Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Honours System

Thursday 18 January 2024 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister agrees vetting process in honours system needs more scrutiny and transparency
  • Government has provided an answer regarding Baroness Mone's links to PPE Medpro contracts
  • Integrity of the honours system is important to protect according to the Minister

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Duncan Baker
Standards & Ethics
Context

The Post Office scandal and Paula Vennells' handing back of her CBE has highlighted the need for more scrutiny and transparency in the honours system.

Question

The Post Office scandal and Paula Vennells' handing back of her CBE have shone a real light on the need for more scrutiny and transparency in the honours system. Does the Minister agree that the vetting process—the scrutiny and transparency—is needed more than ever in our honours system to protect its integrity?

Answer from Esther McVey

I do agree. Given that my hon. Friend is a former sub-postmaster, I can fully understand why he feels so strongly about this matter; he is absolutely right to do so, and I thank him for all the work he has done for his fellow postmasters and sub-postmasters. It is important that we protect the integrity of the honours system, which is something to which this Government are committed. We have undertaken a range of actions to strengthen checks, including expanding criminal record checks and working closely with regulators and other bodies to ensure full due diligence for all nominees.

Answered
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Q2 Duncan Baker
Standards & Ethics
Context

The Government failed to be transparent around the interests of Baroness Mone in the PPE Medpro contracts, where over £200 million was wasted.

Question

The right hon. Lady has just spoken about the integrity of the honours system, but the Government have failed to be transparent around the interests of Baroness Mone in the PPE Medpro contracts, where over £200 million was wasted. We have no answer from the Government as to why the links were not made public at the time; no answer as to why a Government Minister did not correct the wrong impression that had been given in public; and no answer in response to the allegation that the Government indicated a National Crime Agency investigation would be dropped if the civil claim was settled. Back on 18 December, Labour called on the Government to order an urgent investigation into this matter to give taxpayers the answers they deserve, but the Deputy Prime Minister has not even responded to the letter. Is the reason the Government are so afraid of an investigation that it will just show, once again, Tory sleaze?

Answer from Esther McVey

I will say from the Dispatch Box that the answer has been sent and given. If it needs to be reissued, we will do so, but it has been sent. Baroness Mone has taken leave of absence from the Lords, and there are separate investigations into the allegations against her. In my mind, if she is found guilty of wrongdoing, she needs to resign membership of the Lords—the public would expect no less. The House of Lords Reform Act 2014 ensures that a Member convicted of serious offences will cease to be a Member of the House of the Lords, and that is what we want to see.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific reasons for the lack of transparency in Baroness Mone's involvement in PPE Medpro contracts were not addressed.

How: Changing Subject

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Q3 Nick Thomas-Symonds Lab Torfaen
Standards & Ethics
Context

The Post Office scandal has highlighted the need for more scrutiny and transparency in the honours system.

Question

The Post Office scandal and Paula Vennells' handing back of her CBE have shone a real light on the need for more scrutiny and transparency in the honours system. Does the Minister agree that the vetting process—the scrutiny and transparency—is needed more than ever in our honours system to protect its integrity?

Answer from Esther McVey

I do agree. Given that my hon. Friend is a former sub-postmaster, I can fully understand why he feels so strongly about this matter; he is absolutely right to do so, and I thank him for all the work he has done for his fellow postmasters and sub-postmasters. It is important that we protect the integrity of the honours system, which is something to which this Government are committed. We have undertaken a range of actions to strengthen checks, including expanding criminal record checks and working closely with regulators and other bodies to ensure full due diligence for all nominees.

Answered
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