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1176632

registered interest
date	05/02/2020
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords: Contract Cleaning
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the House of Lords Administration has replaced the employment of housekeepers with the use of contract cleaners; and if so, how much they estimate will be saved as a result of such a policy; and what will be (1) the hours, (2) the holiday entitlement, and (3) the sickness benefits, of those staff employed as contract cleaners.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL1384
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2020 answer text <p>The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The current policy is to retain the Housekeeping Team for the foreseeable future and to continue to provide Housekeeping services within the Palace, with a focus on the high profile areas such as the Chamber, Robing Room, Prince’s Chamber, Royal Gallery and offices on the Principal and First floor.</p><p>A contractor, AtaliaServest, currently cleans all out-buildings as well as selected Member and staff offices in the Palace of Westminster. AtaliaServest has been the incumbent cleaning contractor for over five years. Additional areas, including those with limited accessibility and lone working requirements, have been handed over to AtaliaServest. This decision was taken to maximise operational efficiency, making best use of the AtaliaServest team and allowing the House of Lords Housekeepers to focus on high profile areas and specialist cleaning, rather than for any financial benefit. The terms and conditions of AtaliaServest staff are set by AtaliaServest, all staff and contractors working on the Parliamentary Estate are paid at least the London Living Wage.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 19/02/2020 14:34:45 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1176213

registered interest
date	04/02/2020
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	NHS: Staff
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of NHS staff provided fraudulent qualifications between 2017 and 2019.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL1333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>Data on the number of cases of staff providing fraudulent qualifications detected in the National Health Service over the last three years is collected by the NHS Counter Fraud Authority. The information requested is shown in the following table.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial year</p></td><td><p>Number of cases</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>12</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019-20</p></td><td><p>4</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 12/02/2020 17:41:18 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1176214

registered interest
date	04/02/2020
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Government Departments: Staff
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many members of staff working in Government departments provided fraudulent qualifications between 2014 and 2019.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL1334
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected centrally. Individual departments have responsibility for investigating cases of qualification fraud.</p><p>The Government Recruitment Service checks qualifications when a qualification is a mandatory requirement of the vacancy - for example, a suitable degree for a graduate programme. When instances of qualification fraud are discovered, they will be managed by the internal disciplinary procedure of that department.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 13/02/2020 11:43:26 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1174489

registered interest
date	29/01/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
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 Williams of Trafford on 28 January (HL424) and the absence of such a stipulation in the Immigration Rules, how they ensure that these assessments are not open to abuse.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL949
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>Higher Education Providers with a track record of compliance are the only sponsor type who can make an assessment of the English language ability of students studying at degree level and above, and must have demonstrated compliance for a minimum of 4 years before gaining this privilege.</p><p> </p><p>Compliance is demonstrated to UKVI by annual assessments and sponsors must also gain independent educational oversight from the Office for Students. UKVI can audit sponsor records in the course of their assessment. If sponsors fail to adhere to their sponsorship duties and fail to demonstrate a sufficient level of compliance, action will be taken by the Home Office which can include revoking their Tier 4 licence.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 12/02/2020 16:26:45 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1174490

registered interest
date	29/01/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Erasmus+ Programme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what involvement UK Ministers and officials have had in the development of the proposed Erasmus Regulation for 2021–27.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL950
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>Since it was first published by the European Commission in May 2018, the government has been involved in discussions on the draft regulation for the next programme. Discussions in the EU institutions are ongoing and the regulation has yet to be finalised. Future participation in EU programmes will be a subject of our negotiations on the future UK-EU relationship.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 11/02/2020 16:59:20 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1174491

registered interest
date	29/01/2020
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords Terrace: Smoking
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what progress has been made towards making the House of Lords terrace smoke free.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL951
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2020 answer text <p>The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chair of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. At its meeting on 11 July 2019 the Services Committee considered a paper on changes to the smoking area on the Terrace. At the meeting the Committee agreed to move the Members’ smoking table into the designated smoking area and increase the coverage of the smoking area to reduce the dispersal of smoke across other Terrace users. The Committee was advised that these changes would take place once the scaffolding on the Terrace had been removed.</p><p>The Committee further considered the issue at its meeting on 16 January 2020, when, following advice about the issues involved in extending any coverage for a smoking area on the Terrace, the Committee was invited to provide advice on a suitable way forward. Following discussion, the Committee requested that consideration be given to alternative locations for the smoking area; a paper is expected at its March meeting.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 07/02/2020 14:51:44 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1174106

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what International English Language Testing System level the Home Office requires overseas students attain in order for them to be granted student visas.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL877
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2020 answer text <p>To be eligible to enter the UK under Tier 4, an applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have a sufficient level of English to complete the proposed course of study.</p><p>All Tier 4 (General) Students must prove they satisfy the minimum English language requirements against the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR) in all four components (speaking, reading, writing and listening). Unless they meet the requirements to be exempt, a student must show they meet the minimum level of English at CEFR B2 to be eligible to study in the UK at degree level or above and at CEFR B1 to be eligible to study a course below degree level in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Students can prove their English Language ability in different ways including taking a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved test provider or their Tier 4 sponsor may conduct an assessment themselves, if eligible to do so.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>Tier 4 Higher Education Providers with a track record of compliance, are able to make their own assessment on the proficiency of an applicant in the English language, if a student is accessing a course of study at degree level or above. They must be satisfied an applicant is proficient in the English language to a minimum of CEFR B2 level in all four disciplines assessed by the International English Language Test. The provider is able to undertake its own assessment of the ability of an applicant to satisfy these criteria. There is no stipulation in the Immigration Rules relating to how this assessment must be made.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL878 question first answered 10/02/2020 11:19:15 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1174107

registered interest
date	28/01/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Entry Clearances: Overseas Students
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK universities are permitted to use alternatives to the International English Language Testing System as means to assess the English language proficiency of potential overseas students.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL878
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2020 answer text <p>To be eligible to enter the UK under Tier 4, an applicant must be able to demonstrate that they have a sufficient level of English to complete the proposed course of study.</p><p>All Tier 4 (General) Students must prove they satisfy the minimum English language requirements against the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR) in all four components (speaking, reading, writing and listening). Unless they meet the requirements to be exempt, a student must show they meet the minimum level of English at CEFR B2 to be eligible to study in the UK at degree level or above and at CEFR B1 to be eligible to study a course below degree level in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Students can prove their English Language ability in different ways including taking a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved test provider or their Tier 4 sponsor may conduct an assessment themselves, if eligible to do so.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>Tier 4 Higher Education Providers with a track record of compliance, are able to make their own assessment on the proficiency of an applicant in the English language, if a student is accessing a course of study at degree level or above. They must be satisfied an applicant is proficient in the English language to a minimum of CEFR B2 level in all four disciplines assessed by the International English Language Test. The provider is able to undertake its own assessment of the ability of an applicant to satisfy these criteria. There is no stipulation in the Immigration Rules relating to how this assessment must be made.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL877 question first answered 10/02/2020 11:19:15 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1175237

registered interest
date	22/01/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Solicitors: Training
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possible impact of the closure of the Professional and Career Development Loans scheme on those from low-income households seeking to qualify as solicitors through the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, due to be introduced in 2021.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL716
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The legal services sector in England and Wales is independent of Government, and as such, the Government does not have a role in setting or approving the framework for admission into the legal profession.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2018, the Legal Services Board (LSB) approved a rule change application made by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This application laid out a framework upon which the SRA could seek to introduce new requirements for trainee solicitors to pass a centralised Solicitors Qualifying Exam before being admitted into the profession. However, the application only established the framework. The SRA will need to submit another rule change application to LSB in order to implement it.</p><p> </p><p>In its March 2018 decision notice, the LSB set out the substantive issues that it had not been able to fully assess and would need to evaluate before it approved any further application from the SRA seeking to implementing the framework. This included assessing the full costs of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and accessibility of assessments.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL717 question first answered 05/02/2020 12:55:51 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1175240

registered interest
date	22/01/2020
answering body	Ministry of Justice
answering dept id	54
answering dept short name	Justice
answering dept sort name	Justice
hansard heading	Solicitors: Training
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that aspiring solicitors from low-income households have access to the funds necessary to complete the Solicitors Qualifying Exam, alongside any associated preparation or training courses.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2020 answer text <p>The legal services sector in England and Wales is independent of Government, and as such, the Government does not have a role in setting or approving the framework for admission into the legal profession.</p><p> </p><p>In March 2018, the Legal Services Board (LSB) approved a rule change application made by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This application laid out a framework upon which the SRA could seek to introduce new requirements for trainee solicitors to pass a centralised Solicitors Qualifying Exam before being admitted into the profession. However, the application only established the framework. The SRA will need to submit another rule change application to LSB in order to implement it.</p><p> </p><p>In its March 2018 decision notice, the LSB set out the substantive issues that it had not been able to fully assess and would need to evaluate before it approved any further application from the SRA seeking to implementing the framework. This included assessing the full costs of the Solicitors Qualifying Exam and accessibility of assessments.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie grouped question UIN HL716 question first answered 05/02/2020 12:55:51 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey