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1191275

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Hotels
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 accommodate people released from prison in hotels.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL3455
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>In response to the current unprecedented situation, the Government has announced that risk-assessed prisoners who are within two months of their release date will be temporarily released from jail.</p><p>Prisoner releases are being phased over time to ensure stringent risk assessments can be carried out and that the required support for offenders is in place. No prisoner will be released without housing and health support being in place.</p><p>If an individual does not have identified accommodation to be released to, then probation services will investigate options for securing temporary accommodation.</p><p>To facilitate this process, we are working with several public, private and voluntary sector providers to secure a range of accommodation options.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 11/05/2020 11:05:41 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1191276

registered interest
date	28/04/2020
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	Oral Questions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans there are, if any, to publish a record of the length of time taken by members of the House to ask supplementary questions.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL3456
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2020 answer text <p>When introducing virtual proceedings the Lord Speaker and his Deputies have consistently emphasised the importance of brevity when asking and answering supplementary questions, and the part that this can play in allowing a greater number of members to contribute within the time limits.　These sentiments were echoed in an email that I sent to all members on 12 May, updating them on virtual proceedings. Revised guidance issued by the Procedure Committee on the same day also stated that ‘Members should avoid taking up time in Virtual Proceedings thanking other members for their contributions’.　There are no plans to publish a record of the length of time taken by members of the House to ask supplementary questions; the Procedure Committee will continue to keep these matters under review.</p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 13/05/2020 16:11:54 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1189850

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	Oral Questions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans he has to introduce a training course for peers about asking oral questions concisely.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL3361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to introduce such training at present. When introducing virtual proceedings the Lord Speaker and his Deputies have consistently emphasised the importance of brevity when asking and answering supplementary questions, and the part that this can play in allowing a greater number of members to contribute within the time limits.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 06/05/2020 15:34:37 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1187901

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ascertain the source of COVID-19; what assessment they have made of the response by countries where the virus was initially detected; and what steps they intend to take to hold any government which withheld information about COVID-19 to account.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) was informed of a cluster of cases of pneumonia of unknown cause detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. On 12 January 2020 the WHO posted a Disease Outbreak News where it was announced that a novel coronavirus had been identified in samples obtained from cases. Initial analysis of virus genetic sequences suggested that this particular virus was the cause of the outbreak. This virus is referred to as SARS-CoV-2, and the associated disease as COVID-19.</p><p>Public Health England has been in regular contact with laboratories and public health organisations within Europe and South East Asia in order to understand the systems they have adopted in relation to contact tracing, risk assessments, guidance and laboratory processes. These knowledge exchanges led to the development of the antigen test used in the United Kingdom and shaped our approach to contact tracing and the risk assessments undertaken of aircraft and cruise ships.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 07/04/2020 11:38:24 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1187902

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
answering body	Department of Health and Social Care
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health and Social Care
answering dept sort name	Health and Social Care
hansard heading	Paracetamol
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to produce paracetamol, and any ingredients required for its production, in the UK.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2916
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom already has just under 25% of paracetamol finished product sites, producing supplies for the UK, based in this country, and just under 20% of the manufacturing sites producing the active pharmaceutical ingredient required to make paracetamol.</p><p>We are aware that there has been a significant increase in paracetamol demand over the recent weeks. We are working with all suppliers of paracetamol to monitor and assess available supplies and demand, and to make additional stock available and prioritise further deliveries.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 07/04/2020 11:35:40 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1187903

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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	Animals: Markets
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they plan to make to the United Nations to implement a global ban of so-called 'wet' markets.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>The UK is at the forefront of international efforts to regulate global trade in wild animals and my officials regularly raise the issue of the illegal wildlife trade with other governments and with international authorities. The World Animal Health Organisation, of which the UK is a member, will be addressing wildlife trade at the next general session in May 2020. Pandemics arise as a combination of events and are a global concern. The origin of the Covid-19 virus is not yet clear, although it has been linked to viruses occurring in animals.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 06/04/2020 11:45:01 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1187904

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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	Business: Databases
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a database of businesses which have (1) retained as many workers as possible, (2) dismissed workers and are claiming taxpayer help, (3) volunteered to assist in the COVID-19 pandemic by developing new technology or services, and (4) been found to have profited illegally or unethically, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2918
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>Officials in this department are engaging regularly with industry and the business community to discuss preparedness planning and to gather data, feedback and to ensure the best policy response is developed.</p><p> </p><p>A wide range of UK and international businesses have offered to help provide services, including designing and building new devices, manufacturing components or transporting them to NHS hospitals.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has received an overwhelming number of offers from the UK supply base in response to Covid-19. Suppliers are keen to offer a range of goods and services to help organisations and departments stay operational. The offers are coming through a number of different routes and the Crown Commercial Service is now coordinating these offers to create one central log.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware that, in a small minority of cases, cyber criminals and fraudsters are attempting to exploit opportunities around the coronavirus outbreak and so the Government have issued appropriate guidance to follow to identify fraudulent activities and scams, through Action Fraud. We are also working with social media to combat disinformation.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 07/04/2020 11:28:53 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1187905

registered interest
date	25/03/2020
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: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to discuss with social networking companies what steps they are taking to restrict (1) comments by, and (2) the accounts of, users with high numbers of followers which give (1) false information, or (2) advice counter to official medical advice, about COVID-19.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2919
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government is working very closely with social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter and Google in response to Covid-19. This is helping us understand what is happening on their platforms and the steps they are taking so we can effectively tackle misinformation and disinformation together. It also allows social media platforms to be informed where harmful information is identified.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Social media companies have taken a range of steps to limit misinformation and disinformation on their platforms. This has included updating their policies in response to Covid-19, to enable them to take action on false and misleading content where it has the potential to cause harm.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Alongside the removal or downranking of misinformation and disinformation, platforms are also working with Government and the NHS to take action to promote accurate information. Measures have been introduced across almost all major platforms to ensure users see accurate information on Covid-19, including links to NHS and other authoritative sources.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 07/04/2020 15:11:20 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1186707

registered interest
date	19/03/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Teachers: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage teachers who are no longer required to work in schools because of the COVID-19 pandemic to undertake other activities in their community.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2772
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/04/2020 answer text <p>The department anticipates that teachers who are no longer required to be physically present in schools would focus on developing educational resources or supporting home-education wherever possible. It is for schools to understand and decide how to deploy their teachers in the most effective way possible. We would encourage all teachers who are not attending school to consider and act in accordance with the latest guidance from Public Health England.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 02/04/2020 14:52:49 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1185104

registered interest
date	16/03/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Brexit: Transitional Arrangements
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 bring forward the end date of the implementation period to 30 June in order to allow the UK to (1) regulate, or (2) deregulate, to facilitate the UK's economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2606
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2020 answer text <p>The transition period will end on 31 December 2020. This is enshrined in UK law. The UK will therefore fully recover its economic and political independence at the end of the year, which the British people voted for.</p><p>The Chancellor has announced various measures to provide support to businesses and workers to protect against the economic emergency caused by the coronavirus. This includes unlimited loans and guarantees to support firms and help them manage cash flows through this period. The Chancellor will make available an initial £330 billion of guarantees - equivalent to 15% of UK GDP.</p><p>Government departments are already taking many steps to ease regulations to support businesses and critical service provision doing this epidemic.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 25/03/2020 12:57:27 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra