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1695474

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Ministers: Defamation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, on how many occasions Ministers have settled defamation or libel proceedings in their official capacity as a Minister of the Crown since 2001; and whether there has been a cost to the public purse of settlements in such cases.
	tabling member constituency	East Lothian
	tabling member printed	Kenny MacAskill
	uin	18299
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to my answer on 12th March 2024 (UIN 17709).</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 15/03/2024 14:49:46 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4772 label Biography information for Kenny MacAskill

1695054

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Civil Servants: Recruitment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of civil service recruitment campaigns failed to fill the post advertised in each financial year from 2019/20.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	17867
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government Recruitment Service collaborates with departments, functions and professions to develop and deliver high quality, customer-focused recruitment that identifies and attracts the best people for roles whilst offering a wide range of services. It offers core low-cost solutions to meet routine recruitment needs and handles more complex or specialist campaigns by tailoring its approach to attract and recruit the highest quality candidates.</p><p>The following table presents civil service recruitment campaigns with successful and unsuccessful vacancy outcomes for campaigns managed by the Government Recruitment Service.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Vacancy Outcome</strong> <strong>Successful</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Vacancy Outcome</strong> <strong>Unsuccessful</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total number of vacancies</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020</p></td><td><p>10080</p></td><td><p>5146</p></td><td><p>15226</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021</p></td><td><p>15871</p></td><td><p>9511</p></td><td><p>25382</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022</p></td><td><p>16047</p></td><td><p>9851</p></td><td><p>25898</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2023</p></td><td><p>13909</p></td><td><p>9576</p></td><td><p>23485</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>55907</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>34084</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>89991</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The Government Recruitment Service does not hold any data on why candidates are not successful. However, there could be a range of reasons for non-appointment. All candidates will have been sifted or interviewed out of the recruiting process.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 14/03/2024 17:57:45 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1695056

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Government Communication Service: Civil Servants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many civil servants in ministerial departments worked in the Government Communication Service profession in each financial year from 2010/11.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	17869
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>The information requested is not held centrally from 2010 to date.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 14/03/2024 15:19:21 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1695057

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Electronic Government: Proof of Identity
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many government services have onboarded to One Login.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	17870
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>The GOV.UK One Login system is fully operational, providing a simple and secure way for people to access government services online. Users can create an account, login and prove (and then reuse) their identity - through either a web-based journey, smartphone app or in-person route - to access an initial set of 30 government services. This includes important services such as ‘Request a Disclosure and Barring Service Basic Check’, ‘Apply for an HM Armed Forces Veteran Card’ and ‘Sign Your Mortgage Deed’.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We are on track to onboard additional services - including in HMRC, DWP and DVLA - over the next year, bringing the total number to at least 145.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 14/03/2024 16:23:40 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1695058

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Central Digital and Data Office: Staff
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many full-time equivalent staff were employed in the Government Digital and Data profession on 11 March (a) 2022, (b) 2023 and (c) 2024.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	17871
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>The Digital and Data profession issues a Workforce Planning data Commission twice a year in April and October. Below are the number of full-time Civil Servant professionals in filled positions for the years 2022 and 2023:</p><p>a) 2022, April commission: 16,662</p><p>b) 2023, April commission: 20,163</p><p>c) 2023, October commission: 21,366</p><p>The 2024 April commission is being issued this month (March 2024), workforce data is therefore not yet available. We are firmly on track to reach its target 6% of the overall civil service workforce by 2025.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 14/03/2024 16:24:03 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1695061

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Cabinet Office: Domestic Visits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, to which domestic destinations Ministers in his Department have attended overnight visits in each of the last three financial years.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton South East
	tabling member printed	Pat McFadden
	uin	17874
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2024 answer text <p>I refer the Rt Hon. Member to my response to UIN 17515 on 12th March 2024.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 14/03/2024 16:59:33 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	1587 label Biography information for Pat McFadden

1694756

	registered interest
	date	08/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Infected Blood Inquiry: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 7 March 2024 to Question 16659 on Blood: Contamination, how much members of the expert group who are not legal experts will be paid.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Dame Diana Johnson
	uin	17717
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2024 answer text <p>As set out in my response to Question 16659, members of the expert group will receive remuneration for their work. However, the Government will not be releasing the details of how much individual members of the expert group are being paid.</p> answering member constituency Salisbury answering member printed John Glen question first answered 13/03/2024 16:23:04 answering member 4051 label Biography information for John Glen
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1694472

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Cabinet Office: Domestic Visits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many domestic overnight visits were undertaken by Ministers in his Department in each of the last three financial years; and what the cost of those visits was.
	tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton South East
	tabling member printed	Pat McFadden
	uin	17515
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>The Government publishes on GOV.UK details of the cost of overseas Ministerial travel, including costs of travel, and on other costs (visas, accommodation, meals).</p><p>But as has been the case under successive administrations, the Government does not publish granular detail on Ministers’ travel at home or abroad.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 12/03/2024 17:36:01 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	1587 label Biography information for Pat McFadden

1694677

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Ministers: Defamation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse is for settling claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel by Ministers since 19 December 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Greenwich and Woolwich
	tabling member printed	Matthew Pennycook
	uin	17706
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.</p><p> </p><p>This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.</p><p> </p><p>It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart grouped question UIN 17339 17407 17708 17709 question first answered 12/03/2024 11:53:51 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4520 label Biography information for Matthew Pennycook

1694679

	registered interest
	date	07/03/2024
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Ministers: Defamation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the total cost to the public purse was of legal support provided to Ministers of the Crown in relation to claims for (a) defamation and (b) libel connected with their official duties since 19 December 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Greenwich and Woolwich
	tabling member printed	Matthew Pennycook
	uin	17708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2024 answer text <p>In line with the established practice under multiple administrations of all political colours, Ministers are provided with legal support and representation where matters relate to their conduct and responsibilities as a Minister.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics relating to costs of settling claims, costs of legal support, and the number of times the provision of legal support has been authorised or declined are not maintained by the Cabinet Office. Funding for appropriate legal costs, including any out-of-court settlements, would be met by the relevant department's budget.</p><p> </p><p>As set out in Chapter 6 of the Cabinet Manual, Ministers are indemnified by the Crown for any actions taken against them for things done or decisions made in the course of their ministerial duties. The indemnity covers the cost of defending the proceedings, as well as any costs or damages awarded against the minister. Decisions about whether to provide legal support are made by the relevant department’s Accounting Officer.</p><p> </p><p>This reflects an important principle that Ministers should be able to carry out their official duties, supported by official advice, in a way which they see fit, without the risk of personal liability constraining their ability to take those official actions. Of course, Ministers remain accountable to Parliament and the wider public for their actions as a Minister.</p><p> </p><p>It would have a chilling effect on public life if Ministers faced the prospect of personal financial harm from those seeking to pressure the Government through vexatious or hostile litigation (or the threat thereof).</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, the principle of legal support from the public purse for official duties is not confined to government. I would observe that there is insurance available to MPs provided by the House at taxpayers’ expense, designed to protect hon. Members when carrying out parliamentary and constituency duties. This includes professional indemnity insurance that covers defamation. I also note that the House of Lords Commission is due this week to discuss the provision of professional indemnity insurance to peers.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart grouped question UIN 17339 17407 17706 17709 question first answered 12/03/2024 11:53:51 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4520 label Biography information for Matthew Pennycook