Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reasons consideration of extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to private contractors has not been explicitly included within the scope of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information's review.
Answered by Matt Hancock
It is for the independent Commission on Freedom of Information to determine the scope of its review in accordance with its Terms of Reference.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much he expects the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information to cost the public purse.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The costs incurred by the independent Commission on Freedom of Information will be accounted for on publication of the Commission’s report.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what criteria was used for deciding the membership of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Ministers appointed the members of the independent Commission on Freedom of Information on the basis of their experience and expertise, and to provide a cross-party balance.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information his Department holds on levels of self-employment in the (a) construction, (b) care, (c) cleaning, and (d) hospitality sectors.
Answered by Rob Wilson
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2014, Official Report, column 253W, on Shared Services Connected Limited, if he will publish the impact assessment for the Shared Services Connected Limited venture when it is complete.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
Further to my answer of 8 July 2014 to Question UIN203200 we will continue to work with staff, trade unions and other stakeholders to assess any impacts.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the impact assessment for the Shared Services Connected Limited venture.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
Assessments are ongoing and commercially sensitive.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of potential savings to the public purse from the Shared Services Connected Ltd venture.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
There has been cross-party agreement on the need for Shared Services for a decade but until recently all too little was achieved.
Independent Shared Service Centres will deliver a lower cost better quality of service, helping us to deliver a faster, smaller and more unified Civil Service.
Shared Service Connected Limited will contribute to the savings deliveredto the taxpayer by the transformation of back office functions, which will total over £400m by 2015/16.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many consultants have been engaged in the Crown Oversight Function since its creation; what each of their job roles were; and how much has been paid in consultancy fees to date.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
Prior to the last General Election the Civil Service lacked commercial and procurement skills. This Government's commercial and procurement reforms saved taxpayers £3.8 billion last year alone. The Government is strengthening central procurement skills to ensure further savings can be realised. The Crown Oversight Function was created on 1 November 2013 and has 52 Civil Service roles. Further details will be available via the department's organogram. Consultants were not employed at Government expense.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants of what grades have been employed on the Crown Oversight Function since its creation.
Answered by Lord Maude of Horsham
Prior to the last General Election the Civil Service lacked commercial and procurement skills. This Government's commercial and procurement reforms saved taxpayers £3.8 billion last year alone. The Government is strengthening central procurement skills to ensure further savings can be realised. The Crown Oversight Function was created on 1 November 2013 and has 52 Civil Service roles. Further details will be available via the department's organogram. Consultants were not employed at Government expense.