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1543075

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Seasonal Workers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to assist seasonal workers whose contracts are terminated early, (2) to prevent brokerage fees from being levied in seasonal workers' home countries, and (3) to support unemployed seasonal workers to find work in agricultural labour jobs or other sectors.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3444
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2022 answer text <p>The Seasonal Worker scheme operators are responsible for managing all aspects of the recruitment and placement of workers on UK farms and ensuring their welfare in the UK. This includes ensuring ethical recruitment practices, in line with Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority regulations; arranging a new employer if the worker requires it; and ensuring that workers are fully supported throughout their stay.</p><p>The Home Office closely monitors the scheme operators to ensure they are complying with their sponsor duties. Together with Defra, the Home Office also maintains regular contact with operators to ensure they adhere to requirements for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of seasonal workers. Non-compliance with the relevant guidance could result in the revocation of their sponsor licence.</p><p>Scheme operators must also be licensed by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority who, supported by the Home Office, are working with overseas agencies to prevent abuse of the system and educate workers about their rights in the UK, including not paying recruitment fees.</p> answering member printed Lord Murray of Blidworth question first answered 22/11/2022 12:52:31 answering member 4950 label Biography information for Lord Murray of Blidworth
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1543076

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Guide Dogs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to educate the public about the legal status of guide dogs for the blind and other assistance dogs; and what steps they plan to take to penalise businesses which have failed to educate their staff about their legal status.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) provides for protection of disabled people, including those needing assistance dogs, in employment and the supply of goods, services, public functions and in clubs and associations. It does not have universal application to the public, or in other settings, and general public education campaigns about it would not be proportionate. However, the Government runs under contract the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), an equalities and human rights helpline, which receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS can intervene directly with or assist the complainant to take the problem up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.</p><p>It is the responsibility of all businesses to ensure that they are aware of their obligations to their customers and employees under the Act. To help them in this, Government and relevant independent bodies offer a range of technical guidance and statutory codes of practice that clearly explain what businesses should and should not do to ensure that their conduct is lawful and not discriminatory.</p><p>The Act places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Act. In 2017, the EHRC published two pieces of guidance - a guide to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners, and a guide to help tourism businesses welcome people with access requirements. The EHRC supports disabled individuals who have experienced discrimination to take their cases to court.</p><p>In recent years, case law has strengthened the equalities law for people with assistance dogs. There have been a number of significant cases brought under the Equality Act involving assistance dogs, which have been successfully litigated, for example, Bloch v Kassim (assistance dogs in taxis); Clutton and Williams v Pen-y-Bryn Group (assistance dogs in restaurants); and McCafferty v Miah (assistance dogs in shops).</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 30/11/2022 15:31:06 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1543077

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
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	Right to Buy Scheme: Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many homes which were adapted for disabled users have been sold under the right to buy programme in the last 20 years; and what was the rate of replacement of these homes, either by (1) construction, or (2) adaptation.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3446
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government does not collect statistics on this particular area.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 30/11/2022 17:15:43 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1543078

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
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	Advertising and Shops: Electricity
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 electricity usage by digital advertising boards and shop signs in England; and what plans they have (1) to promote, or (2) to legislate for, switching off these boards during periods when the electricity system is under pressure.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government does not hold data on electricity usage by digital advertising boards and shop signs in England.</p><p> </p><p>National Grid has launched the electricity Demand Flexibility Service, a voluntary service to reward users who reduce their electricity demand at peak times. This is open to a variety of consumers, primarily through their supplier.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to work closely with industry to develop our response options for when the system is under pressure, and National Grid has standard, long-standing procedures in place in the extremely unlikely event of an emergency on the energy network.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 30/11/2022 17:49:48 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1543079

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
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	Medical Equipment: Power Failures
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken, or plan to take, to ensure that those dependent on life-critical support machines are protected in cases of power blackouts.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3448
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2022 answer text <p>The Department for Health and Social Care is working with the health and social care sector to assess the impact of any potential disruption to energy on services. In addition, we are working with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to understand the likelihood of any power outages. Care providers and equipment suppliers support those with long term conditions to use medical equipment at home safely and in cases where the equipment is disrupted. In a power outage scenario, the Priority Services Register is maintained by electricity network operators to target support to the most vulnerable customers.</p> answering member printed Lord Markham question first answered 28/11/2022 14:50:20 answering member 4948 label Biography information for Lord Markham
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1543080

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
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	Medical Equipment: Power Failures
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to support local councils in the protection of individuals who are dependent on life-critical support machines during power blackouts.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3449
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer to Question UIN <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fquestions-statements.parliament.uk%2Fwritten-questions%2Fdetail%2F2022-11-02%2F77488&amp;data=05%7C01%7CParliamentary%40levellingup.gov.uk%7C596a9ade61774dfd6dc608dad224cc73%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C638053352725623914%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=TrisjMuwVLYFnYT8cxLZU8fDQPA2757cCCvyz2ETAao%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">77488</a> (attached) on 11 November 2022.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 30/11/2022 12:51:08 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook attachment 1 file name Written questions and answers - Written questions, answers and statements - UIN77488.pdf title UIN 77488
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540880

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Compost
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to make (1) regulatory, or (2) other, responses to findings in the Big Compost Study which concluded that 60 per cent of items sold as "home compostable" did not degrade in homes under real world conditions.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3266
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>HM Government has no immediate plans to regulate in this area but welcomes the findings from UCL’s study into the home composting of plastics and will use this to inform our evidence base.</p><p> </p><p>The study has shown that home composting is not a viable destination for managing plastic waste and this echoes HM Government’s existing position to prioritise the reduction, reuse and recycling of plastics before anything else.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2021 we published our response to the call for evidence on the need for standards for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. The Government response acknowledges that compostable plastics must be treated in industrial composting facilities to be broken down and, when processed incorrectly, can be a source of microplastics and contaminate recycling streams. Therefore, our focus will be on reducing unnecessary consumption and working towards a circular economy, not composting of plastics.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 23/11/2022 11:52:27 question first ministerially corrected 23/11/2022 15:04:17 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon previous answer version 36480 answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble answering member 4161
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540881

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Armed Forces: Carbon Emissions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what diplomatic efforts they are making to encourage the inclusion of carbon emissions from militaries in UNFCCC emissions reporting; and what progress they have made.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The UK Government encourages Parties to report to the UNFCCC on all relevant emissions, including those from military sources, in line with UNFCCC best practice. The UK sets its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory in accordance with international guidelines and emissions from some military sources (e.g. aircraft and shipping) are already included.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 21/11/2022 12:37:57 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540882

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Wildlife: Crime
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to introduce (1) sentencing guidelines for (a) raptor persecution, and (b) other wildlife crimes, and (2) vicarious liability for landowners and tenants in England and Wales employing those convicted of such crimes.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2022 answer text <p>HM Government takes wildlife crime seriously. Significant sanctions are available to judges to hand down to those convicted of wildlife crimes. Raptor persecution is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife. Most wildlife crimes carry up to an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence.</p><p> </p><p>Sentencing those convicted of wildlife crimes, including raptor persecution, is a matter for judges; these decisions are rightly taken independently of HM Government. Within the maximum limits it is up to the court to decide the appropriate sentence, having considered the facts of the case.</p><p>However, HM Government does recognise that stakeholders are often disappointed with the sentences that are passed down for wildlife crimes. The UNODC Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit Report, published in 2021, suggested that support should be given to the Sentencing Council for England and Wales in developing prescriptive sentencing guidelines, where appetite permits. As with all the recommendations of the report, it will be considered by the relevant agencies.</p><p>Defra does not currently have any plans to introduce vicarious liability in England. The introduction of new regulation, such as vicarious liability, requires evidence that it will be effective. In the context of wildlife crimes, vicarious liability was introduced into Scotland by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011. HM Government is not aware of any compelling evidence that the introduction of the provisions in Scotland has had a significant deterrent effect on those who persecute birds of prey. We will continue to monitor the situation in Scotland to consider whether this, or a similar offence such as strict liability, is necessary and proportionate to assist in tackling wildlife crime in England.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 23/11/2022 12:14:52 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540883

registered interest
date	08/11/2022
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	Pension Credit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what are the (1) average, and (2) longest, delays being experienced by pensioners applying for pension credit for applications made (a) in late April, and (b) subsequently.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3269
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2022 answer text <p>We currently aim to process claims within 35 days from receipt, although following the successful launch of our campaign to increase take up of Pension Credit, we have received an unprecedented number of claims, which has resulted in average processing increasing.</p><p> </p><p>We are processing claims as quickly as possible and streamlining our processes, as well as increasing our staffing resources, which has resulted in the outstanding claims reducing considerably.</p><p> </p><p>All successful claims and arrears are paid accordingly to ensure no one misses out.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 22/11/2022 14:31:16 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle