Following consultation with the Government Property Agency who now manage the Cabinet Office estate, I can confirm that none of the locations referred to in the above question are owned or managed by Cabinet Office.<\/p>
<\/p>
The civil service is going through a fundamental transformation in the way that we work and deliver services, not least through advances in technology. The future civil service will be more efficient, more highly skilled and agile.<\/p>
<\/p>
We are working with departments to deliver our commitments within the Government Estates Strategy and to ensure that we make the best use of our Government Estate assets, including the office estates. We have a particular commitment to consider locations outside of London as identified through our Places for Growth programme.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-28", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-28T14:25:01.847Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Offices: Wales"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has plans to close the office of the (a) Boundary Commission for Wales in Fitzalan Court, Cardiff, (b) Company Names Tribunal on Cardiff Road, Newport, (c) Estyn office on Keen Road, Cardiff, (d) Forest Research on Cefn Gethiniog, Powys, (d) Office for National Statistics on Cardiff Road, Newport, (e) Public Health Wales on Tyndall Street, Cardiff, (f) Wales Audit Office at 24 Cathedral Road, Cardiff (g) Wales Audit Office at North Wales Business Park, Conwy and (h) Wales Audit Office on Penllergaer, Swansea.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"} ], "uin" : "189829"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/940693", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/940693/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I met with the General Secretaries of the FDA, Prospect and PCS trade unions on 27 June to discuss the Civil Service pay guidance, which was published on 25 June.<\/p>
<\/p>
In my capacity as the Minister with responsibility for Civil Service HR, including trade unions, I previously met with the General Secretaries of the FDA and Prospect on the 22 February 2018, and with the PCS General Secretary, on the 27th February 2018.<\/p>
<\/em><\/strong><\/p> Cabinet office officials regularly meet with trade union representatives to discuss a range of workforce issues, including pay.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "162999"}
, {"_value" : "163817"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-19T11:47:18.777Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what discussions he has had with Civil Service unions on the pay remit guidance published on 25 June 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "163816"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/940694", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/940694/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and I met with the General Secretaries of the FDA, Prospect and PCS trade unions on 27 June to discuss the Civil Service pay guidance, which was published on 25 June.<\/p> <\/p> In my capacity as the Minister with responsibility for Civil Service HR, including trade unions, I previously met with the General Secretaries of the FDA and Prospect on the 22 February 2018, and with the PCS General Secretary, on the 27th February 2018.<\/p> <\/em><\/strong><\/p> Cabinet office officials regularly meet with trade union representatives to discuss a range of workforce issues, including pay.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-07-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "162999"}
, {"_value" : "163816"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-07-19T11:47:18.84Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-07-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Civil Servants: Pay"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with which organisations he plans to hold consultations on civil service pay following the pay remit guidance published on 25 June 2018.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "163817"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882502", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882502/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Civil Service chose to adopt the Ban the Box initiative in February 2016. The Cabinet Office issued guidance for departmental recruitment and HR teams to support departments to ensure their recruitment practices were in line with the Ban the Box initiative. For many organisations, the guidance formalised the good practice which already operated across the Civil Service. Departments have processes in place to approve exceptions. The Cabinet Office have not asked Departments to report on exceptions to the Ban the Box Scheme in the last 12 months.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "135565"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T10:38:55.517Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to paragraph 45 of the Government response to the First Report of the Justice Committee, Session 2017-19, HC 416, which Departments have reported on exemptions to the Ban the Box scheme in the last 12 months.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "135564"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882503", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882503/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Civil Service chose to adopt the Ban the Box initiative in February 2016. The Cabinet Office issued guidance for departmental recruitment and HR teams to support departments to ensure their recruitment practices were in line with the Ban the Box initiative. For many organisations, the guidance formalised the good practice which already operated across the Civil Service. Departments have processes in place to approve exceptions. The Cabinet Office have not asked Departments to report on exceptions to the Ban the Box Scheme in the last 12 months.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "135564"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T10:38:55.563Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Government Departments: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the Government's implementation plan is for banning the box on job applications.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "135565"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882506", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882506/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No job roles advertised by the Cabinet Office during 2016 and 2017 were excluded from the \u2018Ban the Box\u2019 initiative.<\/p> The Cabinet Office embraces and encourages diversity across its workforce; therefore none of our job application forms either digitally or physically requires disclosure of criminal convictions, and therefore meets the requirements of \u2018Ban the Box\u2019.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "135607"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T10:27:50.633Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what proportion of job roles advertised within his Department in (a) 2016 and (b) 2017 excluded the box under the Ban the Box initiative.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "135568"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882545", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/882545/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " No job roles advertised by the Cabinet Office during 2016 and 2017 were excluded from the \u2018Ban the Box\u2019 initiative.<\/p> The Cabinet Office embraces and encourages diversity across its workforce; therefore none of our job application forms either digitally or physically requires disclosure of criminal convictions, and therefore meets the requirements of \u2018Ban the Box\u2019.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-04-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "135568"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-04-23T10:27:50.71Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his Department's implementation plan is for banning the box on job applications.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "135607"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860590", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860590/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As a default position, the Civil Service will \u2018Ban the Box\u2019 when it advertises job vacancies.<\/p> There are some business areas across the Civil Service where it will be inappropriate to apply Ban the Box. This will only occur where there is a clear, justifiable business need to understand a candidate\u2019s conviction history at the application stage in the recruitment process. An exception is most likely to apply to roles that are particularly sensitive in nature, for example; work with children and vulnerable adults of positions connected to public safety. Permanent Secretaries are accountable for the exceptions process. The Cabinet Office do not hold a central record of which civil service roles were not identified as suitable for the Ban the Box initiative.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "131948"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-20T17:39:30.703Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Sector: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 111417, on Public Sector: Recruitment, which civil service roles were not identified as suitable for removal of the box under the ban the box initiative.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "131947"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860591", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/860591/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As a default position, the Civil Service will \u2018Ban the Box\u2019 when it advertises job vacancies.<\/p> There are some business areas across the Civil Service where it will be inappropriate to apply Ban the Box. This will only occur where there is a clear, justifiable business need to understand a candidate\u2019s conviction history at the application stage in the recruitment process. An exception is most likely to apply to roles that are particularly sensitive in nature, for example; work with children and vulnerable adults of positions connected to public safety. Permanent Secretaries are accountable for the exceptions process. The Cabinet Office do not hold a central record of which civil service roles were not identified as suitable for the Ban the Box initiative.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4441", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Oliver Dowden"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hertsmere"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Oliver Dowden"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "131947"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-03-20T17:39:30.75Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "53"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-03-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Public Sector: Recruitment"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 13 November 2017 to Question 111417, on Public Sector: Recruitment. what criteria are used to assess whether a civil service role is suitable for removal of the box under the ban the box initiative.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4630", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ben Lake"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ceredigion"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ben Lake"}
], "uin" : "131948"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/776945", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Cabinet Office"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/776945/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " In October 2015 the Government published guidance on departments\u2019 use of telephone prefixes and freephone numbers which can be found here:<\/p>