Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to his Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.
Answered by Georgia Gould - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The department publishes details of all ministerial remuneration including compensation for loss of office in its Annual Reports and Accounts.
The information can be viewed on gov.uk at this address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts
The Cabinet Office has published Annual Reports and Accounts for periods up to and including the financial year 2022/23. The 2023/2024 Annual Report and Account is due to be published in the Autumn. Information related to the financial year 2024/25 will be published after that year has closed.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an estimate of the change in the relative cost of travelling by (a) car, (b) train and (c) bus in each year since 2003, using 2003 as the base figure of 100 and discounting inflation.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Member’s Parliamentary Question of 5th September is attached.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the real terms cost of travelling by air was in each year since 2010 using 2010 as the baseline.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Member’s Parliamentary Question of 5th September is attached.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will provide (a) the length in miles of each official trip the Prime Minister has taken by (i) train, (ii) plane, (iii) helicopter and (iv) car since 25 October 2022, (b) the length of time each of those trips took in minutes and (c) the start and end points for each of those trips.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
It has been the practice of successive Administrations not to publish granular information relating to the official movements of protected individuals and those accompanying them within the United Kingdom. The location of official Prime Ministerial visits is published each quarter on gov.uk.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many private flights have been taken by Government Ministers and officials from RAF Northolt in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Comprehensive details of Senior Officials’ Business Expenses, encompassing domestic flights are available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Government has spent on helicopter travel in each of the last ten years.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The requested information is not centrally held, and complying with this request would incur a disproportionate cost to the department. Comprehensive details of Senior Officials’ Business Expenses, encompassing domestic flights are available on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many official trips the Prime Minister has taken by (a) train, (b) plane and (c) helicopter since 25 October 2022.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
I refer the hon. Member to the answer of 24 February 2023, PQ 143902. The location of official Prime Ministerial visits is published each quarter on gov.uk.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the length of time it takes a baggage handler to complete counter terrorism checks.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Cabinet Office acknowledges the pressures that the aviation sector is under and has been working with the industry to offer support and speed up the security processes for prospective airport staff. UK Security Vetting (UKSV) has prioritised applications from the aviation sector since April of this year.
UKSV can only provide overall statistics for the aviation industry and are unable to separate out statistics for baggage handlers. On average, Accreditation Checks are being completed in five days or less. Counter Terrorist Checks (CTC) in the Aviation sector are being processed in under ten days on average.
In line with the practice followed by successive administrations, the Government does not otherwise comment on security matters.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on the Government’s review of central Government land.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Following the Spending Review 2021, we plan to update the Government Estate Strategy to reflect our vision and objectives for the government estate. We expect the strategy will continue to focus on disposal of government land and property and on reducing the size of the estate - albeit with more focus on divesting of property with high operating costs and maintenance liabilities than capital receipts. Work is already underway and we anticipate that this work will be completed by spring/summer 2022.
Asked by: Wera Hobhouse (Liberal Democrat - Bath)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his oral contribution of 12 November 2020, Official report, column 1047, what steps he has taken to meet representatives of the slavery memorial campaign.
Answered by Michael Gove
I am grateful to the hon. Member for raising these issues in the House. The UK deplores the human suffering caused by slavery and the slave trade. They are among the most dishonourable and abhorrent chapters in the history of humanity. I remain eager to meet to discuss this important work when time allows.