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1362433

registered interest
date	21/10/2021
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords Chamber
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the reason for not providing wigs for the temporary Table Clerks while the House was sitting under the hybrid House guidance was on the grounds of cost; and if so, why the Table Clerks in possession of wigs are not wearing them now that the House is no longer operating under that guidance.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL3268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2021 answer text <p>The Clerk of the Parliaments is by law the employer of the staff of the House and responsible for all terms and conditions of employment. During the pandemic, the then Clerk of the Parliaments decided that Clerks at the Table during regular business of the House should wear a gown over business attire, and that this would be worn by all the Clerks at the Table. The then Lord Speaker was consulted and acknowledged the change to Table Clerk attire, on a temporary basis, though he expressed a preference for the wearing of traditional table dress and gown, but without wigs.</p><p>Having some element of uniform allowed the Clerk in the Chamber to be identified by Members in the House wishing to seek advice. The decision was taken for a number of reasons, including cost grounds, the potentially temporary duration of the new Table Clerks’ appointments, and the impracticality of acquiring new uniforms during the pandemic. Throughout the ongoing pandemic, the full uniform previously worn has continued to be worn in full at high ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament, and in modified form on other ceremonial occasions including Prorogation; for the Introduction Ceremonies of new Lords Spiritual and Temporal (when ceremonial dress is worn by others) and for Tributes in the Chamber.</p><p>The Clerk of the Parliaments is considering the position now that the House is no longer operating under the hybrid House guidance. The Clerk of the Parliaments has received representations on this matter from a number of Members of the House and would be very willing to hear the views of others. In deciding what the position will be in future, the Clerk of the Parliaments will need to reflect upon a number of factors including cost, efficiency, the views expressed by Members, and the public perception of the House. The Clerk of the Parliaments will also consider the need to ensure both that all Clerks at the Table are identifiable and all similarly attired; as well as the appropriate uniform given the range of other duties performed by Clerks during the working day.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL3194 HL3269 HL3271 question first answered 02/11/2021 17:50:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1361536

registered interest
date	19/10/2021
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords Chamber
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 14 October (HL2826), what is the justification for retaining the requirement for Table Clerks to wear robes, given that the requirement to wear horsehair wigs has been abandoned.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL3194
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2021 answer text <p>The Clerk of the Parliaments is by law the employer of the staff of the House and responsible for all terms and conditions of employment. During the pandemic, the then Clerk of the Parliaments decided that Clerks at the Table during regular business of the House should wear a gown over business attire, and that this would be worn by all the Clerks at the Table. The then Lord Speaker was consulted and acknowledged the change to Table Clerk attire, on a temporary basis, though he expressed a preference for the wearing of traditional table dress and gown, but without wigs.</p><p>Having some element of uniform allowed the Clerk in the Chamber to be identified by Members in the House wishing to seek advice. The decision was taken for a number of reasons, including cost grounds, the potentially temporary duration of the new Table Clerks’ appointments, and the impracticality of acquiring new uniforms during the pandemic. Throughout the ongoing pandemic, the full uniform previously worn has continued to be worn in full at high ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament, and in modified form on other ceremonial occasions including Prorogation; for the Introduction Ceremonies of new Lords Spiritual and Temporal (when ceremonial dress is worn by others) and for Tributes in the Chamber.</p><p>The Clerk of the Parliaments is considering the position now that the House is no longer operating under the hybrid House guidance. The Clerk of the Parliaments has received representations on this matter from a number of Members of the House and would be very willing to hear the views of others. In deciding what the position will be in future, the Clerk of the Parliaments will need to reflect upon a number of factors including cost, efficiency, the views expressed by Members, and the public perception of the House. The Clerk of the Parliaments will also consider the need to ensure both that all Clerks at the Table are identifiable and all similarly attired; as well as the appropriate uniform given the range of other duties performed by Clerks during the working day.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble grouped question UIN HL3268 HL3269 HL3271 question first answered 02/11/2021 17:50:25 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358777

registered interest
date	11/10/2021
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Civil Servants: Remote Working
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 Agnew of Oulton on 22 September regarding Treasury civil servants working remotely (HL2572), what plans they have to investigate the possibility of cost savings by employing non-British staff working from homes overseas.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2897
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>HMT applies Civil Service central policy in relation to working from other countries.</p><p> </p><p>All HMT staff are contracted to attend offices on a regular basis and there are no current plans to investigate the possibility of employing staff who live overseas.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 21/10/2021 11:20:56 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358778

registered interest
date	11/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency: Remote Working
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) how many, and (2) what percentage of, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) staff are working from home; and how many are able to give full service to DVSA customers from home.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2898
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>During September 2021, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) had 1,389 staff members, 28.5% working from home continually. The DVSA is satisfied that all members of staff currently working from home are able to provide a full service to its customers as they adapt to hybrid working. Other staff are already either working a hybrid approach and providing a full service or working continually back in their work locations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 21/10/2021 13:53:42 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358779

registered interest
date	11/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Large Goods Vehicle Drivers: Facilities
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to make more rest stop facilities, such as toilets and wash facilities, available for lorry drivers on the principal UK transport routes.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2899
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2021 answer text <p>Lorry drivers play a vital role in keeping Britain moving, and the Government understands the need to ensure adequate facilities are available to them .</p><p> </p><p>We have already amended planning guidelines to encourage futher development of facilities and are exploring options for what more could be done.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 14/10/2021 14:30:26 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358780

registered interest
date	11/10/2021
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Remote Working
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports that 50 per cent of civil servants at the DVLA are refusing to come back into the workplace, what steps they will take to outsource DVLA work to companies based in the UK and overseas.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2900
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>It is not correct that 50 per cent of civil servants at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are refusing to come back into the workplace. In line with Welsh Government covid measures all staff who are carrying out a role that can be done from home, continue to do so. Staff who perform operational duties which cannot be done from home are working on site.</p><p>The DVLA continues to explore opportunities to improve the time taken to deal with paper applications and has been developing new online services and recruiting additional staff. The DVLA has temporarily utilised the private sector for some elements of work only where it has been appropriate to do so.</p><p>The DVLA is also looking to secure extra office space to accommodate more staff as surge capacity accommodation and resource to help reduce backlogs while providing future resilience and business continuity.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 21/10/2021 13:54:26 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358781

registered interest
date	11/10/2021
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	Hospital Wards: Gender
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will investigate reports that an NHS trust has been labelling patients who wish to be placed on single sex wards as 'transphobes', 'offenders' and 'perpetrators'; and whether they will name the trust involved.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2901
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected centrally. Any patient, irrespective of their gender, who has a history of violence or sex offences and may pose a risk to others should be risk assessed and any relevant action taken to ensure the safety of others.</p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement have not received any information relating to these reports. All patients should be treated with respect and dignity, in accordance with the values of the National Health Service.</p> answering member printed Lord Kamall grouped question UIN HL2902 question first answered 19/10/2021 12:06:49 answering member 4909 label Biography information for Lord Kamall
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358782

registered interest
date	11/10/2021
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	Hospital Wards: Women
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what statistics are available on the number of male patients identifying as female who have been placed on female-only NHS hospital wards, including in mental health facilities, and (2) how many assaults on female patients there have been by male patients identifying as female.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2902
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected centrally. Any patient, irrespective of their gender, who has a history of violence or sex offences and may pose a risk to others should be risk assessed and any relevant action taken to ensure the safety of others.</p><p>NHS England and NHS Improvement have not received any information relating to these reports. All patients should be treated with respect and dignity, in accordance with the values of the National Health Service.</p> answering member printed Lord Kamall grouped question UIN HL2901 question first answered 19/10/2021 12:06:49 answering member 4909 label Biography information for Lord Kamall
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358380

registered interest
date	04/10/2021
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords Chamber
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 September (HL2734), what is the cost of (1) six formal uniforms for the additional Table Clerks, (2) the full uniforms that have already been provided to Table Clerks, (3) creating the PeerHub remote voting system, and (4) converting Committee Rooms 2A and 3A to enable hybrid meetings of Grand Committee.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2825
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2021 answer text <p>In 2020 six gowns were purchased for new Table Clerks joining the rota. The total cost of these six gowns was £1,213.99, but due to an outstanding credit with the supplier the House actually paid £536 in total for the six gowns.</p><p>Table Clerks who joined the rota before 2020 were provided with a fuller uniform. There is no standard cost for this as it depends on a number of variables, including the supplier used and the items required. Purchases of full new uniforms for Table Clerks in recent years were however in the range of approximately £4,700 - £5,700 per person. Incidental repairs and additional items may also be required over the years as uniforms are worn.</p><p>The cost to the Parliamentary Digital Service of producing the PeerHub remote voting system as set out in the approved business case was £78,683. This was primarily resource cost.</p><p>The capital cost of converting Committee Rooms 2A and 3A for Hybrid Grand Committee as set out in the approved business case for the project was £150,000, including VAT.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/10/2021 15:13:22 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

1358381

registered interest
date	04/10/2021
answering body	The Senior Deputy Speaker
answering dept id	204
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name	Senior Deputy Speaker (HoL)
hansard heading	House of Lords Chamber
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 September (HL2734), whether the House has agreed that decisions on Table Clerks' uniform should be made by House staff rather than Members.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL2826
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/10/2021 answer text <p>The uniform for Table Clerks is not a matter covered by the Standing Orders agreed by the House, or the Companion to the Standing Orders, which the Procedure and Privileges Committee oversees on behalf of the House.</p><p>Having reviewed Procedure and Privileges Committee papers dating back to the 1970s, there is no record of decisions about uniform for Table Clerks being taken by that Committee.</p><p>The Clerk of the Parliaments, as the statutory employer, is responsible for these decisions, though the Clerk of the Parliaments is of course aware that these matters are of wider concern to members of the House and has emphasised this in recent discussions we have had on this matter. The Clerk of the Parliaments is of course open to conversation with any member about any of his responsibilities.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 14/10/2021 15:32:45 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra