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Written Question
Ministers: Speeches
Monday 16th October 2023

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Ministers may make personal statements that do not reflect Government policy.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of conduct expected of ministers and how they discharge their duty. Notably:

  • Section 8.3: Ministers should ensure that their statements are consistent with collective Government policy;

  • Section 6.5: Ministers are free to make their views about constituency matters known to the responsible Minister by correspondence, leading deputations or by personal interview provided they make clear that they are acting as their constituents’ representative and not as a Minister.

The Ministerial Code can be viewed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-code


Written Question
Honours
Monday 18th September 2023

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to reform the right of a Prime Minister who has served for a short period to submit a resignation honours list.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet 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. This convention has been the case throughout the 20th Century, originating in the 19th Century.


Written Question
Procurement Bill (HL)
Tuesday 6th December 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to amend the Procurement Bill to ensure that no preferential treatment for public contracts can be given to organisations recommended by Members of Parliament.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

This question was debated in the House of Lords, during the Report stage of the Procurement Bill on Wednesday 30 November 2022.

The Bill’s current clauses provide strong safeguards to preserve the integrity of a procurement. Clause 76 sets out the people in respect of whom conflicts of interest should be identified. This covers anyone acting for or on behalf of the contracting authority in relation to a procurement, including those who influence a decision made by, or on behalf of, a contracting authority related to the procurement. Clause 77(3) states that if a conflict of interest puts a supplier at an unfair advantage, and if steps to mitigate cannot avoid that advantage, the supplier must be excluded.

This, combined with the Bill’s requirements on transparency and equal treatment, will mean that contracting authorities will not be allowed to give preferential treatment to suppliers recommended by Members of Parliament.


Written Question
Public Duty Costs Allowance
Monday 7th November 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what Public Duty Cost Allowance will be paid to (1) Boris Johnson, and (2) Liz Truss, following their resignations as Prime Minister.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The Public Duty Cost Allowance is available to former Prime Ministers and is a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office and secretarial costs arising from the fulfilment of public duties, up to a maximum of £115,000. The amount claimed by each recipient under the Public Duty Cost Allowance is published each year in the Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts.


Written Question
Honours
Wednesday 26th October 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, resignation honours lists will be published following the resignations of (1) Boris Johnson, and (2) Liz Truss.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It is a long-standing convention that individuals can be nominated for an honour in recognition of their public and political service, and that Prime Ministers can draw up a ‘Dissolution’ or ‘Resignation’ List (after a general election or when resigning from office). This has been the case under past governments from across the political spectrum.

It would not be appropriate to speculate on any possible Resignation Honours Lists which is a matter for both former Prime Ministers and the current Prime Minister.


Written Question
Life Peers: Public Appointments
Monday 10th October 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to the application of the restrictions imposed by the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 in relation to recommendations for the appointment of new peers.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It is against the law to 'sell' honours or peerages - offering cash for awards - under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. Life peerages are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission for matters of propriety, who seek advice from Government Departments and Agencies where appropriate.


Written Question
Life Peers: Public Appointments
Monday 10th October 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the restrictions contained within the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 are a factor in their consideration of recommendations for the appointment of new peers.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

It is against the law to 'sell' honours or peerages - offering cash for awards - under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. Life peerages are vetted by the House of Lords Appointments Commission for matters of propriety, who seek advice from Government Departments and Agencies where appropriate.


Written Question
Natural Disasters
Friday 7th October 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which recommendations from the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction have so far been implemented; and which they plan to implement in the future.

Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (the Framework) was agreed and adopted in March 2015. Many of the principles underpinning the Framework are integral to ongoing UK work on resilience as part of integrated emergency management and the UK has a range of robust mechanisms in place for planning, responding and recovering from emergencies. The UK continues to play a leading role in the international risk reduction agenda through FCDO and the UK is committed to helping the most vulnerable anticipate and prepare for shocks and access support in disasters.


Written Question
Ukraine: Visits Abroad
Monday 27th June 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime Minister's flight to Ukraine on 17 June was (1) a special charter flight, or (2) a regular commercial flight.

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

Details of the Prime Minister’s overseas travel are published quarterly and will be made available on GOV.UK in due course.


Written Question
Ukraine: Visits Abroad
Monday 27th June 2022

Asked by: Lord Roberts of Llandudno (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of the Prime Minister's flight to Ukraine on 17 June.

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

Details of the Prime Minister’s overseas travel are published quarterly and will be made available on GOV.UK in due course.