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  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to his Department’s spending data for October 2014, for what reasons IPSOS Mori was engaged on the business case for Efficiency and Reform Group fraud, error and debt.

    Matthew Hancock

    Ipsos MORI were commissioned by the Grants Efficiency Programme to conduct research to help us to further understand the make-up of the complex grants landscape across 17 central government departments. The study consisted of 81 interviews, which investigated a range of randomly selected grants. Interviews were held with a cross-section of Grant Managers between 15th July and 12th September 2014.

    The qualitative and quantitative findings from this research were used to help develop a baseline for calculating the benefits of various proposed interventions aimed at improving the administration of government grants, which were included in The Grants Efficiency Programme’s outline business case. The business case received support from ministers across government and the Grants Efficiency Programme is working with departments to deliver better information and to increase capability, in relation to grants, by the Spring.

  • Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Chi Onwurah – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Chi Onwurah on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when the Public Sector Transparency Board last met.

    Matthew Hancock

    The Public Sector Transparency Board has been replaced with the Data Steering Group.

  • Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Corri Wilson on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if the Government will review the operation of the Lord Lyon King of Arms Act 1592 in respect of the restrictions it places on the granting of arms.

    John Penrose

    Following representations from Ruth Davidson MSP and others, and the strength of feeling concerning the Ayr united and Airdrieonians Football clubs, we have considered the matter and concluded that the judicial functions of the Lord Lyon are devolved to the Scottish Parliament under paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998. Accordingly, any question in relation to the judicial functions of the Lord Lyon is for Holyrood rather than Westminster.

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what cyber-security training civil servants are required to undertake (a) as part of their induction and (b) during their employment.

    Matthew Hancock

    All civil servants undertake information security training; including the e-learning course, "Responsible for Information" as part of their induction and as a yearly refresher, plus further training as necessary.

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-05.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will estimate the cost to the public purse of (a) agency workers and (b) directly employed staff in the civil service at each grade in each year since 2010.

    Matthew Hancock

    All this information is publically available on GOV.UK.

    “

  • Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Louise Haigh – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Louise Haigh on 2016-02-05.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cancellations of tax credits by Concentrix have been reversed since that company’s contract with his Department commenced.

    Mr David Gauke

    Up to the end of January 2016, Concentrix have changed around 4800 out of around 419,000 decisions that they have taken since the start of the contract. These changed decisions are often as a result of new information provided by the claimant that had not been provided at the time of the original decision. The 4800 changed decisions includes some awards that were cancelled and others that were amended.

  • Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Corri Wilson on 2016-02-05.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has target times for responding to written correspondence from members of the public; and what change there has been in the volume of written correspondence to HMRC from the public seeking information or assistance over the last three years.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs’ (HMRC) targets for responding to written correspondence received via post are to reply to 80% within 15 working days and 95% within 40 working days.

    The volume of written correspondence received by HMRC has decreased over the past three years, and is currently at around one million items per month. HMRC regularly publishes general performance reports on Gov.uk.

  • Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Gavin Newlands – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gavin Newlands on 2016-02-05.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the policy of HM Revenue and Customs is on using debt collection agencies to retrieve outstanding tax payments from (a) individuals and (b) businesses.

    Mr David Gauke

    As an integral part of its overall debt policy, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses private sector debt collection agencies as additional resource capacity, to extend the reach of its debt recovery activities (currently around 3% of all collection activity), particularly in relation to high volume, low value, debts. This ensures that all debts are kept in active recovery, and releases HMRC staff to focus on higher value more complex cases.

  • Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Corri Wilson on 2016-02-05.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many letters to HM Revenue and Customs from members of the public remained unanswered after (a) four, (b) eight and (c) 12 weeks in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) does not hold this data. However, they regularly publish general performance reports at Gov.uk.

  • Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Corri Wilson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Corri Wilson on 2016-02-05.

    To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many cheques sent to HM Revenue and Customs from members of the public remained uncashed for (a) four, (b) eight and (c) 12 weeks in the most recent year for which figures are available.

    Mr David Gauke

    HM Revenue and Customs contracts the supplier BancTec to process cheques received from customers. Cheques are passed to BancTec on the day they are received, 99% of the cheques received are banked on the day of receipt. Over the last 12 months there was only one occasion when the cheques were not banked on the day of receipt. In one percent of cases further information is required, usually from the customer, to enable the cheque to be processed. Generally, all cases that require investigation are resolved within four working days.