Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of legal advice provided to the Rt hon. Member for Uxbridge for the investigation into his conduct by the Committee of Privileges.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the Hon Member to PQ 173102 and 111722. As set out in my previous answers, the Government has previously committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.
Information about the contract between the Cabinet Office and Peters & Peters can be found on ContractsFinder at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26bfbb02-7e5b-4500-9746-6513393bfd27
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 a list of formal complaints being considered by the investigation into the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
In line with the usual process, costs will be accounted for in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. Mr Adam Tolley KC is undertaking his investigation and his findings will be made public.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of engaging Adam Tolley KC to undertake an investigation into the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
In line with the usual process, costs will be accounted for in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts. Mr Adam Tolley KC is undertaking his investigation and his findings will be made public.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when he plans to respond to Question 152308, tabled on 24 February 2023 by the hon. Member for North East Fife.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
I tabled an answer to Question 152308 on 9 March.
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 make an assessment of the potential impact of the vacancy for the position of Anti-Corruption Champion on (a) public trust in Westminster, (b) ministerial standards, (c) Government transparency and (d) the publication of a second Anti-Corruption Strategy.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
My Rt Hon Friend, the Minister for Security and Member for Tonbridge and Malling, leads within Government on the work on the current Anti-Corruption Strategy and its update.
My noble Friend, Baroness Neville-Rolfe, leads within the Cabinet Office on Transparency and Freedom of Information.
On ministerial standards, the Prime Minister is the arbiter of the Ministerial Code, supported by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in relation to oversight of Government Propriety and Ethics.
All Ministers, and indeed, Parliamentarians, are guided by the Seven Principles of Public Life, which help ensure and maintain public trust.
An announcement on a new Anti-Corruption Champion will be made in due course.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of (a) legal disbursements paid to Peters and Peters in relation to the Privileges Committee and (b) other legal expenses incurred as a result of that investigation.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As the Committee’s inquiry remains ongoing, the contract for the provision of legal support to the former Prime Minister is being extended. Updates to the contract can be found at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26bfbb02-7e5b-4500-9746-6513393bfd27.
The Government has previously committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what is the projected cost to the public purse of the proposed renewal of the contract with Peters and Peters in relation to the Privileges Committee.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As the Committee’s inquiry remains ongoing, the contract for the provision of legal support to the former Prime Minister is being extended. Updates to the contract can be found at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26bfbb02-7e5b-4500-9746-6513393bfd27.
The Government has previously committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of the contract with Peters and Peters in relation to the Privileges Committee.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
As the Committee’s inquiry remains ongoing, the contract for the provision of legal support to the former Prime Minister is being extended. Updates to the contract can be found at the following link: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/26bfbb02-7e5b-4500-9746-6513393bfd27.
The Government has previously committed to setting out the final costs of the total legal support in relation to the Privileges Committee in due course after the conclusion of this matter.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the next 3-5 year review of the Honours System is due to (a) take place and (b) report.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The review will take place and is expected to report in 2023.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department spent on consultancy fees in each of the last five years.
Answered by Jacob Rees-Mogg
For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is an integral part of the Cabinet Office. Spend on consultancy is published in the Annual Report and Accounts. Figures for the last five years are:
Year | £000s |
2021/22 | 28,997 |
2020/21 | 79,799 |
2019/20 | 35,380 |
2018/19 | 36,893 |
2017/18 | 23,988 |
Note - currently 2020/21 remains provisional until our annual audit is finalised.