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1124064

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	answering body	Women and Equalities
	answering dept id	31
	answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
	answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
	hansard heading	Civil Partnerships: Heterosexuality
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when the legislation implementing civil partnerships for opposite sex couples will come into effect.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL15446
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2019 answer text <p>The Civil Partnerships, Marriage and Deaths (Registration etc.) Act 2019 requires the Government to make regulations that extend eligibility to form a civil partnership to opposite-sex couples by no later than 31<sup> </sup>December 2019. The Government is working hard to ensure regulations are in place as place as soon as possible.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 15/05/2019 16:18:14 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1646561

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2023
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Bank Services: Disadvantaged
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how they monitor whether banks are complying with their legal duty to enable citizens without a fixed address to access a basic bank account; and what are the results of this monitoring.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL8707
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2023 answer text <p>The designated providers of basic bank accounts have agreed to report data on basic bank accounts and personal current accounts to HM Treasury for annual publication. These reports are available on the GOV.UK website.<sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><sup><sup>[1]</sup></sup> https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/basic-bank-accounts</p> answering member printed Baroness Penn question first answered 03/07/2023 11:58:55 answering member 4726 label Biography information for Baroness Penn
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1233152

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	NatWest: Closures
	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 NatWest bank's closure, without explanation, of the accounts of (1) small business customers after their approval for loans under the Bounce Back Loan Scheme, and (2) the members of the Facebook group ‘NatWest closed down my account'.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL8000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/09/2020 answer text <p>The Government believes that any dispute arising between banks and their customers is usually best resolved by the parties involved. If a customer wishes to pursue a complaint, their first recourse is through the bank's official customer complaints procedure. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires banks to properly investigate all complaints and, through ongoing supervision, it continues to monitor the banks' complaint handling processes.</p><p> </p><p>If a customer is not satisfied with their bank's response to their complaint, then they may wish to consider an approach to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS provides a free, independent dispute resolution service for bank customers, including eligible small businesses.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 23/09/2020 13:00:09 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1404715

	registered interest
	date	19/01/2022
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Wealth: Taxation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the letter from 102 millionaires and billionaires to attendees to the World Economic Forum in Davos, calling for the introduction of wealth taxes.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL5569
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/01/2022 answer text <p>The Government has noted the open letter and the suggestion of an annual wealth tax.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is committed to a fair tax system in which those with the most contribute the most. For example, the UK’s progressive Income Tax system means the top 1 per cent of Income Taxpayers are projected to pay 28 per cent of all Income Tax, and the top 5 per cent are projected to pay 49 per cent in the year 2021-22.</p><p>The UK does not have a single wealth tax, but it does have several taxes on assets and wealth. The UK already taxes assets and wealth across many different economic activities, including the acquisition, holding, transfer and disposal of assets, and income derived from assets.</p><p> </p><p>Notably, in 2020 the Wealth Tax Commission, which has no connection or link to the Government, found that if considering Inheritance Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty, and Stamp Duty Land Tax, the UK is among the top of the G7 countries for wealth taxes as a percentage of total wealth.</p><p> </p><p>The Wealth Tax Commission also concluded that an annual wealth tax, reportedly suggested by the UK branch of the group behind the letter, would not be effective because of high administrative costs relative to revenue and ease of avoidance. It is also clear that the Wealth Tax Commission’s suggestion of a potential one-off wealth tax in the UK would be a complex undertaking and the amount of revenue raised would be highly dependent on the final design of the tax.</p><p>It is also the case that any individual or private business wishing to make a greater contribution to the Exchequer can make voluntary payments to HM Government. More information about how to do so is available on GOV.UK.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 31/01/2022 17:19:34 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1233153

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Marriage
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow commercial wedding celebrants to perform legally recognised marriages without being precluded from carrying on a business of solemnising marriages for the purpose of profit or gain.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL8001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2020 answer text <p>Reform to fundamental marriage law in England and Wales needs to be wholesale and not undertaken on a piecemeal basis. That is why we invited the Law Commission last year to review the law on how and where couples may marry. As part of that review, the Law Commission will make recommendations about how marriage by humanists and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.</p><p>The Law Commission’s consultation on weddings also considers how the law could allow independent celebrants to solemnize legal weddings. The Government will decide on provision on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.</p><p>The Law Commission published its consultation paper on 3 September and will welcome contributions from all stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook grouped question UIN HL8002 question first answered 30/09/2020 15:53:32 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1233154

	registered interest
	date	09/09/2020
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to consider extending legal recognition of humanist marriages since 2013; and what further plans they have to do so.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL8002
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/09/2020 answer text <p>Reform to fundamental marriage law in England and Wales needs to be wholesale and not undertaken on a piecemeal basis. That is why we invited the Law Commission last year to review the law on how and where couples may marry. As part of that review, the Law Commission will make recommendations about how marriage by humanists and other non-religious belief organisations could be incorporated into a revised or new scheme for all marriages that is simple, fair and consistent.</p><p>The Law Commission’s consultation on weddings also considers how the law could allow independent celebrants to solemnize legal weddings. The Government will decide on provision on the basis of the Law Commission's recommendations.</p><p>The Law Commission published its consultation paper on 3 September and will welcome contributions from all stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook grouped question UIN HL8001 question first answered 30/09/2020 15:53:32 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1504875

	registered interest
	date	05/09/2022
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Marriage: Humanism
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Law Commission report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law, published 19 July, what plans, if any, they have to grant legal recognition to humanist marriages; and on what timescale they plan to grant such recognition.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL2200
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>The Law Commission report contains 57 recommendations for legislative reform.</p><p>We must now take the time to consider the Law Commission’s recommendations fully. As has been set out in Parliament, marriage will always be one of our most important institutions, and we have a duty to consider the implications of any changes to the law in this area very carefully, including balancing the needs and interests of all groups. We will publish a response to the report in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 20/09/2022 10:46:29 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1607553

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure that, under their new arrangements whereby prisoners will not be released on Fridays, prisoners’ sentences will be shortened to end on the Thursday rather than extended through to the following Monday.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL6834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The Government is supporting the Offenders (Day of Release from Detention) Bill. This Private Members’ Bill was introduced to the House of Lords on 6 March 2023, sponsored by Lord Bird, following passage through the House of Commons. If it gains Royal Assent, the Bill will enable offenders who are at risk of reoffending to have their release date moved 1-2 days earlier, where their release falls on a Friday, or before a bank/public holiday.</p><p>It would be unlawful detention to detain an offender beyond their release date.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy question first answered 30/03/2023 16:54:31 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1607554

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Temporary Accommodation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide accommodation for prisoners for the first week and weekend after release in instances where the prisoner has lost their home after being remanded in custody for sentence.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL6835
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2023 answer text <p>HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has a range of interventions available to support those on remand when they are released to ensure that they are not homeless.</p><p>All resettlement prisons have an embedded pre-release resettlement function. These pre-release teams identify and address immediate resettlement needs when the individual arrives. This accommodation support, delivered through Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts, includes support and guidance to ensure continuation of an existing tenancy, applications for housing benefit, assistance to access rent deposit and rent advance schemes and compliance with any tenancy obligations to avoid or manage accommodation arrears. We are currently working on extending all Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts for accommodation to unsentenced people in prison.</p><p>Additionally, in accordance with relevant housing legislation in both England and in Wales, HMPPS has a duty to refer anyone at risk of becoming homeless on release from prison to a local authority for housing assistance.</p><p>In relation to prisoners who have been on remand, subsequently convicted and released as time served they can be referred to our Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS-3), which provides up to 12 weeks of temporary housing, providing that they are subject to probation supervision.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy grouped question UIN HL6836 question first answered 06/04/2023 14:54:43 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker

1607555

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2023
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners' Release: Temporary Accommodation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to require the Probation Service to arrange accommodation for prisoners for the first week and weekend after release in instances where the prisoner has lost their home after being remanded in custody for sentence; and what steps they will take to ensure the Probation Service is sufficiently resourced to do so.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Whitaker
	uin	HL6836
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/04/2023 answer text <p>HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has a range of interventions available to support those on remand when they are released to ensure that they are not homeless.</p><p>All resettlement prisons have an embedded pre-release resettlement function. These pre-release teams identify and address immediate resettlement needs when the individual arrives. This accommodation support, delivered through Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts, includes support and guidance to ensure continuation of an existing tenancy, applications for housing benefit, assistance to access rent deposit and rent advance schemes and compliance with any tenancy obligations to avoid or manage accommodation arrears. We are currently working on extending all Commissioned Rehabilitative Services contracts for accommodation to unsentenced people in prison.</p><p>Additionally, in accordance with relevant housing legislation in both England and in Wales, HMPPS has a duty to refer anyone at risk of becoming homeless on release from prison to a local authority for housing assistance.</p><p>In relation to prisoners who have been on remand, subsequently convicted and released as time served they can be referred to our Community Accommodation Service Tier 3 (CAS-3), which provides up to 12 weeks of temporary housing, providing that they are subject to probation supervision.</p> answering member printed Lord Bellamy grouped question UIN HL6835 question first answered 06/04/2023 14:54:43 answering member 4941 label Biography information for Lord Bellamy
	tabling member	2510 label Biography information for Baroness Whitaker