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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

1540388

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Autonomous Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Policy Paper Ambitious, safe, responsible: Our approach to the delivery of AI-enabled capability in Defence, published on 15 June, in particular the statement that "there must be context-appropriate human involvement in weapons which identify, select and attack targets", whether users need to understand the effects of using the weapons in each specific context for such use to be acceptable.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3229
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>The MOD has set out a clear commitment to develop and use AI-enabled military capabilities - including, potentially, weapons systems - safely, responsibly, and ethically. This includes ensuring that commanders and the operators of AI-enabled systems are trained to understand the appropriate parameters of use in relation to their specific domain and operating context.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 21/11/2022 17:02:51 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540389

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Autonomous Weapons: Ethics
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 report by the International Committee of the Red Cross ICRC on autonomous weapons systems published on 12 May 2021, in particular the statement that "in light of ethical considerations to safeguard humanity and to uphold International Humanitarian Law, rules for the protection of civilians and combatants hors de combat, the use of autonomous weapons systems to target human beings should be ruled out"; and what assessment they have made of systems that identify people as targets based on (1) biometrics, and (2) perceived (a) gender, (b) race, and (c) age.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3230
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/11/2022 answer text <p>As we embed our Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy frameworks we will continue working with external stakeholders (including the International Committee of the Red Cross and our independent AI Ethics Advisory Panel) to ensure our approach reflects best practice and complies with our obligations. Systems that are designed to identify people as targets based on only biometrics, and perceived gender, race, and age are very unlikely to comply with the requirements of International Humanitarian Law.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 15/11/2022 14:00:13 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540390

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy: Autonomous Weapons
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to carry out a public consultation to inform (1) the implementation of the Defence Artificial Intelligence Strategy, and (2) any update to the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>We do not intend to undertake public consultation on the whole implementation of the AI Strategy, though we will continue testing aspects of the approach with a range of stakeholders. A Downing Street process is currently underway to update the Integrated Review led by Professor John Bew, the Prime Minister's special adviser for foreign affairs and defence. The update is expected to be published by the end of this year.</p> answering member printed Baroness Goldie question first answered 21/11/2022 17:05:56 answering member 4306 label Biography information for Baroness Goldie
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1540391

registered interest
date	07/11/2022
answering body	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept id	208
answering dept short name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
hansard heading	Autonomous Weapons: International Cooperation
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the United Nations General Assembly Statement on Lethal Autonomous Weapons systems on 21 October, what steps they are taking (1) to encourage cooperation between the other 69 signatories, and (2) to progress towards the elaboration of "the normative and operational framework regulating, where appropriate and necessary, autonomous weapons including through internationally agreed rules and limits".
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3232
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2022 answer text <p>International discussions on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems (LAWS) fall under the auspices of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). This is the appropriate forum to address the challenges associated with the use of autonomy in weapon systems. The UK will advocate for a Group of Government Experts (GGE) on LAWS mandate renewal at this year's CCW Annual Conference. The UK will continue to play a proactive role in that group, developing and supporting options, alongside the international community, to establish norms and positive obligations to ensure the safe and responsible use of autonomy.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 21/11/2022 16:35:52 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1537282

registered interest
date	31/10/2022
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	Social Rented Housing: Finance
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 total reduction in funds available for social housing in England since 2010.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3034
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2022 answer text <p>Funding for new build affordable and social housing is made available through the Affordable Homes Programme. Since 2010 there have been 4 main programmes:</p><ul><li>The Affordable Homes Programme 2011 – 2015 - £4.5 billion</li><li>The Affordable Homes Programme 2015-2018 - £3.3 billion (replaced by the 2016-2023 Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme)</li><li>The Shared Ownership and Affordable Homes Programme 2016 – 2023 - £9 billion</li><li>The Affordable Homes Programme 2021 – 26 - £11.5 billion</li></ul> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 16/11/2022 16:53:42 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1537283

registered interest
date	31/10/2022
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	Grafton Equine and Pet Cremation: Badgers
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Benyon on 13 October (HL2581), when the Animal and Plant Health Agency plans to conduct an inspection of Grafton Pet Cemetery and its handling of dead badgers; when the last such inspection was conducted; how regularly such inspections are conducted; and what length of notice is usually provided before each inspection.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2022 answer text <p>Grafton Pet Crematorium was last inspected in August 2022 with no issues found. The premises are on annual risk-based inspection regime so the next routine inspection will be due to take place in August 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The length of notice provided before an inspection varies and is determined on a case-by-case basis at the local level depending on staff and operator availability. APHA also has the provision, if required, to make unannounced visits.</p> answering member printed Lord Benyon question first answered 17/11/2022 10:57:04 answering member 1547 label Biography information for Lord Benyon
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle