A High Court judgement handed down on 27 April 2021 confirmed that\u202fthe Local Government Act 1972\u202fspecifies that council meetings must take place in person at a single, specified, geographical location and being \u201cpresent\u201d at such a meeting involves physical presence at that location.<\/p>
This judgement confirmed that the regulations which allowed local authorities to meet remotely during the Covid-19 pandemic did not apply to meetings after 6 May 2021.<\/p>
Any permanent change would require primary legislation, and would depend upon Parliamentary time being available.<\/p>
Non-statutory or other informal meetings where local authorities deem that in-person attendance is not required can be held virtually.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4877", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Greenhalgh"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2021-12-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2021-12-31T11:07:35.737Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "211"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Levelling Up, Housing and Communities"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2021-12-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Local Government: Coronavirus"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, whether local government bodies can hold meetings remotely if they choose.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4719", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle"} ], "uin" : "HL4983"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1199221", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for International Trade"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1199221/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
HM Government has made it clear that any future trade deals must work for British consumers, farmers and companies. We are proud of our high standards in food safety and these will not be weakened.\u202fHigh standards and high quality are what our domestic and global customers demand, and that is what we\u202fwill\u202fprovide.<\/p>
<\/p>
It is vital that we explore new trading opportunities, but these should not mean a dilution of the standards for which British food is world-renowned. The EU Withdrawal Act transfers all existing EU food safety provisions on to the statute book and we remain firmly committed to upholding our high food safety standards.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4876", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Grimstone of Boscobel"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Grimstone of Boscobel"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-06-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-06-15T13:01:54.86Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "202"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "International Trade"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2020-06-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Trade Agreements: Food"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "Her Majesty's Government whether talks relating to future international trade agreements will include possible reductions of the current food safety regulations; and whether chlorine-washing of chicken will continue to be contrary to UK food safety standards.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2671", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harris of Haringey"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Harris of Haringey"} ], "uin" : "HL4983"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/828996", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/828996/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
We most recently raised our concerns about Mr Omer's case in a meeting with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 5 December, when we reiterated our strong opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Recent focus has been on discussions between the victim's family, and Mr Omer and his supporters. We understand that Mr Omer has had regular access to legal advice as he prepares his appeal. We are aware of reports that Mr Omer began a hunger strike on 22 January, but have not received an assessment of his recent condition.<\/p>
We will continue to monitor Mr Omer's case closely, and are encouraging all sides to reach a resolution.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4210", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-02-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL4982"} , {"_value" : "HL4984"} ], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-02-06T17:15:27.027Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "16"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Foreign and Commonwealth Office"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-01-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Asim Omer"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the condition of Asim Omer following reports that he is on hunger strike.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/738", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Alton of Liverpool"} ], "uin" : "HL4983"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/678831", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Communities and Local Government"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/678831/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NISER) resolved the errors made in the original report without drawing any further funding from DCLG. The costs to DCLG in identifying the errors and ensuring that NIESR rectified them were met through existing departmental resource. The peer review of this work was done on a pro bono basis by members of the existing Troubled Families independent advisory group comprising independent academics and analysts from other Government Departments. No reduction was made to the fee paid to NIESR.<\/p>
<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4282", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-01-31", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-01-31T15:54:49.733Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "7"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Communities and Local Government"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2017-01-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Troubled Families Programme"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 25 January (HL4381), what was the cost of resolving the errors in the original report; how that cost was met; and what reduction, if any, was made in the fee payable to National Institute of Economic and Social Research.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4181", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Beecham"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Beecham"} ], "uin" : "HL4983"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/444375", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Northern Ireland Office"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/444375/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
As I have made clear in previous answers on this subject the UK Government is committed to affording due respect and parity of esteem to all the people in Northern Ireland as underpinned by the 1998 Belfast Agreement, and in accordance with the obligations on the Government to promote equality and prevent discrimination across the United Kingdom.<\/p>
"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Dunlop"}
}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Lord Dunlop"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2016-01-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : [{"_value" : "HL4978"}
, {"_value" : "HL4979"}
, {"_value" : "HL4980"}
, {"_value" : "HL4981"}
, {"_value" : "HL4982"}
], "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2016-01-22T12:08:21.51Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "21"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Northern Ireland"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2016-01-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Equality: Northern Ireland"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask Her Majesty\u2019s Government whether members of the security forces who served in Northern Ireland are entitled to parity of esteem on the same basis as those from Northern Ireland.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/2479", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Laird"}
}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Laird"}
], "uin" : "HL4983"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179246", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department of Health"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/179246/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Data for 2014 is not available until October 2015.<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
<\/p>
New HIV diagnoses in the United Kingdom in 2013, by probable exposure category and sex:<\/p>
<\/p>
Probable exposure category<\/p><\/td> | Sex<\/p><\/td> | New HIV diagnoses<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Heterosexual contact<\/p><\/td> | Male<\/p><\/td> | 968<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Female<\/p><\/td> | 1,167<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total<\/p><\/td> | 2,135<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Homosexual contact<\/p><\/td> | Male<\/p><\/td> | 2,947<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Female<\/p><\/td> | 0<\/p><\/td><\/tr> | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total<\/p><\/td> | 2,947<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> New HIV diagnoses in the United Kingdom in 2013 among those infected through heterosexual contact, by sex and age group:<\/p> <\/p>
|