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1241466

registered interest
date	07/10/2020
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many formal representations they have made to other governments about human rights abuses in each of the last five years; to which governments they have made such representations; and of those, which they have raised with (1) the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, or (2) at the UN Security Council.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8848
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>Respect for human rights and democratic freedoms underpins the UK's foreign policy. UK Ministers and officials have regular and frank discussions about the full range of human rights concerns, wherever they occur, and we use our bilateral relationships, our development programmes and our presence in multilateral institutions to drive progress. Our Annual Human Rights Report sets out in detail the UK's approach to human rights priority countries, and the work we have undertaken to promote and protect human rights around world.</p><p>In discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ministers and officials raise the most pressing human rights issues of the day. We also set out concerns on a wide range of countries at every session of the Human Rights Council. For example, at the 45th session in October, we raised our concerns about human rights violations in China and Belarus, the case of Alexei Navalny in Russia, and led a resolution on the human rights situation in Syria. We also stand up for human rights at the UN Security Council; for example, in 2020 we spoke about the human rights situation in Libya and the Democratic Republic of Congo, including on issues related to conflict-related sexual violence, and the need for human rights to be at the core of peacekeeping.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 19/10/2020 15:11:18 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1240975

registered interest
date	06/10/2020
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Turkey: Jerusalem
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey regarding President Erdogan's statement on 1 October that "Jerusalem is our city".
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8799
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2020 answer text <p>The UK recognises that Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The UK's position on the status of Jerusalem is clear and long-standing: it should be determined in a negotiated settlement between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It must ensure Jerusalem is a shared capital of the Israeli and Palestinian states, with access and religious rights of both peoples respected.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 20/10/2020 16:05:44 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1240976

registered interest
date	06/10/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Parking: Pedestrian Areas
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number of gardens which would be paved over, and (2) the consequent loss of wildlife habitats, as a result of each of the three options set out in their consultation on reforming pavement parking.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8800
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/10/2020 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made. However, the Department’s consultation specifically asks respondents to describe the environmental impact of the new proposals.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 12/10/2020 16:53:21 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1240977

registered interest
date	06/10/2020
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Armed Forces: Compensation
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 assist injured members of the British Armed Forces including the Ulster Defence Regiment and their relatives to claim from the Victims' Payment Scheme.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8801
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2020 answer text <p>The Government understands the need to support potential applicants, which is why the Victims Payments regulations make it clear that the Board is required to have regard to the need to prioritise, and be responsive to, the victims of Troubles-related incidents.</p><p> </p><p>The regulations are also clear that for any person making an application, or considering whether to make an application, the Victim’s Payments Board must make arrangements for facilitating access to advice and support, and help victims obtain evidence necessary to support the claim.</p><p> </p><p>These support provisions will be available to all individuals applying for the scheme, including members of the Armed Forces - in addition to existing pension and compensation schemes which provide support for the Armed Forces, veterans and their families, such as the War Pension scheme.</p><p> </p><p>The Northern Ireland Executive are responsible for delivery of the scheme, and will want to be as open as possible with the public about preparations and progress. We will continue to prioritise supporting the Executive’s delivery of this scheme.</p><p><br></p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 19/10/2020 15:09:40 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1240978

registered interest
date	06/10/2020
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: Oral Questions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what plans there are to provide training to members of the House of Lords to assist them with preparing concise and succinct supplementary questions.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8802
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/10/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to provide training to members of the type described. The Procedure and Privileges Committee agreed last month that all supplementary questions should be limited to no more than 30 seconds and ministerial replies should be succinct. This has been incorporated into the guidance that sets out the procedures for hybrid proceedings.</p> answering member printed Lord McFall of Alcluith question first answered 09/10/2020 11:02:28 answering member 4148 label Biography information for Lord McFall of Alcluith
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1235824

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: English Channel
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking over reports that French Navy patrol boats have been aiding asylum seekers to enter UK waters illegally.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2020 answer text <p>The UK has a duty both to prevent loss of life and protect the integrity of our border. In doing so we have domestic and international laws to comply with. Search and Rescue (SAR) legal provisions derive from a number of international conventions, in particular the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea 1974 (SOLAS) and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue 1979 (the SAR Convention). Under these provisions both the UK and France both have a duty to save lives, and if a boat encounters difficulty and is in distress then there is a need to protect life.</p><p>French authorities and vessels do attempt to persuade migrants to abandon their journey and allow themselves to be rescued but are at times met with extreme hostility from migrants. French assets will generally remain with the migrant vessel to ensure they are on-hand in case a rescue is required. The French do not believe forcible interceptions would be safe or permitted under SOLAS or SAR operations.</p><p>We are doing everything we can to stop these dangerous Channel crossings and bring to justice the criminals behind this organised immigration crime.</p><p>We are also continuing to engage with our French counterparts both on an operational and political level, exploring all options to reduce the number of people attempting this dangerous crossing.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 02/10/2020 12:40:11 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1235825

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Asylum: English Channel
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have paid (1) to the government of France, and (2) organisations based in France, in the last five years to limit asylum seekers crossing the English Channel illegally; and what assessment they have made of whether the government of France has met the commitments of any agreements in place to limit such crossings.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2020 answer text <p>The UK and France maintain a longstanding relationship on tackling illegal migration at the shared border and the UK has committed several funding packages to supporting this work in recent years. These include:</p><p>o In September 2019 the Joint Action Plan on Combatting Illegal Migration Involving Small Boats (‘Small Boats Action Plan’) was signed. The UK committed €3.6m (£3.25m) to tackling the issue. These funds were utilised for the delivery of strategic communications campaigns and the provision of equipment to improve detection of small boats crossings. This was later supplemented with a further €2.5m (£2.25m) in the 19/20 Financial Year, which was dedicated to the deployment of Gendarme Reservists and further strengthening preventive security measures at the French coast.</p><p>o In January 2018 both countries signed the Sandhurst Treaty, under which the UK made a commitment of €50 million (£45.5m) for activity to prevent illegal migration.</p><p>The UK and France are committed to ensuring value for money in investment. The UK and France carried out a joint review of bilateral cooperation under the Sandhurst Treaty, which concluded that this programme of work has made a difference to illegal migration. France also continues to invest significant resource into tackling this issue as part of a joint response with the UK.</p><p>In addition to the above sums outlined, we have also invested the following:</p><p>o The September 2014 Joint Declaration committed £12m for security improvements at Calais, Dunkirk, and the Eurotunnel terminal at Coquelles. This was supplemented by £1 million for fencing and by £1.7 million to support an enhanced secure freight zone at Calais.</p><p>o In 2015, both countries signed a Joint Declaration which committed £45.96 million (majority to Eurotunnel) towards security enhancements of the juxtaposed controls and to moving migrants into reception centres across France.</p><p>o This was followed by payments in 2016 (£17 million) and a further (£36 million) to strengthen the border and maintain the operation of the juxtaposed controls.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 02/10/2020 12:41:07 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1235826

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
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	Protective Clothing: Retail Trade
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether retail workers have to wear facemasks in the shops in which they are employed; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8270
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>From 24 September, it will be compulsory for workers in retail, leisure and hospitality settings to wear a face covering in areas which are open to the public and where they either come or are likely to come into contact with members of the public.</p><p>This is in addition to existing legal obligations that require businesses to provide a safe working environment, which may include providing face coverings where appropriate, alongside other mitigation measures such as perspex screens to separate workers from the public.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 07/10/2020 13:45:56 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1235827

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Electric Scooters: Coventry and Middlesbrough
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of issues with the use of e-scooters in (1) Coventry, and (2) Middlesbrough; and what plans they have to pause the e-scooter rental trials until appropriate safeguards are introduced to protect pedestrians.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8271
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to pause national e-scooter trials, which are absolutely essential if we are to fully assess this new mode and inform longer term micromobility policy. Officials are in close and regular contact with local authorities and e-scooter operators in live e-scooter trial areas. We are encouraging rapid action be taken to respond to operational issues as soon as they arise and ensuring that any lessons from early implementation are applied in subsequent trials. For example, issues which arose during the first week of the Middlesbrough trial, caused by a small minority of users, were quickly resolved with licence verification software and improved geo-fencing technology.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 02/10/2020 10:24:40 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1235828

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Voi: Electric Scooters
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have requested from Voi about the illegal use of e-scooters; and what plans they have to publish any such information.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL8272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2020 answer text <p>Officials are in close and regular contact with local authorities and e-scooter operators in live e-scooter trial areas. We are encouraging rapid action be taken to respond to operational issues as soon as they arise and ensuring that any lessons from early implementation are applied in subsequent trials.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 28/09/2020 12:37:16 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra