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Written Question
Legislative Drafting
Monday 23rd May 2022

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the outcome of the review of language used in drafting legislation, following the passage of the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Act 2021.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

Following consideration by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, the Government has today issued a written ministerial statement setting out its approach to the use of gendered language in legislative drafting.


Written Question
Legislation
Monday 29th November 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will publish the review into the language used in drafting legislation.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

A response on this issue is in the process of being finalised. I hope to respond to Noble Lords before the House rises for the Christmas recess.


Written Question
Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman
Wednesday 3rd November 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the functions of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to ensure that it investigates a higher proportion of complaints received than is current practice.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is a crown servant that reports directly to Parliament. The Ombudsman is not responsible to the Government for its performance and sets its own standards for practice in how it handles complaints. I understand the Noble Lord is in contact with the Ombudsman who can explain in further detail the organisation's current practice in this area. Further to this the Noble Lord may wish to write to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that acts as the primary accountability body for the Ombudsman.


Written Question
Patients: Death
Wednesday 3rd November 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the functions of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to ensure that it (1) collects, (2) analyses, and (3) publishes, data on complaints involving the death of patients that it has decided not to investigate.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is a crown servant that reports directly to Parliament. The Ombudsman is not responsible to the Government for its performance and sets its own standards for practice in how it handles complaints. I understand the Noble Lord is in contact with the Ombudsman who can explain in further detail the organisation's current practice in this area. Further to this the Noble Lord may wish to write to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that acts as the primary accountability body for the Ombudsman.


Written Question
Lord Wilson of Rievaulx
Wednesday 15th September 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will next review retained papers relating to allegations of a security service plot against Harold Wilson to decide whether they can be released; and what criteria will be used in this review.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

Under the Public Records Act these papers were originally recommended for closure for at least 100 years. However, in line with current best practice, these papers will be reviewed in 2026 and every ten years thereafter.


Written Question
Lord Wilson of Rievaulx
Tuesday 27th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the results of the inquiry by Lord Hunt of Tanworth in 1996 into allegations of a security service plot against Harold Wilson.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

Official papers relating to allegations of a security service plot against Harold Wilson are retained by the Cabinet Office. Retained papers are reviewed regularly to decide whether they can be released.


Written Question
Government Departments: LGBT People
Wednesday 14th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which of their departments take part in (1) Stonewall's Diversity Champion scheme, and (2) Stonewall's Workplace Index scheme.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

A list of which Government departments take part in Stonewall’s Diversity Champion or Workplace Index scheme is not held centrally.

We are looking into the matter and I will write to the Noble Lord with further information in due course.


Written Question
Employment: Equality
Wednesday 14th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent statements by the Equality and Human Rights Commission about its withdrawal from the Stonewall Diversity Champion scheme, what steps they are taking to ensure their expenditure on workplace diversity and inclusion initiatives (1) offers value for money, (2) is fairly balanced, and (3) is reasonable and proportionate, taking into account the rights of all persons with any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Government has committed to a new standard for diversity and inclusion in the Civil Service which will promote a diversity of backgrounds and opinions. We are committed to fair, inclusive workplaces which draw on the talents of the widest possible range of backgrounds, especially people from non-traditional educational routes and from outside London and the South East.

It is fundamental that everyone is able to seize opportunities in the workplace without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Memberships of external schemes are kept under review, to ensure value for taxpayers’ money. A number of public bodies have resolved to best champion inclusion through internal programmes.


Written Question
Government Departments: LGBT People
Wednesday 14th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent statements by the Equality and Human Rights Commission about its withdrawal from the Stonewall Diversity Champions scheme, what steps they are taking to ensure their departments are (1) inclusive workplaces, (2) attracting people from all backgrounds, and (3) workplaces where every employee is treated in line with the Equality Act 2010.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Government has committed to a new standard for diversity and inclusion in the Civil Service which will promote a diversity of backgrounds and opinions. We are committed to fair, inclusive workplaces which draw on the talents of the widest possible range of backgrounds, especially people from non-traditional educational routes and from outside London and the South East.

It is fundamental that everyone is able to seize opportunities in the workplace without fear of discrimination or harassment.

Memberships of external schemes are kept under review, to ensure value for taxpayers’ money. A number of public bodies have resolved to best champion inclusion through internal programmes.


Written Question
Employment: Human Rights
Wednesday 14th July 2021

Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure their workplace policies and procedures do not potentially infringe any person's ability to enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

When formulating and reviewing workplace policies and procedures, government departments have due regard for all legal requirements, including the rights and freedoms in Schedule 1 of the Human Rights Act 1998.