Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of how many people would be eligible for compensation under the terms of the recommendations of the second interim report of Infected Blood Inquiry, published on 5 April 2023, in Glenrothes constituency.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on his constituency.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have received interim compensation payments as a result of (a) their infection and (b) their family member’s infection resulting from contaminated blood or blood products in Glenrothes constituency.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Statistical Expert Group, established by the Infected Blood Inquiry, has provided valuable insight into the numbers of infections from blood and blood products in the UK between 1970 and 1991 and subsequent survival rates. Since October 2022, the Government has paid over £400 million in interim compensation payments to those infected or bereaved partners registered with the UK Infected Blood Support Schemes, totalling over 4,000 individuals. However, the requested information is not available by Parliamentary constituency. There is also considerable uncertainty over the number of people, especially those affected, who might be eligible under Sir Brian Langstaff’s recommendations. Therefore I am not able to provide a substantive response to the Honourable Member’s questions on his constituency.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment the Parliamentary Health & Services Ombudsman has made of the extent of the technical problems with its postal mailbox in summer 2021 which led to some submitted complaints not being processed.
Answered by Michael Ellis
We have been informed by officials at the Parliamentary Health & Services Ombudsman (PHSO) that the technical problems were caused by third-party servers used by the House of Commons. This issue was swiftly resolved by the House of Commons IT team. Members wanting to follow up on any cases submitted during this time should contact the PHSO directly via the MP mailbox as usual.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions she has held meetings with representatives of the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland to discuss the Northern Ireland Backstop in 2019; and when she plans to next hold a meeting with that party on that matter.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions in 2019 she met representatives of the Democratic Unionist Party to discuss the Northern Ireland backstop proposals in the Withdrawal Agreement; and when the next such meeting is due to take place.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions she has held meetings with representatives of the Social Democratic and Labour Party Party to discuss the Northern Ireland Backstop in 2019; and when she plans to next hold a meeting with that party on that matter.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions she met representatives of Sinn Fein to discuss the Northern Ireland backstop proposal in the Withdrawal Agreement; and when the next such meeting is due to take place in 2019.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Prime Minister, on how many occasions she has held meetings with representatives of the Ulster Unionist Party to discuss the Northern Ireland Backstop in 2019; and when she plans to next hold a meeting with that party on that matter.
Answered by Theresa May
I refer the Hon. Member to the Oral Statement I gave on Leaving the European Union on the 21 January 2019, Official Report, Column 25.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to amend provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1983 relating to the franchise.
Answered by John Penrose
As set out in our manifesto for this parliament, the Government will bring forward proposals amending the Representation of the People Act 1985 to remove the outdated 15 year time limit on overseas voting rights. Subject to the necessary Parliamentary approval, we intend to have this fully in place for the next European Parliamentary elections and UK Parliamentary elections in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Asked by: Peter Grant (Scottish National Party - Glenrothes)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions in each of the last five years officials of his Department have contacted representatives of a foreign government to ask for an account of private meetings or discussions held between representatives of that government and Scottish Government ministers.
Answered by Matt Hancock
Details of discussions with foreign governments are not usually disclosed.