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890674

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Students: Disadvantaged
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the report by the National Union of Students, Class dismissed: Getting in and getting on in further and higher education, published on 23 April, what steps they plan to take to tackle the 'poverty premium' in tertiary education in order for working class students to excel in post-16 educational settings.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL7197
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2018 answer text <p>Widening participation remains a priority for this government, to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from further or higher education and apprenticeships regardless of their background. “Unlocking Talent, Fulfilling Potential,” published in December 2017, set out our plan for improving social mobility through education. A copy of this report was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 19 December 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The 16 - 18 Bursary Fund provides financial help to young people in further education who need help with costs such as travel and essential course equipment. Annual bursaries of up to £1,200 are available to vulnerable students such as those in care, care leavers and those receiving certain income or disability benefits in their own right. £130 million was allocated for discretionary bursaries to institutions in 2017 to 2018. A further £34 million was allocated in 2017 to 2018 for free meals.</p><p> </p><p>Changes to the student finance system have allowed more 18 year olds to enter higher education than ever before, including the highest ever number from disadvantaged backgrounds. Students from the lowest-income households starting their courses in 2018 to 2019 will have access to the largest ever amounts of cash-in-hand support for their living costs. Support for living costs increased by 10.3% for eligible students on the lowest incomes in 2016 to 2017 compared with the previous system, with further increases of 2.8 per cent for the current academic year. The government has announced a further 3.2 per cent increase in 2018 to 2019.</p><p> </p><p>A young person on an apprenticeship will receive at least the national minimum wage, which increased to £3.70 per hour in April 2018. The Apprenticeship Pay Survey 2016 estimates that the average gross hourly pay for apprentices in England was £6.70 an hour for level 2 and 3 apprentices and £9.83 for higher level apprenticeships.</p><p> </p><p>For apprentices claiming benefits in their own right, financial support is available for those on low incomes. Young people may be able to claim Universal Credit or Tax Credits to help with living costs. Universal Credit is also an in-work benefit, so young claimants in work on low wages, including apprentices under contract, can continue to claim housing support.</p><p> </p><p>Delivering more, better quality apprenticeships will make sure that more people from lower socio-economic backgrounds can gain the skills and training they need to build successful careers. The new funding model supports apprentices who are training on frameworks from disadvantaged areas by providing a cash payment to providers for training apprentices who live in the top 27 per cent of deprived areas.</p><p> </p><p>The Review of Post-18 Education and Funding aims to ensure that everyone from every background can access tertiary education. There will be an extensive programme of engagement with stakeholders and experts, including students and recent graduates. An independent panel will publish their report at an interim stage before the government concludes the overall review in early 2019.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 09/05/2018 16:52:20 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

890675

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of each of the recommendations of the report by Social Enterprise UK, Our money, our future, published in 2017, on the effect of the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 on public sector spending.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL7198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2018 answer text <p>We welcome Social Enterprise UK's report 'Our money, Our Future'. We are considering the report's recommendations as we develop our Civil Society Strategy through engagement with public sector commissioners, procurement and civil society representatives.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the recently appointed Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector Crown Representative is meeting stakeholders to assess how to increase social value through commissioning. Social value will be an important element in the Civil Society Strategy which we will publish later this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 09/05/2018 12:37:15 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

890676

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire Extinguishers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 22 December 2017 (HL4184), what assessment they have made of the introduction of mandatory sprinkler systems for new buildings in Wales in considering (1) the benefit of introducing such measures in England, and (2) the cost of such measures in England.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL7199
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2018 answer text <p>The Government has commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to lead an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety system. Any decision on future fire safety requirements will be taken following the completion of that review, which is expected to be published this Spring, and will involve consideration of the likely impact of those changes. The department is taking preliminary steps to gather information that would assist us in doing so.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth grouped question UIN HL7200 HL7201 HL7202 question first answered 08/05/2018 16:07:42 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

890677

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Fire Regulations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, or intend to make, of the effectiveness of legislation mandating the provision of means of escape for (1) residential buildings, and (2) office buildings in preventing injury or deaths in fires.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL7200
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2018 answer text <p>The Government has commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to lead an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety system. Any decision on future fire safety requirements will be taken following the completion of that review, which is expected to be published this Spring, and will involve consideration of the likely impact of those changes. The department is taking preliminary steps to gather information that would assist us in doing so.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth grouped question UIN HL7199 HL7201 HL7202 question first answered 08/05/2018 16:07:42 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

890678

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Regulations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken of domestic fire safety measures implemented internationally, including regulations relating to (1) the use of sprinkler systems, (2) the use of flammable cladding materials, and (3) means of escape.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL7201
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2018 answer text <p>The Government has commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to lead an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety system. Any decision on future fire safety requirements will be taken following the completion of that review, which is expected to be published this Spring, and will involve consideration of the likely impact of those changes. The department is taking preliminary steps to gather information that would assist us in doing so.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth grouped question UIN HL7199 HL7200 HL7202 question first answered 08/05/2018 16:07:42 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

890679

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	High Rise Flats: Emergency Exits
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have undertaken, or plan to undertake, on the impact on introducing fire safety legislation requiring high rise residential buildings in England to provide two means of escape.
tabling member printed	Lord Bird
uin	HL7202
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2018 answer text <p>The Government has commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to lead an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety system. Any decision on future fire safety requirements will be taken following the completion of that review, which is expected to be published this Spring, and will involve consideration of the likely impact of those changes. The department is taking preliminary steps to gather information that would assist us in doing so.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth grouped question UIN HL7199 HL7200 HL7201 question first answered 08/05/2018 16:07:42 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
tabling member	4564 label Biography information for Lord Bird

890680

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Construction
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many full-time planning officers they estimate will be required to deliver their target of building an average 300,000 new homes in England per year; and how many are actually employed at present.
tabling member printed	Lord Borwick
uin	HL7203
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2018 answer text <p>The department does not hold data on the number of planning officers who are currently employed, on either full-time or part-time bases. It therefore has no reliable evidence base from which to estimate the extra number needed for building an average of 300,000 homes in England per year.</p><p>The department has supported local planning authorities by introducing a 20 per cent increase in planning application fees and providing £ 15.8 million through the Planning Delivery Fund in order to ensure that local planning authorities have the resources and capacity they need.</p><p>It also provides support for the Royal Town Planning Institute Future Planners bursary scheme, which has run since 2015/16 and supports students on accredited postgraduate conversion degrees to pursue a career in planning. The department recently announced its continuing financial support for the scheme over the next three financial years, 2017/18 to 2019/20.</p> answering member printed Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth question first answered 02/05/2018 15:22:03 answering member 4282 label Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
tabling member	4281 label Biography information for Lord Borwick

890681

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
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	Company Accounts: Audit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has published guidance on the auditor duty under section 498(1)(a) to form an opinion whether companies have kept adequate accounting records at all times; and if not, why not; whether the FRC’s review of the audit of HBOS plc took account of that duty; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted
uin	HL7204
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2018 answer text <p>The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) issues comprehensive auditing standards based on international standards, amended to reflect UK law and regulation. These include requirements on the auditor’s obligation to consider and report where a company has not maintained adequate accounting records, as required by Section 498(1)(a) of the Companies Act 2006. The requirements are further supported by guidance on the application of the standards, which is provided alongside them.</p><p> </p><p>The FRC carried out its investigation into the 2007 audit of HBOS plc under its Accountancy Scheme. This allows the FRC to open an investigation only where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that there has been misconduct, and to determine the scope of the investigation. In relation to the audit of HBOS the scope did not include compliance by the auditor with their duty under section 498(1)(a) of the Act. This was because FRC did not consider that there were reasonable grounds to suspect misconduct by the auditor in relation to this.</p><p> </p><p>The FRC’s November 2017 report on its enquiries into the 2007 and 2008 audits of HBOS plc and its investigation of the 2007 audit sets out the scope of FRC’s enquiries and investigation. The report is available on the FRC's website.</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 03/05/2018 16:29:59 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
tabling member	4562 label Biography information for Baroness Bowles of Berkhamsted

890682

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
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	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is (1) the annual subsidy paid to Drax power station for burning wood pellets and (2) the estimated total cost of funding the Swansea Bay tidal lagoon project; and what measurement has been made of the polluting effects of each of those schemes.
tabling member printed	Lord Bradshaw
uin	HL7205
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2018 answer text <p>In 2016/2017 Drax generated 11.3 TWh of electricity under the Renewables Obligation for which they received around £470m[1]. Drax also receives payments under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme from the Low Carbon Contracts Company. Based on available information, we estimate that Drax received around £120 million in 2016/17 (in 2011/12 prices) in CfD payments. Whilst Drax co-fires biomass and coal, it only receives support for the proportion of electricity generated from biomass, which includes wood pellets.</p><p>The developer estimates the capital cost of funding the proposed Swansea Tidal Lagoon project to be approximately £1.3bn.</p><p> </p><p>Contracts for Difference are awarded for the purpose of encouraging low carbon electricity generation. All projects receiving support under the Renewables Obligation and the Contracts for Difference financial incentives mechanisms must comply with relevant greenhouse gas measures and standards on sustainable sourcing of feedstock. All electricity generators must comply with relevant environmental regulations.</p><p> </p><p><em>[1] In 2011/12 prices and based on Drax receiving 10,986,268 Renewables Obligation Certificates ( ROCs) with the notional value of each ROC estimated to be £43.10. [The RO does not pay a direct subsidy. Instead, it places an obligation on UK electricity suppliers to present to Ofgem a certain number of ROCs in respect of each MWh of electricity supplied each year, or to make a payment per ROC (the “buy-out price”) into a buy-out fund. Ofgem issue ROCs to generators in relation to the amount of renewable electricity that they generate and the relevant support rate. Generators sell their ROCs to suppliers or traders, with or without the electricity generated, as tradable commodities. After Ofgem’s administration costs have been deducted, the money from the buy-out fund is recycled on a pro-rata basis to suppliers who presented ROCs. The price of a ROC is not fixed and is a matter for negotiation between the generator and supplier/trader. However, the notional value of a ROC is considered to be the buy-out price, plus the value of the recycled buy-out fund payments]. </em></p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 03/05/2018 16:30:42 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
tabling member	2483 label Biography information for Lord Bradshaw

890683

registered interest
date	24/04/2018
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Chemical Weapons: Salisbury
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which military units are engaged in the clean up operations in Salisbury; and how long they are expected to be so engaged.
tabling member printed	Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
uin	HL7206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/05/2018 answer text <p>Military personnel are providing support as part of the clean up operations in Salisbury. This support is made up of specialists from the Army, RAF and joint organisations, who will be working with experts from the world-leading Dstl. Specifically, the support includes elements from:</p><p>- Falcon Squadron, Royal Tank Regiment</p><p>- Royal Engineer Troop</p><p>- Supporting functions such as a Transport Section from Royal Logistics Corps and Signals detachment</p><p>- 20 Force Protection Wing, RAF Regiment</p><p>- Instructors from the Defence Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Centre</p><p>Meticulous effort is required and it is expected that it will be a number of months before all sites are fully reopened.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 03/05/2018 15:35:14 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	627 label Biography information for Lord Campbell of Pittenweem