Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance her Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

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

All departments in the Government, including arms lengths bodies, apply the published guidance, Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business, published by the Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in the Government, including ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers. The Department uses this central guidance, and has applied it since March 2023.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

In accordance with Cabinet Office Policy [Using non-corporate communication channels (e.g. WhatsApp, private email, SMS) for government business (HTML) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)] the Ministry of Defence discourages the use of WhatsApp for anything other than keeping in touch purposes, and policy reinforces that personnel must not share or confirm any information above OFFICIAL.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

Whatsapp is not a supported application and is not available for all Home Office Staff.

However, if staff in specific roles have a valid business justification to use Whatsapp for their job, they can apply to have it installed on their corporate mobile devices via an exceptions process, and will receive guidance on how to configure the app to ensure it meets Home Office security standards.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what reports and guidance their Department has produced in the last three financial years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

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

The information is not available in the format requested, and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The Department is digital by default, and the primary channel for issuing reports and guidance is the GOV.UK website.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Department follows the Cabinet Office policy on non-corporate communication channels for Government business https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what reports and guidance their Department has produced in the last three financial years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department.

Reports and guidance that the Department has published can be found on gov.uk

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what reports and guidance their Department has produced in the last three financial years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Reports and guidance that the Treasury has published can be found on gov.uk

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what reports and guidance their Department has produced in the last three financial years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what guidance his Department issues on the use of WhatsApp.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

All departments in central government, including arms lengths bodies apply the published guidance: [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-corporate-communication-channels-for-government-business], published by Cabinet Office in March 2023. It applies to all individuals in central government (ministers, special advisers, officials, contractors, non-executive board members and independent experts advising ministers). The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office uses the central guidance and has applied it since March 2023.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government is proud of its record in proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud in the system. We have established the dedicated Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In its first year it delivered £311 million in audited counter fraud benefits. The PSFA produces a Fraud Landscape Report [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/crossgovernment-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2022]. This provides data on fraud and error detection, loss and recoveries in central government, outside of the tax and welfare system. The 2020/21 Report was published in March 2023.

Details on detected fraud and error in the FCDO in each of the last three financial years can be found in the Annual Reports and Accounts:

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1019938/FCDO_annual_report_and_accounts_2020_to_2021_accessible.pdf]

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/62e3bd54e90e07143d51932f/FCDO_Annual_Report_2021_2022_Accessible_290722.pdf]

[https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64b18b8f07d4b8000d34733a/Foreign-Commonwealth-and-Development-Office-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023.pdf]

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what reports and guidance their Department has produced in the last three financial years; and how much was spent on their (a) printing and (b) distribution.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Reports and guidance that the Department has published can be found on Gov.uk.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) publish annual statistical estimates of the size of the tax gap and money lost to fraud and error.

The latest estimates of the tax gap were published in Measuring tax gaps 2023 edition: tax gap estimates for 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The latest error and fraud estimates for the Corporation Tax Research and Development relief schemes and for Child Benefit were published in HMRC annual report and accounts: 2022 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The latest published Tax Credits Error and Fraud statistics were published in Child and Working Tax Credits error and fraud statistics 2021 to 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many domestic overnight visits Ministers within their Department have taken in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of those visits.

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

The Government publishes the cost of overseas ministerial travel, including the travel ticket costs and other costs like accommodation and meals, on the GOV.UK website. However, as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Government is proud of its record in proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud in the system. We have established the dedicated Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In its first year it delivered £311 million in audited counter fraud benefits.

The PSFA produces a Fraud Landscape Report

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cross-government-fraud-landscape-annual-report-2022). This provides data on fraud and error detection, loss and recoveries in Central Government, outside of the tax and welfare system. The 2020-21 Report was published in March 2023.

Ministry of Defence detected £149 million fraud in FY 2020-21, published in the Annual Reports and Accounts for FY 2022-23 – page 79.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministry-of-defence-annual-report-and-accounts-2022-to-2023)

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many domestic overnight visits Ministers within their Department have taken in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of those visits.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).

However, as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many domestic overnight visits Ministers within their Department have taken in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of those visits.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (vias, accommodation, meals).

But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, how many domestic overnight visits Ministers within their Department have taken in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of those visits.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).

But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers' travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many domestic overnight visits Ministers within their Department have taken in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost to the public purse was of those visits.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visa's, accommodation, meals).

The Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers' travel at home or abroad. This has been the case under successive administrations.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate he has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by his Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)

The Government is proud of its record in proactively seeking to find and prevent more fraud in the system. We have established the dedicated Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA). In its first year it delivered £311 million in audited counter fraud benefits.

The PSFA produces a Fraud Landscape Report.

Cross-Government Fraud Landscape Annual Report 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This provides data on fraud and error detection, loss, and recoveries in central government, outside of the tax and welfare system. The 2020/21 Report was published in March 2023.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).

But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

I refer the Hon. Member to my response to UIN 17620 on 13^th March 2024.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals). As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers' travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).

As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers' travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, if she will publish the advice from officials that provided the basis for her claims about Professor Kate Sang.

Answered by Andrew Griffith - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

It is a longstanding principle that advice between officials and ministers remains confidential.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraphs 7.16 and 7.17 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions have ministers in his department informed the Law Officers that they are the defendants in a libel action in (a) their personal capacity, (b) their official position and (c) both since 19 December 2019.

Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

As set out in paragraph 2.13 of the Ministerial Code: “The fact that the Law Officers have advised or have not advised and the content of their advice must not be disclosed outside Government without their authority”. As a result, the Government is unable to provide the details requested.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the destinations were of domestic overnight visits undertaken by Ministers within their Department in each of the last three financial years.

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

The Government publishes the details of the cost of overseas ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and other costs like accommodation and meals, on the GOV.UK website. But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on ministers’ travel at home or abroad.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal (a) support and (b) representation to Ministers in his Department in relation to their official conduct in each of the last three years.

Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)

Such information is not centrally recorded or collated in the form requested. More generally, I would refer the honourable Member to the long-standing policies on legal expenditure, as set out recently by Cabinet Office Ministers on 12 March 2024, Official Report, PQ 17709 Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament and 12 March 2024, Official Report, House of Lords, Cols. 1901-1904. Ministers: Legal Costs - Hansard - UK Parliament.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal (a) support and (b) representation to Ministers in his Department in relation to their official conduct in each of the last three years.

Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Such information is not centrally recorded or collated in the form requested. More generally, I would refer the hon. Member to the long-standing policies on legal expenditure, as set out recently by Cabinet Office Ministers on 12 March 2024, Official Report, PQ 17709 and 12 March 2024, Official Report, House of Lords, Cols. 1901-1904.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal (a) support and (b) representation to Ministers in his Department in relation to their official conduct in each of the last three years.

Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

Such information is not centrally recorded or collated in the form requested.

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal (a) support and (b) representation to Ministers in his Department in relation to their official conduct in each of the last three years.

Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)

Such information is not centrally recorded or collated in the format requested. More generally, I would refer the hon. Member to the long-standing policies on legal expenditure, as set out recently by Cabinet Office Ministers on 12 March 2004, Official Report,17709 and 12 March 2024, Official Report, House of Lords, column 1901-1904.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal (a) support and (b) representation to Ministers in her Department in relation to their official conduct in each of the last three years.

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

The information is not held centrally or collated in the format requested. More generally, I would refer the hon. Member to the long-standing policies on legal expenditure, as set out recently by Cabinet Office Ministers on 12 March 2024, Official Report, Question 17709 and 12 March 2024, Official Report, House of Lords, Cols. 1901-1904.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate she has made of the amount of money lost to fraud and error by her Department in each of the last three financial years.

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

Fraud and error losses in the Department for each of the last three financial years are shown in the table:

Notes:

1. Figures shown in this table are gross losses that do not include monies subsequently recovered as a result of loss recovery activity.
2. Over the corresponding 3 year period £65.95m was recovered, this figure does not relate directly to the loss figures shown in the table as recovery action may involve funds lost over multiple years.
3. Figures are rounded to two decimal points.