Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of prohibiting the bestowing of honours on individuals who have donated over one million pounds to the political party in Government.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
All honours are awarded on the basis of merit. Donations to any political party should not be regarded as a reason for disqualification from receiving an honour.
There are clear procedures in place to protect the honours system and to ensure the integrity of the selection process. There are specialist honours committees which provide recommendations to the Prime Minister. Each committee is chaired by an independent chair and comprising a majority of independent members.
More broadly, fundraising by political parties is a legitimate part of the democratic process. The alternative is taxpayer-funding of political campaigning, which would mean less money for frontline services like schools, police and hospitals.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the increase in the number of deaths in people’s own homes since the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.
Answered by Johnny Mercer - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
A response to the hon. Member’s Parliamentary Question of 18 July is attached.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2022 to Question 102572, Bain and Company, if he will make an assessment of the potential risks to the (a) aims set out in the Government’s Integrated Review and (b) public perception of those aims, specifically of tackling (i) global corruption, (ii) illicit finance and (iii) the use of UK corporate structures in facilitating high-end money laundering, of continued participation in UK public procurement by Bain and Company.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
Officials are engaging with Bain & Company better to understand the status of the findings in the recently published Zondo Commission reports and to seek appropriate assurances to the Government that Bain has taken steps to remedy any shortcomings identified therein.
The grounds for exclusion of organisations from bidding for Government contracts are set out in The Public Contracts Regulations 2015. These rules set out the circumstances in which bidders must, or may, be excluded from a public procurement process for a variety of criminal offences and in other specific situations. In all cases, individual departments and other public sector bodies are responsible for their own decisions on these matters, which apply only to the award of new contracts.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent progress has been made on determining the future of the National Covid Memorial Wall located on land on the Albert Embankment; what discussions the Government has had with St Thomas’ Hospital to clarify ownership of that land; and what steps the Government has taken to establish future responsibility for the memorial’s upkeep.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government recognises the need to commemorate those who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mark and remember this period as one of immense struggle.
The Prime Minister announced on 12 May the establishment of a UK Commission on Covid Commemoration. The Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.
We are aware of the call for the Memorial Wall to become a permanent national memorial. The UK Commission on Covid Commemoration, once established, will consider the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives during the pandemic.
Discussions on the future of the Memorial Wall are being led by Lambeth London Borough Council.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend section 2(1)(c) of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The entitlement of resident Commonwealth and Irish citizens to vote reflects our close historical ties with Commonwealth countries and the reciprocal arrangements UK has with Ireland. The Government has no plans to alter these rights.
In relation to relevant citizens of the Union, I refer the Hon member to the answer which I gave to PQ 1802 on 29 January 2020.
The Scottish Parliament is responsible for the franchise for local elections in Scotland. The Welsh Assembly is responsible for the franchise for local elections in Wales.
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed restrictions on public bodies using their resources to support boycotts, divestment or sanctions against foreign countries or those who trade with them would prevent support of campaigns against UK trade involving companies linked to the military of Myanmar.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Hon. Member to the briefing notes on the Queen's Speech (p.133-134) published on 19 December 2019, which outline the Government's proposals:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-december-2019-background-briefing-notes
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed restrictions on public institutions using their resources to support boycotts, divestment or sanctions against foreign countries or those who trade with them would prevent support of campaigns against UK trade involving firms linked with the persecution of the Uighur people in Xinjiang province, China.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Hon. Member to the briefing notes on the Queen's Speech (p.133-134) published on 19 December 2019, which outline the Government's proposals:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-december-2019-background-briefing-notes
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed restrictions on public institutions using their resources to support boycotts, divestment or sanctions against foreign countries or those who trade with them would prevent support of campaigns against UK trade involving companies connected with deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Hon. Member to the briefing notes on the Queen's Speech (p.133-134) published on 19 December 2019, which outline the Government's proposals:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-december-2019-background-briefing-notes
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the proposed restrictions on public institutions using their resources to support boycotts, divestment or sanctions against foreign countries or those who trade with them would prevent support of campaigns against UK trade involving companies linked with police or security services that have been alleged to have committed human rights abuses in Hong Kong.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
I refer the Hon. Member to the briefing notes on the Queen's Speech (p.133-134) published on 19 December 2019, which outline the Government's proposals:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/queens-speech-december-2019-background-briefing-notes
Asked by: Lyn Brown (Labour - West Ham)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to update his Office's publication entitled List of Ministerial Responsibilities.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The updated List of Ministerial Responsibilities is now available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-ministers- and-responsibilities on GOV.UK.