Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will take steps to end the use of anti-advocacy clauses in government contracts.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
There are no anti-advocacy clauses in the Cabinet Office’s standard contracts.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason the role of Crown Representative for the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector was vacant between September 2014 and February 2018.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The role of VCSE Crown Representative was vacant while a suitable candidate was being identified. A list of current Crown Representatives and Strategic Suppliers can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strategic-suppliers
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of charity numbers data published by the Government Grant Information Service.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
Central departments are responsible for ensuring the data entered onto the Government Grants Information System is accurate. The Cabinet Office Grants Efficiency Function has provided a link to the Charity Commission site to facilitate the accurate inclusion of charity numbers. In addition the Cabinet Office performs regular checks on the data, as part of the data cleansing process and prior to publication of the Grants Register.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to replicate the Ministry of Justice Data Lab model across other government departments.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
There are no plans to replicate the Ministry of Justice Datalab model. A number of government departments have created and operate similar facilities where data can be securely accessed.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Government Grant Information Service will standardise its use of the 360Giving format across all Government departments.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Cabinet Office Grants Efficiency Function developed the Government Grants Information system (GGIS) in close collaboration with 360Giving to align GGIS data collection requirements with their recommended standards. Data will be published at scheme level covering the 2017/18 financial year in 2018. It is not currently possible to estimate how many departments will be in a position to publish data to 360Giving Standards in 2018 because full data for 2017/18 has not yet been captured.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 2304, tabled by the hon. Member for Croydon North on 30 June 2017.
Answered by Damian Green
I refer the Honourable member to the answer given to him on 10th July 2017 to PQ2304.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government intends to introduce payroll giving as an option for all government staff.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
All 18 central government departments already offer Payroll Giving to their staff.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he plans to publish the previous Government's audit on racial disparities in public services announced on 27 August 2016.
Answered by Damian Green
We are committed to the Race Disparity Audit and expect to publish the findings soon.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to publish a response to the Third Party Campaigning Review.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The Government is currently considering Lord Hodgson’s report on third party campaigning. It is considering the report alongside a number of other reports which have made recommendations about the framework of electoral law, such as the the Law Commission’s review of electoral law. The Government will respond to the issues raised in due course.
Asked by: Steve Reed (Labour (Co-op) - Croydon North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many organisations have been fined for failing to comply with regulations on third party campaigning set out in the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.
Answered by Chris Skidmore
The rules on third party campaigning at elections are set out in the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act 2000. These rules were amended by the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.
Since the amendments made by the 2014 Act came into force, three organisations have been fined by the Electoral Commission. On 19 April 2016, the Electoral Commission announced that it had fined Steve Hart from the Centre for Labour and Social Studies £1100 for failing to deliver two donations reports on time. On 19 April 2017, the Commission announced that it had fined Greenpeace Limited a total of £30,000 and Friends of the Earth Limited £1000. Both organisations did not register with the Electoral Commission at the 2015 UK Parliamentary General Election before spending in excess of the registration threshold.