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1717040

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Small Businesses: Loans
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 bank loan application success rates of small and medium-sized enterprises.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government recognises the vital importance small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and is committed to supporting SMEs grow and create jobs by providing an environment in which they can thrive.</p><p> </p><p>Access to finance for small businesses is important to drive growth. The government supports that access through the Recovery Loan Scheme, which offers a 70% government guarantee on loans to SMEs</p><p>of up to £2 million. The scheme has supported over £5.3 billion of finance to SMEs since its introduction in April 2021.</p><p> </p><p>At the 2024 Spring Budget, the Government announced that the Recovery Loan Scheme would be extended to the end of March 2026, and renamed as the Growth Guarantee Scheme.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 15/05/2024 16:00:39 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1717041

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Electric Vehicles: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to introduce additional incentives encouraging electric vehicle adoption among consumers.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4547
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>Government grants have been in place for over a decade to help reduce the up-front purchase price of electric vehicles, with over £1.8 billion in grant funding provided since 2011. Grants remain available for vans, trucks, wheelchair accessible vehicles and taxis. Favourable tax benefits also remain in place to support the transition to EVs.</p><p> </p><p>As stated in the Plan for Drivers, the Government will also continue to support the uptake of zero emission vehicles, by addressing common misconceptions and showing how they can be a practical option for most drivers.</p> answering member printed Lord Davies of Gower question first answered 23/05/2024 12:58:13 answering member 4499 label Biography information for Lord Davies of Gower
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1717042

registered interest
date	09/05/2024
answering body	Department for Business and Trade
answering dept id	214
answering dept short name	Business and Trade
answering dept sort name	Business and Trade
hansard heading	Construction: Economic Growth
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the S&P Global UK Construction Purchasing Managers’ Index, published on 7 May, which showed that construction activity grew at its fastest pace in April for more than a year, what steps they are taking to ensure continued growth in commercial and civil engineering activities within the construction sector.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4548
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The UK Government continues to work closely with the construction sector and its clients to support growth. We have published a revised National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline in the March Budget setting out the planned pipeline of investment over the next decade, and are currently working with the industry to update the Government’s Construction Playbook. Total construction new orders also increased by £1,436 million, or 15.9% in Quarter 1 2024, compared with Quarter 4 2023, which will support future growth.</p> answering member printed Lord Offord of Garvel question first answered 21/05/2024 14:55:41 answering member 4931 label Biography information for Lord Offord of Garvel
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1716674

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Agriculture: Food Supply
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to a recent poll conducted by the National Farmers Union which showed that business confidence among farmers is at its lowest since 2010, what steps they are taking to support the agricultural sector to ensure food security.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4485
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/05/2024 answer text <p>Food security is more important than ever – which is why we need to back British farmers to keep putting food on our tables while protecting the environment.</p><p> </p><p>That is why we are supporting farmers with £2.4 billion of annual spending. This includes an increase in payment rates, with the average value of a Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) agreement increasing by 10%. Around 50 new paid-for actions will also be added to the SFI and Countryside Stewardship (CS) schemes from summer 2024, giving farmers more choice with an offer for all farm types and locations.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, at the NFU Conference this February, the Prime Minister announced more funding for farmers. This included the doubling of the SFI Management Payment, which supports many farmers to participate in the SFI scheme, and the planned launch of the biggest ever package of grants this year to boost productivity and resilience. This grants package, which will total £427 million, includes funding for the Improving Farming Productivity scheme to invest in things like robotics and barn-top solar; funding for a new round of the Farming Equipment and Technology fund, worth £70m; and targeted schemes to support farmers in improving the viability of their businesses, delivering environmental outcomes and supporting sustainable food production.</p><p> </p><p>Our plan will mean farmers always come first – with fair prices for goods, less bureaucracy and more funding as we continue to protect our food security. On May 14, the Prime Minister hosted the second annual Farm to Fork Summit at Downing Street, focused on how the Government will support domestic food production, boost innovation, support the sector to reach its economic potential and recruit the next generation of farming leaders. The Summit also saw publication of the first draft Food Security Index, setting out key data and trends to allow government and industry to monitor domestic food production, land use, input costs and farmer productivity on an annual basis.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 23/05/2024 09:55:54 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1716675

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Housing: Greater London
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that fewer Londoners are looking for houses outside London, and of the impact on (1) housing supply, and (2) affordability, in the capital; and what steps they are taking to ensure a balanced housing market.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>The primary responsibility for building homes in the capital lies with the Mayor of London. Due to insufficient numbers being delivered, the Secretary of State has directed the London Mayor to conduct a partial review of the London Plan, on industrial land and Opportunity areas, to reflect on what more can be done to accelerate residential development on these sites. We will continue to assess the rate of delivery to ensure that London has the homes it needs.</p> answering member printed Baroness Swinburne question first answered 22/05/2024 15:50:38 answering member 4985 label Biography information for Baroness Swinburne
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1716676

registered interest
date	08/05/2024
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	Equal Pay: Gender
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that the median gender pay gap narrowed to 9 per cent in 2023–24, what assessment they have made of the impact of wage pressures in different industries on the gender pay gap.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>Under this government the gender pay gap has fallen significantly, having fallen from 19.8% to 14.3% over the last decade. In 2017, we introduced world-leading regulations requiring large employers to publish the differences in average salaries and bonuses for men and women every year. This has ensured that employers are aware of their gaps and are taking steps to close them.</p><p>We know that reporting is just the first step, but do not believe that setting arbitrary targets or a timetable will help to drive the changes that we all want to see. The causes of the gender pay gap are complex, and the wider societal shifts required to close it will take time.</p><p>Detailed gender pay gap information is published annually by the ONS, and this includes sector-specific data and analysis. ONS data shows that the gender pay gap has decreased across all major occupational groups between 2022 and 2023.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL4465 question first answered 22/05/2024 15:52:51 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1715982

registered interest
date	07/05/2024
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	Affordable Housing: Construction
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are implementing to support housing associations to build affordable homes, following reports that high private sector debt costs are affecting development plans.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4429
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2024 answer text <p>Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme for 2021-26 will provide tens of thousands of homes across the country. These include homes for rent, for low cost home ownership, and specialist and supported housing.</p><p>The Government recognises that in recent years the housing sector has experienced an increase in the cost of borrowing and materials due to wider economic pressures. The Government continuously works with its delivery agencies to ensure that the Programme is delivering effectively in light of these economic challenges.</p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 20/05/2024 14:55:13 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1715983

registered interest
date	07/05/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Ministry of Defence: Cybersecurity
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the recent cyber-attack targeting the personal details of UK military personnel, what steps they are taking, if any, to review their current data security protocols and cyber defence strategies.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2024 answer text <p>The Cyber Resilience Strategy for Defence is already driving forward a programme of work to improve Defence’s cyber security. The Cyber Resilience Strategy was reviewed recently and remains valid. This includes adopting a Secure by Design approach to ensure security is built into our programmes from the outset and managed effectively on a through life basis.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to the recent cyber incident specifically, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has commissioned an independent review into what happened and lessons that can be learned. This will include examining Data and Information Security, the involvement with the contractor and the wider use of systems which process personal data. In addition the MOD are conducting a full review of the Information Security measures that were in place in this contract. Should the independent review suggest that further measures are necessary, the MOD will review these recommendations and implement such changes as are necessary to ensure the continued security of all MOD's data.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 21/05/2024 16:24:26 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1715984

registered interest
date	07/05/2024
answering body	Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept id	215
answering dept short name	Energy Security and Net Zero
answering dept sort name	Energy Security and Net Zero
hansard heading	Carbon Budgets
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take in response to the ruling of the High Court on 3 May regarding their carbon budget delivery plan.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is immensely proud of its record on climate change. The Carbon Budget Delivery Plan remains Government policy and sets out over 300 policies and proposals that the Government has in place to reach its ambitious carbon budgets.</p><p> </p><p>The judgment contains no criticism of these detailed plans nor the policies themselves, which will keep the UK on track to meet net zero by 2050.</p><p>Officials are now considering the best approach to comply with the court order and the Government will publish a new report within 12 months.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 16/05/2024 11:03:59 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1715734

registered interest
date	02/05/2024
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	Veterinary Medicine: Northern Ireland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had, or intend to have, discussions with the EU regarding the implementation of a post-Brexit agreement on the supply of veterinary medicines to Northern Ireland.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL4366
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2024 answer text <p>The Government is committed to securing a long-term sustainable solution ahead of December 2025 that will properly support the flow of veterinary medicines into Northern Ireland from Great Britain on an enduring basis. We are determined to safeguard the supply of veterinary medicines, and we will pursue technical discussions with the EU to find a solution that removes barriers to supply; in return we are willing to provide assurances and safeguards to the EU. The Veterinary Medicines Working Group, including experts, industry representatives and elected representatives, will report back to Government on steps needed to secure supplies for the long term.</p> answering member printed Lord Douglas-Miller question first answered 13/05/2024 11:25:58 answering member 5006 label Biography information for Lord Douglas-Miller
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick