Every parliamentary written question tabled by Charlie Dewhirst this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 621–640 of 818 · this parliament
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25863 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the Royal Household helicopter new transport is being arranged through a Cabinet Office framework.
No. The Royal Household makes independent arrangements for Royal Helicopter transport.
With reference to the Prime Minister's oral contribution of 5 February 2025, Official Report, column 742, on which topics the Government has offered Privy Council briefings to opposition Privy Councellors in the last 36 months.
This information is not held centrally. It is for Government Ministers to determine when information is shared on Privy Council Terms, on a case by case basis, and in a manner appropriate and proportionate to the circumstances.
Pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2025 to Question 26823 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether the contract Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited is the commercial transport contract referred to by the Ministry of Defence in the Answer of 18 December 2024 to Question 21064; and what the name is of the company providing the helicopter service.
Corporate Travel Management is the commercial transport contract referred to. No single company provides all helicopter transport, with a range of providers employed under the Commercial Air Transport Contract. This contract uses Central Travel Management to identify the most cost-effective commercially available helicopter travel for Ministry of Defence Ministers, senior Department officials and senior officers, alongside Cabinet Office and wider Government Ministers. Detail of the Cabinet Office Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM can be found at the following Contracts Finder link:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/da014209-47d7-4805-8097-e191d7d1077f?origin=SearchResults&p=1
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 January 2025 to Question 22185, Prime Minister: Furniture, what information his Department holds on the number and proportion of attendees at the Plan for Change launch event on 5 December 2024 who were members of the Labour Party but were neither MPs or Ministers.
This was an official government event, with attendees and an audience that included members of the public, business people, and public sector workers. Some members of the Labour party attended.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025to Question 25863 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, what is the name of the company now providing the helicopter transport through the Cabinet Office framework.
The Cabinet Office has a cross-Government contract in place with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM). CTM provides a travel booking service for Cabinet Office staff, Ministers and Ministry of Defence senior officials when travel is permitted for business and operational reasons. Information on this contract can be found at the following Contracts Finder link:https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/notice/da014209-47d7-4805-8097-e191d7d1077f?origin=SearchResults&p=1
Pursuant to the Answer of 18 November 2024, to Question 1248 on Military Aircraft: Helicopter, where the Ministerial Transport Office is based; how many staff work in it; and what its budget is .
The helicopter arrangements are managed by the Cabinet Office Commercial team and form part of the Central Departmental Travel contracts which are in place with Corporate Travel Management (North) Limited (CTM). There is one dedicated Full Time official with other resources being used as and when required. CTM provides a travel booking service for Cabinet Office staff, Ministers and Ministry of Defence senior officials when travel is permitted for business and operational reasons. Costs are paid from the end user budget.
Pursuant to the Answer of 28 January 2025 to Question 25862 on Military Aircraft: Helicopters, whether his assessment of the cost has included the additional costs of (a) Royal Household helicopter provision and (b) non-Defence Ministerial travel; and what the estimated total annual cost is .
Provision of Royal Household and non-Defence Ministerial helicopter travel is not a Ministry of Defence responsibility. Therefore, the cost assessment for Ministry of Defence senior leader and official future helicopter transport did not include Royal Household or non-Defence Ministerial travel requirements. Before deletion of Rotary Wing Command Support Air Transport in December 2024, Royal Household and wider Government usage had been on an ‘as available’ basis, when the aircraft was not in use for Ministry of Defence activity.
With reference to the Answer of 3 December 2024 to Question HL2664 on 10 Downing Street: Artworks, whether other artwork has been temporarily removed from (a) 10, (b) 11 and (c) 12 Downing Street.
The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
Media and Sport, pursuant to the Answer of 17 December 2024 to Question 18702 on Home Office: Art Works, which specific items from the Government Art Collection have been (a) added to the those displayed in the Home Office, and (b) removed from display in the Home Office since 5 July 2024.
The Government Art Collection is a working collection, used across government buildings in the UK and the global estate, which means that artworks may change their display location from time to time in response to new display steers and requests.
Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department plans to open funding via the Animal Health and Welfare Infrastructure Grant under the Animal Productivity Pathway for capital investments to improve on-farm productivity in spring 2025.
Farmers are already receiving support through the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to undertake large infrastructure projects. The Rural Payments Agency recently invited eligible applicants to the Laying Hen Housing for Health and Welfare Grant forward to the next stage of the application process, with other farmers accessing funding through the Calf Housing for Health and Welfare Grant. Both grants will support our farmers to continually improve the health, welfare and productivity of their livestock. We are currently working to simplify and rationalise our grant funding, ensuring that grants are targeted towards those who need them most and where they can deliver the most benefit for food security and nature. We will confirm future grant rounds in due course. Eligible keepers of cattle, pigs and sheep can currently access funded vet visits as part of the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway. This provides an opportunity for farmers to improve the health, welfare and productivity of their animals through access to bespoke veterinary advice and testing for key endemics diseases.
What steps he is taking to expand the availability of veteran-specific mental health services in (a) rural and (b) deprived areas.
NHS England commissions Op COURAGE, the integrated mental health and wellbeing service, which allows veterans to make self-referrals.The service has been designed to support veterans from all areas, including rural and deprived areas, and is delivered from a range of locations, including National Health Service trusts, general practices, Poppy Shops, veteran hubs, and drop-in centres. Elements of the service may also be provided online, if this is clinically appropriate. The Government recognises that not all veterans want to use veteran-specific mental health services and can instead choose to use mainstream NHS services, such as Talking Therapies, which are available to both veterans and civilians.Integrated care boards are responsible for providing health and care services to meet the needs of their local populations, taking into account local considerations such as access to services in rural areas.The Government recognises that too many people are not receiving the mental health care they need, and that waits for mental health services are too long. We are determined to change this and ensure that mental health has the same focus as physical health, to help people in rural areas access high quality mental health support when they need it.
How many veterans are awaiting compensation for PTSD-related claims; and what steps he is taking to expedite those claims.
The 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.
What steps his Department plans to take to reduce the time taken for compensation processing for veterans with PTSD-related claims.
The 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.
Innovation and Technology, whether (a) his Department and (b) Ofcom has provided funding to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate.
As 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.
What steps he is taking to support ex-blue light service personnel with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
National 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.
What steps he is taking to support female veterans.
This 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.
What 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.
The 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.
Communities and Local Government, for what reason her Department publishes all Government Procurement Card transactions.
MHCLG’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.
Whether the anti-corruption champion is reviewing money laundering from foreign countries into United Kingdom property.
The 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.
Media and Sport, what her policy is on Ministers in her Department accepting donations in kind in the form of loans of clothes.
Principles 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.