Tag: Tom Watson

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, which expenses have been claimed by the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam under the Public Duty Cost Allowance.

Ben Gummer

The purpose of the Public Duties Cost Allowance is to assist former Prime Ministers with the costs of continuing to fulfil duties associated with their previous position in public life. Exceptionally, the then Prime Minister agreed that the former Deputy Prime Minister , the Rt Hon Member for Sheffield Hallam, should be able to have access to the allowance to recognise the special position he held in the Coalition Government. Other former Deputy Prime Ministers are not eligible for the allowance. The allowance is set at a maximum limit of £115,000 per annum. The amounts paid are a reimbursement of expenses, accounted for in the published Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts. The former Deputy Prime Minister is eligible for the allowance from the date of leaving ministerial office for the duration of this Parliament.

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, who the members of the committee that oversees special advisers’ pay are.

Ben Gummer

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley on 2 November 2015 to UIN: 13720.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-15.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the estimated annual annual cost to the public purse is of the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Ben Gummer

The costs related to the Office of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will be accounted for in the usual way in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

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.

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, how much funding has been allocated to 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, what steps he is taking to improve the gender balance among Senior Civil Servants in his Department.

Ben Gummer

Diversity and inclusion is a key priority for the Civil Service and for the Cabinet Office. The Executive Committee of the Cabinet Office recently commissioned work on a departmental diversity and inclusion strategy, which will be published this month. This strategy promotes a more inclusive culture in the department through key strands of work on leadership, declaration data, supporting those from under-represented groups and promoting the work of the employee diversity networks. A key aim of the strategy is to promote the advancement of those from all under-represented groups, including women and black and minority ethnic staff.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what his policy is on the role Parliament will have in negotiations related to the UK leaving the EU.

Mr David Davis

The Department for Exiting the EU will work closely with Parliament on what the approach to negotiations should be. While legally there is no obligation to consult Parliament on triggering Article 50, it will clearly have an important role in making sure that we find the best way forward.