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
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
tabling member	label

Search

1543076

registered interest
date	16/11/2022
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Guide Dogs
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to educate the public about the legal status of guide dogs for the blind and other assistance dogs; and what steps they plan to take to penalise businesses which have failed to educate their staff about their legal status.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL3445
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2022 answer text <p>The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) provides for protection of disabled people, including those needing assistance dogs, in employment and the supply of goods, services, public functions and in clubs and associations. It does not have universal application to the public, or in other settings, and general public education campaigns about it would not be proportionate. However, the Government runs under contract the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS), an equalities and human rights helpline, which receives about 35,000 customer contacts a year, more than 60% of which concern disability issues. The EASS can intervene directly with or assist the complainant to take the problem up with the relevant service provider in many cases, including those involving assistance dogs.</p><p>It is the responsibility of all businesses to ensure that they are aware of their obligations to their customers and employees under the Act. To help them in this, Government and relevant independent bodies offer a range of technical guidance and statutory codes of practice that clearly explain what businesses should and should not do to ensure that their conduct is lawful and not discriminatory.</p><p>The Act places a duty on businesses and service providers to make reasonable adjustments to improve disabled people’s access to goods and services so they are not placed at a substantial disadvantage compared to non-disabled people. This reasonable adjustment duty is an anticipatory duty therefore those who provide goods, facilities and services to members of the public are expected to anticipate the reasonable adjustments that disabled customers may require, including auxiliary aids.</p><p>The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is the public body responsible for enforcing the Act. In 2017, the EHRC published two pieces of guidance - a guide to help businesses understand what they can do to meet their legal duties to assistance dog owners, and a guide to help tourism businesses welcome people with access requirements. The EHRC supports disabled individuals who have experienced discrimination to take their cases to court.</p><p>In recent years, case law has strengthened the equalities law for people with assistance dogs. There have been a number of significant cases brought under the Equality Act involving assistance dogs, which have been successfully litigated, for example, Bloch v Kassim (assistance dogs in taxis); Clutton and Williams v Pen-y-Bryn Group (assistance dogs in restaurants); and McCafferty v Miah (assistance dogs in shops).</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 30/11/2022 15:31:06 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1628690

registered interest
date	17/05/2023
answering body	Women and Equalities
answering dept id	31
answering dept short name	Women and Equalities
answering dept sort name	Women and Equalities
hansard heading	Gender: Equality
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report Burnt Out Britain published by the think tank Onward on 3 April, regarding (1) gender disparities in time spent on childcare, (2) gender disparities in time spent on housework, (3) the fragmentation of free time, and (4) the effect of the foregoing on the mental health of Britons.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL7900
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/06/2023 answer text <p>The ‘Burnt Out Britain’ Onward report raises a number of important issues, particularly in relation to the ways in which modern life has a disproportionate impact on women. The report highlights areas of particular concern to women including pay disparities and more time spent on domestic tasks and childcare (in comparison to men). It attributes overarching issues regarding the pace of modern lifestyles to digital technology and different choices that people make with regards to employment and domestic arrangements. The report also recognises that, while Government does have a part to play in responding to and tackling particular aspects of these issues, this is a limited role in many cases.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Government is committed to enabling all women to thrive and to reach their full potential, which is why steps have been taken to ensure that all parents are able to balance work and family life.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Actions include:</p><ul><li><p>Over £3.5 billion in each of the past 3 years on our early education entitlements to support families with the cost of childcare. At this year’s Budget, the Chancellor announced that by 2027-28, this Government will expect to be spending in excess of £8bn every year on free hours and early education. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever.</p></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li><p>Shared parental leave and pay, so that both parents can be part of those crucial early years. Our online tool is now making it easier for parents to check if they are eligible for leave and pay, and plan their leave and pay.</p></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li><p>Making it easier for everyone to access flexible working. We have committed to give all employees the right to request flexible working from their first day of employment, through support for the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Private Members’ Bill. This will ensure that an additional estimated 2.2 million people will be able to request changes to the hours, times, or place of work; so that they can also have more control over their free time.</p></li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li><p>The Government’s Women’s Health Strategy, published last year, set out our 10 year ambitions for boosting the care of women and girls. One of the priority areas identified by the strategy was mental health and wellbeing, with the report outlining how the Government will ensure delivery partners are equipped to develop tailored plans and interventions that meet the needs of different groups.</p></li></ul><p><strong><p><p></strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Scott of Bybrook question first answered 05/06/2023 15:54:30 answering member 4553 label Biography information for Baroness Scott of Bybrook
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1200750

registered interest
date	04/06/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Developing Countries: Financial Services
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 commercial loans are covered in COVID-19-related debt-relief schemes for the 75 lowest-income nations.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL5282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2020 answer text <p>Her Majesty’s Government is deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on low-income developing countries. It is vital that all creditors work together to ensure that countries especially vulnerable to the pandemic are able to protect their citizens and economies.</p><p> </p><p>The Chancellor and his G20 counterparts called on commercial creditors to participate in the G20 Debt Service Suspension Initiative, which suspends payments due from the 77 poorest countries, on comparable terms to the official sector.</p><p> </p><p>Her Majesty’s Government is working closely with the Paris Club of official creditors and Institute of International Finance (IIF) to facilitate private sector participation. On 28 May, the IIF published a Terms of Reference to guide its members’ responses to DSSI-eligible requests for commercial forbearance.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton grouped question UIN HL5089 question first answered 16/06/2020 11:12:15 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1224704

registered interest
date	14/07/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Cash Dispensing: Coronavirus
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 impact of COVID-19 on the provision of cash machines; and what plans they have to ensure the availability of cash in vulnerable and remote communities in the future.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6829
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government recognises that widespread access to cash is extremely important to the daily lives of millions of people across the UK. The Government is engaging with the financial regulators, including through the Joint Authorities Cash Strategy Group, to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on the UK’s cash infrastructure and remains committed to protecting access to cash for those who need it, while supporting digital payments.</p><p>At the March 2020 Budget, the Chancellor announced that the Government will bring forward legislation to protect access to cash. This will ensure that those who continue to rely on cash can continue to do so in the long-term.</p><p>The Financial Conduct Authority and Payment Systems Regulator are developing a comprehensive picture of cash access infrastructure across the UK in relation to social economic factors that reflect consumer needs, building upon their mapping work carried out during the COVID-19 crisis.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 22/07/2020 14:06:52 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1227109

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide income and other support for individuals forced to self-isolate or find a safe place to remain during a geographically-defined or workplace-related COVID-19 lockdown.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL7079
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2020 answer text <p>Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) has been extended to those told to self-isolate due to whole household quarantine, or due to the Test and Trace programme. The Government has taken additional measures to make SSP payable from day 1, not day 4 for these cases. SSP should only be paid to those unable to work, and those able to work from home should receive their normal wage. These changes apply in areas under local lockdown.</p><p>In addition to the changes to SSP, those living in areas of local lockdown can benefit from the unprecedented set of measures introduced by the Chancellor to help individuals affected by COVID-19. This includes the introduction of the Coronavirus Job Retention and Self-Employment Income Support Schemes, as well as the injection of an additional £9.3bn into the welfare system according to OBR estimates.</p><p>On accommodation, the Government recognises the challenges faced by many who are sleeping rough and it is committed to helping them. So far, over 90 per cent of those on the streets at the beginning of the crisis and known to local authorities have been offered safe accommodation.</p><p>The Government has provided £221m of additional funding for rough sleepers during the crisis, including £3.2m specifically to help those who need to self-isolate. This brings total support for rough sleepers in 2020/21 to over half a billion pounds. All local authorities in England will be able to benefit from these measures, including those under local lockdown.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 28/07/2020 15:44:41 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1228031

registered interest
date	27/07/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Working Hours
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage and support firms in reducing working hours in an equitable manner while avoiding redundancies, on a model similar to the German Kurzarbeit scheme.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL7324
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/08/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that people are able to return to work in a manner that is sustainable and adjustable to the reopening of the economy.</p><p> </p><p>The Government therefore introduced flexible furloughing from 1 July. Firms can now bring back employees that have been furloughed for any amount of time and any shift pattern, while still being able to claim Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grants for the hours not worked, with no minimum furlough period.</p><p> </p><p>It is right that state support is slowly reduced and the focus shifts to getting furloughed employees back to work. As such, from August 2020, the level of the grant will be slowly tapered to reflect that people will be returning to work. Employees will continue to receive 80% of wages up to a cap of £2,500 when furloughed.</p><p>While other countries have announced similar schemes, the UK response remains among the most comprehensive.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 10/08/2020 14:32:13 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1233558

registered interest
date	10/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Retail Trade: Corporation Tax
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 online retail businesses pay corporate taxation (1) at similar levels to high street retailers, and (2) which is relative to profits.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL8014
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/09/2020 answer text <p>Corporation tax is charged on profits that businesses generate from the activities they undertake in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Significant measures have been put in place to counter arrangements designed to shift profits derived from UK activities overseas.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the UK is actively involved in continuing OECD discussions which aim to deliver a fairer and more sustainable approach to the taxation of highly digital businesses.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 22/09/2020 11:09:05 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1235822

registered interest
date	18/09/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Investment Income
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 impact that dividend recapitalisations have on financial security (1) nationally, and (2) internationally.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL8266
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2020 answer text <p>A key part of the government’s economic policy objective is to preserve and enhance the stability of the UK’s financial system. This is reflected in the remit of the Financial Policy Committee (FPC) at the Bank of England, which is responsible for identifying, monitoring and taking action to remove or reduce systemic risks.</p><p> </p><p>There is little sign of dividend recapitalisations further increasing the leverage of borrowers in 2020 to levels above post-Global Financial Crisis average.</p><p> </p><p>Dividend recapitalisations are a small part of the broader leveraged loan market. They’ve accounted for slightly under 25% of September 2020 issuances to date. All the dividend recapitalisation issuances from July to September 2020 have been from US corporates.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Bank of England has ensured that the major UK banks hold enough capital to withstand losses on their leveraged loan portfolios commensurate with loss rates more severe than those experienced in the 2008 Global Financial Crisis.</p><p> </p><p>Given the US-focussed nature of the market, the Bank is also active in international discussions related to banks and non-banks. The Bank remains a key contributor to the work of the Financial Stability Board, including their analysis of leveraged loans.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 01/10/2020 11:56:22 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1244939

registered interest
date	20/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Renewable Energy: VAT
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 case for removing VAT from domestic microgeneration renewable products and installations to help consumers to adopt domestic renewable energy sources.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9352
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/11/2020 answer text <p>Under current VAT rules, the installation of water and wind turbines is subject to the standard rate of VAT. However, the installation of other energy saving materials that generate domestic energy, such as solar panels and micro combined heat and power units, are subject to the reduced rate of VAT when certain conditions are met.</p><p>Although there are no current plans to extend the scope of the relief already in place, the Government keeps all taxes under review.</p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 03/11/2020 12:10:49 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1246882

registered interest
date	28/10/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Digital Technology: VAT
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have collected data on the number of businesses prepared for the ending of access to the VAT MOSS system on 31 December; and what plans they have to seek an extension of access to VAT MOSS for UK businesses.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL9705
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2020 answer text <p>VAT MOSS is an EU simplification. The UK will lose access to this at the end of the transition period and will not be seeking an extension. There are approximately 2,000 UK businesses registered on the VAT MOSS system in the UK. Businesses can continue to use the VAT MOSS system if they register in an EU Member State after the transition period. HMRC have published guidance on this and will also be contacting all businesses registered on the VAT MOSS system in the UK to explain the options available to them.[1]</p><p> </p><p>[1] The guidance can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-vat-when-you-sell-digital-services-to-eu-consumers-from-1-january-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pay-vat-when-you-sell-digital-services-to-eu-consumers-from-1-january-2021</a></p> answering member printed Lord Agnew of Oulton question first answered 12/11/2020 11:57:58 answering member 4689 label Biography information for Lord Agnew of Oulton
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle