Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label previous answer version answering member constituency answering member printed answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1133053

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Select Committee Reports (Government Responses)
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House how many, and which, reports from House of Lords select committees published since January 2018 have not received a substantive Government response within two months of publication.
	tabling member printed	Lord Norton of Louth
	uin	HL16471
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>Since 1 January 2018, there have been 25 reports which did not receive Government responses within two months of publication. There are currently five reports that have yet to receive a substantive Government response within two months of publication. These are: Brexit: The Customs Challenge (EU External Affairs Sub-Committee); Brexit: The Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration (EU Committee); Measuring Inflation (Economic Affairs Committee); Beyond Brexit: How to win friends and influence people (EU Committee); and Forensic science and the criminal justice system: a blueprint for change (Science and Technology Committee).</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 03/07/2019 12:28:49 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	3187 label Biography information for Lord Norton of Louth

1133054

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Government Bills
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House how many Government Bills since May 2015 have been published in draft and referred for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee or committee of either House; and what proportion these constitute of all Government Bills introduced in that period.
	tabling member printed	Lord Norton of Louth
	uin	HL16472
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2019 answer text <p>Since May 2015, 13 Government Bills have been published in draft and referred for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee or committee of either House; this constitutes 14.43% of all Government Bills introduced in that period.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 03/07/2019 12:27:13 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	3187 label Biography information for Lord Norton of Louth

1138294

	registered interest
	date	10/07/2019
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Government Bills
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House, further to her Written Answer on 3 July (HL16472), what steps are being taken to increase the proportion of government bills published in draft and submitted for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee or committee of either House.
	tabling member printed	Lord Norton of Louth
	uin	HL17091
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>The Government is supportive of the role of pre-legislative scrutiny, and looks to take steps wherever possible to facilitate it. In the 2016-17 session, the Government published 3 draft bills. In this session we have published ten draft pieces of legislation for pre-legislative scrutiny by a joint committee or a committee of either house, these were: Draft Health Service Safety Investigations Bill; Draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill; Draft clause on the Personal Injury Discount Rate - subsequently included in the Civil Liability Bill; Draft Tenants Fees Bill; Draft Animal Welfare (Sentencing and Recognition of Sentience) Bill 2017; Draft Finance Bill; Draft Registration of Overseas Entities Bill; Draft Parliamentary Buildings (Restoration and Renewal) Bill; Draft Environment (Principles and Governance) Bill; Draft Domestic Abuse Bill.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 23/07/2019 16:37:03 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	3187 label Biography information for Lord Norton of Louth

1139094

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2019
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	Bullying and Harassment in the House of Lords Independent Inquiry
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by Naomi Ellenbogen QC An Independent Inquiry into bullying and harassment in the House of Lords, published on 11 July.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL17179
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>As the Prime Minister has said before, everyone working in Parliament deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. This inquiry has brought to light behaviour which is unacceptable, and it is incumbent on the House of Lords to take swift action. It is important that the House now carefully considers the concerns raised in this important report, and responds to its recommendations.</p><p>It is primarily for Parliament, rather than Government, to consider how best to respond to Naomi Ellenbogen QC’s recommendations. The House of Lords Commission met on Wednesday 17 July in order to plan its response to the recommendations. Every member of the Commission committed to complete the Valuing Everyone training course, and the leaders of the political groupings committed their front bench to do the same. The Commission agreed the establishment of a Steering Group of staff, members and others to embark on the process of moving forward with Naomi Ellenbogen QC’s recommendations, and the new Conduct Committee will examine those which relate to the Code of Conduct.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 23/07/2019 14:16:47 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1131046

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Location
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, for what reason the Authority did not consider locations for its offices outside London and the South-East.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	262236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>When moving offices, IPSA considered locations only in London and the South East, as evidence from other public bodies shows that organisations that relocate by a significant distance tend to lose more staff. IPSA is a small organisation and wished to retain its staff in order to continue uninterrupted its support to MPs, including regular meetings between them and their IPSA account managers, and its assurance to the public about MPs’ spending.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/06/2019 12:07:20 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 123714 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1131047

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Offices
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, pursuant to the Answer of 5 June 2019 to Question 257645 on Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Buildings, which organisation's commercial interests would be prejudiced; and in what manner by disclosing the size of IPSA's office and the rate paid per metre.
	tabling member constituency	Warley
	tabling member printed	John Spellar
	uin	262237
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>It is common practice for landlords to prohibit the publication of commercial agreements reached with their tenants. This is the case regarding the lease signed by IPSA and its landlord. IPSA is nonetheless a public body accountable to Parliament and its accounts are audited by the National Audit Office and scrutinised by the Speaker’s Committee for the IPSA in order to provide assurance that value for money has been obtained. The Speaker’s Committee is scheduled to meet in July 2019 to discuss IPSA’s finances and other matters.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/06/2019 12:09:00 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 123713 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	318 label Biography information for John Spellar

1131865

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Members: Allowances
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, if he will make an assessment of the effectiveness of the system for reimbursing MPs expenses; and if IPSA will make it its policy to reinstate the previous system for the reimbursement of expenses.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
	uin	263668
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>IPSA considered a range of options for its new system of reimbursing MPs’ business costs and expenses. The system selected is more integrated and efficient than its predecessor systems, and holds the personal data of MPs and their staff more securely. The software selected is widely used in the United Kingdom, including in many public bodies. Prior to its launch in April, the effectiveness of the system was thoroughly tested, including by MPs and their staff. Its benefits include:</p><p> </p><p>- A ‘single sign-on’ capability to allow MPs and their staff to access the system directly through their secure parliamentary account without an additional logon.</p><p>- MPs and staff no longer need to send paper receipts and invoices to IPSA, but can scan or photograph them and upload them digitally onto the system. This improves data security and means that IPSA can process and reimburse claims more quickly.</p><p>- MPs’ staff members can now be reimbursed directly by IPSA for their own expenses rather than via their MPs.</p><p>- MPs and their staff are now able to amend their personal details, including any change of name or address, on the new system themselves, without needing to submit a form to IPSA.</p><p>- The new system allows claims from different budgets to be submitted on the same form, rather than having to submit multiple forms.</p><p>- MPs and their staff have constant access to financial information about the amounts left in their budgets and the status of any repayments or amounts owed, rather than waiting a monthly financial statement from IPSA.</p><p> </p><p>As of 13 June, 612 MPs have successfully submitted claims on the new system. IPSA is committed to supporting and training MPs and their staff as they become accustomed to the new online claims system. IPSA does not intend to make it its policy to reinstate the previous system.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/06/2019 12:12:33 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 123708 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1131867

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Members: Email
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what estimate he has made of the number of emails from hon. Members sent to IPSA in June 2019 that have not received a response within three days; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
	uin	263669
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>IPSA has a key performance target to respond to 90 per cent of emails within five working days. Between 1 June and 13 June, IPSA responded to 88 per cent of the 563 emails received within this target. IPSA has recently brought in five temporary staff to help improve its response times following the introduction of a new finance, payroll and expenses system in April 2019.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/06/2019 12:09:53 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 123710 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1131868

	registered interest
	date	12/06/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority: Working Hours
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what steps he is taking to help ensure that IPSA has sufficient resources to extend its working hours so that (a) telephone calls can be answered during the hours the House sits and (b) responses can be given to emails from MPs within three to five working days.
	tabling member constituency	Christchurch
	tabling member printed	Sir Christopher Chope
	uin	263670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2019 answer text <p>IPSA’s December 2018 user survey found that 68 per cent of MPs and their staff were satisfied with the support that they receive from IPSA on the phone, up from 53 per cent in 2017. Since the introduction of its new online finance and expenses system in April 2019, IPSA has experienced a higher-than-normal volume of calls, with some calls taking up to 45 minutes as MPs and their staff familiarise themselves with the new system. To respond to this increased demand, IPSA has recruited five temporary staff to answer the phone to MPs, and has temporarily closed its phone lines at 4pm in order to respond to the queries raised. IPSA expects to re-open its phone lines until 5pm when this demand subsides.</p><p>IPSA has a key performance target to respond to 90 per cent of emails within five days. In 2018-19, IPSA responded to over 85 per cent of the 54,500 letters and emails that were received within five working days of receipt. In April 2019, following the introduction on the new system, IPSA only replied to 70 per cent of emails within this target. The additional temporary staff will also address this increased demand.</p><p>IPSA’s performance is monitored by the Speaker’s Committee for the IPSA which approves IPSA’s budget and targets, including how it responds to MPs’ queries.</p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 20/06/2019 12:11:25 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker previous answer version 123711 answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	242 label Biography information for Sir Christopher Chope

1132886

	registered interest
	date	18/06/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept id	90
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority
	hansard heading	Members: Internet
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Broxbourne, representing the Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, what estimate his Department has made on the potential cost incurred by MPs' offices in answering web-based inquiries generated by (a) 38 Degrees and (b) other websites in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
	tabling member printed	Royston Smith
	uin	266190
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2019 answer text <p>I have asked IPSA to provide this reply.</p><p>IPSA is the statutory body responsible for regulating and paying the salaries, business costs and expenses of MPs. This includes regulating and paying the salaries of staff members who work for MPs.</p><p> </p><p>Each MP is allocated a budget from which their staffing costs are paid. The current staffing budget for MPs in London constituencies is £166,930; and for non-London MPs, the budget is £155,930.</p><p> </p><p>In the 2018-19 financial year, MPs spent £91.1 million on staffing costs, including employment costs and other staffing services.</p><p> </p><p>IPSA does not hold information on the cost attributable to staff members carrying out specific activities such as responding to web-based inquiries generated by 38 Degrees or other websites.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Broxbourne answering member printed Mr Charles Walker question first answered 25/06/2019 14:56:09 answering member 1493 label Biography information for Sir Charles Walker
	tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith