27 Jan 2025·Department for Science, Innovation and Technology·Answered
AskedInnovation and Technology, whether (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom has provided funding to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
ReplyAs far as we are aware, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Ofcom have not provided funding to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
27 Jan 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to support female veterans.
ReplyThis Government will always stand up for those who have served our country, and I am leading work across Government and with civil society to look at the best ways to ensure all veterans, including women veterans, get access to the support and opportunities they need and deserve.Women are a crucial part of the Armed Forces community, both through the value of their service and their contribution to society as veterans. This year, we will set out our plans for all veterans in our updated Veterans’ Strategy. This updated strategy will include a specific female veterans section.
27 Jan 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWhat steps he is taking to support ex-blue light service personnel with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
ReplyNational Health Service mental health services are available to support the mental health of ex blue light staff who have experienced trauma in their past or who might have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They can access evidence-based mental health treatment via their general practitioner or by self-referring to their local NHS Talking Therapies service, with details on how to do so available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/talking-therapies-and-counselling/nhs-talking-therapies/People with complex PTSD may be offered therapies used to treat it, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy or eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing. They may also be offered treatment for other problems they may have, such as depression or alcohol addiction.
27 Jan 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedWhat steps his Department plans to take to reduce the time taken for compensation processing for veterans with PTSD-related claims.
ReplyThe information is not held in the format requested and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, it may be helpful to note that War Pension Scheme (WPS) and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims are not categorised by condition on receipt. It is not possible to determine if a claim received for a mental health condition will be accepted for compensation under either scheme until medical review of all evidence in the final stage of consideration and decision making. Defence Statistics Health publish statistics on claims and awards made under the WPS and AFCS. The latest WPS publication presents statistics as at 31 March 2024 and can be found on the gov.uk website:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/war-pension-recipients-index The latest AFCS publication presents statistics as at 31 March 2024 which was published on the gov.uk website on 18 July 2024:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/armed-forces-compensation-scheme-statistics-index The Ministry of Defence (MOD) aims to consider all claims under the WPS AFCS as efficiently and as quickly as possible so as not to cause undue delay and stress. Alongside Service evidence, it is often necessary to obtain medical records and case notes from the individual's civilian general practitioner and/or other medical providers. Awaiting the return of those records does take time and, regrettably, this is something MOD officials have no influence over. The MOD's own working practices are regularly reviewed to positively impact claim processing times for both schemes' claimants. As part of ongoing modernisation, new automated processes are currently being implemented to reduce processing times, as well as a new training programme to enhance caseworker knowledge and skills to further improve confidence and processing of claims.
27 Jan 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedWhat the policy is of (a) his Department, (b) the Office for Equality and Opportunity and (c) the Civil Service People Group on transgender people’s use of single sex facilities.
ReplyThe Government People Group’s policy and guidance in this area are currently being revised.As a department, the Cabinet Office aligns with the Government People Group's model Civil Service policy. As such, the Cabinet Office policy will be revised in due course. The Office for Equality and Opportunity is part of the Cabinet Office for operations and staffing purposes. As such, its policy is aligned with wider Cabinet Office policy.
27 Jan 2025·Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government·Answered
AskedCommunities and Local Government, for what reason her Department publishes all Government Procurement Card transactions.
ReplyMHCLG’s spend publication thresholds were set by an historic Ministerial decision. We have been reviewing this and all future spend data will be published in line with Cabinet Office requirements.
23 Jan 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhat assessment (a) her Department and (b) the National Crime Agency have made of the prevalence of money laundering from Bangladesh into United Kingdom property; and what steps she has taken to investigate the matter.
ReplyThe UK has one of the world’s largest and most open economies. This makes the UK attractive for legitimate investment but also exposes the UK to money laundering risk. The UK is committed to fighting this risk both domestically and internationally.The National Crime Agency forms one part of the UK's effort to support Bangladesh in tackling corruption in addition to engaging on other law enforcement issues. As a matter of policy, we do not routinely comment on NCA investigations.
23 Jan 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedIf he will make it his policy to remain outside the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the context of his negotiations with the EU.
ReplyThere has been no change in the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice rulings in relation to the UK. We are also clear that we will not be re-joining the Single Market, the Customs Union or Freedom of Movement.
23 Jan 2025·Department for Culture, Media and Sport·Answered
AskedMedia and Sport, what her policy is on Ministers in her Department accepting donations in kind in the form of loans of clothes.
ReplyPrinciples on ministers’ gifts and hospitality are set out in the Ministerial Code which was updated in November 2024 and is available on GOV.UK at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-code.
23 Jan 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedWhether the anti-corruption champion is reviewing money laundering from foreign countries into United Kingdom property.
ReplyThe responsibilities of the Anti-Corruption Champion are set out on Gov.uk.A new Anti-Corruption Strategy will be published in 2025 and will include measures that address the UK’s vulnerabilities to corruption and corrupt funds, make it harder for corrupt actors to operate in the UK and overseas, and strengthen global resilience to corruption.The Anti-Corruption Champion will play an important role in supporting Ministers on anti-corruption and related issues, including the development of the Anti-Corruption Strategy.
23 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWith reference to the appointment of Iain Anderson as a non-executive board member, if he will place a copy of Mr Anderson’s declaration of interests in the House of Commons Library.
ReplyIain Anderson has declared his interests in line with the published process.(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/non-executive-board-member-declaration-of-interests-process/non-executive-board-member-declaration-of-interests-process#context).Interests will be published in due course on the department's website.
23 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 19 December 2024 to Question 20536 on Department for Business and Trade: Official Cars, how many Government Car Service (a) cars and (b) drivers are provided for the use of civil servants.
ReplyNo Government Car Service cars or drivers are provided specifically for the use of civil servants.
23 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedWhat priority policy areas the Brexit Opportunities Unit is working on in 2025.
ReplyThe Brexit Opportunities Unit transitioned into the Regulation Directorate (RD) through a machinery of government change in February 2023. RD aims to improve regulation to support the Government’s mission to boost economic growth.RD is leading the regulatory reform agenda across government in collaboration with HM Treasury. We recognise that for regulation to be effective, it must be created in partnership with business and regulators, which is why we have asked regulators to provide proposals for prioritising growth with the support of government. Our plans for the government’s overall regulatory vision will be set out in due course.
23 Jan 2025·Home Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 12 December 2024 to Question 18221, on Supreme Court: Judgments, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of the Supreme Court judgements referenced.
ReplyWhile legal proceedings remain ongoing, it would be premature to comment on the final implications.
23 Jan 2025·Department for Business and Trade·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 20 November 2024 to Question 13801 on Office for the Pay Review Bodies, in what way the change in name better reflects the role of the organisation.
ReplyThe change of name from the Office of Manpower Economics to the Office for the Pay Review Bodies better reflects the role of the organisation as the work of the Office for the Pay Review Bodies is to support the eight independent public sector pay review bodies. This involves a broader range of activities than manpower economics alone.
22 Jan 2025·Department for Work and Pensions·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 16 October 2024 to Question 4705 on Government Departments: Families, if she will place a copy of that guidance in the House of Commons Library.
ReplyThe Family Test Guidance was published in the House of Commons Library on 01 April 2019 and is also available on gov.uk, and can be accessed at the links below: House of Commons Library:https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7714/ Gov.uk:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/family-test-assessing-the-impact-of-policies-on-families/the-family-test
22 Jan 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21396 on Government Departments: Internet, if he will publish the inclusion list of websites for programmatic advertising that meet the acceptable standards.
ReplyAs was the case under the previous administration, there are currently no plans to publish the inclusion list.
22 Jan 2025·Department of Health and Social Care·Answered
AskedWith reference to the Register Of Interests Of Members' Secretaries And Research Assistants, published on 22 November 2024, whether Matthew Goodin (a) attends meetings in his Department and (b) sits in the special adviser's office.
ReplyMatthew Goddin does not attend Departmental meetings. As a member of Parliamentary staff, he meets with my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to discuss Parliamentary business.
22 Jan 2025·Cabinet Office·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2024 to Question 18204 on Ministers: convictions, what role the (a) Cabinet Secretary and (b) Director General of the Proprietary and Constitution Group has in the provision of advice to the Prime Minister on the propriety of Ministerial appointments.
ReplyAll ministerial appointments are made by the Sovereign on the advice of the Prime Minister.As has been the case under successive administrations, it is a long-standing principle that any advice is provided by Civil Servants, as required and as appropriate. All Civil Service advice is given and treated in confidence.
22 Jan 2025·Ministry of Defence·Answered
AskedPursuant to the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 21064 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what estimate he has made of the annual value of the rotary wing transport being provided under the Commercial Transport Contract; from which departmental budget it will be funded; and whether the existing budget is the same budget as for the previous contract.
ReplyMinistry of Defence future use of the Commercial Air Transport Contract has been assessed and will be significantly cheaper than the cancelled Future Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport contract. Individual user budgets will pay for use under the Ministerial Air Transport Office managed Commercial Air Transport Contract, as is normal for transportation costs; as a result it will not be from the same budget as the Command Support Air Transport contract.