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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
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

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
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

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
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

1195345

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
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	Public Lavatories: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to assist councils to provide safe toilet facilities at beaches, parks and other leisure facilities as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are eased.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4348
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2020 answer text <p>The government has published guidance on safer public spaces. It includes advice, information and examples of the potential interventions that can be used in public places to facilitate social distancing in areas of higher footfall such as in parks (attached). <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fguidance%2Fsafer-public-places-urban-centres-and-green-spaces-covid-19&amp;data=02%7C01%7CLGPCovid19%40communities.gov.uk%7C1ab8c00d8eb0465f7eba08d7f8b61519%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637251333229821785&amp;sdata=j0iUO14s30DiRJJWGlEZe3pbYuYgFTn0xGeSRXIxY1E%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/guidance/safer-public-places-urban-centres-and-green-spaces-covid-19</a></p><p>Owners and operators are advised to implement cleaning protocols to limit coronavirus transmission in public places. It is advised that touch points (e.g. handrails and gates) should be particular areas of focus for increased cleaning.</p><p>To help everyone maintain good hygiene, consideration should be given to: configuration of toilet facilities to ensure they are kept clean, with social distancing achieved as far as possible and with best practice handwashing followed; where possible, providing hand towels as an alternative to hand dryers in handwashing facilities; signs at public toilets for queuing, social distancing and automatic sanitising; using signs and messages to build awareness of good handwashing technique and other respiratory hygiene behaviours, e.g. around coughing and sneezing in public places; where possible, providing hand towels as an alternative to hand dryers in handwashing facilities; and queue marking indicators at main entrance, popular park destinations and toilets.</p><p>We have now made £3.2 billion available to local authorities through an un-ringfenced grant so they can address pressures they are facing in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The package recognises the additional costs and pressures on finances councils are facing as a result of the current crisis. It demonstrates the Government’s commitment to making sure councils, including upper and lower tier authorities, have the resources they need to support their communities through this challenging time.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 27/05/2020 11:22:27 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh attachment 1 file name 200527 Guidance_Safer_Public_Places_During_Covid - HL4348.pdf title Safer public places guidance
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1195346

registered interest
date	12/05/2020
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	Tourism: Coronavirus
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they are providing to local councils on opening car parking facilities, particularly in tourist areas that might see large influxes of visitors as the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are eased.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL4349
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2020 answer text <p>In line with the Government’s position on localism, parking is the responsibility of local authorities and it is for them to determine what is appropriate in their own area. However, central government does have an interest in how car parks are managed and is working closely with local government stakeholders to keep parking policies and guidance under review during the COVID-19 response.</p><p>We have recently published guidance on Safer Public Places, which includes recommendations for the adaptation and management of urban centres and green spaces to facilitate social distancing.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 27/05/2020 13:15:59 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1217768

registered interest
date	24/06/2020
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	Allotments
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to implementing the recommendations of the report by the Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Select Committee The Future for Allotments (HC 560–I, Session 1997–98); and, in particular. the proposal that decisions over commercial use of allotment gardens relating to site shops and sales of surplus produce should be made on a site-by-site basis.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6111
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2020 answer text <p>The report referred to was produced under a previous government. Decisions to permit the limited sale of surplus produce are the responsibility of local authorities who set their own rules on the use of sites.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 08/07/2020 13:37:53 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1224702

registered interest
date	14/07/2020
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	Proportional Representation
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 introducing proportional electoral systems on either a trial or permanent basis; and whether this issue will be included in the White Paper on the reorganisation of local government in England.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6827
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government has no intention of introducing an alternative proportional electoral system for English local government. The Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper to be published this Autumn will set out the Government’s ambitions for devolution, including detailed plans for devolving powers and for the local institutions to support this, in particular directly elected Mayors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh grouped question UIN HL6828 question first answered 28/07/2020 16:00:05 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1224703

registered interest
date	14/07/2020
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 Government: Debts
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the White Paper on the reorganisation of local government in England will include consideration of writing off, or otherwise covering, existing local government debt so any new authorities could begin debt-free.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL6828
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/07/2020 answer text <p>The Government has no intention of introducing an alternative proportional electoral system for English local government. The Devolution and Local Recovery White Paper to be published this Autumn will set out the Government’s ambitions for devolution, including detailed plans for devolving powers and for the local institutions to support this, in particular directly elected Mayors.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh grouped question UIN HL6827 question first answered 28/07/2020 16:00:05 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

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
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

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
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