Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Topical Questions

Thursday 22 June 2023 · 18 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 6 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Liz Twist asked about the costs of storing personal protective equipment and the quality of the equipment.
  • Andrew Selous inquired about providing parity to armed forces families similar to that given to veterans.
  • Chris Stephens questioned the Paymaster General about establishing an independent arm's length body for the infected blood inquiry.
  • Peter Bottomley asked the Minister for Veterans' Affairs to investigate a message regarding a secretary in hiding from Afghanistan.
  • Scott Benton asked about steps to improve coordination between departments for addressing mental health needs of veterans.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Liz Twist Lab Blaydon and Consett
NHS Brexit
Context

The Labour party has previously criticised the procurement practices during the COVID crisis, particularly regarding PPE storage costs.

Question

We know from answers to previous questions that the taxpayer is still being billed £700,000 a day, which is £5 million a week or £21.4 million a month, to store personal protective equipment, much of which is of too poor quality to be used. What will the Secretary of State do to make sure such reckless procurement never happens again?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I do not recall a time during the covid crisis when the Labour party said we should not be purchasing PPE but, on wider procurement, that is precisely why we are taking the Procurement Bill through this House, which seizes the opportunities of Brexit to ensure we have an efficient procurement system.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The cost and quality issues related to current PPE storage were not directly addressed. The answer focused on a broader procurement bill rather than addressing specific existing issues with poor-quality equipment.

How: Changing The Subject

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Q2 Andrew Selous Con
Defence Veterans
Context

The questioner highlights ongoing challenges faced by armed forces families, including career disruption and education issues.

Question

The Cabinet Office does a really good job, thanks in part to my right hon. Friend the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and others, in looking after veterans' affairs across the whole of government. However, I would like another group in the armed forces community, armed forces families, to have parity of esteem with veterans. We still have spouses and partners whose careers and jobs are trashed as they move around, with employers not doing enough; we have children who have studied the Romans six times and never get on to the Egyptians; and we have health appointments that do not catch up on moves. We need the Cabinet Office to chivvy this cross-departmentally. Will he do that?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

That is a good question, and I pay huge tribute to my hon. Friend for his work over the years; he did the “Living in our Shoes” report when I was in a previous role. Veterans' affairs are outside the Ministry of Defence because veterans are civilians, not serving personnel, and they require all those aspects of government to work for veterans as civilians. He is talking about armed forces families, and responsibility for them remains with the MOD and the Minister for Defence People, Veterans and Service Families. I am sure he will have heard those remarks and I stand ready to assist in any way I can.

Not addressed: The specific ask was not addressed as it was redirected back to the Ministry of Defence.

How: Shifting Responsibility

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Q3 Chris Stephens SNP
NHS
Context

The Infected Blood Inquiry has called for the establishment of an independent arm's length body to oversee its recommendations.

Question

This afternoon, we will have a debate on the infected blood inquiry. Representatives from Haemophilia Scotland met colleagues last week in Parliament and it has called for an independent arm's length body to be established, as recommended by that infected blood inquiry. Can the Paymaster General confirm that it is the Government's intention to do that?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

I welcome the fact that the House will have the opportunity to debate the infected blood inquiry this afternoon. I look forward to the debate and I hope other Members will be able to be present for it. The Government have not yet set out their final deliberation on the arm's length body; an awful lot of work is ongoing. A detailed study was undertaken by Sir Robert Francis and we had a fine second interim report from Sir Brian Langstaff. We are still working through the implications of that and we continue to do so.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask about establishing an arm's length body was not confirmed, only acknowledged ongoing work without commitment.

How: Changing Subject, Under Review

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Q4 Peter Bottomley Con
Ukraine Veterans
Context

The question arises from a specific case of an individual in Afghanistan who is at risk and needs assistance to come out.

Question

I say to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs that we are grateful for the work he does. Can he ask those in his private office whether they will show him the message I sent him yesterday about the secretary to a governor in Afghanistan, who is in hiding and whose grandfather has been killed trying to protect him, to see whether there is anything the British Government can do to allow him to come out of Afghanistan?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I recognise the ongoing concerns about those who remain in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister has asked me to do what I can to get the Afghans who are currently in hotels into long-term accommodation in the UK. That will allow us to turn back on those flights out of Afghanistan. I recognise that there are still people there who should be in the UK, and I will, of course, look at the case my hon. Friend raises later today. That process of bringing people out of Afghanistan remains with the MOD, but it will have heard his comments and I will do everything I can to help him.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific ask was addressed partially by acknowledging a process but not directly committing to action for this case.

How: Shifting Responsibility

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Q5 Jon Trickett Lab Normanton and Hemsworth
Standards & Ethics
Context

There are concerns about potential conflicts of interest in the Lords nomination process given recent large donations to political parties.

Question

I return to the issue of nominations into the other place. Is the Minister aware that 27 members of the Lords donated £50 million to his party and that one in 10 Tory peers have given more than £100,000 to his party? Is that all just an unfortunate coincidence, or are we seeing a return to cash for honours? Would it not be simple just to say that nobody who makes donations to political parties can receive an honour in the future? Would that not be the simplest way of dealing with this utter scandal?

Answer from Alex Burghart

We all remember the cash for honours scandal that happened under the hon. Gentleman's party's tenure, and we all know how many union barons are barons.

How: Criticising Opposition

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Q6 Scott Benton
Mental Health Veterans
Context

There are ongoing efforts to improve mental healthcare for veterans, with concerns about interdepartmental collaboration.

Question

What steps are the Government taking to improve the co-ordination and collaboration between different Departments on addressing the mental health needs of our veterans?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

This Prime Minister made the conscious decision to take veterans out of the MOD and set up the Office for Veterans' Affairs in the Cabinet Office, with a Cabinet Minister responsible for this. For the first time, that aligned us with our Five Eyes allies. That has allowed us to produce things such as Op Courage, the UK's first dedicated mental healthcare pathway for veterans. It costs £22 million a year, with that rising every year. We had 19,000 referrals in its first year and a massive unmet need in this country is now being met by government. We are very proud of that and we look to do more in the future.

Answered
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Q7 Luke Pollard Labour (Co-op) Plymouth Sutton and Devonport
Housing Employment Children & Families
Context

Local authority care leavers face challenges in securing employment and housing.

Question

Each year, thousands of young people leave local authority care yet struggle to find their first job or home. As councils act as corporate parents, could the Government serve as a 'corporate grandparent' by developing a cross-government strategy for care leavers, encouraging departments to hire them?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

The Prime Minister has asked me to look at the issue. There are about 92,000 care leavers aged between 18 and 25 in the United Kingdom. They require pathways similar to those created for veterans. I plan to launch a strategy before the summer recess.

Partly answered

How: Looking At This

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Q8 Greg Smith Con Mid Buckinghamshire
Context

Cabinet Office data shows some Departments, such as HMRC, have low office occupancy rates.

Question

With civil service headquarters occupancy data showing a trend of people returning to their desks but with HMRC below 50%, what measures are being taken to encourage more civil servants back into offices?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

We are encouraging people to go back. There are benefits in working together, such as innovation and teamwork. I welcome the fact that people are returning to their desks.

How: Working Collaboratively

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Q9 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op) York Central
NHS Housing
Context

Bootham Park Hospital closed seven and a half years ago but remains vacant despite developers' interest.

Question

Opportunity has been lost due to the Government's approach to disposing of public land, such as Bootham Park Hospital. Will the Government undertake a cross-government review to ensure public land is used for public good rather than profit?

Answer from Alex Burghart

I cannot comment on the specifics, but the Government Property Agency delivers efficiencies by rationalising the estate and creating modern working environments.

How: Cannot Comment

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Q10 Michael Fabricant Con
Context

Discussion on whether working from home or in an office is more productive.

Question

While teamwork and creativity benefit from office work, remote working offers advantages such as saved travel time. Will the Government take a less prescriptive view of working from home?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

We believe that defaulting to office work means better productivity and experience for employees, but there are occasions when remote work is appropriate.

How: Teamwork

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Q11 Chris Elmore Lab Bridgend
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Constituents waiting over an hour for DWP call centre staff only to be cut off, resulting in revoked benefits or tax demands.

Question

Given the issues with DWP and HMRC call centres where constituents wait over an hour and are then cut off, leading to benefit revocations and tax demands, will the Cabinet Office coordinate a resolution?

Answer from Alex Burghart

It is a matter for those Departments which are taking their responsibilities seriously. DWP and HMRC are working to reduce waiting times.

How: Not For The Cabinet Office

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Q12 Bob Blackman Con Harrow East
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

Concerns about hostile nations installing equipment in UK networks through the Procurement Bill.

Question

As the Procurement Bill progresses, what steps are being taken to prevent hostile nations from supplying surveillance equipment or similar to public facilities?

Answer from Alex Burghart

A new security unit within the Cabinet Office has been announced during Report stage of the Procurement Bill. It identifies high-risk vendors and prevents them from supplying equipment.

Answered
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Q13 Barry Sheerman Lab
Education
Context

Children are still in school by midsummer, affecting civil service and other services.

Question

With the longest day of summer passed and children still at school, what impact does this outdated system have on our civil service and other services? Can we consider a change for better holiday timing?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

I suspect the question is more for the Department for Education. The reasoning is it tends to be warmer in August.

How: Not For Cabinet Office

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Q14 Philip Hollobone Con
Northern Ireland Veterans
Context

Concerns about the Conservative party's manifesto commitment to protect Northern Ireland veterans from vexatious litigation.

Question

What steps is the Cabinet Office taking to honour the Conservative party's manifesto commitment to protect Northern Ireland veterans from vexatious litigation?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

We are nearly at the summit. The Bill is going through the Lords and will become law by summer recess, delivering on a manifesto commitment.

Answered
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Q15 Tan Dhesi Lab Slough
Context

The question arises from the perceived negative impact of governmental briefing against civil servants, which is seen to be affecting their morale and retention.

Question

The continuous briefing against our civil servants by Ministers and Conservative MPs is having a disastrous impact on morale in our civil service. Do the Government not realise that damaging morale in our civil service hinders us in conducting Government business and retaining that expertise in-house, and makes us ever more reliant on expensive external consultants?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

With respect to the hon. Gentleman, I totally refute his contention. That is not the experience of this ministerial team. That is not what we do. I very much value the work of our civil servants. I make that clear to their union representatives and to civil servants themselves. They do a very valuable job for our country and they will always have the support of this Government in attempting to do their utmost, as they do, to support and benefit the prosperity of the whole country.

Not addressed: The questioner asked if the government recognises the negative impact on civil service morale, but the answerer refuted the claim without addressing the specific issue or proposing any action to improve morale.

How: Refutation Of The Claim

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Q16 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
NHS
Context

The question arises from the need to know where surplus PPE is stored, how much it costs, and what plans exist for its disposal.

Question

Where is the surplus personal protective equipment being stored? What is it costing and what are the plans for its disposal?

Answer from Jeremy Quin

The benefit of having a long set of topicals is that we cover many Departments through the course of it. I am not totally aware of any answer to that question without consulting my colleagues in, I suspect, the Department of Health and Social Care. I am afraid that I am not able to give an answer to my right hon. Friend on that point.

Not addressed: The questioner asked about specific details regarding storage locations and disposal plans for surplus PPE, but the answerer stated he is unaware of these specifics without consulting colleagues from another department.

How: Lack Of Direct Knowledge, Need To Consult

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Q17 Patrick Grady SNP
Context

The question arises from confusion about whether the Office of the Prime Minister, announced by a previous PM, still exists or functions.

Question

Last year, the then Prime Minister, now the Steward and Bailiff of His Majesty's Chiltern Hundreds, announced the creation of the Office of the Prime Minister. It was going to be very exciting—like something out of “The West Wing”, which, of course, was a work of fiction, much like a lot of Boris Johnson's premiership. In the words of a character from “The West Wing”, is the Office of the Prime Minister still “a thing”?

Answer from Oliver Dowden

Within the hierarchy of Whitehall, Downing Street sits within the Cabinet Office. I have found that the way it works best—I think that this is the Prime Minister's view as well—is that the Cabinet Office supports Downing Street in the performance of its functions, so I do not think there is a need to create a separate Office of the Prime Minister beyond the existing Downing Street capabilities.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked if the Office of the Prime Minister still exists and functions as intended. The answer provided context but did not confirm or deny its current existence.

How: Explaining Hierarchy, No Need For Separate Office

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Q18 Jim Shannon DUP Strangford
Northern Ireland Veterans
Context

The question arises from a veteran's concerns about housing and employment after the end of their military service.

Question

In the past week, I have had the opportunity to engage with a veteran who is coming to the end of 24 years' service in July. He has to leave the Palace barracks in Holywood and move out because his tenure has come to an end. He has no idea how to get housing and job opportunities, due to changes in his personal circumstances. What steps are being taken to ensure that no long-serving soldier is left in such a precarious position or feeling so vulnerable?

Answer from Johnny Mercer

I thank my hon. Friend for his long-time advocacy for this cohort, particularly those who served in Northern Ireland. While I recognise that the politics may change out there, he should be under no illusion that this Government's pride in those who served in the armed forces in Northern Ireland remains completely undimmed. When it comes to housing provision and employment, it is true that opportunities are better now than they ever have been in the history of this nation, but I recognise that there is more to do and we need to ensure that people do not fall through the cracks. I am more than happy to meet him to talk about this individual specifically so that we can load him on to one of the programmes we have designed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for specific measures supporting veterans with housing and employment post-service, but the answer provided a general statement rather than concrete details or commitments.

How: Acknowledgment Of Past Efforts, Promise To Meet

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