Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he had with trade unions representing civil servants prior to the announcement by his Department of the reduction in the number of civil servants by 91,000.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
I did not discuss the matter with Civil Service trade unions prior to the announcement, however officials engaged with unions promptly after the announcement was made and this dialogue will continue. Trade unions have written to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on this matter and will receive a response in due course.
The size of the civil service has swelled by almost 25% since 2016 – the highest numbers for over a decade. This was partly driven by the once in a generation challenge of dealing with a global pandemic, as well as extra staff required to deliver the UK’s departure from the EU.
We are incredibly grateful to the civil service for the outstanding job they do in delivering for the public but when people across the country are facing pressures on living costs, the public rightly expect their government to lead by example and to run as efficiently as possible.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2022 to Question 127423 on Prime Minister: Civil Servants and Special Advisers, how many special advisers are the responsibility of (a) the Prime Minister, (b) the Chief of Staff, (c) the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and (d) other Cabinet Office ministers.
Answered by Michael Ellis
Information about Special Adviser numbers and appointing ministers is published annually under the requirements of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010. The Annual Report on Special Advisers 2021, published on 15 July 2021, is accessible through GOV.UK.
The Annual Report on Special Advisers for the current year will be published in due course.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2022 to Question 126664 on Undocumented Migrants: English Channel, whether the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is working on the small boats taskforce.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, both in that role and as the Downing Street Chief of Staff, continues to play an important role supporting the Illegal Migration Taskforce. He is assisted by Michael Ellis MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office.
Asked by: Wendy Chamberlain (Liberal Democrat - North East Fife)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is of (a) his new Chief of Staff and (b) his new Director of Communications.
Answered by Michael Ellis
In relation to the Chief of Staff, I would refer the Hon. Member back to the reply I gave to her on 7 February 2022 (Hansard volume 708, from column 695).
In relation to the Director of Communications, pursuant to the Constitution Reform and Governance Act 2010, a report is published annually containing information about the number and cost of special advisers. Salaries of individuals above £70,000 are detailed in bands of £5,000.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what role (a) the Prime Minister and (b) the Chief of Staff will have in the permanent appointment of a Permanent Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for Downing Street.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Rt hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Luton South on 10 February, PQ119903.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make it his policy to mandate individual risk assessments for all employees in his Department before they return to the workplace following the easing of covid-19 restrictions; and how many individual risk assessments for people returning to work in those circumstances have been conducted by the Department as of 21 February 2022.
Answered by Heather Wheeler
Throughout the pandemic, the Cabinet Office has followed Government guidance on ensuring safety in the workplace, particularly the Working Safely during Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance - recognising the different approaches taken by the devolved administrations. This includes undertaking appropriate premises risk assessments and implementing mitigation measures.
In addition to workplace risk assessments, we encourage managers to complete individual risk assessments with staff who come into the workplace. Any data acquired through use of the CIRI is confidential and will only be used to ensure any risks are identified and actions taken to respond to any issues relating to a return to the workplace. We do not store this information centrally.
Asked by: Angela Rayner (Labour - Ashton-under-Lyne)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what work is undertaken by the Prime Minister's appointments unit; how many staff are within the unit; and whether they are officials or special advisers.
Answered by Michael Ellis
The No 10 appointments unit has existed across successive administrations and is staffed by four civil servants.
It supports the Prime Minister in all appointments and dignities (including, but not limited to, regulated public appointments) within the constitutional remit of Her Majesty’s Government.
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will answer questions in the House of Commons in his capacity as the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Hon. Member to the reply I gave the Hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne on 7 February 2022 (Hansard Volume 708, from Column 695).
Asked by: Brendan O'Hara (Scottish National Party - Argyll and Bute)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will publish the ministerial responsibilities of the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.
Answered by Michael Ellis
I refer the Hon. Member to the reply I gave the Hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne on 7 February 2022 (Hansard Volume 708, from Column 695).
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any employees of the Conservative Party will report to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in his role as Downing Street Chief of Staff.
Answered by Michael Ellis
As has been the case under successive administrations, issues relating to staff employed by the governing party are a matter for that party.