Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any employees of the Conservative Party will report to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in his role as Downing Street Chief of Staff.
Answered by Michael Ellis
As has been the case under successive administrations, issues relating to staff employed by the governing party are a matter for that party.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) career civil servants, (b) political appointees within the civil service, (c) Ministers of the Crown and (d) arms length public bodies will report to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in his role as Downing Street Chief of Staff.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne on 7 February 2022 (Hansard Volume 708, Column 695) and the answer I gave on 10 February to PQ 119903 to the Hon. Member for Luton South.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many staff the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be responsible for in his role as Downing Street chief of staff.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Hon. Member to the reply I gave to the Hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne on 7 February 2022 (Hansard Volume 708, Column 695) and the answer I gave on 10 February to PQ 119903 to the Hon. Member for Luton South.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the appointment of an hon. Member as Downing Street Chief of Staff is (a) a political appointment accountable to the Prime Minister or (b) a Government appointment accountable to Parliament.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer to the reply I gave to the Hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne on 7 February 2022 (Hansard Volume 708, from Column 695).
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is a Minister of the Crown.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the appointment of an hon. Member as Head of the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit is (a) a political appointment accountable to the Prime Minister or (b) a Government appointment accountable to Parliament.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs was appointed as a Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office on 3 February 2022. He is a Minister of the Crown.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the remit of the public inquiry into the Government's handling of the covid-19 pandemic will include consideration of (a) the destruction of expired doses and (b) any potential wastage of covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Michael Ellis
On 12 May, the Prime Minister confirmed that a public inquiry into COVID-19 will be established on a statutory basis, with full formal powers and that it will begin its work in spring 2022. A chair will be appointed by the end of the year. More details, including the terms of reference for the inquiry, will be set out in due course.