Jacob Rees-Mogg: Good progress is being made on establishing the European Parliamentary Partnership Assembly and we expect the House to consider arrangements later this year. The House of Commons Finance Committee has endorsed funding arrangements to support the UK delegation, should the House agree to establish one. The next stage is for the Commission to make a decision on those arrangements. The House of...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: Face coverings are not mandatory for Members in the House of Commons Chamber, voting lobbies, Members’ lobby and Westminster Hall. The current UK Government guidance on face coverings is available on gov.uk. Face coverings are not required by law in the workplace and the Government removed the legal requirement to wear face coverings in public indoor spaces. If you are in a crowded, indoor...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. member to the response to be given by the Cabinet Office (38198).
Jacob Rees-Mogg: On Monday 19 July 2021, the majority of legal restrictions in England were removed and people are now expected to protect themselves and others through informed choice. Guidance on social distancing and mask wearing in the House of Commons are matters for the House authorities and the Commission to agree, rather than the Government and Mr Speaker has written to Members to encourage them to...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: On Monday 19 July 2021, the majority of legal restrictions in England were removed and people are now expected to protect themselves and others through informed choice. I encourage all adults to take up the offer of two vaccine doses, to protect themselves and others against covid. Guidance on social distancing and mask wearing in the House of Commons are matters for the House authorities and...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: The House should return to physical proceedings as soon as it is safe to do so, as the Government firmly believes constituents are best served by parliamentarians conducting extensive in-person scrutiny. The Government has always been clear that our approach should be in line with the wider road map. The measures, agreed by the House, will take us through to 22 July when the House rises for...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: I have regular discussions with members of the Cabinet. The Government has put a number of arrangements in place to allow for proper scrutiny of proposed trade deals with other countries by Parliament. This includes publishing negotiating objectives and economic scoping assessments before starting negotiations; regular statements to Parliament and briefings with Members and relevant...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: It is a recognised fundamental right of Parliament that hon. members receive full and timely responses to Parliamentary questions and I have reminded all departments of the importance of this. I raised my hon. friend’s specific question with the Department of Health and Social Care and I understand that it has now been answered. I will continue to raise hon. members' questions with...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: During the height of the pandemic, departments were under significant pressure when replying to written questions and correspondence and I had some sympathy with departments. Nevertheless, members must receive full and timely responses when they request information. I continue to raise the hon. members specific questions with the Department for Health and Social Care and have impressed upon...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: No. The Government firmly believes that our constituents are best served when Parliament meets physically to the fullest extent possible. The cost associated with virtual participation is not a matter for the Government but one for the House.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: I refer the hon. gentleman to my response during business questions on 28 January (Official Report, col. 570). It is vital that the Government sets out its position on motions tabled by the opposition. In my view that is best done during the debate, in particular in the Minister’s closing remarks that respond to the points that have been raised. The Government will always listen carefully...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: I refer the hon. member to my previous answer (133774), it is the Government’s view that the current arrangements for proxy voting are a better alternative to a system of remote voting. Details regarding the operation and use of the electronic voting system is not a matter for the Government but one for the House. I have regular meetings with the Leader of the House of Lords. However, what...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: This information is not held by the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons. The Procedure Committee routinely publishes information regarding the performance of departments in answering written questions following the end of each parliamentary session, the last of which was published on 9 October 2020 for the 2017-19 and 2019 sessions. This is available at:...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: On 13 January, the House agreed a motion to suspend sittings in Westminster Hall. I refer the Hon. lady to my words during the debate on the question of virtual participation in Westminster Hall.
Jacob Rees-Mogg: It is the Government’s view that the current arrangements for proxy voting are working well and are a better alternative to remote voting. Details of all proxy votes are readily available through the House service to all members and the public. Proxy voting has significantly reduced the overall number of people who are required to vote in person in the division lobbies and it is also...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Government guidance is clear that you can continue to travel into or out of Local COVID Alert Level: Very High areas, if you need to for work, school, or caring responsibilities, or where doing so is necessary as part of a longer journey. It is the Government’s view that we best serve our constituents when we are in Westminster, carrying out our essential functions. The House...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. member to the response from the Cabinet Office (124846).
Jacob Rees-Mogg: I have regular discussions with members of the Cabinet and have reminded all departments of the importance of full and timely responses to Parliamentary questions. I have raised the hon. member’s specific questions with the Department for Health and Social Care and have been assured answers will be provided as soon as possible. The Department of Health and Social Care responded to an urgent...
Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Office of the Leader of the House of Commons is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. member to the response to his question to the Cabinet Office (121122).
Jacob Rees-Mogg: The Government guidance is clear that you should continue to travel for work where it is not possible to do so from home. It is the Government’s strong view that Parliament best serves the UK public when MPs are present in Westminster, carrying out their essential functions. We have ensured that Members who cannot be here for a range of reasons can vote by proxy and participate in...