Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
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.
Answered by Michael Ellis
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.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
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.
Answered by Michael Ellis
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.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the covid-19 public inquiry will formally commence.
Answered by Michael Ellis
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.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
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.
Answered by Ben Wallace
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.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the investigation led by Sue Gray into allegations of breaches of covid-19 regulations will include the gathering held in the gardens of Downing Street on 15 May 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
As the terms of reference for the inquiry into staff gatherings make clear, where there are credible allegations into other gatherings, these may be investigated. This includes the allegations relating to 15 and 20 May 2020.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether an alarm was triggered at Number 10 offices on the evening of 18 December 2020.
Answered by Michael Ellis
It is a long-standing practice that administrations do not comment on security arrangements on the Downing Street estate.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, whether any non-pass holders attended the meeting in the gardens of Downing Street on 15 May 2020.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the Hon. Member to the Terms of Reference for the Cabinet Office investigation, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt that that process.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, whether any cost to the public purse was incurred for the purchase of (a) food and (b) alcoholic beverages at the gathering held in the gardens of Downing Street on 15 May 2020.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the Hon. Member to the Terms of Reference for the Cabinet Office investigation, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt that that process.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, whether minutes were taken at the meeting held in the gardens of Downing Street on 15 May 2020.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the Hon. Member to the Terms of Reference for the Cabinet Office investigation, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt that that process.
Asked by: Fleur Anderson (Labour - Putney)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, which officials attended the meeting in the gardens of Downing Street on 15 May 2020.
Answered by Boris Johnson
I refer the Hon. Member to the Terms of Reference for the Cabinet Office investigation, which have been deposited in the Library of the House. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt that that process.