Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure people not able to access the Emergency Alert System are made aware of severe life-threatening events.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Emergency Alerts capability is expected to be trialed nationally later this year with a focus over the winter on extreme weather related events. Subject to the outcome of an evaluation in the spring, its scope will likely be widened to other use cases. There will always be a very high threshold for issuing an alert based on strict criteria centered on an immediate threat to life and the applicability of the capability to the event in hand, rather than a scenario driven approach.
The launch will be preceded by a public information campaign culminating in a national welcome message - a simultaneous test message 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.
Prior to launch, the Cabinet Office will also brief Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) on the system and its purpose. Guidance and other information will be published on Resilience Direct - an online platform for emergency responders managed by the Cabinet Office which LRFs can access.
The Emergency Alerts capability will complement rather than supersede other tools available to responders to communicate with the public in emergency situations. Those unable to be notified by this new capability will therefore be alerted by other existing mechanisms, for example, by text or phone messages, social and broadcast media.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish guidance on potential scenarios that will trigger the emergency alert system.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Emergency Alerts capability is expected to be trialed nationally later this year with a focus over the winter on extreme weather related events. Subject to the outcome of an evaluation in the spring, its scope will likely be widened to other use cases. There will always be a very high threshold for issuing an alert based on strict criteria centered on an immediate threat to life and the applicability of the capability to the event in hand, rather than a scenario driven approach.
The launch will be preceded by a public information campaign culminating in a national welcome message - a simultaneous test message 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.
Prior to launch, the Cabinet Office will also brief Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) on the system and its purpose. Guidance and other information will be published on Resilience Direct - an online platform for emergency responders managed by the Cabinet Office which LRFs can access.
The Emergency Alerts capability will complement rather than supersede other tools available to responders to communicate with the public in emergency situations. Those unable to be notified by this new capability will therefore be alerted by other existing mechanisms, for example, by text or phone messages, social and broadcast media.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he intends to publish updated guidance for local resilience forums on the emergency alert system.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Emergency Alerts capability is expected to be trialed nationally later this year with a focus over the winter on extreme weather related events. Subject to the outcome of an evaluation in the spring, its scope will likely be widened to other use cases. There will always be a very high threshold for issuing an alert based on strict criteria centered on an immediate threat to life and the applicability of the capability to the event in hand, rather than a scenario driven approach.
The launch will be preceded by a public information campaign culminating in a national welcome message - a simultaneous test message 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.
Prior to launch, the Cabinet Office will also brief Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) on the system and its purpose. Guidance and other information will be published on Resilience Direct - an online platform for emergency responders managed by the Cabinet Office which LRFs can access.
The Emergency Alerts capability will complement rather than supersede other tools available to responders to communicate with the public in emergency situations. Those unable to be notified by this new capability will therefore be alerted by other existing mechanisms, for example, by text or phone messages, social and broadcast media.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department plans to publish guidance to other Government departments on managing potential gas shortages during winter.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
The UK has a secure and diverse energy system. The Government is confident in its plans to protect households and businesses this winter in light of Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. However as a responsible Government, it is right that we plan for all scenarios, however unlikely. That is why the Cabinet Office, working closely with the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, is engaging with colleagues across government and industry on how departments should prepare for the upcoming winter, as is customary every year.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the letter from the Paymaster General to Sir Brian Langstaff of 16 August 2022, what recent progress he has made on providing interim payments to (a) people who were infected and (b) bereaved partners who are registered on infected blood support schemes as of 13 October 2022.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 16 August 2022, the former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellis, wrote to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry confirming that the Government has accepted his recommendation in full and that we will be making an interim payment of £100,000, by the end of October, to all infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with the four national infected blood support schemes.
Officials are continuing to work hard to meet this commitment.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the interim report by Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 29 July 2022, how many and what proportion of the people (a) infected and (b) otherwise affected by contaminated blood have received interim compensation payments as of 13 October 2022.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
On 16 August 2022, the former Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Ellis, wrote to Sir Brian Langstaff, Chair of the Infected Blood Inquiry confirming that the Government has accepted his recommendation in full and that we will be making an interim payment of £100,000, by the end of October, to all infected beneficiaries and bereaved partners registered with the four national infected blood support schemes.
Officials are continuing to work hard to meet this commitment.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to publish the resignation Honours List of the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
It is a long-standing convention that outgoing Prime Ministers can draw up a ‘Dissolution’ or ‘Resignation’ List. This has been the case under past governments from across the political spectrum. Any announcement in relation to recommendations from the Rt Hon Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip would be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what was the cost to the public purse of the removal of (a) furniture and (b) personal items during the change of Prime Minister.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
There was no cost to the public purse. As with previous administrations, the removal of personal property from a Ministerial residence is funded by the departing Minister.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the implications for his policies of the recommendations of the report by the Committee on Standards in Public Life entitled Upholding Standards in Public Life, published on 1 November 2021.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the Honourable Member to the Written Ministerial Statement Government Transparency and Accountability, put before the House by the former Minister for the Cabinet Office on 15 July 2022. The statement sets out action already taken in relation to reports by the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Nigel Boardman and that further work continues.
Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to appoint a new Independent Adviser on Ministers’ Interests.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
I refer the Honourable Member to comments made by the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman on 7 September.
The Prime Minister wishes to consider the best way to achieve the functions of that role and to ensure the Government is held to the highest standards as the public expect.