Fleur Anderson

Labour - Putney

First elected: 12th December 2019

Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)

(since September 2023)

Shadow Paymaster General
4th Dec 2021 - 4th Sep 2023
Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill
6th Dec 2022 - 7th Dec 2022
Shadow Minister (Cabinet Office)
7th Jan 2021 - 4th Dec 2021
Elections Bill
15th Sep 2021 - 26th Oct 2021
Education Committee
21st Sep 2020 - 13th Jul 2021
Education Committee
2nd Mar 2020 - 11th May 2020


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Fleur Anderson has voted in 839 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
View All Fleur Anderson Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker)
(25 debate interactions)
Kemi Badenoch (Conservative)
President of the Board of Trade
(22 debate interactions)
Rebecca Pow (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
(21 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(110 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(43 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Elections Act 2022
(18,762 words contributed)
Environment Act 2021
(16,836 words contributed)
Trade Bill 2019-21
(9,342 words contributed)
View All Legislation Debates
View all Fleur Anderson's debates

Putney Petitions

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).

Petition Debates Contributed

We want the Government to amend the Grocery Supply Code of Practice (GSCP) to require retailers, without exception, to:

- Buy what they agreed to buy
- Pay what they agreed to pay
- Pay on time

We believe the current GSCP is inadequate and doesn't protect farmers from unfair behaviour.

Millions of UK citizens have a disability or serious medical condition that means they use more energy. Many people need to use a ventilator 24/7. People use electric pumps to feed through a tubes. People need to charge their mobility equipment, such as electric wheelchairs, stair lifts, bath seats.

Disabled people should be included alongside carers in the £650 one off payment as part of the Cost of Living support package. We have larger utilities bills and food costs when compared to non-disabled people. We rely on these utilities and food to stay alive.

Call an immediate general election so that the people can decide who should lead us through the unprecedented crises threatening the UK.

Reverse the plan to withdraw funding for most applied general qualifications such as BTECs and guarantee they will continue to play a major role in the qualifications landscape. Students should not be forced to choose between studying A levels or T levels from the age of 16.

We would like the Government to ban all animal testing UK, including for the development of cosmetics, household products and medicines. Alternatives need to be actively funded. Many products that are tested on animals end up not being suitable for humans. Animal testing is outmoded and should end.

The Government must recognise the urgent need to use animal-free science and publish a clear and ambitious action plan with timetables and milestones to drive the phase-out of animal experiments. As well as preventing animal suffering, this will benefit public health and business.

We have the second most expensive childcare system in the world. A full time place costs, on average, £14,000 per year, making it completely unaffordable for many families. Parents are forced to leave their jobs or work fewer hours, which has a negative impact on the economy and on child poverty.

There should be a public inquiry into Government contracts granted during Covid-19. Many contracts have been granted without full and open procurement processes. A public inquiry would be able to ascertain whether contracts had been procured fairly and represent value for money for tax payers.

We want the Government to commit to not rolling out any e-vaccination status/immunity passport to the British public. Such passports could be used to restrict the rights of people who have refused a Covid-19 vaccine, which would be unacceptable.

To not decide to scrap free travel for those who are under 18. As a teenager who has relied so much on free travel, it has allowed for me to go to school without the worry of an extra expense and explore around the beautiful city of London also. Destroying free travel would hurt so many of us.


Latest EDMs signed by Fleur Anderson

23rd September 2021
Fleur Anderson signed this EDM on Monday 25th October 2021

Campaign to secure the future of the Covid Memorial Wall

Tabled by: Afzal Khan (Labour - Manchester, Gorton)
That this House welcomes the creation of the Covid Memorial Wall on Albert Embankment by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice; notes that this memorial now includes over 150,000 hand-painted hearts to symbolise all those who lost their lives during the coronavirus pandemic; praises the work of Covid-19 Bereaved Families for …
139 signatures
(Most recent: 21 Feb 2022)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 97
Scottish National Party: 15
Liberal Democrat: 10
Conservative: 5
Democratic Unionist Party: 5
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
14th January 2021
Fleur Anderson signed this EDM on Monday 18th January 2021

Godfrey Colin Cameron

Tabled by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
That this House is deeply saddened by news of the death of Godfrey Colin Cameron, a hardworking member of Parliamentary security staff and member of the PCS trade union who passed away aged just 55 after contracting covid-19; extends our sincere condolences to his devoted wife Hyacinth, children Leon and …
139 signatures
(Most recent: 8 Feb 2021)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 113
Scottish National Party: 15
Independent: 6
Plaid Cymru: 3
Alba Party: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
View All Fleur Anderson's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Fleur Anderson, 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.


1 Urgent Question tabled by Fleur Anderson

7 Adjournment Debates led by Fleur Anderson

Tuesday 14th November 2023
Monday 30th January 2023
Friday 21st January 2022
Wednesday 14th April 2021

3 Bills introduced by Fleur Anderson


A Bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 20th October 2023

A Bill to prohibit the manufacture and sale of wet wipes containing plastic; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 40%

Last Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 6th May 2022

A Bill to require landlords in the private rented sector to remedy hazards in leased dwellings; and for connected purposes.

Commons - 20%

Last Event - 1st Reading
Monday 11th December 2023
Next Event - 2nd Reading
Friday 22nd March 2024
Order Paper number: 20
(Unlikely to be Debated - would require unanimous consent to progress)

Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
8 Other Department Questions
20th Apr 2023
What discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the equality impact of the Spring Budget 2023.

Providing increased opportunities for all, including the most vulnerable in society, has been at the centre of the decisions taken at Spring Budget 2023. Older people, women, individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds and disabled people are amongst those who will benefit from the actions taken, demonstrating this Government’s belief in fairness and equality of opportunity.

In developing proposals for the Spring Budget, the Treasury takes care to consider the equality impacts on those sharing protected characteristics, including gender, race, and disability, in line with both its legal obligations and this Government’s strong commitment to promoting fairness.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
20th Sep 2022
To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the House of Common Commission, what the level of pay has been for all Parliamentary cleaning staff in each of the financial years from 2018 to 2022; and whether all Parliamentary cleaning staff are paid the London Living Wage.

The House of Commons employs a team of part-time Heritage and Book Cleaners (Pay Band E2) in our Office Service Delivery team. Full-time salaries (based upon 36 hours net per week, excluding breaks) and hourly pay rates since April 2018 are shown in the table below:

Cleaners (Band E2)


Date


Salary (Full-Time)


Hourly Rate


Apr 18


19,766


10.56


Sep 18


20,161


10.77


Apr 19


20,766


11.09


Apr 20


21,389


11.43


Apr 21


21,639


11.56


Apr 22


21,804


11.65

As part of an overall 5% pay award from April 2022, Cleaners (E2) received a one-off non-consolidated pensionable payment of £916.96 (pro-rata part time staff).

In addition, we employ Cleaning Supervisors (Pay Band E1). Full-time salaries and hourly pay rates since April 2019 are shown below:


Cleaning Supervisors (Band E1)


Date


Salary (Full-Time)


Hourly Rate


Apr 18


20,606


11.01


Sep 18


21,018


11.23


Apr 19


21,649


11.56


Apr 20


22,298


11.91


Apr 21


22,548


12.04


Apr 22


22,731


12.14


As part of an overall 5% pay award from April 2022, Cleaning Supervisors (E1) received a one-off non-consolidated pensionable payment of £944.40 (pro-rata part time staff).

The House of Commons is accredited by Citizens UK as a London Living Wage Employer and all Cleaners employed by the House of Commons are paid, at least, the London Living Wage. The terms of our accreditation licence also requires that contractors and sub-contractors with dedicated staff who are based on parliamentary premises are paying those staff at least the London Living Wage.

We can confirm that to our knowledge, all dedicated staff are being paid either the London Living Wage or the UK Living Wage. However, we do not hold details of the earnings of people who are not directly employed by the House of Commons. Contracts with service partners require the payment of the London Living Wage or the UK Living Wage as appropriate.

22nd Jul 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle ageism in society.

The Equality Act prohibits age discrimination in a variety of fields, including employment, the provision of services and the exercise of public functions. Differential treatment based on a person’s age is permitted, but only where this can be objectively justified.

Other legislation in recent years has also helped to tackle ageism – for example the abolition of the default retirement age in 2011 – but our approach goes beyond basic legal protections. For example, to support older workers to remain in work, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Government’s Business Champion for Older Workers are working with employer organisations – including CIPD, British Chambers of Commerce, ACAS and Local Enterprise Partnerships – to encourage employers to support their older workers, retain them in the workforce and benefit from their skills and experience.

For those who become unemployed, the Government’s Plan for Jobs provides new funding to ensure more people, including those aged 50 and over, get tailored Jobcentre Plus support to help them find work and to build the skills they need to get into work. As part of the Jobcentre Plus offer for people aged 50 and over, we are also providing dedicated support through 50 PLUS Champions, to ensure they fully benefit from the Plan for Jobs package and existing Jobcentre Plus support.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
19th Jul 2021
To ask the President of COP26, what engagement the Government has had with community groups on tackling the climate emergency ahead of COP26.

As Presidency, we are committed to securing an outcome that respects and reflects the interests of all Parties, including those most impacted by climate change. We are working with civil society to amplify the voices of those on the front line of climate change to deliver a truly ‘all of society’ and inclusive COP. Civil society organisations, with their links to on-the-ground communities and practitioners, are agents of change and their knowledge and leadership is necessary to deliver effective local solutions. I have established a civil society and youth advisory council which includes community groups and Indigenous Peoples from around the world. I also meet with civil society and youth groups on my international visits.

Ahead of COP26, we have launched the ‘Together for our Planet’ campaign to engage the public in the run-up to COP26 and to celebrate the work people across the UK are doing to combat climate change. The campaign aims to drive awareness and create opportunities for people across the UK to participate in the run-up to COP26.

The Together for our Planet campaign is building momentum in the lead-up to COP26 by showcasing how people across the UK are going One Step Greener to tackle climate change. Our One Step Greener ‘Climate Leaders’ will show how much inspirational action on climate change is already taking place.

We also encourage MPs across the UK to engage with their local communities in the run up to COP, in order to support this. We shared an MP engagement pack with the House to this effect.

Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
28th Jun 2021
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many Freedom of Information requests have been referred by her Department for advice on handling to the Cabinet Office’s clearing house for Freedom of Information requests in each year since 2016.

The Equality Hub is an integral part of the Cabinet Office, therefore I refer the hon. Member to the response given to PQ 21941 on 29 June 2021.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to tackle age discrimination.

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection for adults against direct and indirect age discrimination in employment, the provision of goods, services, public functions and in private clubs. The 2010 Act makes it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an employee or a job applicant because of their actual or perceived age or the age of someone they are associated with. Similar rules apply to service providers.

A person who believes that they have experienced discrimination because of age may take their case to an employment tribunal or a County Court (Sherriff’s Court in Scotland) in non-employment cases. The Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), the helpline for anyone who believes that they have been discriminated against in the provision of goods, services and public functions, can provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support. The EASS can be contacted via its website - www.equalityadvisoryservice.com, by telephone on 0808 800 0082, or by text phone on 0808 800 0084. Acas can assist in relation to employment discrimination issues, their number is 0800 464 0979.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) also deals with discrimination complaints relating to employment. Acas provides authoritative and impartial advice free to employees or employers via their website (http://www.acas.org.uk) and telephone helpline 0300 123 1190 or text relay service 18001 0300 123 1190. Acas also provides employees and employers with Early Conciliation to help them resolve/settle their workplace dispute without going to court.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
6th Jul 2020
To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of commissioning an inquiry on the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on frail and elderly people.

The Government is putting its full efforts into fighting the virus and remains committed to supporting all people during this time, including the frail and elderly.

This includes the work I am carrying out with the Race Disparity Unit to examine the disparities in the risks and outcomes of COVID-19 following the PHE Review.

The terms of reference can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/next-steps-for-work-on-covid-19-disparities-announced and age is one of the factors being considered.

Kemi Badenoch
President of the Board of Trade
12th Dec 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on the case of Cabinet Office v Chair of Covid Inquiry, [2023] EWHC 1702 (Admin).

This judicial review was brought to seek clarification on a point of law and we were pleased that the Court agreed that there was an important legal question to consider. It acknowledged our concerns over respecting the privacy of individuals and ensuring that irrelevant information is returned and not retained by the Inquiry.

The total legal costs for the case of the Cabinet Office v Chair of the COVID-19 Inquiry were £192,739.

We have fully cooperated with, and continue to cooperate with, the Inquiry having provided over 56,000 documents to the Inquiry so far.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
3rd May 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps is he taking to ensure that Government technology and infrastructure is cyber secure.

The Government Cyber Security Strategy, published in January 2022, sets out how we will build and maintain our cyber defences; by building greater cyber resilience across all government organisations, and working together to ‘defend as one’ - exerting a defensive force greater than the sum of our parts.

The Strategy sets a clear target for the Government's most critical functions to be appropriately resilient by 2025, with all government organisations being resilient to known vulnerabilities and common attack methods by 2030. Last month, as a key component of the strategy, the Deputy Prime Minister announced the launch of GovAssure. GovAssure is a new, more robust and independent cyber assurance regime for the whole of government.

Alex Burghart
Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
24th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of legal services provided by Peters and Peters for the Privileges Committee investigation of the Rt hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

I refer the Hon Member to PQ 111722. As set out in my previous answer, the Government has previously committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.

24th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the value for money of funding the legal fees for the Rt hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip for his involvement in the inquiry by the Privileges Committee into his conduct.

As set out by the Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer of the Cabinet Office at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee meeting on 26 January 2023, the contract award has followed the proper processes present under successive administrations.

22nd Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for the Home Department on the potential impact of the Government Communications Service Propriety Guidance on determining which news organisations to invite on Departmental visits.
21st Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK Government Resilience Framework, published on 19 December 2022, on what date the National Security Council sub-committee on resilience plans to hold its first meeting.

My colleague, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, confirmed in the House last week that he has now chaired the first meeting of the National Security Council (Resilience).

21st Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK Government Resilience Framework, published on 19 December 2022, what estimate he has made of when a new Head of Resilience will be appointed.

The Framework committed the Government to appointing a Head of Resilience to provide systematic leadership of the Government’s programme to strengthen national resilience. The current role of the Resilience Director in the Cabinet Office will evolve into the Head of Resilience role. We are currently undertaking a review of responsibilities and accountabilities across Lead Government Departments, which includes detailed consideration of the role of the Head of Resilience.

21st Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the UK National Resilience Framework, published on 19 December 2022, when he plans to make the first annual statement to Parliament on civil contingencies risk and the UK Government’s performance on resilience.

As set out in the action plan for implementation, the annual statement on resilience will be established by 2025, although our intention is to make a first statement within the next year.

21st Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he has taken to ensure that Emergency Alerts reach people who (a) are digitally excluded and (b) do not have smart phones.

The emergency alerts system is an additional tool that supplements the Government’s warning and informing systems for use in emergencies. Alerts work on all 4G and 5G phone networks in the UK. Those without a compatible device would still be informed about an emergency through other accessible channels including television, radio and print media. Any live emergency alerts will also be uploaded to view on the www.gov.uk/alerts webpage.

Emergency alerts do not replace any other form of warning tools available to the government. They are an additional tool in our national resilience toolbox to keep the public safe.

17th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the Government decided to publish Lord Pannick KC’s legal opinion on the Privileges Committee investigation into the Rt Hon Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

I refer the Hon. Lady to my response of 20 March, PQ 166245, to her colleague, the Rt Hon Lady, the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne.

14th Mar 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department's Accounting Officer was consulted on the decision to award legal services contract reference C2298 to Peters & Peters.

As set out by Alex Chisholm, the Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer of the Cabinet Office at the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee meeting on 26 January 2023, the contract award has followed the proper procurement process.

17th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of staff his Department currently employs in its Planning and Analysis Secretariat; and at which grades those members of staff are employed.

The Planning and Analysis Secretariat was absorbed into the Economic and Domestic Secretariat as part of a consolidation of Cabinet Office secretariat structures in September 2022.

The functions of the Planning and Analysis Secretariat now sit in two directorates of the Economic and Domestic Secretariat - the Resilience Directorate and the Joint Data and Analysis Centre (JDAC).

The Resilience Directorate was established last year to take a more strategic approach to national resilience and drive work across the system to strengthen it. The Directorate currently has approximately 65 staff.

The Joint Data and Analysis Centre (JDAC) was established to support emergency response and strategic policy choices at the heart of Government. The multidisciplinary team of analysts, economists, technologists and data scientists aim to ensure key Government decisions are based on the best possible data and strategic analysis. JDAC includes the National Situation Centre, which brings timely data analysis and insights from across and beyond Government to support situational awareness on crisis and national security issues, drawing upon lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. JDAC currently has approximately 70 staff.

17th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff and at what grades are employed in the Emergency Planning College.

The Resilience Directorate in the Cabinet Office owns and drives implementation of the UK Government Resilience Framework. The Directorate was established last year as part of wider strengthening of Cabinet Office structures, and works, alongside the COBR Unit which leads on national crisis response and contingency planning.

The Directorate is also responsible for the Emergency Planning College, which is the national centre for resilience learning and development, based at the Hawkhills Estate near York.

The Resilience Directorate is headed by a Director, and consists of five teams covering critical systems and sectors, national risks, training and exercising, legislation and capabilities, and strategy and planning.

The Resilience Directorate has approximately 65 staff, including a small number of staff based on site at the Emergency Planning College, responsible for contract and learning management, as well as curriculum development. These staff are at a variety of grades, ranging from senior civil servants to executive officers.

17th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff and at what grades are employed in the Cabinet Office's Resilience Directorate.

The Resilience Directorate in the Cabinet Office owns and drives implementation of the UK Government Resilience Framework. The Directorate was established last year as part of wider strengthening of Cabinet Office structures, and works, alongside the COBR Unit which leads on national crisis response and contingency planning.

The Directorate is also responsible for the Emergency Planning College, which is the national centre for resilience learning and development, based at the Hawkhills Estate near York.

The Resilience Directorate is headed by a Director, and consists of five teams covering critical systems and sectors, national risks, training and exercising, legislation and capabilities, and strategy and planning.

The Resilience Directorate has approximately 65 staff, including a small number of staff based on site at the Emergency Planning College, responsible for contract and learning management, as well as curriculum development. These staff are at a variety of grades, ranging from senior civil servants to executive officers.

17th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of staff his Department currently employs in the National Resilience Framework Team in the Cabinet Office; and at which grades those staff are employed.

The Resilience Directorate in the Cabinet Office owns and drives implementation of the UK Government Resilience Framework. The Directorate was established last year as part of wider strengthening of Cabinet Office structures, and works, alongside the COBR Unit which leads on national crisis response and contingency planning.

The Directorate is also responsible for the Emergency Planning College, which is the national centre for resilience learning and development, based at the Hawkhills Estate near York.

The Resilience Directorate is headed by a Director, and consists of five teams covering critical systems and sectors, national risks, training and exercising, legislation and capabilities, and strategy and planning.

The Resilience Directorate has approximately 65 staff, including a small number of staff based on site at the Emergency Planning College, responsible for contract and learning management, as well as curriculum development. These staff are at a variety of grades, ranging from senior civil servants to executive officers.

17th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to launch the new Emergency Alerts capability announced in August 2022 and outlined in the National Resilience Framework in December 2022; and whether his Department is taking steps to put in place a public information strategy on the introduction of emergency alerts.

The Emergency Alerts capability is due to be trialled nationally this year with an initial focus on flooding and extreme weather-related events. Subject to the outcome of an evaluation, its scope will likely be widened to other use cases.

Emergency Alerts offer the ability to rapidly disseminate life-saving information to the public via their mobile phones. It is rapid, targeted to those in an affected area, and has no data or privacy implications (no information on a recipient or their location is gathered or shared).

The launch will be preceded by a public information campaign culminating in a UK-wide test message - a nationwide simultaneous alert sent to all compatible mobile phones across the United Kingdom. This approach has been found elsewhere to maximise awareness and understanding on how recipients should react on receiving alerts.

17th Feb 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require that (a) former Prime Ministers must have served a minimum of 12 months in post before becoming eligible for the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA), (b) the PDCA can only be claimed for 10 years and (c) claims for the PDCA are published.

The Public Duty Costs Allowance was introduced to assist former Prime Ministers who are still active in public life. It has operated under successive administrations and continues to support Prime Ministers who formed previous governments.

It is not a form of salary; payments are made only to reimburse actual administrative costs incurred in the fulfilment of public duties. Generally, these costs can include managing an office (staffing, payroll and administration); handling correspondence as a former Prime Minister; and support with visits and similar activities.

The allowance has an annual limit of £115,000, which has remained frozen since 2011. The amount received by each claimant is published annually in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

The Government keeps the allowance under review.

17th Feb 2023
To ask Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what recent steps the Government is taking to prevent potential conflicts of interest that may result from Ministers and MPs being on the boards of private energy companies.

I refer the Hon. Member to the Ministerial Code (Section 7 and Annex B) which can be found on gov.uk.

The conduct and interests of Members of Parliament who are not Ministers is a matter for the House, not the Government.

10th Jan 2023
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse was of the flight taken by the Prime Minister and officials from London to Leeds on 9 January 2023.

All Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements.

As a whole, domestic flights within the United Kingdom allow Ministers to visit more parts of the United Kingdom in the time available, particularly areas further away from London, and reduce the need for overnight accommodation for Ministers and accompanying staff. Security considerations are also taken into account.

Details of departmental business travel are published in the Cabinet Office audited annual report and accounts.

23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister in his Department is responsible for Places for Growth.

Minister of State Baroness Neville-Rolfe is responsible for Places for Growth.

23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Conflict Stability and Security Fund.

Minister of State Baroness Neville-Rolfe is responsible for the Conflict Stability and Security Fund.

23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Government Property Agency.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP, is responsible for the Government Property Agency, supported by Parliamentary Secretary Alex Burghart MP.

23rd Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Minister in his Department is responsible for the Government Communications Service.

The Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Jeremy Quin MP, is responsible for the Government Communications Service, supported by Parliamentary Secretary Alex Burghart MP.

22nd Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much ministerial severance pay has been (a) paid out by his Department and (b) accepted since 1 June 2022.

The provision of payments connected to the loss of ministerial office is set out in legislation. Outturn figures will be published in the department’s audited annual reports and accounts in due course.

15th Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he has had recent discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the maintenance of the covid-19 memorial wall opposite the Palace of Westminster.

In July 2021, the Government established the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration to consider how the COVID-19 pandemic should be remembered and commemorated across the UK. It is independent of the Government and it will report to the Prime Minister by the end of March 2023. As part of its work, it has launched a public consultation which will close on 5 December. The results of the consultation, including the number of responses will be set out in the Commission’s final report.

We are aware of the call for the National Covid Memorial Wall to become a permanent memorial. The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration is considering the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.

15th Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many responses to the Covid Commemoration Consultation his Department has received.

In July 2021, the Government established the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration to consider how the COVID-19 pandemic should be remembered and commemorated across the UK. It is independent of the Government and it will report to the Prime Minister by the end of March 2023. As part of its work, it has launched a public consultation which will close on 5 December. The results of the consultation, including the number of responses will be set out in the Commission’s final report.

We are aware of the call for the National Covid Memorial Wall to become a permanent memorial. The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration is considering the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.

15th Nov 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to publicise the Covid Commemoration Consultation.

In July 2021, the Government established the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration to consider how the COVID-19 pandemic should be remembered and commemorated across the UK. It is independent of the Government and it will report to the Prime Minister by the end of March 2023. As part of its work, it has launched a public consultation which will close on 5 December. The results of the consultation, including the number of responses will be set out in the Commission’s final report.

We are aware of the call for the National Covid Memorial Wall to become a permanent memorial. The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration is considering the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.

10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to support local resilience forums.

The 2021 Integrated Review committed the Government to considering how to strengthen support for Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) and this work is being taken forward by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). The Cabinet Office is working closely with DLUHC on this commitment as well as to ensure LRFs are well supported in preparing for upcoming potential challenges.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish all correspondence on the granting of government contracts to SThree.

Details of Government contracts above £10,000 and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if will make it his policy to apply a minimum liquidity threshold to companies applying to tender for Government contracts.

The Sourcing Playbook includes a specific guidance note on “Assessing and monitoring the economic and financial standing of suppliers”, which provides advice on effective evaluation and monitoring both pre and post procurement and is relevant to all Central Government Departments, their Executive Agencies and Non Departmental Public Bodies.

Assessing and monitoring the economic and financial standing of suppliers is about understanding the financial capacity of suppliers to perform a contract in order to safeguard the delivery of public services.

The guidance states that all assessments of bidders’ economic and financial standing should be proportionate, flexible, contract specific and not overly risk averse while ensuring protection of taxpayer value and safety and compliance with relevant procurement law.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of public procurement contracts were issued by private enterprise companies with Government framework agreements to contract on behalf of the public bodies in the latest period for which data is available.

All Government Departments and their individual Arm's Length Bodies and agencies are responsible for their own public procurement contracts and are required to follow the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 in awarding contracts. This information is not centrally held for all government departments.

Details of all Government contracts awarded from 2016 above £10,000 and £25,000 in the wider public sector are published on Contracts Finder. Each award notice provides information on the name of the supplier, value of the contract, its purpose and information on the type of awarding procedure used. Government departments, their individual agencies and Arms Length Bodies are required to publish all spend against individual suppliers above £25,000 on GOV.UK.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what percentage of public procurement is contracted directly from suppliers by public bodies.

The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to remove conflicts of interest in the government procurement process.

There are specific legal duties in the Public Contracts Regulations that require government departments to take appropriate measures to effectively prevent, identify and remedy conflicts of interest arising in the conduct of procurement procedures, so as to avoid any distortion of competition and to ensure equal treatment of all bidders and suppliers.

Companies may be excluded from bidding for government contracts where a conflict cannot be effectively remedied.

An updated Procurement Policy Note was published in May 2021 on the management of actual and perceived conflicts of interest in order to provide commercial teams across government with further information on the roles and responsibilities of those involved in decision making, risk management and how provisions may be applied to suppliers.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
10th Oct 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the National Risk Register.

The National Risk Register (NRR) is the public-facing version of the National Security Risk Assessment (NSRA), a classified assessment of the national security risks facing the UK. The NRR is published by the Cabinet Office.

Every risk in the NRR is owned and assessed by lead government departments working with a wide range of partners to coordinate, enact and test plans. The NRR is informed by the expertise of government departments, academia, private sector and the wider scientific community via a scientifically rigorous process.

Edward Argar
Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
27th Jun 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Government has made of the impact of its plans to pause civil service fast-stream recruitment on (a) organisational effectiveness and (b) diversity in recruitment.

The Fast Stream is a talent pipeline for government departments and professions. It is only right we pause bringing in candidates as departments set out how they might achieve the Prime Minister’s commitment to return the Civil Service to the size it was in 2016.

Whilst we pause the Fast Stream for the 2023 intake, we will take the opportunity to further improve the Fast Stream offer. This reform will ensure that when the scheme reopens, it is focused on driving up specialist skills in the Civil Service, as well as improving the regional representation of the Fast Stream. In this sense, both organisational effectiveness and diversity recruitment can be enhanced.

We will also seek to maintain other approaches towards diversity and inclusion in recruitment - such as continuous improvement of our assessment and selection approaches. The Declaration on Government Reform set out our commitment to a skilled and capable Civil Service, our united Campus for government training and Curriculum framework will enable all Civil Servants to access quality, relevant training.

26th May 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether all staff members employed by Number 10 who were asked to complete questionnaires by the Metropolitan Police as part of its investigation into breaches of covid-19 regulations completed them.

Details of the Metropolitan Police Service's investigation are rightly an operational matter for the police, not the Government.

22nd Apr 2022
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of recent civil service pay freezes on employee recruitment and retention.

Recruitment and retention data covering the period of the public sector pay pause is not currently held. In 2020/21, Civil Service turnover (includes all moves out of the Civil Service) was 5.9%.

In light of the pay pause, which was necessary in order to help protect public sector jobs and protect investment in public services, the Government ensured that the lowest paid across all of the public sector were protected. Anyone below a full time equivalent salary of £24,000 received an uplift of £250 or the new National Living Wage rate, whichever was greater. This was c.128,000 civil servants around the time the pay pause was announced in November 2020.

As the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on October 27th 2021, the temporary public sector pay pause will be lifted. Pay awards will be made to public sector workers over the next three years as we return to a normal pay-setting process. It is for departments to monitor and consider their recruitment and retention challenges when determining future pay awards.

1st Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the inquiry into the Government's handling of the covid-19 pandemic has not started.

The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE to chair the public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and will begin its work in Spring 2022.

Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations. As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead a process of public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.

1st Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the draft terms of reference for the covid-19 public inquiry will be published.

The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE to chair the public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and will begin its work in Spring 2022.

Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations. As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead a process of public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.

1st Feb 2022
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the covid-19 public inquiry will formally commence.

The Prime Minister has appointed the Rt Hon Baroness Heather Hallett DBE to chair the public inquiry into COVID-19. The inquiry will be established on a statutory basis, with formal powers, and will begin its work in Spring 2022.

Draft terms of reference will be published in due course, following consultation with Baroness Hallett and ministers from the devolved administrations. As set out in the Prime Minister’s statement on 15 December, Baroness Hallett will then lead a process of public consultation, including with bereaved families and other affected groups, before the terms of reference are finalised.

26th Jan 2022
To ask the Prime Minister, what (a) meetings were had and (b) electronic communications were sent between his Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on the evacuation of animals from Pen Farthing's Nowzad animal shelter in Afghanistan.

I have been asked to reply. The evacuation from Afghanistan under Op Pitting from 14 August to 29 August was entirely organised and controlled by the Ministry of Defence.