Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2664 on 10 Downing Street: Art Works, whether the portrait of Queen Elizabeth I will be permanently installed in 11 Downing Street.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government Art Collection website lists the artworks on display in Downing Street https://artcollection.dcms.gov.uk/?s=&display=artworkonly&search_place=Downing+Street
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Civil Service pension scheme administrator MyCSP is a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
MyCSP is a private company and carries out most of the day-to-day administration of the Civil Service Pension Scheme, under a contract with the Cabinet Office. As a private company, MyCSP is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. The Cabinet Office is a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the new National Security Adviser can direct civil servants; and for what reason he was appointed as a special adviser.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In line with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, special advisers cannot manage civil servants.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason Sue Gray was not appointed as Envoy for the Nation and Regions.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given by my Noble Friend on 4 December, Official Report, PQ HL2660.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish a list of the salaries of special advisers.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Information on Special Adviser numbers and costs is published annually in the Annual Report on Special Advisers as per the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, as was the case under the previous Administration. The 2025 Annual Report on Special Advisers will be published next year
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Ministerial residence in 10 Downing Street pays council tax as a (a) sole or main residence and (b) second home.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer is currently allocated the flat above 10 Downing Street and pays full council tax.
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what information (a) his Department, (b) the Certification Officer and (c) the Central Arbitration Committee hold on (i) successful and (ii) unsuccessful trade union recognition ballots in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Information from the Central Arbitration Committee in relation to the outcome of statutory trade union recognition ballots is provided below for each of the last 10 years:
| Successful | Unsuccessful |
2015 | 4 | 4 |
2016 | 5 | 1 |
2017 | 5 | 4 |
2018 | 7 | 6 |
2019 | 6 | 2 |
2020 | 2 | 0 |
2021 | 8 | 4 |
2022 | 5 | 1 |
2023 | 3 | 5 |
2024 | 4 | 5 |
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of (a) lowering the required member percentage from 10% to 2% for the statutory trade union recognition ballot process, (b) removing the likely majority support at the application stage and (c) removing the 40% support threshold at the recognition ballot stage on the number of recognised trade unions.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government has published a final stage impact assessment on strengthening workers’ rights to access, recognition and representation. This is available at: Impact assessment: Strengthening workers’ rights to trade union access, recognition and representation
Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Prime Minister plans to publish his tax return on gov.uk for 2023-24.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
There is an established process in place for the declaration and management of interests held by ministers. This ensures that steps are taken to avoid or mitigate any actual or perceived conflicts of interest.
As set out in the List of Ministers' Interests (November 2024), as part of the ministers' interests process, Ministers are asked to confirm that their tax affairs are up to date and that the arrangement of their affairs is consistent with their overarching duty to comply with the law. The List of Ministers' Interests is available on GOV.UK at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/list-of-ministers-interests
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 11 December 2024 to Question 16510 on Public Sector: Procurement, what his timetable is for publishing the National Procurement Policy Statement; and whether he plans to consult with stakeholders on his proposed procurement policy.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The government will publish a new National Procurement Policy Statement under the Procurement Act that will support the Government’s missions, drive value for money and deliver social value. We have been consulting with stakeholders on the development of the statement. This has included a series of roundtable discussions, and an online NPPS stakeholder survey. The new National Procurement Policy Statement will be completed in time for the commencement of the Procurement Act on 24 February 2025.