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1136763

registered interest
date	03/07/2019
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the report of the Northern Ireland Renewable Heat Incentive Inquiry will be published.
tabling member printed	Lord Lexden
uin	HL16913
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>Sir Patrick Coghlin is leading the report into the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and has stated that no date has yet been set for publication. As the inquiry was established and is being supported by the Department of Finance, my Noble Friend should direct further queries about the inquiry to the Permanent Secretary of that Department.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 09/07/2019 11:24:36 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
tabling member	4202 label Biography information for Lord Lexden

1136420

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	EU External Trade: Mercosur
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 benefits of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement; and which commercial sectors in the UK are expected to benefit from this agreement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
uin	HL16870
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The EU-Mercosur trade agreement reached political conclusion on 28 June 2019. This means that we have yet to receive the final text, which would be needed to assess the impacts of the final negotiated outcome, including which commercial sectors would benefit. This text is unlikely to be available for some time since the EU and Mercosur are still finalising the details of the agreement, which will then need to undergo legal review and official translation.</p><p>We welcome the news of political conclusion between the EU and Mercosur on a Free Trade Agreement. As a global champion of trade, the UK has been a strong advocate for these negotiations. The UK has longstanding positive bilateral relationships with individual Mercosur countries and we look forward to deepening our trading ties as we leave the EU. We will be working with our Mercosur partners to develop our future trade relationship in due course.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL16871 question first answered 08/07/2019 16:22:47 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

1136421

registered interest
date	02/07/2019
answering body	Department for International Trade
answering dept id	202
answering dept short name	International Trade
answering dept sort name	International Trade
hansard heading	Trade Agreements: Mercosur
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to seek a trade agreement along similar lines to the EU–Mercosur trade agreement once the UK has departed the EU; if so, whether they have begun any such discussions with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay; and when they expect any such negotiations to be concluded.
tabling member printed	Baroness Crawley
uin	HL16871
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The EU-Mercosur trade agreement reached political conclusion on 28 June 2019. This means that we have yet to receive the final text, which would be needed to assess the impacts of the final negotiated outcome, including which commercial sectors would benefit. This text is unlikely to be available for some time since the EU and Mercosur are still finalising the details of the agreement, which will then need to undergo legal review and official translation.</p><p>We welcome the news of political conclusion between the EU and Mercosur on a Free Trade Agreement. As a global champion of trade, the UK has been a strong advocate for these negotiations. The UK has longstanding positive bilateral relationships with individual Mercosur countries and we look forward to deepening our trading ties as we leave the EU. We will be working with our Mercosur partners to develop our future trade relationship in due course.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL16870 question first answered 08/07/2019 16:22:47 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3386 label Biography information for Baroness Crawley

1135694

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	China: Uyghurs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of China on the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China; and what plans they have to ensure that the human rights of Uighur Muslims are protected.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Coventry
uin	HL16787
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>We have serious concerns about the situation in Xinjiang, where there are credible reports of over a million Uyghurs and other minorities being detained in so-called “re-education camps&quot;.</p><p>Ministers and senior officials frequently raise the human rights issues in the region with their Chinese counterparts. The Foreign Secretary highlighted our concerns with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his most recent visit to China in July 2018. Later that month, the Minister for Asia &amp; the Pacific did the same with his Chinese counterpart Vice Minister Guo Yezhou. Additionally, our Embassy in Beijing regularly raises the treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang with the Chinese authorities.</p><p>Further, we spoke publicly about the situation in the region at the 40th UN Human Rights Council in February and March 2019. I raised our concerns during my opening address on 25 February, and the UK spoke about Xinjiang during our “Item 4” national statement on 12 March. Following this, we co-sponsored a side event on “Protecting the fundamental freedoms in Xinjiang” on 13 March which helped to raise awareness of the situation among the international community.</p><p>Moreover, in our statement at China’s Universal Periodic Review on 6 November 2018, we made clear our concern about the treatment of Uyghurs in China. The UK issued a specific recommendation to China that it implements the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s recommendations on Xinjiang and allows the UN to monitor the implementation.</p><p>We will continue to raise the human rights situation in Xinjiang with the Chinese Government at all levels bilaterally and in appropriate UN fora, including the Human Rights Council.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 08/07/2019 15:32:26 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4266 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Coventry

1135699

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Xylella
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific measures they are taking to prevent the introduction to the UK of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa via the import of infected host plants.
tabling member printed	Baroness D'Souza
uin	HL16792
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2019 answer text <p><em>Xylella fastidiosa</em> is currently not present in the UK but we are taking a lead in the EU to tighten import and movement controls to protect the country against its introduction.</p><p>We supplement EU measures with national legislation requiring notification of certain imports, allowing the Animal and Plant Health Agency to build intelligence about such trades and carry out targeted inspections. The notification requirements were strengthened in 2018 through the inclusion of olive trees, following an interception in Belgium of <em>Xylella</em> on olive trees imported from Spain.</p><p>We have also successfully pressed the case for stronger requirements at an EU level against certain high risk hosts for this disease, with supplementary measures also now in place against <em>Polygala myrtifolia</em>. Under the leadership of Defra’s Chief Plant Health Officer, Nicola Spence, we are continuously reviewing new developments to determine whether additional measures are required.</p><p>We have a surveillance programme in place targeting imports and businesses trading in hosts from within the EU, as well as inspections in the wider environment.</p><p>We are also taking action with UK industry to raise awareness, resulting in nurseries and garden centres committing not to bring <em>Xylella</em> host plants into the UK from EU regions where the disease is present, and employing careful sourcing, traceability and good hygiene measures.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/07/2019 11:43:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	3709 label Biography information for Baroness D'Souza

1135725

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that people over the age of 75 who cannot afford to pay for a TV licence from June 2020 will be able to (1) access content, and (2) be kept informed of current affairs, to support their continued democratic engagement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is the responsibility of the BBC. In the 2015 funding settlement, the Government and the BBC agreed that responsibility for the concession would transfer to the BBC in June 2020.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government has expressed its disappointment with the BBC’s decision for taking the most narrowly focused review option. The Secretary of State has met with the Chairman of the BBC Board and the Director-General of the BBC and asked them to do more to help the most vulnerable groups affected by the decision.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 13:58:10 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135726

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure that people over the age of 75 who do not use the internet will be able to apply, and pay, for a TV licence from June 2020.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16819
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The BBC is committed to working with older peoples groups, charities and voluntary organisations to design a bespoke system to support all those over 75 affected by its decision. As part of this system, the BBC says that its licensing arm, TV Licensing, will write to all those all those affected, and will use suitable measures such as face to face visits and phone calls to make it as easy as possible for those transitioning to apply for and pay the licence fee.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 13:58:34 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135727

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they intend to offer to people who are just above the threshold of eligibility for pension credit to afford the additional £154.54 per year to pay for a TV licence from June 2020.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The BBC is responsible for the cost and the administration of the over 75 licence fee concession from June 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The BBC is committed to working with older peoples groups, charities and voluntary organisations to design a bespoke system to support all those over 75 affected by its decision. As part of this system, the BBC says that its licensing arm, TV Licensing, will be publicising the link between the concession and pension credit. It also says it will be introducing an easy payment system to help those affected spread the cost of the licence fee.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State has expressed his disappointment with the BBC decision to restrict the concession to the most narrowly defined review option. He has asked the BBC to do more for the most vulnerable pensioners, including considering measures around the margins of eligibility and those which further promote the take up of Pension Credit.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 13:58:59 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135728

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
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	Television Licences: Older People
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 compatibility of the BBC's decision to change the TV licence concession for people over the age of 75 from June 2020 with the Government's strategy to combat loneliness.
tabling member printed	Baroness Jolly
uin	HL16821
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2019 answer text <p>The future of the over 75 licence fee concession is a matter for the BBC. Parliament transferred responsibility in passing the Digital Economy Act in 2017. On loneliness, the Government is taking steps to address the effects of isolation and loneliness on the elderly. These include appointing a minister to lead work on tackling loneliness; publishing the world’s first government strategy on loneliness; and securing £20 million of new grant-funding for projects run by charities and community groups to bring people together.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 08/07/2019 14:02:06 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4203 label Biography information for Baroness Jolly

1135738

registered interest
date	01/07/2019
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Northern Ireland Office: Senior Civil Servants
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Lord Duncan of Springbank on 27 June (HL16506), whether they will now answer the question put, namely whether the appointment of Lindy Cameron as a new Director General at the Northern Ireland Office was a Foreign and Commonwealth Office initiative; what discussions they had with the government of the Republic of Ireland prior to that appointment; and whether they will place a non-redacted copy of the mission-statement for that post in the Library of the House.
tabling member printed	Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
uin	HL16831
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2019 answer text <p>Pursuant to my response of 27 June, the appointment of the Northern Ireland Office’s Director General was a routine civil service appointment approved by the Civil Service Senior Leadership Committee and Cabinet Secretary. It was not a Foreign and Commonwealth Office initiative nor were there, and nor would it have been appropriate to have had, prior discussions about this appointment with the Irish Government.</p><p> </p><p>In line with the procedures for routine civil service appointments there is no ‘mission-statement’; however I will arrange for an unredacted copy of the job description to be placed in the Library of the House.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 09/07/2019 11:24:11 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
tabling member	648 label Biography information for Lord Maginnis of Drumglass