📜 Oral Answers to Questions

• Government’s Plan for Change:
  • The Cabinet Office has published the elective reform plan to reduce NHS waiting lists and the AI opportunities plan to boost UK AI investment.
  • The plan aims to increase living standards, reduce NHS waiting lists, improve energy security, enhance children’s education, make streets safer, and increase housing availability.
  • Judicial review attempts holding up major investment projects will be addressed to prevent delays.
• Public Engagement and Accountability:
  • The plan for change includes clear, measurable metrics to help the public hold the Government accountable, aiming to restore trust in politics.
  • Specific benefits such as lower hospital waits, better living standards, safer streets, more housing, and a better start for children in schools are emphasized.
• Crime and Safety:
  • Assaulting a shopworker will be made a separate criminal offence, aiming to improve safety in town centers.
  • The Government plans to restore community policing with additional police officers and PCSOs to enhance public safety and confidence.
• Cross-Government Coordination:
  • Efforts are being made to ensure coordinated action across different government departments and civil services to implement the plan for change effectively.
  • The Prime Minister has emphasized Cabinet focus on the plan’s goals over the next few years, aiming for whole-of-government action to achieve outcomes.
• Cyber Security:
  • The Government is actively strengthening cyber security through ongoing actions, including protecting against ransomware attacks.
  • The introduction of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is aimed at improving UK resilience to cyber-threats.
  • Efforts to close the skills gap include collaboration with organizations like Code First Girls to develop an inclusive cyber-workforce.
• Support for Local Authorities:
  • The Government is providing support to local authorities to enhance their cyber-security, as they are also at risk from cyber-attacks.
• Relations with the EU:
  • The Prime Minister and EU Commission President agreed to strengthen the EU-UK relationship, providing a more stable footing.
  • Discussions with EU counterparts continue, including negotiations to facilitate touring for UK artists and address trade barriers affecting businesses.
  • The Government aims to increase trade globally while maintaining pragmatism in EU relations, with no plans to join the pan-Euro-Mediterranean convention.
• House of Lords Reform:
  • The Government introduced the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote, aiming to make the House more representative.
  • The Government is committed to reforming the appointments process to better reflect the UK’s diversity and considering alternatives to the current second Chamber.
• Infected Blood Compensation Scheme:
  • The Infected Blood Compensation Authority has begun offering compensation to victims, with £1 billion paid out in interim compensation.
  • The Government plans to continue providing swift and compassionate compensation, including further regulations to extend payments to affected individuals.
• Ministerial Travel:
  • The Government has scrapped the VIP helicopter service to reduce travel costs and ensure efficient use of taxpayer money.
• Fishing Industry and EU:
  • Ongoing engagement with the fishing industry continues as part of the EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement review.
• Public Services Reform:
  • The Government is focusing on user-centered public services and plans to introduce a new gov.uk app to enhance service access.
  • Efforts are being made to tackle health inequalities and use AI to improve departmental efficiency and public service delivery.
• Fraud in the Public Sector:
  • New legislation aims to reduce fraud in the public sector, with increased powers to investigate and recover stolen funds.
• Public Procurement:
  • The Procurement Act 2023 aims to streamline procurement for better value and mission alignment, with a national procurement policy statement to support SMEs.
• AI and Public Services:
  • The Government is using AI to improve efficiency, but emphasizes the importance of maintaining human oversight to avoid errors and injustices.
• National Security and Agriculture:
  • The Cabinet Office is preparing for potential outbreaks like foot and mouth disease, with serious attention given to protecting UK farming.
• Affordable Housing:
  • The Government is committed to building 1.5 million homes this Parliament, with funding supporting local projects like those in Norwich.
• Youth Opportunities in Europe:
  • The Government is discussing initiatives like the learning assistance scheme with EU counterparts to enhance youth mobility and opportunities.
• Economic and National Security:
  • The National Security and Investment Act is under regular review to protect UK interests as new commercial links are developed globally.
• National Resilience:
  • Efforts are being made to support local authorities in rural areas with resources for gritting and snow plowing during extreme weather events.

The session exhibits moderate to high disagreement, primarily along party lines, though with some cross-party consensus on specific issues. Key points of contention include:

• EU Relations: Conservative MPs criticized the government’s approach to EU negotiations, raising concerns about ‘dynamic alignment’ and potential ECJ jurisdiction. The Minister deflected accusations of evasiveness, leading to tense exchanges.
• House of Lords Reform: The SNP accused Labour of hypocrisy over cronyism in appointments, contrasting sharply with Labour’s emphasis on merit-based reforms.
• Public Sector Fraud: Opposition MPs questioned the government’s transparency and urgency in addressing fraud, reflecting skepticism about accountability.
• Ministerial Travel: A Conservative MP accused the government of hypocrisy over helicopter use, highlighting partisan tensions.

Cross-party agreement was evident on infected blood compensation and cyber security, tempering the overall discord. However, persistent challenges to the government’s transparency and policy coherence from both opposition and Conservative MPs indicate sustained ideological and procedural clashes.