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1202635

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Northern Ireland Office
answering dept id	21
answering dept short name	Northern Ireland
answering dept sort name	Northern Ireland
hansard heading	Abortion: Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what proportion of, submissions to the consultation A new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland, which closed on 19 December 2019, came from (a) individuals who identified themselves as a person with a disability, (b) disability charities, (c) organisations led and managed by disabled people, and (d) parents of disabled people. [T]
tabling member printed	Lord Shinkwin
uin	HL5551
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The public consultation, <em>A new legal framework for abortion services in Northern Ireland</em>, provided an opportunity for people and organisations in Northern Ireland to contribute their views on how the Government could best deliver on its statutory duty under section 9 of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2019 in implementing the CEDAW Report recommendations. <br> <br> The Government engaged with a wide range of stakeholders who reached out seeking further discussions during the consultation process. However, the consultation process did not collect personal data that would identify a respondent as a person with a disability. We carefully analysed all of the views expressed in the submissions received.</p><p> </p><p>It is the Government’s firm view that the Regulations properly comply with the statutory duty under section 9 of the NIEF Act, and are also compliant with the UK’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL5552 question first answered 17/06/2020 15:40:17 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4557 label Biography information for Lord Shinkwin

1202654

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
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: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the comments by the Chief Executive of NHS Providers on 6 June about the Government’s introduction of new measures to counter the COVID-19 pandemic, and in particular that NHS Trust leaders (1) felt “completely in the dark” about "significant and complex" changes; (2) are asked to make operational changes with little notice; (3) are concerned that there is insufficient strategy and planning; and (4) felt that last-minute decisions are overly influenced by politics. [T]
tabling member printed	Lord Birt
uin	HL5503
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>We are committed to working closely with the National Health Service on the introduction of new measures to counter the COVID-19 pandemic and give as much advance notice as possible. However, this is a fast-moving situation and at times it has been necessary to introduce measures at short notice.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 22/06/2020 10:59:26 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

1202664

registered interest
date	10/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Free School Meals: Voucher Schemes
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the cost of providing the current free school meals voucher scheme during the upcoming summer holidays. [T]
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL5526
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2020 answer text <p>Provision for free school meals is ordinarily term time only. However, owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the government fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this, we will be providing additional funding for a Covid Summer Food Fund which will enable children who are eligible for free school meals to receive food vouchers covering the 6-week holiday period. This is a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the outbreak.</p><p>The government has made significant wider support available for children and families at this time. On 10 June, my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, confirmed an additional £63 million to be distributed to local authorities in England to help those who are struggling to afford food and other essentials due to COVID-19. In addition, the government has introduced an uplift to Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit by around £1,000 a year for the next 12 months as part of an injection of over £6.5 billion by the government into the welfare system.</p><p>Additional support has been pledged by various departments across government with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announcing the provision of £16 million for food support through charities, including FareShare and WRAP. DEFRA have also issued 2 million food packages to those who are shielding.</p><p>The Department for Education’s Holiday Activities and Food programme ensures that thousands of disadvantaged children have access to enriching activities and nutritious healthy meals over the summer, and is receiving £9 million this year.</p><p>More widely, the government has supported families to cope with the impact of coronavirus by introducing a range of support measures, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme. Support has also been provided to help families pay their rent or mortgage, access sick pay, and delay tax payments.</p><p>In relation to free school meals, this response applies to educational settings in England only. Education is a devolved matter and it will be for each administration to determine the actions they wish to take.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 25/06/2020 15:56:47 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1200264

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
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	Social Services
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the remarks of the President of the Association of Directors of Social Services, that the recently published minutes of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies appear "to reinforce the impression that social care has been an afterthought – a secondary consideration after the NHS" and that "this cannot continue".
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL5150
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2020 answer text <p>Throughout this pandemic, we have been determined to give both the National Health Service and social care everything they need to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p>In February 2020, the first guidance for the social care sector was published. In March, we announced £1.6 billion funding for local government and £1.3 billion to go to the NHS and social care for discharge support. In April, we announced a further £1.6 billion for local government and our COVID-19: Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care. A copy of the Action Plan is attached.</p><p>On 15 May, the Government published the Care Home Support package and an additional £600 million Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund. This represents the next phase of our response for care homes.</p><p>We continue to work tirelessly with the care sector and public health experts to explore all measures possible to reduce transmission and save lives.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 24/06/2020 10:28:12 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell attachment 1 file name covid-19-adult-social-care-action-plan.pdf title Adult Social Care Action Plan
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1200265

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Hong Kong: Human Rights
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 2 June (HL Deb, cols 1291–5), what plans they have to give further consideration to the proposal of seven former Foreign Secretaries, calling for the establishment of an international contact group on Hong Kong and the proposal of Lord Patten of Barnes for the appointment of UN human rights coordinators to monitor human rights and breaches of the Joint Sino-British Declaration in Hong Kong.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL5151
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/06/2020 answer text <p>The Foreign Secretary is engaging actively with a range of international partners to explain our position and impress on them the gravity of situation. We want to build up a groundswell of those who share our commitment to international law. We believe that is the most effective means of getting China to live up to its obligations and responsibilities as a leading member of the international community. We will also work within international institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that China upholds the commitments they made as co-signatory to the Joint Declaration. The UK and the US raised the issue at the UN Security Council on 28 May.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 15/06/2020 13:11:46 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1200266

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Visas: Married People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether they intend (1) to reduce, (2) to waive, or (3) to eliminate, the minimum income requirement for UK citizens wishing to bring a foreign spouse or partner (and where relevant children) to the UK in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular for loss of income as a result of the lockdown to be accounted for in calculating the income requirement.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5156
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office has put in place a range of measures to support those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the situation closely and take these exceptional circumstances into account.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure a spouse or partner and relevant dependent children applying for entry clearance, leave to remain or indefinite leave are not unduly affected by circumstances beyond their control, for the purpose of the minimum income requirement:</p><p> </p><ul><li>A temporary loss of employment income between 1 March and 31 July 2020 due to COVID-19, will be disregarded provided the requirement was met for at least six months up to March 2020.</li><li>An applicant or sponsor furloughed under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be deemed as earning 100% of their salary.</li><li>A temporary loss of annual income due to COVID-19 between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020 will generally be disregarded for self-employment income, along with the impact on employment income from the same period for future applications. Income received via the Coronavirus Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will also be taken into account.</li><li>Evidential flexibility may be applied where an applicant or sponsor experiences difficulty accessing specified evidence due to COVID-19 restrictions.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The minimum income requirement can also be met in several ways in addition to or instead of income from employment or self-employment. For example, income from investments, property rental or pension may also be taken into account, together with cash savings.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 18/06/2020 11:03:02 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1200267

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Railways: Europe
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, following the expansion of sleeper train services in continental Europe, what plans they have to link up with such services and to provide direct night train services from Northern England and Scotland to continental destinations.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5157
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>International passenger rail services provide a number of benefits for passengers, businesses and the wider economy, including environmental benefits. The Government supports the future growth and success of international passenger rail and would welcome the development of potential sleeper services from across Great Britain to continental destinations, linking up with European services.</p><p> </p><p>To that end, the Department for Transport has engaged with UK and European partners to encourage the future growth of international passenger rail services. Officials stand ready to further engage with any potential operators of new international services, including sleeper services, where they have a proposition they wish to explore.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 17/06/2020 15:23:51 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1200268

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Pupils: ICT
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government how many (1) computers or tablets, and (2) WiFi routers they have supplied to (a) pupils in care, (b) Year 10 pupils, and (c) those being supported by social workers, in line with their announcement of plans to do so on 19 April.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5158
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The government is providing laptops and tablets to vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would otherwise not have access and are preparing for examinations in year 10, receiving support from a social worker, including pre-school children, or are a care leaver. The government is also providing over 50,000 4G wireless routers to care leavers, children with a social worker at secondary school and disadvantaged children in year 10 who do not have internet connections.</p><p>The department has also partnered with BT to give 10,000 young people free access to BT WiFi hotspots, who do not have access to good internet by other means.</p><p>Local authorities and academy trusts are best placed to identify and distribute the laptops and tablets to children and young people who need devices. The Department invited local authorities to order devices for the most vulnerable children first - children with a social worker and care leavers.</p><p>Devices are being delivered to local authorities daily and will continue to be distributed throughout June as planned.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 17/06/2020 10:58:02 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1200269

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
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	Renewable Energy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, following the decision of the High Court which found that their consent for two gas-power units at Drax followed legal procedures, what plans they have to review their consent for these facilities to account for any increased role of renewable electricity generation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5159
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to review the consent granted on 4 October 2019 for the Drax Power Station Re-Powering Project.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 17/06/2020 15:03:49 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1200270

registered interest
date	03/06/2020
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	Water Supply
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, following reports that Wolverhampton and Shropshire face failure of their water supplies, what steps they are taking to reduce demand and leakage, and to secure supplies, both in the short term in response to dry weather and high usage reportedly due to lockdown, and in the longer term.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5160
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2020 answer text <p>The current water supply issues in Wolverhampton and Shropshire are due to constraints in Severn Trent Water's distribution network, and not a lack of available water. Severn Trent Water has responded to the issue by asking customers to use water wisely to reduce demand. The CEO of Severn Trent Water attended the National Drought Group chaired by the Environment Agency on 5 June 2020 to discuss the current risks and approaches to the dry weather and water demand management.</p><p> </p><p>If the company has issues with available water resources it will activate its statutory Drought Plan to manage the situation. In the long term, the water company will need to assess how it manages its supply and demand, including proactively reducing leakage and managing demand through its statutory Water Resources Management Plan. In addition, through its business plan that it submits to Ofwat it will need to assess whether it has the correct infrastructure to cope with future demands from customers.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 17/06/2020 13:14:00 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle