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1612589

registered interest
date	19/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Asbestos: Health and Safety
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for reviewing the penalties for those found guilty of an offence under (1) the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and (2) other related legislation, including regulations 12, 38(1)(a) and 41(1)(a) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 and sections 33(1)(c), 33(6) and 157(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7263
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) have advised prosecution is one of a range of enforcement options available to environmental and health and safety regulators, including withdrawing approvals, serving enforcement and fixed penalty notices, varying licenses conditions and providing written advice.</p><p> </p><p>The law currently allows for an unlimited fine and imprisonment for those convicted of offences under health and safety regulations, fly-tipping and breaches of environmental permitting. No specific assessment has been made regarding whether a revision to these penalties is necessary, although the Regulators Code requires that all regulators keep their activities under review.</p><p> </p><p>Sentencing is a matter for the independent courts who must follow the relevant guidelines issued by the independent Sentencing Council for England and Wales. The guidelines implement the requirements of Section 125 of the Sentencing Act, which requires that any fine imposed should reflect the seriousness of the offence and take into account the financial circumstances of the dutyholder. The level of fine should reflect the extent to which the offender fell below the required standard, and should meet the objectives of punishment, deterrence and the removal of gain derived through the commission of the offence, in a fair and proportionate way. The fine must be sufficiently substantial to have an economic impact that brings home, to both management and shareholders, the need to comply with health and safety legislation.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/05/2023 13:11:14 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1612591

registered interest
date	19/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend for the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012 to be retained under the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL7265
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>With the introduction of the Retained EU Law (REUL) Bill, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) remains focused on ensuring that regulatory frameworks maintain the United Kingdom’s high standards of health and safety protection and continue to reduce burdens for business.</p><p> </p><p>HSE’s approach aligns closely with the Government’s pledge to do more for business to help promote growth by removing disproportionate burdens and simplifying the regulatory landscape. Our standards of health and safety protections are among the highest in the world. HSE will continue to review its retained EU Law to seek opportunities to reduce business burdens and promote growth without reducing health and safety standards.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/05/2023 15:41:23 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

1612108

registered interest
date	18/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Agriculture: Industrial Injuries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of workplace injuries, including fatalities, in the agricultural sector compared to all other sectors of the UK economy over the past five years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL7224
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>As the regulator for workplace health and safety, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) publishes official statistics on deaths and injuries at work.</p><p> </p><p>Published statistics of work-related <strong>fatal injuries</strong> over the last five years by industry sector are available at <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/fatals.htm</a>. The data shows that 138 workers in the agricultural sector were killed in work-related accidents over the five years 2017/18 to 2021/22, equivalent to 8.61 deaths annually per 100,000 workers. This rate of fatal injury to workers in the agricultural sector remains markedly higher than the average across all industries: 21 times as high as the average rate across all industries. [Note 1] [Note 2].</p><p> </p><p>Published statistics of workplace <strong>non-fatal injuries</strong> over the last five years by industry sector are also available at <a href="https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/index.htm" target="_blank">https://www.hse.gov.uk/statistics/causinj/index.htm</a>. This data shows that on average, an estimated 12,000 workers in the agricultural sector sustained an injury at work each year between 2017/18 to 2021/22, equivalent to 4,190 injuries per 100,000 workers. This is statistically significantly higher than the average rate across all industries. [Note 1] [Note 3].</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p>[Note 1] Agricultural sector defined as Section A, Agriculture, forestry and fishing, of the 2007 Standard Industrial Classification.</p><p> </p><p>[Note 2] Source: Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR)</p><p> </p><p>[Note 3] Source: Estimates from the Labour Force Survey, a national representative household survey run by the Office for National Statistics.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/05/2023 13:45:24 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1611077

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Electrical Safety
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to institute a programme of testing of domestic premises to measures the risks of neutral current diversion.
tabling member printed	Lord Rooker
uin	HL7167
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulates the safety of the public electricity network, including equipment owned by Distribution Network Operators. HSE have monitored developments carefully and continue to do so. Officials from HSE are of the view that no additional action is required by the regulator to manage this risk of neutral current diversion at the present time.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/05/2023 13:42:44 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	302 label Biography information for Lord Rooker

1611079

registered interest
date	17/04/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Electrical Safety
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the issue of neutral current diversions leading to electricity flowing through gas meters following domestic gas explosions.
tabling member printed	Lord Rooker
uin	HL7169
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2023 answer text <p>Health and Safety Executive (HSE) officials have advised neutral current diversions are a known phenomenon and can occur for a number of reasons. The Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations require additional electrical bonding when cutting conducting gas pipes to minimise the risk to workers. HSE are of the view that no additional action is required by the regulator to manage this risk at the present time but will keep emerging evidence under review.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 02/05/2023 13:15:48 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	302 label Biography information for Lord Rooker

1608919

registered interest
date	29/03/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Cost of Living: Women
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support vulnerable girls and young women given the increased cost of living.
tabling member printed	Baroness Thornton
uin	HL7037
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government understands the pressures people, including vulnerable women and girls, are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help.</p><p> </p><p>Everyone who receives a state benefit or pension will have seen their benefit rates increase by 10.1% this month. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap levels have also increased by the same amount.</p><p> </p><p>To further support those who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.</p><p> </p><p>Households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments, paid in three separate payments of £301, £300 and £299 across the 2023/24 financial year. The first payment of £301 will be paid to the majority of those eligible between 25 April and 17 May. In addition, people on qualifying disability benefits will receive a separate Disability Cost of Living payment of £150 in the summer.</p><p> </p><p>For people who require additional support, whether they receive benefits or not, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The guidance for Local Authorities for this next iteration has now been published and can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024-household-support-fund-guidance-for-county-councils-and-unitary-authorities-in-england" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/1April 2023 to 31 March 2024: Household Support Fund guidance for county councils and unitary authorities in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>. This sets out that the fund should be used to support households in the most need, particularly those who are not eligible for other cost of living support such as Cost of Living Payments. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.</p><p> </p><p>More broadly, tackling violence against women and girls is a Government priority. The Government is committed to ensuring victims have the support they need and we are conscious that the cost of living may generate additional challenges for victims and survivors.</p><p> </p><p>Our Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan invests over £230 million of cross-Government funding into tackling this crime, including over £140 million to support victims and over £81 million to tackle perpetrators. This includes trialling a £300,000 ‘flexible fund’, that could make direct payments to domestic abuse victims.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to the direct impact on victims, the Government also acknowledges the cost of living will have an impact on charitable organisations who work to support them. To help mitigate these challenges, where possible the Home Office has provided multi-year grants to support organisations to make maximum use of their funding, by providing greater stability and predictability on their budgets.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 14/04/2023 12:46:03 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1782 label Biography information for Baroness Thornton

1608427

registered interest
date	28/03/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government why British Citizens who are subject to taxation by HM Revenue & Customs and are living in a British Overseas Territory are not eligible for an uplift in their state pension.
tabling member printed	Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton
uin	HL6932
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2023 answer text <p>There is no connection between State Pension uprating and taxation.</p><p> </p><p>An individual’s UK State Pension is based on the number of qualifying years on their National Insurance record.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has a clear position, which has remained a consistent policy of successive Governments for around 70 years. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and are uprated abroad where we have a legal requirement to do so; for example in the European Economic Area, or countries where we have a reciprocal social security agreement that allows for State Pension uprating which include the British Overseas Territories of Gibraltar and Bermuda. We have no plans to change this policy.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 05/04/2023 15:24:22 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1544 label Biography information for Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton

1607663

registered interest
date	27/03/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to publish their employment action plan for disabled people.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL6880
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/04/2023 answer text <p>The Government will consult on the Disability Action Plan over the summer and will publish it at the end of 2023.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 05/04/2023 15:22:59 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1606119

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Household Support Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the reply by the Viscount Younger of Leckie on 9 March (HL5842), where the management information on the household support fund is published; and what steps they have taken to analyse this information.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL6684
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The published management information for the Household Support Fund covering the period 6 October 2021 to 31 March 2022 can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-management-information-6-october-2021-to-31-march-2022" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-management-information-6-october-2021-to-31-march-2022</a>.</p><p>The information for the subsequent Household Support Fund schemes are the subject of an upcoming statistical release and will be released following the usual quality assurance.</p><p> </p><p>In terms of analysing this information, The Government collects high level data on the types of households supported to ensure that funded activities are within the scope of the Fund’s guidance and uses this to inform the design of future schemes.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 28/03/2023 11:48:38 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1606133

registered interest
date	21/03/2023
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what stage they have reached in negotiations with (1) the government of Canada, (2) the government of Australia, and (3) the government of New Zealand, on the annual uprating and payment of the UK state pension to beneficiaries resident in those countries.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Southwark
uin	HL6701
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/03/2023 answer text <p>The government does not have a policy to increase the number of countries with which the UK has reciprocal agreements on state pensions. The government has no plans to change its social security relationship with these countries on state pensions.</p><p> </p><p>Requests for social security agreements may be raised in formal and informal meetings and in correspondence at both ministerial and official level. The Department for Work and Pensions does not, as a matter of routine, maintain full records of such requests. The department can, however, confirm that a response was provided to the government of Canada in August 2022 on its request to conclude a reciprocal agreement to include state pension uprating, where the department outlined its longstanding position as stated above.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL6705 question first answered 30/03/2023 11:49:02 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4345 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Southwark