Topical Questions 2025-07-10
2025-07-10
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The Government has made changes to the Green Book for place-based business cases which are positive for regions like the north-east. Emma Foody is concerned about specific infrastructure projects in her constituency.
Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster set out how the Cabinet Office will support cross-departmental work on identifying test cases, such as the Moor Farm and Seaton Burn roundabouts in my constituency, where infrastructure is holding back growth and housing and is needed to help the Government achieve our growth and housing missions?
My hon. Friend is a brilliant champion for her community. It is precisely because this Government want to support growth in communities like hers that the Chancellor has set out that the new Green Book will support place-based business cases. Rapid work is happening to deliver that over the coming months.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details on how the Cabinet Office will support cross-departmental work on identifying test cases for infrastructure projects in Emma Foody's constituency.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Senior civil servant Lord Mandelson spoke at a Labour Party fundraising event, raising concerns about the rules for civil servants.
Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster confirm that civil servants should not engage in public fundraising for political parties and will he assure the House that this breach will be properly investigated?
I believe there has been correspondence to the Cabinet Secretary about this. He will reply in due course, but let me add this: Lord Mandelson is doing an excellent job as our ambassador to the United States.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide a clear confirmation that civil servants should not engage in public fundraising and did not commit to a proper investigation.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Andy, a constituent of Chris Webb's, is one of several former civil servants affected by the McCloud judgment and faces financial hardship due to delays.
While Andy recovers from major surgery, he now faces financial hardship due to many missed deadlines and delays. Will the Minister agree to meet me to discuss Andy’s case and the cases of three other constituents affected who have contacted me to ensure that their cases are resolved urgently?
I was deeply sorry to hear about Andy’s circumstances, and I will of course meet my hon. Friend to discuss this case. The Cabinet Office continues to stress the importance of contractual performance to the MyCSP administrator.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
Recent cyber-attacks have highlighted the need for robust cyber-security measures in public bodies.
What steps is the Cabinet Office taking to ensure that all public bodies adopt robust cyber-security frameworks, and what is the timetable to ensure their compliance?
As I said a few moments ago, the recent cyber-attacks have been a wake-up call to Government, business and the whole of society. This is part of our national defence, and it is taken extremely seriously. The National Cyber Security Centre works with victims of these attacks and gives advice in peacetime.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific steps or a timeline for ensuring compliance with robust cyber-security measures.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
A UK-based company was not chosen for a procurement contract despite having a lower-cost bid.
Would the Minister meet me and GE Vernova to discuss current procurement policy and whether it does enough to support UK manufacturing and ensure our energy security and net zero commitments?
While I cannot comment on the individual procurement, I can say that we are changing procurement rules to strengthen the focus on British jobs and skills and to support British industries critical to our national security like energy. We are consulting on this at the moment, and I would be more than happy to meet my hon. Friend and the company to discuss this further.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP wants the Government to publish details of ministerial attendance in offices outside London to ensure Ministers are present.
I think the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I are politically completely at one, because if it was down the two of us, we would relocate all civil servants to Wolverhampton and Staffordshire. What is also incredibly important is Ministers being in those offices. Will he commit to publishing the details of ministerial attendance in offices outside London, including how long they stayed in those offices?
I am not sure I will. While Ministers should attend on occasion, Ministers having to be in a certain place just to keep up with a published record is not the best use of their time. I very much welcome civil servants working in Wolverhampton. The Cabinet Office has a fantastic building in Glasgow, which I have enjoyed visiting and working in on several occasions.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to publish details of ministerial attendance
Ministers Having To Be In Certain Places Just For Records Is Not The Best Use Of Their Time
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is disappointed with the UK Government's decision not to go ahead with proposals for a Glasgow campus for UK Government offices. The proposal was aimed at upgrading facilities available to FCDO staff in East Kilbride.
I was disappointed that the UK Government did not go ahead with proposals for a Glasgow campus for UK Government offices. One reason behind that proposal was upgrading the facilities available to Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office staff who are located at Abercrombie House in East Kilbride, which had been assessed as lacking the facilities required to be a second FCDO headquarters. Will the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster work with the FCDO to ensure that that investment goes into Abercrombie House so that it can be a second headquarters?
If the right hon. Gentleman’s ambition is to move the staff out of East Kilbride, he should perhaps have a word with my hon. Friend the Member for East Kilbride and Strathaven (Joani Reid). We have good locations in both Glasgow and East Kilbride, and we welcome them both. To refer to the previous question, I recently spent time working in the East Kilbride office. I hope that it is a good home for civil servants for some time to come.
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Assessment & feedback
Commitment to invest in Abercrombie House facilities
Discussed Alternative Locations And Personal Visits Without Addressing Investment
Response accuracy