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Written Question
Civil Servants: Cost of Living Payments
Wednesday 21st February 2024

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make the cost-of-living payment made to civil servants in the year to 31 March 2023 available to all civil servants (a) employed and (b) who retired in that year.

Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office

I refer the Honourable Member for Coventry South to the answer given on 25th October 2023 in response to PQ 203635.


Written Question
Coronavirus: Disease Control
Thursday 10th June 2021

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government intends to revisit its plans to lift covid-19 lockdown restrictions on June 21 2021 in light of new covid-19 variants.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

As set out by the Prime Minister, the Roadmap out of restrictions in England will be driven by data not dates. As set out in the Roadmap, it takes around four weeks for the data to reflect the impact of easing restrictions from the previous step, and the Government will provide a further week’s notice to the public and businesses ahead of any further changes.

As set out in the Roadmap, step 4 will be no earlier than 21 June. On 14 June, the Government will review the latest data against the four tests set out in the Roadmap. The Government will then set out whether or not it is safe to move England to step 4 on 21 June.


Written Question
Ministerial and Other Maternity Allowances Bill 2019-21
Thursday 29th April 2021

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which transgender charities the Government consulted with prior to the removal of gender neutral language from the Ministerial and other Maternity Allowances Bill.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.


Written Question
Government Departments: Procurement
Monday 26th April 2021

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what measures are in place to ensure transparency in the procurement of Government services and contracts.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Central Government buyers must publish all tender documents and contracts with a contract value of over £10,000 on Contracts Finder. Updated guidance on transparency and the publication of tender and contract documents was published in 2017, Procurement Policy Note 02/17: Promoting Greater Transparency.


We are also taking steps to improve the processes already in place by proposing specific measures to strengthen transparency through the commercial lifecycle as set out in our Green Paper.


Written Question
Weddings: Coronavirus
Friday 23rd April 2021

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to proposals under Step 3 in Covid-19: Guidance for wedding and civil partnership receptions and celebrations, whether restaurants will be considered covid-secure indoor venues where up to 30 people may proceed with a wedding reception.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

At Step 3, no earlier than 17 May 2021, weddings and civil partnership receptions can proceed with up to 30 people either outdoors (including private gardens) or in any COVID Secure indoor venue that is not required by law to remain closed. At Step 3, indoor hospitality will be allowed to open, meaning that wedding receptions can take place in restaurants as well as a range of other COVID-Secure venues and businesses.

Further details on receptions at this Step will be updated in due course to enable us to take account of developments in the pandemic.

For further information, please refer to the guidance for for wedding and civil partnership receptions and celebrations:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-small-marriages-and-civil-partnerships/covid-19-guidance-for-wedding-and-civil-partnership-receptions-and-celebrations

For further information, please refer to the guidance on reopening businesses and venues, which sets out what businesses/venues open at each step:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reopening-businesses-and-venues-in-england/reopening-businesses-and-venues


Written Question
10 Downing Street: Construction
Tuesday 20th April 2021

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what information the Government holds on the breakdown of costs in the construction of the briefing room in 10 Downing Street.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Government has established facilities within 9 Downing Street, rather than 10 Downing Street, which are being used for daily broadcasting by a number of news organisations, therefore I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 169917 on 22 March 2021.


Written Question
Queen's Consent
Wednesday 10th March 2021

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to review the operation of Queen's consent.

Answered by Chloe Smith

Queen's Consent is a longstanding convention and a requirement of the Parliamentary process. The Government does not plan to review its operation.


Written Question
Voting Rights: Travellers
Thursday 17th December 2020

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

What assessment he has made of the potential effect of introducing mandatory voter ID on the Traveller and Roma communities’ ability to vote.

Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to PQ 105426 given on 22 October.


Written Question
Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements
Wednesday 7th October 2020

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on negotiating arrangements to replace the European Health Insurance Card for UK citizens from 1 January 2021.

Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons

From 31 December 2020, people protected under the Withdrawal Agreement will continue to be entitled to a UK-issued EHIC. For people not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the future of reciprocal healthcare arrangements between the UK and EU are subject to negotiations, which are ongoing.


Written Question
Delivery Services: Coronavirus
Thursday 10th September 2020

Asked by: Zarah Sultana (Labour - Coventry South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans his Department has to (a) recognise and (b) reward delivery drivers who transported essential items across the UK during the covid-19 lockdown.

Answered by Chloe Smith

Further to the answer given by my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster during his oral statement on 28 April 2020, the Government will ensure recognition is both timely and appropriate and is reflective of the profound gratitude the nation feels.