Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the conclusions of the Electoral Commission's report into the activities of Vote Leave and the alleged fraud committed during the EU referendum in 2016.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The Electoral Commission is the independent regulatory body responsible for ensuring that elections and referendums are run effectively and in accordance with the law. Where it has reason to believe that electoral law has been breached it has the power to investigate, impose sanctions, or refer to the police. The Government has no involvement with Electoral Commission investigations. The Electoral Commission has produced recommendations on campaign finance which the Government is considering. These are not specific to individual cases but are about the wider system.
The Article 50 notification will not be withdrawn. The Government is committed to finding a way to fulfil the democratic decision of the referendum, deliver Brexit and move our country forward.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with the Scottish Government on countering non-kinetic threats.
Answered by David Lidington
My officials have regular discussions with the Scottish Government on a range of issues, including and relating to countering non-kinetic threats.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to support public sector agencies in dealing with hybrid and non-kinetic threats.
Answered by David Lidington
Public Sector agencies can access a full range of guidance and support on a wide range of threats from the UK's national technical authorities: the National Cyber Security Centre for cyber security, the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) for physical and personnel security and UKNACE for counter eavesdropping.
Alongside this support public sector agencies benefit from protection against certain threats, for example through the Active Cyber Defence measures provided free of charge to the public sector as detailed in the NCSC's recent annual review.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to improve the UK’s cyber security.
Answered by David Lidington
The 2016 National Cyber Security Strategy sets out in detail the Government’s approach to improve the UK’s cyber security. This includes a wide range of measures to defend our people, deter our adversaries and develop the capabilities we need to ensure the UK remains the safest place to live and do business online.
One of the most visible elements of the strategy is the creation of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), to improve our prevention and response capability and ensure that citizens and business have the best advice on how to protect themselves. For more on their role, the NCSC’s second Annual Review can be found at https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/annual-review-2018.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking ensure that staff working for Government executive agencies are guaranteed the real living wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The UK Living Wage and London Living Wage figures produced by the Living Wage Foundation, are not statutory figures, and are not therefore legally binding on employers.
The UK government applies a statutory National Living Wage for all employees over the age of 25, and National Minimum Wage rates for those under 25, through a policy produced by BEIS and audited and enforced by HMRC.
Remuneration for all grades below the Senior Civil Service is delegated to individual departments, executive agencies and other organisations. While organisations must comply with the statutory minimum rates, it is for each one to determine pay above this level, and whether or not to match the rates set by the Living Wage Foundation.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many people have undertaken unpaid work in each Government department since 2016; and how many of those people were not subsequently offered a full-time equivalent paid position.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Cabinet Office does not hold this information centrally.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Ministry of Defence Committee Report 2017, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing an enhanced effective pension age of 60 years for Ministry of Defence Police officers; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Treasury and Cabinet Office Ministers have previously given consideration to the merits of introducing an enhanced effective pension age of 60 years for Ministry of Defence Policy Officers, but have not been minded to make such a change.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which Ministers will represent the Government at the Anti-Corruption Summit in May 2016.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Prime Minister will represent the UK at the London Anti-Corruption Summit.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish a list of representatives he has invited to the Anti-Corruption Summit to be held in May 2016.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The London Anti-Corruption Summit will bring together governments, international organisations, businesses and civil society to confront the problem of corruption. Information about the summit can be found on the summit web pages of the GOV.UK website. Further details will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Stewart Malcolm McDonald (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he plans to invite representatives from the Scottish government and its agencies to the Anti-Corruption Summit being held in London in May 2016.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Anti-Corruption Summit will bring together representatives from across the UK to discuss how we can drive forward our response to corruption.