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Written Question
Ministers: Defamation
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal support provided to Ministers of the Crown in relation to claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel connected with their official duties since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.


Written Question
Ministers: Defamation
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is for settling claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel by Ministers since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.


Written Question
Ministers: Defamation
Tuesday 12th March 2024

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many individual occasions the provision of legal support has been (a) authorised and (b) declined on claims for (i) defamation and (ii) libel connected with the official duties of Ministers of the Crown since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.

Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.

As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.

This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.

It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).

More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.


Written Question
District Heating
Thursday 8th February 2024

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when she plans to bring Part 8, Chapter 1 of the Energy Act 2023 into force.

Answered by Amanda Solloway - Government Whip, Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury

The Department consulted on heat network consumer protection requirements in 2023 and will respond to the consultation shortly. Heat network regulation will be introduced in three phases:

  • In 2024 Ofgem will engage the market and develop their digital systems.

  • In Spring 2025 the initial tranche of consumer protection requirements enter into force covering standards of conduct for heat network operators

  • In 2026 all other protections enter into force including price benchmarking regulation.

Written Question
Driving: Eyesight
Monday 29th January 2024

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, under what circumstances DVLA drivers’ medical visual (a) field and (b) acuity testing will be administered free of charge.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

When the Driver and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA) is investigating whether a licence holder or applicant with a visual disorder is fit to drive, all costs of any tests commissioned by the DVLA as part of that investigation are paid for by the DVLA and not the applicant.


Written Question
Lisdexamfetamine and Methylphenidate: Shortages
Friday 17th November 2023

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether she plans to issue serious shortage protocols for (a) lisdexamfetamine and (b) methylphenidate.

Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

We are aware of disruptions to the supply of medicines used for the management of ADHD. While serious shortage protocols (SSPs) can be a useful tool to help manage and mitigate medicine and medical device shortages, they cannot be used for all patients and all medicines. Further, they are only issued if there is sufficient supply of suitable, alternative medicines, otherwise issuing an SSP risks causing a ‘knock on’ shortage of the alternative. For these reasons, there are currently no plans to issue SSPs for ADHD medicines, including lisdexamfetamine and methylphenidate.

We understand how frustrating and distressing medicine shortages can be and we want to assure patients that we are working intensively with the respective manufacturers to resolve the issues as soon as possible and to ensure patients have continuous access to ADHD medicines in the UK, in the short and long term.

We have issued communications to the National Health Service to advise healthcare professionals on management of patients whilst there continue to be disruptions to supplies. Patients are advised to speak to their clinician regarding any concerns they have and to discuss the suitability of treatment with alternative medicines.


Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the letter of 14 August 2023 from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich, case reference 30420793.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

I apologise to the Hon Member for the delay in responding to his correspondence. A response issued on 13 November 2023.


Written Question
Members: Correspondence
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, when he plans to respond to the correspondence of 16 August 2023 from the hon. Member for Greenwich and Woolwich on Union Park, Greenwich SE10.

Answered by Lee Rowley - Minister of State (Minister for Housing)

I apologise to the Hon Member for the delay in responding to his correspondence. A response issued on 13 November 2023.


Written Question
Visas: Skilled Workers
Monday 23rd October 2023

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to (a) investigate allegations of and (b) prevent potential exploitation of the Skilled Worker route by third parties that results in financial loss for skilled worker visa applicants.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

UKVI Work Services have numerous functions which focus and respond to allegations of Worker Exploitation.

A bespoke Seasonal Agricultural Compliance team exists for the Farming Sector and for other issues, we have an Embassy Team function who engage with foreign missions on the matter.

Underpinning all of this is our Investigations team who translate compliance and safeguarding issues into tangible disruption activity. Where exploitation is identified, referrals are also made to other relevant functions to take forward such as the Police and National Referral Mechanism.


Written Question
Visas: Skilled Workers
Monday 23rd October 2023

Asked by: Matthew Pennycook (Labour - Greenwich and Woolwich)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many allegations of exploitation of the Skilled Worker route by third parties have been investigated by her Department in the last 12 months; and how many and what proportion of those investigations have resulted in (a) the recovery of funds and (b) other forms of compensation for skilled worker visa applicants who were found to have been exploited.

Answered by Robert Jenrick

The Government is committed to tackling all forms of modern slavery and through the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and has given law enforcement agencies the tools to tackle modern slavery, including maximum life sentences for perpetrators and enhanced protection for victims.

However, the Home Office does not routinely publish data on this matter.