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1715417

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
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	Smoking: Trading Standards
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether additional new burdens funding will be committed to local authorities who will require additional enforcement capacity within trading standards teams to enforce the policies included in the 2023 Department For Health and Social Care policy paper Stopping the Start.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL4272
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The Department published the command paper, Stopping the Start, in October 2023, which sets out our plans to create the first Smokefree Generation, to tackle youth vaping, and to strengthen tobacco and vape enforcement. These measures amount to the most significant public health intervention in a generation.</p><p>The policies announced in the command paper are being introduced through the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is currently undertaking its passage through Parliament. The bill changes the age of sale of tobacco so that those born on or after 1 January 2009 will never be legally sold tobacco. It also prohibits the sale of non-nicotine vapes to under 18-year-olds, and the free distribution of vapes to under 18-year-olds, and introduces fixed penalty notices for breaches of the age of sale legislation.</p><p>To help tackle the rise in youth vaping, the bill provides powers to restrict vape flavours, point of sale displays, and packaging, and the Government has also confirmed that under environmental legislation, we will ban the sale and supply of disposable vapes. Any new burdens on local trading standards to enforce these new measures will be assessed ahead of any future regulations.</p><p>We are strengthening our enforcement activity through £30 million of new funding per year for enforcement agencies, including for trading standards, to boost the enforcement of underage tobacco and vape sales. In addition, fixed penalty notices introduced in the bill will support trading standards to take quicker action against irresponsible retailers, through using on-the-spot fines rather than going through lengthy magistrate’s court processes. Local authorities will keep the proceeds, to invest back into their enforcement activity.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 16/05/2024 16:45:38 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1715418

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Local Government: Cybersecurity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to support local authorities with cyber security and the rise in related threats.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL4273
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government has set out its approach to cyber resilience the Government Cyber Security Strategy (GCSS). Cabinet Office are the lead department for the implementation of the GCSS, local government are responsible for the resilience of their networks and systems, and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is assigned stewardship of local government, with responsibility for cyber policy and assurance.</p><p><br> Since 2020, DLUHC has provided £19.9 million of grant funding and technical support to 192 English local authorities to improve their cyber maturity. In collaboration with the Local Government Association and the National Cyber Security Centre, DLUHC have been raising the awareness of cyber risk and fostering cyber-first cultures and practices in local government.</p><p> </p><p>To support councils to assess and improve their cyber security, DLUHC are introducing the Cyber Assessment Framework (CAF) for the English local government sector later this year, providing a clear cyber security standard and method for local authorities to assess their cyber health.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Swinburne question first answered 16/05/2024 15:23:43 answering member 4985 label Biography information for Baroness Swinburne
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1715419

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
answering body	Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept id	211
answering dept short name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
answering dept sort name	Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
hansard heading	Levelling Up Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many Project Adjustment Requests were received in respect of Levelling Up Fund applications; and how many of these requests have been approved.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL4274
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>Recognising the challenging economic backdrop environment, we continue to work with local areas to find practical solutions to project delivery issues. We are working with projects to make sensible adjustments to the scope and phasing of their Levelling Up Fund (LUF) projects where necessary to mitigate delivery challenges whilst maintaining value for money. To date the Levelling Up Fund has received 61 project adjustment requests – 37 have been approved, 1 has been rejected, 16 were withdrawn, and a further 7 are currently being considered.</p> answering member printed Baroness Swinburne question first answered 16/05/2024 15:23:11 answering member 4985 label Biography information for Baroness Swinburne
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1715420

registered interest
date	01/05/2024
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Councillors: Harassment
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 merits of establishing a specific policing unit to support local councillors who are experiencing threats and intimidation.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL4275
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The safety of our elected representatives is essential to the security of our country. All elected representatives should be able to participate fully in our democracy, without fear for their safety and security. Instances of abuse, intimidation and criminal offences are unacceptable, and that is why the Government will take every possible step to safeguard the people, processes, and institutions upon which our democracy relies.</p><p>On 28th February the Prime Minister announced the Government was investing an additional £31 million in funding to protect the democratic process and our elected representatives. Through this funding we are enhancing police capabilities, increasing private sector security provision for those facing a higher risk, and expanding cyber security advice to elected representatives.</p><p>The investment also enables the expansion of the Operation BRIDGER network, which already provides support to MPs, so that all elected representatives and candidates are given a dedicated, police contact to liaise with on security matters, where needed. Through this network elected representatives – including local councillors - will have access to security briefings from their local force.</p><p>The funding is accompanied by a new Defending Democracy Policing Protocol, agreed with police to enhance the safety of elected representatives, and protect the UK’s democratic process from disruption. Further information about the Protocol is available on GOV.UK.</p><p>The Defending Democracy Taskforce will continue to review the effectiveness of arrangements for protective security of elected representatives.</p> answering member printed Lord Sharpe of Epsom question first answered 16/05/2024 16:30:57 answering member 4888 label Biography information for Lord Sharpe of Epsom
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1691890

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
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	Land Drainage
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the role of the Environment Agency in ensuring that drainage ditches owned by riparian owners are maintained
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL2726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2024 answer text <p>Under the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, the Environment Agency has a strategic overview of the management of all sources of flooding and coastal change and are the lead authority for managing the risk of flooding from main rivers, estuaries and the sea.</p><p> </p><p>Many different public and private bodies are involved in flood and coastal erosion risk management, each accountable for different aspects of risk management. The <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fnational-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-management-strategy-for-england--2&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C4d7340053375462701de08dc3933bbc2%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638448141547414361%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=c1klsAMivJVYe1lJi%2BuZBfmDRTkrXbdCezqdDRPyhJc%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">National Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Strategy for England</a> (copy attached) sets out the different roles and responsibilities and describes how organisations and communities can work together to tackle flood and coastal risk in a co-ordinated and effective way.</p><p> </p><p>Landowners are responsible, under common law, for maintaining the bed and banks of any watercourses that run through their land in a state which avoids flooding on their neighbours’ or other land. This common law duty also extends to keeping watercourses and culverts clear of anything that could cause an obstruction, either on their own land or downstream if it is washed away.</p><p> </p><p>Drainage ditches are usually ordinary watercourses rather than main rivers, so the oversight of flood risk arising from unmaintained drainage ditches sits with other Risk Management Authorities (RMAs). Lead local flood authorities (county councils and unitary authorities), district councils, internal drainage boards, highways authorities and water and sewerage companies are collectively known as RMAs.</p><p> </p><p>The Environment Agency has published guidance on owning a watercourse on <a href="https://eur03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fowning-a-watercourse&amp;data=05%7C02%7Cpqteam%40defra.gov.uk%7C4d7340053375462701de08dc3933bbc2%7C770a245002274c6290c74e38537f1102%7C0%7C0%7C638448141547424215%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=IKOGG5g3l9MueSIs3c8kD8fsf2ckmKX6xzWNe7H28aQ%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>, covering riparian landowners’ responsibilities and the rules to follow and the permissions needed. By March 2024, new engagement guidance will be published, to help RMAs, Environment Agency staff and landowners have more effective conversations on this matter.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 11/03/2024 12:18:12 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller attachment 1 file name PQ HL2726 attachment FCERM Strategy.pdf title FCERM strategy
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1691891

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
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	Internal Drainage Boards: Finance
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 financial situation of internal drainage boards and what plans they have to ensure that internal drainage boards can collect levies independently to that of local government.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL2727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2024 answer text <p>Internal drainage boards (IDBs) are local independent public bodies responsible for managing water levels and flood risk supporting and better protecting farms and communities in predominately low-lying areas in England. IDBs are funded by the beneficiaries of their important work, farmers, who pay drainage rates, and local authorities, who pay special levies.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is aware of recent impacts on IDBs, predominately from rising costs and especially rising energy costs, and is keeping in close contact with IDBs, the Association of Drainage Authorities and relevant local authorities on this.</p><p> </p><p>In recognition of the rising costs and following the winter storms the government will be providing £75 million in funding to IDBs in 2024-2025, on a one-off basis, to support agricultural land drainage and continue the important work IDBs do in helping to better protect farmers and communities from flooding. This will support IDBs to accelerate asset recovery from the winter storms and will also provide opportunities to modernise and upgrade their assets. More information will be available shortly, and we will work with the sector on delivery.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, DLUHC is providing £3 million to support those local authorities in 2024/25 who are experiencing the biggest pressures with IDB special levies. DLUHC will confirm the distribution of this funding in the coming months.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 11/03/2024 15:53:42 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1691892

registered interest
date	26/02/2024
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Home Education: Registration
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a register of children outside of school.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL2728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2024 answer text <p>The government remains committed to legislating for a local authority registration system for children not in school, as well as placing a duty on local authorities to provide support to home educating families.</p><p>My hon. Friend, the Member for Meon Valley, introduced the Children Not in School (Registers, Support and Orders) Private Members’ Bill on 11 December 2023. The Bill’s Second Reading is scheduled for 15 March 2024. The government is working with her as she progresses her Bill.</p><p>In the meantime, the department continues to work with local authorities to improve their non-statutory registers; analyse local authority data from the voluntary elective home education and children missing collection to build a more accurate picture of the landscape.</p><p>The department has also held a consultation on revising its elective home education guidance for local authorities and parents. This consultation closed on 18 January 2024 and the department will publish its response and revised guidance in due course.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 07/03/2024 12:52:40 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1682806

registered interest
date	17/01/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Revenue and Customs: Standards
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average length of time taken by HMRC to process tax payments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL1688
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2024 answer text <p>The average time taken to process tax payments is two working days. This is from the date the customer makes payment to the date it is shown on the customer’s HMRC record (plus postage time if the customer pays by cheque).</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 23/01/2024 17:43:28 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1647761

registered interest
date	26/06/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Boarding Schools: Children in Care
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to providing additional resources to fund places for looked after children to boarding schools; and what assessment they have made, of any, of any benefits such children could gain from that process.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL8750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/07/2023 answer text <p>The department launched the Broadening Educational Pathways programme in 2020 to increase the role of the independent and state-funded boarding sector in the education of looked-after children. The Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation was appointed as a delivery partner, providing a placement brokerage service to ensure children are placed in schools best suited to support their educational attainment and personal wellbeing. In the ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ implementation strategy, the department committed to further expansion of the programme and has subsequently extended the contract until September 2024 to further open up educational opportunities in boarding schools to even more children in and on the edge of care.</p><p>The department will continue, over the course of the contract, to work in partnership with the Royal National Children’s Springboard Foundation to understand the benefits to the children and young people placed by the programme, including the findings of formal research they have commissioned, from the University of Nottingham, on the outcomes for looked-after and vulnerable children attending boarding schools.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 10/07/2023 12:36:08 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton

1646826

registered interest
date	22/06/2023
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Boarding Schools: Children in Care
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many looked after children were placed in boarding schools for the latest year for which figures are available, broken down by age.
tabling member printed	Baroness Eaton
uin	HL8716
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/07/2023 answer text <p>The department does not hold this information centrally. The department does hold information on the number of looked after children placed in residential schools. However, it is not possible to distinguish between boarding schools and other residential schools, such as residential special schools. Therefore, we are not able to provide the information requested overall or by age.</p><p>Figures on the overall number of looked after children in England placed in residential schools were published in the annual statistics release titled ‘Children looked after, including adoptions, 2021-22’. On 31 March 2022, there were 110 looked after children in these residential schools, which includes boarding schools and residential special schools. These annual statistics are available in the attached table.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 05/07/2023 13:41:58 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran attachment 1 file name HL8716_table.pdf title Children looked after, including adoption 2021/22
tabling member	4184 label Biography information for Baroness Eaton