Asked by: Baroness Brown of Cambridge (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they provide for the development of chess to (1) schools, (2) communities, and (3) the English Chess Federation, given (a) the social and cognitive benefits that game brings, and (b) its increased popularity since the COVID-19 lockdown.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The Government recognises the well-established social and cognitive benefits of playing chess, and is pleased to see its increased popularity. While the Department for Culture, Media and Sport does not provide any direct support to the English Chess Federation specifically, we are supportive of all programmes which could extend these benefits to more people, including the work of the English Chess Federation and other chess charities which have successfully promoted the game of chess across the country.
The charity Chess in Schools & Communities, for example, provides chess equipment, software and lessons to state primary schools in England and Wales. Its aim is to promote the educational and social benefits of playing chess and to organise chess events which encourage mass participation. As well as partnering with over 900 schools across the UK, it has also worked successfully with local authorities to empower whole communities through chess, and has established a growing network of chess clubs in libraries.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Cambridge (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to maintain the Carbon Price Support rates, set in the 2016 Budget, for the period through to 2020–21; and how their policy in the area relates to the Total Carbon Price, established in the Autumn Budget 2017.
Answered by Lord Bates
The government announced at Spring Budget 2016 that the Carbon Price Support rates would remain at £18/tCO2 in 2019-20 and then be uprated by RPI in 2020-21.
At Autumn Budget 2017, the government stated that the Total Carbon Price - currently made up of the Carbon Price Support Rate and the EU Emissions Trading System - was set at the right level and that the government would continue to target a similar price.
All taxes are kept under review and any changes to the Carbon Price Support rates, and therefore the Total Carbon Price, will be made at fiscal events in the usual way.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Cambridge (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to issue regulations to the Office for Students on validation arrangements under either section 51(1)(b)(i) or section 51(1)(b)(ii) of the Higher Education and Research Act 2017.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The government currently has no plans to lay regulations under section 51(1) of the Higher Education and Research Act (HERA) 2017. The department believes the best approach to improving the operation of validation arrangements is a non-legislative approach in the first instance.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education (Secretary of State) has asked the Office for Students (OfS) to undertake an assessment of the operation of the current validation system to identify any unnecessary barriers for providers seeking a validation partner, and to consider what steps it could take and how it could encourage removal or mitigation of such barriers.
Once section 50 of HERA is commenced next year, it will be open to the OfS to make use of its powers under that section to enter into commissioning arrangements with providers for the provision of validation agreements.
If, after taking advice from the OfS, the Secretary of State considers it necessary or expedient to do so (for example, if it is found that the system is not working well and the OfS’s existing powers are insufficient to improve it), it is open to the Secretary of State to bring forward legislation under section 51(1) of HERA to authorise the OfS to operate its own validation service for registered providers.
Asked by: Baroness Brown of Cambridge (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to increase funding for the British Council, in the light of the UK's exit from the European Union and the British Council's role in, and potential for, developing strong relationships with future trading allies through cultural diplomacy and soft power.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Government will continue to invest in the British Council, which plays a critical role in developing international cultural relations and delivering programmes around the world which support economic and social development; help strengthen institutions, good governance and civil society; encourage debate and dialogue; and develop creativity and the arts.
The British Council has worked successfully with European neighbours for over eighty years. We have no plans at present to increase grant funding to the British Council, but will continue to support them as they find ways to work in partnership with European countries and with EU institutions to create opportunities, build connections and engender trust.