Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has plans to introduce a Minister for Government Efficiency in the Cabinet Office to oversee cross-departmental efficiency initiatives.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Cabinet Office is driving reform to deliver cross-departmental efficiencies, including through better use of data and technology.
I have ministerial responsibility for public sector reform, which includes driving cross-departmental work to improve efficiency in government.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has made an assessment of the suitability of adopting similar international government models including the (a) US Office of Management and Budget and (b) Department for Government Efficiency in the UK.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Departments have agreed a 2% productivity, efficiency and savings target in the first phase of the Spending Review and have been set a stretching 5% target in the second phase. This target is to be delivered via efficiencies and savings from innovative technology-driven approaches, such as Artificial Intelligence; more effectively joining up services; and a more strategic approach to government processes, including procurement.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury has also asked each department to carry out a line-by-line review of existing day-to-day budgets to identify where spending is no longer aligned with this government’s priorities or is poor value for money.
The Office for Value for Money, led by an independent Chair, will work with departments to assess where and how to root out waste and inefficiency, including agreeing plans to deliver technical efficiencies through the Spending Review period. It will also develop recommendations for system reform, informed by lessons learned from the past, international best practice, and the views of external organisations. This will underpin a ruthless focus within government on realising benefits from every pound of public spending.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy for all Departments to publish a list of all their associated public bodies that have been delegated power to (a)make amend or revoke, (b) enforce and (c) monitor compliance with regulations.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office publishes a list of public bodies classified as arm’s length bodies, the public bodies directory, which includes whether an organisation performs a regulatory function.
The arm’s length bodies which departments have flagged as performing a regulatory function through the most recent public bodies directory data collection are:
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Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide a list of all public bodies that have been delegated powers to (a) make amend or revoke, (b) enforce and (c) monitor compliance with regulations.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Cabinet Office publishes a list of public bodies classified as arm’s length bodies, the public bodies directory, which includes whether an organisation performs a regulatory function.
The arm’s length bodies which departments have flagged as performing a regulatory function through the most recent public bodies directory data collection are:
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Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the timeliness of the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals in responding to correspondence from hon. and Rt hon. members.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Honours and Appointments Secretariat in the Cabinet Office provides administrative support to the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals (HD Committee) including processing correspondence to the Committee from members of the public and Hon. and Rt Hon. members.
The department has guidelines on dealing with correspondence and endeavours to process correspondence as promptly as possible within these guidelines.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment has been made of the (a) effectiveness of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO), (b) quality of PHSO customer service and (c) PHSO responsiveness to enquiries from hon. Members.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is a crown servant that reports directly to Parliament. The Ombudsman is not accountable to the government for its performance and sets its own standards for how it delivers its objectives. Further to this, the Honourable Member may wish to write to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee that acts as the scrutiny body for the Ombu
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the infected blood compensation framework report by Sir Robert Francis QC by 14 March 2022 or as soon as his Department receives it, whichever is earlier.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The study will report to the Paymaster General no later than 14 March 2022. The Government will give full consideration to Sir Robert's study - which is separate from the independent public inquiry. The Government's response and Sir Robert's study will be published.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what targets he is setting for the adoption of artificial intelligence to improve the quality and efficiency of public services.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Government does not set targets for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, the Government has set up several avenues to make sure we are making the most of AI, such as the independent AI Council.
Departments are also required to follow the Technology Code of Practice which includes guidance on the use of emerging technology. Emerging technology should only be used where it meets the users’ needs, and this includes the use of AI.
The Government continues to work with departments to establish what other efficiencies can be realised while also meeting the needs of citizens.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to introduce a Bill for the reform and modernisation of the public service ombudsman sector as provided for in the 2015 Queen's Speech.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Government is committed to the reform and modernisation of the public service ombudsman sector and it remains our intention to introduce draft legislation as soon as reasonably possible.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many cases referred by hon Members to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman took (a) up to one month, (b) one to two months, (c) two to three months, (d) three to four months, (e) four to five months, (f) five to six months and (g) more than six months from referral to allocation to a caseworker in each of the last three years; and how long each such case took to be allocated.
Answered by Oliver Letwin
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman publish statistical information on their performance in their Annual Report and Resource Accounts which are laid before Parliament. I have asked the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman to write to the Hon. Member with further detail on the specific questions raised. Copies of the reply will be placed in the House Library.