. Ministers will have informal conversations from time to time, in person or remotely, and relevent content from such discussions is passed back to officials. They will also use a variety of digital communications channels for personal, political, and Parliamentary matters.
The Ministerial transparency data published by the Attorney General's Office for January to March 2022 contained two errors, namely a duplication of the declarations both for overseas travel and for gifts. I apologise for these errors. The transparency data has now been rectified, and the full publication of the meetings, overseas travel, hospitality and gifts can be viewed by the public on the official website of the Attorney General's Office.
Sir Howard Morrison KC continues to act as an Independent Advisor to the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and his costs are covered by the Attorney General’s Office and FCDO in line with internal programme fund arrangements. He provides a mix of services and advice, both pro bono and at a below market rate fixed daily stipend, to ensure maximum value for taxpayer funds. Sir Howard is also reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in this work. I remain very grateful to him for taking on the role.
Whilst there is no specific mandatory training at the Attorney General’s Office relating to the Equality Act 2010, there are a wide variety of training materials and guidance for AGO staff relating to their obligations under the 2010 Act.
The laptops were purchased not by the Attorney General’s Office, but by the Government Legal Department (GLD). They were purchased for recently recruited staff. 5 of the laptops were allocated to staff as replacements for existing hardware that was faulty and beyond repair. None were replacements for working laptops already in use by staff.
The decision in any case as to whether to instruct counsel, who to instruct, and whether to waive privilege in respect of that advice, lies with the instructing Government Department. When a Government Department wishes to instruct a QC, other than First Treasury Counsel or Standing Counsel, it should submit a request for a nomination to the Attorney General’s Office. This process was followed, and the request approved, in relation to the instruction of Lord Pannick QC in this case. |
The lunch was attended by eight people.
The then Attorney General hosted a visit for the Ukrainian Prosecutor General and her delegation to discuss how the UK could help ensure accountability for atrocities commmitted during the ongoing Russian invasion.
The venue was quiet and secure which enabled an open and frank exchange about the situation in Ukraine and the prospects for bringing justice to the victims.
There has been no change to the mandatory training for civil servants at the Attorney General’s Office.
The then Attorney General (the Rt Hon member for Torridge and West Devon), met David Tinsley for 20 minutes in the waiting room of his barristers’ chambers on 18 October 2018, after an acquaintance requested that he meet informally with an unnamed contact with links to the US government about a matter affecting the public interest.
It transpired that Mr Tinsley wished to draw the then Attorney General’s attention to the value of his services and those of his company in facilitating a better working relationship between the English investigation and prosecution authorities and US authorities. The then Attorney General brought the meeting to an end, pointing out that he did not have responsibility for the issues Mr Tinsley had raised.
Neither the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation into Unaoil, Mr Tinsley’s involvement in it, nor the defendants in that case or any other case, were raised in the meeting or discussed. The then Attorney General took no action in connection with the meeting and had no further contact with Mr Tinsley.
The meeting was not declared in the transparency returns for the Attorney General’s Office as the then Attorney General did not meet Mr Tinsley in his ministerial capacity.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
As you are aware, litigation is ongoing. It is the Government’s position that the Migration and Economic Development Partnership is fully compatible with all of our domestic and international legal obligations including ECHR rights.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal advisers to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
The Cabinet Office routinely publishes an annual report on the numbers and costs of special advisers, which is available on GOV.UK. As of 13 June 2022, David Scullion was employed part-time by the Attorney General’s Office.
The Attorney General’s Office holds (a) 1 government procurement card, (b) the Government Legal Department holds 41 government procurement cards.
Earlier this year The Attorney General launched a new award, as part of the Government Legal Department’s annual awards, to celebrate government lawyers who have provided innovative legal advice to support Government priorities. The aim is both to celebrate the excellent work of hard-working and talented lawyers serving the Government and the country, and to highlight the role that such lawyers play in solving hard problems and finding solutions to help Government serve people most effectively.
The award was won by a member of the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ Legal team, for their work on the Building Safety Bill. This will make an enormous difference to many thousands of people, including improving building safety and protecting leaseholders from bills of up to hundreds of thousands of pounds.
There is no cost associated with this award.
The Government continues to liaise on various channels with the Ukrainian authorities to support effective identification and collection of evidence of atrocity crimes. It remains for the Ukrainian authorities to maintain any necessary records of those missing or at risk in Ukraine and to identify British nationals that pass away on Ukrainian territory. This particular subject has not arisen in direct discussions that the Law Officers have held as part of the ongoing dialogue with the Ukrainian Prosecutor General.
The Legal Risk Guidance for lawyers in government is important and used in all aspects of their work. The Attorney General recently refreshed, updated and broadened its application across Government in light of the collective experience of Ministers and lawyers of its practical application.
The guidance has been launched with lawyers across the Government Legal Profession and will be published very shortly.
The previous version is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-note-on-legal-risk
As set out in the Attorney General’s written evidence to the Charities Bill Special Public Bill Committee on 6 October 2021, there have been three occasions on which the Charity Commission has asked for a reference to the Charity Tribunal. In two of these cases the Attorney General agreed with the Charity Commission and took the proceedings forward. In one case the Attorney General refused consent. There have been no further requests.
The full written evidence submission is available here.
The Government published a legal statement on 13 June 2022 summarising its position that planned legislation to address elements of the Northern Ireland Protocol is lawful under international law. As the Government’s legal statement makes clear, this is a genuinely exceptional situation against the challenging, complex and unique circumstances of Northern Ireland. Whilst it would not be appropriate to comment specifically on the content of the advice or who has given it, the government commissions a range of advice from appropriate specialists, and we have done so in this case.
First Treasury Counsel is a senior self-employed advocate who undertakes civil litigation and advisory work for all Government departments. The Attorney General appoints First Treasury Counsel through a fair and open competition. First Treasury Counsel’s responsibilities are:
First Treasury Counsel is appointed on the basis that:
Whether and how often the Attorney General seeks and receives external legal advice relates to her function as a Law Officer and chief legal adviser to the Government. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have been asked to give legal advice, have given legal advice, or the contents of any such advice.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government may consider.
Within the limits of that convention, it is possible to say that, due to the volume and significance of the litigation and legal issues where First Treasury Counsel is instructed for the government, the Attorney General or the members of her Office have frequent contact with First Treasury Counsel.
The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office are subject to the same requirements and oversight in relation to the use of public funds as any other minister or Government department, as set out in the relevant guidance from HM Treasury.
First Treasury Counsel is a senior self-employed advocate who undertakes civil litigation and advisory work for all Government departments. The Attorney General appoints First Treasury Counsel through a fair and open competition. First Treasury Counsel’s responsibilities are:
First Treasury Counsel is appointed on the basis that:
Whether and how often the Attorney General seeks and receives external legal advice relates to her function as a Law Officer and chief legal adviser to the Government. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have been asked to give legal advice, have given legal advice, or the contents of any such advice.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government may consider.
Within the limits of that convention, it is possible to say that, due to the volume and significance of the litigation and legal issues where First Treasury Counsel is instructed for the government, the Attorney General or the members of her Office have frequent contact with First Treasury Counsel.
The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office are subject to the same requirements and oversight in relation to the use of public funds as any other minister or Government department, as set out in the relevant guidance from HM Treasury.
First Treasury Counsel is a senior self-employed advocate who undertakes civil litigation and advisory work for all Government departments. The Attorney General appoints First Treasury Counsel through a fair and open competition. First Treasury Counsel’s responsibilities are:
First Treasury Counsel is appointed on the basis that:
Whether and how often the Attorney General seeks and receives external legal advice relates to her function as a Law Officer and chief legal adviser to the Government. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have been asked to give legal advice, have given legal advice, or the contents of any such advice.
This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government may consider.
Within the limits of that convention, it is possible to say that, due to the volume and significance of the litigation and legal issues where First Treasury Counsel is instructed for the government, the Attorney General or the members of her Office have frequent contact with First Treasury Counsel.
The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office are subject to the same requirements and oversight in relation to the use of public funds as any other minister or Government department, as set out in the relevant guidance from HM Treasury.
The Attorney General commissioned a review into the Government Legal Department in October 2020. This was an internal review and as such it is not suitable for publication.
The Legal Risk Guidance is a fundamental document lawyers in government use in all aspects of their work. It was recently refreshed in light of the collective experience of Ministers and lawyers of its practical application.
The updated guidance will be published shortly.
The previous version is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-note-on-legal-risk
The Attorney General commissioned a review into the Government Legal Department in October 2020. This was an internal review and as such it is not suitable for publication.
The Legal Risk Guidance is a fundamental document lawyers in government use in all aspects of their work. It was recently refreshed in light of the collective experience of Ministers and lawyers of its practical application.
The updated guidance will be published shortly.
The previous version is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-note-on-legal-risk
It would not be appropriate to comment on this media speculation. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have given legal advice or the contents of any advice. This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government will be considering.
Whether or not the Attorney General sought advice from external counsel in this case, and associated information, relates to her function as a Law Officer and chief legal adviser to the Government. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have given legal advice or the contents of any advice. This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government will be considering.
The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office are subject to the same requirements and oversight in relation to the use of public funds as any other minister and Government department respectively, as set out in relevant guidance from HM Treasury.
Whether or not the Attorney General sought advice from external counsel in this case, and associated information, relates to her function as a Law Officer and chief legal adviser to the Government. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have given legal advice or the contents of any advice. This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government will be considering.
The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office are subject to the same requirements and oversight in relation to the use of public funds as any other minister and Government department respectively, as set out in relevant guidance from HM Treasury.
Whether or not the Attorney General sought advice from external counsel in this case, and associated information, relates to her function as a Law Officer and chief legal adviser to the Government. It is a longstanding convention, accepted by governments of all parties, not to disclose whether the Law Officers have given legal advice or the contents of any advice. This convention protects the Law Officers’ ability to give full and frank legal advice on some of the most contentious and difficult issues the Government will be considering.
The Attorney General and the Attorney General’s Office are subject to the same requirements and oversight in relation to the use of public funds as any other minister and Government department respectively, as set out in relevant guidance from HM Treasury.
Neither of the Law Officers Department’s responsible for prosecuting fraud cases, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), hold data requested. Reported crime data is collated and held by the Home Office.
The SFO receives approximately 1,200 referrals of alleged criminality every year. These range in seriousness and come from a variety of sources, including the public, whistle-blowers and corporate referrals.
Every referral received is researched and/or assessed to help determine if it is a matter that the SFO should investigate.
The SFO only takes on only the most complex fraud and bribery cases. Should a referral not meet the reasonable suspicion threshold and the Director’s Statement of Principle, it may be referred to another law enforcement agency or discontinued.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not hold the data on the estimated value of fraud reported to the Office over the last 10 years.
Referrals received by the SFO, whilst alleging crime, often do not provide an estimate of loss or actual loss reported. Identifying the true value of reported fraud requires investigation.
The SFO is committed to supporting the victims of fraud, bribery or corruption.
The SFO receives approximately 1,200 referrals of alleged criminality every year. These range in seriousness and come from a variety of sources, including the public, whistle-blowers and corporate referrals.
Every referral received is researched and/or assessed to help determine if it is a matter that the SFO should investigate.
The SFO only takes on only the most complex fraud and bribery cases. Should a referral not meet the reasonable suspicion threshold and the Director’s Statement of Principle, it may be referred to another law enforcement agency or discontinued.
The Serious Fraud Office does not hold data on reported fraud cases to other law enforcement agencies.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not hold the data on the estimated value of fraud reported to the Office over the last 10 years.
Referrals received by the SFO, whilst alleging crime, often do not provide an estimate of loss or actual loss reported. Identifying the true value of reported fraud requires investigation.
The SFO receives approximately 1,200 referrals of alleged criminality every year. These range in seriousness and come from a variety of sources, including the public, whistle-blowers and corporate referrals.
Every referral the SFO receives is researched and/or assessed to help determine if it is a matter that the SFO should investigate.
The SFO only takes on only the most complex fraud and bribery cases. Should a referral not meet the reasonable suspicion threshold and the Director’s Statement of Principle, it may be referred to another law enforcement agency or discontinued.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) does not hold the data on the estimated value of fraud reported to the Office over the last 10 years.
Referrals received by the SFO, whilst alleging crime, often do not provide an estimate of loss or actual loss reported. Identifying the true value of reported fraud requires investigation.
The SFO receives approximately 1,200 referrals of alleged criminality every year. These range in seriousness and come from a variety of sources, including the public, whistle-blowers and corporate referrals.
Every referral the SFO receives is researched and/or assessed to help determine if it is a matter that the SFO should investigate.
The SFO only takes on only the most complex fraud and bribery cases. Should a referral not meet the reasonable suspicion threshold and the Director’s Statement of Principle, it may be referred to another law enforcement agency or discontinued.
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened a total of 49 criminal cases from January 2016 until December 2021. Ten (10) cases were opened in 2016, eleven (11) cases were opened in 2017, ten (10) cases were opened in 2018, five (5) case were opened in 2019, eight (8) cases were opened in 2020, and five (5) cases were opened in 2021.
These numbers do not include cases that are related to the SFO’s Proceeds of Crime, International Assistance and/or Mutual Legal Assistance efforts.
The below table shows the fines issued by the SFO since 2016:
Date of Outcome | Monetary value of fine or financial penalty |
January 2016 | £1,136,799 |
February 2016 | £1,400,000 |
June 2016 | £6,375,000 |
October 2017 | £20,000 |
October 2017 | £20,000 |
October 2017 | £20,000 |
January 2019 | £5,000 |
January 2019 | £20,000 |
January 2019 | £15,000 |
June 2019 | £850,000 |
November 2019 | £15,000,000 |
January 2020 | £800 |
April 2021 | £7,521,920 |
October 2021 | £47,197,640 |
The SFO does not hold data on fines issued prior to 2016. These results do not include costs awarded to the SFO nor any confiscation orders.
Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) were introduced on 24 February 2014, under the provisions of Schedule 17 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. They are available to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office. Since 2014 the SFO has entered in to a total of 12 DPAs.
Date of Outcome | Currency | Total (Per DPA) |
November 2015 | US$ | 32,576,197 |
July 2016 | GBP£ | 6,553,085 |
January 2017 | GBP£ | 510,252,645 |
April 2017 | GBP£ | 132,062,451 |
July 2019 | GBP£ | 22,900,000 |
October 2019 | GBP£ | 2,069,861 |
January 2020 | EUR€ | 990,963,712 |
July 2020 | GBP£ | 44,400,000 |
October 2020 | GBP£ | 2,979,686 |
July 2021 | GBP£ | 103,310,424 |
July 2021 | GBP£ | 1,994,071 |
July 2021 | GBP£ | 515,994 |
The above includes all financial amounts within each DPA, which could consist of:
The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened a total of 49 criminal cases from January 2016 until December 2021. Ten (10) cases were opened in 2016, eleven (11) cases were opened in 2017, ten (10) cases were opened in 2018, five (5) case were opened in 2019, eight (8) cases were opened in 2020, and five (5) cases were opened in 2021.
These numbers do not include cases that are related to the SFO’s Proceeds of Crime, International Assistance and/or Mutual Legal Assistance efforts.
The below table shows the fines issued by the SFO since 2016:
Date of Outcome | Monetary value of fine or financial penalty |
January 2016 | £1,136,799 |
February 2016 | £1,400,000 |
June 2016 | £6,375,000 |
October 2017 | £20,000 |
October 2017 | £20,000 |
October 2017 | £20,000 |
January 2019 | £5,000 |
January 2019 | £20,000 |
January 2019 | £15,000 |
June 2019 | £850,000 |
November 2019 | £15,000,000 |
January 2020 | £800 |
April 2021 | £7,521,920 |
October 2021 | £47,197,640 |
The SFO does not hold data on fines issued prior to 2016. These results do not include costs awarded to the SFO nor any confiscation orders.
Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) were introduced on 24 February 2014, under the provisions of Schedule 17 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. They are available to the Crown Prosecution Service and the Serious Fraud Office. Since 2014 the SFO has entered in to a total of 12 DPAs.
Date of Outcome | Currency | Total (Per DPA) |
November 2015 | US$ | 32,576,197 |
July 2016 | GBP£ | 6,553,085 |
January 2017 | GBP£ | 510,252,645 |
April 2017 | GBP£ | 132,062,451 |
July 2019 | GBP£ | 22,900,000 |
October 2019 | GBP£ | 2,069,861 |
January 2020 | EUR€ | 990,963,712 |
July 2020 | GBP£ | 44,400,000 |
October 2020 | GBP£ | 2,979,686 |
July 2021 | GBP£ | 103,310,424 |
July 2021 | GBP£ | 1,994,071 |
July 2021 | GBP£ | 515,994 |
The above includes all financial amounts within each DPA, which could consist of:
The average number of whole-time equivalent persons employed during each financial year (for which data is available) in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Government Legal Department (GLD) is as follows.
Attorney General’s Office:
Financial Year | Total | Permanent Staff | Others | Ministers |
2010-11 | (Data not held)* |
|
|
|
2011-12 | 40 |
|
|
|
2012-13 | 44 | 40 | 2 | 2 |
2013-14 | 42 | 40 |
| 2 |
2014-15 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 |
2015-16 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 |
2016-17 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 |
2017-18 | 44 | 42 |
| 2 |
2018-19 | 46 | 39 | 5 | 2 |
2019-20 | 49 | 47 |
| 2 |
2020-21 | 50 | 46 | 2 | 2 |
Treasury Solicitor’s Office (from 2010-11 to 2014-15 inclusive) and Government Legal Department (from 2015-16 to 2020-21 inclusive):
Financial Year | Total | Permanent Staff | Others |
2010-11 | (Data not held)* |
|
|
2011-12 | 987 |
|
|
2012-13 | 1,046 | 927 | 119 |
2013-14 | 1,283 | 1,090 | 193 |
2014-15 | 1,667 | 1,426 | 241 |
2015-16 | 1,838 | 1,663 | 175 |
2016-17 | 1,862 | 1,657 | 205 |
2017-18 | 2,157 | 1,905 | 252 |
2018-19 | 2,362 | 1,998 | 364 |
2019-20 | 2,519 | 2,196 | 323 |
2020-21 | 2,605 | 2,166 | 439 |
It is important to note that several legal advisory units from departments across the civil service were incorporated into the Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol) and GLD account for the majority of staffing increases in the years preceding and succeeding the name change from TSol to GLD on 1 April 2015.
* The earliest Annual Report available in which these figures are published, is for the 2012-13 financial year, which also included a total whole-time equivalent figure for TSol and AGO for 2011-12.
The average number of whole-time equivalent persons employed during each financial year (for which data is available) in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Government Legal Department (GLD) is as follows.
Attorney General’s Office:
Financial Year | Total | Permanent Staff | Others | Ministers |
2010-11 | (Data not held)* |
|
|
|
2011-12 | 40 |
|
|
|
2012-13 | 44 | 40 | 2 | 2 |
2013-14 | 42 | 40 |
| 2 |
2014-15 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 |
2015-16 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 |
2016-17 | 40 | 38 |
| 2 |
2017-18 | 44 | 42 |
| 2 |
2018-19 | 46 | 39 | 5 | 2 |
2019-20 | 49 | 47 |
| 2 |
2020-21 | 50 | 46 | 2 | 2 |
Treasury Solicitor’s Office (from 2010-11 to 2014-15 inclusive) and Government Legal Department (from 2015-16 to 2020-21 inclusive):
Financial Year | Total | Permanent Staff | Others |
2010-11 | (Data not held)* |
|
|
2011-12 | 987 |
|
|
2012-13 | 1,046 | 927 | 119 |
2013-14 | 1,283 | 1,090 | 193 |
2014-15 | 1,667 | 1,426 | 241 |
2015-16 | 1,838 | 1,663 | 175 |
2016-17 | 1,862 | 1,657 | 205 |
2017-18 | 2,157 | 1,905 | 252 |
2018-19 | 2,362 | 1,998 | 364 |
2019-20 | 2,519 | 2,196 | 323 |
2020-21 | 2,605 | 2,166 | 439 |
It is important to note that several legal advisory units from departments across the civil service were incorporated into the Treasury Solicitor’s Department (TSol) and GLD account for the majority of staffing increases in the years preceding and succeeding the name change from TSol to GLD on 1 April 2015.
* The earliest Annual Report available in which these figures are published, is for the 2012-13 financial year, which also included a total whole-time equivalent figure for TSol and AGO for 2011-12.
In April 2022, The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) launched a new Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate (SEOCID) which brings together specialists in economic crime, organised crime, proceeds of crime and international to deliver justice, combat crime across borders and take money from criminals.
This combined team of specialists will continue to work closely with investigators to disrupt the emerging threats of organised criminal gangs using cyber technology to exploit people, businesses, and the Government. Victims of complex SEOCID cases are often based in multiple jurisdictions. The directorate will work to improve their experience by ensuring investigators and prosecutors work closely and have a joint victim and witness strategy from the outset.
Establishing the new Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate is part of the CPS Economic Crime Strategy 2025.
The number of staff and prosecutors can be found in the table below:
Department | Head Count | FTE | HC of Prosecutors | FTE of Prosecutors |
SERIOUS ECONOMIC ORGANISED CRIME INTERNATIONAL (SEOCID) | 394 | 372.38 | 186.00 | 177.65 |
SPECIAL CRIME AND COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 146 | 140.29 | 69.00 | 67.10 |
Grand Total | 540 | 512.66 | 255.00 | 244.76 |
NB: The data has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database and is accurate at point of enquiry on 21 April 2022. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future.
*The system reports data as at the last day of the month rather than the first or any date in-between therefore the table is presented to the nearest reportable date to the questions asked.
*FTE figures have been rounded
The number of staff employed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) during the periods specified is available in the table below. The data provided includes all staff grades full time equivalent averaged across each year. During this period the CPS has undertaken continuous improvement and modernisation programmes to improve efficiency and effectiveness. These included digitalisation, development of a national resourcing model, standard operating practices, resource efficiency measures, smarter/remote working practices, and establishment of remote teams. As a national service for England and Wales, the consequence of these measures is that we now have the ability to shift work to where capacity resides which is both much more efficient, and also fairer on the workforce.
Financial Year | Average Full Time Equivalent Staff |
2010/11 | 7797 |
2011/12 | 7214 |
2012/13 | 6894 |
2013/14 | 6341 |
2014/15 | 5939 |
2015/16 | 5541 |
2016/17 | 5468 |
2017/18 | 5517 |
2018/19 | 5493 |
2019/20 | 5577 |
2020/21 | 5943 |
2021/22 | 6406 |
NB: The data has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database and is accurate at point of enquiry on 21 April 2022. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future.
*The system reports data as at the last day of the month rather than the first or any date in-between therefore the table is presented to the nearest reportable date to the questions asked.
The Attorney General Office are working with the Government Legal Department and Crown Prosecution Service to finalise data on apprenticeships for 2021/22. Final figures are not yet available. The Cabinet Office, on behalf of the Civil Service, will be publishing a full breakdown of departmental performance on apprenticeships in the Autumn in line with previous years.
Data for all departments between 2017 and 2021 is available on gov.uk and shows the Attorney Generals departments recruited 278 apprentices, equivalent to 3.2% during 2020/21.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of prosecutions for thefts from retail or wholesale premises. This information could only be obtained by an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
While the CPS does not centrally collate data showing the number of people prosecuted for thefts from shops, data is available showing the number of offences of shop theft, charged by way of Section 1 of the Theft Act 1968, in which a prosecution commenced at magistrates’ courts. The table below provides this information for the years 2017-18 and 2020-21.
| 2017-2018 | 2020-2021 |
Theft Act 1968 {1(1) and 7} - Theft from shops | 101,435 | 47,601 |
Data Source: CPS Case Management Information System |
|
The figures relate to the number of offences and not the number of individual defendants. It may be the case that an individual defendant is charged with more than one offence. No data are held on the final outcome or if the charged offence was the substantive charge at finalisation.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of prosecutions based on the occupation of complainants, including shopworkers who were assaulted or threatened. This information could only be obtained by an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
The Memorandum of Cooperation signed by the Attorney General and the Ukrainian Prosecutor General was published on Gov.uk on the 13th of March 2022.
The Memorandum is available here.
There have been no Ministerial-level meetings (either Minister-Minister or Minister-Officials) between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) between 1 January 2017 and 16 March 2022 to discuss (a) cy-près schemes or (b) charitable contributions to reduce the national debt.
The AGO does not hold official records of any meetings at official level between AGO and HMT between the 1st of January 2017 and the 16th of March 2022.
There have been no Ministerial-level meetings (either Minister-Minister or Minister-Officials) between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) between 1 January 2017 and 16 March 2022 to discuss (a) cy-près schemes or (b) charitable contributions to reduce the national debt.
The AGO does not hold official records of any meetings at official level between AGO and HMT between the 1st of January 2017 and the 16th of March 2022.
There have been no Ministerial-level meetings (either Minister-Minister or Minister-Officials) between the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) between 1 January 2017 and 16 March 2022 to discuss (a) cy-près schemes or (b) charitable contributions to reduce the national debt.
The AGO does not hold official records of any meetings at official level between AGO and HMT between the 1st of January 2017 and the 16th of March 2022.
In March 2021, the CPS launched its first ever Economic Crime Strategy to ensure we keep pace with the changing nature of crime. It is a high-level strategy which allows the flexibility to respond and adapt to new and emerging threats.
The CPS currently has a dedicated Specialist Fraud Division with specialist prosecutors to ensure it has the right skills and resources to prosecute complex economic crime cases, ranging from the prosecution of bankers and investment scams, to the prosecution of those who seek to defraud the taxpayer of millions of pounds.
With effect from the 1 April 2022, a new Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate will be launched, merging the Specialist Fraud Division and the International Justice and Organised Crime Division. This new directorate will provide more resilience and will be responsible for prosecuting the new offences established in the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill.
In March 2021, the CPS launched its first ever Economic Crime Strategy to ensure we keep pace with the changing nature of crime. It is a high-level strategy which allows the flexibility to respond and adapt to new and emerging threats.
The CPS currently has a dedicated Specialist Fraud Division with specialist prosecutors to ensure it has the right skills and resources to prosecute complex economic crime cases, ranging from the prosecution of bankers and investment scams, to the prosecution of those who seek to defraud the taxpayer of millions of pounds.
With effect from the 1 April 2022, a new Serious Economic, Organised Crime and International Directorate will be launched, merging the Specialist Fraud Division and the International Justice and Organised Crime Division. This new directorate will provide more resilience and will be responsible for prosecuting the new offences established in the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Bill.
Data on the number of offences recorded under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 is captured in police recorded crime data and this information is available from the Home Office. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not hold recorded crime data and therefore it is not possible to say how many recorded offences subsequently resulted in a prosecution or conviction.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) does not maintain a central record of the date an offence was committed. This information could only be obtained by an examination of CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.
Between the 25th of April and the 31st of December 2013, no Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) were signed by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), as DPAs were only introduced on 24th of February 2014, under the provisions of Schedule 17 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. Since then, the SFO has entered into a total of 12 DPAs.
During the period of the 25th of April 2013 and the 13th of December 2013, 9 SFO led prosecutions resulted in a conviction. All of these were brought against individuals. There were no prosecutions brought against corporate entities during this period.
Detailed information regarding SFO prosecutions and DPAs can be found on their website: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/.
Between the 25th of April and the 31st of December 2013, no Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) were signed by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), as DPAs were only introduced on 24th of February 2014, under the provisions of Schedule 17 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. Since then, the SFO has entered into a total of 12 DPAs.
During the period of the 25th of April 2013 and the 13th of December 2013, 9 SFO led prosecutions resulted in a conviction. All of these were brought against individuals. There were no prosecutions brought against corporate entities during this period.
Detailed information regarding SFO prosecutions and DPAs can be found on their website: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/.
Since Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) were introduced in 2014, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has signed a total of 12. The table below provides details of the number of DPAs signed each year since their introduction in 2014.
Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
DPAs signed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
Since 2010, 122 SFO led prosecutions have resulted in a conviction. The table below provides details of the number of prosecutions that led to a conviction in each year since 2010, and whether these relate to a corporate entity or an individual. |
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | total | |||||
Corporate | 1 |
|
|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| 2 | 8 | |||||
Individuals | 1 | 8 | 20 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 114 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total | 2 | 8 | 20 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 122 |
|
|
|
|
|
In 2022, the SFO is taking forward 7 trials, involving 20 defendants charged against a total of 80 counts. The high volume of trials taking place this year is in part a result of trials not being able to go ahead during the pandemic.
Detailed information regarding SFO prosecutions and DPAs can be found on their website: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/.
Since Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) were introduced in 2014, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has signed a total of 12. The table below provides details of the number of DPAs signed each year since their introduction in 2014.
Year | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Total |
DPAs signed | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 12 |
Since 2010, 122 SFO led prosecutions have resulted in a conviction. The table below provides details of the number of prosecutions that led to a conviction in each year since 2010, and whether these relate to a corporate entity or an individual. |
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | total | |||||
Corporate | 1 |
|
|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
|
| 2 | 8 | |||||
Individuals | 1 | 8 | 20 | 14 | 17 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 114 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total | 2 | 8 | 20 | 14 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 122 |
|
|
|
|
|
In 2022, the SFO is taking forward 7 trials, involving 20 defendants charged against a total of 80 counts. The high volume of trials taking place this year is in part a result of trials not being able to go ahead during the pandemic.
Detailed information regarding SFO prosecutions and DPAs can be found on their website: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/.
Over the five-year period of 2016 to 2021, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened almost 50 cases. The SFO proactively publishes information about its criminal investigations on its website: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/our-cases/ whenever it is appropriate to do. This includes details on when the investigation was opened and whether it relates to individuals or a corporate body.
In order to protect the investigative process, it is not always possible - or even desirable - for the SFO to announce investigations prematurely. Because of the small number of live investigations that the SFO has open at any one time and the covert nature of many of them, disclosing a breakdown of numbers and the focus of each, could potentially compromise ongoing efforts.
The SFO investigates and prosecutes the most serious and complex cases of fraud, bribery, and corruption. The size and complexity of those cases, including the volume of victims and witnesses, means that it can take a number of years for a full investigation to be carried out.
From 1st of January 2016 to 31st of December 2021, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) entered into a total of 11 Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs). The table below provides details of the date each DPA was signed.
Case name | Date DPA was signed by the SFO |
Sarclad Ltd | 06/07/2016 |
Rolls Royce PLC | 17/01/2017 |
Tesco PLC | 10/04/2017 |
Serco | 04/07/2019 |
Güralp Systems Ltd | 22/10/2019 |
Airbus Group | 31/01/2020 |
G4S | 17/07/2020 |
Airline Services Limited | 30/10/2020 |
Amec Foster Wheeler plc | 01/07/2021 |
AB Ltd* | 19/07/2021 |
CD Ltd* | 19/07/2021 |
* reporting restrictions apply
Detailed information regarding the use of DPAs can be found on the SFO website:
From the 1st of January 2016 to 31st of December 2021, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has brought forward 103 prosecutions as a result of their criminal casework. The table below sets-out how many prosecutions were brought forward in each year, whether they relate to a corporate or an individual, and the final outcome. *
The cases investigated by the SFO are complex and it can take a number of years before any defendant(s) can be charged and a trial scheduled. Information relating to the exact date each investigation began is not readily available and providing this information would incur a disproportionate cost.
Corporate | Individual | |||||||
Outcome | Outcome | |||||||
Year | guilty plea | Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) | Discontinued | Conviction after trial | Guilty Plea | Acquitted | Awaiting Trial | Total |
2016 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 27 | ||
2017 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 11 | 5 | 10 | 1 | 31 |
2018 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 8 | |||
2019 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | ||
2020 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 18 | ||||
2021 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 10 | |||
Total | 4 | 11 | 2 | 20 | 18 | 26 | 22 | 103 |
*We have used the term ‘brought forward’ to mean the date a charge was instigated against an individual or corporate.Detailed information regarding SFO prosecutions, including the date a charge was instigated can be found on their website: https://www.sfo.gov.uk/our-cases/
Edenred is the sole supplier of employee benefits and reward solutions under the Crown Commercial Service’s Employee Benefits Framework. Edenred supplies the Government Legal Department with both employee benefits and reward solutions, including childcare vouchers, a cycle to work scheme, payroll giving, employee discounts and reward and recognition bonuses. Edenred invoiced Government Legal Department £25,890 for providing reward and recognition bonuses to Government Legal Department, Attorney General’s Office and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate employees during October 2021. Bonuses may take the form of paper vouchers, eGift Cards and Gift Cards.
334 bonuses of a value of between £30.00 and £100.00 were awarded to staff in October 2021, the average (mean) value of which was £73.79 and the most frequent (mode) value was £100.00. Employees receive the full value of the bonus and there is no additional cost for using the service.
The material requested was published on the official government website on 13th December 2021.
The decisions on these cases will be published in the next round of updates.
The Data set out in the table below shows CPS headcount (a) overall, (b) in the International Justice and Organised Crime Division, (c) in the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division and (d) in the Specialist Fraud Division as close to those dates specified.
Year / CPS Overall Headcount | Team | CPS Prosecutor Headcount |
31/12/2015* / 5922 | ORGANISED CRIME | 83 |
INTERNATIONAL | 37 | |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 177 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 224 | |
31/12/2016* / 5954 | ORGANISED CRIME | 150 |
INTERNATIONAL | 39 | |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 171 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 210 | |
31/12/2017* / 5989 | INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ORGANISED CRIME DIVISION | 164 |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 155 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 221 | |
31/12/2018* / 5946 | INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ORGANISED CRIME DIVISION | 172 |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 156 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 207 | |
31/12/2019* / 6066 | INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ORGANISED CRIME DIVISION | 183 |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 155 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 180 | |
31/12/2020* / 6594 | INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ORGANISED CRIME DIVISION | 134 |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 143 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 182 | |
31/12/2021* / 6888 | INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND ORGANISED CRIME DIVISION | 137 |
SPECIAL CRIME & COUNTER TERRORISM DIVISION | 141 | |
SPECIALIST FRAUD | 167 |
NB: The CPS has undergone change to its team structures during the specified period. The International Justice and Organised Crime Division has been in existence since 2017. Therefore, staff headcount numbers for 2015 and 2016 relate to the previous structure in place at the time.
*The system reports data as at the last day of the month rather than the first or any date in-between therefore the table is presented to the nearest reportable date to the questions asked.
The Solicitor General communicated his decision to officials on the morning of 24 December 2021. Where a referral is made to this office by a victim, their family or a Member of Parliament, the Law Officers communicate the outcome of their decision in writing. This case was referred by members of the public. Due to the volume of referrals received, we are unable to provide individual responses to members of the public. The outcomes of all decisions are communicated to the Crown Prosecution Service who in turn advise others concerned.
There is no legal obligation to publish updates on the outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals. The updates prepared by officials are checked manually and it is not always possible to meet the Attorney General’s aspiration for weekly editions, especially over the Christmas and New Year period. The Department does not hold information on the average length of time for updates
There is no legal obligation to publish updates on the outcome of unduly lenient sentence referrals. The updates prepared by officials are checked manually and it is not always possible to meet the Attorney General’s aspiration for weekly editions, especially over the Christmas and New Year period. The Department does not hold information on the average length of time for updates
The Solicitor General communicated his decision to officials on the morning of 24 December 2021.
Neither the Attorney General nor the Crown Prosecution Service set maximum limits for the number of criminal cases awaiting trial.
Neither the Attorney General nor the Crown Prosecution Service set maximum limits for the amount of time a criminal case should await trial.
The number of prosecutors employed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) are as follows:
Year*** | CPS Prosecutor Headcount |
31/12/2016 | 2623 |
31/12/2017 | 2634 |
31/12/2018 | 2694 |
31/12/2019 | 2800 |
31/12/2020 | 3025 |
30/11/3021 | 3118 |
*The data has been extracted from the CPS Oracle HR database and is accurate at point of enquiry on 14th December 2021. Consequent changes to data input may mean that this data will change at some point in the future.
**The system reports data as at the last day of the month rather than the first therefore the table is presented to the nearest reportable date to the questions asked.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
The Convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal adviser to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
By convention, whether the Law Officers have been asked to provide advice, and the contents of any such advice, is not disclosed outside Government.
The Convention protects the Law Officers’ ability as chief legal adviser to the Government to give full and frank legal advice and provides the fullest guarantee that government business will be conducted at all times in light of thorough and candid legal advice.
In my roles as chief legal adviser to the Government and sponsoring minister of the Government Legal Department (GLD), I oversee the provision of legal support by GLD to all of its client departments, including the Cabinet Office. When advising their clients, GLD lawyers provide advice in accordance with their professional duties and on behalf of the Treasury Solicitor, who is the head of the GLD. The Ministerial Code and Cabinet Manual set out the circumstances in which ministers and their policy officials consult the Law Officers on legal matters.
In my roles as chief legal adviser to the Government and sponsoring minister of the Government Legal Department (GLD), I oversee the provision of legal support by GLD to all of its client departments, including the Cabinet Office. When advising their clients, GLD lawyers provide advice in accordance with their professional duties and on behalf of the Treasury Solicitor, who is the head of the GLD. The Ministerial Code and Cabinet Manual set out the circumstances in which ministers and their policy officials consult the Law Officers on legal matters.
5,124 referrals were made to the COVID Fraud Hotline during its time being operational from October 2020 through to the end of June 2023.
All 5,124 of these referrals were disseminated to the relevant department(s) or organisation(s) for consideration as of the end of June 2023.
Once Hotline intelligence is forwarded, the decision to investigate sits with the relevant organisation and the decision to charge rests with the Crown Prosecution Service.
As of October 2023 there were 20 Operations at various stages of the investigative process with the National Investigation Service (NATIS). As of 31/3/23 a further 83 intelligence reports originating from a C-19 Hotline submission were being investigated by the Insolvency Service, with the majority being focused on insolvent investigations and dissolved investigations.
The Public Sector Fraud Authority established last year works with stakeholders to track outcomes linked to the Hotline intelligence.
The value of intelligence is not only for progressing prosecutions. The Hotline intelligence has helped us better understand the threat across Government and informed the wider intelligence picture across public sector organisations. It has also contributed to media campaigns providing guidance in relation to Covid Pass fraud, vaccine fraud and phishing.
On 2 October 2023, the Chancellor announced an immediate cap on civil servant headcount across Whitehall to stop any further expansion, increase efficiencies and boost productivity.
The Civil Service grew in size to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the illegal war in the Ukraine but it is right that we reduce the size of the Civil Service over time as we drive up productivity and deliver efficiencies.
As part of this Government’s commitment to transparency, my Department publishes workforce statistics each month. Information about staffing levels since 2006 are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/payroll-costs-and-non-consolidated-pay-data
The data requested can be found at the following links
In response to the detail requested relating to procurement reference CCZZ23A21 and CCZX23A03, and under section 43 of the FOIA, this information will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive at this time. We have taken this approach as disclosing such information may undermine businesses' trust in us as a commercial partner.
The two sections in the respective annual reports referenced use different methodology and are not comparative.
The chart on page 41 of the 2022-23 annual report provides comparative Scope 3 emission data for all official domestic business travel from 2017-18 (baseline) to 2022-23 (showing a reduction of 72% compared to baseline).
Page 43 of the 2022-23 annual report provides commentary on the broader trends between the two years.
Bonuses paid out as non-cash vouchers is a standard practice across Government and has been for many years.
Attracting, retaining and motivating highly skilled individuals is essential for the Civil Service to deliver for the British people. This is why pay must be fair and competitive as well as affordable to the taxpayer. Performance-related bonuses and vouchers are a key part of this.
The total value of non-cash vouchers issued to Cabinet Office staff in 2022-23 was £920,190.
The information is not centrally held in the form requested and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
The Cabinet Office has had no funding allocated to the Help for Households campaign so far in this financial year.
Departmental spend on gym equipment is factored into facilities management. To calculate this spend specifically would incur a disproportionate cost to the department.
The reconfiguration of seating arrangements enabled greater passenger capacity and more versatile seating. These efficiencies have allowed larger delegations, such as for trips to key international summits, to travel on a single flight. Delegations frequently include members of the media.
| Economy Seats | Business Seats | Conference Table Seats | Total No. of Seats |
1 April 2021 - 31 March 2022 | 12 | 44 | 8 | 64 |
4 April to 2022 - 8 June 2022 | 12 | 44 | 8 | 64 |
1 October 2022 - 1 September 2023 | 36 | 36 | 8 | 80 |
The MSN 10238 airframe does not have any club seats within its configuration.
More broadly, I would note that foreign travel is a vital part of diplomacy. It is in the national interest that Government Ministers and delegations can travel abroad to pursue UK interests and develop international relationships through closer economic, security and development ties. This has been the case under successive administrations of all parties. Information on the cost of overseas Ministerial travel is routinely published on gov.uk (including the number of officials who accompanied the Minister if non-scheduled travel was used).
Given the Rt Hon Member’s keen interest in overseas travel, I would also point her and her staff to the frequent use of non-scheduled / charter flights under the last Labour Government, including by Gordon Brown
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministers-overseas-travel
The amendment to the definition of the aircraft covers the switch of airframe from Manufacturer's Serial Number (MSN)10238 to MSN 8830. This switch of airframe is contractually due to take place on or before 30 September 2023.
There is no further cost to the public purse to cover both (a) the switch of aircraft and (b) the livery in which the new aircraft will be provided.
The amendment to the definition of the aircraft covers the switch of airframe from Manufacturer's Serial Number (MSN)10238 to MSN 8830. This switch of airframe is contractually due to take place on or before 30 September 2023.
There is no further cost to the public purse to cover both (a) the switch of aircraft and (b) the livery in which the new aircraft will be provided.
The Civil Service Board comprises senior civil servants from a range of Departments. It had deep dive discussion on property issues in which the presence of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was raised on one occasion in 2022 and a further occasion in 2023.
The statement of requirements is publicly available on Contracts Finder and can be found at the following link:
This information will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive. We have taken this approach as disclosing such information may undermine businesses' trust in us as a commercial partner.
This information will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive. We have taken this approach as disclosing such information may undermine businesses' trust in us as a commercial partner.
This information will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive. We have taken this approach as disclosing such information may undermine businesses' trust in us as a commercial partner.
This information will not be disclosed as it is deemed commercially sensitive. We have taken this approach as disclosing such information may undermine businesses' trust in us as a commercial partner.
This lectern is owned by the British Embassy in Vilnius and I understand was purchased prior to 2010, and at least 20 years ago. The Cabinet Office would not hold procurement details regarding production and design from that time.
As previously stated, lecterns are used and repurposed across government buildings.
The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report on special advisers, and far more detail is transparently provided than ever issued under the last Labour Government, and far more than is published by the Labour-led Welsh Government.
As set out in the July 2023 annual report, laid in the House today, special advisers represent just 0.02 per cent of the Civil Service workforce.
Special advisers are classed as temporary civil servants. They receive a severance payment if their appointment automatically ends when their appointing Minister ceases to hold ministerial office. This reflects the lack of any formal notice period. The substantive contractual provisions in the Model Contract are the same as under previous Administrations of all political colours, including the last Labour Government. They also reflect the statutory provisions set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as legislated for under the last Labour Government.
For example, £1 million in then-prices was paid in severance payments in 2007-08 (as per out in 17 November 2008, Official Report, Col. 244W) and £1.8 million in April-May 2010 (as set out in 28 October 2010, Official Report, Col. 18WS).
With regards to the specific questions asked:
The £7.2 million figure in the 2012-13 annual report includes all salary costs, including severance costs, however the amount relating specifically to severance was not reported.
No severance was paid in 2013-14.
The 2015-16 annual report covered the period April 2015 through 13 July 2016, to cover the paybill costs until the end of the David Cameron Administration. The severance figures reported covered this entire period rather than the financial year.
In 2018-19, £208,000 of severance was paid, as per the annual report.
In 2019-20, the £2.7million severance figure stated in the annual report is net of repayments.
Given the Rt Hon Member has such an interest in special adviser severance payments, the Labour Party should state how much Short Money, Cranborne Money and Policy Development Grant has been spent on severance payments following multiple changes to Labour Party leaders and the Shadow Cabinet in this time period.
The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report on special advisers, and far more detail is transparently provided than ever issued under the last Labour Government, and far more than is published by the Labour-led Welsh Government.
As set out in the July 2023 annual report, laid in the House today, special advisers represent just 0.02 per cent of the Civil Service workforce.
Special advisers are classed as temporary civil servants. They receive a severance payment if their appointment automatically ends when their appointing Minister ceases to hold ministerial office. This reflects the lack of any formal notice period. The substantive contractual provisions in the Model Contract are the same as under previous Administrations of all political colours, including the last Labour Government. They also reflect the statutory provisions set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as legislated for under the last Labour Government.
For example, £1 million in then-prices was paid in severance payments in 2007-08 (as per out in 17 November 2008, Official Report, Col. 244W) and £1.8 million in April-May 2010 (as set out in 28 October 2010, Official Report, Col. 18WS).
With regards to the specific questions asked:
The £7.2 million figure in the 2012-13 annual report includes all salary costs, including severance costs, however the amount relating specifically to severance was not reported.
No severance was paid in 2013-14.
The 2015-16 annual report covered the period April 2015 through 13 July 2016, to cover the paybill costs until the end of the David Cameron Administration. The severance figures reported covered this entire period rather than the financial year.
In 2018-19, £208,000 of severance was paid, as per the annual report.
In 2019-20, the £2.7million severance figure stated in the annual report is net of repayments.
Given the Rt Hon Member has such an interest in special adviser severance payments, the Labour Party should state how much Short Money, Cranborne Money and Policy Development Grant has been spent on severance payments following multiple changes to Labour Party leaders and the Shadow Cabinet in this time period.
The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report on special advisers, and far more detail is transparently provided than ever issued under the last Labour Government, and far more than is published by the Labour-led Welsh Government.
As set out in the July 2023 annual report, laid in the House today, special advisers represent just 0.02 per cent of the Civil Service workforce.
Special advisers are classed as temporary civil servants. They receive a severance payment if their appointment automatically ends when their appointing Minister ceases to hold ministerial office. This reflects the lack of any formal notice period. The substantive contractual provisions in the Model Contract are the same as under previous Administrations of all political colours, including the last Labour Government. They also reflect the statutory provisions set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as legislated for under the last Labour Government.
For example, £1 million in then-prices was paid in severance payments in 2007-08 (as per out in 17 November 2008, Official Report, Col. 244W) and £1.8 million in April-May 2010 (as set out in 28 October 2010, Official Report, Col. 18WS).
With regards to the specific questions asked:
The £7.2 million figure in the 2012-13 annual report includes all salary costs, including severance costs, however the amount relating specifically to severance was not reported.
No severance was paid in 2013-14.
The 2015-16 annual report covered the period April 2015 through 13 July 2016, to cover the paybill costs until the end of the David Cameron Administration. The severance figures reported covered this entire period rather than the financial year.
In 2018-19, £208,000 of severance was paid, as per the annual report.
In 2019-20, the £2.7million severance figure stated in the annual report is net of repayments.
Given the Rt Hon Member has such an interest in special adviser severance payments, the Labour Party should state how much Short Money, Cranborne Money and Policy Development Grant has been spent on severance payments following multiple changes to Labour Party leaders and the Shadow Cabinet in this time period.
The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report on special advisers, and far more detail is transparently provided than ever issued under the last Labour Government, and far more than is published by the Labour-led Welsh Government.
As set out in the July 2023 annual report, laid in the House today, special advisers represent just 0.02 per cent of the Civil Service workforce.
Special advisers are classed as temporary civil servants. They receive a severance payment if their appointment automatically ends when their appointing Minister ceases to hold ministerial office. This reflects the lack of any formal notice period. The substantive contractual provisions in the Model Contract are the same as under previous Administrations of all political colours, including the last Labour Government. They also reflect the statutory provisions set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as legislated for under the last Labour Government.
For example, £1 million in then-prices was paid in severance payments in 2007-08 (as per out in 17 November 2008, Official Report, Col. 244W) and £1.8 million in April-May 2010 (as set out in 28 October 2010, Official Report, Col. 18WS).
With regards to the specific questions asked:
The £7.2 million figure in the 2012-13 annual report includes all salary costs, including severance costs, however the amount relating specifically to severance was not reported.
No severance was paid in 2013-14.
The 2015-16 annual report covered the period April 2015 through 13 July 2016, to cover the paybill costs until the end of the David Cameron Administration. The severance figures reported covered this entire period rather than the financial year.
In 2018-19, £208,000 of severance was paid, as per the annual report.
In 2019-20, the £2.7million severance figure stated in the annual report is net of repayments.
Given the Rt Hon Member has such an interest in special adviser severance payments, the Labour Party should state how much Short Money, Cranborne Money and Policy Development Grant has been spent on severance payments following multiple changes to Labour Party leaders and the Shadow Cabinet in this time period.
The Cabinet Office publishes an annual report on special advisers, and far more detail is transparently provided than ever issued under the last Labour Government, and far more than is published by the Labour-led Welsh Government.
As set out in the July 2023 annual report, laid in the House today, special advisers represent just 0.02 per cent of the Civil Service workforce.
Special advisers are classed as temporary civil servants. They receive a severance payment if their appointment automatically ends when their appointing Minister ceases to hold ministerial office. This reflects the lack of any formal notice period. The substantive contractual provisions in the Model Contract are the same as under previous Administrations of all political colours, including the last Labour Government. They also reflect the statutory provisions set out in the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as legislated for under the last Labour Government.
For example, £1 million in then-prices was paid in severance payments in 2007-08 (as per out in 17 November 2008, Official Report, Col. 244W) and £1.8 million in April-May 2010 (as set out in 28 October 2010, Official Report, Col. 18WS).
With regards to the specific questions asked:
The £7.2 million figure in the 2012-13 annual report includes all salary costs, including severance costs, however the amount relating specifically to severance was not reported.
No severance was paid in 2013-14.
The 2015-16 annual report covered the period April 2015 through 13 July 2016, to cover the paybill costs until the end of the David Cameron Administration. The severance figures reported covered this entire period rather than the financial year.
In 2018-19, £208,000 of severance was paid, as per the annual report.
In 2019-20, the £2.7million severance figure stated in the annual report is net of repayments.
Given the Rt Hon Member has such an interest in special adviser severance payments, the Labour Party should state how much Short Money, Cranborne Money and Policy Development Grant has been spent on severance payments following multiple changes to Labour Party leaders and the Shadow Cabinet in this time period.
The statement of requirements is publicly available on Contracts Finder and can be found at the following link:
This information is publicly available on Contracts Finder. Individual contracts are between customer authorities and suppliers directly, and it is the responsibility of customer authorities to publish contracting information on Contracts Finder and/or other transparency platforms.
The statement of requirements is publicly available on Contracts Finder and can be found at the following link:
I would like to clarify the response to Question 189509, quarterly ministerial transparency data includes details of overseas travel.
The Government's position on domestic flights is set out in the answer of 24 February 2023, PQ 143904.
The Cabinet Office’s reporting on the Greening Government Commitments are set out in the cross-government annual reports, published on gov.uk (most recently in April 2023).
Cabinet Office ministers’ transparency data, including details of flights taken by the Prime Minister, is published on GOV.UK on a quarterly basis.
I would also refer the Rt Hon Member to the answers of Official Report, 24 February 2023, PQ 143904 and of Official Report, 12 June 2023, PQ 188221
The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Comprehensive details of Senior Officials’ Business Expenses, encompassing domestic flights are available on GOV.UK.
The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Comprehensive details of Senior Officials’ Business Expenses, encompassing domestic flights are available on GOV.UK.
As has been the case under successive administrations, the Prime Minister allocates official residences to ministers, either on the grounds of security or to allow them to better perform their official duties. The following official residences are formally allocated to Ministers:
Flats above 10 and 11 Downing Street, which are allocated to the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer respectively;
Hillsborough Castle and Stormont which are available for Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office while on duty in Northern Ireland;
1 Carlton Gardens, which is allocated to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities;
The Chequers and Dorneywood estates are owned and managed by trustees and are available to Ministers for both official and private use and are allocated to the Prime Minister and Chancellor respectively; and
The Chevening estate is allocated to the Foreign Secretary; the Chevening Trust is however currently undertaking works to the building.
Admiralty House is part of the Government estate and has rooms that are used as residential accommodation as required.
Provision of equipment is a health and safety requirement for all employers, including Government, business and political parties, to enable employees to work safely and comfortably.
The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. As we do not differentiate between home and office purchases in our accounting systems so the information is not readily available.
No.
I would also refer the Rt Hon Member to the report in The Times of 1 April 2013 ("ex-Ministers buy last grip on power") which indicated over 40 Ministers purchased Ministerial boxes after the 2010 general election.
The following table includes the recorded number of missing or lost ministerial red boxes by the Cabinet Office and the recorded number of red boxes which have had their security features removed between 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2023.
| 1 May 2018 - 30 April 2023 |
Reported missing or lost | 0 |
Had security features removed for personal use | 0 |
I would also refer the Rt Hon Lady to my previous answer to her (UIN 183041) and reiterate that purchasing and repairing red boxes and folders is a routine Government practice under successive administrations, including the last Labour Government.
The Minister without Portfolio has not been provided with a ministerial red box in respect of his current ministerial role. There is therefore no cost to the public purse.
More widely however, purchasing and repairing red boxes and folders is a routine Government practice under successive administrations, including the last Labour Government.
In the 2022/23 financial year, all PDCA claims from the offices of the former Prime Ministers were received by the department in time for our 31st March financial cut off.
Full disclosure of the 2022/23 amounts will be published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Account 2022-23 which will be published later in the year.
Details on overseas flights by the Prime Minister are published in the Government’s quarterly transparency data, which can be found on gov.uk.
There have been no business delegations travelling with the Prime Minister since 2018. Notwithstanding, the Prime Minister over this period (subject to restrictions during the covid pandemic) will have undertaken a number of business engagements and receptions with business whilst on overseas visits, to help secure investment into the UK and support UK businesses in exporting abroad. For example, during the UK-France Summit last month, the Prime Minister and President Macron met with businesses from both sides of the Channel.
There were 21 overseas visits where representatives of the media accompanied the delegation.
The most recent Leesman office survey was conducted in November 2022. The number of respondents that answered either agree or disagree to the questions listed is set out in the table below:
Question | No. Respondent Agree (figures are aggregate by response of Strongly Agree, Agree or Slightly Agree) | No. Respondent Disagree (figures are aggregate by response of Strongly Disagree, Disagree or Slightly Disagree) |
it enables me to work productively | 1250 (76.31%) | 258 (15.75%) |
it supports me sharing ideas and knowledge amongst colleagues | 1214 (74.57%) | 206 (12.65%) |
it creates an enjoyable environment to work in | 1239 (75.69%) | 202 (12.34%) |
it contributes to a sense of community at work | 1177 (71.99%) | 250 (15.29%) |
it's a place I'm proud to bring visitors to | 1101 (67.67%) | 192 (11.80%) |
The most recent Leesman office survey was conducted in November 2022. The number of respondents that answered either agree or disagree to the questions listed is set out in the table below:
Question | No. Respondent Agree (figures are aggregate by response of Strongly Agree, Agree or Slightly Agree) | No. Respondent Disagree (figures are aggregate by response of Strongly Disagree, Disagree or Slightly Disagree) |
it enables me to work productively | 1250 (76.31%) | 258 (15.75%) |
it supports me sharing ideas and knowledge amongst colleagues | 1214 (74.57%) | 206 (12.65%) |
it creates an enjoyable environment to work in | 1239 (75.69%) | 202 (12.34%) |
it contributes to a sense of community at work | 1177 (71.99%) | 250 (15.29%) |
it's a place I'm proud to bring visitors to | 1101 (67.67%) | 192 (11.80%) |
The results from the most recent Leesman surveys participated by those departments listed is set out in the table below:
Department | Date of participation of most recent Leesman survey | Leesman Index Score (out of 100) |
Cabinet Office | November 2022 | 68.7 |
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | November 2022 | 74.9 |
Department for International Trade | November 2022 | 69.5 |
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities | November 2022 | 70.9 |
HM Treasury | November 2022 | 73.1 |
Ministry of Justice | November 2022 | 60.0 |
Department for Education | September 2022 | 49.4 |
Ministry of Defence | September 2022 | 65.5 |
Department for Work and Pensions | September 2021 | 54.6 |
Home Office | July 2021 | 52.8 |
Department | Date of participation of most recent Leesman survey | Leesman Index Score (out of 100) |
Asylum, Protection and Enforcement Directorate | July 2021 | 55.3 |
Immigration Enforcement Directorate | July 2021 | 55.9 |
Border Force | July 2021 | 44.7 |
|
|
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HM Passport Office | January 2021 | 56.7 |
GPA has launched 10 office based surveys with Leesman, starting in January 2021.
All the departments from the July 2021 survey were from 3 buildings the GPA were exiting as part of the Croydon hub. The buildings surveyed were: Apollo House, Lunar House, Metro Point.
The January 2021 survey (HMPO) was a survey of one of the buildings GPA surveyed to exit for the Peterborough hub. The building that score relates to is Aragon Court, Peterborough.
In both these surveys (Croydon and Peterborough) the surveys were pre-occupancy. GPA were surveying the old estate that the department was or is exiting. In these examples, low scores are helpful as they demonstrate the case for needing these new hubs which GPA is creating. GPA will survey the new hubs once people have moved in - Peterborough will be surveyed later in 2023.
I refer the Hon. lady to my response of 28 March to PQ 169228.
In relation to the Office of the Prime Minister, I refer also to my answer of Hon. lady to PQ 181016.
The requested information is not centrally held. Details of Ministerial and Senior Officials’ flights are available on GOV.UK
It is important that Ministers are able to work while they are travelling to make best use of their time. To facilitate this, the department always seeks best value for money for the taxpayer. This has been the case under successive administrations of all parties.
GPA has launched 9 office based surveys with Leesman, starting in January 2021. The full list of departments, agencies and bodies as listed as such on the UK Government Departments, agencies and public bodies website (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations) that have taken part in Leesman surveys through GPA can be found below:
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
Cabinet Office
Care Quality Commission
Companies House
Consumer Council For Water
Criminal Cases Review Commission
Crown Commercial Service
Crown Prosecution Service
Defence Equipment and Support
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Department for Education
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Department for International Trade
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
Department for Work & Pensions
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Environment Agency
Government Internal Audit Agency
Government Legal Department
Government Property Agency
Health and Safety Executive
Health Education England
Health Research Authority
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
HM Treasury
Home Office
Homes England
Infrastructure and Projects Authority
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
Legal Aid Agency
Ministry of Defence (MOD)
Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Natural England
NHS
NHS England
Office for National Statistics
Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted)
Office of Rail and Road
Parliamentary & Health Service Ombudsman
Regulator of Social Housing
Serious Fraud Office
Small Business Commissioner
Submarine Delivery Agency (SDA)
Trade Remedies Authority
UK Health Security Agency
Other organisations/groups:
Asylum Protection
Border Force
Government Art collection
HM Passport Office
Immigration Enforcement (IE)
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Pubs Code Adjudicator
Single Competent Authority (SCA)
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)
Neither Cabinet Office Ministers nor Officials have held meetings with the Government of Qatar, the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, or Manchester United Football Club to discuss the takeover of the club.
This is a matter for the owners and potential purchasers to resolve, including meeting any relevant requirement of the league in which they compete.
Transaction (a) is in relation to a workplace adjustment for a member of staff.
Transaction (b) also relates to a workplace adjustment for a member of staff.
Transaction (a) was for the transport of hardware between Cabinet Office hub locations as part of an office rationalisation.
Transaction (b) was for the equipping of COBR conference rooms.
Items under the spend referenced were purchased by the COBR Unit for national resilience and emergency planning purposes.
Transaction 9764897355 was for the purchase of Challenge Coins for the Fraud, Error, Debt and Grants Function. These were used for the Counter Fraud Function’s diplomatic work, where they were awarded to fellow counter fraud experts in partner countries and other government organisations in recognition of excellent service to countering fraud. This formed part of the Government’s ongoing work to build constructive relationships with international partners, which are vital to tackling global fraud and safeguarding British people from fraud.
The COP President Designate and his delegation of 10 officials spent two nights in the Tianjin Binhai Yihao Jiudian hotel in Tianjin, China from 5-6th September 2021 as part of talks with the Chinese Government.
The delegation was required in Chinese Government approved hotel accommodation, and was subject to rigorous COVID protocols at a time when travel to China was severely restricted.
The trip was a key event in the COP26 President Designate’s negotiations with the Chinese government, and was an important part of the UK’s successful leadership of COP26 in Glasgow.
Costs for the trip were also declared in the Cabinet Office Ministerial Transparency return for the second quarter of 2021. This information is available in the public domain on GOV.UK.
As has been the case under successive Administrations, refreshments are allowed to be purchased for use at official government functions held for external guests. Due to the passage of almost four years since the transactions were made, the itemised information requested is not held.
Given the Rt Hon Member’s personal interest in Majestic Wine, I would also point her to examples of such routine spending from the last Labour Government, as evident from the £2,430 bills of 19 January 2009, Official Report, Col. 1089W; the £8,286 bill of 24 February 2009, Official Report, Col. 707W; and the £6,614 bills revealed at 13 September 2011, Official Report, Col. 1093W.
Total costs for the Government Consulting Hub were £5.535m, with the unit operating on a full cost recovery basis, charging fees to departments for work undertaken and an annual levy from each department from which the Playbook, knowledge exchange and capability programmes were delivered on their behalf. The estimated positive fee differential associated with Government Departments using GCH for consultancy rather than external suppliers was £4.3 million, a saving which accrued to the commissioning departments.
In January 2023, in line with the objective to develop capability in-house within departments the Hub closed and is settling its finances. The Triage service has been transferred to the Crown Commercial Service. The Consultancy Playbook will be embedded into a suite of playbooks owned by the Commercial function. The GCH consultancy skills capability programme, supporting civil servants to adopt consultancy type skills where appropriate, has now onboarded to Civil Service Learning.
By improving these skills across the public sector, we continue to ensure the Government is only using consultants when absolutely necessary, improving efficiency and saving taxpayers’ money.
| Staff costs (£) | Other running costs (£) |
2019-20 | 0 | 0 |
2020-21 | 10,350.98 | 60,176.50 |
2021-22 | 2,127,106.41 | 192,448.70 |
2022-23 (forecast) | 2,852,039.33 | 293,124.19 |
Transaction (a) was a fraudulent transaction. The full amount was refunded and card cancelled after being reported to the card issuer and was not perpetrated by a civil servant. Internal Cabinet Office fraud reporting protocols were followed from the outset.
Transaction (b) The training was purchased for LGBT+ mental health interventions as part of the then D&I priorities plan.
Transaction (c) was for modules of the Gestalt Centre’s Group Facilitation Certification for individual staff learning and development.
I have asked officials to review the figure provided, and can confirm that there were 9,164 transactions with a value less than £500.
(i) The COP26 President, the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, three of his Private Office, and the UK COP26 Envoy stayed at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, South Korea for two nights in October 2020 to meet with government ministers, parliamentarians, businesses and international organisations.
(ii) Accommodation was purchased at the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman on 23 September 2021 for the Acting National Security Adviser and two NSA officials for two nights each. The purpose was to attend a UK-Jordan Strategic Dialogue.
(iii) The COP26 President stayed in the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul for two nights accompanied by three members of his Private Office during a trip to South Korea. The purpose of the trip was to meet with senior Korean government ministers, Civil Society private sector organisations in relation to driving forward the COP26 President Designate’s climate priorities ahead of the UK led COP26 Summit in Glasgow.
I am grateful that you have brought this administrative error to my attention. I have asked my officials to correct the published data at the earliest opportunity.
Although the Rt Hon Lady asks about a transaction that took place in July 2021, that is, in fact, the date the transaction was cleared from the Cabinet Office’s expenses system.
A procurement card was used by the then Deputy National Security Adviser Paddy McGuiness to host a lunch for 9 guests at the Athenaeum on the 29th September, 2017. The Deputy National Security adviser hosted French diplomatic guests, for a working lunch, ahead of a PM-level UK-France Summit that took place in January 2018.
The COP26 President and four of his Private Office stayed in the Hilton Hotel Berlin for two nights to attend the Petersberg Dialogue international ministerial climate summit.
In the calendar year 2021, there were 9,164 transactions on Government procurement cards held by the Cabinet Office.
This transaction was for UK Security Vetting car parking and training facility space for 18 new joiners and 2 trainers during the period from 08 December 2020 to 22 January 2021.
The training was provided to new case workers on how to process vetting casework. The sensitive nature of the training necessitated its provision in person. The in-person nature of the activity also helped ensure the appropriate handling of vetting policy, process and information.
Speakers Corner supplied a speaker for a reception event for of the annual internship programmes run by the Civil Service Fast Stream.
The speaker was paid to offer their perspective on successful career strategies and skills development, complementing internal Civil Service inputs. They were hired to demonstrate that the Civil Service is keen to incorporate a wider, outward looking viewpoint.
Although the Civil Service Fast Stream used external speakers to support its internship programmes - as in this instance - this is no longer the case and the Fast Stream now sources all speakers internally.
In line with the Greening Government Commitments, Cabinet Office has committed to measure and report on food waste, for estates with over 50 FTE (full time equivalent staff) and or over 500m2 floor area offering a food service.
The requested information for 2021-2022 will be published in the Greening Government Commitments Annual Report for 2021-2022, due later this year. The data for April 1st 2022 to December 31st 2022 will be published in the Annual Report covering 2022-2023.
Each department's finance team is responsible for the monitoring and oversight of electronic purchasing cards issued by their department. Where misappropriation occurs consideration should be given to Civil Service procedures. If this leads to the dismissal of a Civil Servant, cases may be referred to the Internal Fraud Hub, run by the Public Sector Fraud Authority.
For the period in question, there were no reported cases of internal misuse of an electronic purchasing card within the Cabinet Office. There were, however, over this period, a small number of cases of external electronic purchasing card fraud in this period (where an external fraudster has secured credit card information).
Details of these cases were reported to the relevant authorities and all lost funds were recovered by the Cabinet Office in full.
These transactions relate to accommodation at the Enterprise Hotel in Milan for the COP26 President, the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, and members of the COP26 Unit. Delegates attended the Youth4Climate event held between 28 September 2021 and 30 September 2021, and the pre-COP summit held between 30 September 2021 and 2 October 2021. The room rate was €163 per night.
Purchase to Pay (P2P) is one of the 12 areas of the finance taxonomy governed by the Finance Global Design Principles. These Principles are a set of common processes and procedures which are used by departments to ensure consistency across government and facilitate greater sharing of expertise. The cross-department P2P network supports direction giving and guidance in this area, including for EPCs.
The Pan-government procurement card policy does not itself prohibit the purchase of alcohol using a procurement card; however it does state that procurement cards must never be used to make purchases contrary to departments’ strategies and purchasing policies.
Guidance is provided to departments on the consumption of alcohol in the workplace and departments must ensure that they have policies in place to implement this.
Cabinet Office publishes expenditure, including on the GREAT campaign, on a rolling monthly basis on gov.uk as part of routine government transparency arrangements. This can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-spend-data.
The work approved on 13 July refers to the Building Works and Projects, which will be used for the provision of building works to support a greater focus on Life Cycle Replacement (LCR) and Net Carbon Zero (NCZ) projects throughout the Government Property Agency (GPA)’s office estate in England. The term ‘taxi rank’ is used to refer to the manner in which small contracts are awarded which reflects a ‘next in line’ process.
The activity approved for procurement on 15 July is for the provision of hard and soft facilities management for the GPA Estate where needed. These procurements are to appoint suppliers from multiple lots, resulting in six regionally structured contracts for the provision of these services.
The activity approved for procurement on 22 July is for a company to provide a management service for our facilities management supply chain. This centralised performance management function will manage the flow of data and the performance of the supply chain on behalf of the GPA.
The work approved on 13 July refers to the Building Works and Projects, which will be used for the provision of building works to support a greater focus on Life Cycle Replacement (LCR) and Net Carbon Zero (NCZ) projects throughout the Government Property Agency (GPA)’s office estate in England. The term ‘taxi rank’ is used to refer to the manner in which small contracts are awarded which reflects a ‘next in line’ process.
The activity approved for procurement on 15 July is for the provision of hard and soft facilities management for the GPA Estate where needed. These procurements are to appoint suppliers from multiple lots, resulting in six regionally structured contracts for the provision of these services.
The activity approved for procurement on 22 July is for a company to provide a management service for our facilities management supply chain. This centralised performance management function will manage the flow of data and the performance of the supply chain on behalf of the GPA.
The transaction was for PCR testing for the COP26 President, Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, and five staff members during a ministerial visit to Jamaica, as part of his work to deliver the UK's COP objectives.
These transactions are for accommodation for a total of six members of staff, including the COP Envoy and the COP President, for three nights during a ministerial visit to Vietnam from 15-18 February in order to pursue a Just Energy Transition Partnership with Vietnam.
This transaction was for PCR testing for six staff members during an overseas ministerial visit.
This transaction was for a series of group transport journeys to and from airports, relating to official overseas travel.
The Cabinet Office used Government Procurement Cards to buy £675,243.02 worth of goods and services with a value of less than £500 during 2021.
The transaction on 29 July was the purchase of 500 Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) branded notebooks, for its launch in August.
The transaction on 18 August was for 500 Government Property Agency branded fidget cubes, which were used as part of a Civil Service Live activity.
I would refer the Rt Hon Member to Question 59556.
The Prime Minister allocates official residences to ministers, either on the grounds of security or to allow them to better perform their official duties. Further details will be set out in due course.
The value of non-cash vouchers awarded to Cabinet Office staff as performance related bonuses is as follows:
2017-18 - £56,473.65
2018-19 - £110,020.50
2019-20 - £244,985.00
2020-21 - £414,400.00
2021-22 - £581,615.00
These figures are not in the Annual Reports and Accounts or not broken down.
The datasets, deliverables and business justification for this contract will not be published, nor a separate assessment prepared, on security grounds. This procurement activity relates to the National Situation Centre, which is exempt from publishing Commercially Sensitive documents under National Security Exemptions. This procurement activity is exempt under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Sections 23 (Security Bodies) and 24 (National Security), and also under Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Section 15 (National Security).
The National Situation Centre’s business justification, which will not be published in full for the reasons listed above, included the following requirements for this contract:
Anonymised and aggregated people count estimates at low levels of geography
Data down to equally-sized geographic areas (for example grids or hexagons). These areas should be reasonably low levels of geography, such as having a radius of 500m or smaller.
Ideally, in addition to the above, data provided at MSOA (Middle Layer Super Output Area) level of detail or more geographically granular
Data anonymised and aggregated (no private/personal data to be collected or communicated from the supplier)
Minimum coverage of 30% of the UK population and data weighted/aggregated up to population level
No more than 15 minute latency period
Underlying data delivered through API and CSV file formats
Access to real-time data in front-end map format via a portal
Must cover the UK (including Scotland)
Total contract value to not exceed £803,500 (Ex VAT)
A reasonable baseline figure for people counts. This may be average hourly people counts in a given area for historic and current months.
Derived products must be shareable across resilience and operational partners
The department is not taking any steps to obtain insights on the movement, demography, mobility-patterns and behaviour of the proportion of the UK population whose data will not be covered by the contract at present. The data obtained through the contract, which covers 30% of the UK population, may be weighted and aggregated up to population level.
In line with the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and the Model Contract for Special Advisers, a Special Adviser's appointment automatically terminates following a change of Administration, when their appointing Minister leaves office, or in the event of a General Election. Under these circumstances, Special Advisers are contractually entitled to a severance payment. Special Advisers who are later re-appointed to Government must repay their severance pay, less the amount of salary that they would have been paid had they been employed during the period between their termination and their re-appointment.
The contracts of all Special Advisers in the Cabinet Office were automatically terminated on the change of Administration. As per the Model Contract, Special Advisers are entitled to receive three months' pay if termination occurs at any time during the first year of service, with an additional month’s pay for each completed year of service after the first year, subject to an overall maximum of six months’ pay. Where individuals were immediately re-appointed, severance was not payable.
Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs, including pay bands, is published annually in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.
The “Statement of Requirements for Points of Interest Data for the National Situation Centre” is an internal procurement document, a section of which details the National Situation Centre’s requirements for Points of Interest Data. This section (the 12 requirements) are not exempt from publication on Security Grounds, whereas the full Statement of Requirements is.
This procurement activity relates to The National Situation Centre, which is exempt from publishing Commercially Sensitive documents under National Security Exemptions. Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Sections 23 (Security Bodies) and 24 (National Security) apply. Under Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Section 15 (National Security) applies.
The Government Strategic Management Office (GSMO) was created in the summer of 2021 when the former Prime Minister’s Implementation Unit was disbanded on the creation of the No.10 Delivery Unit. The details you have requested are below.
Since its creation, GSMO has worked with HM Treasury and No.10 to improve the collection, assessment and distribution of data on the Prime Minister’s top priority projects and programmes and departmental plans to achieve the government’s outcomes.
Period | Funding | FTE |
2020-21 | N/A | N/A |
2021-22 | £1.2m | 10 |
2022-23 | £1.1m | 11 |
The Provision of severance payments for Ministers leaving office is set out in legislation. Details of the payments made to ministers when leaving office are published in departments’ annual reports and accounts.
Similarly, the provision of severance payments for special advisers is set out in the Model Contract, which is available on gov.uk, including provisions for repayment of severance if reappointed. The cost of severance payments made to special advisers across government is published annually by the Cabinet Office.
GOV.UK Verify continues to provide a service for its 7 remaining services and their users, ahead of the system’s retirement in April 2023. More than 10 million GOV.UK Verify accounts have been created over its lifetime.
The amount spent on staff activity in each financial year - primarily comprising pay, pension contributions, training and travel - is shown below:
● 2014-2015: £4.4m
● 2015-2016: £4.3m
● 2016-2017: £5.3m
● 2017-2018: £11.9m
● 2018-2019: £5.3m
● 2019-2020: £8.2m
● 2020-2021: £5.8m
● 2021-2022: £7.4m
● 2022-2023 (to date): £0.2m
The IT-related costs of developing, operating and maintaining GOV.UK Verify, which include payments to Verify’s external identity providers, are as follows:
● 2014-2015: £7.6m
● 2015-2016: £13.4m
● 2016-2017: £18.4m
● 2017-2018: £23.6m
● 2018-2019: £28.7m
● 2019-2020: £9.2m
● 2020-2021: £9.2m
● 2021-2022: £8.7m
● 2022-2023 (to 30/09/22): £2.0m
External marketing costs relating to GOV.UK Verify are not recorded separately.
The number of GOV.UK Verify accounts created in each financial year is as follows:
● 2014-2015: 31,650
● 2015-2016: 649,386
● 2016-2017: 720,943
● 2017-2018: 938,827
● 2018-2019: 1,824,384
● 2019-2020: 2,478,953
● 2020-2021: 1,770,435
● 2021-2022: 1,415,907
● 2022-2023 (until the end of September 2022): 288,528
Information on the staff activity related to the review of retained EU law or the passage of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill in financial years 2021-22 and 2022-23 is not held centrally.
The Retained EU law dashboard was made and has been maintained by the Government Strategic Management Office and is hosted on Tableau Public, which is a free platform for hosting public dashboards.
I refer the Rt hon. Member to PQ 47403, answered on 25 October.
a) The Statement of Requirements for Points of Interest Data for the National Situation Centre states the following requirement:
Points of interest data covering the whole of the UK including Northern Ireland.
In-depth tagging of types of location, allowing us to differentiate between types of premises in the event of a crisis.
Information to be quality assured quarterly to ensure accuracy and establish a level of confidence in the information provided.
Level of accuracy - the information provided to clearly communicate where premises are registered as dual purpose (commercial business parks, and buildings of multiple occupancy). Where multiple of the same business are located within close proximity.
Information provided to be in the form of CSV files with any aggregate results able to be shared across government departments at the discretion of the customer.
Information ingestion to be automatable as far as reasonably practicable, supplier support for this automation is essential to delivery to tight timescales of response, the level of support
Points of Interest data for a comprehensive list of locations is provided in a range of geolocational formats including file Geodatabase (.gdb), Shapefile (.shp) and simple text file (.csv).
Quarterly updates are provided as standard with the data provided as a secure web link.
Supplier to provide an attribute table for locations including information as identified by the WatchKeepers that provides suitable context information to inform a crisis response.
Information regularly updated against available sources, such as yellow pages, Companies House and other public sources to ensure information being provided is up to date and accurate.
Referencing to be compatible across Defra, MOD and BEIS systems - these departments are critical partners in the crisis response/information sharing network and using the same referencing information is required to limit system lag, and to ensure clarity across multiple partners. Being able to use the same location referencing layout as partners is an essential requirement.
Updates to location data, provided by the customer are to be only accessible to approved government partners.
The Statement of Requirements shall not be published on Security Grounds. This procurement activity relates to The National Situation Centre, which is exempt from publishing Commercially Sensitive documents under National Security Exemptions.
Under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Sections 23 (Security Bodies) and 24 (National Security) apply. Under Public Contracts Regulations 2015, Section 15 (National Security) applies.
b) The National Situation Centre provides situational awareness to senior officials and ministers during civil contingency and national security crisis events. The purpose of this contract is to provide SitCen with detailed, accurate data on premises across the UK, allowing us to identify with confidence risks to individuals and businesses. Open source alternatives are not accurate enough for this purpose.
It is Cabinet Office policy to publish Contracts with a value of over £10,000 on Contracts Finder within 30 days of Contract Award. Cabinet Office intends to publish the Statements of Requirements for this Contract within that timeframe.
The purpose of the contract is for qualitative analysis of terminology relating to people’s ethnic identity. It will focus on the opinions of people from different ethnic groups exploring what is or isn’t inclusive and how to most appropriately reflect their ethnic identity. The findings will be used as part of the evidence base for the development of a number of key outputs including:
harmonised ethnicity classifications for use by the Government Statistical Service
and recommendations which will encourage responsible and accurate reporting on race issues.
As set out in my previous answer, PQ 48294, the use of the lectern has been kindly provided by the Conservative Party, who own the item. The Conservative Party funded its transport to the recent party conference. The Government badge, when used for government events, is owned by HM Government.
Official residences are assigned to ministers at the discretion of the Prime Minister, either on the grounds of security or to allow them to better perform their official duties. Further details will be set out in due course.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for ticket bookings of any sort.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for accommodation/ venue bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for rail bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
There are no missed savings as the contract references ‘no use, no fee’.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty's Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
(i) £1,259,382.20 total spend across 19 flights taken since the start of the contract.
(ii, iii) This contract does not support bookings for rail and accommodation.
(iv) Booking fees amounted to £50,515.99 of the total spend quoted above across the 19 flights since the start of the contract.
The management information requirements included in the Cabinet Office's contract with Corporate Travel Management are exactly as set out in Schedule 13 of the CCS PSTVS commercial agreement (which is publicly available via the CCS website within document RM6016: Commercial agreement redacted version v1.; page 215).
This information can be found within the Departmental Quarterly Transparency reports.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Nil - all flights were to different destinations/ itineraries.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Nil - all in accordance with extant departmental policy.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
There are no refunds as the contract references ‘no use, no fee’.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for accommodation bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for accommodation bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for accommodation bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for accommodation bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for accommodation bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Contract CCTM19A03 does not cater for rail bookings.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
Total Spend: £1,259,382.20
| Breakdown of Spend | Volume Of Spend | Number of flights |
UK Domestic | £79,284.55 | 6% | 5 |
Europe | £538,164.40 | 43% | 11 |
Rest Of World | £641,933.20 | 51% | 3 |
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
16% - 3 out of the 19 charter flights since the start of the contract were under 300 miles.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
CTM is the sole supplier under this contract. They subcontract with appropriate Air Operators to provide best value for money/ operation; utility/ service for each tasking.
This enabling agreement is the framework document for the call off contract to provide Ministerial Air Charter Transport. The contracting authority for the call off contract is the Cabinet Office on behalf of His Majesty’s Government. The Framework Agreement (RM6016) is held by Crown Commercial Service on behalf of His Majesty’s Government.
All responses under the contract reference CCTM19A03 refer to Air Charter Travel only.
The information is not collected centrally by the Cabinet Office, and any retained records do not identify cases where Section 109 has been relied on. Nor do they readily identify whether mandatory training in relation to obligations under the Equality Act formed part of that defence or if it has ever been relied on.
There are publicly available judgments from Cabinet Office Employment Tribunal, on the GOV.UK website, that can be located here.
There was no cost to the public purse; the lectern was provided by the governing party. The HM Government badge was an existing one owned by the Government.
For the purposes of reporting Cabinet Office and Downing Street are the same entity so separate figures cannot be provided.
It is cardholders and their line managers duty to check all ePCS transactions promptly and notify the bank of any fraudulent activity. The total value of fraud reported through the use of purchasing cards is as below.
Year | Number of Cases | Value | Value Recovered |
2019/20 | 4 | £931.09 | £931.09 |
2020/21 | 1 | £707.00 | £707.00 |
2021/22 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The named individuals were continuously employed by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office as special advisers on full-time contracts between 7 July and 2 September 2022.
As per the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, special advisers may have involvement in political activity in their own time, outside office hours.
Departmental special advisers were also permitted to take unpaid leave to take part in a leadership campaign, subject to Ministerial approval. In this case, all these individuals took unpaid leave for the duration of the campaign, meaning there was no cost to the taxpayer for any such activity.
These are long-standing arrangements, and reflect the substantive rules put in place for the Labour Party leadership election under the last Labour Government (as evident from Library deposited papers DEP 06/2344 and DEP 07/1292).
Special advisers are employed by the department to which they were appointed to assist their minister, as such the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s special advisers are employed by HM Treasury; the administration of special advisers is however overseen by the Cabinet Office.
Under paragraph 14b of the Model Contract for Special Advisers, a special adviser’s employment is automatically terminated when their appointing minister ceases to hold the ministerial office to which they were appointed to assist them. Paragraph 14c of the Model Contract details the conditions that apply should a special adviser’s employment end, including eligibility for any severance payments. Paragraph 14c of the Model Contract also sets out that special advisers who are later re-appointed to government must repay their severance pay, less the amount of salary they would have been paid had they been employed during the period between their termination and their re-appointment.
These arrangements have been in place under successive administrations.
Pursuant to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 and as part of the government’s policy on open data and transparency, the Cabinet Office routinely publishes an annual report on the numbers and costs of special advisers. The total cost of exit packages, including severance payments, for special advisers are published annually.
The Covid-19 Inquiry will play a key role in learning lessons from the pandemic. The final Terms of Reference for the Inquiry were published in June. The Prime Minister accepted all of Baroness Hallett’s recommendations.
The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We will meet our obligations to the Inquiry in full.
The Government is committed to working with the Inquiry to ensure that Baroness Hallett is able to conduct a thorough investigation into the preparations for and the response to the pandemic.
The Covid-19 Inquiry will play a key role in learning lessons from the pandemic. The final Terms of Reference for the Inquiry were published in June. The Prime Minister accepted all of Baroness Hallett’s recommendations.
The Government does not comment on legal advice it may have received. We will meet our obligations to the Inquiry in full.
The Government is committed to working with the Inquiry to ensure that Baroness Hallett is able to conduct a thorough investigation into the preparations for and the response to the pandemic.
Purchases questioned were made using the Department’s Electronic Purchasing Card Solution (ePCS), which is our preferred method for low value expenditure.
The requested items were purchased for:
Training for 40 staff on how to challenge unacceptable behaviour, with the aim of improving gender equality.
Training for new team members on how to draft high quality responses to public and ministerial correspondence.
The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) does not enable government to estimate the total financial cost of fraud in the UK as it only targets a subset of fraud risks and organisations. In financial years 20/21 and 21/22 (the last 2 year NFI programme cycle) NFI reported savings for government of £384m and £32m for the private sector. However, this only represents the fraud prevented and detected as a result of the NFI.
Government does not have the breakdown of the cost of fraud as requested. However, total fraud in the public sector is estimated to be a minimum of £29 billion per year (pre COVID-19).
As of 31 March 2022, the Department had 283 cardholders.
For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. It is not possible to provide a separate figure.
This information is not held centrally.
Cabinet Office has a comprehensive corporate learning and development offer designed to give staff the knowledge and skills required for a modern civil service. Courses offered by the (a) Active Bystander Training Company and (b) Plain English Campaign are not part of the formal corporate learning and development offer provided by Cabinet Office. Over the past 12 months Business Units within the department may have independently procured these training offers.
I can however confirm that neither of these training offers have been run in 10 Downing Street over the past 12 months.
Purchases questioned were made using the Department’s Electronic Purchasing Card Solution (ePCS), which is our preferred method for low value expenditure.
The requested items were purchased for:
Branded sashes for staff delivering Civil Service Live.
Branded workwear to aid the ready identification of secretariat staff during emergency responses and exercises.
Merchandise for distribution to members of the Government Geography Profession,
Branded badges for staff delivering COP26.
The Media Services (RM6123) framework agreement includes the provision of strategic media activation services (LOT1) and was put in place following a competitive tender in December 2021. Customers can use this framework agreement through a call-off contract. Manning Gottlieb OMD is the supplier.
The framework commenced on 14th December 2021 and is due to end on 13th December 2025.
The specific contract details for the Government Communication Service, based in the Cabinet Office is as follows:
Contract Reference number: CCTS22A37, Start Date: 24 May 2022, Expiry Date: 01 July 2022 and Total Contract Value: £1.5m.
The Media Buying framework agreement (RM6003) started on 7th November 2018 and ended on 21st May 2022.
The framework agreement was awarded to OMD Group Ltd (OmniGov) following a competitive tendering process in 2018.
During the requested period (May 2018 to May 2022), the Government Communication Service in the Cabinet Office had a total spend of £101,852,321.90 (excluding COVID-19 spend) through this framework.
There were no journeys other than one for a shift worker, similar to that outlined in my answer to the Rt Hon Member of 28 January 2022, UIN 111521.
This was not related to any gathering covered in the report of the Second Permanent Secretary, and the journey was in line with Cabinet Office travel policy guidance.
As I outlined in my previous answer, the information requested by the Rt Hon Member is not centrally held in the form requested, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
All expenditure is in line with the Cabinet Office’s Travel and Expenses Policy. It states that such travel expenses may be claimed by staff where:
“you are outside of normal working hours (before 6am and after 9pm)
no other suitable method of public transport is available, and
travel by private vehicle or self-drive hire car is not possible and/or is not cost-effective, and either:
you are transporting heavy luggage or official business equipment, or
the saving of official time is important and can be justified on cost grounds.”
To assist the Rt Hon Member’s scrutiny, as I have noted in previous answers, there was no such spending by Downing Street staff in relation to gatherings in the recent report by the Second Permanent Secretary.
Whitehall District Heating has been renamed and is now called the Whitehall Boiler System. A number of departmental buildings have transferred ownership to the Government Property Agency and the details of buildings served by the Whitehall Boiler System are provided in the table below.
Building | Department |
MOD Main Building | Ministry of Defence |
Government Office Great George Street | Government Property Agency |
70 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
10 Downing Street | Government Property Agency |
Admiralty House | Government Property Agency |
King Charles Street | Government Property Agency |
Old Admiralty Building | Government Property Agency |
Horse Guards | Ministry of Defence |
Dover House | Government Property Agency |
Northumberland House | Wellcome Trust |
22-26 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
55 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
Banqueting House | Historic Royal Palaces |
Gwydyr House | Government Property Agency |
36 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
Civil Service Club | Civil Service Club |
The total costs that were charged to Government Departments by the Government Property Agency for the provision of heating from the Whitehall Boiler System is as follows;
(a) 2019-20: £1.7m
(b) 2020-21: £1.5m
(c) 2021-22: £2.0m
These costs include standing charges for the operation and maintenance of the Whitehall Boiler System along with the cost of actual heat consumed by each building.
Whitehall District Heating has been renamed and is now called the Whitehall Boiler System. A number of departmental buildings have transferred ownership to the Government Property Agency and the details of buildings served by the Whitehall Boiler System are provided in the table below.
Building | Department |
MOD Main Building | Ministry of Defence |
Government Office Great George Street | Government Property Agency |
70 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
10 Downing Street | Government Property Agency |
Admiralty House | Government Property Agency |
King Charles Street | Government Property Agency |
Old Admiralty Building | Government Property Agency |
Horse Guards | Ministry of Defence |
Dover House | Government Property Agency |
Northumberland House | Wellcome Trust |
22-26 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
55 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
Banqueting House | Historic Royal Palaces |
Gwydyr House | Government Property Agency |
36 Whitehall | Government Property Agency |
Civil Service Club | Civil Service Club |
The total costs that were charged to Government Departments by the Government Property Agency for the provision of heating from the Whitehall Boiler System is as follows;
(a) 2019-20: £1.7m
(b) 2020-21: £1.5m
(c) 2021-22: £2.0m
These costs include standing charges for the operation and maintenance of the Whitehall Boiler System along with the cost of actual heat consumed by each building.
This information is not centrally held in the form requested, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
At this time we are unable to confirm when information on Free School Meals will be available from the April 2022 SCS Database, and whether declaration rates for broader SEB measures will reach acceptable quality thresholds.
The Cabinet Office continues to work with departments to increase response rates across socio-economic background measures.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
It has not proved possible to respond to the Rt hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
G-GBNI was painted with the ‘Global UK’ livery and G-XATW had this livery removed during the visits to Southend Airport as part of a planned exchange of two identical airframes in line with contractual agreements/obligations.
HM Government has only leased one airframe and I can confirm that there was no extra cost to the taxpayer.
It is a long-established practice of Her Majesty's Government not to comment on whether a leak inquiry has been established, its conduct or outcome.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
The Declaration on Government Reform and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, 2022-2025, commits the Government to drawing on talent from all backgrounds. Representation is increasing and whilst this trend is positive, we remain committed to improving representation across the broadest range of diversity across our workforce and in particular at our most senior grades.
To build on the progress made over recent years and target where improvement is still needed, the Government will take a holistic approach to SCS recruitment to identify and remove barriers to underrepresented groups entering and progressing in the SCS. There are a number of initiatives aimed at supporting colleagues to reach the Senior Civil Service from a diverse range of backgrounds including the Civil Service Fast Stream, Future Leaders Scheme and Senior Leaders Scheme.
Information on the diversity of the Senior Civil Service for 2022, sourced from the SCS Database, is not yet available. In responding to these PQs we have, therefore, used the latest available finalised annual SCS Database which is as at 1 April 2021.
All figures are a percentage of only those SCS that have made a positive declaration (i.e. they do not include prefer not to say, not known or not applicable responses in the denominator).
SCS by ethnicity, as at 1 April 2021
Ethnicity | Percentage of SCS (where ethnicity is known) |
White | 91.8% |
Black | 1.4% |
Asian | 4.2% |
Mixed | 1.8% |
Other | 0.8% |
SCS by age, as at 1 April 2021
Age category | Percentage of SCS (where age is known) |
Below 35 | 4.8% |
35-44 | 34.1% |
45-54 | 38.4% |
55-64 | 21.5% |
65+ | 1.1% |
SCS by sex, as at 1 April 2021
The SCS Database currently only captures data on the sex of individuals. As at 1 April 2021, 47.3% of SCS members, where sex has been provided, were reported as women, with 52.7% reported as men. At present, data is not collected in the SCS database on gender.
Entry year to the Civil Service for SCS, as at 1 April 2021
Date of entry | Percentage of SCS (where entry date known) |
Before 1980 | 1.1% |
1980-89 | 11.9% |
1990-99 | 16.9% |
2000-2009 | 37.7% |
2010 or later | 32.4% |
SCS who were members of the Fast Stream, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 20.4% of SCS members, where Fast Stream status has been provided, responded that they were successful in the Central Fast Stream selection process. This figure will also include members that were successful in applying to the Central Fast Stream after their initial entry to the Civil Service.
SCS holding university degrees, as of 1 April 2021
As at 1 April 2021, 11.2% of SCS, where degree status is known, did not have a university degree.
For those with a degree, where degree status and University is known:
80.1% did not obtain their first degree at Oxford or Cambridge University,
63.1% did not obtain their first degree at a non-oxbridge Russell Group university, and
56.8% did not obtain their first degree at a non-Russell Group UK university, and
98.0% did not obtain their first degree at a non-UK university.
SCS by socio-economic background, as of 1 April 2021
Response rates in the SCS Database to questions relating to Socio Economic Background are currently below acceptable quality thresholds. It is therefore not possible to provide data on SCS by :
Self-declared socio-economic background;
Formal educational qualification of parents;
Type of secondary school attended;
Parental occupation; and
Eligibility for free school meals.
Transaction (a) relates to the replacement of official catering equipment and was purchased on the 07/07/2020. The equipment was procured to replace a previous equipment that was over 10 years old and which originally had been purchased under the last Labour Government. It had reached the end of its working life.
Transaction (b) relates to a high-specification shredder and was purchased on the 30/09/2020. The shredder was procured for a high-security business unit whose work necessitates specific secure shredding equipment. Again, this was a replacement for a previous device.
Transactions purchased via a Government Procurement Card must be reconciled and approved by a line manager before being recorded fully on the Department’s General Ledger. This means some transactions can appear after the purchase date.
The review of retained EU law, led by the Cabinet Office, is continuing. Officials are working to deliver the cross Whitehall review and are working closely with departments to assess a broad scope of retained EU law across all policy areas and the UK statute book.
At present, no conclusions have been made on what pieces of retained EU law will be amended under the proposed Bill.
The review of retained EU law, led by the Cabinet Office, is continuing. Officials are working to deliver the cross Whitehall review and are working closely with departments to assess a broad scope of retained EU law across all policy areas and the UK statute book.
At present, no conclusions have been made on what pieces of retained EU law will be amended under the proposed Bill.
The government recently established the Accreditation Check as a new level of National Security Vetting to improve security within the aviation industry. GOV.UK pages were updated to include this but an administrative error saw some information mistakenly removed. This was rectified as soon as the Cabinet Office became aware.
In line with travel policy guidance, one journey took place in relation to an overnight shift worker travelling from Whitehall, having undertaken their staff duties.
But otherwise, no such vehicles were ordered to take staff from Downing Street in this period.
The financial statement covering the accounts of the Security and Intelligence Agencies in the financial year was laid in Parliament on 16 December 2021. The information was published on GOV.UK on 20 December 2021.
Downing Street is a working building, including catering facilities and offices for staff; as is common in workplaces including the House of Commons, refrigerators are provided for general staff use.
One refrigerator was purchased in the financial year for a Downing Street meeting room, and one to replace an existing refrigerator that had reached the end of its working operation.
Notwithstanding, I can confirm that no such public expenditure was accrued in relation to the matters considered in the investigations by the Second Permanent Secretary or connected with associated media reports on this matter.
Since 1 January 2021, the Litigation Group has continued to provide litigation services to the majority of government departments, including Cabinet Office, and executive agencies, as well as many non-departmental public bodies.
The Group’s work encompasses litigation in public and private law and supports public inquiries and Inquests. This has involved, amongst other things, attending in a wide range of courts including Coroners’ Courts, the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal, the Royal Courts of Justice and the Supreme Court. Our Employment and Commercial Groups similarly provide litigation services to the majority of government departments and have done so in the period in question.
The government is continuing to monitor global supply chain issues. The most recent ONS monthly UK trade in goods statistics can be found here. The ONS is clear that there are a number of factors beyond EU exit that are influencing global trading patterns, including the COVID-19 pandemic and global supply chain disruption. It remains too early to disaggregate the effects that EU exit has had on trade from these other factors.
Through the Port Infrastructure Fund, the Government has provided £200 million in grants to ports to build the infrastructure needed for both customs and biosecurity checks in 2022. We are confident that these projects are sufficiently advanced and operational to ensure the continued flow of trade in the run up to Christmas and beyond.
The Brexit Checker was launched in August 2019 and is designed to help users get personalised information on how Brexit may affect them and their business, and what actions they need to take to adapt to new rules. As of 1 November 2021, there were a total number of 346,770 unique email addresses signed up to receive updates via the Brexit Checker.
To meet changing user needs, which have shifted from general interest in rule changes (served by gov.uk/brexit and the Brexit Checker) to information on specific tasks and topics based on their situation, GDS has also developed Brexit “hub” pages for businesses, individuals, and families. These provide more targeted entry points for users to find relevant information on key business areas affected by Brexit.
The Cabinet Office regularly publishes a list of ministerial responsibilities. The most recent update was published in November 2021 and can be found on GOV.UK.
The Government has not made or contributed to any administrative determinations in the Northern Ireland Joint Committee that would bar New Zealand exporters accessing Northern Ireland’s market’s using the preferential access set out under UK New Zealand specific WTO tariff rate quota commitment.
Any such impact on New Zealand sheep meat and beef product exporters is a direct result of the EU’s unilateral introduction of Regulation 2020/2170 on the application of Union tariff rate quotas (TRQs) and other import quotas, on 16 December 2020. If strictly applied, the Regulation would mean that importers of goods subject to any EU tariff rate quotas or other import quotas directly into Northern Ireland would be unable to access either EU or UK quotas, and would therefore need to pay a tariff.
The UK has underlined to the European Commission that this is a matter requiring urgent consideration as part of addressing issues with the operation of the Protocol, though there has not yet been any resolution found through the Joint Committee. The Government equally has set out its determination to address the issues faced by New Zealand exporters at a meeting of the WTO agriculture committee on 29 March, and we continue to engage with the New Zealand government as discussions proceed.
This is one of the elements of the Protocol we have been clear should be addressed as we seek to find a new balance in how it operates, as set out in our Command Paper published on 21 July (Northern Ireland Protocol: the way forward, CP502).
The GREAT campaign is designed to be used in every country around the world, but to date there are a small number of countries where there has either not been sufficient HMG presence or opportunity to use the campaign. No country is out of scope for its use. The countries that have not yet used the campaign are:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Belize
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Grenada
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Maldives
Nauru
Nicaragua
Palestinian Authority
Papua New Guinea
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sierra Leone
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
The GREAT campaign is designed to be used in every country around the world, but to date there are a small number of countries where there has either not been sufficient HMG presence or opportunity to use the campaign. No country is out of scope for its use. The countries that have not yet used the campaign are:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Belize
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Grenada
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Maldives
Nauru
Nicaragua
Palestinian Authority
Papua New Guinea
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sierra Leone
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
The official residences which are owned by the Government and currently available to Ministers are:
● Flats above 10 and 11 Downing Street, which are used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister respectively;
● 1 Carlton Gardens, leased from the Crown Estate, is available as the official residence for the Foreign Secretary; and
● Hillsborough Castle and Stormont are available for Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office while on duty in Northern Ireland.
The Chequers, Dorneywood and Chevening estates are available to Ministers for both official and private use. None of these properties are owned by the Government, and are run by trustees.
Admiralty House is part of the Government estate, which includes rooms that could be used as residential accommodation. It is not in Ministerial use.
The GREAT campaign is designed to be used in every country around the world, but to date there are a small number of countries where there has either not been sufficient HMG presence or opportunity to use the campaign. No country is out of scope for its use. The countries that have not yet used the campaign are:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Belize
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Grenada
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Maldives
Nauru
Nicaragua
Palestinian Authority
Papua New Guinea
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sierra Leone
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
The GREAT campaign is designed to be used in every country around the world, but to date there are a small number of countries where there has either not been sufficient HMG presence or opportunity to use the campaign. No country is out of scope for its use. The countries that have not yet used the campaign are:
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Belize
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Grenada
Kiribati
Liechtenstein
Maldives
Nauru
Nicaragua
Palestinian Authority
Papua New Guinea
St. Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Sierra Leone
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu
GREAT campaign activity has taken place in all 11 member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
GREAT is resourced in line with Government trade and investment priorities.
GREAT campaign activity has taken place in all 11 member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
GREAT is resourced in line with Government trade and investment priorities.
GREAT campaign activity has taken place in all 11 member countries of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.
GREAT is resourced in line with Government trade and investment priorities.
Since the GREAT campaign was first launched in 2012, the campaign has been extended to 145 countries. GREAT campaign activity is supported by a certain level of diplomatic presence in a country. No country is specifically out of scope for the campaign, there are countries where there is not sufficient presence to support campaign activity.
I am responding on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office. As has been the practice under successive administrations, a small team of officials went ahead to make arrangements for the visit and to discuss plans for the UK-India partnership. These took place in March, when COVID cases were much lower in India. COVID-secure procedures were followed at all times, including tests before, during and after. Although the official visit was subsequently postponed, £1 billion of new UK-India trade and investment was announced on 4 May that is expected to create more than 6,500 jobs.
The Government is taking full advantage of the opportunities outside the EU to boost our economy, reduce burdens on business, and save taxpayers money, while upholding workers’ rights and welfare standards.
As part of the Queen’s Speech the Government outlined a series of bills in the legislative programme that will ensure we make the most of these opportunities.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, which fully delivers on what the British public voted for, gives us the freedom to pursue policies that work for people across the UK to promote levelling up in education, skills, infrastructure and technology, while creating a greener and more outward-looking economy.
The Prime Minister appointed Lord Frost as Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 1 March 2021. Lord Frost works closely with colleagues across Government, including the Department for International Trade, to maximise the benefits to the United Kingdom, both from the trade deal with the EU, and the UK’s newly independent trade policy. Full details of Lord Frost’s responsibilities are outlined on Gov.uk.
The EU Secretariat, based in the Cabinet Office, has been established to provide direction and coordination of the UK’s relationship with the EU and its member states. This unit integrates officials from Taskforce Europe and the Transition Taskforce.
The Prime Minister appointed Lord Frost as Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 1 March 2021. Lord Frost works closely with colleagues across Government, including the Department for International Trade, to maximise the benefits to the United Kingdom, both from the trade deal with the EU, and the UK’s newly independent trade policy. Full details of Lord Frost’s responsibilities are outlined on Gov.uk.
The EU Secretariat, based in the Cabinet Office, has been established to provide direction and coordination of the UK’s relationship with the EU and its member states. This unit integrates officials from Taskforce Europe and the Transition Taskforce.
The Prime Minister appointed Lord Frost as Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 1 March 2021. Lord Frost works closely with colleagues across Government, including the Department for International Trade, to maximise the benefits to the United Kingdom, both from the trade deal with the EU, and the UK’s newly independent trade policy. Full details of Lord Frost’s responsibilities are outlined on Gov.uk.
The EU Secretariat, based in the Cabinet Office, has been established to provide direction and coordination of the UK’s relationship with the EU and its member states. This unit integrates officials from Taskforce Europe and the Transition Taskforce.
The Prime Minister appointed Lord Frost as Minister of State for the Cabinet Office on 1 March 2021. Lord Frost works closely with colleagues across Government, including the Department for International Trade, to maximise the benefits to the United Kingdom, both from the trade deal with the EU, and the UK’s newly independent trade policy. Full details of Lord Frost’s responsibilities are outlined on Gov.uk.
The EU Secretariat, based in the Cabinet Office, has been established to provide direction and coordination of the UK’s relationship with the EU and its member states. This unit integrates officials from Taskforce Europe and the Transition Taskforce.
As the Cabinet Office has now assumed responsibility for the GREAT campaign there will be a review of the funding, objectives and targeting of the GREAT campaign.
The GREAT campaign has been very successful at promoting the UK abroad since 2012 and is formally governed via a Programme Board of ministers from relevant government departments, plus officials from departments which fund the campaign. The Board meets quarterly and agrees to budget the campaign’s priorities, strategic direction, budget allocations and ensures value for money on behalf of the taxpayer.
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement covers a wide range of areas and is the responsibility of various departments. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.
This is the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quota. Businesses will be able to continue to trade smoothly, selling to their customers in the EU, and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free, protecting consumer prices.
The agreement provides for streamlined customs arrangements, including recognising our respective trusted trade schemes, to support the smooth flow of goods at the border and to reduce administrative costs for traders. This deal also enables us to introduce our own modern subsidy system so that we can better support businesses to grow and thrive, in a way that best suits the interests of UK industries.
This is the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quota. Businesses will be able to continue to trade smoothly, selling to their customers in the EU, and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free, protecting consumer prices.
The agreement provides for streamlined customs arrangements, including recognising our respective trusted trade schemes, to support the smooth flow of goods at the border and to reduce administrative costs for traders. This deal also enables us to introduce our own modern subsidy system so that we can better support businesses to grow and thrive, in a way that best suits the interests of UK industries.
This is the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quota. Businesses will be able to continue to trade smoothly, selling to their customers in the EU, and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free, protecting consumer prices.
The agreement provides for streamlined customs arrangements, including recognising our respective trusted trade schemes, to support the smooth flow of goods at the border and to reduce administrative costs for traders. This deal also enables us to introduce our own modern subsidy system so that we can better support businesses to grow and thrive, in a way that best suits the interests of UK industries.
This is the first free trade agreement the EU has ever reached based on zero tariffs and zero quota. Businesses will be able to continue to trade smoothly, selling to their customers in the EU, and people will be able to continue to buy goods from Europe tariff-free, protecting consumer prices.
The agreement provides for streamlined customs arrangements, including recognising our respective trusted trade schemes, to support the smooth flow of goods at the border and to reduce administrative costs for traders. This deal also enables us to introduce our own modern subsidy system so that we can better support businesses to grow and thrive, in a way that best suits the interests of UK industries.
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides UK companies supplying contracted services to public authorities in the EU with export opportunities. The Agreement will allow UK companies to compete fairly for these contracted services in the EU. Details of the Agreement are available on gov.uk.
The transition period has now ended. As your question acknowledges, the latest guidance for businesses and citizens is available on gov.uk/transition.
This information is supplemented by departmental helplines and forums where businesses can access more detailed and specific guidance.
For questions relating to the Northern Ireland Protocol, specific information is available from the Trader Support Service and the Movement Assistance Scheme.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQs 119201 and 119202.
The Government is ensuring that businesses and traders are ready for the end of the transition period through an intense programme of communication and engagement, including the national public information campaign launched in July.
I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to PQs 119201 and 119202.
The Government is ensuring that businesses and traders are ready for the end of the transition period through an intense programme of communication and engagement, including the national public information campaign launched in July.
Ministers and officials talk to representatives of the public and private sectors on a regular basis including regarding negotiations with the EU. Details of ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.
10 Downing Street is an integral part of Cabinet Office.
Full details on the Government’s vetting policy can be found via the HMG Personnel Security Controls published in May 2018.
As has been the practice of successive administrations, details of which employees have access to what material are confidential.
10 Downing Street is an integral part of Cabinet Office.
Full details on the Government’s vetting policy can be found via the HMG Personnel Security Controls published in May 2018.
As has been the practice of successive administrations, details of which employees have access to what material are confidential.
10 Downing Street is an integral part of Cabinet Office.
Full details on the Government’s vetting policy can be found via the HMG Personnel Security Controls published in May 2018.
As has been the practice of successive administrations, details of which employees have access to what material are confidential.
10 Downing Street is an integral part of Cabinet Office.
Full details on the Government’s vetting policy can be found via the HMG Personnel Security Controls published in May 2018.
As has been the practice of successive administrations, details of which employees have access to what material are confidential.
10 Downing Street is an integral part of Cabinet Office.
Full details on the Government’s vetting policy can be found via the HMG Personnel Security Controls published in May 2018.
As has been the practice of successive administrations, details of which employees have access to what material are confidential.
The publication entitled Inward investment in to freeports: December 2021 to November 2023, published on 24 November 2023 confirms verified foreign investment into Freeports. The Department for Business and Trade can only provide verification for foreign direct investment into the UK, not domestic investment, so we are unable to provide equivalent estimates.
The investments making up the totals published on 24 November 2023 are spread across the 12 Freeports but details of individual investments are commercially sensitive. This means that publishing the specific location associated with these investments risks identifying such commercially sensitive information. The limitation prevents the Department for Business and Trade to publish further detail about the investments.
The Department for Business and Trade is a newly formed Department established in February 2023. The new department absorbed the functions of the former Department for International Trade (DIT) and some of the functions of the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
On 31 October 2023 the Department for Business and Trade comprised 5,411 permanent civil servants, excluding Agencies.
The Department for Business and Trade is a newly formed Department established in February 2023. The new department absorbed the functions of the former Department for International Trade (DIT) and some of the functions of the former Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
On 31 March 2020 the Department for International Trade had a headcount of 2,300 permanent civil servants, excluding Agencies.
The Department for International Trade was created in July 2016 following the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union. The earliest published headcount was 920 permanent civil servants in December 2016.
a) DBT did not exist during the 2022-23 performance year, so awarded no vouchers.
b) Non-cash vouchers to the value of £348,510 were awarded to staff in the Department for International Trade in 2022-23.
c) Non-cash vouchers to the value of £371,730 were awarded to staff in the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in 2022-23.
The Insolvency Service conducts directors disqualification proceedings under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 on behalf of the Secretary of State for Business and Trade.
On the 12th of January 2021 the Insolvency Service commenced disqualification proceedings against 3 executive directors and 5 non-executive directors of Carillion plc. The Department for Business and Trade has not incurred any costs in relation to the proceedings. The Insolvency Service has incurred estimated costs in the proceedings against all 8 directors of £11,064,519. Following the successful disqualification of the 3 executive directors, costs of £2,725,000 have been recovered.
UK Export Finance’s remaining exposure from the underwriting of credit for buyers located in the Russian Federation between 2014-15 and 2020-21 as at 31 August 2023 was £47,713,256.
UK Export Finance has no exposure from the underwriting of credit for buyers located in the Russian Federation in the financial year 2021-22 as at 31 August 2023.
UK Export Finance’s remaining exposure from the underwriting of credit for buyers located in the Russian Federation between 2014-15 and 2020-21 as at 31 August 2023 was £47,713,256.
UK Export Finance has no exposure from the underwriting of credit for buyers located in the Russian Federation in the financial year 2021-22 as at 31 August 2023.
Please see below for departmental staff based in Russia at the times specified. Former BEIS had no staff based in Russia prior to the establishment of the Department for Business and Trade:
| 31/03/2022 | 31/03/2023 | 31/08/2023 |
UK Based (Civil Servant) | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Country Based Staff (Locally Employed) | 17 | 3 | 2 |
Total | 18 | 5 | 3 |
Two Ministerial red boxes from the Department for Business and Trade, Department for International Trade and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy were reported missing between 1st May 2018 to 30th April 2023. No boxes had security features removed for personal use.
Please find the data below to respond to this PQ. It comes from the Leesman survey that was issued to those in the former Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), 1 Victoria Street and was conducted in July 2022.
BEIS, 1 Victoria Street - July 2022 | Agree - No. | Agree - % | Disagree - No. | Disagree - % |
It enables me to work productively | 563 | 49.65% | 433 | 38.18% |
It supports me sharing ideas/knowledge amongst colleagues | 697 | 61.68% | 256 | 22.65% |
It creates an enjoyable environment to work in | 517 | 45.63% | 363 | 32.04% |
It contributes to a sense of community at work | 601 | 53.37% | 304 | 27.00% |
It's a place I'm proud to bring visitors to | 343 | 30.38% | 375 | 33.22% |
The percentage figure will not add up to 100% as some respondents will have answered a neutral response or chose not to answer this question.
This data comes from the Leesman survey that was issued to those in the former Department for International Trade (DIT), Old Admiralty Building (OAB), London, and was conducted in May 2022.
DIT, OAB - May 2022 | Agree - No. | Agree - % | Disagree - No. | Disagree - % |
It enables me to work productively | 439 | 61.23% | 209 | 29.15% |
It supports me sharing ideas/knowledge amongst colleagues | 444 | 62.27% | 172 | 24.12% |
It creates an enjoyable environment to work in | 503 | 70.45% | 115 | 16.11% |
It contributes to a sense of community at work | 444 | 62.27% | 177 | 24.82% |
It's a place I'm proud to bring visitors to | 546 | 76.79% | 28 | 3.94% |
The percentage figure will not add up to 100% as some respondents will have answered a neutral response or chose not to answer this question.
The Government Property Agency (GPA) are the landlords of several sites in which ex- Department for International Trade (DIT) and ex-Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) staff are based. To measure employee experience the GPA commission post occupancy surveys in ex-DIT and ex-BEIS locations using Leesman (https://www.leesmanindex.com/).
The most recent survey for ex-DIT was run in November 2022 for the Darlington Economic Campus, Feethams House, Stephenson Street, Birmingham and North Gate House, Reading.
The most recent survey for ex-BEIS was run from November to December 2022 for the Darlington Economic Campus and Stephenson Street, Birmingham.
The results are only accessible to the relevant department and the GPA, and the DIT and BEIS responses to the specified questions are shown in the table.
These answers only include responses from Department for International Trade staff and Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Energy staff, respectively.
Question | No. Respondent Agree (figures are aggregate by response of Strongly Agree, Agree or Slightly Agree) | No. Respondent Disagree (figures are aggregate by response of Strongly Disagree, Disagree or Slightly Disagree) |
Department for International Trade | ||
it enables me to work productively | 65 (68.42%) | 21(22.10%) |
it supports me sharing ideas and knowledge amongst colleagues | 72 (75.79%) | 9 (9.47%) |
it creates an enjoyable environment to work in | 80 (84.21%) | 11 (11.57%) |
it contributes to a sense of community at work | 74 (77.89%) | 12 (12.63%) |
it's a place I'm proud to bring visitors to | 80 (84.21%) | 3 (3.16%) |
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy | ||
it enables me to work productively | 17 (81%) | 3 (14%) |
it supports me sharing ideas and knowledge amongst colleagues | 12 (60%) | 4 (20%) |
it creates an enjoyable environment to work in | 17 (81%) | 1 (5%) |
it contributes to a sense of community at work | 14 (67%) | 2 (10%) |
it's a place I'm proud to bring visitors to | 18 (90%) | 0 (0%) |
Note: Remaining responses neither agreed or disagreed with the statements.
A free trade agreement with India offers the opportunity to deepen our already strong trade relationship.
We are seeking an agreement that benefits both businesses and consumers. This includes commitments on the protection of core consumer rights, and advancing digital consumer rights, such as seeking access to redress and reducing spam.
Round 8 is currently taking place in India, and we will provide the House with an update on negotiations after the round. We do not discuss details of live negotiations, and will only sign a deal that is fair, reciprocal, and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the economy.
A free trade agreement with India offers the opportunity to deepen our already strong trade relationship.
We are seeking an agreement that benefits both businesses and consumers. This includes commitments on the protection of core consumer rights, and advancing digital consumer rights, such as seeking access to redress and reducing spam.
Round 8 is currently taking place in India, and we will provide the House with an update on negotiations after the round. We do not discuss details of live negotiations, and will only sign a deal that is fair, reciprocal, and ultimately in the best interests of the British people and the economy.
The requested information is not centrally held and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Comprehensive details of Senior Officials’ Business Expenses, encompassing overseas and domestic flights are available on GOV.UK.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has no exposure against Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse is not a buyer, or borrower, and nor is it acting as a guarantor for a buyer or borrower that is relying upon UKEF support in any transaction.
UKEF has provided its guarantee to the lenders for the Ankara-Izmir High Speed Railway project, which guarantees them against non-payment of principal and interest from the Borrower. Consequently, UKEF has no liability arising from Credit Suisse’s participation in that project.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has no exposure against Credit Suisse. Credit Suisse is not a buyer, or borrower, and nor is it acting as a guarantor for a buyer or borrower that is relying upon UKEF support in any transaction.
UKEF has provided its guarantee to the lenders for the Ankara-Izmir High Speed Railway project, which guarantees them against non-payment of principal and interest from the Borrower. Consequently, UKEF has no liability arising from Credit Suisse’s participation in that project.
UK Defence and Security Exports expenditure on consultancy is as follows:
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has not had any interactions with the SVB Financial Group or its subsidiaries. As a consequence, UKEF has not had reason to form any opinion over their suitability as partners in any transactions.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) has not had any interactions with the SVB Financial Group or its subsidiaries. As a consequence, UKEF has not had reason to form any opinion over their suitability as partners in any transactions.
The information requested in this parliamentary question is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
UK Export Finance (UKEF) expenditure on consultants is published in the Annual Report and Accounts at the following location (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/uk-export-finance-annual-reports-and-accounts). Of this expenditure, £679,629 related to the preparation of funding bids to HM Treasury.
The Trade Remedies Authority has not incurred any consultancy expenditure since its creation on 01 June 2021.
The former Department for International Trade (DIT) expenditure on consultants is published in the Annual Report and Accounts at the following location (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/department-for-international-trade-annual-report-and-accounts). None of this expenditure related to the preparation of funding bids.
The Competition and Markets Authority expenditure on consultants is published in Annual Report and Accounts at the following location (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cma-annual-report-and-accounts-2020-to-2021). None of this expenditure related to the preparation of funding bids.
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer I gave her on 28 February, UIN 141387.
There has been no engagement to discuss Manchester United Football Club investment or takeover with the Qataris.
The expenditure on external consultants by Companies House and the Insolvency Service is provided below. In line with the Cabinet Office’s control framework for consultancy and professional services, these figures include some expenditure on professional services for the purposes of delivery or implementation to fill skills gaps, not just advisory work.
Figures for Companies House:
Year | Total Consultancy Expenditure | Expenditure on preparation of funding bids |
2020 | £527,876 | £0 |
2021 | £482,753 | £0 |
2022 | £2,948,953 | £0 |
Figures for the Insolvency Service:
Year | Total Consultancy Expenditure | Expenditure on preparation of funding bids |
2020 | £602,965 | £151,400 |
2021 | £983,427 | £113,169 |
2022 | £903,099 | £8,700 |
The Intellectual Property Office and the Met Office are now both part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Due to an administrative oversight, details of Lord Grimstone’s visit to Jeddah in July 2021 were omitted from the department’s published version of July to September 2021 transparency data. Details of this visit will be published as an amendment to this return as soon as possible.
As of 1 February, there was one red box and fifteen folders in use by the Department bearing the inscription Department for International Trade. This was at a cost of £1,500 for the box and £5,760 for the folders with a total cost of £7,260. There were no boxes or folders in use bearing the inscription Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero had 4248 permanent civil servants recorded in the department on the 31 October 2023.