Every parliamentary written question tabled by John Glen this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 161–180 of 229 · Cabinet Office
Whether the Prime Minister is taking steps to reduce his carbon footprint during official duties.
Ministerial travel is undertaken using efficient and cost-effective travel arrangements. Security considerations are also taken into account. It has been the practice that official Prime Ministerial flights are carbon offset where that is possible.
If the Prime Minister will respond to the correspondence of 7 June 2024 from the FDA to him and the former Prime Minister on opposition costings.
A response has been issued.
Whether the ethics and integrity commission will have a role in (a) the appointments of (i) unpaid advisers, (ii) special advisers and (iii) civil servants and (b) advising the (A) Prime Minister and (B) other Ministers on the the probity of the political donations they receive.
I refer the right honourable member to the answer given to PQ 1251 on 31 July 2024.
If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of employing the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff as a civil servant.
The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of his Chief of Staff as a special adviser. This has been the case in successive administrations.
Whether former (a) Labour Party, (b) Labour Parliamentary and (c) Labour Together staff who have joined the Civil Service under recruitment principles exceptions since 4 July 2024 are permitted to attend Labour Party Conference.
Guidance on attendance at Party Conference for civil servants can be found on gov.uk at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-servants-and-party-conferences-guidance/annual-party-conferences-2024
With reference to the letter from the First Civil Service Commissioner of 30 August 2024 to Heads of Department on the review of appointments made by exception at delegated grades, when he expects the Commission to complete that review; and if he will publish the data gathered form departments as part of that review.
The timing and publication of the review are matters for the Civil Service Commission, which is operationally independent of the Cabinet Office.
On how many Fridays the Prime Minister has worked after 6.00pm since 4 July 2024.
The Prime Minister works all the hours required to deliver for the country.
What discussions (a) No.10 special advisers and (b) the No.10 Appointments Team have had with Lord Alli on recommending individuals for public appointments.
As was the case under previous administrations, public appointments follow the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as set out by the Cabinet Office. Further details can be found at the following link: Governance Code on Public Appointments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What guidance her Department issues to special advisers on briefing the media.
The Code of Conduct for Special Advisers is set by the Prime Minister and special advisers are expected to work in line with the Code at all times.
How many staff are seconded to 10 Downing Street from outside Government; what roles those people perform; from which outside body each has been seconded; and what the length of each secondment is.
For management and staffing purposes the Prime Minister’s Office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the Rt Hon Member to the answer given by then Cabinet Office Minister Jeremy Quin on 15 June 2023, Official Report PQ 188973
What recent assessment he has made of the standard of briefing provided to the Prime Minister from the Civil Service; and what steps (a) he and (b) the Cabinet Secretary takes to ensure briefings meet Ministers' (i) requirements and (ii) preferences.
The Civil Service Code requires all civil servants to provide objective information and advice to ministers, and to present the options and facts accurately. The Government will continue to ensure that briefing to Ministers is of a high standard and meets the requirements and preferences of Ministers.
Which of the public appointments for which the Prime Minister is responsible are due to be (a) renewed and (b) filled in the next 12 months; what the (i) remit, (ii) salary, (iii) political restrictions, (iv) eligibility requirement and (v) timetable for each appointment is; and what records the No. 10 appointments team keeps in respect of those appointments.
As was the case under previous administrations, public appointments follow the Governance Code on Public Appointments, as set out by the Cabinet Office. Further details can be found at the following link: Governance Code on Public Appointments - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What guidance his Department issues to (a) Departments and (b) arm’s length bodies on publication of the names of people who have unsuccessfully applied for (i) public appointments and (ii) other posts.
The Cabinet Office does not issue guidance on the publication of the names of people who have unsuccessfully applied for roles. It would generally not be appropriate to publish the names of unsuccessful candidates.
With reference to paragraph 56 of the report of the Seventh Report of the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee entitled The Role of Non-Executive Directors in Government, Session 2022-23, HC 318, what Government policy is on the replacement of departmental non-executive directors when new Ministers are appointed.
The Corporate Governance Code for Central Government Departments makes clear that Secretaries of State are responsible for appointing non-executive board members. When new Ministers are appointed, they may wish to review the balance of skills and experience the Board requires; the Code recommends that such reviews take place at least annually. There has been no change to the Code since when the Rt Hon member was a Minister in the department.
With reference to the oral answer of the Leader of the House of Lords of 4 September 2024, Official Report, House of Lords, col. 1157, what the Government's policy is on publicly announcing (a) direct ministerial appointments and (b) the appointments of (i) Directors and (ii) Director Generals in the Civil Service.
Direct ministerial appointments are publicly announced at the time of, or soon after, the point at which the appointment itself is made, except on rare occasions for very sensitive roles. There is no central policy or guidance around publicly announcing the appointment of Directors and Directors General. It is up to individual government departments to decide whether to make an official announcement.
What the Department's policy is on the (a) advertisement of and (b) process for appointment of senior civil service roles.
The Department’s policy is to advertise senior civil service roles externally by default, unless there is an exemption. The Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles (2018), which are published online, set out how external competitions for Deputy Director, Director and internal or external competitions for Director General and Permanent Secretary roles are processed.
What is the headquarters occupancy data for the Office of National Statistics, across each week in the most recent month for which data is available.
The publication of this data was suspended in line with pre-election guidance for the duration of the Pre-Election Period. We will provide an update on future publication plans in due course.
If he will make an assessment of the potential merits of Extended Ministerial Offices.
Extended ministerial offices were introduced in 2013 and discontinued in 2016. The Government prioritises providing a quality service to ministers and is, more broadly, developing a strategic plan for a more efficient and effective civil service.
Whether the Prime Minister has had discussions with the First Division Association (FDA) on recognising it as the trade union for special advisers; and what the process is for formal recognition.
In line with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (TULRCA), trade unions may make a request for voluntary recognition in writing.
Whether the post of Executive Assistant to the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff was recruited through fair and open competition.
It is a longstanding policy not to comment on individuals.