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1180200

registered interest
date	24/02/2020
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	Religious Hatred
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 3 February (HL727), what consideration they have given to requiring allegations of an offence of stirring up religious hatred to be supported by two witnesses, in order to restrict frivolous complaints.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL1822
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>It is an operational matter for the police to determine whether and how to investigate all incidents reported to them. The Crown Prosecution Service will also apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors to ensure a prosecution will not proceed where a complaint is deemed to be frivolous. Decisions to prosecute are furthermore subject to consideration under the Freedom of Expression defence contained in Section 29J of the Public Order Act 1986.</p> answering member printed Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist question first answered 09/03/2020 16:56:51 answering member 4582 label Biography information for Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1176221

registered interest
date	04/02/2020
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	Hate Crime
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 3 February (HL187), whether it is possible that a hearsay remark, if construed by a bystander as offensive, could be reported as a hate crime and the perpetrator interviewed by the police as a result; and if so, what steps they intend to take to protect freedom of speech.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL1341
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/02/2020 answer text <p>It is an operational matter for the police to determine whether to investigate all incidents reported to them. When investigating allegations of hate crime it is for the police to apply the relevant legislation, including the freedom of expression defence contained in section 29J of the Public Order Act 1986.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/02/2020 11:55:22 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1172796

registered interest
date	22/01/2020
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 21 January (HL187), what criteria they use to assess what constitutes a “legitimate criticism” of a religion when investigating any incident that has been reported by someone who has perceived it to “be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person’s religion or perceived religion”; and what steps they take to ensure freedom of expression is upheld.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>Once a hate crime has been reported it is for the police to investigate whether a hate crime has been committed, in line with the relevant legislation, and to refer cases to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether there should be a charge.</p><p>In order for a crime to be charged and prosecuted as a hate crime, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) uses the legal definitions contained in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 (CDA 1998) and the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (CJA 2003).</p><p>The CPS assesses each case on its individual facts and circumstances. Prosecutions can only be brought in line with legislation and in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.</p><p>The CPS legal guidance on hate crime recognises the right to freedom of expression set out in Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The legal guidance makes it clear that it is not only speech which is well-received and popular that is protected but also speech which is potentially offensive, shocking or disturbing. The CPS seeks to balance the right to freedom of speech and expression against the duty of the state to act proportionately.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 03/02/2020 17:03:00 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1175223

registered interest
date	22/01/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Religious Hatred
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the definition used by the Crown Prosecution Service and the National Police Chiefs’ Council to identify religiously motivated incidents or crimes, in particular regard to the relevance of section 29J of the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/02/2020 answer text <p>It is for the police, prosecutors and the courts to determine how to apply the legal provisions relevant to religiously motivated hate crimes.</p><p>The Law Commission has been commissioned by the Government to undertake a review of the legislation related to hate crime. The Law Commission are scheduled to conduct a public consultation this spring as part of this, and to report to Ministers in early 2021.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 04/02/2020 16:27:02 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1169668

registered interest
date	08/01/2020
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	Cobham: Advent International
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assurances they (1) sought, and (2) received, from Advent International in regard to the acquisition of Cobham plc, that Cobham plc would not be stripped of its assets.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL243
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/01/2020 answer text <p>On 20 December, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced that she had accepted statutory undertakings from the parties involved in the proposed acquisition of Cobham by Advent International. These undertakings:</p><ul><li>ensure that sensitive Government information continues to be protected;</li><li>ensure Cobham honours the terms of existing contracts and notifies the Government if there is a material change to the ability to supply key services; and</li><li>require Advent to give prior notice to the Ministry of Defence and Home Office if there are plans to sell the whole, or elements of, Cobham’s business.</li></ul><p>Separately, the companies also provided legally-binding undertakings on the wider economic implications of the transaction. The companies have agreed with the Takeover Panel that Cobham’s headquarters will remain in the UK, that the Cobham name will continue to be used and that there will be a guaranteed level of R&amp;D spend. Advent also gave a commitment to the Business Secretary to protect jobs.</p><p> </p><p>These undertakings will secure the future of Cobham and the important role it plays in our world-leading defence sector and economy.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 16/01/2020 17:20:41 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1169331

registered interest
date	07/01/2020
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	Religion: Freedom of Expression
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that criticism of any religion is not regarded as a hate crime.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL187
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. It is important that all have the right to speak freely, and make legitimate criticisms, and that a strong legal framework provides the appropriate space to do so. Equally, hatred or prejudice against an individual because of their religion will not be tolerated.</p><p>The Crown Prosecution Service uses definitions agreed with the National Police Chiefs' Council to identify religiously motivated incidents/crimes: “Any incident/crime which is perceived by the victim or any other person to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice based on a person's religion or perceived religion.&quot; This allows space for legitimate criticism.</p><p>Under the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, which covers the offences of stirring up religious hatred, there is a freedom of expression defence contained in Section 29J, which confirms that nothing in the Act &quot;... prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult, or abuse of particular religions, or the beliefs or practices of its adherents.&quot;</p><p>The Government will continue to protect people’s legitimate rights and freedoms whilst also remaining committed to tackling hate crime.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 21/01/2020 16:16:07 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1151695

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Shares: Sales
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 prevalence of tracker and similar funds lending the shares of beneficial owners for shorting; what regulations are in place to ensure that such funds make share owners sufficiently aware that shares may be lent in this way; whether such funds must seek the permission of beneficial owners before lending their shares for such purposes; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL332
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The FCA seeks to ensure that regulated firms provide adequate levels of disclosure to investors that invest in financial products, as well as the orderly functioning of these types of investment products.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this, the FCA sets requirements for managers of authorised funds carrying out stock lending, including obligations that they make clear in the fund’s prospectus (the document provided to those considering investing in a fund) if the stocks in the fund they invest in may be lent on to others. However, the FCA does not require fund managers to then seek the permission of fund investors before lending their stock in each individual case. Under FCA rules, managers of authorised funds can only lend the stocks in these funds for the account of and for the benefit of the fund and in the interests of unitholders. The manager must be satisfied that any stock lending is appropriate for generating additional income for the fund at an acceptable degree of risk.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, the FCA is responsible for enforcing the Short Selling Regulation (SSR), which regulates short selling practices while safeguarding companies and the financial system. It imposes a disclosure regime on those who have reportable net short positions to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to the public and provides the FCA with powers to suspend short selling or limit transactions when there are significant reductions in the price of certain instruments from the previous day’s closing price. Additionally, the Treasury and FCA both have powers under the Regulation to address adverse events that pose a serious threat to market confidence or financial stability.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Courtown grouped question UIN HL333 question first answered 04/11/2019 13:57:17 answering member 3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson

1151696

registered interest
date	22/10/2019
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Shares: Sales
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 number of beneficial owners with shares invested in tracker and similar funds that are not fully cognisant that their shares are being lent for shorting; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such estimate.
tabling member printed	Lord Vinson
uin	HL333
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The FCA seeks to ensure that regulated firms provide adequate levels of disclosure to investors that invest in financial products, as well as the orderly functioning of these types of investment products.</p><p> </p><p>As part of this, the FCA sets requirements for managers of authorised funds carrying out stock lending, including obligations that they make clear in the fund’s prospectus (the document provided to those considering investing in a fund) if the stocks in the fund they invest in may be lent on to others. However, the FCA does not require fund managers to then seek the permission of fund investors before lending their stock in each individual case. Under FCA rules, managers of authorised funds can only lend the stocks in these funds for the account of and for the benefit of the fund and in the interests of unitholders. The manager must be satisfied that any stock lending is appropriate for generating additional income for the fund at an acceptable degree of risk.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, the FCA is responsible for enforcing the Short Selling Regulation (SSR), which regulates short selling practices while safeguarding companies and the financial system. It imposes a disclosure regime on those who have reportable net short positions to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to the public and provides the FCA with powers to suspend short selling or limit transactions when there are significant reductions in the price of certain instruments from the previous day’s closing price. Additionally, the Treasury and FCA both have powers under the Regulation to address adverse events that pose a serious threat to market confidence or financial stability.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Courtown grouped question UIN HL332 question first answered 04/11/2019 13:57:17 answering member 3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown
tabling member	1807 label Biography information for Lord Vinson