Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to promote to the Jain population in the UK the ability to identify as a Jain in the 2021 census, and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government will be guided by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) recommendations, to Government and Parliament, regarding the demand for particular questions in the next census.
These recommendations were published in the White Paper ‘Help Shape our Future: The 2021 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales’ in December 2018 (Cm 9745).
Under the ONS proposals, everyone who wishes to identify as being of the Jain religion in the 2021 Census will be able to do so using the write-in option and the new online search-as-you-type facility.
The ONS will work with local groups and organisations to ensure anyone who wishes to identify as Jain knows that they can use these options to do so. The ONS has been in discussions with the Institute of Jainology (IoJ) about how best to reach and work with Jain communities, as well as working with local authorities to identify areas with Jain communities.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Office of National Statistics to ensure that the religious classification of Jainism is not confused with the term Hindu; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
The Government will be guided by the Office for National Statistics’ (ONS) recommendations, to Government and Parliament, regarding the demand for particular questions in the next census.
These recommendations were published in the White Paper ‘Help Shape our Future: The 2021 Census of Population and Housing in England and Wales’ in December 2018 (Cm 9745).
Under the ONS proposals, everyone who wishes to identify as being of the Jain religion in the 2021 Census will be able to do so using the write-in option and the new online search-as-you-type facility.
The ONS will work with local groups and organisations to ensure anyone who wishes to identify as Jain knows that they can use these options to do so. The ONS has been in discussions with the Institute of Jainology (IoJ) about how best to reach and work with Jain communities, as well as working with local authorities to identify areas with Jain communities.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 23 July 2019 to Question 279360 on Cabinet Office: Credit Unions, what further steps he has taken to offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
I refer the Honourable Gentleman to the answer given to PQ 279360 on 23 July.
The Cabinet Office is currently investigating various financial wellbeing options and will
determine our approach next year, once this work has been completed.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 9 July 2019 to Question 271324, for what reasons his Department does not offer a payroll deduction service to enable employees to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Cabinet Office does not offer a general payroll deduction facility. The Cabinet Office is currently investigating various financial wellbeing options which may benefit our employees. This includes providers who offer a payroll deduction service. We are planning to introduce financial wellbeing as part of our wider benefits package to employees later this year.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department offers employees a payroll deduction service to enable them to join a credit union; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Cabinet Office does not currently offer its employees a payroll deduction service to join the Credit Union.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the name and location of the land and buildings owned by his Department that is (a) sitting empty and (b) in the process of being sold or disposed of; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In 2017 the Office of Government Property published the Guide for the Disposal of Surplus Land, providing detailed guidance on how to plan for and execute land disposals.
This guide mandates that departmental land holdings must be registered on the e-PIMs central record system. Land holdings deemed surplus are recorded on the Register of Surplus Land for at least 40 days for other government departments to express an interest.
Homes England and Department for Education/LocatEd are given a higher allowance of 50 days to express an interest if the site could be developed for housing or a free school.
After the 50-day period surplus land holdings are recorded on the publicly accessible Government Property Finder on Gov.uk.
The Cabinet Office are currently in the process of sale/disposal of:
Sunningdale Park, Ascot - under conditional contract for sale, with imminent completion expected. Once finalised, the department will have no ongoing liabilities for the site.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials from his Department have been seconded from their primary role to make preparations for the UK leaving the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
Departments continually review workforce plans, reprioritise and assess changing needs, which includes identification and cessation of non-priority work where appropriate. We have accelerated our plans, and at the same time, the Civil Service as a whole is working to ensure that EU Exit Implementation is carried out to high quality without impacting public service delivery across the whole of government. The Cabinet Office has staff working on EU exit implementation for a range of scenarios in the interests of preparedness, however the percentage of time spent on exiting the EU without a deal is not recorded or easily accessible at this stage.
Cabinet Office are currently looking to increase the numbers of staff trained to be part of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat to form a flexible pool to be used if and when required.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which EU agencies his Department plans to seek continued membership of after the UK has left the EU; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by David Lidington
During the Implementation Period, the terms of the UK’s participation in EU agencies and bodies will be as set out in Article 128 of the Withdrawal Agreement.
Following our exit from the European Union, we are committed to maintaining a close and collaborative relationship with the EU. Our future partnership is a matter for the next phase of negotiations and we look forward to constructive discussions with the EU.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which regulatory functions imposed by legislation for which his Department has responsibility are currently undertaken by trade associations; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.
Asked by: Gareth Thomas (Labour (Co-op) - Harrow West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will request that the Office for National Statistics include in the faiths section of the next census a box specifically for those who are Jains to register their faith; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.