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1202096

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government how many personnel have qualified as (1) Reaper drone pilots, and (2) Reaper drone sensor operators, in each of the past five years.
tabling member printed	Baroness Stern
uin	HL5487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>I am withholding annual information about the numbers who have qualified as Reaper pilots or sensor operators in each of the last five years as disclosure would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, I can confirm that over calendar years 2015 to 2019 a total of 93 personnel qualified as Reaper pilots or sensor operators.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 18/06/2020 13:15:06 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	2475 label Biography information for Baroness Stern

1202097

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether the UK troops being deployed as part of the UK’s long-range reconnaissance force alongside the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali will be supported by (1) British Army Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems, and (2) Royal Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems.
tabling member printed	Baroness Stern
uin	HL5488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK's upcoming deployment to MINUSMA will be supported by the British Army Desert Hawk. This is assessed as the most suitable UAV for the deployment. There are currently no plans for Royal Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems to be used on the deployment. UK forces may also receive support from other Remotely Piloted Air Systems which are deployed as part of MINUSMA, including the German HERON.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL5489 question first answered 18/06/2020 13:14:53 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	2475 label Biography information for Baroness Stern

1202098

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what types of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems will be used to support the UK troops being deployed alongside the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.
tabling member printed	Baroness Stern
uin	HL5489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>The UK's upcoming deployment to MINUSMA will be supported by the British Army Desert Hawk. This is assessed as the most suitable UAV for the deployment. There are currently no plans for Royal Air Force Remotely Piloted Aerial Systems to be used on the deployment. UK forces may also receive support from other Remotely Piloted Air Systems which are deployed as part of MINUSMA, including the German HERON.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie grouped question UIN HL5488 question first answered 18/06/2020 13:14:53 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	2475 label Biography information for Baroness Stern

1202099

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Unmanned Air Vehicles
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made on (1) the 'Mosquito' project, (2) the 'Many Drones Make Light Work' programme, and (3) other work to network-enabled or ‘swarm' drones; and when they anticipate such network-enabled drone capability to be operational.
tabling member printed	Baroness Stern
uin	HL5490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2020 answer text <p>Project Mosquito is a technology demonstration being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 is complete, and the Ministry of Defence is currently evaluating the proposals for Phase 2. As Project Mosquito is a technology demonstrator, it is not anticipated that the project will result in an operational capability.</p><p> </p><p>The Many Drones Make Light Work project explores the technical feasibility and military use of a swarm of up to twenty small unmanned aircraft vehicles, operating under the control of one individual. The project is in its final phase, Phase 3, delivering a structured flight evaluation programme of this new capability with the successful first trials held in March 2020.</p><p> </p><p>The Royal Air Force's swarming drones project continues to be developed by the Rapid Capabilities Office with progress during recent trials exceeding expectations in several areas. Following the successful first trials, 216 Squadron was reformed at RAF Waddington on 1 April 2020. They will take on the operating role for the RAF's fleet of network enabled drones.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 19/06/2020 12:26:52 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	2475 label Biography information for Baroness Stern

1202100

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Middle East: Military Operations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether RAF Reaper drones have (1) conducted strikes, or (2) provided reconnaissance support, as part of Operation Kipion.
tabling member printed	Baroness Stern
uin	HL5491
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2020 answer text <p>I cannot comment on whether or not RAF Reaper remotely piloted aircraft have been or will be employed as part of Operation Kipion. I am withholding information on the location of Reaper aircraft as its release would, or would be likely, to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 18/06/2020 13:18:13 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	2475 label Biography information for Baroness Stern

1202101

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Department for Education
answering dept id	60
answering dept short name	Education
answering dept sort name	Education
hansard heading	Schools: Liverpool
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Liverpool City Council's decision for Year 6 pupils not to return to school on 1 June; and whether this means that local authorities can make their own decisions about when school pupils can return to school.
tabling member printed	Lord Storey
uin	HL5492
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>We want to get all children and young people back into education as soon as the scientific advice allows because it is the best place for them to learn, and because we know how important it is for their mental wellbeing to have social interactions with their peers, carers and teachers.</p><p>Thanks to the huge efforts everyone has made to adhere to strict social distancing measures, the scientific advice indicates the transmission rate of COVID-19 has decreased and, based on all the evidence, we have been able to begin our cautious and phased approach to the wider opening of schools. This includes asking primary schools to welcome back children in nursery, Reception, year 1 and year 6 from 1 June, alongside priority groups (vulnerable children and children of critical workers).</p><p>However, we recognise that some primary schools will not have been able to open to additional children from 1 June for a number of practical reasons. We are working with local authorities and Regional Schools Commissioners across the country to identify and understand any local issues. If schools are facing particular challenges then we stand ready to support them to ensure they can open more widely as soon as possible.</p><p>In most cases the preparation for wider opening will be undertaken by the headteacher and senior colleagues of individual schools. However, relevant bodies (such as local authorities, academy trusts or governing bodies, depending on the school type) retain responsibility for key decisions and plans should be confirmed with them, particularly risk assessments of the school opening more widely, before pupils and staff return.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 23/06/2020 15:00:12 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

1202102

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Police: Biometrics
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to create a regulatory framework for facial recognition technology.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL5493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>The High Court found in September 2019 that there is a clear and sufficient legal framework for police use of live facial recognition technology. The framework includes police common law powers to protect the public, data protection and human rights legislation and the Surveillance Camera Code of Practice. This means they can only use it for a policing purpose where necessary and proportionate.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 23/06/2020 15:04:49 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1202103

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
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	Biometrics: Ethnic Groups
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to regulate the use of facial recognition technology to ensure that it is not discriminatory towards people from BAME communities.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL5494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>Uses of facial recognition technology in the UK, both private and public, are regulated by the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 that set standards for protecting personal data. Organisations have an obligation to ensure that any personal data they hold is accurate and processed in a manner that is lawful, fair and transparent.</p><p> </p><p>Facial images, which constitute 'special category' data for the purposes of the legislation are subject to heightened safeguards and can only be processed if specific conditions in the legislation are met. Processing must be necessary, proportionate and justified. The legislation is enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office, which has shown a willingness to take action against commercial organisations that are acting unlawfully.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure a safe use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in all sectors, the government tasked the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) to produce a Snapshot briefing paper looking at the uses and potential implications of facial recognition technology’s deployment in the UK. The paper was published on 28 May and we are considering its findings. The CDEI are currently working on a review into bias in algorithmic decision-making and will continue to examine the impacts of FRT and algorithms on society and provide recommendations on how to minimise bias.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL5495 question first answered 23/06/2020 09:55:19 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1202104

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
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	Biometrics: Ethnic Groups
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 commercial facial recognition technology is (1) registered, (2) accurate, and (3) not discriminatory towards people from BAME communities.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL5495
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2020 answer text <p>Uses of facial recognition technology in the UK, both private and public, are regulated by the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018 that set standards for protecting personal data. Organisations have an obligation to ensure that any personal data they hold is accurate and processed in a manner that is lawful, fair and transparent.</p><p> </p><p>Facial images, which constitute 'special category' data for the purposes of the legislation are subject to heightened safeguards and can only be processed if specific conditions in the legislation are met. Processing must be necessary, proportionate and justified. The legislation is enforced by the Information Commissioner's Office, which has shown a willingness to take action against commercial organisations that are acting unlawfully.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure a safe use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in all sectors, the government tasked the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI) to produce a Snapshot briefing paper looking at the uses and potential implications of facial recognition technology’s deployment in the UK. The paper was published on 28 May and we are considering its findings. The CDEI are currently working on a review into bias in algorithmic decision-making and will continue to examine the impacts of FRT and algorithms on society and provide recommendations on how to minimise bias.</p> answering member printed Baroness Barran grouped question UIN HL5494 question first answered 23/06/2020 09:55:19 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1202105

registered interest
date	09/06/2020
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	Homelessness: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to find homeless people in England long-term housing after the COVID-19 pandemic.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL5496
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>To support local authorities effectively, the funding for 2020/21 includes:</p><ul><li>The Flexible Homelessness Support Grant of £200m which seeks to help local authorities plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures; and</li><li>A £63m Homelessness Reduction Grant to implement the Homelessness Reduction Act enabling local authorities to do more to prevent and relieve homelessness in their areas.</li></ul><p>This is in addition to the £160m allocation for the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Project, which seeks to provide thousands of long-term, safe homes for vulnerable rough sleepers taken off the streets during the COVID-19 pandemic and the £112m Rough Sleeping Initiative fund. This fund is designed to support the establishment or enhancement of coordinated local services for rough sleepers, or those at risk of sleeping rough.</p><p>To further enable local authorities to respond to COVID-19 pressures, we have made over £3.2 billion of additional funding available for their response across the services they deliver including helping homeless people. This is in addition to £3.2 million targeted funding to ensure that we minimise the risk to those rough sleepers currently unable to self-isolate.</p><p>We have announced that Dame Louise Casey will spearhead a Taskforce to lead the next phase of the Government’s support for rough sleepers during this pandemic. The Taskforce will work hand-in-hand with councils across the country on plans to ensure rough sleepers can move into long-term, safe accommodation once the immediate crisis is over – ensuring as few people as possible return to life on the streets.</p><p>Additionally, in April 2020 the Government increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants to the 30th percentile of market rents. This will mean it will be easier for local authorities to fulfil their homelessness duties by assisting people to find suitable and affordable accommodation in the private rented sector.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 22/06/2020 14:30:08 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick