Every parliamentary written question tabled by Joe Robertson this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 1–20 of 36 · Cabinet Office
With reference to the answer of 4 February 2026, to Question 109542, on Ministers: Official Cars, whether the invoices prepared by the finance team break down expenditure for cars for (a) Ministers and (b) civil servants.
Awaiting answer.
What recent assessment he has made of trends in the level of job losses in the retail and hospitality sectors.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. A response to the Hon gentleman’s Parliamentary Question of 14th May is attached.
Whether she has made an assessment of the comparative costs of greenhouse gas emissions reporting across the Government estate relative to the emissions reductions achieved as a result of those activities.
This information is not available. GPA do not manage the greenhouse gas emissions data and reporting across all of the government estate.
What guidance exists for Government departments on responding to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's (a) findings of maladministration and (b) recommendations for financial redress.
Guidance for Government departments on responding to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's findings and recommendations is published on gov.uk (‘Handling of Parliamentary Ombudsman Cases’, Cabinet Office, May 2022). Financial redress is governed by HM Treasury’s ‘Managing Public Money’ principles that payments must be fair, reasonable and proportionate.
Pursuant to the Answer of 27 March 2025 to Question 40570 on Ministers: Aviation and to the Answer of 14 March 2025 to Question 36276 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, which (a) Ministers and (b) Departments are eligible to procure official helicopter travel under the provisions of the Central Cabinet Office Corporate Travel Agency Contract other than the Ministry of Defence.
The Central Cabinet Office Corporate Travel Agency Contract contains provisions for the booking of aviation assets for any government department or minister, in accordance with the Ministerial Code. This contract has not been utilised for helicopter travel by this government.
How frequently performance management statistics are (a) reviewed and (b) reported in the civil service.
Departments are responsible for collating, and monitoring their performance management. For Senior Civil Service, this is normally collated annually. For grades below the Senior Civil Service (SCS), each department has delegated responsibility for monitoring and reporting via their internal governance arrangements. The Civil Service People Survey, which is reported annually, captures data on civil servants’ views on the performance management systems in their department. In March, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that the Government will be strengthening performance processes for the SCS.
What data his Department collects on the outcomes of performance management procedures.
Cabinet Office staff, except those on career breaks or new joiners, are allocated a performance marking at mid-year and end of the year. All line managers are instructed to upload these performance markings onto our HR system, which is called SOP. In March, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster also announced that the Government will be strengthening performance processes for the SCS.
What guidance he has issued on publishing (a) details of individual helicopter flights under £25,000 in value on gov.uk and (b) the total annual spend on helicopter flights by (i) each Department and (ii) all Departments.
As was the case under the previous administration, data on ministers’ travel is published on a quarterly basis. This can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings-july-to-september-2024.
Pursuant to (a) the Answer of 6 March 2025 to Question 34453 on Prime Minister: Aviation and (b) his letter to the hon. Member for Isle of Wight East of 13 March 2025 on helicopter travel, if he will publish an aggregate figure for the total cost of the Prime Minister’s domestic air travel since 4 July 2024 that does not reveal granular movements.
I refer the Hon Member to my answer of 6 March 2025, Official Report, PQ 34453.
What information his Department holds on the number of civil service employees under performance management procedures.
Performance management is managed by individual departments, meaning this information is not held centrally. In March, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that the Government will be strengthening performance processes for the SCS.
What data his Department holds on the average duration that civil service employees remain under performance management before a resolution is reached.
Performance management is managed by individual departments, meaning this information is not held centrally. In March, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster announced that the Government will be strengthening performance processes for the SCS.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 March 2025 to Question 34447 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, which suppliers supply helicopter services under the Ministerial Air Transport administered contract.
I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 18 March 2025 in response to question 36675.
What proportion of procurement training for Cabinet Office officials has been delivered by organisations affiliated with trade unions since 5 July 2024.
Information on supplier organisations’ affiliations with trade unions is not held.
With reference to the National Procurement Policy Statement on 13 February 2025, what discussions his Department has had with representatives of small-to-medium sized enterprises on the potential impact of the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on the administration of businesses.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
What assessment he has made with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of the (a) updated National Procurement Policy Statement and (b) Employment Rights Bill on the capacity of small and medium enterprises to (i) bid for and (ii) undertake public contracts.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
If he will take steps to introduce a feedback mechanism for small-to-medium sized businesses to report issues relating to the (a) National Procurement Policy Statement procurement criteria and (b) obligations for employers in the Employment Rights Bill.
The National Procurement Policy Statement supports Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSEs), giving them greater opportunities to win public contracts by instructing contracting authorities to maximise their spend with these organisations. We are clear that we want public contracts to deliver value for money in procurement through stronger expectations around commercial capability and contract management. The NPPS asks contracting authorities to ensure they have the appropriate procurement and contract management skills and capability necessary to deliver public contracts and encourages the use of collaborative procurement frameworks, where appropriate, to deliver value for money. To support this, a new online register of commercial agreements will increase visibility of frameworks and fees, curbing excessive profits. The Cabinet Office undertook a programme of stakeholder engagement to inform the development of the NPPS. This included an online survey which received over 436 responses and a series of roundtables with key stakeholders from contracting authorities, businesses and civil society. I have met with the Federation of Small Businesses, Enterprise Nation and a large number of SMEs across various sectors to discuss how the government can continue to break down barriers to procurement opportunities through the new procurement regime, supporting jobs and growth across the country. To support implementation of the Procurement Act, the Government has provided a programme of free training to procurement teams on its provisions and flexibilities. Additionally, the Government hosted a series of supplier webinars and published instructional videos and user-manuals, aimed specifically for suppliers, to help them understand the key changes including how to use the new central digital platform - working with trade associations and other business representative organisations to help distribute the materials. The Department for Business and Trade leads on the Employment Rights Bill. Impact assessments undertaken for the Employment Rights Bill can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/employment-rights-bill-impact-assessments.
How many procurement contracts awarded by his Department have been terminated due to non-performance since 5 July 2024.
Cabinet Office has previously not kept a central record of contracts terminated due to non-performance. When contracts awarded under the Procurement Act 2023 (which came into force 24 February 2025) come to an end, the Contracting Authority must publish a Contract Termination Notice on Find A Tender – the central digital platform for all UK public sector contract notices. No Termination Notices have yet been published for contracts awarded under the Procurement Act 2023.
How many public contracts awarded by his Department have been awarded to companies with offshore tax arrangements since 5 July 2024.
From 1 April 2013, suppliers bidding for contracts over £5million must provide details about its tax returns, including whether tax returns submitted on or after 1 October 2012 have given rise to a criminal conviction for tax related offences which is unspent, or to a civil penalty for fraud or evasion. The Cabinet Office does not keep records of the tax status of successful suppliers.
What proportion of procurement training for his Department has been delivered by organisations affiliated with trade unions since 5 July 2024.
Information on supplier organisations’ affiliations with trade unions is not held.
How many suppliers have been excluded from public contracts for failing to meet environmental procurement criteria since 5 July 2024.
For contracts awarded under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, which was established by the previous government, exclusions information is not collated centrally. However, the Procurement Act 2023 (which came into effect on 24 February 2025) introduces a new requirement on contracting authorities to notify an appropriate authority where a supplier has been excluded. To date, there has not been a notification of exclusion under the environmental misconduct grounds.