Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the answer of 25 November 2024 to Question 13821 on Infrastructure and Projects Authority: Departmental Responsibility, which Minister will be responsible for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government will confirm the responsible Minister for the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority in due course.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024 to Question 13327 on DCMS: Official Visits, when he plans to announce when he plans to publish the (a) Q1 and (b) Q2 transparency data.
Answered by Abena Oppong-Asare - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Quarterly transparency data for 1 April to 30 June 2024 was published on 28 November 2024. Quarterly transparency data for 1 July to 30 September 2024 will be published shortly.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when Sue Gray's employment as a special adviser ended.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Sue Gray’s employment as a special adviser ended on 6 October 2024 following her resignation that day.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants work in the Government People Group; and what the annual cost of the Group is.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
As at 9th December 2024, 836 (789 full time equivalent) civil servants work in Government People Group. Government People Group also currently directly employs 2097 Fast Streamers, through 14 centrally managed, profession based Fast Stream leadership development schemes. All Fast Streamers are deployed across government in roles covering a range of government professions.
2023/24 financial year operating costs relating to activities and services delivered by the Group were £254m. This includes the cost of Fast Streamers employed and deployed across government on non Government People Group activities.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether members of the Lobby may take photographs on flights travelling with the Prime Minister.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The lobby is able to take photographs on flights with the Prime Minister when conditions allow.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Government Communications Service holds on the level of cross-government spending on external public relations firms in the last year for which figures are available.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
This information is not centrally held by the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether there are plans for 10 Downing Street to communicate via the Blue Sky social media channel.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government continues to look at ways to make sure the government’s digital communications better reflect the way the public now consumes information online.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers in 10 Downing Street cover foreign affairs.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Special adviser appointments are published annually.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the implications for the Government's policies on departmental check-off arrangements of Supreme Court judgment [2024] UKSC 41 relating to (a) Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs v Public and Commercial Services Union [2023] UKSC 75; (b) Commissioners for His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs v Public and Commercial Services Union [2023] UKSC 76 and (c) Secretary of State for the Home Department v Public and Commercial Services Union [2024] UKSC 77.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Departments are responsible for the development of their own workforce policies, subject to the framework of instructions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. This includes the administration of check-off arrangements.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to amend the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (MoPSA) includes provision for severance payments to ministers and certain office-holders.
The Chancellor announced in July that ahead of the Spending Review she would review eligibility for ministerial severance payments based on time in office, as set out in MoPSA. This review is ongoing.