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1727458

registered interest
date	04/09/2024
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	European Social Charter
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Sherlock on 3 September (HL Deb col 1046), what aspects of domestic law have been in breach of the provisions of the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter and the Revised European Social Charter 1996, preventing their ratification; and what is the legislative timetable for correcting these breaches.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2024 answer text <p>The Additional Protocol 1995 provides for a collective complaints mechanism. Member States who choose to accept this mechanism are not assessed on their conformity with the process. The UK has not accepted the mechanism because, like the majority of member States, the UK believes the existing supervisory mechanisms of the European Social Charter are adequate.</p><p> </p><p>The new Government is embarking on an extensive programme of reforms, including our Employment Rights Bill which will change our position on provisions within both the 1961 and Revised Charter. The Government will, therefore, consider our position on the Revised Charter in due course.</p><p> </p><p>A summary of the latest assessments of the UK’s conformity with the European Social Charter 1961 was published by the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe also published the UK’s report on non-accepted provisions of the European Social Charter and the Revised European Social Charter earlier this year. I will place a copy of both of these documents in the House of Lords Library.</p> answering member printed Baroness Sherlock question first answered 16/09/2024 12:19:06 answering member 4147 label Biography information for Baroness Sherlock
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1722187

registered interest
date	18/07/2024
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Ministers: Pay
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to introduce legislation to end the anomaly whereby many Ministers, particularly in the Lords, are unpaid; and which Ministers are currently unpaid.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL111
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/08/2024 answer text <p>The number of salaries available to the Government to pay ministers is set by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act (MOSA) 1975. The limit on salaries, which applies across both Houses, is 109.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has no current plans to introduce new legislation in this area.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>As of 22 July, the unpaid ministers currently serving in the Government are as follows:</p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li><p>Ministers of State: Ellie Reeves MP (n.b. she is paid by the Labour Party), Lord Timpson, Lord Hanson, Lord Hunt</p></li><li><p>Parliamentary Secretaries: Hamish Falconer MP, Mary Creagh MP, Baroness Sherlock</p></li><li><p>Lords’ Whips: Lord Leong, Baroness Twycross, Baroness Blake</p></li></ul><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Twycross question first answered 01/08/2024 11:52:33 answering member 4966 label Biography information for Baroness Twycross
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1722188

registered interest
date	18/07/2024
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	Trade Promotion
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to continue the practice of appointing unpaid Trade Envoys; and, if so, whether they intend to make the appointment process and the duties involved more transparent.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL112
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/07/2024 answer text <p>We are carefully considering the Prime Minister's Trade Envoy programme in the context of the new Government's trade objectives and will update the house in due course on the programme.</p> answering member printed Baroness Jones of Whitchurch question first answered 31/07/2024 10:42:12 answering member 3792 label Biography information for Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1721239

registered interest
date	17/07/2024
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	European Medicines Agency
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to seek a closer relationship with the European Medicines Agency.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL13
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/07/2024 answer text <p>This Government will seek to reset the relationship with European partners and work to improve the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union.</p><p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK and works closely with a range of international regulators, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), through both international regulatory groups and bilateral collaborations.</p><p>We recognise the importance of a closer relationship with the EMA and that cooperation between the MHRA and EMA is of mutual benefit.</p> answering member printed Baroness Merron question first answered 25/07/2024 11:16:55 answering member 347 label Biography information for Baroness Merron
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1713984

registered interest
date	25/04/2024
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Civil Servants: Redundancy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, following the Prime Minister's announcement that 70,000 civil service jobs will be cut to finance extra defence spending, whether those civil servants are doing work that is unnecessary; and what are the functions that will no longer be carried out.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL4091
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2024 answer text <p>The Prime Minister’s announcement of longer-term reductions in Civil Service numbers is a reiteration of the policy announced by the Chancellor in October 2023. The longer-term reductions will build on the shorter-term headcount cap put in place through to March 2025. The detail of how the return to pre-pandemic numbers will be delivered will form a key part of the next comprehensive spending review.</p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 10/05/2024 12:54:15 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1700770

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
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	Russia: Ukraine
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are taking any steps, in collaboration with international partners, to encourage peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL3715
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2024 answer text <p>We support a just and sustainable peace which restores Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, underpinned by the UN Charter. President Zelenskyy has clearly indicated Ukraine's desire for peace in his Peace Formula, which reflects principles supported by 141 countries in the UN General Assembly. The UK has supported Ukraine to convene senior officials from G7 and several G20 countries, to discuss principles for a just peace. We welcome the planned conference in Switzerland to discuss these principles further. By contrast, Russia's continued actions on the battlefield demonstrate that President Putin has no meaningful interest in a just peace. It will be for Ukraine to determine its position in any negotiations, just as it is for Ukraine to decide its democratic future and long-term security arrangements. The quickest path to peace would be for President Putin to withdraw all Russian troops illegally present in Ukraine and end its aggression against its neighbour.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 30/04/2024 14:25:45 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1700771

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Air Routes: Cyprus and Taiwan
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 compatibility of the Convention on International Civil Aviation with direct flights from London to Taipei, and in this respect why the UK does not permit flights to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL3716
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>The UK recognises only one Cypriot state – the Republic of Cyprus – and only one government as the sole legitimate government. Under the Chicago Convention, only the Republic of Cyprus may designate Ercan (in the north of Cyprus) as an international customs airport and grant permission for flights to operate from within its territory. Which it has not done so. This means that no direct air services between the north of Cyprus and the UK can take place.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to direct flights being permitted between London and Taipei, the situation is different in that the Chinese authorities have designated a number of airports in Taiwan as international customs airports which therefore permit airlines to operate between the UK and Taiwan.</p> answering member printed Lord Davies of Gower question first answered 29/04/2024 13:09:48 answering member 4499 label Biography information for Lord Davies of Gower
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1700772

registered interest
date	15/04/2024
answering body	Department for Transport
answering dept id	27
answering dept short name	Transport
answering dept sort name	Transport
hansard heading	Airports: Cyprus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the international aviation security standards at the new Ercan International Airport in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and if not, whether they plan to do so.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL3717
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2024 answer text <p>Under the 1944 Chicago Convention, only the Republic of Cyprus can designate Ercan as an international airport and allow flights to operate. As the Republic of Cyprus has not designated Ercan, the UK has not made a security assessment of the airport and has no plans to do so.</p> answering member printed Lord Davies of Gower question first answered 29/04/2024 10:28:44 answering member 4499 label Biography information for Lord Davies of Gower
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1683928

registered interest
date	22/01/2024
answering body	Ministry of Defence
answering dept id	11
answering dept short name	Defence
answering dept sort name	Defence
hansard heading	Defence Equipment: Iron and Steel
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 impact of the closure of the Port Talbot steelworks on the UK’s ability to defend itself and to support the defence of its allies.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL1779
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/02/2024 answer text <p>Tata Steel's plans to cease UK primary steel production at its Port Talbot steelworks are not anticipated to adversely impact defence. Specialist steels that are unavailable from UK sources are already sourced by our prime contractors from overseas suppliers. Other grades of steel are likely to remain available from UK sources or are widely available on world markets.</p><p> </p><p>Ministers across Government, including the Minister for Defence Procurement, continue to work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we have the capability to procure the steel required for the UK's national security and defence programmes.</p> answering member printed The Earl of Minto question first answered 05/02/2024 16:47:32 answering member 4952 label Biography information for The Earl of Minto
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe

1679227

registered interest
date	19/12/2023
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	Ukraine: Development Aid
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to earmark funds to support Ukraine in the period after the cessation of hostilities.
tabling member printed	Lord Balfe
uin	HL1321
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2024 answer text <p>Supporting Ukraine to build a secure and prosperous future is an essential part of our effort to help Ukraine defeat Russian aggression. The Ukraine Recovery Conference (21-22 June 2023) raised over $60 billion in new support, including $3 billion in UK guarantees to World Bank lending and £240 million of UK bilateral assistance for 2023-24. The UK has earmarked up to $1 billion a year in fiscal support through World Bank guarantees between 2023 and 2027. Bilateral allocations for the 2024-25 financial year are still being finalised and funding beyond 2025 will be confirmed after the next Spending Review.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/01/2024 14:47:17 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	4302 label Biography information for Lord Balfe