Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
type
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed grouped question UIN question first answered answering member label attachment file name title
tabling member	label

Search

1151163

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2019
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	School Meals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of food served in English schools is (a) organic, and (b) locally sourced; and what plans they have, if any, to increase that percentage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL240
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>Schools are responsible for their school meals service and how and where they choose to buy their produce. The department does not hold the information on what percentage of food is organic and locally sourced. Schools may use the guidance launched alongside the government’s 'Plan for Public Procurement: Food and Catering Services'.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance provides a methodology which helps contracting parties balance a range of criteria when procuring food and catering services. These include production standards, health and wellbeing, resource efficiency, socio-economic factors, quality of service and price.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance has been attached and is available from:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-plan-for-public-procurement-food-and-catering" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-plan-for-public-procurement-food-and-catering</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 31/10/2019 17:17:53 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton attachment 1 file name HL240_guidance_plan_for_public_procurement .pdf title HL240_guidance
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151164

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2019
	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	Hospitals: Food
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of food served in English hospitals is (a) organic, and (b) locally sourced; and what plans they have, if any, to increase that percentage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL241
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Data on the percentage of organic and locally sourced food served in English hospitals is not collected centrally.</p><p>On 17 June 2019, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care announced a root and branch review of the food provided in National Health Service hospitals for patients, visitors and staff which will include ensuring that food provided in the NHS is sustainable, in line with the aims of the Government’s National Food Strategy.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 30/10/2019 14:38:36 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151165

	registered interest
	date	21/10/2019
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisons: Food
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of food served in English prisons is (a) organic, and (b) locally sourced; and what plans they have, if any, to increase that percentage.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL242
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) purchase food commodities for prisoner and staff meals from a national food contract currently held by Bidfood UK.</p><p> </p><p>HMPPS does not require its supplier to provide figures relating to the percentage of organic and locally produced products provided to prisons through this contract. However, the contract was one of the first to adopt and implement the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)’s Plan for Public Procurement: Food &amp; Catering. Regular scrutiny and reporting of the contract shows that the level of UK sourced commodities purchased is 52% (Country of Origin) and the level of small and medium sized enterprises (SME) provision is over 60%. Bidfood UK are committed to increasing the percentage of UK sourced products.</p> answering member printed Lord Keen of Elie question first answered 30/10/2019 17:36:08 answering member 4538 label Biography information for Lord Keen of Elie
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151990

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2019
	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	Perfume: Chemicals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the chemicals contained in perfume and fragrance products, and any potential risks to human health.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL334
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Perfume and fragrance manufacturers are required under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (“the Cosmetic Products Regulation”) to ensure that their products, including any chemical ingredients, are safe for human health. All cosmetic products must undergo a safety assessment. Annex III of the Cosmetic Products Regulation requires that the use of certain substances is subject to restriction. The presence of a substance listed in Annex III must be indicated in a product’s list of ingredients, in addition to the words parfum or aroma. At the moment, 26 fragrance allergens are listed in in this Annex, and the list of allergenic fragrances is kept under review. A Cosmetic Product Safety Report must be compiled before the product is placed on the market. This report may be inspected at any time by the enforcement authority.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 30/10/2019 17:23:35 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151991

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2019
	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	Perfume: Labelling
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements are placed on producers of perfume and fragrance products to list their ingredients on product packaging.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products (“the Cosmetics Regulation”) containers or packaging of cosmetic products (or on an enclosed or attached documentation) must set out a list of ingredients, including perfume and aromatic compositions and their raw materials. These perfume and aromatic compositions must be referred to as ‘parfum’ or ‘aroma’. Annex III of the Cosmetic Products Regulation requires that the use of certain substances is subject to restriction. The presence of a substance listed in Annex III must be indicated in a product’s list of ingredients, in addition to the words parfum or aroma. At the moment, 26 fragrance allergens are listed in in this Annex. The labelling must be on the carton, or if there is no outer packaging, then on the container. If the perfume or fragrance is small and difficult to label, the ingredient list may be on a leaflet provided with the product, or displayed close to where the product is offered for sale.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 30/10/2019 17:23:17 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151992

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2019
	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	Detergents: Labelling
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements are placed on producers of domestic cleaning products to list their ingredients on product packaging.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>Producers of domestic cleaning products are required to make consumers aware of the ingredients of their products through the EU Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 1272/2008). Under this Regulation, suppliers of products containing hazardous chemical substances and mixtures are required to provide information on the label to identify any hazardous chemicals, explain what the hazards are and how to avoid them.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, under the EU Detergents Regulation (Regulation (EC) No. 648/2004), producers of detergents and cleaning products sold to the general public must also list the product ingredients on labels on product packaging and in ingredient data sheets. Enzymes, disinfectants, optical brighteners, perfumes and preservation agents must be listed on the label irrespective of their concentration. This information must appear in legible, visible and indelible characters on the packaging of detergents and cleaning products which are intended for the consumer.</p><p> </p><p>Producers must also prepare a full ingredient data sheet to be made available to medical personnel on request. A less detailed version of the ingredient data sheet must also be placed in the public domain via a website address on the product packaging.</p><p> </p><p>This information on ingredients enables consumers to make better informed choices about products.</p><p> </p><p>The levels of protection for people and the environment, including labelling requirements for ingredients and ingredient data sheets, will remain at least as high as at present when the UK leaves the EU.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/11/2019 17:19:28 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151993

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2019
	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	Perfume: Safety
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what requirements are placed on perfume and fragrance manufacturers (1) to test, and (2) to demonstrate, the safety of their products for human health.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>Perfume and fragrance manufacturers are required under Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 on cosmetic products to ensure that their products are safe for human health. All cosmetics products must undergo a safety assessment. A Cosmetic Product Safety Report must be compiled before the product is placed on the market which may be inspected at any time by the enforcement authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 30/10/2019 17:23:50 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1151994

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2019
	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	Perfume: Safety
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to change product safety and labelling requirements relating to perfume and fragrance products if the UK leaves the EU.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/10/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to maintaining the same high standards of product safety and labelling for perfume and fragrance products when the UK leaves the EU.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 30/10/2019 17:24:03 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1168553

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2019
	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	Health Professions: Training
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the announcement that nursing bursaries are to be reintroduced, what plans they have to support nurses, midwifes and other healthcare professionals with any debt incurred before the reintroduction to support their study and training.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL11
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/01/2020 answer text <p>We have committed to 50,000 more nurses in the National Health Service by 2025 and our new financial support package is crucial to delivering this.</p><p>Eligible pre-registration students on nursing, midwifery and many allied health students’ courses at English universities from September 2020 will benefit from additional support of at least £5,000 of non-repayable funding, with up to £3,000 additional funding for some students, who choose to study in regions or specialisms struggling to recruit, or to help with childcare costs, which they will not have to pay back.</p><p>The Government has no plans to introduce a scheme that will backdate the offer for students who completed courses in earlier years.</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford question first answered 07/01/2020 17:45:45 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1170137

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	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	Wind Power: Dorset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the viability of the Navitus Bay wind farm site.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p>It is for developers to come forward with proposals for potential locations of generating stations including offshore windfarms.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change assessed an application for development consent for a wind farm on the Navitus Bay wind farm site in 2015. The Secretary of State issued a decision on 11 September 2015 refusing the grant of development consent for the proposed Navitus Bay offshore wind farm.</p><p> </p><p>The decision was in line with the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate, which examined a wide range of issues related to the potential benefits and impacts of the project in reaching its conclusion. The Secretary of State’s decision letter sets out her consideration of those issues.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank grouped question UIN HL285 question first answered 22/01/2020 16:57:59 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1170138

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	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	Wind Power: Dorset
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the Navitus Bay wind farm site is successfully developed.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2020 answer text <p>It is for developers to come forward with proposals for potential locations of generating stations including offshore windfarms.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change assessed an application for development consent for a wind farm on the Navitus Bay wind farm site in 2015. The Secretary of State issued a decision on 11 September 2015 refusing the grant of development consent for the proposed Navitus Bay offshore wind farm.</p><p> </p><p>The decision was in line with the recommendation of the Planning Inspectorate, which examined a wide range of issues related to the potential benefits and impacts of the project in reaching its conclusion. The Secretary of State’s decision letter sets out her consideration of those issues.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank grouped question UIN HL284 question first answered 22/01/2020 16:57:59 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1170139

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	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	Wind Power
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the deployment of (1) offshore, and (2) onshore, wind energy.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL286
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2020 answer text <p>The UK is the world’s largest offshore wind market with 9.8GW installed, which is expected to rise to 14GW by 2023 and 19.5GW by 2026. On 23 July 2018, the Government announced the timetable for future Contracts for Difference auctions, which is the main mechanism for deploying new renewable technologies. The auctions have the potential to deliver up to 2GW of new offshore wind every year in the 2020s, which has given long term vision and clarity to the offshore wind sector.</p><p> </p><p>The Offshore Wind Sector Deal, published on 7 March 2019, will build on the UK’s global leadership in offshore wind bringing a strategic approach to deliver increased capacity of offshore wind, while boosting the UK economy, enhancing growth in the regions while continuing to reduce costs.</p><p> </p><p>Onshore wind has also deployed successfully to date in the UK, recently exceeding 14GW of installed operational capacity. Onshore wind continues to fall in cost and has resulted in several merchant onshore wind sites being deployed to date.</p> answering member printed Lord Duncan of Springbank question first answered 21/01/2020 15:53:48 answering member 4686 label Biography information for Lord Duncan of Springbank
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1171777

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing a mandatory phase-out of horticultural peat as part of their forthcoming England Peat Strategy; and when they intend to publish that strategy.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL539
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to phasing out the use of peat in horticulture in England by 2030. In 2011, we set a voluntary target to phase out the use of horticultural peat in the amateur sector by 2020, and the professional sector by 2030. While some progress has been made, we stated in the 25 Year Environment Plan that we would consider implementing further measures if there is insufficient movement to peat alternatives by 2020. We will set out plans to speed up progress on ending the use of horticultural peat in the England Peat Strategy, which we will publish this year.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 29/01/2020 15:27:05 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1171779

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to fund the provision of independent advice for farmers in any new agricultural support schemes.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL541
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2020 answer text <p>Our Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme is the cornerstone of our new agricultural policy. Founded on the principle of “public money for public goods”, ELM is intended to provide a powerful vehicle for achieving the goals of the 25 Year Environment Plan and commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while supporting our rural economy. <br></p><p>ELM is looking into several options for sourcing advisors, considering both private and public sector options. The options we are considering allow flexibility to source experienced advisors in the short-term for the National Pilot, whilst building sufficient and high-quality advisor capacity to support the full roll out of ELM. The National Pilot provides an opportunity to co-design with stakeholders and land managers the most appropriate way to provide this capacity and whether it is provided from the public or private sector.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 28/01/2020 14:50:06 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1174434

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission is unbiased, and perceived to be unbiased.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave to PQ <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-12-19/HL36/" target="_blank">HL36</a> on 7 January 2020. Further details will be announced in due course.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL895 HL896 question first answered 12/02/2020 12:11:27 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1174435

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to ensure that the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission enjoys broad public support, engagement and input.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave to PQ <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-12-19/HL36/" target="_blank">HL36</a> on 7 January 2020. Further details will be announced in due course.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL894 HL896 question first answered 12/02/2020 12:11:27 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1174436

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to publish (1) proposals, and (2) the terms of reference, for the Constitution, Democracy and Rights Commission.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL896
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2020 answer text <p>I refer the noble Baroness to the answer I gave to PQ <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2019-12-19/HL36/" target="_blank">HL36</a> on 7 January 2020. Further details will be announced in due course.</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL894 HL895 question first answered 12/02/2020 12:11:27 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176581

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Climate Change Convention
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Evans of Bowes Park) on 3 February (HL Deb, col 1663), what is their timetable for COP26 negotiations.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister demonstrated his focus on climate action on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by launching the COP26 Climate Summit. The text of the speech is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020</a></p><p>Regarding meetings of the Cabinet, it is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.</p><p>The negotiations timetable for COP26 will be set by the UK, as President of COP26, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat. The timetable will be informed by the outcome of negotiations, including at the intersessional meeting in Bonn in June. Details of the timetable for high level and public events will be announced by the Government in due course.</p><p>The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government and with operational delivery partners, including Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council, to ensure the successful delivery of COP26 in Glasgow. The security plan for the COP26 venue will be jointly developed and agreed on by the United Nations security team and UK counterparts. Discussions with delivery partners regarding costs for COP26 are ongoing, and final budgets and details are yet to be confirmed.</p><p>The UK Government is committed to working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver an ambitious and successful summit for the whole of the UK. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL1345 HL1346 HL1347 HL1368 question first answered 13/02/2020 11:35:46 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176583

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Climate Change Convention
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect the COP26 venue to operate as one unit without internal security checks or other barriers for all its parts.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister demonstrated his focus on climate action on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by launching the COP26 Climate Summit. The text of the speech is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020</a></p><p>Regarding meetings of the Cabinet, it is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.</p><p>The negotiations timetable for COP26 will be set by the UK, as President of COP26, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat. The timetable will be informed by the outcome of negotiations, including at the intersessional meeting in Bonn in June. Details of the timetable for high level and public events will be announced by the Government in due course.</p><p>The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government and with operational delivery partners, including Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council, to ensure the successful delivery of COP26 in Glasgow. The security plan for the COP26 venue will be jointly developed and agreed on by the United Nations security team and UK counterparts. Discussions with delivery partners regarding costs for COP26 are ongoing, and final budgets and details are yet to be confirmed.</p><p>The UK Government is committed to working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver an ambitious and successful summit for the whole of the UK. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL1344 HL1346 HL1347 HL1368 question first answered 13/02/2020 11:35:45 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176585

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Climate Change Convention
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the First Minister of Scotland about COP26.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1346
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister demonstrated his focus on climate action on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by launching the COP26 Climate Summit. The text of the speech is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020</a></p><p>Regarding meetings of the Cabinet, it is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.</p><p>The negotiations timetable for COP26 will be set by the UK, as President of COP26, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat. The timetable will be informed by the outcome of negotiations, including at the intersessional meeting in Bonn in June. Details of the timetable for high level and public events will be announced by the Government in due course.</p><p>The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government and with operational delivery partners, including Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council, to ensure the successful delivery of COP26 in Glasgow. The security plan for the COP26 venue will be jointly developed and agreed on by the United Nations security team and UK counterparts. Discussions with delivery partners regarding costs for COP26 are ongoing, and final budgets and details are yet to be confirmed.</p><p>The UK Government is committed to working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver an ambitious and successful summit for the whole of the UK. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL1344 HL1345 HL1347 HL1368 question first answered 13/02/2020 11:35:46 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176587

	registered interest
	date	05/02/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	Climate Change Cabinet Committee
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times the Prime Minister has convened the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Climate Change; and when it will next meet.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2020 answer text <p>The Prime Minister demonstrated his focus on climate action on Tuesday 4 February 2020 by launching the COP26 Climate Summit. The text of the speech is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-cop-26-launch-4-february-2020</a></p><p>Regarding meetings of the Cabinet, it is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.</p><p>The negotiations timetable for COP26 will be set by the UK, as President of COP26, including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat. The timetable will be informed by the outcome of negotiations, including at the intersessional meeting in Bonn in June. Details of the timetable for high level and public events will be announced by the Government in due course.</p><p>The UK Government is working closely with the Scottish Government and with operational delivery partners, including Police Scotland and Glasgow City Council, to ensure the successful delivery of COP26 in Glasgow. The security plan for the COP26 venue will be jointly developed and agreed on by the United Nations security team and UK counterparts. Discussions with delivery partners regarding costs for COP26 are ongoing, and final budgets and details are yet to be confirmed.</p><p>The UK Government is committed to working with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver an ambitious and successful summit for the whole of the UK. Details of Ministerial meetings are published quarterly on GOV.UK</p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL1344 HL1345 HL1346 HL1368 question first answered 13/02/2020 11:35:46 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176666

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2020
	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	Midwives: Training
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many of the 3,000 additional training places announced in May 2018 for midwifery students have (1) been filled in the current academic year, and (2) been commissioned for each of the next three academic years.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL732
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>Since the changes to the bursary system in 2017 midwifery places are no longer directly commissioned. The Department makes funding available for clinical placements, with places filled via the normal university application process. The Government has committed to expand midwifery training places by 3,650 over a four year period with an increase of 650 in September 2019 and 1,000 in each of the subsequent years.</p><p>Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in the following table shows acceptances to midwifery courses increased by 425 in the academic year 2019-20. The table also shows the number of acceptances in each of the three preceding academic years.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Academic year</p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>2019-20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of acceptances</p></td><td><p>2,395</p></td><td><p>2,600</p></td><td><p>2,680</p></td><td><p>3,105</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source</em>: UCAS end of cycle data, 2019</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford grouped question UIN HL733 question first answered 30/01/2020 15:56:07 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176668

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2020
	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	Midwives: Training
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government how many student midwives started their training in (1) the current academic year, and (2) each of the three preceding academic years.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL733
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2020 answer text <p>Since the changes to the bursary system in 2017 midwifery places are no longer directly commissioned. The Department makes funding available for clinical placements, with places filled via the normal university application process. The Government has committed to expand midwifery training places by 3,650 over a four year period with an increase of 650 in September 2019 and 1,000 in each of the subsequent years.</p><p>Data from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) in the following table shows acceptances to midwifery courses increased by 425 in the academic year 2019-20. The table also shows the number of acceptances in each of the three preceding academic years.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Academic year</p></td><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>2018-19</p></td><td><p>2019-20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of acceptances</p></td><td><p>2,395</p></td><td><p>2,600</p></td><td><p>2,680</p></td><td><p>3,105</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Source</em>: UCAS end of cycle data, 2019</p> answering member printed Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford grouped question UIN HL732 question first answered 30/01/2020 15:56:07 answering member 4019 label Biography information for Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1176697

	registered interest
	date	20/01/2020
	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	Cultural Heritage: Environment Protection
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to including the historic environment in the scope of future Environmental Improvement Plans.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL540
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2020 answer text <p>The 25 Year Environment Plan (25YEP) commits the Government to safeguarding and enhancing the beauty of our natural scenery and improving its environmental value, while being sensitive to considerations of its heritage. We will continue this approach to improving the natural environment, both identifying the mutually positive impacts on the natural and historic environments our policies can have, as well as identifying potential trade-offs between them. Under the Environment Bill, to be reintroduced shortly, the 25YEP will be adopted as the first statutory Environment Improvement Plan.</p><p>The Agriculture Bill, recently laid before Parliament, will enable the Government to develop our ambitious new Environmental Land Management (ELM) scheme. Our scheme is the cornerstone of our new agricultural policy. Founded on the principle of “public money for public goods”, ELM will provide a powerful vehicle for achieving the goals of the 25YEP and commitment to net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while supporting our rural economy. Through the scheme, land managers will be paid to deliver public goods set out in the 25YEP, including beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment.</p> answering member printed Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park question first answered 03/02/2020 16:36:06 answering member 4062 label Biography information for Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1177109

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2020
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Female Genital Mutilation
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Sugg on 6 February (HL Deb, col 1885), how many claims for asylum have been made by (1) women and girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM), and (2) anti-FGM campaigners, in each of the last 10 years; and how many such claims (a) have been accepted, (b) have been rejected, and (c) are awaiting a decision.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1434
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2020 answer text <p>The Home Office does not record the basis of claims in a way that can be easily aggregated so cannot provide figures on how many asylum claims have been made by (1) women and girls at risk of female genital mutilation (FGM), and (2) anti-FGM campaigners, in each of the last 10 years; and how many such claims (a) have been accepted, (b) have been rejected, and (c) are awaiting a decision.</p><p>However, the Home Office does publish data on the number of cases concluded by gender. This data can be found at Asy_05/06/06q/07, of the published Transparency data: August 2019: <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-august-2019" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-august-2019</a></p> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford question first answered 20/02/2020 16:50:49 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford attachment 1 file name UKVI_Asylum_Q2_2019_Published (1).xlsx title Asylum Transparency Data - August 2019
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1177110

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2020
	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	Sustainability of the Press Review
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by Baroness Morgan of Cotes on 6 February (HL Deb, col 1937) that the Government “supported all the recommendations apart from one: the proposal to establish an institute for public interest news” and “the Government have decided that it is not for the Government to take that recommendation forward”, what assessment they made to inform that decision; what support they intend to give, if any, to the establishment by other organisations of an institute for public interest news; what discussions they have had with other organisations about establishing such an institute; and with which organisations they have discussed any such plans.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/02/2020 answer text <p>The Government acknowledges the value the ‘Institute for Public Interest News’, proposed by Dame Frances Cairncross in her Review, is intended to achieve, in bringing different initiatives together in order to amplify their impact, and acting as a channel for collaboration. However, the Government recognises the concerns of many in the publishing industry regarding the inherent challenge an organisation with such a purpose will face in defining what qualifies as ‘public interest’ news, and what might therefore be deserving of support. It is not for the Government to define what qualifies as 'public interest' news. While any institute would be at arm’s length from the Government, we recognise concerns that even an arm’s length relationship risks perceptions of inappropriate Government interference with the press. The Government has therefore decided that it is not for the Government to take the recommendation forward.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There are a number of existing initiatives set up by the industry in this area, for example, the Google News Initiative, Facebook’s Community News Project, the Public Interest News Foundation set up by Impress, and the BBC’s proposed Local Democracy Foundation — with more potentially under development across the sector. Parts of the sector have shown a desire to help share approaches and best practice. It remains open for the sector to support the existing initiatives or form others as they see fit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Notwithstanding that it is not for the Government to play a role in leading or designing an institution, there are some challenges and functions that Dame Frances envisaged as potentially being undertaken by an institute that the Government is minded to support through other routes. A key function where we see a potential role for Government to support is the funding of research into news provision and its impact on communities. The Government has recently put out an invitation to tender for research to support policy development on news sustainability and will continue to explore how it can commission further research into these areas, to provide a solid evidence base for future policy interventions.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Barran question first answered 19/02/2020 11:09:47 answering member 4703 label Biography information for Baroness Barran
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1179829

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	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	Local Plans: South Oxfordshire
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they expect South Oxfordshire District Council to take to improve its local plan.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1708
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>On 3 October 2019 South Oxfordshire District Council Cabinet recommended the withdrawal of the emerging South Oxfordshire local plan. On 9 October 2019 the Secretary of State directed South Oxfordshire District Council not to take any steps in connection with the adoption of the local plan, while he considers this matter. This direction remains in force.</p> answering member printed Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist question first answered 09/03/2020 16:56:19 answering member 4582 label Biography information for Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1179830

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Transport: Oxfordshire
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to work with South Oxfordshire District Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Network Rail to improve (1) cycling, (2) railway services, and (3) bus services, in the South Oxfordshire district; and whether they expect the delivery of any such improvements to precede the construction of new homes in the district.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1709
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>Government works with all key partners across the country, including local authorities within Oxfordshire and with Network Rail, in ensuring consideration is given to appropriate sustainable transport modes, in particular, where there are planned housing developments. There is a requirement for local authorities to include any proposals in their local plans.</p><p> </p><p>There is a requirement in the National Planning Policy Framework for local authorities to ensure that transport issues are considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals. In planning for new settlements this involves ensuring that opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and pursued. Plans are also prepared with the active involvement of local highways authorities, other transport infrastructure providers and operators and neighbouring councils, so that strategies and investments for supporting sustainable transport and development patterns are aligned.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 09/03/2020 17:12:11 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1179832

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Roads: Oxfordshire
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the expected levels of use, and (2) the expected increase in carbon emissions of (a) the proposed Culham Thames bridge, and (b) a road link connecting the A34 to the M40; and what progress has been made in respect of these developments.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1710
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>The responsibility for any assessment of levels of use and increases of carbon emissions for these proposals would lie with the local highway authority, Oxfordshire County Council.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 09/03/2020 17:20:19 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1179833

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Cowley Branch Line
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to restore the Cowley Branch railway line for passenger services; what stations any such services would serve; what is their timetable for developing any such plans; and what assessment they have made of the impact restoring the line for passenger services would have on carbon emissions.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1711
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>A study of the rail corridors in Oxfordshire has been undertaken by Network Rail in partnership with the Department for Transport and local stakeholders led by the Oxfordshire Growth Board. The scope of the study has included the possibility of reopening the line between Oxford and Cowley for passenger services, with two new stations serving the Oxford Business and Science Park. The work undertaken to date has not included an assessment of the impact on carbon emissions.</p><p> </p><p>The Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study will be published this Spring, and further development work on reopening the Cowley line will be progressed in accordance with the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline.</p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 09/03/2020 17:00:03 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1179835

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Culham
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the railway services at Culham to support the proposed increase in housing in the area; what assessment they have made of the impact of an increase in railway services at Culham on carbon emissions; and whether they expect any such improvements to rail services will precede the construction of new homes in the area.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1712
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>A study of the rail corridors in Oxfordshire has been undertaken by Network Rail in partnership with the Department for Transport and local stakeholders led by the Oxfordshire Growth Board. The scope of the study has included an assessment of the demand for train services to and from Oxfordshire stations, including Culham, taking account of planned housing growth contained within existing Local Plans.</p><p> </p><p>The Oxfordshire Rail Corridor Study will be published this Spring, and the outcomes will be progressed in accordance with the Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline. The work undertaken to date has not included an assessment of the impact on carbon emissions of any proposals, which is because the limit of the study work was to produce a train service specification to meet forecast demand, understand the existing capacity shortfall and the infrastructure interventions that might be required in order to meet that specification.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Vere of Norbiton question first answered 09/03/2020 16:58:09 answering member 4580 label Biography information for Baroness Vere of Norbiton
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1180620

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2020
	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	Pesticides
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the legal requirements for local authorities to report their use of glyphosate and other chemical pesticides and herbicides; and what central record is kept of the use of such chemicals.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1848
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/03/2020 answer text <p>Pesticides, including glyphosate and other herbicides, are strictly regulated and their use is only authorised if a scientific risk assessment shows that there will be no harmful effect on human health and no unacceptable effects on the environment. There are specific risk assessments for the use of pesticides in amenity areas, which includes local authority use. There are also controls on the use of pesticides, including training of users and testing of application equipment.</p><p> </p><p>It is for local authorities to determine the need for pest and weed control in their operations and to decide how to deliver this effectively without harming people or the environment. There is a legal requirement to minimise the use of pesticides along roads and in areas used by the general public and a number of local authorities are exploring practices that help meet this requirement.</p><p> </p><p>Local authorities are not required to report their use of chemical pesticides and no central record is kept. The Government does commission and publish surveys of pesticide use. These focus mainly on the use of pesticides in farming, but surveys of amenity use have been carried out from time to time, most recently in 2016.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 10/03/2020 15:51:53 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1181407

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2020
	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 Her Majesty's Government whether Brexit has resulted in any changes in the UK’s participation in, and access to, the European Medicines Agency; if so, what assessment they have made of the impact this will have on the UK’s ability to respond to coronavirus; and what steps they intend to take as a result.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1980
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>As of 1 January 2020, we are in the transition period during which the United Kingdom will continue to follow European legislation and European Medicines Agency (EMA) processes and decisions until 31 December 2020. We continue to receive public safety information from the EMA and have firm links with the World Health Organization and other key international public health organisations working on this issue. The Government has set out its negotiation approach with the European Union, which includes commitments for cooperation and information sharing to enable regulators to act promptly to safeguard patient safety and public health.</p><p>The UK is a world leader in preparing for and managing public health incidents and on 3 March the Government published its action plan to tackle the spread of coronavirus. A copy of <em>Coronavirus: action plan. A guide to what you can expect across the UK</em> is attached.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 12/03/2020 17:35:00 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell attachment 1 file name Coronavirus_action_plan_-_a_guide_to_what_you_can_expect_across_the_UK.pdf title Coronavirus_action_plan
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1181408

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2020
	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	Public Health
	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 effective collaboration between the four UK public health authorities and their EU counterparts once the transition period ends.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1981
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/03/2020 answer text <p>The United Kingdom is open to exploring cooperation between the UK and the European Union on matters of health security, as well as on commitments on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevention, in future relationship negotiations with the EU. The Government is committed to establishing a future relationship that benefits the whole of the UK. There are strong existing relationships between the UK's four public health agencies and their counterparts in EU Member States and we work closely with them to protect our citizens from cross-border threats to health, such as the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The UK remains committed to working with countries and partners from across the world, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora, such as the World Health Organization, G7 and the Global Health Security Initiative and we will continue to uphold all of our commitments under the International Health Regulations<em>. </em></p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 06/03/2020 14:14:26 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1181409

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2020
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	hansard heading	EU Law
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why they do not wish the UK to align with EU regulations on environmental standards and workers' rights at the end of the transition period when they have committed to maintain or go further than those regulations.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL1982
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2020 answer text <p>The UK is committed to high standards, and has led the way in areas such as workers’ rights and environmental protection.</p><p>After the transition period, which ends on 31 December 2020, the UK will choose its own standards and regulations. This is a fundamental right of a sovereign nation; our Government will uphold our high standards, not because of obligations to European institutions and courts but through our own free will and that of our democratically elected Parliament.</p> answering member printed Lord True question first answered 12/03/2020 16:04:59 answering member 4200 label Biography information for Lord True
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1181773

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2020
	answering body	Leader of the House of Lords
	answering dept id	92
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Leader of the House of Lords
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Leader of the House what steps she is taking to ensure that parliamentary business can continue in the event of movement restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2035
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2020 answer text <p>The Government has undertaken detailed work on COVID-19 with four strands: contain, delay, research and mitigate. Should there be a need to implement restrictions on movement then the Government, in consultation with the Usual Channels, will update the House on the next steps in relation to parliamentary business if there is a need to do so. While COVID-19 has the potential to spread extensively there is no reason to change parliamentary business at this stage. The Government is monitoring the situation closely and providing regular updates to parliament and the general public.</p> answering member printed Baroness Evans of Bowes Park question first answered 05/03/2020 14:41:40 answering member 4329 label Biography information for Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1183411

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2020
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the COVID-19 outbreak, what plans they have to relax the rules on the length of time between when a member of NHS staff retires and when they can join a temporary staff bank.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL2314
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2020 answer text <p>NHS England is working with its professional leads, the respective regulators, NHS Employers and the Department to determine how best to engage with retirees / leavers who are willing to return to work for a period of time to provide the extra capacity needed to meet the demands of COVID-19.</p><p>NHS England has been developing with stakeholders a clear and straightforward re-registration process and simplified employment checks. NHS England will identify what training is required to support returners and will develop guidance to help employers to engage with these staff and provide advice and support to all staff over this period.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 19/03/2020 17:35:58 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1189777

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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
	hansard heading	Hong Kong: Demonstrations
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the Hong Kong protests issued on 18 April, what plans they have to meet with China’s Ambassador to the UK; whether the UK Ambassador to China will meet with officials in Beijing; and what further steps they are taking in response to those protests as a signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3294
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>We are concerned about the arrests of a number of political figures in Hong Kong, and are following these cases closely. We expect any arrests and judicial processes to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.</p><p>The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong's way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. It is essential that any protests are conducted peacefully, and that the authorities avoid actions that inflame tensions. The authorities should focus on rebuilding trust through a process of meaningful political dialogue.</p><p>The UK remains committed to upholding the rights and freedoms underpinned by the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law and enshrined in Hong Kong's Bill of Rights, and we expect the Chinese authorities to respect and preserve Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy. We have made this position clear to the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing and the Chinese Embassy in London, and will continue to do so, publicly and privately.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 05/05/2020 11:05:24 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1189778

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Health Professions: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many final year nurses, midwives and associated health professionals who finished their courses early to take up roles in response to the COVID-19 pandemic are now working in the (1) NHS, and (2) social care sector; and what special provision is being made to support those workers.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3295
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/05/2020 answer text <p>Final year nursing, midwifery and many allied health profession students are beginning to be deployed into the National Health Service and social care sector. Information on the overall numbers deployed is being collected by Health Education England and will be made available from early May 2020.</p><p>We have guaranteed that all nursing, midwifery and allied health students who do opt in to paid clinical placements to support the COVID-19 response will be rewarded fairly for their hard work. Students who opt in will be getting a salary and automatic NHS pension entitlement at the appropriate band. They will also still receive their student maintenance loan and Learning Support Fund payments too.</p><p>Universities will also continue to provide pastoral support to students throughout this time too.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 04/05/2020 15:53:01 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1189779

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Care Homes: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much financial, or in-kind, assistance they have provided to care homes and home care providers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; and how much of that assistance was given to for-profit care homes and home care providers.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3296
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>We have set out a comprehensive action plan to support the adult social care sector in England throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, including ramping up testing, overhauling the way personal protective equipment is being delivered to care homes and helping to minimise the spread of the virus to keep people safe.</p><p>On 19 March we announced £1.6 billion to help local authorities deal with the immediate impacts of COVID-19, which many councils will have directed towards adult social care services. On 18 April we announced an additional £1.6 billion of funding to support councils delivering essential frontline services. We do not collect centrally the breakdown of local authority support for different types of care providers.</p><p>This funding is part of the Government’s commitment to ensure the National Health Service and social care system, and other public services, have the resources required to tackle COVID-19. The Government will continue to monitor pressures in the NHS and local government and will keep future funding under review.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 15/05/2020 11:25:47 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1189780

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Dairy Products: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist farmers and processors to find alternative outlets for milk and other dairy products that would otherwise go to waste due to disrupted supply chains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3297
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra is working very closely with both farmer and processor representatives through this period of disruption to manage the impact on the dairy supply chain of Covid-19. Farmers supplying milk to processors that sell into the food service sector have seen a significant reduction in demand and we have taken several steps to support those affected.</p><p>This includes by temporarily setting aside some elements of competition law to enable farmers and the wider dairy sector to work together to minimise milk being wasted and to ensure it is processed into longer life dairy products. This approach will allow the market for milk to adjust to the change in demand for milk while allowing production to be restored when shops, restaurants and pubs are able to open again.</p><p>The Government's Covid-19 Business Interruption Loans scheme is available to the dairy industry to support them in this difficult period. I urge those farm businesses for whom it is appropriate to consider accessing these loans. Defra has held urgent discussions with the major banks to ensure they understand that farmers, milk buyers and milk processors are eligible for this scheme and we are working to increase awareness across the dairy industry. HMT have also now announced the new Bounce Back Loan scheme which will apply to businesses operating in agriculture. This will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans. The government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. We will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender.</p><p>The Government also took a number of early emergency steps to support dairy farmers and the wider sector. These included designating employees in the food sector as key workers and temporarily relaxing the normal rules on drivers' hours, enabling the sector to keep supply chains running, including deliveries from farm gate to processors.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/05/2020 15:07:53 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1189781

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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	Food: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to provide access to land to individuals and communities seeking to establish individual or community food growing schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3298
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government values green spaces such as allotments and considers them to be an important community asset, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak. Allotments play an important role in helping people to live a healthy and active lifestyle and in providing food.</p><p> </p><p>Local councils have a statutory duty under Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 to provide a sufficient number of allotments based on local demand in an area and to let them to people residing in that area who want them. The provision of allotment spaces is the responsibility of local councils as they are best placed to determine the demand in their area.</p><p> </p><p>In 2012, the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-housing-communities-and-local-government" target="_blank">Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government</a> published a best practice guide for community groups wanting to find land to grow fruit and vegetables. This is available on the GOV.UK website at:</p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/space-for-food-growing-a-guide" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/space-for-food-growing-a-guide</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Local Government Association also provides guidance on allotments and community food growing schemes in its “Growing in the community” guidance, which is available online at: <a href="http://www.local.gov.uk/growing-community-second-edition" target="_blank">www.local.gov.uk/growing-community-second-edition</a>.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/05/2020 16:19:18 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1189782

	registered interest
	date	21/04/2020
	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: Protective Clothing
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) surgical gowns, (2) N95 masks, and (3) surgical masks, are currently being held in central stocks in the UK; how many of each have (a) been distributed from central stocks in the UK in the last seven days, and (b) are expected to arrive in the next seven days; how they will be distributed (i) among the nations of the UK, and (ii) between the NHS and social care providers; and whether they intend to publish regular updates of these figures. [T]
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3299
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2020 answer text <p>From 25 February to 23 April we have delivered over 950 million items of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the health and social care system within England. This includes 140 million masks, 150 million aprons, 1.5 million gowns and 518 million gloves. Tens of millions more items of PPE will have been distributed by the devolved administrations. Additionally, in the week commencing 20 April, we released 29 million items of PPE to designated wholesalers for onward sale to social care providers.</p><p>We are working closely with the devolved administrations to co-ordinate the distribution of PPE across the United Kingdom.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 14/05/2020 11:18:38 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1191409

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	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: Screening
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of drive-in COVID-19 testing sites in England are operated by (1) the NHS directly and (2) private contractors; what percentage of tests for each such site involves (1) swabbing of the nose and throat by trained staff, or (2) instructions being given in writing or verbally for participants to swab themselves; and what data is available on the relative accuracy of the two forms of test. [T]
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3589
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>Regional Test Sites are overseen by the Department as part of the COVID-19 National Testing Programme. These sites have been commissioned by the Department and operated by a range of commercial organisations. As of 29 April, 43 regional tests were open across the United Kingdom. Of these, 11 deliver assisted testing, 14 sites operate the self-administered approach and 18 operate a hybrid model where both options are offered.</p><p>The test is reliable and effective. There are different tests in use under this programme and all have been assessed as performing to manufacturers specifications before being used.</p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 20/05/2020 12:53:49 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1191410

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Housing
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many students are currently living in on-campus accommodation at (1) colleges and (2) universities; of these, how many are (a) UK students (b) EU students, and (c) non-EU international students; how many are minors; and whether those students are housed in adequately maintained conditions and have access to the basic facilities they require.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3590
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.</p><p>Statistics on the numbers of further and higher education (HE) students resident in on-campus accommodation following 23 March’s lockdown are not held centrally.</p><p>However, Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data show that approximately 360,000 students at UK higher education institutions in 2018/19 were resident in provider-maintained property, including some 117,000 international students, of which 31,000 were from the EU.</p><p>Levels of current occupancy of accommodation vary widely between different institutions with those students still resident likely to include care leavers, students estranged from their families and international students for whom there is no alternative accommodation easily available or who are not able to get home because of travel restrictions.</p><p>HE providers have been asked to aim to ensure staff (catering, cleaning and laundry staff, for instance) are available to support on halls management. Counselling staff should also be available to support on isolating students’ mental health. This support could be provided virtually.</p><p>We have worked to improve joint continuity planning between HE providers and Local Resilience Forums to consider how to ensure availability of supply of food and medicines.</p><p>College campus accommodation where children are resident is inspected by Ofsted against national minimum standards. The inspections are conducted on an age basis and include international students.</p><p>Ofsted holds a record of ratings for further education accommodation.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 19/05/2020 11:07:15 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1191411

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Students: Housing
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their plans to assist A-level and university students who are at risk of homelessness due to their on-campus accommodation contracts being terminated, and how they will ensure these students are neither rendered homeless nor forced into debt.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3591
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/05/2020 answer text <p>As my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have both made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.</p><p>My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, has written to all higher education (HE) providers to explain the importance of HE institutions operating a non-eviction policy so that no student is required to leave halls if their contract has ended, if their rental agreement does not cover holiday periods or if they are unable to pay their rent. This is particularly important in the case of international students, care leavers and students estranged from their families.</p><p>In her letters, my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, also emphasised the need for HE providers to consider practical support to ensure that students who remain on campus can access sufficient food, medical and cleaning supplies, along with mental health support.</p><p>Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the current 2019/20 academic year.</p><p>We have worked closely with the Office for Students to enable providers to draw upon existing funding to increase hardship funds and support disadvantaged students impacted by COVID-19. As a result, providers will be able to use the funding, worth around £23 million per month for April and May, towards student hardship funds.</p><p>Students with a part-time employment contract should speak to their employer about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which has been set up to help pay staff wages and keep people in employment. This can be accessed from: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/covid-19-support-for-businesses</a>.</p><p>We have also asked that HE providers pay particular attention to the additional financial hardships that are being faced by student staff who have been reliant on income from campus-based jobs at this time.</p><p>The government encourages universities and private hall providers to be fair in their decisions about rent charges for this period.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 19/05/2020 11:19:06 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1191412

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Overseas Students: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what provision they are making to ensure international students can return to the UK to resume their studies who left the UK to return home for the duration of the lockdown, and what support they will provide to international students who are no longer in a position to return to the UK to complete their studies due to financial losses as a result of the crisis.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3592
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/05/2020 answer text <p>The government is applying discretion under current circumstances to ensure that international students are not negatively impacted due to COVID-19. We have published bespoke Tier 4 visa guidance for students and sponsors affected by changes to UK immigration and borders due to COVID-19. This guidance includes the latest information for those who might have questions around visa expiry, switching visa category within the UK and distance learning – it also specifically confirms that sponsors do not need to withdraw sponsorship if a student is unable to attend for more than 60 days due to COVID-19 but intends to resume their studies eventually.</p><p>We are working closely with universities and are pleased to see that the sector is making every effort to enable students to continue their studies – including moving learning online either in the UK or in student's home country – so that their teaching and assessment can proceed. Students experiencing financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 should contact their higher education provider. Many providers have hardship funds which students can apply to for assistance.</p> answering member printed Baroness Berridge question first answered 15/05/2020 13:49:12 answering member 4218 label Biography information for Baroness Berridge
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1191413

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	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	Sheltered Housing: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what support or funding they are giving to support sheltered-housing providers, including information, training, personal protective equipment and other provision to ensure the safety of staff and residents, particularly those who have difficulty understanding or complying with the Government’s COVID-19 advice and associated regulations; and whether they are considering introducing further measures in relation to supported-housing providers to address the COVID-19 epidemic.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3593
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government deeply values and applauds the hard work of supported and sheltered housing providers and workers in supporting vulnerable people across the country during this pandemic.</p><p>The Government has published guidance issued by Public Health England on working practices in supported living during the pandemic. This can be found (attached) at the following link:</p><p><a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fgovernment%2Fpublications%2Fcovid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-guidance%2Fcovid-19-guidance-for-supported-living-provision&amp;data=02%7C01%7CParliamentary%40communities.gov.uk%7C84121196412544fc853408d7f6515402%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637248701462365976&amp;sdata=TcXbBAmuGAMayQ9LUGJ3axqASGCJPUjC5FydZSqKTWM%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-residential-care-supported-living-and-home-care-guidance/covid-19-guidance-for-supported-living-provision</a></p><p>We have also given councils an additional £3.2 billion of funding so they can continue to provide essential services and support vulnerable people.</p><p>We have extended testing to all front line essential workers which includes those working in supported, extra-care, sheltered and retirement housing, and we have provided additional supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) to Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) for local distribution to a broad range of essential front line workers.</p><p>For those supported and retirement housing residents who may be shielding, the Government is helping shielding individuals who request our support with free deliveries of weekly parcels of food and household essentials, help with delivery of medicines, and help with social contact and basic needs.</p><p>My Department continues to engage regularly with sector stakeholders.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 13/05/2020 14:59:02 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh attachment 1 file name 200512 COVID-19_ guidance for supported living provision - GOV.UK - HL3593.pdf title Residential care and home care guidance
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1191414

	registered interest
	date	28/04/2020
	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	Dairy Farming: Coronavirus
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what they are doing in relation to the measures to react to SARS-CoV-2 to support the adoption of agroecological farming practices in the dairy sector, which require small, largely grass-fed operations rather than factory farming.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3594
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2020 answer text <p>Defra is working very closely with the dairy and other agricultural sectors through this period of disruption to manage the impact of Covid-9 on the dairy supply chain.</p><p>The Government encourages environmentally-friendly farming. Each farming method has its own benefits and it is a farmer’s commercial decision to choose the system that best suits their farm. Environmentally-friendly farming and food production can go hand in hand.</p><p>To support the dairy industry through impacts of Covid-19, we have introduced a wide range of measures, which will also benefit dairy farmers employing agro-ecological practices.</p><p>We have eased some elements of competition law to make it easier for dairy processors to come together to maximise production, processing and storage efficiency and ensure as much product as possible can be processed into high quality dairy products.</p><p>Moreover, in recognition of the unprecedented challenges facing this sector we announced on 7 May a new fund to support those dairy farmers who have seen decreased demand due to the loss of the food service sector. Eligible dairy farmers in England who have lost more than 25% of their income over April and May due to coronavirus disruptions will be eligible for funding of up to £10,000 each, to cover 70% of their lost income during this qualifying period. This will enable these producers to continue to operate and sustain production capacity without impacts on animal welfare.</p><p> </p><p>AHDB together with Dairy UK have also launched a new £1m campaign to drive consumption of milk. Running over 12 weeks, the campaign will highlight the role that milk plays in supporting moments of personal connection during times of crisis. Defra and the devolved administrations are jointly contributing towards the financing of this campaign.</p><p>Alongside the Covid-19 Business Interruption Loans Scheme, HMT has announced the new Bounce Back Loan scheme which will also apply to businesses operating in agriculture. This will ensure that the smallest businesses can access up to £50,000 loans. The Government will provide lenders with a 100% guarantee on each loan, to give lenders the confidence they need to support the smallest businesses in the country. We will also cover the first 12 months of interest payments and fees charged to the business by the lender.</p><p>The existing public intervention scheme for skimmed milk powder and butter continues to be available. This provides a floor price for dairy products, supporting the dairy industry to sell skimmed milk powder and butter into public intervention when the price they would receive on the open market falls below the intervention price. In addition from 7 May, UK dairy processors are also eligible to apply for EU funded private storage aid in respect of skimmed milk powder, butter and cheese.</p><p>For organic dairy farmers whose milk is being sold as conventional milk, we offered a derogation to allow these farmers to provide their cows with conventional feed in order to reduce costs.</p><p>The new Environmental Land Management scheme will be the cornerstone of our future agricultural policy. It will reward farmers and land managers for the delivery of public goods with public money. The ELM scheme is being designed collaboratively with stakeholders. We are considering how more environmentally-sustainable farming approaches, including organic farming and agro-ecological approaches, may fit within ELM where these contribute towards the delivery of environmental public goods. Land managers will be paid for delivering the following public goods set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan: clean air; clean and plentiful water; thriving plants and wildlife; protection from and mitigation of environmental hazards; beauty, heritage and engagement with the environment; mitigation of and adaptation to climate change</p><p>Meanwhile, Countryside Stewardship (CS) provides a stepping stone to the future scheme, paying for environmental enhancements now as area-based payments are phased out. CS supports Defra’s Strategic Objective of ‘a cleaner, healthier environment, benefitting people and the economy’. Through the scheme, farmers can apply for funding to improve their local environment – from restoring wildlife habitats and creating woodlands to managing flood risk.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to offer Countryside Stewardship agreements in 2021, 2022 and 2023.</p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 13/05/2020 16:03:55 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1193312

	registered interest
	date	05/05/2020
	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 what is the (1) false negative, and (2) false positive rate, of tests for COVID-19 being used to determine the current infected/non-infected status of individuals in a (a) laboratory, and (b) real world, setting. [T]
	tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
	type	WrittenParliamentaryQuestion
	uin	HL3853
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2020 answer text <p>To provide a more comprehensive response to a number of outstanding Written Questions, this has been answered by an information factsheet <em>Testing – note for House of Lords</em> which is attached, due to the size of the data. A copy has also been placed in the Library</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bethell question first answered 29/07/2020 07:43:39 answering member 4708 label Biography information for Lord Bethell attachment 1 file name Testing - note for House of Lords.pdf title Testing information factsheet
	tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle