Tag: Tom Watson

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-06-28.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 27 June 2016, Official Report, column 23, what the terms of reference are for the new EU Unit.

Mr Oliver Letwin

A new EU unit will be set up in Whitehall, bringing together officials and policy expertise from across the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Foreign Office and BIS. It will be based in the Cabinet Office and report to the Cabinet on delivering the outcome of the referendum, advising on transitional issues and exploring objectively options for our future relationship with Europe and the rest of the world from outside the EU. The funding for the unit is yet to be determined.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-12.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many disabled members of staff in his Department are currently enrolled on the Accelerate talent programme.

Ben Gummer

The Accelerate scheme, launched in April 2016, is a new development programme for talented senior civil servants (SCS payband 1 and 2) from BAME backgrounds and those with a disability or long-term health condition. In the first cohort of the scheme, each department was allocated two spaces. The current number of Cabinet Office participants in the programme with either characteristic is too small to share, based on data protection and data sharing guidelines.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-19.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which ministerial responsibilities are held by the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Ben Gummer

The List of Ministerial Responsibilities will be published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-20.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, when his Department plans to respond to the letter sent to it by the Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments in November 2015.

Ben Gummer

As part of my introduction to the Cabinet Office, I plan to meet the Chairmen of the Cabinet Office sponsored NDPBs to discuss the workings of their respective Bodies and this will include the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments following which I will reply to the Chairman’s letter.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-02.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many applications from former special advisers of his Office have been received under the business appointment rules for civil servants since 13 July 2016.

Ben Gummer

Under the Business Appointment Rules, applications by former special advisers in the Prime Minister’s office are the responsibility of the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary takes decisions on any such applications, taking account of the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments in respect of the most senior appointees. A List of the advisory committees is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/advisory-committee-on-business-appointments

Summary details of applications from special advisers equivalent to SCS1 and above are published.

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-08.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials of his Department work in the Propriety and Ethics team.

Ben Gummer

Transparency data on Cabinet Office staffing can be found online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-staff-and-salary-data-as-at-31-march-2016

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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-10-21.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what discussions she has had with the games industry on the potential effects on that industry of the UK leaving the EU.

Matt Hancock

We have ongoing, detailed discussions with the Games industry and others on all matters, including the UK leaving the EU. The Games industry is represented on the Creative Industries Council, which met on the 27th October 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-02-25.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how he plans to reduce the cost per participant of the National Citizen Service.

Mr Rob Wilson

Consecutive, independent evaluations have demonstrated that National Citizen Service (NCS) delivers value for money and that the cost per participant has fallen since NCS began. In 2013, the NCS Trust, an independent social enterprise, was established to manage NCS and deliver the programme. Cabinet Office is working closely with the NCS Trust to develop their plans to extend NCS to 360,000 young people per year by 2020, whilst ensuring value for money for the taxpayer.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-03-03.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the cost: benefit ratio of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information.

Matthew Hancock

The total expenditure of the Commission will be published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-06-07.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many officials of his Department have specific policy responsibility for deregulation.

Matthew Hancock

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 11 March 2016 to UIN: 29744.