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1126490

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Grenfell Tower Inquiry
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the timeframe is for a report on phase one of the Grenfell Tower inquiry led by Sir Martin Moore-Bick will be published.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	254138
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2019 answer text <p>The timing and handling of the Inquiry is a matter for the independent Inquiry and the Government hopes that the report for phase 1 will be published soon.</p><p>The Grenfell Tower Inquiry has already begun Phase 2 with the ongoing disclosure of thousands of documents to core participants. Phase 2 of the Inquiry will address the design and modification of the building; the fire and safety measures within it; the management, governance and inspection of the tower; and the steps taken in the days immediately following the fire to support those whose homes had been destroyed. The Inquiry expects the Phase 2 hearings to begin in early 2020.</p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 17/06/2019 11:47:31 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1126537

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what response her Department makes when notified by a local authority of an error in a resident’s universal credit calculation.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	254086
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2019 answer text <p>It is not clear whether the questions relate to the Local Authority as the provider of housing or as the administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax. This answer therefore responds on both counts.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as landlord:</strong></p><p> </p><p>The Local Authority use the ‘Landlord Portal’ to provide details of a claimant’s rent and tenancy details. When the information provided does not match what the claimant has given, the claimant will then be able to accept or reject the information uploaded by the Local Authority by logging into their Universal Credit account.</p><p> </p><p>If the claimant accepts the information provided by the Local Authority no further action is required. If the Local Authority has provided information that is rejected by the claimant, the claimant is advised to make contact to resolve this. This could require a subsequent housing declaration to be provided. The ‘Landlord Portal’ has a summary screen that allows the Local Authority to confirm or change the information they are about to provide before it has been submitted.</p><p> </p><p>This process applies whenever there is a rent change, including annual uprating of rent. The Landlord Portal is the streamlined communication tool which allows the Local Authority to disclose the rent thus highlighting errors in the claimants Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax:</strong></p><p> </p><p>Once a claim to Universal Credit has been made, the Local Authority will receive a notification if the claimant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. This will inform the Local Authority of the claim to Universal Credit so they can take the action to close the Housing Benefit claim where needed. The Local Authority will inform Universal Credit of the action they have taken and if there is any payment to be offset within the first assessment period.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, during the Universal Credit claim process, the claimant will be asked if their name is on the council tax bill. If the claimant answers ‘yes’, they are asked if they have applied for a reduction in their council tax. If the claimant answers that they have applied or will apply for a Council Tax Reduction, their details will be shared with the Local Authority. This is a one-way communication which allows for the Local Authority to take the appropriate action regarding an application for a Council Tax Reduction.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 254088 question first answered 03/06/2019 13:09:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 119078 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1126539

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department provides to local authorities to help (a) identify and (b) remedy errors in universal credit calculations.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	254088
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2019 answer text <p>It is not clear whether the questions relate to the Local Authority as the provider of housing or as the administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax. This answer therefore responds on both counts.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as landlord:</strong></p><p> </p><p>The Local Authority use the ‘Landlord Portal’ to provide details of a claimant’s rent and tenancy details. When the information provided does not match what the claimant has given, the claimant will then be able to accept or reject the information uploaded by the Local Authority by logging into their Universal Credit account.</p><p> </p><p>If the claimant accepts the information provided by the Local Authority no further action is required. If the Local Authority has provided information that is rejected by the claimant, the claimant is advised to make contact to resolve this. This could require a subsequent housing declaration to be provided. The ‘Landlord Portal’ has a summary screen that allows the Local Authority to confirm or change the information they are about to provide before it has been submitted.</p><p> </p><p>This process applies whenever there is a rent change, including annual uprating of rent. The Landlord Portal is the streamlined communication tool which allows the Local Authority to disclose the rent thus highlighting errors in the claimants Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax:</strong></p><p> </p><p>Once a claim to Universal Credit has been made, the Local Authority will receive a notification if the claimant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. This will inform the Local Authority of the claim to Universal Credit so they can take the action to close the Housing Benefit claim where needed. The Local Authority will inform Universal Credit of the action they have taken and if there is any payment to be offset within the first assessment period.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, during the Universal Credit claim process, the claimant will be asked if their name is on the council tax bill. If the claimant answers ‘yes’, they are asked if they have applied for a reduction in their council tax. If the claimant answers that they have applied or will apply for a Council Tax Reduction, their details will be shared with the Local Authority. This is a one-way communication which allows for the Local Authority to take the appropriate action regarding an application for a Council Tax Reduction.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 254086 question first answered 03/06/2019 13:09:40 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 119077 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1126687

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Grants
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on car sales of removing zero-emission plug-in hybrid vehicles from the list of vehicles eligible for plug-in grants, including the impact on their vision of almost every car and van being zero emission by 2050.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL15704
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The plug-in car grant was intended to support the early market for low emission vehicles and has so far supported the purchase of around 100,000 plug-in hybrid cars, at a cost of over £360 million.</p><p>In 2018 the department reviewed the plug-in car grant to focus on zero tail pipe emission vehicles. Since then, overall sales of alternatively fuelled vehicles have increased compared to the same period last year. While the sales of zero emission capable plug-in hybrids have decreased since the grant was reviewed, the sales of the cleanest zero emission vehicles have increased by over 50 per cent over the same period.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 12:48:28 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1126688

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Heathrow Airport: Railways
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 15 March (HL14180), what type, or types, of Government support have been considered to support the Southern Rail Link to Heathrow; and whether the criteria for assessing proposals to deliver the project include a requirement to operate trains on the line.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL15705
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Following the publication of the Market Sounding Findings Report, published in December 2018, which showed that none of the schemes put forward were able to advance without Government support, whether that be direct financial support, or by providing indirect support such as guarantees of future usage, my Department has been working to further develop and clarify the outcomes we want to be delivered from this project and is considering appropriate criteria for assessing commercial and procurement models, including minimum requirements required.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 13:51:13 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1126690

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	World Health Organization: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they contribute financially, annually, to the World Health Organisation.
	tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
	uin	HL15707
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The World Health Organisation (WHO) is critical to UK international development and global health security objectives. The UK is WHO’s third largest funder and a key advocate for continued WHO reform and impact at country level. The UK’s annual contribution to the World Health Organisation averages at £100 million.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sugg question first answered 29/05/2019 15:38:00 answering member 4584 label Biography information for Baroness Sugg
	tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1126694

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Old Oak Common Station
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the expect the platforms at Old Oak Common station designed to be served by trains operated under the Great Western franchise to be open.
	tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
	uin	HL15711
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The new station at Old Oak Common is being designed to offer connectivity between HS2, the Elizabeth Line and the Great Western Main Line. HS2 Ltd will work with its construction partner, once appointed, to optimise cost and schedule. We will make public a Full Business Case, including an assessment of schedule, later in the year.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 13:08:16 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

1126699

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Papua: Travel Restrictions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, or intend to make, to the newly elected president of Indonesia, when the result is announced, regarding access to West Papua for journalists and non-governmental organisations.
	tabling member printed	Lord Harries of Pentregarth
	uin	HL15716
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The British Government regularly raises the situation in Papua with the Indonesian authorities and presses them to address the legitimate concerns regarding access. In January 2018, I raised my concern about this issue with the Indonesian ambassador to London, and our officials in Indonesia also raised this when they visited Papua in February this year. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific acknowledged at a Westminster Hall Debate on 8 May that transparency and media access are important. We continue to encourage Indonesian journalists to write openly and frankly about Papua to ensure that local perspectives are properly heard and are part of any debate, and will do so with the next President and their team when the election results are announced in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/05/2019 13:09:45 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	3813 label Biography information for Lord Harries of Pentregarth

1126711

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Social Science: Research
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the readership of Government-funded social science research, outside of universities, in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mawson
	uin	HL15728
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>Available information on the readership of social science research does not distinguish between different categories of reader. However, there are many different ways for research to be disseminated and to have impact wider than academic readership.</p><p> </p><p>Over 2000 case studies of the impact from social science research outside academia were submitted to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014 Panel C on Social Sciences (around 30% of total impact case studies submitted to the REF). Analysis from the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement shows that 52% of those submitted to Panel C included public engagement. Additional analysis by Kings College London and Digital Science (attached) looked at the impact of research on public policy and parliamentary debate, showing that case studies submitted to Panel C were the most likely to evidence political engagement.</p><p> </p><p>Between 2012-16, at least 25% of Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funded research included collaboration or partnership with at least one partner organisation. ESRC funded research is also highly connected to the public sector with up to 27% of funded research showing policy or practice impacts in 2016.</p><p> </p><p>Specific examples of the impact from ESRC’s funded social science research can be found on their website, many of these involve working closely with industry, government, or not-for-profits.</p><p> </p><p>We are working with UK Research and Innovation and other key partners to develop a roadmap that sets out how government and industry will work together to reach our target of increasing R&amp;D investment to 2.4% of GDP by 2027, which would be the highest recorded level, and 3% in the longer-term.</p><p> </p><p>The £236m Strength in Places Fund supports areas across the UK to build on their science and innovation strengths and develop stronger local networks. It funds proposals developed by local consortia which demonstrate a strong impact on local growth and productivity. Successful wave 1 bids were announced by UKRI in March 2019, and wave two was launched on 8 May 2019. It is expected that successful bids to this initial stage will be announced during summer 2020.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 29/05/2019 12:53:14 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley attachment 1 file name ref-impact.pdf title Initial analysis of REF 2014 impact case studies
	tabling member	3830 label Biography information for Lord Mawson

1126712

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Infrastructure
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reports that the UK requires £100 billion of investment in electric vehicle infrastructure by 2030 to meet projected growth in electric vehicles; what are their plans to ensure this level of investment is met; and what proportion will be provided by the (1) public, and (2) private sector.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL15729
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>We have not made any specific assessment of the recent report that £100 billion of investment will be required into electric vehicle infrastructure by 2030. We are committed to a cost-effective deployment of an electric vehicle infrastructure network that is affordable, accessible, reliable and secure and want to fairly balance the cost of the investment required between the public and private sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s vision is to have one of the best electric vehicle infrastructure networks in the world. We have a wide-ranging package of support available, including grants for chargepoints at homes, workplaces and on-street. Our funding and leadership, alongside private sector investment, has supported the installation of more than 17,000 public chargepoints. This includes over 1,700 rapid chargepoints – one of the largest networks in Europe.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 13:04:33 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1126713

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their target for the number of (1) electric vehicles, (2) electric vehicle charging points, and (3) rapid charging points in the UK by (a) 2020, (b) 2030, (c) 2040, and (d) 2050.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL15730
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government’s vision is to have one of the best electric vehicle infrastructure networks in the world but has not set targets for the number of chargepoints. We want to encourage and leverage private sector investment to build and operate a self-sustaining public network supported by the right policy framework. In many cases, the market is better-placed than the Government to identify the right locations for chargepoints and it is essential that viable commercial models are in place to ensure continued maintenance and improvements to the network. Highways England has a commitment of £15m to ensure there are chargepoints (rapid where possible) every 20 miles on 95% of the Strategic Road Network by 2020. The Government’s grant schemes to support chargepoint infrastructure at homes, workplaces and residential streets, alongside our £400m public-private Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund will see thousands more chargepoints installed across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is technology neutral, but recognises that the vast majority of vehicle manufacturer plans include plug-in battery powertrains. As set out in the Road to Zero strategy, the Government is also playing a role in supporting the development of the UK’s hydrogen refuelling network.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 13:01:10 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1126714

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Electric Vehicles
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation by the Committee on Climate Change that 30 to 70 per cent of cars in the UK should be electric by 2030; and what is their target for the proportion of cars that will be electric by 2030.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mendelsohn
	uin	HL15731
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommended in its 2018 progress report that the UK should be aiming for 60% new ultra low emission vehicle uptake in 2030. This is consistent, in terms of carbon, with the ambitions set out in the Government’s 2018 Road to Zero strategy of up to 70% of new car sales to be ultra low emission by 2030 alongside up to 40% of new vans. By 2040, we expect the majority of new cars and vans sold to be 100% zero emission and all new cars and vans to have significant zero emission capability. By 2050 we want almost every car and van in the UK to be zero emission.</p><p> </p><p>Subsequently, the CCC report, published in May 2019, recommended the UK legislate as soon as possible to meet net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; and that by 2035 at the latest all new cars and vans should be electric (or use a low carbon alternative such as hydrogen). The Government will respond to the CCC’s advice in a timeframe which reflects the urgency of this crucial issue.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 29/05/2019 12:56:47 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4286 label Biography information for Lord Mendelsohn

1126725

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Honda: Swindon
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in their discussions with Honda over the closure of their plant in Swindon, they have raised the possibility of the future use of the site and plant for the large-scale production of electric vehicles; and whether they would consider giving financial support to such a venture.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL15742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>My rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy met with the Honda Executives in London on 18 February, just ahead of Honda’s initial announcement to close its Swindon plant on 19 February. The Secretary of State has chaired a taskforce consisting of local leaders, MPs and trade unions, to provide support to the workforce and businesses who would be affected by the loss of Honda’s plant in Swindon. Through the taskforce we are determined to work together to ensure that Swindon continues its record of attracting investment from advanced manufacturers, maintaining and creating highly skilled jobs that offer fulfilling careers for many years to come. That will include engaging closely with parties interested in future uses of the site in Swindon owned by Honda.</p><p> </p><p>The Government supports the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector via a number of routes. Government has committed £274m to the Faraday Battery Challenge, and circa £80m in the last Budget to the Stephenson Challenge, newly named ‘Driving the Electric Revolution’. Together Government and industry have committed around £1 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre to support research, development and commercialisation of the next generation of low carbon technologies, keeping the UK at the cutting edge of low carbon automotive innovations. Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation provides R&amp;D support across a range of technology themes including low carbon, materials and manufacturing; and connected and autonomous vehicles.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 29/05/2019 12:59:10 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

1126726

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Press Freedom
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Reporters Without Borders 2019 World Press Freedom Index; and the UK’s position at 33 in that index.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL15743
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text We welcome the improvement in the UK’s ranking, but are disappointed that our position is not higher. The UK press is among the most respected and free in the world. The government recognises press freedom is fundamental to a healthy democracy and strongly supports it, including committing to repeal s40; publishing a world leading independent review on the sustainability of high quality journalism by Dame Cairncross; and launching a Global Media Freedoms campaign.<p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 29/05/2019 13:06:55 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1126728

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	hansard heading	Defence: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to use funds made available from the UK’s contributions to EU defence spending to facilitate an increase in UK defence spending after Brexit.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL15745
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The first duty of any Government is the safety and security of the British people at home and abroad. That is why we have committed to spending at least 2% of our GDP on Defence every year of this Parliament. We prioritise our Defence spending to ensure the British people and UK interests are protected. This includes making contributions to support and uphold our international relationships with key partners. As set out in the Political Declaration on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, the Government has offered to cooperate closely on defence and security, as part of an ambitious security partnership, on a case-by-case basis, where of mutual benefit.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 29/05/2019 12:46:20 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1126729

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Cybersecurity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to work with the digital communications sector to help companies improve their cyber security measures.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL15746
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) was created in 2016 as part of the Government's five-year National Cyber Security Strategy. The NCSC was set up to help protect UK critical services from cyber attacks, manage major incidents, develop cyber skills and technology, and provide advice to citizens and organisations. Its vision is to help make the UK the safest place to live and do business online.</p><p><br>The NCSC provides a single point of contact for private and public sector organisations for all matters relating to cyber security, including digital communication companies.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 29/05/2019 13:02:46 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1126733

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Gaza: Israel
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the prediction made in the report by the Office of the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Jerusalem, Gaza in 2020: A Liveable Place?, published in 2012, that Gaza would be unfit for human inhabitancy by 2020.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL15750
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK remains deeply concerned by the situation in Gaza and the report in question’s prediction that Gaza could become uninhabitable by 2020. UK aid has supported economic development, provision of basic services, and enabled reconstruction through support to the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism. The Minister of State for the Middle East (the Rt Hon Andrew Murrison) visited Gaza on 28 May 2019 and saw the extent of this first hand.</p><p>However, as the report makes clear, aid alone cannot solve the problems in Gaza. Improvements in infrastructure, employment, energy and water are essential to improve living conditions. The Government will continue to urge all the parties to take the necessary practical steps to improve conditions. We will continue to press for a sustainable political solution for Gaza and to address the underlying cause of humanitarian strife in Gaza by more than doubling the amount of UK aid spent on economic development in the Occupied Palestinian Territories to around £38 million over the next five years (2018-2023). This will include support to addressing the water and electricity crisis and seek to address movement and access restrictions.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 29/05/2019 13:11:50 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

1126701

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept id	201
	answering dept short name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	answering dept sort name	Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
	hansard heading	Wind Power
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the difficulties associated with the maintenance of wind turbines and associated equipment; and what steps they are taking, if any, to work with the offshore wind energy industry to address such difficulties.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Chesterton
	uin	HL15718
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>Operators are responsible for maintaining turbines and associated equipment for their projects.</p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, a collaboration between Innovate UK and ORE Catapult, has jointly agreed innovation priorities around four areas, one of which is operations &amp; maintenance and windfarm lifecycle. As set out in the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the sector will look to build on existing work by, for example, exploring the application of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in optimising maintenance and reducing costs.</p><p> </p><p>The renewables share of electricity generation reached 33.3% in 2018 – a record high – with 111TWh generated from renewable sources. Offshore wind generated 26.6TWh which equated to 8% of the UK’s overall annual generation.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 28/05/2019 15:20:48 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
	tabling member	2543 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Chesterton

1126703

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Turkey: Life Imprisonment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations in the report by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Report to the Turkish Government on the visit to Turkey carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 28 to 29 April 2016, published in March 2018, in particular that there should be a complete overhaul of the detention regime for those sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL15720
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/05/2019 answer text <p>As the Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific made clear in the debate in the House of Commons on 10 April we expect Turkey to respect its international obligations with regard to prison conditions. This includes acting on the recommendations of the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT) of the Council of Europe concerning prisoner association, isolation and access. When raising these issues with the Turkish authorities, we have encouraged them to implement the recommendations made by the CPT following their 2016 visit to the prison. The Minister of State for Europe and the Americas raised the issue of prison conditions with the Turkish authorities most recently on 13 May.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 28/05/2019 15:07:32 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1126561

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Home Office: Sick Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months; what proportion that leave was of total sick leave taken in his Department; and what the cost was to his Department of officials taking sick leave over that period.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	254070
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The number of staff in the Home Office who took sickness absence due to mental health issues in the 12 months to 30 April 2019; the proportion of the total sick absence that this comprises; and the cost to the Department of sick absence due to mental ill health during that period is set out in the accompanying table. These absences include those relating to stress, as well as other mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. These conditions can be triggered by various factors.</p><p>We are committed to breaking down barriers and reducing stigma for employees living with mental health conditions. We aim to equip managers to recognise and address stress in the workplace and encourage employees to talk to their managers about mental health issues so that they can access help and support at the earliest stage.</p> answering member constituency Louth and Horncastle answering member printed Victoria Atkins question first answered 24/05/2019 13:44:59 answering member 4399 label Biography information for Victoria Atkins attachment 1 file name PQ 254070 data v2.xlsx title Table - PQ 254070
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1126672

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Senior Civil Servants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the effect of one person occupying both the roles of National Security Adviser and Cabinet Secretary on the effectiveness of those roles.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	254148
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>Sir Mark Sedwill has been operating successfully as Cabinet Secretary since June 2017 and has the full confidence of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. His responsibilities incorporate those he exercised as National Security Adviser and, like his predecessors, those of the Head of the Civil Service.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Aylesbury answering member printed Mr David Lidington question first answered 24/05/2019 11:53:32 answering member 15 label Biography information for Sir David Lidington
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1126683

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Leah Sharibu
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they have taken to secure the release of Leah Sharibu, following her sixteenth birthday.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL15700
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is committed to supporting the Nigerian Government in their attempts to secure the release of the remaining girls taken from Chibok, Leah Sharibu taken from Dapchi, and all others abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa. The Prime Minister raised the plight of the abducted school girls with the President of Nigeria during his official visit to the UK in 2018. We continue to use Ministerial visits, such as the Foreign Secretary's visit last month, and public messaging to ensure that the girls' plight is not forgotten. Our officials in Abuja will continue to engage regularly and offer their support to the Government of Nigeria and other organisations working to securing their release.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL15701 question first answered 24/05/2019 11:43:17 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126684

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nigeria: Abduction
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the protests in Nigeria demanding the release of the Chibok schoolgirls who have been held in captivity for over 1,500 days; and when they last raised their captivity, and that of Leah Sharibu, with the President of Nigeria.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL15701
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is committed to supporting the Nigerian Government in their attempts to secure the release of the remaining girls taken from Chibok, Leah Sharibu taken from Dapchi, and all others abducted by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa. The Prime Minister raised the plight of the abducted school girls with the President of Nigeria during his official visit to the UK in 2018. We continue to use Ministerial visits, such as the Foreign Secretary's visit last month, and public messaging to ensure that the girls' plight is not forgotten. Our officials in Abuja will continue to engage regularly and offer their support to the Government of Nigeria and other organisations working to securing their release.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon grouped question UIN HL15700 question first answered 24/05/2019 11:43:17 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126685

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Eritrea
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum claims were made in each of the past three years by Eritreans; whether more illegal migrants were smuggled into the UK last year from Eritrea than from any other country; and what assessment they have made of religious persecution in Eritrea as a driver of Eritrean migration.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL15702
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The Home Office publishes data on the number of applications for asylum in the UK, broken down by nationality, in its quarterly Immigration Statistics release. The number of applications made by Eritreans in each year are available in table as_01 (Main Applicants; Asylum, volume 1).</p><p>Latest edition available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781299/asylum1-dec-2018-tables.ods" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/781299/asylum1-dec-2018-tables.ods</a></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong> Total applications </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2016</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1,230</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2017</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>1,085</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>2018</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2,158</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Home Office is unable to report on whether more illegal migrants were smuggled in to the UK last year from Eritrea than from any other country, as the method of entry for those who entered the UK clandestinely and subsequently claimed asylum, is recorded on individual Home Office files and to obtain this information would require a manual trawl and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.</p><p>All asylum and human rights applications from Eritrean nationals are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with our international obligations. Each individual assessment is made against the background of the latest available country of origin information and any relevant caselaw. The <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eritrea-country-policy-and-information-notes" target="_blank">Country Policy and Information Note Eritrea: Religious groups</a> published in February 2018 (available on Gov.uk) outlines our position.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford attachment 1 file name Eritrea_-_Religious_Groups_-_CPIN_-_v3.0.pdf title Eritea Religious Groups 2 file name Asylum1 -Dec 2018 Tables.xlsx title Asylum 1 - Dec 2018 Tables question first answered 24/05/2019 13:38:16 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1126698

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Companies: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to introduce a public register of beneficial ownership for (1) the Crown Dependencies, and (2) other tax havens for which the UK has responsibility.
	tabling member printed	Lord Harries of Pentregarth
	uin	HL15715
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>It is important to note that the Crown Dependencies are self-governing jurisdictions with their own legislative assemblies, administrative, fiscal and legal systems and courts of law. They have confirmed they will develop public registers of company beneficial ownership once it has been established as a global norm.</p><p>In October 2018 the UK Government launched an international beneficial ownership transparency campaign to shift global norms by encouraging and supporting more countries to implement free to access and publicly available company beneficial ownership registers by 2023. In line with this campaign, the UK Government will encourage the Crown Dependencies to voluntarily introduce measures to improve the transparency of their company ownership.</p><p>Similarly, the Overseas Territories are self-governing jurisdictions. However, in accordance with the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018, the UK Government will prepare an Order in Council by the end of 2020 requiring all Overseas Territories to have fully functioning publicly accessible registers in place by the end of 2023. The UK Government will work consensually with the Overseas Territories on introducing publicly accessible registers, which includes through technical workshops.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 24/05/2019 12:25:21 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3813 label Biography information for Lord Harries of Pentregarth

1126706

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Landfill: Hillingdon
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Newyears Green Lane landfill site is a special site of contamination; and what steps the Environment Agency has taken to ensure that any drilling into that site poses no risk to the Chiltern Aquifer.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL15723
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>On 26 May 2011, in accordance with Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990, the London Borough of Hillingdon determined the land at the former ‘New Years Green Lane Landfill Site’ as Contaminated Land as defined by Section 78A (2) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (the Act).</p><p> </p><p>On 6 July 2011, the Environment Agency (EA) agreed to designate the land at New Years Green Landfill as a Special Site pursuant to Section 78C (6) (b) of the Act. The site is now within the regulatory control of the EA under Part IIA of the Act.</p><p> </p><p>There is no proposal to undertake any such drilling activity at the landfill site. However, the EA is involved in the technical review of any drilling proposals at this landfill. As a minimum requirement, any drilling works in the landfill or in areas where waste is suspected must utilise “clean” drilling methodologies to avoid potential cross contamination between different parts of the geology.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/05/2019 11:40:55 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1126707

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	High Speed 2 Line: Colne Valley
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether HS2 is compliant with the obligations of the EU Water Frameworks Directive in regards to its activity at Colne Valley; whether a risk assessment of drilling in that area has been undertaken; what assessment they have made of the impact of any such drilling on contamination of the watercourse; and what discussions they have had with HS2 about the possible risks posed by such drilling.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
	uin	HL15724
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The Environment Agency (EA) continues to discuss the assessment of the potential impacts of the High Speed Two (HS2) scheme on European Water Framework Directive (WFD) status with High Speed Two Ltd (HS2 Ltd) and its contractors for the Colne Valley.</p><p>HS2 Ltd is producing a report about the impacts of the main construction works. Where the EA has issued approvals for enabling and investigation works, it has made sure that HS2 Ltd has assessed the WFD requirements.</p><p>HS2 Ltd has a Code of Construction Practice which requires its contractors to work in accordance with British Standards ‘Investigation of potentially contaminated sites’ (BS 10175:2011) and ‘Code of practice for ground investigations’ (BS 5930:2015). By following the practices set out in this guidance, drilling would not cause contamination or further mobilise any contamination already present in the ground.</p><p>The EA is working with HS2 Ltd to secure the protection of water bodies in the Colne Valley and also advises HS2 Ltd in relation to any potential environmental risks associated with the proposed construction.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 24/05/2019 11:38:33 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4297 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb

1126708

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made in implementing the decisions made at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in London in April 2018.
	tabling member printed	Lord Luce
	uin	HL15725
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>​The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs wrote to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) on 15 May 2019 enclosing an update on progress against commitments made at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. I refer the Noble Lord to this report, which the FAC has now published on their website.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/05/2019 11:45:04 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	908 label Biography information for Lord Luce

1126717

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Deportation: China
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government on what grounds Wen Li (Jaiwen Li), who is reported to be held at Brook House immigration removal centre, is being deported to China; and what assessment they have made of any potential risks to him in China.
	tabling member printed	Lord Morrow
	uin	HL15734
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>We do not routinely comment on individual cases. The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and each case is assessed on its merits and individuals have the right to appeal to an independent immigration court.</p><p>Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, removal is only enforced when we and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return. We monitor the situation in countries of origin and update our positions regularly and make decisions on returns on a case by case.</p><p>Guidance used by UK Visas and Immigration to make decisions on asylum and human rights applications is published and can be found on gov.uk</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 24/05/2019 12:27:32 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	3795 label Biography information for Lord Morrow

1126724

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Nigeria: Minority Groups
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 9 May (HL Deb, cols 1299–1300), what representations they intend to make to the government of Nigeria to call for urgent and effective action to be taken to protect ethnic and religious minorities in that country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Selkirk of Douglas
	uin	HL15741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK is firmly committed to promoting and protecting the right to freedom of religion or belief around the world, as well as being a strong voice internationally in defence of this fundamental right. In Nigeria, the right to freedom of religion is protected by the Constitution. The Foreign Secretary, during his recent visit to Nigeria, raised the issue of freedom of religious belief with the Vice President and had discussions with religious leaders to discuss how the UK can further support their work to promote interfaith relationships and long-term peacebuilding.</p><p>We are committed to working with Nigeria to help tackle threats to Nigeria's security and to address the underlying causes of instability which exist within Nigeria. We echo President Buhari's calls for calm and reconciliation between the many ethnic groups and communities that make up and contribute to the strength and diversity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/05/2019 11:44:48 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	802 label Biography information for Lord Selkirk of Douglas

1126736

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Migrant Workers: Football
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the UK's departure from the EU, there will be any limit on the right of association football clubs in the UK to hire overseas nationals to work for them in circumstances where there is an adequate number of UK nationals seeking such employment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Wigley
	uin	HL15753
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2019 answer text <p>As the Government set out in the Home Office White Paper, published on 19 December 2018, our future immigration system will continue to make provision for international quality sportspersons.</p><p>As now, we will continue to work with our sports governing bodies to ensure we strike the right balance between enabling top level international sportspeople to come to the UK and protecting opportunities for resident sportspeople.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 24/05/2019 12:32:44 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	547 label Biography information for Lord Wigley

1126559

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for International Trade
	answering dept id	202
	answering dept short name	International Trade
	answering dept sort name	International Trade
	hansard heading	Department for International Trade: Sick Leave
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, how many and what proportion of officials in his Department took sick leave for reasons relating to stress in the last 12 months; what proportion that leave was of total sick leave taken in his Department; and what the cost was to his Department of officials taking sick leave over that period.
	tabling member constituency	Carshalton and Wallington
	tabling member printed	Tom Brake
	uin	254068
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The number of employees in the Department for International Trade from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 who were absent due to mental health reasons including stress was 39. This represented approximately 1% of employees. The proportion of sickness absence related to stress related reasons was 8.6% of the overall sickness absence for the department for the same time period.</p><p> </p><p>Recorded sickness absence figures include employees working in the UK and overseas and for UK Export Finance. They do not include contractors, secondees from other organisations or military staff.</p><p> </p><p>The estimated cost to the department from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 for employees taking sickness absence due to mental health reasons, including stress is estimated at £116,920.</p><p> </p><p>DIT continues to recognise and take seriously the wellbeing of its employees. DIT has in place policies and processes to identify, prevent and manage stress. The DIT policies introduced the provision of mental health first aiders who can provide a range of support to both employees and managers including access to our Employee Counselling Service.</p> answering member constituency Meon Valley answering member printed George Hollingbery question first answered 23/05/2019 08:53:08 answering member 4016 label Biography information for Sir George Hollingbery
	tabling member	151 label Biography information for Tom Brake

1126668

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Government Departments: Land
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Audit Office's 2 May 2019 report entitled Investigation into the Government’s land disposal strategy and programmes, if he will publish the 176 sites that were disposed of for £1 or less from the government estate.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	254146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The National Audit Office investigation into the government's land disposal strategy and programmes referenced 176 sites which were sold since 2015 for £1 or less. Details of each of these sites are already published on GOV.UK in annual Transparency Reports listing all Government land sales. The April 2018 publication reports on sales in 2015/16 and 2016/17. The January 2019 publication reports on sales in 2017/18. The common reasons for sales at £1 or less are:</p><ul><li>sites where costs of remediation (for example, decontamination) are involved;</li><li>sites which are narrow strips of land that have no other use or value; and</li><li>the sale of a lease which contains a clause allowing the purchaser to buy the freehold for £1 after a set period or once certain conditions have been met</li></ul><p>Of the 176 sites disposed of for £1 or less, 160 were owned by Homes England. Homes England inherited a number of sites from predecessor organisations which were not viable for development. Disposing of these is helping to reduce the liability of holding costs for Government.</p><p>Departments disposing of surplus land must do so in line with Managing Public Money and wider disposals guidance. They should get a Market Valuation, and are restricted from selling at lower value than a site is worth.</p> answering member constituency Hertsmere answering member printed Oliver Dowden question first answered 23/05/2019 13:43:18 answering member 4441 label Biography information for Oliver Dowden
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1126670

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Government Departments: Land
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, with reference to the National Audit Office's 2 May 2019 report entitled Investigation into the government’s land disposal strategy and programmes, for what reasons 176 sites from the government estate were disposed of for £1 or less.
	tabling member constituency	Hemsworth
	tabling member printed	Jon Trickett
	uin	254147
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The National Audit Office investigation into the government's land disposal strategy and programmes referenced 176 sites which were sold since 2015 for £1 or less. Details of each of these sites are already published on GOV.UK in annual Transparency Reports listing all Government land sales. The April 2018 publication reports on sales in 2015/16 and 2016/17. The January 2019 publication reports on sales in 2017/18. The common reasons for sales at £1 or less are:</p><ul><li>sites where costs of remediation (for example, decontamination) are involved;</li><li>sites which are narrow strips of land that have no other use or value; and</li><li>the sale of a lease which contains a clause allowing the purchaser to buy the freehold for £1 after a set period or once certain conditions have been met</li></ul><p>Of the 176 sites disposed of for £1 or less, 160 were owned by Homes England. Homes England inherited a number of sites from predecessor organisations which were not viable for development. Disposing of these is helping to reduce the liability of holding costs for Government.</p><p>Departments disposing of surplus land must do so in line with Managing Public Money and wider disposals guidance. They should get a Market Valuation, and are restricted from selling at lower value than a site is worth.</p> answering member constituency Hertsmere answering member printed Oliver Dowden question first answered 23/05/2019 13:43:49 answering member 4441 label Biography information for Oliver Dowden
	tabling member	410 label Biography information for Jon Trickett

1126686

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Company Cars: Taxation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to announce the benefits in kind rate for company cars for the years after 2021; and what assessment they have made of the impact on car owners of the rates not yet being publicly available.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL15703
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>The government aims to publish emissions-based company car tax rates in advance to help employees and industry plan.</p><p> </p><p>However, as emissions testing changes in 2020, the government is reviewing the impact of the new Worldwide Light vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) on vehicle taxes. The government will respond shortly to the review.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 23/05/2019 16:34:35 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

1126697

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Colne-Skipton Railway Line
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the announcement by the Secretary of State for Transport on 25 January, whether they have commissioned the further studies into the possible reinstatement and reopening of the Colne–Skipton railway line as part of a TransPennine freight line and for local passenger services; and if so, who is undertaking those studies.
	tabling member printed	Lord Greaves
	uin	HL15714
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>Work is currently progressing and we expect to receive the results later this year to inform a decision as to whether the scheme should go to the ‘develop’ stage of the Government’s Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.</p><p>Local stakeholders, including the local MP Andrew Stephenson, have championed the scheme and we are working closely with Transport for the North to assess the proposed scheme and to ensure that it can be affordable, will attract sufficient traffic, and is part of the right long-term solution for cross Transpennine rail traffic.</p><p>This is part of our new approach to rail enhancements to ensure we address the needs of passengers and freight, and that funding commitments appropriately reflect the stage of development of schemes.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 23/05/2019 14:23:33 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	2569 label Biography information for Lord Greaves

1126704

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment may, in some circumstances, be published without the prior consent of the state in question.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL15721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>​The UK encourages Council of Europe members to engage fully with the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT). The UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe has intervened in the Committee of Ministers in the past, calling on Member States to agree to the publication of all CPT reports concerning that State. The UK Government promotes a general policy of transparency by authorising the publication of the visit reports and the UK responses thereon, encouraging other Member States to do likewise. We shall continue to take this approach.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 23/05/2019 13:03:21 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1126705

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they intend to make to the Council of Europe about finding ways to ensure that all members implement the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL15722
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>​The UK unreservedly condemns the use of torture and works closely with international partners to eradicate this abhorrent practice, including making robust statements in multilateral organisations and by Ministers. The UK encourages Council of Europe members to engage fully with the recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. Where necessary, the UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe will intervene in the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers meetings to call on member states to engage with the recommendations of the Committee's reports.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 23/05/2019 13:06:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

1126710

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Social Science: Research
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Government-funded social science research on deprived communities.
	tabling member printed	Lord Mawson
	uin	HL15727
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>Since 2017, the department has commissioned around 20 studies to investigate and understand the needs of deprived communities and communities who face specific integration challenges. Key examples include the update to the Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), The Integrated Communities Innovation Fund evaluation, a number of studies on reducing homelessness, and the ongoing troubled families evaluation. The results of these projects have provided invaluable insight into the issues and the findings are incorporated into policy development.</p><p>For example, the Randomised Control Trial research on community based English Language programmes has informed the development of the current English Language programme of support, providing people who don’t speak English with the skills and confidence to improve their integration outcomes.</p><p>Our Integrated Areas evaluation will test the impact of different interventions designed to improve real life social outcomes, including social mixing outcomes across different communities residing in the same place.</p><p>The previous 2015 version of the Indices of Multiple Deprivation fed directly into MHCLG and more widely into other Departments’ policy development, particularly where policies have been focused on working with the most deprived communities across the country.</p><p>More generally, much of our commissioned research aims to understand and address the needs of communities that most need our support and promote growth. Key examples include the English Housing Survey and European Regional Development Fund.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth question first answered 23/05/2019 15:14:39 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
	tabling member	3830 label Biography information for Lord Mawson

1126719

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	London Capital & Finance: Insolvency
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the proposed independent review of the Financial Conduct Authority's (FCA) supervision of London Capital and Finance will be supported by (1) an independent secretariat, or (2) secondees from the (a) FCA, (b) Prudential Regulation Authority, (c) HM Treasury, or (d) Bank of England.
	tabling member printed	Lord Myners
	uin	HL15736
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2019 answer text <p>On 23<sup>rd</sup> May, the Economic Secretary to the Treasury laid before Parliament a Direction requiring the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to carry out an independent investigation into the events and circumstances surrounding the failure of London Capital and Finance. The operational resourcing of this investigation will be a matter for the FCA and Dame Elizabeth Gloster, the independent investigator it appointed.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 23/05/2019 16:38:21 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	3869 label Biography information for Lord Myners

1126474

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Buildings: Insulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 9 May 2019 to Question 249214 on Buildings: Insulation, what evidence he has received that all residents have been informed of the inclusion of their residences in his Department's Building Safety Programme monthly data release.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	254136
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Building owners are responsible for ensuring residents are informed of fire safety issues in their buildings. We are engaging with building owners, managing agents, local authorities and others to ensure that remediation happens as quickly as possible, and that interim safety measures are in place in all buildings until the cladding is replaced.</p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 22/05/2019 12:54:52 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1126494

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Homelessness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of regional job centre closures on trends in the level of homelessness in those regions.
	tabling member constituency	Cambridge
	tabling member printed	Daniel Zeichner
	uin	254209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>When closing or merging a Jobcentre, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) undertake an equality analysis as part of the detailed planning for service reconfiguration. This will include feedback from public consultation in those locations where this applied. Details of jobcentres that have closed and/or merged in the last two years can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-the-future-of-dwp-jobcentres" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/update-on-the-future-of-dwp-jobcentres</a></p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government publishes local authority data on homelessness applications quarterly.</p><p> </p><p>Reference should also be made to the response given on 9 February 2018 in the reply to PQ <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-02-05/126480/" target="_blank">126480</a>.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 22/05/2019 12:50:13 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4382 label Biography information for Daniel Zeichner

1126503

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Internet: Offensive Weapons
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps is he taking to ensure that social media companies tackle the advertising of online sales of knives and other weapons used in violent crime.
	tabling member constituency	Stevenage
	tabling member printed	Stephen McPartland
	uin	254190
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Tackling serious violence is a top priority for the government through measures set out in the Serious Violence Strategy and further initiatives to tackle knife crime and serious violence more generally, including the Offensive Weapons Act which received Royal Assent on 16 May.</p><p> </p><p>The Online Harms White Paper, published in April, sets out plans for a regulatory framework to further ensure companies take action to address online harmful behaviour, including the sale of weapons and other illegal goods and services. A new statutory duty of care will require companies to take more responsibility for harm caused by content or activity on their services. Compliance with this duty of care will be overseen and enforced by an independent regulator. The regulator will issue codes of practice on what companies need to do to fulfil their duty of care, working with law enforcement for codes of practice on illegal harms to ensure they adequately keep pace with the threat.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 22/05/2019 15:52:08 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	4093 label Biography information for Stephen McPartland

1126505

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Academies: Autism
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions (a) he (b) Ministers in his Department and (c) officials in his Department have had with AET on the benchmarking exercise for AET secondary schools in London; and whether his Department approved benchmarking process; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the benchmark against which AET secondary schools in London are being assessed.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester Central
	tabling member printed	Lucy Powell
	uin	254192
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The department, including ministers and officials, have held no detailed discussions with the Academies Enterprise Trust on a benchmarking exercise for their London Academies. We have not approved a benchmarking process, as this is for the trust to determine, and do not have a copy of any benchmark London Academies are currently being assessed against.</p><p>The department does publish a range of financial benchmarking tools, and signposts trusts to these. They include the Schools Financial Benchmarking tool which can be accessed publicly here: <a href="https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://schools-financial-benchmarking.service.gov.uk/</a>.</p> answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi question first answered 22/05/2019 11:24:25 answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi previous answer version 119073 answering member constituency Stratford-on-Avon answering member printed Nadhim Zahawi answering member 4113 label Biography information for Nadhim Zahawi
	tabling member	4263 label Biography information for Lucy Powell

1126509

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept id	36
	answering dept short name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	answering dept sort name	Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
	hansard heading	European Parliament: Elections
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the hon. Member for Houghton and Sunderland South, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, if the Electoral Commission will make and publish an urgent assessment of how many local returning officers failed performance standard one in relation to European Parliament elections because polling cards were delivered without adequate time to allow people to (a) change their registration details and (b) apply for an absent vote; what the (i) earliest, (ii) latest and (iii) average date was that local authorities sent out polling cards for the European Parliament elections; what effect the delay between commencement of the statutory election timetable on 15 April 2019 for all regions and formal Cabinet level confirmation on 7 May 2019 that the European Parliamentary elections would go ahead had on the decisions of local authorities on when to send out polling cards; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	254175
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Commission has collected information on the estimated despatch dates for the first issue of poll cards to registered electors for the European Parliamentary election. The earliest estimated dates were in the week commencing 15 April 2019 and the latest dates were in the week commencing 6 May 2019; the average dates for despatch were in the week commencing 22 April 2019.</p><p>The timing of despatch of poll cards varies by local authority area and will depend on factors such as the ability of print suppliers to meet RO requirements.</p><p>Returning Officers (ROs) are required to send out poll cards to electors as soon as practicable after the publication of the notice of election. The confirmation received on 7 May 2019 that the election would proceed would therefore have had no impact on the decisions of ROs as to when to send out poll cards.</p><p>The Commission continues to provide guidance, support and challenge to Regional and Local ROs. It will report on the administration of the poll and the performance of ROs against the performance standards after the election.</p> answering member constituency Houghton and Sunderland South answering member printed Bridget Phillipson question first answered 22/05/2019 08:28:46 answering member 4046 label Biography information for Bridget Phillipson
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1126512

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept id	13
	answering dept short name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	answering dept sort name	Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
	hansard heading	Veterinary Medicine: Migrant Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate he has made of the number of additional accredited vets that will be required in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Ashford
	tabling member printed	Damian Green
	uin	254054
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>In the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal, all animals, products of animal origin (POAO), fish, shellfish, crustaceans, germplasm or fishery products exported from the UK to the EU will require an export health certificate (EHC). EHCs have to be certified by either a suitably accredited Official Veterinarian (OV) or, in the case of fish and fish products, either an OV or an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) employed by a local authority.</p><p> </p><p>Defra does not employ OVs or EHOs so we have engaged with the private sector and local government to identify means of increasing the number of authorised signatories available. From February we have provided free training for vets to become accredited to sign EHCs. Over 300 vets have completed the training, an increase of just under 50% in the total number of suitably qualified OVs.</p><p> </p><p>To support OVs we also created a new role of Certification Support Officer (CSO). A CSO can handle preparatory and administrative aspects of EHCs (checking documents, identifying products or sealing containers). This will free up OV time and capacity to provide the final assurance required. The number of qualified CSOs stands at 84.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 22/05/2019 16:28:47 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	76 label Biography information for Damian Green

1126530

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Small Businesses: Tax Yields
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the amount of tax revenue accrued was from UK small businesses in 2017-18.
	tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
	tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
	uin	254129
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Total tax revenue accrued from micro and small sized businesses combined was estimated to be approximately £120 billion in 2016/17. An estimate for 2017/18 will not become available until Autumn 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The estimate given includes Self-Assessment Income Tax and Class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Corporation Tax, VAT, and Pay As You Earn Income Tax and Class 1 NICs. The definition of micro and small sized businesses used is consistent with the EU definition where possible. HMRC works to collect tax due under UK law from all businesses, regardless of size, in the most cost effective way.</p><p> </p><p>The government has also taken a number of steps which benefit small businesses through the tax system. Since Budget 2016 the government has announced reductions to business rates worth more than £13bn over the next five years. NICs bills are also reduced by up to £3,000 for over one million employers, and the UK is also highly competitive, with the lowest overall corporation tax rate in the G20 at 19%. The rate is legislated to fall further to 17% in 2020.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Devon answering member printed Mel Stride question first answered 22/05/2019 10:54:08 answering member 3935 label Biography information for Mel Stride
	tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

1126531

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	CCTV: Biometrics
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the accuracy of facial recognition in CCTV.
	tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
	tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
	uin	254130
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>Facial recognition is a fast evolving area of technology with the potential to streamline identity verification and authentication processes across Government and the private sector.</p><p>Its performance is dependent on a number of variables, from the quality of the images, environmental factors, the specific algorithm used, the thresholds or risk profile applied and many other factors. Possible matches produced by LFR systems are always checked by a human operator before deciding what, if any, action to take.</p> answering member constituency Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner answering member printed Mr Nick Hurd question first answered 22/05/2019 16:11:43 answering member 1561 label Biography information for Mr Nick Hurd
	tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

1126532

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Social Media: Freedom of Expression
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that social media companies respect freedom of speech when regulating content.
	tabling member constituency	Haltemprice and Howden
	tabling member printed	Mr David Davis
	uin	254131
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to upholding free speech, and legislation is already in place to protect these fundamental rights. However, this freedom cannot be an excuse to cause harm or spread hatred.</p><p> </p><p>The Online Harms White Paper sets out the Government's proposals for making the UK the safest place to be online. The proposed independent regulator will have an obligation to protect users' rights online, particularly rights to privacy and freedom of expression. It will ensure that the new regulatory requirements do not lead to a disproportionately risk averse response from companies that unduly limits freedom of expression, including by limiting participation in public debate.</p> answering member constituency Stourbridge answering member printed Margot James question first answered 22/05/2019 11:05:07 answering member 4115 label Biography information for Margot James
	tabling member	373 label Biography information for Sir David Davis

1126536

	registered interest
	date	14/05/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept id	7
	answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
	hansard heading	Buildings: Insulation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 7 May 2019 to Question 249313 on Buildings: Insulation, when the BS 8414 test of a High Pressure Laminate cladding system will be carried out by the Fire Protection Association.
	tabling member constituency	Croydon North
	tabling member printed	Mr Steve Reed
	uin	254199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department is working with the contractor to ensure that the test is carried out as soon as reasonably practicable. The exact timing will depend on factors such as the time needed to source the necessary components for the test and the time needed to build the test rig.</p> answering member constituency North West Hampshire answering member printed Kit Malthouse question first answered 22/05/2019 12:56:12 answering member 4495 label Biography information for Kit Malthouse
	tabling member	4268 label Biography information for Steve Reed