The Government maximises the benefits of its ESA membership through active participation in ESA boards and committees; and a range of initiatives to boost competitiveness and opportunities for UK industry, including the UKSA-ESA Industrial Policy Task Force.<\/p>
This has secured over \u20ac60M of additional contracts for the sector since 2022; plus the ESA Business Incubation Centre's \u20ac3.4M investment which supports small and medium enterprises; and free bid-writing workshops.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5363", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Vallance of Balham"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Vallance of Balham"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-08-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-08-07T15:07:27.26Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "216"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Science, Innovation and Technology"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Science, Innovation and Technology"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-07-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Space Agency: Finance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the funding and resources allocated to the UK Space Agency are being effectively used to maximize the benefits of the UK\u2019s membership in the European Space Agency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"} ], "uin" : "HL321"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1670139", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1670139/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Government published guidance in April which sets out how employers can measure, report on, and address any unfair ethnicity pay gaps within their workforce. This was an action from our ambitious Inclusive Britain strategy, published in March 2022.<\/p>
We have no plans to introduce mandatory ethnicity pay reporting. Instead, we want to encourage and support employers who want to use ethnicity pay reporting to improve transparency and build trust among their employees. We are engaging with employers and representative bodies to promote the new guidance. We will also seek case studies from those that are already reporting on their ethnicity pay data, so that others can benefit from their experience.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4986", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Gascoigne"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Gascoigne"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-11-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-11-29T16:45:13.477Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "31"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Women and Equalities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-11-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Equal Pay: Ethnic Groups"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 21 March 2022 where she stated that they reserve the right to introduce legislation for mandatory ethnicity pay gap reporting \"at a future point, if and when the reporting tools are sufficiently developed, effective in driving positive change and accessible to more businesses\" (HL Deb col 722), whether they still remain open to doing so.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4557", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Shinkwin"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Shinkwin"} ], "uin" : "HL321"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463846", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463846/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We have engaged in negotiations with the European Union in good faith. After almost two years of negotiations, we are asking the Commission to go back to Member States for a new mandate, that would provide the flexibility to fix the current issues facing the people of Northern Ireland.<\/ins><\/p> Our preference is for a negotiated outcome - but we cannot wait to fix the issues facing the people of Northern Ireland. We will take steps to stabilise the situation in Northern Ireland and bring parity to everyone living in the UK, but we remain open to further talks if we can fix the issues with the Protocol through a negotiated settlement. Meanwhile, the legislation we will bring forward will fix the domestic impact of the Protocol, stabilise the situation in Northern Ireland and form an executive - protecting the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement - without undermining the integrity of either the EU or the UK's single market.<\/ins><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-06-07", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "true", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1463846/answer/previousversion/4818", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-06-07T14:56:18.637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
], "questionFirstMinisteriallyCorrected" : [{"_value" : "2022-06-07T16:04:33.06Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "208"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "UK Trade with EU: Agricultural Products"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government when negotiations will resume with the European Commission regarding Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Veterinary Arrangements and the Customs Code as part of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4130", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick"}
], "uin" : "HL321"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315033", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Treasury"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1315033/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " At the 2021 budget and in Build Back Better: Our Plan for Growth the government announced a set of targeted high skilled visa reforms to build on the new points-based immigration system to create an internationally competitive visa system for\u202fhigh skilled, globally mobile talent from around\u202fthe world.<\/p> This included creating a new fast-track visa process for UK scale-ups, including fintech services, to recruit high-skilled migrants. Those with a job offer at the required skills level from a recognised UK scale-up will be able to qualify for a fast-track visa. The government is continuing to work closely with industry representatives and businesses to build this new route. We will provide further details on the scale-up visa by July and the route will launch by March 2022.<\/p> <\/p> In addition to our plans for high-skilled visas the government will continue to implement reforms to streamline and simplify the sponsorship system. The government has already taken significant steps to reform the system and we will publish a delivery roadmap in the summer setting out our plans for further reforms. These changes will benefit business across the UK and in all sectors.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-05-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-05-27T14:55:00.737Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "14"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Treasury"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2021-05-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Financial Services: Technology"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to improve technical visa access for fintech services.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1796", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Taylor of Warwick"}
], "uin" : "HL321"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1170174", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1170174/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Forestry Commission produces statistics on woodland planting and restocking by area, but not by tree numbers, in the UK. These are Official Statistics produced to meet the standards of the Code of Practice for Statistics.<\/p> <\/p> Woodland area statistics can be found on the Forest Research website together with background information at: https://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/tools-and-resources/statistics/forestry-statistics/<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The area of new planting (woodland creation) and publicly funded restocking for each country in each of the last three years, taken from the published statistics, which report in hectares, is shown below.<\/p> <\/p> Woodland Area (thousands of hectares)<\/p> Year (ending 31/3)<\/strong><\/p><\/td> New planting<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Restocking<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> England<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2016-17<\/p><\/td> 1.15<\/p><\/td> 3.00<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017-18<\/p><\/td> 1.50<\/p><\/td> 2.04<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018-19<\/p><\/td> 1.42<\/p><\/td> 1.65<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Wales<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2016-17<\/p><\/td> 0.40<\/p><\/td> 1.67<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017-18<\/p><\/td> 0.24<\/p><\/td> 1.71<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018-19<\/p><\/td> 0.52<\/p><\/td> 1.44<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Scotland<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2016-17<\/p><\/td> 4.76<\/p><\/td> 11.07<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2017-18<\/p><\/td> 7.14<\/p><\/td> 9.66<\/p><\/td><\/tr> 2018-19<\/p><\/td> 11.21<\/p><\/td> 11.19<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Note: Publicly funded restocking is defined in the statistics as restocking of Forestry England, Forestry and Land Scotland, Natural Resources Wales Forest Service Woodlands and grant aided restocking of private sector woodland. This means that the level of restocking is under-reported in these statistics.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4062", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-01-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-01-21T13:09:39.36Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "13"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Environment, Food and Rural Affairs"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Tree Planting"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how many trees have been planted in (1) England, (2) Scotland, and (3) Wales, in each of the last three years; and what were the respective acreages of (a) replanting of existing woodlands, and (b) new afforestation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2018", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Hylton"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Hylton"}
], "uin" : "HL321"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1151684", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Education"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1151684/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The government\u2019s joint understanding with the Independent Schools Council (ISC) encourages more independent schools to work in partnership with state-funded schools across the 4 key areas of: governance, teaching, curriculum and targeted school improvement. These 4 areas have been identified as key to raising standards across the education system. The department is supporting the growth of partnerships across these 4 areas through a dedicated unit.<\/p> The 2019 ISC census shows that there are 1,142 ISC schools in the UK involved in partnerships with state schools - equating to 84% of ISC schools. Those schools reported 11,466 separate partnerships, compared with 10,553 before the joint understanding was agreed in 2018.<\/p> The department welcomes a reported shift in the census towards higher impact activities, such as staff secondments, mixed lessons, and other academically-significant endeavours, as well as an increase in members of independent school staff serving as governors of state schools. These trends are to be welcomed for their ability to raise educational standards across the system.<\/p> Consistent with the joint understanding, the department is now calling for bids for its cross-sector partnerships grant. The grant aims to raise the ambition for what schools can achieve together, and to remove a key financial barrier to new high-impact, sustainable, and mutually beneficial partnerships forming. It is designed to attract bids from both new partnerships that may benefit from seed funding, as well as existing partnerships looking to deepen and expand their collaborations.<\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4689", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Agnew of Oulton"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-11-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-11-04T17:54:28.15Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "60"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Education"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-10-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Schools: Standards"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Joint Understanding between the Department for Education and the Independent Schools Council is supporting the raising of educational standards in state schools.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4238", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Storey"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Storey"}
], "uin" : "HL321"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/747344", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/747344/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Government does not collect data on the number of workers earning less than the personal allowance who are also members of pension schemes that operate a net pay system. The Government does not hold employee level data on employees enrolled in net pay pension schemes, as such schemes are not obliged to report pension contributions to HM Revenue and Customs. The Government does not, therefore, hold information on the value of tax reliefs paid out to employees in net pay schemes.<\/p> <\/p> The latest official analysis of the eligibility of workers for automatic enrolment was published on 13 October 2016 in \u2018Workplace Pensions: Update of analysis on Automatic Enrolment\u2019. Information on age and earnings breakdowns for all workers can be found in table 3a on page 6.<\/p> <\/p> The Pensions Regulator provides guidance to employers on choosing a pension scheme for their staff in order to discharge their statutory obligations under automatic enrolment. This guidance covers the choice between net pay and relief at source schemes, and the implications of net pay schemes for employees who do not pay tax. Provided an employer has selected a qualifying pension scheme for automatic enrolment, they have complied with their automatic enrolment duties with respect to scheme choice.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3349", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Buscombe"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Baroness Buscombe"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-07-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL320"}
, {"_value" : "HL322"}
, {"_value" : "HL323"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-07-11T15:55:57.76Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-07-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Workplace Pensions: Tax Allowances"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government against whom a worker earning £11,500 can claim if they discover that their employer has used a workplace pension scheme operating on a Net Pay basis for auto-enrolment, in order to recover the 25% taxpayer bonus they could have received in a Relief at Source scheme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4533", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Altmann"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Altmann"}
], "uin" : "HL321"}
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}
The Foreign Secretary, as UK Co-chair of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee, and her predecessor Lord Frost met their EU counterpart, Vice President Maroš Šefčovič on 26 occasions since September 2021 to discuss the Northern Ireland Protocol. This also includes one meeting of the Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee on 21 February 2022. These discussions were supported by approximately 300 hours of negotiations over 6 months by UK and EU officials, covering sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS), customs, VAT and excise, goods, subsidy control, medicines, and governance.<\/del><\/p>