Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 16 March 2023 · 19 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 7 Partly answered 12 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Steven Bonnar questioned the fairness of the taxpayer covering over 220,000 in legal fees for partygate during a cost of living crisis.
  • Christopher Chope inquired about the disbandment of the Cabinet Office's rapid response unit following the Big Brother Watch report.
  • Angela Rayner sought clarification on whether the Cabinet Office warned the Prime Minister about the Deputy Prime Minister's conduct before reappointment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Steven Bonnar
Taxation Democracy & Elections
Context

The question addresses the taxpayer-funded legal fees of over £220,000 for a former Prime Minister who declared outside earnings of £4.8 million since leaving office.

Question

Why is the taxpayer now being hit for more than £220,000 in partygate legal fees on his behalf during a cost of living crisis? Is that fair?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

As the hon. Gentleman may know, there is a long-standing convention that Ministers of either party—this applies to Ministers of both political parties who have been in government—are entitled to legal support in respect of decisions that they made in government. That is an important constitutional safeguard to ensure that Ministers can act freely in government.

Answered
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Q2 Christopher Chope Con Christchurch
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question addresses the disbandment of a government unit named 'Ministry of Truth' and lack of answers to certain parliamentary questions.

Question

Can my hon. Friend assure me that all branches of the Ministry of Truth, which was exposed in the Big Brother Watch report in January, have now been disbanded, so that we no longer have Government and taxpayer-funded activity discrediting MPs who hold the Government to account?

Answer from Alex Burghart

There is no Ministry of Truth; there is the Cabinet Office. The rapid response unit was disbanded in August last year, and I am happy to meet my hon. Friend to talk about any of his concerns, particularly any parliamentary questions that he feels have not been answered properly.

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Q3 Angela Rayner Lab Ashton-under-Lyne
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question concerns reports about the Deputy Prime Minister's conduct and whether there were warnings to the Prime Minister before his reappointment.

Question

Can the Secretary of State clarify here today, did the Cabinet Office warn the Prime Minister about the conduct of the Deputy Prime Minister before he was reappointed to the Cabinet?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The right hon. Lady will know that we have been through this process many times before. I thought the Labour party believed in due process. The due process is that Adam Tolley, a very senior KC, is investigating all aspects of that, and I am not going to pre-empt his report in any way.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific warning to the Prime Minister was not addressed.

How: Due Process

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Q4 Angela Rayner Lab Ashton-under-Lyne
Standards & Ethics
Context

The question challenges the independence of the inquiry into the Deputy Prime Minister's conduct.

Question

Can the Secretary of State say today, in no uncertain terms, when Adam Tolley's fact-finding mission is complete, will the Prime Minister's ethics adviser be asked to provide a judgment about whether there has been a breach of the ministerial code by the Deputy Prime Minister?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

As the right hon. Lady will know, the Prime Minister's ethics adviser is independent. It will be a matter for him to decide whether he wishes to take further action, in consultation with the Prime Minister. We see this time and again from the Labour party. They call on us to have an independent inquiry. As soon as we announce an independent inquiry, they ask us to pre-empt it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific action after Adam Tolley's report was not addressed.

How: Due Process, Pre-Emption

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Q5 David Simmonds Con Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The question relates to potential conflicts between different government departments' obligations on local authorities.

Question

What proposals are there across Government to ensure that joined-up advice is provided, so that such conflicts do not result in difficulties for our public services?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

My hon. Friend raises an important point. We have a number of structures in Government to ensure that Departments work effectively together. In relation to parliamentary legislation, there is the Parliamentary Business and Legislation Cabinet Committee, which is led by the Leader of the House. There is also the Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat, which ensures co-ordination between different Departments, and those are long-established practices.

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Q6 Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey
Parliamentary Procedure
Context

The question concerns the ongoing inquiry into Richard Sharp's appointment as BBC chairman and its progress.

Question

Will the Secretary of State advise the House when this inquiry intends to speak to its own subject and when we can expect it to report back its findings?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

First, I should say that I oversaw that appointment process. I have every confidence in its propriety, and I am sure the inquiry will find that that was the case. In order to ensure that it is an independent inquiry, it is independent from the Cabinet Office, so I cannot give commentary on its timings; that is for the person conducting it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific interview and reporting back of findings were not addressed.

How: Independence

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Q7 Mark Jenkinson
Education Employment Democracy & Elections
Context

The Labour party wants to repeal every anti-strike law in the country, leading to concerns about its stance on militant trade unions.

Question

As the country grinds to a halt once again and children are denied education at the hands of militant trade unions, we learn that the Labour party wants to repeal every anti-strike law in the country. Does my right hon. Friend agree that the public cannot afford or trust a Labour Government while they remain in the pocket of militant trade unions?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

It may not surprise the House to hear that I totally agree with my hon. Friend. When this Government brought forward legislation to protect hard-working people from disruptive strikes, the Opposition failed to support minimum service levels.

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Q8 Chris Stephens SNP
Employment Standards & Ethics
Context

Civil servants took strike action, leading to concerns about the effectiveness of civil service pay review processes.

Question

I refer to my declaration in the Register of Members' Financial Interests. Civil servants have received correspondence from Government Members saying either that civil service pay should be resolved by speaking to human resources or that these decisions should be left to pay review bodies. Will the Minister agree to meet the PCS urgently to resolve the dispute and help his colleagues understand how civil service pay operates?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

Civil service pay is determined at delegated levels between Departments concerned. I have met the leadership of the PCS in January. There are ongoing discussions between officials in the Cabinet Office and unions, but matters are not helped by strikes impacting people they serve.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Urgency to meet the union and resolve the dispute was not specifically addressed

How: Matters Are Not Helped By Strikes

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Q9 Martin Vickers Con Brigg and Immingham
Economy Local Government
Context

The government aims to relocate civil service jobs from London to other regions, including northern England.

Question

Can the Minister outline immediate plans to relocate civil servants out of London? Does he agree that my Cleethorpes constituency and neighbouring Grimsby would be ideal for renewable energy sector officials?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

We have already relocated half of our target 22,000 jobs out of London to around the UK. My hon. Friend can make his case effectively.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific plan details were not provided and no commitment was made regarding Cleethorpes or Grimsby being ideal locations

How: Make His Case Effectively

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Q10 Christine Jardine Lib Dem Edinburgh West
Democracy & Elections
Context

A survey by the Electoral Commission showed that over a third of people are unaware of what they need to take with them to vote.

Question

We had a local council by-election in my constituency last week, which the Liberal Democrats won. A recent survey shows more than a third of people are still unaware of voting requirements. How will the Government address this issue and ensure high voter turnout?

Answer from Alex Burghart

There is a major communications programme addressing voter awareness. The Government wants to resolve the issue of people not knowing what they need to bring to vote.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about the programme were lacking

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Q11 Selaine Saxby
Veterans
Context

Veteran charities complement the work done by the Department for Veterans' Affairs.

Question

I thank my right hon. Friend for visiting a veterans charity in Barnstaple earlier this year. Does he agree that veteran-run charities play an excellent complementary role to his department's work?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I pay tribute to the Veterans Charity and my hon. Friend's advocacy of it over many years, providing great services down in the south-west.

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Q12 Daniel Zeichner Lab Cambridge
Business & Trade Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The Crown Commercial Service plans to replace local purchasing with a single national supplier, affecting regional wholesalers.

Question

It has been revealed that the Cabinet Office is planning to replace local buying agreements for food and catering with a single national prime supplier. What assessment has been made of this impact, and will the Minister meet me and representatives of those wholesalers?

Answer from Alex Burghart

The Crown Commercial Service always looks at ways to save taxpayers' money but is mindful of protecting SMEs, which remain a priority.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific assessment details were provided and no meeting commitment was made

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Q13 Andrew Jones Con
Defence
Context

Cyberspace expansion is changing how we live, work, and the cyber-threat landscape.

Question

The global expansion of cyberspace changes how we live and work. What steps are being taken to advance our national cyber-security strategy against malign actors globally?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

The landscape is getting riskier with geopolitical elements. I spend more time ensuring appropriate levels of cyber-security, working closely with the National Cyber Security Centre and other agencies.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps were not detailed

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Q14 Jessica Morden Lab Newport East
NHS
Context

The contaminated blood inquiry is nearing completion, with an interim report due soon. Families affected are seeking prompt action on compensation.

Question

Echoing the earlier question about the contaminated blood scandal, the inquiry is ending and another interim report is due. How prepared is the Government to act quickly on compensation for those affected?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The hon. Lady has campaigned vigorously on this matter of concern. Work is ongoing, and we will be helped greatly by Brian Langstaff's second interim report to address compensation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific preparation details were not provided

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Q15 Alan Brown SNP
Energy
Context

Hinkley Point C's estimated costs have risen from £18 billion in 2016 to £33 billion. The government plans a similar project at Sizewell C.

Question

In 2016, Hinkley Point C was estimated to cost £18 billion. It now is going to cost £33 billion. Given this, why are they still estimating the cost of Sizewell C at £18 billion? When will the real costs be disclosed?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The precision on project costs would better come from my colleagues in relevant departments, but I say that the Infrastructure and Projects Authority learns from every project. We are applying this learning to ensure future projects like Sizewell C will be more cost-effective.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The actual cost estimates for Sizewell C were not disclosed, only a vague commitment to learn from past mistakes was given.

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Q16 Diana R. Johnson Lab Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham
NHS
Context

The contaminated blood scandal has affected many, with a final report by Sir Brian Langstaff due.

Question

Will the Paymaster General agree to a series of update meetings with those infected and affected by the contaminated blood scandal in the months leading up to Sir Brian Langstaff's final report?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The next point will be the second interim report, which I will meet with Diana Johnson and her colleagues from the all-party parliamentary group when it is released in two weeks during the Easter recess.

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Q17 Patrick Grady SNP
Brexit
Context

The government is using many delegated powers including Henry VIII clauses in the Brexit process.

Question

Why are the Government using so many Henry VIII clauses and awarding themselves other delegated powers in the Brexit legislation, given that Brexit was about taking back control? Should there not be a review of how delegated legislation works?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Given the volume of European legislation accumulated during membership, we need rapid establishment of sovereign control. The Bill has provisions approved by this House and is under consideration in the other place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific use or review of delegated powers was not addressed; instead focus on justification for current practices.

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Q18 Dan Jarvis Lab Barnsley North
NHS Veterans
Context

Ben Parkinson, a veteran with a catastrophic injury, had unmet costs for his wheelchair.

Question

Given the meeting with Ben Parkinson and concerns over his lack of coverage for his wheelchair costs, could the Minister say whether provision was made in yesterday's Budget to cover these costs? If so, will he pay tribute to Ben and his family?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

Yesterday, we reinstated the veterans mobility fund. I pay tribute to Ben Parkinson and his family for their campaigning on this issue.

Answered
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Q19 Margaret Ferrier SNP
Veterans
Context

Female military spouses aged 30 to 49 experience significantly higher rates of loneliness compared to the general population.

Question

Figures show that 50% of female spouses of serving personnel aged 30 to 49 experience loneliness, in contrast to 27% of women of the same age in the general population. What steps are Ministers taking to ensure adequate emotional support services for these families?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

This is a question for the Minister for Support Personnel, my right hon Friend Dr Murrison. Groups such as Recruit for Spouses have been working in this space and the Ministry of Defence is actively engaged with these efforts.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps or commitments to address emotional support were not given; referred question to another minister.

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