Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of the former ministers that have been given legal representation paid for by the public purse for (a) parliamentary and (b) Privileges Committee inquiries.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There are no plans to publish such a list.
There is an established precedent across multiple administrations based on the principle that former Ministers, of all political colours, may be supported with legal representation after they have left office – when matters relate to their time and conduct as a Minister of the Crown. This has been the case in public inquiries into matters such as BSE, Iraq, Grenfell, Infected Blood, Child Sexual Abuse and Covid.
However, the principle is not limited to public inquiries and has been applied in other contexts, for example, litigation. The same principle can also be applied to Parliamentary inquiries, where it relates to one’s conduct as Minister of the Crown.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Prime Minister’s oral contribution of 23 May 2023, Official Report, vol 733, column 292, what the evidential basis is for his statement that it is a long-established process across multiple Administrations that former Ministers are supported with legal representation after they have left office during (a) a parliamentary inquiries and (b) privileges committee inquiries of Parliament.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Prime Minister specifically said “It is actually a long-established process across multiple Administrations that former Ministers are supported with legal representation after they have left office to deal with matters that relate to their time in office. That has been the practice for many years, as I say, across multiple political Administrations, both Labour and Conservative.”
The Privileges Committee inquiry relates to the conduct of the (now former) Prime Minister making statements at the despatch box on behalf of HM Government.
There is an established precedent across multiple administrations based on the principle that former Ministers, of all political colours, may be supported with legal representation after they have left office – when matters relate to their time and conduct as a Minister of the Crown.
This has been the case in public inquiries into matters such as BSE, Iraq, Grenfell, Infected Blood, Child Sexual Abuse and Covid.
However, the principle is not limited to public inquiries and has been applied in other contexts, for example, litigation. The same principle can also be applied to Parliamentary inquiries, where it relates to one’s conduct as Minister of the Crown.
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.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish an updated list of Ministerial responsibilities.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Further to the answer given to PQ 5342 on 23 January 2020 and PQ 21909 on 3 March, details of executive agencies and non-ministerial departments can be found on gov.uk.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the names of the representatives of the (a) shipping, (b) port and (c) aviation industries that participated in the work undertaken by his Department on preparing Operation Yellowhammer.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many 11 to 15-year-olds have completed the Cyber First course.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Around 8,500 11-15 year olds have participated in a CyberFirst course since the initiative was launched in 2016. The courses included: four 'Girls Only’ development days for 14-15 year olds, two ‘CyberFirst Adventurers’ days for 11-13 year olds, and an online girl’s only competition aimed at girls age 13-16.
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans the Government has for reform of Government procurement after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Ben Gummer
The current public procurement rules will continue to apply until the UK has left the EU following the successful conclusion of exit negotiations. The longer-term options for our procurement regulations are being considered carefully.
We are already working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to support strategic industries within the existing procurement rules. For example, we have published guidelines for departments to apply on major projects when sourcing and buying steel to open up the steel market; level the playing field for UK business; improve visibility of opportunities on major projects; and stimulate competition:
We have also published a Balanced Scorecard guide, designed to help public procurers in balancing straightforward matters such as cost against more complex issues, such as social and wider economic considerations when designing their procurement approaches:
Asked by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps along with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to plan reform of public procurement rules in order to support strategic industries after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Ben Gummer
The current public procurement rules will continue to apply until the UK has left the EU following the successful conclusion of exit negotiations. The longer-term options for our procurement regulations are being considered carefully.
We are already working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to support strategic industries within the existing procurement rules. For example, we have published guidelines for departments to apply on major projects when sourcing and buying steel to open up the steel market; level the playing field for UK business; improve visibility of opportunities on major projects; and stimulate competition:
We have also published a Balanced Scorecard guide, designed to help public procurers in balancing straightforward matters such as cost against more complex issues, such as social and wider economic considerations when designing their procurement approaches: