Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will publish a summary of the first meeting of the Council of the Nations and Regions.
Answered by Nick Thomas-Symonds - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The inaugural Council of the Nations and Regions met on 11 October in Edinburgh to discuss growth and investment. On 17 October the UK Government published the Terms of Reference for the Council and a communique summarising the discussion. A communique will be published following each meeting of the Council, which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/council-of-the-nations-and-regions-inaugural-meeting.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason international students studying in the UK are included in overall immigration statistics.
Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon Members Parliamentary Question of 18th December is attached.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish an updated list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
A list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries is published on gov.uk. The Government plans to publish an updated list shortly, taking into account recent changes within Government.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what funding is being made available to provide compensation for those affected by the Infected Blood Inquiry; and when this funding will be made available.
Answered by John Glen - Shadow Paymaster General
I thank the honourable Member for her question. I would like to reassure her that I am meeting with colleagues across Whitehall, including Treasury Ministers, to discuss the Infected Blood Inquiry recommendations, and the Government’s response, and will update the House as soon as I can.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues of the level of poverty among veterans.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
This Government is committed to supporting all households, including veterans, with the cost of living.
Veterans who are particularly vulnerable to increased living costs are likely to be eligible for targeted cost of living support payments, including the £150 disability cost of living payment, in addition to accessing targeted welfare and cost of living support, including the Energy Price Guarantee.
For the first time, a veteran marker has been included in the national Census which will transform our understanding of employment, finance, housing and other related priorities among veterans and their families.
We are also taking action to further support veterans, their families and communities across the UK. This includes Op FORTITUDE, the dedicated referral scheme for veterans facing homelessness and rough sleeping, which is part of a broader £8.55 million of funding for specialist help and wrap-around support for veterans in more than 900 supported housing units; the £20 million Veterans Capital Housing Fund, supporting projects which contribute towards extra housing for veterans through new builds and refurbishment of existing social and charitable housing; the £700,000 Veterans Career Development Fund, supporting projects which enable access for veterans and their families to qualifications and training to secure, sustainable, valuable employment; and an Independent Review of HMG Welfare Services for Veterans.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been found within their Department's estate.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Survey work is underway. For now, the focus is on bringing together the information we hold about the Government estate into one place. This work is being coordinated by the Office for Government Property.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions a request for a meeting by an hon. Member was not agreed to by (a) a Minister and (b) their office on behalf of a Minister in the last 12 months.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
This information is not centrally collated and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Ministers will regularly seek to engage with hon. Members, whilst balancing wider Ministerial and Parliamentary responsibilities.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many sewage leaks were recorded within the estate managed by Government Property Agency in the last twelve months.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Government Property Agency currently operates in c.230 different sites across the UK. There have been 4 small scale sewage leaks within the Agency’s estate within the last 12 months. 2 in York and 2 in London due to exceptionally heavy rainfall.
These were also referenced in PQs 186466/186468.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the purpose was of official business on account of which the Cabinet Office spent £1,946.30 on air travel on 18 October 2022 for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster at that time.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
This relates to Ministerial air travel, on government business. Such costs are standard practice under multiple administrations, both Conservative and Labour.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many sewage leaks have been recorded within the estate of the Prime Minister's Office in the last twelve months.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The Cabinet Office currently operates in 32 different sites across the UK. There have been 4 small scale sewage leaks within the Department’s office estate within the last 12 months. 2 in York and 2 in London due to exceptionally heavy rainfall.
Estate management of the Prime Minister’s Office falls under the Cabinet Office. No sewage leaks occurred within the PMO estate in the last twelve months.