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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

1403686

registered interest
date	17/01/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Finance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to signing up to the “Peace Dividend Campaign”.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5417
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2022 answer text <p>The first responsibility of Government is to protect its citizens.</p><p> </p><p>Defence is one of a full spectrum of levers that we routinely use - alongside diplomatic, intelligence, economic, legal and strategic communication tools. For example, Defence continues to play a direct role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, most recently through ongoing Royal Navy support to the international disaster relief efforts following the tsunami in Tonga; and last year providing a Royal Fleet Auxiliary vessel to assist the US humanitarian aid mission in Haiti. Our Armed Forces are also always ready to respond to requests to support civil authorities, and from vaccine supply logistics to front line medical support they have played a critical role in supporting the response to the COVID pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>We must stay ahead of the increasingly complex threats to our people and allies by investing in, rather than cutting, defence budgets. That is why we are increasing defence spending by over £24 billion over the next four years.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 28/01/2022 11:20:25 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1403688

registered interest
date	17/01/2022
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	Ventilation: Standards
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for establishing ventilation standards for privately owned indoor areas such as shops and entertainment venues.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2022 answer text <p>In England, buildings should be provided with an adequate means of ventilation as a requirement of Part F of the Building Regulations. The Building Regulations apply when a new building is constructed, or work is done to an existing building. We have recently published our response to the Future Buildings Standard Consultation which sets out new guidance on Part F, to come into force in June 2022. The new guidance of relevance to shops and entertainment venues is included in Approved Document F2.</p><p>The health and safety legislation which applies to ventilation is Regulation 6 of the Workplace, Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992, which states, ‘Effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air.’ The Health and Safety Executive do not establish specific ventilation standards.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 26/01/2022 15:17:56 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1388345

registered interest
date	15/12/2021
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	Local Government: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, whether local government bodies can hold meetings remotely if they choose.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4983
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/12/2021 answer text <p>A High Court judgement handed down on 27 April 2021 confirmed that the Local Government Act 1972 specifies that council meetings must take place in person at a single, specified, geographical location and being “present” at such a meeting involves physical presence at that location.</p><p>This judgement confirmed that the regulations which allowed local authorities to meet remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic did not apply to meetings after 6 May 2021.</p><p>Any permanent change would require primary legislation, and would depend upon Parliamentary time being available.</p><p>Non-statutory or other informal meetings where local authorities deem that in-person attendance is not required can be held virtually.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 31/12/2021 11:07:35 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1380793

registered interest
date	22/11/2021
answering body	COP26
answering dept id	210
answering dept short name	COP26
answering dept sort name	COP26
hansard heading	Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to sign the Intergovernmental Declaration on Children, Youth and Climate Action by Unicef; and if not, for what reasons.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4249
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2021 answer text <p>The UK has long recognised the unequivocal threat that climate change and environmental degradation pose to the lives and wellbeing of individuals and communities across the world, including the most marginalised and vulnerable.</p><p>The UK has been committed to amplifying the voices of young people from across the world through our COP26 presidency and domestic frameworks.</p><p>In the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ 25 Year Environment Plan, the Government sets out a plan for how the natural environment will be protected and enhanced for our, and future, generations. One of the actions it commits to is to help children and young people from all backgrounds engage with nature and improve the environment.</p><p>We support many of the principles in the declaration on children, youth and climate action and will carefully consider how to engage with it.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 29/11/2021 11:42:14 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1380794

registered interest
date	22/11/2021
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	Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they gave to signing up to the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance at COP26; what were the reasons for not signing; and what plans they have to consider signing in the future.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4250
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2021 answer text <p>The Government’s policy on the future of Oil and Gas is set out in this year’s landmark North Sea Transition Deal. At the centre of this deal are jobs and a transition towards a net zero economy. As the Climate Change Committee has recognised, the UK will unavoidably continue to rely on oil and gas in its energy mix for some years to come. Although the Government will remain a net importer, domestic production of these fuels will continue to play an important role, as the Government achieves its Net Zero ambitions.</p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 06/12/2021 16:40:15 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1314958

registered interest
date	17/05/2021
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	Deep Sea Mining
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to supporting the call by the European Commission and others for a moratorium on deep sea mining.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL252
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/06/2021 answer text <p>There is no deep sea mining currently happening in areas beyond national jurisdictions, there are no exploitation licences for deep sea mining, and no exploitation regulations have yet been agreed. Any mining licenced under future regulations is unlikely to begin for several years. In addition, the UK has committed not to sponsor or support the issuing of any exploitation licences for deep sea mining projects unless and until there is sufficient scientific evidence about the potential impact on deep sea ecosystems and strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards have been developed by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) and are in place.</p><p> </p><p>Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), it is the role of the ISA to regulate and control all mineral-related activities in the international seabed area for the benefit of mankind as a whole. In so doing, the ISA has the duty to ensure the effective protection of the marine environment from harmful effects that may arise from deep seabed activities.</p><p> </p><p>The UK has a strong and respected voice in these international negotiations and the UK position emphasises the need to ensure that the highest possible environmental standards are met in the development of this new industry. We judge that engaging fully with these negotiations is the most effective way for the UK to work with others so that no deep sea mining takes place in the absence of strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards. This includes requiring that Regional Environmental Management Plans are adopted for each region before any exploitation licence can even be considered, as well as the adoption of strong and enforceable environmental Standards as well as Guidelines.</p><p> </p><p>Finally, on terminology, we note that the European Commission, in its recent sustainable blue economy strategy, has not made reference to a moratorium, but has set out that “In international negotiations, the EU should advocate that marine minerals in the international seabed area cannot be exploited before the effects of deep-sea mining on the marine environment, biodiversity and human activities have been sufficiently researched, the risks are understood and the technologies and operational practices are able to demonstrate no serious harm to the environment.” We understand from the statement that the outcomes we and the Commission are arguing for are essentially the same, that no deep sea mining should take place in the absence of strong and enforceable environmental regulations and standards.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Callanan question first answered 02/06/2021 12:47:36 answering member 4336 label Biography information for Lord Callanan
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1279527

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Coronavirus: Disease Control
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local authorities have spent the funds allocated to them to support people self-isolating during the COVID-19 pandemic; how many such authorities are refusing new applications; and of those local authorities that are funding such payments from their own budgets, (1) how much they have spent on such payments, and (2) whether they will be reimbursed for them.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL12410
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/03/2021 answer text <p>We are working closely with all 314 lower tier and unitary local authorities to collate information on how the Test and Trace Support Payment scheme is progressing and will release information on the number of applications, successful applications and amounts paid out in due course.</p><p> </p><p>If a local authority has used all of its discretionary funding, it is for that authority to decide whether to accept further applications or whether to use other sources of funding. However, the funding made available to local authorities to make discretionary payments under the scheme has been increased to £20 million per month from March 2021.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 15/03/2021 14:51:22 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle