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747967

registered interest
date	04/07/2017
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government whether civil servants in the Department of Health are permitted to use the term “hard Brexit” in official briefing papers.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL421
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government is committed to seizing the opportunities arising from exiting the European Union, and to ensuring that we exit smoothly on the best possible terms. The terms 'hard' and 'soft' are commonly used outside the Civil Service and within discussions around EU exit.</p><p> </p><p>The role of the Civil Service is to provide impartial advice and to deliver Government policy, and is focused on delivering this Government’s commitment to leave the EU and get the very best deal for the United Kingdom.</p> answering member printed Lord O'Shaughnessy question first answered 17/07/2017 11:52:06 answering member 4545 label Biography information for Lord O'Shaughnessy
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

747968

registered interest
date	04/07/2017
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking in response to the comments of Mr Juncker that the European Parliament was ridiculous.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL422
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2017 answer text <p>No action was taken.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 19/07/2017 10:56:06 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

747969

registered interest
date	04/07/2017
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	Her Majesty's Government, in the light of (1) the clearing of Leigh Day and three of its solicitors of all allegations of professional misconduct, and (2) reports of further allegations by a whistle-blower against that firm, concerning claims by Iraqi civilians of abuse by British troops, whether they intend to refer that firm to the National Crime Agency for investigation of any possible criminal conduct.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL423
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/07/2017 answer text <p>The Government is aware of the recent media allegations of misconduct by an apparent whistle-blower, but consider it premature to refer the matter to the National Crime Agency. As the NCA would likely investigate only if these allegations have not been examined by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, the Government will need to await publication of the Tribunal’s full, reasoned decision before deciding whether it is appropriate to refer the matter to the NCA.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 18/07/2017 16:24:39 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

718248

registered interest
date	06/04/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Volkswagen
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration is being given to bringing charges of corporate manslaughter against VW executives who authorised the sale of diesel vehicles in the UK which did not meet the regulatory standards.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government wants to see Volkswagen face the appropriate legal consequences for its actions. Whilst we expect that the vast majority of the wrongdoing took place in Germany and so it is appropriate that the German authorities lead the investigation, the offence of corporate manslaughter would require clear evidence of a link between the actions of VW and the death of specific individuals and no such clear evidence exists at present. A decision on whether to pursue corporate manslaughter charges would be for the Crown Prosecution Service (England and Wales), the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland) or the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland) to determine.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/04/2017 13:30:51 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

718249

registered interest
date	06/04/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Volkswagen
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an estimate of the number of people in the UK who may die as a result of diesel emissions from VW cars above the regulatory limit; and if not, whether they will do so.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6748
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>We are unable to estimate accurately the air quality impacts resulting from Volkwagen’s actions as we cannot quantify the additional emissions of the affected vehicles under all conditions of operation.</p><p> </p><p>However we have made a comparison of the old software to the new ‘fix’ software under test track conditions. The results from tests on two Skoda vehicles indicate 30-40% lower NOx emissions with the new ‘fix’ software.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/04/2017 13:33:09 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

718250

registered interest
date	06/04/2017
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Diesel Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will initiate a public inquiry into the information available to HM Government between 1997 and 2005 on the dangers of diesel engines.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6749
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2017 answer text <p>There are no plans to initiate a public inquiry at this time.</p><p> </p><p>We have been open about the difference between real world and laboratory testing for diesel cars. Our modelling takes into account the gap between laboratory testing and real world emissions. The UK government is committed to taking action on emissions testing. We see real world testing as the ultimate solution and a vital step in tackling air pollution. The vote to introduce real driving emissions in 2017 is an important milestone but we will continue to press for a comprehensive approach to emissions testing to restore consumer confidence and deliver our wider air quality and climate objectives.</p><p> </p><p>Last year, the Government published the conclusions to its Vehicle Emissions Testing Programme, which provided a valuable insight into diesel car emissions on our roads. In addition, an assessment of the scale of the air quality problem and its sources within specific regions across the UK was set out in the Government’s 2015 national air quality plan for nitrogen dioxide and accompanying zone plans.</p><p> </p><p>In light of both updated information on real world emissions from diesel vehicles and the High Court judgement last year, we are developing a revised air quality plan for consultation.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 24/04/2017 11:49:42 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

717839

registered interest
date	04/04/2017
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence: Expenditure
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate, in pounds sterling, of the difference between (1) the amount spent by each NATO member state which has failed to spend two per cent of GDP on defence, and (2) the amount which would be spent if that target had been reached, for the last year for which GDP figures are available for each member state.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6648
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2017 answer text <p>NATO publishes defence investment statistics on the expenditure of Allies, with the most recent figures published in March 2017. These figures are available at:</p><p>http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_49198.htm.</p><p>The attached table contains defence spending by NATO Allies in US dollars at current and 2010 exchange rates. NATO determines the definitions for categorising defence spending. All NATO members are assessed using the same guidelines so that NATO Allies' defence spending can be compared accurately.</p><p>Neither NATO, nor the UK, produces analysis on potential defence spending by Allies.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 19/04/2017 15:05:06 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe attachment 1 file name 20170407 - NATO Defence Spending Table in USD.docx title NATO Defence Spending in US Dollars
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

717840

registered interest
date	04/04/2017
answering body	Department for Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept id	10
answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
hansard heading	Imagination Technologies
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to give financial or other support to Imagination Technologies Group plc in order to protect jobs, following the announcement by Apple Inc that it intends to stop using Imagination’s technology; if so, what form that support will take; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that announcement on the UK’s digital technology sector.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6649
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p>It would not be appropriate to comment on this specific announcement which remains a commercial matter for the Imagination Technologies Group and Apple.</p><p> </p><p>More widely, through our recently published Digital Strategy, we have set out our commitment to create the best possible environment for our digital firms to thrive and to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business. The digital sector is already worth £118bn a year to the UK economy, accounting for over 7 per cent of UK GVA, and employing 1.6 million people.<strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Lord Ashton of Hyde question first answered 20/04/2017 12:23:45 answering member 4247 label Biography information for Lord Ashton of Hyde
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

717841

registered interest
date	04/04/2017
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	Workplace Pensions: Pension Funds
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce legislation (1) prohibiting companies withdrawing moneys from their pension funds for any reason, or (2) requiring them to keep their funds topped up to the level recommended by actuaries.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6650
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2017 answer text <p><ins class="ministerial">Current legislation already requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover the cost of paying future pensions when they fall due, or to put in place a recovery plan to ensure that the scheme returns to full funding within a reasonable period. It also prohibits the transfer of funds from the scheme to the employer apart from some limited circumstances and where there is a surplus.</ins></p><p>The Government’s Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Green Paper explores a number of aspects of defined benefit pensions, including scheme funding arrangements and invites views. This paper was laid before Parliament on 20 February 2017.</p><p>The closing date for comments is 14 May 2017; responses can be submitted to the following postal address:</p><p>DB Consultation Private Pensions</p><p>First Floor</p><p>Caxton House</p><p>6-12 Tothill Street</p><p>London</p><p>SW1A 9NA</p> answering member printed Lord Henley question first answered 20/04/2017 09:35:00 question first ministerially corrected 20/04/2017 13:45:24 answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley previous answer version 44619 answering member printed Lord Henley answering member 2616 label Biography information for Lord Henley
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra

717842

registered interest
date	04/04/2017
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Terrorism: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the withdrawal of the passport of Sufiyan Mustapha Hamza, whether they will withdraw passports from all other British jihadis currently in Iraq and Syria and fighting with ISIL or other terrorist forces.
tabling member printed	Lord Blencathra
uin	HL6651
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2017 answer text <p>The Government does not routinely comment on individual cases.</p><p>However the Government has made its position on the withdrawal of passports on public interest grounds clear. In a Written Ministerial Statement on 25 April 2013 (Hansard Column 69WS) the Secretary of State for the Home Department set out the terms under which the Royal Prerogative will be exercised to refuse or withdraw passports under the public interest criteria. All such cases are assessed on their merits and consider the rights of the individual balanced against the public interest criteria.</p><p>The Government may also deprive individuals of their British citizenship if it is conducive to the public good to do so. As a consequence of this their access to passport facilities is also withdrawn.</p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 18/04/2017 15:52:18 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
tabling member	497 label Biography information for Lord Blencathra