Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 12 July 2023 to Question 192984 on Blood: Contamination, when he plans to update the House on further interim compensation payments.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Work continues across Government to consider the recommendations in Sir Brian Langstaff's second interim report, including those relating to interim compensation payments. I remain committed to updating the House as soon as is appropriate.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to provide an immediate second interim payment to people who received infected blood and blood products in the context of the compensation arrangements relating to the infected blood inquiry.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
Work is underway to consider the recommendations in Sir Brian Langstaff's second interim report, including those relating to further interim compensation payments. It is important that we give consideration to the recommendations ahead of making any announcements. I am committed to updating the House on these matters as soon as is appropriate.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the preliminary report by Sir Anthony Duff into the events outside the Libyan People’s Bureau and murder of PC Yvonne Fletcher on 17 April 1984, dated 29 April 1984.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Cabinet Office has no plans to publish the report. As is usual in the case of records relating to security and intelligence matters, it has been retained in line with the Public Records Act 1958.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on the independent public inquiry into the Government's handling of the covid-19 pandemic, announced on 12 May 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 would be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers, and that it will begin its work in spring 2022.
Further details will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of events covered by the description other life events in Step 4 of the Covid-19 response roadmap.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
References to life events in the roadmap refer to gatherings for the purposes of a ceremony, rite or ritual to mark or celebrate a significant milestone in a person’s life. This will include events such as weddings, wakes, baptisms, naming or coming of age ceremonies and stone setting ceremonies. As the Government aims to remove all legal limits on social contact by Step 4, this would enable gatherings for any purpose without the need to publish an exhaustive list of life events. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is also leading an Events Research Programme, to support the Government’s aim to remove all limits on weddings and other life events.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the extent to which expert advice provided to Government is directly accountable to Parliament; whether he plans to ensure that SAGE and its sub-committees are directly accountable to Parliament; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Government is committed to sharing information and data that informs decision-making. The minutes of SAGE meetings and the evidence considered by SAGE are routinely published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the importance of ensuring that expert advice is publicly accountable; and what steps he is taking to ensure that SAGE and its sub-committees can be held accountable to Members of Parliament.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Government is committed to sharing information and data that informs decision-making. The minutes of SAGE meetings and the evidence considered by SAGE are routinely published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to include kennels and catteries in the Standard Industrial Classification codes within the Accommodation and Food Service Activities sector.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.