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1124878

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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	Water Companies: Competition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions there have been between the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the need to ensure that small business customers benefit from the non-household retail water market in England.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15553
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>Ofwat are the economic regulator for the water industry, and it regulates and monitors the operation of the retail business market. Ofwat published their first annual report on the market, Open for Business<em>,</em> in July 2018. It identified that small and medium sized business customers are not yet experiencing the same benefits that larger customers receive from the retail market, and raised a number of issues that could be affecting this.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat and Mosl, the market operator, have been taking a number of actions to investigate further and address these issues, including for SMEs.</p><p> </p><p>Ofwat is currently undertaking a further assessment of the market with a view to publishing their second annual report in July.</p><p> </p><p>My Department has ongoing discussions with Ofwat and Mosl about these issues and will discuss the outcomes of the second annual report with Ofwat in due course.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Minister Coffey, the Minister responsible for this policy area, requested that the then Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Margot James MP, use her channels to advertise and promote to small business customers that they can benefit from the non-household retail water market in England.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 21/05/2019 13:37:33 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1125502

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Tax Evasion
	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 cost to HM Treasury of "cum-ex" tax fraud since 2012; and whether there have been any related prosecutions.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15597
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>“Cum-ex” tax fraud exploits rules which impose withholding tax (WHT) on dividend payments. The UK does not apply WHT to dividend payments; there is no direct UK tax impact on banks, other taxpayers or HM Treasury.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL15598 question first answered 21/05/2019 14:12:33 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1125503

	registered interest
	date	08/05/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Tax Evasion
	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 impact of "cum-ex" tax fraud on (1) banks, (2) taxpayers, and (3) HM Treasury.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL15598
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>“Cum-ex” tax fraud exploits rules which impose withholding tax (WHT) on dividend payments. The UK does not apply WHT to dividend payments; there is no direct UK tax impact on banks, other taxpayers or HM Treasury.</p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham grouped question UIN HL15597 question first answered 21/05/2019 14:12:33 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1138559

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Pensions: Tax Allowances
	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 implications of recent changes to the Lifetime Allowance for pension benefits for those in (1) the legal profession, (2) the medical profession, and (3) other professions; and of the case for reviewing those changes.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL17117
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2019 answer text <p>Pensions tax relief is one of the most expensive reliefs in the personal tax system. In 2017/18 income tax and employer National Insurance Contributions relief cost over £50 billion, with around two-thirds going to higher and additional rate taxpayers. As confirmed at Autumn Budget 2017, from April 2018 the lifetime allowance will increase in line with CPI, in order that the value of this benefit is able to keep pace with inflation. This means from April 2019 the lifetime allowance has risen to £1,055,000.</p><p> </p><p>The same tax rules must apply identically to everyone in the same situation, regardless of their employer.</p><p> </p><p>However, across all public service workforces the Government looks at remuneration in the round and takes action when required to ensure delivery of world class public services. Where there is evidence that the delivery of services is being impacted, the Government takes appropriate action to address this, in line with our principles for pay and pensions policy. This is why we have introduced a temporary, taxable, Recruitment and Retention allowance for a small section of the judiciary, and will shortly bring forward a consultation on a new 50:50 pensions flexibility for senior clinicians in the NHS pension scheme.</p><p> </p><p>All aspects of the tax system are kept under review and are subject to change through the annual Budget, in the context of the wider public finances. Any future changes to the tax system will be announced through this process.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Young of Cookham question first answered 18/07/2019 11:12:10 answering member 57 label Biography information for Lord Young of Cookham
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1147643

	registered interest
	date	01/10/2019
	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	Environment Protection
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the arrangements for environmental protection and upholding environmental standards from the date of the UK leaving the EU and the date on which the Office for Environmental Protection is established.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL17969
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 08/10/2019 16:29:44 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1148079

	registered interest
	date	02/10/2019
	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	Beverage Containers: Deposit Return Schemes
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the introduction of a deposit return scheme for drinks containers; what use will be made of reverse vending machines as part of such a scheme; and what the respective roles of (1) industry, and (2) local government, will be in that scheme.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL18007
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 08/10/2019 16:36:07 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1148080

	registered interest
	date	02/10/2019
	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	Agriculture: Subsidies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether pilots, or other tests and trials, of the proposed Environmental Land Management Schemes have taken place; and if so, when they will publish the results.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL18008
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/10/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 08/10/2019 16:36:00 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1151673

	registered interest
	date	22/10/2019
	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	Post Offices: Rural Areas
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote access to, and services provided by, rural post offices; and wwhether they will provide an update on the status of the Post Office Card Account.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL310
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Government committed in its 2017 manifesto to safeguard the Post Office network and protect existing rural services, recognising the important role post offices play in serving their communities. The Government promotes access to rural post offices by setting accessibility criteria which the Post Office must meet. This ensures that in rural areas over 95% of people are within 3 miles of their nearest post office service. In remote and rural areas where it is difficult to deliver services to consumers via a permanent site, Post Office Limited use outreach services, such as a mobile van, or a village hall. These offer the same products and services as bricks-and-mortar branches.</p><p> </p><p>In recent years the Government has provided over £2bn investment into the Post Office which has seen over 7700 branches modernised, many thousands in rural areas. Having a modern accessible network enables the Post Office to secure and deliver services for customers, such as banking, bill payment and mails services, across the whole network, including rural areas, where in many cases the post office is the last shop in the village.</p><p> </p><p>The contract for the Post Office Card Account (POca) is a commercial matter for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Post Office Limited (POL). The contract will come to an end on 30 November 2021. DWP is working with Post Office Limited (POL) to prepare POca users for this by undertaking a project to move significant volumes of existing POca service users onto a mainstream bank account. Those POca customers who transition to a mainstream account will still be able to access their pension and benefit payments via the post office. <br> <br> For claimants who are unable to open a mainstream account ahead of this date, DWP will implement an alternative payment service that allows users to obtain cash payments whatever their location before the end of the contract.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 30/10/2019 17:22:37 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1171188

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2020
	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	Food Supply
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they promote and develop (1) food security, and (2) self-sufficiency, in the production of UK food.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL459
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>Our landmark Agriculture Bill sets out a clear path for future policy to support farming and the environment which includes commitments to regularly review our food security.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Bill, we are including a new requirement for the UK Government to regularly report on food security to Parliament, demonstrating the importance we place on this subject. The report will contain information on the role of strong domestic production alongside diverse sources of supply. It will encompass a range of current issues relevant to food security including global food availability; supply of food sources; the resilience of the supply chain for food; household expenditure on food; food safety and consumer confidence in food.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a high degree of food security, built on access to a range of different sources including strong domestic production and imports from other countries, demonstrated by the UK's current production to supply ratio of 75% for indigenous-type foods and 60% for all foods</p><p> </p><p>The National Food Strategy will cover the entire food chain from field to fork, building on work already underway in Defra.</p><p> </p><p>It will address the challenges of supporting people to eat healthy diets, producing food sustainably and protecting national food security, whilst also looking at related issues such as food price and trade.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 21/01/2020 13:10:42 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1171553

	registered interest
	date	16/01/2020
	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	Planning
	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 report by the Town and Country Planning Association, Planning 2020: Raynsford Review of Planning in England, published in November 2018; and what steps they intend to take in response.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL524
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government believes that further reform of the planning system is necessary. We will be publishing a planning White Paper in due course, which will aim to make the planning system clearer, more accessible and more certain for all users, including home owners and small businesses. It will also address resourcing and performance in local planning departments and ensure timely decisions are made. It will seek to improve the ways communities can get involved in the planning process, including through the opportunities afforded by new digital methods of engagement.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 28/01/2020 17:05:56 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1176207

	registered interest
	date	04/02/2020
	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	Rivers: Sewage
	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 environmental damage caused by spillages from combined sewer overflows releasing raw sewage into rivers; and what plans they have to prevent such spillages.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL1327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/02/2020 answer text <p>Combined sewers that carry surface water from roofs and roads together with sewage from homes are a common sewage system. On occasion, storm sewage discharges occur from Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs) when the risk of sewer flooding is high and pipework capacity is exceeded. This is done to reduce the flood risk to homes and businesses. The Environment Agency (EA) has looked at the reasons for rivers not achieving good ecological status and found that about 3% of water bodies are failing due to the impact of CSOs.</p><p> </p><p>To prevent spillages, between 2015 to 2020 water companies are installing monitors on up to 13,000 of the 15,000 CSOs in England. These will measure how often and for how long they operate, helping inform where improvement works may be required and providing information to the public about spills. This information has been used to help develop the environmental programme that the water companies will be implementing over the next five years. This includes further monitoring of CSOs, over 700 investigations and more than 200 schemes for environmental improvement or to reduce the spills from CSOs.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 17/02/2020 14:54:24 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1178144

	registered interest
	date	12/02/2020
	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: Drugs
	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 availability of medical supplies following the outbreak of Wuhan coronavirus and the closure of manufacturing facilities in China; and what contingencies they have in place in the event of any shortages of supplies.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL1599
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The National Health Service and wider health system are extremely well prepared for these types of outbreaks and follow tried and tested procedures of the highest standards to protect staff, patients and the public. The Department has stepped up its efforts to assess risks to the availability of medical supplies and put in place contingencies to help ensure uninterrupted supply.</p><p>These efforts have included:</p><p>- a response group has been established to evaluate the potential impacts of this situation on continuity of supply of medical goods;</p><p>- asking suppliers to conduct a full risk assessment of the impact of the situation on their supply chains;</p><p>- requesting that suppliers who still retain some or all of their European Union exit stockpiles, should hold on to them, while the Department considers more targeted approaches;</p><p>- directing NHS Supply Chain to pause ramp-down activity of the centralised stock-build of medical devices and clinical consumables; and</p><p>- contacting all known medical suppliers trading from or via China.</p><p>Working closely with industry, the NHS and others in the supply chain, we continue to monitor the situation to help prevent shortages and minimise the risks to patients.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 26/02/2020 14:01:41 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1179928

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	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	Flooding Lessons Learned Review
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to implement the recommendations contained in the report by Sir Michael Pitt The Pitt Review: Lessons learned from the 2007 floods, published on 25 June 2008, in particular to end developers’ automatic right to connect new developments to public sewers.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL1774
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government implemented recommendations from Sir Michael Pitt’s review through the Flood and Water Management Act 2010. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee’s report on the Post-legislative scrutiny of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 was in its Sixth Report of Session 2016–17, published on 26 April 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The Government response to the Committee’s report notes that planning practice guidance includes a hierarchy for sustainable drainage options that favours non-sewer solutions. Draining to a combined sewer should be the least favoured option in new development, to be considered when sustainable drainage options are not reasonably practicable. Removing the right to connect to an existing sewer therefore would offer no clear benefits over current arrangements and is likely to add costs and delay to the planning process for new housing.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 06/03/2020 11:58:18 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1182903

	registered interest
	date	04/03/2020
	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	Genetically Modified Organisms: Crops
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy on the regulation of genetically modified organisms (GMO) and, in particular, genome-edited crops; and what plans they have to make regulations to address any potential danger of cross-contamination with non-GMO products.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL2226
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK Government takes a science-based approach to genetically modified organism (GMO) policy and regulation. Our view is that genome-edited organisms should not be subject to GMO regulation if the DNA changes could have occurred naturally, or through traditional breeding methods.</p><p>No genetically modified or genome-edited crops are grown commercially in the UK.</p><p>The UK Government supports choice for both farmers and consumers. Before any GMO crops are grown here, we will need to put rules in place to segregate production methods and facilitate that choice. These rules will be based on independent scientific advice and they will take the potential for cross-pollination into account.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 18/03/2020 11:57:29 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1185136

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Business: Insurance
	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 commercial businesses seeking insurance payouts for cancellations or closures due to COVID-19 are covered.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL2638
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2020 answer text <p>The Chancellor has made clear that, for those businesses which have an appropriate policy that covers pandemics, government’s medical advice of 16 March is sufficient to allow businesses to make a claim against their insurance, provided the other terms and conditions in their policy are met.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the FCA’s rules require insurers to handle claims fairly and promptly; provide reasonable guidance to help a policyholder make a claim, and appropriate information on its progress; not reject a claim unreasonably; and settle claims promptly once settlement terms are agreed.</p><p> </p><p>However, most businesses have not purchased insurance that covers pandemic related losses. As such, any affected businesses should note the government’s full package of support.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is in continual dialogue with the insurance sector about its contribution to handling this unprecedented situation.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton grouped question UIN HL2623 question first answered 26/03/2020 16:41:47 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1185137

	registered interest
	date	16/03/2020
	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: Insurance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that COVID-19 will be listed as a qualifying disease for insurance payouts.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL2639
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>On 5 March 2020, the Government added COVID-19 to its list of notifiable diseases.</p><p>Insurers’ policies that cover notifiable diseases will typically only cover a specific subset of notifiable diseases (such as cholera or anthrax) that the insurer will reference in the policy documentation. These policies will exclude any notifiable disease not on the insurer’s list, as well as future/unknown diseases such as COVID-19. The price that the insurer charges for the policy is modelled against the risk posed by this set list of diseases.</p><p>Some businesses will have purchased add-ons for their insurance that cover for ‘unspecified notifiable diseases’. These policies effectively cover any disease listed as a notifiable disease, enabling the business to claim for losses for all notifiable diseases as well as from diseases that are unknown at the point the policy is written.</p><p>The effect of the Government adding COVID-19 to its list of notifiable diseases is to ensure that businesses with unspecified notifiable disease cover are able to make a claim – subject to the terms and conditions in their policy. For example, someone infected with COVID-19 may need to have been on the premises.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 28/04/2020 12:26:49 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1187348

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	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	Health Services: Protective Clothing
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect personal protective equipment in storage areas to be distributed to front line medical practitioners in hospitals and GP surgeries
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL2810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>As of 14 April, since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak we have delivered over 923 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) to 58,000 different health and care settings including National Health Service trusts, general practitioners, pharmacies and community providers. We have provided PPE equipment to over 26,000 care homes including home care and hospices across the country. Over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, over 48 million PPE items were delivered.</p><p>We are working around the clock to give the NHS and the wider social care sector the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak. We have brought together the NHS, industry and the armed forces to create a new nationwide PPE distribution network, delivering critical PPE supplies to those who need it.</p><p>We have a 24 hours a day, seven days a week helpline for those experiencing supply disruption with business as usual ordering channels. Where there may be any shortages, we act on this immediately. Local Resilience Forums are also supporting care homes, hospices, home care and primary care in getting hold of PPE equipment.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 28/04/2020 12:57:09 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1187349

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Key Workers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine key workers; and what plans they have to add cleaners to the published list.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL2811
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/04/2020 answer text <p>The position remains, as outlined on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>, that everyone who can work from home should do so.</p><p>Where that is not possible, people should go into work where it is safe and they are not symptomatic, isolating or shielding. Relevant guidance including from PHE should be followed.</p><p>In terms of the provision of education for certain workers, it is already the case that cleaners working in, for example, hospitals and social care could be eligible as long as &quot;their specific role is necessary for the continuation of this essential public service&quot;. This is set out on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p><p>The Government has placed restrictions on the operations of certain businesses as part of the strategy of enhanced social distancing. Separate guidance has been published on this and is also available on <a href="http://gov.uk/" target="_blank">gov.uk</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 08/04/2020 15:19:20 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1187350

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Business Rates: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why (1) betting shops, (2) bingo halls, and (3) casinos, were excluded from the business rate holiday; and what plans they have to extend such businesses the same relief as granted to other retail and leisure businesses.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL2812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government has set out a package of measures to support businesses through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor previously announced a 100% rates holiday for eligible retail, hospitality and leisure properties in 2020-21. On 25 March the Government went further and removed some of the exclusions for this relief, so that eligible retail, leisure, and hospitality properties that will have to close as a result of the measures announced by the Prime Minister in his statement of the 23 March, will now be eligible for the relief.</p><p> </p><p>Support is also available to those not eligible for business rates relief. This includes the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme for small and medium-sized businesses, a statutory sick pay relief package, the HMRC Time To Pay Scheme, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to help firms continue to keep people in employment, and a new lending facility from the Bank of England for larger firms.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 06/04/2020 15:39:02 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1189399

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2020
	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	Pharmacy: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NHS England about why it has not triggered Regulation 61 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/349) to allow for the flexible provision of pharmaceutical services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL3042
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department is in regular discussions with NHS England and NHS Improvement over the provision of services during this pandemic.</p><p>The Secretary of State has enabled Regulation 61 of the National Health Service (Pharmaceutical and Local Pharmaceutical Services) Regulations 2013. Regulation 61 allows NHS England and NHS Improvement to commission a dispensing doctor to provide pharmaceutical services to patients to whom the dispensing doctor is not otherwise entitled to provide pharmaceutical services during an emergency.</p><p>The prerequisite is the temporary closure of pharmacy premises which results, in NHS England and NHS Improvement’s opinion, in inadequate provision of pharmaceutical services in an area. There are currently few pharmacies closed across England and whether this extra provision is needed, in any particular area, is an operational decision for NHS England and NHS Improvement’s regional teams.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 28/04/2020 16:15:44 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1189400

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2020
	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	Prescriptions: Rural Areas
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that NHS England implements the Electronic Prescription Service in dispensing practices to benefit rural patients.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL3043
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>The majority of dispensing practices are live with the prescribing functionality of the Electronic Prescription Service (EPS). In the next round of general practitioner contract negotiations, the Department and NHS England and NHS Improvement will look at what further support can be provided to dispensing practices to implement the EPS.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 01/05/2020 11:54:41 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1189681

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Agriculture: Coronavirus
	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 impact of COVID-19 on the farming and agricultural sectors.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL3199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government is aware that coronavirus represents a very significant challenge, affecting daily life and every part of the economy. We are working closely alongside the agricultural industry to ensure that we understand and manage the impacts on farming and the agricultural sectors.</p><p> </p><p>Defra’s Food Chain Emergency Liaison Group (FCELG) is meeting regularly to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the food and farming sectors across the UK, and what actions are needed to support the sectors. This group includes the National Farmers Union (NFU), other industry stakeholders and the devolved administrations.</p><p> </p><p>Since 18 March, the UK Agricultural Market Monitoring Group (UKAMMG) has increased the frequency of its meetings to weekly. Its aim is to monitor UK agricultural markets and provide forewarning of any atypical market movements. During the coronavirus outbreak this is allowing Defra and the devolved administrations to share the latest stakeholder information to assess the effects of COVID-19 on the agricultural industry, as well as prepare the evidence base for a possible range of interventions needed in specific markets, or geographical regions.</p><p> </p><p>Officials are having regular meetings with the different agricultural sectors to understand the specific issues affecting each sector. We have also provided all agricultural industry stakeholders with a central point of contact to send details of any emerging impacts as and when they arise.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State remains in regular contact with representatives of the farming and agricultural sectors and will continue to engage with them on the effects of COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the situation and to work closely with the farming sectors to respond to emerging issues as they arise.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/05/2020 16:19:44 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1189682

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Fly-tipping: Coronavirus
	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 impact of municipal waste site closures on the prevalence of fly tipping; and what advice they provide to local councils about reducing the incidence of fly tipping.
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL3200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Fly-tipping is unacceptable and the Government is committed to tackling this crime.</p><p> </p><p>We are aware of reports of an increase in fly-tipping and that, anecdotally, this may be a result of the decisions taken by local authorities to close household waste recycling centres. However, this does not appear to be consistent across the country. We have requested fly-tipping incident data through the National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group (NFTPG), chaired by Defra, which includes local authorities and other key stakeholders, to help us to monitor the situation.</p><p> </p><p>We have published guidance to help local authorities prioritise waste services. This recommends keeping household waste recycling centres open if it is safe to do so and that the clearance of fly-tipped material should be given a high priority. The Government has been working with local authorities to explore ways in which household waste recycling centres that have been closed might be re-opened, whilst observing social distancing and other requirements. The Government published guidance on this on 5 May 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Through the NFTPG, we have also disseminated messaging aimed at householders promoting the secure storage of waste, use of registered waste carriers and reiterating that waste must not be fly-tipped.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 05/05/2020 16:32:58 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1191890

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2020
	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	Small Businesses: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific support they have identified for small and medium-size enterprises operating in (1) the tourism, (2) the hospitality, and (3) the retail sectors, (a) who are experiencing cash flow problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic, (b) who pay council tax in lieu of business rates, and (c) who have commercial mortgages and are therefore ineligible for payment holidays. [T]
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL3708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/05/2020 answer text <p>The two existing business grants schemes have helped supported many thousands of small businesses.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure that Local Authorities can help these businesses, the Government has allocated additional up to £617 million funding to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants.</p><p> </p><p>It is our intention that the following businesses should be considered as a priority for these funds:</p><p>· Businesses in a range of shared workspaces;</p><p>· Regular market traders who do not have their own business rates assessment;</p><p>· B&amp;Bs which pay Council Tax instead of business rates; and</p><p>· Charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/05/2020 16:37:55 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

1195293

	registered interest
	date	12/05/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Cycling: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation took place to inform the new guidance on cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic; and how they intend to police that guidance. [T]
	tabling member printed	Baroness McIntosh of Pickering
	uin	HL4296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>This guidance has been fast-tracked without consultation because of the need to make sure the opportunity to improve cycling and walking facilities is not missed – the Government has only a few weeks in which action can be taken. The guidance will be reviewed after 3 months and local authorities and others will be involved in that process.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance sets out our vision for ensuring active travel is embedded in local authorities’ green restart plans. We expect them to be prioritising walking and cycling and considering how to make adjustments to their roads to enable social distancing. The Department is not responsible for policing what local authorities implement on their roads.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 19/05/2020 11:56:04 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	384 label Biography information for Baroness McIntosh of Pickering