Tag: Tom Watson

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department is taking to improve the representation of employees with a disability in the Senior Civil Service in the Cabinet Office.

Matthew Hancock

The Cabinet Office promotes a number of cross Government talent schemes to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disabled staff, to accelerate their promotion to Senior Civil Service roles. This includes Civil Service wide talent schemes such the Future Leaders Scheme (aimed at G6&7 staff) and the Senior Leaders Scheme (aimed at SCS Pay Band 1). Additionally, it promotes development schemes aimed specifically at BAME and disabled staff including the Accelerate talent programme (for SCS) and the Positive Action Pathway (for staff below SCS).

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to include private sector companies that deliver public services.

Matthew Hancock

I refer the hon Member to my Written Ministerial Statement of 1 March 2016 [Hansard reference HCWS566]

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many members of staff will be recruited to form the Anti-corruption Innovation Hub.

Matthew Hancock

There will be a full time member of staff with additional support as part of joint commitment between the Government and Omidyar Network.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-13.

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she plans to establish a non-departmental public body as part of the process of placing the National Citizen Service on a permanent statutory footing.

Mr Rob Wilson

The National Citizen Service (NCS) Bill will place NCS on a statutory footing and describe its means of delivery. Classification is a subject for the Office for National Statistics in the first stage.

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

To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what assessment he has made of the options for new forms of economic relationships with countries outside the EU.

Greg Hands

Leaving the EU offers us an opportunity to forge a new role for ourselves in the world: to negotiate our own trade agreements and to be a positive and powerful force for free trade.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has established the Department for International Trade to promote British trade across the world and ensure the UK takes advantage of the huge opportunities open to us. We are exploring a range of options to maximise the opportunities for the UK’s future trading relations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-18.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many extended Ministerial offices have been shut down since 13 July 2016.

Ben Gummer

There have been a number of Ministerial and government appointments announced recently. Administrative support for those appointments has yet to be concluded.

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants are currently claiming expenses under the Public Duty Cost Allowance after leaving office.

Ben Gummer

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. A copy of the policy and guidance on the allowance is in the Library of the House. The costs are a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is not paid to support private or parliamentary duties. Civil servants are not entitled to claim this allowance.

Current recipients of the allowance are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts. Previous recipients have included Lady Thatcher; the current recipients who are former Prime Ministers are Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I also refer the Hon. Member to my answers to him of 9 September 2016 to (UIN 44045, 44048, 44049, 44053, 44054, 44055, 44056).

The Public Duties Cost Allowance rate is currently set at a limit of £115,000 per annum. When originally introduced, the Government stated that it would be the equivalent in amount to the Parliamentary Office Costs Allowance. I would note that that allowance is now known as the Parliamentary Staffing Allowance, determined by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and that is currently set at the rate of £148,500 per annum.”

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-09-12.

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to Answers given on 21 July 2016 to Questions 43013 and 43014, what information his Department holds on legal advice expenditure by the (a) Economic and Domestic Affairs secretariat and (b) Propriety Ethics Unit on Freedom of Information cases in the last 12 months.

Ben Gummer

I would refer the Right Honourable gentleman to the answer to his previous question of 21 August 2016 (43013 and 43014).

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many special advisers work for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

Ben Gummer

A list of special advisers and pay bands will be published in due course.

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

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many times the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has met external organisations in the last six months to discuss improving diversity in the Senior Civil Service.

Matthew Hancock

Promoting diversity in the Senior Civil Service is a ministerial responsibility of the Minister for the Cabinet Office. I have had frequent such meetings, and details of ministers’ meetings with external organisations are published routinely and can be found on Gov.uk.