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1433452

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
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	Paraquat: Exports
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the global number of (1) deaths, and (2) injuries, caused by UK exports of the banned herbicide paraquat to countries where its use remains legal; what assessment they made of the environmental impact of such exports; and what consideration they have given to restricting exports of pesticides that are banned in the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>We take our trade and international obligations for human health and the environment seriously and continue to monitor action in other countries and learn from their experiences.</p><p>The export of paraquat from Great Britain (GB) is regulated under the GB Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulatory regime for the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals. Companies intending to export any of these chemicals from the GB must notify the importing country via the exporter’s Designated National Authority. For GB, the Designated National Authority is The Health and Safety Executive (HSE).</p><p>Paraquat additionally requires the explicit consent of the importing country before export can take place. The exchange of information that PIC provides allows the importing countries to make informed decisions on the import of those chemicals and on how to handle and use them safely. This process is kept under review.</p><p>We believe it is essential that the use of actives that are known to be hazardous to human health or the environment should be subject to scientific risk assessment, mitigation and regulatory protections. That is why we support notification of the export of Paraquat under GB PIC and support its listing under the Rotterdam convention. ​</p><p>Additionally, the UK is committed to working internationally including through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and United Nations Environment Assembly to support other nations to safely manage pesticides. We also believe in evidence-based international policy-making through the use of scientific committees, such as the Chemical Review Committee, and strengthening of the international ‘science - policy interface’ for chemicals and pesticides to support global decision-making.</p><p>We are progressing projects assessing the impacts of pesticides, including Paraquat, on human health and the environment in developing countries. We will continue to support developing countries to use pest management techniques which are most beneficial for them based on evidence and the expressed desires of the countries.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 07/03/2022 16:09:57 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1433453

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Mali: Home Country Nationals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that individuals in Mali at personal risk through their involvement with British forces and officials can be extracted and resettled if necessary.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>The UK has a small number of contracted interpreters supporting UK personnel in Mali and we take their personal security very seriously. Our contracting standards require that people must be as safe and secure as reasonably possible when working in our support. We are not aware of an immediate threat to UK contractors at this time.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 07/03/2022 15:36:31 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1433454

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Electronic Surveillance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have (1) to ban the deployment of the spyware tool Pegasus, and (2) to set up an inquiry into its impact on the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6218
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2022 answer text <p>It is essential that nation states and other cyber actors use capabilities in a way that is legal, responsible and proportionate, and to ensure cyberspace remains free, open, peaceful and secure.</p><p> </p><p>The UK and its allies are committed to ensuring key technologies are not misused in a way that threatens human rights and, as such, it is right that their trade is appropriately controlled. We continue to promote with our international partners the need for tighter export controls to ensure cyber capabilities are used legally and responsibly, and do not threaten or undermine human rights.</p><p> </p><p>Unauthorised access to a computer system to upload spyware, such as Pegasus, would be likely to constitute an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.</p><p> </p><p>Our national security framework is one of the most robust and transparent in Europe. One of the key pieces of legislation is the Investigatory Powers Act 2016 which sets out the regulatory framework for authorising such conduct. Any such conduct requires a warrant, which provides assurance that the conduct/access is authorised, necessary and proportionate.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 09/03/2022 11:37:06 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1433455

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
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	Second Sight: Insolvency
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of users of Second Sight Medical Products in the UK have been affected by the company's collapse; what assessment they have made of the risk of other such medical device companies collapsing; and what steps they are taking to protect the consumers of such medical devices.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6219
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>No estimate has been made. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not received any reports to indicate that Second Sight have withdrawn or failed to provide product support to existing patients. Additionally, NHS England does not routinely commission products supplied by Second Sight.</p><p>No assessment of the risk of medical device companies collapsing had been made. While there is an obligation on manufacturers to confirm the safety and performance of the devices throughout their lifetime, if a company is sold, the liability for these post-market requirements is usually a matter for the contract between parties. The MHRA is considering how post-market obligations on manufacturers can be strengthened in the forthcoming amendments to the Medical Devices Regulations 2002.</p><p>When contracting for the supply of medical devices, due diligence is undertaken on the financial standing of a supplier by procurement teams to gain assurance of the supplier’s ability to maintain supply in line with contractual and regulatory obligations. Patients remain in the care of prescribing clinicians who will make decisions on treatment and care in the event that supply of a product or service is disrupted. The Department monitors supply threats through engagement with suppliers and trade associations and uses intelligence to identify potential disruptions.</p> answering member printed Lord Kamall question first answered 07/03/2022 14:11:37 answering member 4909 label Biography information for Lord Kamall
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1433456

registered interest
date	21/02/2022
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Nurseries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of private for-profit groups acquiring nurseries in England on (1) the stability of the nursery sector, and (2) the quality of provision.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6220
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>65% of early years childcare places in England are provided by private, voluntary, and independent group-based providers in a market-based system. The key measure of market health monitored by the department is whether the supply of available places is sufficient to meet the requirements of parents and children. This is monitored rather than whether changes occur in the number and type of providers, which is typically a feature of a healthy, competitive market.</p><p>The majority of eligible two, three, and four-year-olds have continued to access free childcare despite the challenges faced throughout the COVID-19 outbreak. Local authorities are not reporting any substantial sufficiency or place supply issues that they are unable to manage locally. The department has not seen a substantial number of parents saying that they cannot secure a childcare place, either this term or since early years environments re-opened fully on 1 June 2020.</p><p>97% of early years childcare providers are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted.</p><p>The department continues to evaluate the sufficiency and quality of childcare provision. It also endeavours to help local authorities, parents, and early years providers to ensure the sustainability of the sector.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 07/03/2022 15:23:19 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle