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GO closure Parliamentary Questions

Parliamentary Questions regarding the Government Office Network

McDonnell, J - Floods in Cumbria (Government Office for the North West)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the role of the Government Office for the North West in the response to the 2009 Cumbrian floods; and how he expects that role to be fulfilled in future. [11891]

Greg Clark: The Cumbria floods in 2009 clearly showed how local people, local government, emergency services and central government effectively worked together on an emergency response and the ongoing recovery.

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 27-28WS, on regional government in which we state that there are, however, some Government office functions, such as arrangements for resilience and civil contingencies, which will need to continue. The spending review process will be used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective ongoing arrangements..


Hilling - Government Office for the North West (Assistance to organisations)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many third sector organisations, community groups and voluntary groups have been assisted by the Government Office for the North West in the last three years. [10791]

Greg Clark: GONW typically works through intermediaries rather than direct intervention with individual organisations.

Stephenson - Government Office for the North West (Future)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations he has received on the future of the Government Office for the North West; and when he expects to announce his decision on the future of the Office. [10843]

Greg Clark: The Secretary of State has received seven representations regarding the future of Government office for the north-west to date.

I refer my hon. Friend to the written ministerial statement on regional government made to the House on 22 July, Official Report, column 27-28WS.

Ellman - Government Offices for the Regions (Formal consultations)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Mrs Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what formal consultation his Department has undertaken in relation to his review of regional Government offices. [11406]

Greg Clark: The coalition Government's 'Programme for Government' published on 20 May stated that

- "we will abolish the Government Office for London and consider the case for abolishing the remaining Government Offices".

We have received a wide range of representations following its publication.

Consultation has taken place with staff, trade unions, and sponsor Departments. Local authorities were asked to submit their views as part of a wider conversation on reducing the burden on local government post the publication of the coalition agreement.

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, columns 27-28WS, on regional government. Consultation on the future of the network will be covered by the spending review consultation process already announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Clark, K - Government Office Network (Local Authority Consultation)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities he consulted before taking the decision to abolish the Government Office Network. [11585]

Greg Clark: On 28 May my right hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Local Government wrote to local authority chief executives and leaders asking them for their ideas on reducing the burden on local government. Among ideas suggested by local authorities were representations supporting the removal of the remaining Government offices.

McDonnell, J - Government Office Network (Swine flu)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what role the Government Office Network played in co-ordinating the Government's response to the swine influenza outbreak; and what plans he has for coordination of regional responses to future similar events. [11924]

Greg Clark: The Department of Health (DH) and Cabinet Office (CO) published "Pandemic Flu: A National Framework for Responding to an Influenza Pandemic" in November 2007. This sets out the central, regional and local response arrangements, in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. The National framework is currently being reviewed in the light of our experience during the 2009 influenza pandemic and the recommendations of the independent review into the swine flu response, chaired by Dame Deidre Hine. This will include consideration of the roles and responsibilities in planning for a future pandemic.

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 27-28WS on Regional Government in which we state that there are some Government Office functions, such as arrangements for resilience and civil contingencies, which will need to continue. The Spending Review process will be used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government Offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective on-going arrangements.

Clark, K - Government Offices for the Regions (Staff duties)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Government Office staff are engaged in duties relating to the past closure requirements of the 2000-2006 European Regional Development Fund programme; and what arrangements he plans to make for completion of such duties following the end of the Government Office Network. [11950]

Greg Clark: There are 59.2 full-time equivalent staff engaged in duties relating to the part-closure requirements of the 2000-06 European Regional Development Fund programme in the Government Office Network.

I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement made to the House on 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 27-28WS on Regional Government in which we state that there are, some Government Office functions which will need to continue, including work on the European Regional Development Fund programme. The Spending Review process is being used to test which activities currently carried out by the Government Offices should continue, and to decide the most cost-effective on-going arrangements

Clark, K - Government Offices for the Regions (Cost/benefit analysis)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he undertook a cost/benefit analysis as part of his review of the Government Office Network. [11951]

Greg Clark: An outline business case addressing costs and savings has informed the decision in principle; there will be further related work through the Spending Review before the final decision on the Government Office Network's closure is taken in the autumn.

Clark, K - Government Offices for the Regions (Risk analysis)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he undertook a risk analysis as part of his review of the Government Office Network. [11952]

Greg Clark: We will be undertaking a full risk analysis as we work through the spending review before the final decision on the Government office network is taken in the autumn.

Clark, K - Government Offices for the Regions (Equalities impact assessment)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he carried out an Equalities Impact Assessment before determining his policy on the Government Office Network. [11953]

Greg Clark: An equality impact assessment will be undertaken before a final decision on the Government office network is taken in the autumn.


McDonnell, J - Government Offices for the Regions (Consultation of Voluntary Organisations)
Tue, 27 July 2010 | House of Commons - Written Answer

Summary
The following question was answered on 27 July 2010.
Contents
John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which voluntary sector organisations he consulted as part of his review of the Government Office Network. [11892]

Greg Clark: There has been no specific consultation with the voluntary sector organisations on the Coalition's review of the case for closure of the Government Office Network, however, we have been in dialogue with the Voluntary Sector on our decentralisation and Big Society agendas.