Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 30 September 2019 to Question 290323 on Civil Servants and Ministerial Policy Advisers, the Answer of 7 October 2019 to Question 291490 on Democracy: Subversion and pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2019 to Question 529 on Ministerial Policy Advisers, what assessment he has made of compliance by (a) officials and (b) special advisers that (i) developed and (ii) recommended proposals on the unlawful prorogation of Parliament with National Security vetting requirements in relation to activities intended to undermine Parliamentary democracy by political means.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Over and above routine security practices in place for vetted individuals, no further assessment has been made. In relation to the decision to prorogue Parliament, at all times the Government acted in the good faith and belief that its approach was both lawful and constitutional.
With regards to security practices, it would be inappropriate to comment on the compliance of any individual as to their National Security Vetting outside of the proper channels for doing so; these being internal to the security vetting regime. All such channels are confidential in order to ensure the integrity of the process, and the privacy and confidentiality of the subject(s).
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will amend the Crown Commercial Service energy frameworks for the supply of (a) gas, (b) electricity and (c) liquid fuels to ensure energy is supplied from fully renewable sources whenever possible.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
Each Government department makes their own purchasing decisions as to which source of fuel they wish to use through Crown Commercial Service (CCS) energy framework agreements.
Current framework agreements include options to solely use renewable energy sources. A number of departments are currently supplied by 100% green energy, including DEFRA, HMT, Environment Agency, and the National Audit Office.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 1 October 2019 to Question 290324, which other Departments have plans to switch to a green energy provider within the next 12 months.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
The information requested is not held centrally by Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what processes the Government has in place to ensure that special advisers continue to comply with requirements of the national security Vetting Decision Framework subsequent to having previously declared that they have not been involved in actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The National Security Vetting process does not differentiate between special advisers and civil servants. Once a candidate is cleared and commences tenure, there are a series of processes to provide assurance and periodic review, as appropriate. For security reasons, these activities are not in the public domain.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, which provider supplies energy to his Department; how much CO2 was emitted through his Department’s energy consumption in the latest period for which figures are available; whether the criteria his Department uses to select an energy supplier includes how environmentally friendly the supplier is; and what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce CO2 emissions from its energy use.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
Energy is supplied by EDF Energy and British Gas (electricity) and Corona Energy (gas).
The amount of CO2 emitted is published in the department's annual report and accounts and can be found using the link below on page 21/22. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819251/CO-ARA-2018-19-Final.pdf
The Cabinet Office does not purchase its own energy and uses the Crown Commercial Services energy frameworks for supply of utilities.
Recent steps taken to reduce CO2 emissions is published in the department's annual report and accounts and can be found using the link below on page 21/22. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/819251/CO-ARA-2018-19-Final.pdf
The department always considers energy saving and sustainable options when considering the undertaking of work on the estate.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Government form Security check / counter terrorist check questionnaire: NSV001, what definitions the Government uses for (a) overthrowing and (b) undermining parliamentary democracy; and what criteria the Government uses to determine those actions.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
For National Security Vetting purposes, Government policy does not define the terms ‘overthrowing’ or ‘undermining’ in any manner more explicit than the terms already indicate. The question asked of vetting candidates refers to ‘political, industrial or violent means’ and this offers context for prospective candidates to understand what types of activities are being referred to.
There are too many hypothetical examples for a comprehensive list to be feasible. Each candidate is assessed on a case by case basis, giving due regard to the guidance offered by the classified Vetting Decision Framework. Where candidates disclose a potentially adverse association of any kind, assessment of their suitability to hold a security clearance will take into account:
the nature and closeness of the association in question;
the self-stated or privately stated aims of individuals or organisations that wish to replace the United Kingdom’s current parliamentary political system; and
the assessments of relevant agencies involved in investigating or monitoring such individuals or organisations.
An example of ‘undermining parliamentary democracy’ would be if the vetting candidate disclosed that a family member had historic links to violent extremist groups.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 September 2019 to Question 290332 on Department of Health and Social Care: Energy Supply, whether the criteria used by Crown Commercial Services to select an energy supplier for Government Departments and public bodies includes an assessment of the environmental policies of a supplier; and what recent steps Crown Commercial Services has taken to reduce CO2 emissions from energy use in the (a) supply of and (b) demand for energy.
Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)
It is a requirement of Crown Commercial Services commercial arrangements that energy suppliers must comply with environmental policy, such as the Energy Savings Opportunity Scheme (ESOS) and Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR).
All Government Departments and public bodies can access commercial solutions managed by the Crown Commercial Service for advice, support and efficiency solutions that will drive savings through energy reduction and thereby reduce their CO2 emissions.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there have been any changes to the Ministerial Code of Conduct since July 2019.
Answered by Kevin Foster
Responsibility for the Ministerial Code rests with the Prime Minister. The Ministerial Code sets out the standards of propriety and behaviour expected of all Ministers and was updated and re-issued by the Prime Minister on 23 August.
The updated Code includes a new section setting out the policy for ministers taking parental leave and other extended absences from Government, as well as a number of updates, including obligations related to Cabinet confidentiality and the acceptance of foreign decorations.
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish an updated List of Ministerial Responsibilities online.
Answered by Kevin Foster
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer given to PQ286680 9 September 2019
Asked by: Nic Dakin (Labour - Scunthorpe)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether (a) civil servants and (b) special advisers are required to declare whether they have ever been involved in actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means in order to gain (i) employment and (ii) security clearance.
Answered by Kevin Foster
All civil servants and special advisers who are subject to National Security Vetting are asked the following three questions as part of the clearance process:
“Have you ever been involved in actions intended to overthrow or undermine Parliamentary democracy by political, industrial or violent means?”
“Have you ever been a member of, or supported, a group or groups involved in any of the above activities?”
“Have you ever had a close association with anyone, including a member of your family, who, to your knowledge, has been a member of or given active support to any such group or activities?”
National Security Vetting is a prerequisite for employment in a large subset of Civil Service roles, including sensitive posts and special advisers. For less sensitive roles that do not require vetting, these assurances are not asked of prospective candidates.