11:00
11:00
voted Aye - in line with the party majority
One of 67 Labour Aye votes vs 0 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 181 Noes - 202
My Lords, I beg to move that the House notes the Working Practices: One Year On report, published back in …
To ask Her Majesty's Government why neither Which? nor any other specific and independent consumer voice has been included in …
Division Voting information
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Labour No votes vs 64 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 144 Noes - 133
Debates during the 2019 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
(36 debate interactions)
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
(24 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(130 debate contributions)
(119 debate contributions)
(27 debate contributions)
(14 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(13,531 words contributed)
(9,814 words contributed)
(7,461 words contributed)
(7,056 words contributed)
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
105 Written Questions in the current parliament
(View all written questions)2 Other Department Questions
The Government is committed to promoting fairness and transparency for homeowners and renters and making sure that consumers are protected from abuse and poor service. This commitment includes raising professionalism and standards amongst property agents, protecting consumers while defending the reputation of good agents from the actions of rogue operatives. We therefore welcome the ongoing work being undertaken by the industry itself to raise professionalism and standards across the sector.
The Government is considering the recommendations in the report received from the working group on the regulation of property agents. We welcome the work of the Noble Baroness as the Chair of the independent steering group on codes of practice for property agents, and we will continue to work with industry on improving best practice.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The government does not always make an assessment of the costs arising from a non-government Lords amendment. If it is relevant to the question of whether a money resolution will be needed in the House of Commons, the government may provide an assessment to the Clerk of Legislation in the House of Commons to assist him in the advice he gives to the Speaker. Communications between the government and the Clerk are not published, but if the government has made an assessment, it may be published in the explanatory notes to the Lords Amendments.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
In October 2019 the Attorney General’s Office was contacted by representatives of an individual who claimed to be a descendent of the anonymous donor that established the National Fund. They also claimed that the trust was void ab initio and that unless the court finds that the donor had a “paramount charitable intent”, the Fund belongs to his residuary estate.
The individual subsequently applied to join the proceedings initiated by the Attorney General in May 2018, in order to represent the interests of all persons who are or may be or become entitled to share in the residuary estate of the donor. In January 2020 the Court ordered that this individual be joined to the proceedings and that they serve evidence in support of their claim.
The Attorney General remains of the view that the trust establishing the National Fund is valid and its purposes exclusively charitable.
It is now for the High Court to determine the individual’s claims and decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied as sought by the Attorney General. If the Attorney General’s application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.
The hearing in the High Court is scheduled for October 2020.
The National Fund was created in 1928 with the purpose of paying off the entire national debt. At present the fund cannot be used unless it completely clears the national debt, due to the terms of the fund’s charitable trust.
On 22 May 2018 the then Attorney General made an application to the High Court to vary the terms of the charitable trust so that the National Fund can be used to help pay down the national debt.
It is now for the High Court to decide whether the terms of the charitable trust should be varied. If the application is successful the money in the fund will be paid over to the National Debt Commissioners towards the reduction of the national debt.
The hearing in the High Court is scheduled for October 2020.
The website of the Charity Commission indicates that the accounts of the National Fund for 05 April 2019 are overdue.
In 2017-2018 there were 2768 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of estates where people died without leaving known entitled relatives or a valid will of which 909 were referred by local authorities. There were 2 referrals of estates where the deceased died leaving a valid will which did not dispose of the entire of estate but without leaving known entitled relatives entitled to share in the undisposed residue, neither of which were referred by local authorities.
In 2018-2019 there were 1971 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 575 were referred by local authorities. There were 3 referrals of estates where the deceased died leaving a valid will which did not dispose of the entire of estate but without leaving known entitled relatives entitled to share in the undisposed residue, none of which were referred by local authorities.
In 2017-2018 there were 2770 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 33% were referred by local authorities, 4% were referred by hospital trusts, 63% by other organisations and individuals. There was one referral by a Coroner’s Office.
In 2018-2019 there were 1974 estates referred to the Bona Vacantia Division of the Government Legal Department of which 29% were referred by local authorities, 3% were referred by hospital trusts, 68% by other organisations and individuals. There were no referrals by Coroners.
There were 233,000 overseas electors registered in Great Britain for the 2019 general election. The Government does not hold data on the number of overseas electors who submitted a postal vote application or how many voted.
The Office for National Statistics also publishes electoral statistic bulletins with some information on overseas electors. This can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/elections/electoralregistration/bulletins/electoralstatisticsforuk/previousReleases.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for a Civil Society Forum - composed of a balanced representation of UK and EU business and civil society groups - to discuss the implementation of aspects of the Agreement.
We are in contact with the EU about the operational guidelines for the conduct of this Forum and will work to facilitate its first meeting this year.
We will, of course, continue to engage with business and civil society in the usual way, including on issues relating to TCA implementation.
As for the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, it is a matter for Parliament to consider the potential shape of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, within the framework set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The Trade and Cooperation Agreement provides for a Civil Society Forum - composed of a balanced representation of UK and EU business and civil society groups - to discuss the implementation of aspects of the Agreement.
We are in contact with the EU about the operational guidelines for the conduct of this Forum and will work to facilitate its first meeting this year.
We will, of course, continue to engage with business and civil society in the usual way, including on issues relating to TCA implementation.
As for the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, it is a matter for Parliament to consider the potential shape of the Parliamentary Partnership Assembly, within the framework set out in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
The Government is carefully considering how it provides for the necessary institutions provided for in the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement. The Government consults with a wide range of businesses and civil society groups on an ongoing basis, including on the issues covered by the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We will publish Lord Dunlop’s review shortly. A full response will be published in due course.
We are pleased by the progress the UK Government and the devolved administrations have made in developing the package of Intergovernmental Relations reforms. Announcements will be made in the usual way.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Public appointments must adhere to high standards and are regulated by an independent, external process via a Governance Code. The Commissioner for Public Appointments has not found breaches of this Code in respect of the concerns he raises in the letter.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Structured recruitment and training plans are ongoing to ensure that officials will be in place to deliver the planned customs and borders arrangements with the EU, once we leave the customs union on 31 December 2020.
The European Commission does not have operational responsibility for customs and borders and so a meaningful comparison between UK and European Commission officials cannot be made.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution set out in a letter to the Executive Secretary of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) Secretariat, the Government will commence post-legislative scrutiny of Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 Act (the Act) this year.
The letter is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/903767/Letter_of_24_July_from_Chloe_Smith_to_Gianluca_Esposito.pdf
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution set out in a letter to the Executive Secretary of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) Secretariat, the Government will commence post-legislative scrutiny of Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 Act (the Act) this year.
The letter is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/903767/Letter_of_24_July_from_Chloe_Smith_to_Gianluca_Esposito.pdf
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution set out in a letter to the Executive Secretary of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) Secretariat, the Government will commence post-legislative scrutiny of Part 1 of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 Act (the Act) this year.
The letter is available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/903767/Letter_of_24_July_from_Chloe_Smith_to_Gianluca_Esposito.pdf
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested is not held centrally. Details of central government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
The Government has rigorous controls in place to challenge spend robustly and ensure that the actions of central government contracting authorities are open, fair and transparent.
Cabinet Office commercial spend controls aim to improve the value public spending delivers by leveraging expertise from Cabinet Office’s central functional teams in commercial contracting to scrutinise all contract awards with a value greater than £10m. These contract awards are subject to approval by the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Minister of State, Lord Agnew.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested is not held centrally. Details of central government contracts above £10,000 are published on Contracts Finder: https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
The Government has rigorous controls in place to challenge spend robustly and ensure that the actions of central government contracting authorities are open, fair and transparent.
Cabinet Office commercial spend controls aim to improve the value public spending delivers by leveraging expertise from Cabinet Office’s central functional teams in commercial contracting to scrutinise all contract awards with a value greater than £10m. These contract awards are subject to approval by the Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Minister of State, Lord Agnew.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the noble Baroness to the answer given to HL2091 on 2 March 2020.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
An Order in Council made under an Act of Parliament is a form of secondary legislation. The enabling Act will specify whether or not an Order in Council is subject to a Parliamentary procedure, and if so what that parliamentary procedure is.
There are over 400 Acts of Parliament which provide Order in Council making powers to Her Majesty in Council. Orders in Council made under Act of Parliament without a parliamentary procedure cover a range of subject matter, including the commencement of primary legislation, the UK armed forces and devolution issues, as well as fishing limits, the carriage of goods by sea, and the implementation of international agreements such as those on child abduction, reciprocal enforcement of court judgements, and the Geneva Conventions.
Some other prerogative business made on the advice of the Privy Council by Order in Council is not subject to parliamentary procedure and relates almost exclusively to the affairs of Chartered bodies.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK Government is working constructively with the devolved administrations to keep the whole of the UK safe.
There have been frequent discussions between UK Government ministers and officials and their counterparts in devolved administrations. This includes through COBR and the Cabinet Committee structure established to deal with the health, economic, public sector and international impacts of the Covid-19 outbreak on behalf of the whole of the UK. We will continue positive engagement with the Devolved Administrations.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We have confronted this virus as one United Kingdom and have worked closely with the devolved administrations throughout with regular meetings and discussions with ministers and officials.
For example, during the week prior to the change in messaging, the Prime Minister had a call with First and deputy First Ministers of the Devolved Administrations, and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster had a further call with them. This was on top of the ongoing work at official level on how we would tackle the virus together.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK Government has been working closely with the devolved administrations throughout negotiations with the EU. Engagement with the devolved administrations continues; the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, other Cabinet Office Ministers and officials have been in regular contact with their counterparts from the devolved administrations to update them on the negotiations.
The UK Government has worked with the Welsh Government to deliver on a wide range of legislative matters, and will continue to seek legislative consent, as appropriate.
The UK Government has noted the request of the Labour-run administration in Wales to extend the transition period but there is no change to the position that the Transition Period will end this year.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Our proposals on the Northern Ireland Protocol will strengthen Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom and its internal market. In taking our proposals forward we will continue to engage with businesses and ports, to ensure that right across the UK we can take advantage of the opportunities there will be as the UK grows its trade with countries around the world.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government is strongly supportive of the community radio sector and recognises the great value that it offers to communities across the UK.
In light of COVID-19, the Government has developed a national campaign to provide information, guidance and reassurance to the public.
The campaign utilises a wide range of channels to maximise reach and engagement and to ensure our messaging reaches as many people as possible. This includes the use of paid-for advertising on community radio. We currently work with over 35 community radio stations on a weekly basis.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government keeps the Ministerial Code and the managing of public money under review. There are, however, no plans to amend or strengthen the Ministerial Code in the way suggested.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As has been the case under successive administrations, the Government keeps the Ministerial Code and the managing of public money under review. There are, however, no plans to amend or strengthen the Ministerial Code in the way suggested.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
We are committed to working closely with the devolved administrations throughout negotiations to secure a future relationship that works in the interests of the whole of the UK. The Cabinet Office is leading work across Whitehall to ensure the devolved administrations are engaged in key stages of the negotiations.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The sixth European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common Frameworks statutory report was published on 19 March 2020, covering the reporting period of 26 September 2019 to 25 December 2019. The seventh report, detailing work that has taken place between 26 December 2019 to 25 March 2020, will be published in the coming months.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK Government remains committed to transparency in the UK common frameworks programme. The Cabinet Office has overall responsibility for the frameworks programme and engages regularly with a wide range of stakeholder organisations, including businesses and consumers, as well as providing updates on the development of UK common frameworks through regular publications.
Departments across Whitehall are responsible for developing individual frameworks and therefore undertake consultation with relevant stakeholders. Officials are currently revisiting the format of stakeholder engagement in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The UK and EU exchanged draft legal texts on 18 March 2020. Our overall approach to negotiations is already set out in detail in, “The Future Relationship with the EU: The UK’s Approach to Negotiations”, which was published on 27 February 2020. We will keep under review which documents it is appropriate to publish during the course of negotiations and whether it is useful to make them available more widely.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In line with his responsibilities in the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Prime Minister carefully considered and approved the report, and is content that its publication would not prejudice the functions of those bodies that safeguard our national security.
We acknowledge the public’s interest in the publication of the report, however the report itself is the property of the independent ISC, as such it is not for the Government to publish ISC reports; it is for the ISC to lay them before Parliament. Once a new Committee has been established, it will be up to them to choose when they wish to publish it. The process to establish a new Committee has already begun.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Exiting the European Union did not directly employ any of its staff, other than the Permanent Secretary.
Everyone who worked for The Department for Exiting the European Union was transferred to the Cabinet Office on January 31st on level transfer under principles set out in the Cabinet Office Statement of Practice on Staff Transfers in the Public Sector (COSoP). Staff remain on their existing terms and conditions. Therefore no one has been offered, accepted, or rejected redundancy as a result of the closure. Fewer than five contractors were terminated early as a result of the winding up of the department.
Details of all staff transfers to other government departments have not yet been finalised.
Arrangements for any severance payment will be made in line with the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
22 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's BEIS questions)The Professional Qualifications Bill will allow the relevant national authority to enable regulators to enter into regulator recognition agreements with their overseas counterparts. Such arrangements are led by regulators.
The existing powers available to regulators differ depending upon the relevant underpinning legislation. Some regulators may need additional powers to enter into recognition agreements, if regulators choose to do so. This will complement existing legislation. Some examples of regulators in this position include:
- The Architects Registration Board;
- The Intellectual Property Regulation Board;
- The General Dental Council; and,
- The General Osteopathic Council
This list is not exhaustive, as not all government departments and regulators have assessed whether or not they deem that they have the powers to enter into regulator recognition agreements. We would expect engagement to be carried out with the relevant regulator before any regulations were laid to provide these additional powers.
The Government will continue to engage with regulators on the Professional Qualifications Bill, including on whether they may benefit from additional powers to enter into regulator recognition agreements.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The Government announced the Pilot Recognition Arrangements Grant Programme on 29 June, and it opened to applications on 8 July. Guidance on the application process is available on GOV.UK. The programme is targeted at supporting the costs of acquiring additional technical expertise incurred by regulatory and professional bodies in preparing for or negotiating a recognition arrangement. Many regulators and professional bodies have agreed recognition arrangements already, this programme will support the establishment of additional recognition arrangements.
Successful applicants will be able to apply for reimbursement of 80% of eligible costs for technical expertise to support the agreement of recognition arrangements. Regulators will be able to seek reimbursement of up to £20,000 for individual applicant bodies and £40,000 for groups of applicants. Eligible regulators and professional bodies will be required to submit a business case to apply for funding, and applications will be assessed and ranked against objective criteria. The total grant funding available under the pilot programme is £210,000.
The programme is open to regulators that control access to professions regulated in law, and professional bodies that award professional titles and voluntarily regulate professions without underpinning legislation. These bodies must operate within at least one of the four UK nations and must operate within the Professional and Business Services sector, in professions such as accounting, audit, engineering and legal services.
The Government has launched the grant programme as a pilot in order to assess the demand and potential value-add of government funding for recognition agreements. The programme will initially run for this financial year only and will undergo monitoring and evaluation to assess the efficacy of direct financial support for regulators and professional bodies in this area. Consideration will then be given as to whether the programme should be extended or not.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The Government announced the Pilot Recognition Arrangements Grant Programme on 29 June, and it opened to applications on 8 July. Guidance on the application process is available on GOV.UK. The programme is targeted at supporting the costs of acquiring additional technical expertise incurred by regulatory and professional bodies in preparing for or negotiating a recognition arrangement. Many regulators and professional bodies have agreed recognition arrangements already, this programme will support the establishment of additional recognition arrangements.
Successful applicants will be able to apply for reimbursement of 80% of eligible costs for technical expertise to support the agreement of recognition arrangements. Regulators will be able to seek reimbursement of up to £20,000 for individual applicant bodies and £40,000 for groups of applicants. Eligible regulators and professional bodies will be required to submit a business case to apply for funding, and applications will be assessed and ranked against objective criteria. The total grant funding available under the pilot programme is £210,000.
The programme is open to regulators that control access to professions regulated in law, and professional bodies that award professional titles and voluntarily regulate professions without underpinning legislation. These bodies must operate within at least one of the four UK nations and must operate within the Professional and Business Services sector, in professions such as accounting, audit, engineering and legal services.
The Government has launched the grant programme as a pilot in order to assess the demand and potential value-add of government funding for recognition agreements. The programme will initially run for this financial year only and will undergo monitoring and evaluation to assess the efficacy of direct financial support for regulators and professional bodies in this area. Consideration will then be given as to whether the programme should be extended or not.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The Government announced the Pilot Recognition Arrangements Grant Programme on 29 June, and it opened to applications on 8 July. Guidance on the application process is available on GOV.UK. The programme is targeted at supporting the costs of acquiring additional technical expertise incurred by regulatory and professional bodies in preparing for or negotiating a recognition arrangement. Many regulators and professional bodies have agreed recognition arrangements already, this programme will support the establishment of additional recognition arrangements.
Successful applicants will be able to apply for reimbursement of 80% of eligible costs for technical expertise to support the agreement of recognition arrangements. Regulators will be able to seek reimbursement of up to £20,000 for individual applicant bodies and £40,000 for groups of applicants. Eligible regulators and professional bodies will be required to submit a business case to apply for funding, and applications will be assessed and ranked against objective criteria. The total grant funding available under the pilot programme is £210,000.
The programme is open to regulators that control access to professions regulated in law, and professional bodies that award professional titles and voluntarily regulate professions without underpinning legislation. These bodies must operate within at least one of the four UK nations and must operate within the Professional and Business Services sector, in professions such as accounting, audit, engineering and legal services.
The Government has launched the grant programme as a pilot in order to assess the demand and potential value-add of government funding for recognition agreements. The programme will initially run for this financial year only and will undergo monitoring and evaluation to assess the efficacy of direct financial support for regulators and professional bodies in this area. Consideration will then be given as to whether the programme should be extended or not.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The Government announced the Pilot Recognition Arrangements Grant Programme on 29 June, and it opened to applications on 8 July. Guidance on the application process is available on GOV.UK. The programme is targeted at supporting the costs of acquiring additional technical expertise incurred by regulatory and professional bodies in preparing for or negotiating a recognition arrangement. Many regulators and professional bodies have agreed recognition arrangements already, this programme will support the establishment of additional recognition arrangements.
Successful applicants will be able to apply for reimbursement of 80% of eligible costs for technical expertise to support the agreement of recognition arrangements. Regulators will be able to seek reimbursement of up to £20,000 for individual applicant bodies and £40,000 for groups of applicants. Eligible regulators and professional bodies will be required to submit a business case to apply for funding, and applications will be assessed and ranked against objective criteria. The total grant funding available under the pilot programme is £210,000.
The programme is open to regulators that control access to professions regulated in law, and professional bodies that award professional titles and voluntarily regulate professions without underpinning legislation. These bodies must operate within at least one of the four UK nations and must operate within the Professional and Business Services sector, in professions such as accounting, audit, engineering and legal services.
The Government has launched the grant programme as a pilot in order to assess the demand and potential value-add of government funding for recognition agreements. The programme will initially run for this financial year only and will undergo monitoring and evaluation to assess the efficacy of direct financial support for regulators and professional bodies in this area. Consideration will then be given as to whether the programme should be extended or not.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The assistance centre supports professionals with overseas qualifications intending to work in the UK, and UK qualified professionals seeking to practise overseas. Its website and telephone advice service help professionals identify the right regulators, which may not always be clear.
Some regulators are pursuing recognition arrangements with EU counterparts, and the Government is agreeing new trade deals with provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The assistance centre will be useful to UK professionals as they make use of these provisions to work or provide services overseas.
Finally, the assistance centre provides support and guidance to authorities responsible for regulating professions in the UK. Many authorities use the assistance centre as a source of information on international recognition agreements.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for making arrangements in relation to the assistance centre.
The current assistance centre, the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications, has 2.5 full time equivalent staff and is provided at a very modest cost. The exact terms of the contract for the service are commercially sensitive.
The UK had a National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications in 2007 when the legislation implementing the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC came into force. It was initially housed within government before a contract to run the service was awarded to ECCTIS Limited in December 2008.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2013/55/EU changed the requirement from each EU Member State having a National Contact Point to having an assistance centre. When the implementing legislation for this Directive came into force, the UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications changed to the UK National Assistance Centre in January 2016. The requirement for the assistance centre was preserved in retained EU law at the end of the Transition Period.
Providing a statutory basis for the continued existence of an assistance centre in the Bill includes placing a duty on competent authorities to cooperate with it. This is to ensure that the assistance centre has the necessary information to help support the delivery of its functions, rather than relying on voluntary information sharing arrangements. The information shared by regulators with the assistance centre is limited in nature, so this is not an onerous duty for regulators.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The assistance centre supports professionals with overseas qualifications intending to work in the UK, and UK qualified professionals seeking to practise overseas. Its website and telephone advice service help professionals identify the right regulators, which may not always be clear.
Some regulators are pursuing recognition arrangements with EU counterparts, and the Government is agreeing new trade deals with provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The assistance centre will be useful to UK professionals as they make use of these provisions to work or provide services overseas.
Finally, the assistance centre provides support and guidance to authorities responsible for regulating professions in the UK. Many authorities use the assistance centre as a source of information on international recognition agreements.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for making arrangements in relation to the assistance centre.
The current assistance centre, the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications, has 2.5 full time equivalent staff and is provided at a very modest cost. The exact terms of the contract for the service are commercially sensitive.
The UK had a National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications in 2007 when the legislation implementing the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC came into force. It was initially housed within government before a contract to run the service was awarded to ECCTIS Limited in December 2008.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2013/55/EU changed the requirement from each EU Member State having a National Contact Point to having an assistance centre. When the implementing legislation for this Directive came into force, the UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications changed to the UK National Assistance Centre in January 2016. The requirement for the assistance centre was preserved in retained EU law at the end of the Transition Period.
Providing a statutory basis for the continued existence of an assistance centre in the Bill includes placing a duty on competent authorities to cooperate with it. This is to ensure that the assistance centre has the necessary information to help support the delivery of its functions, rather than relying on voluntary information sharing arrangements. The information shared by regulators with the assistance centre is limited in nature, so this is not an onerous duty for regulators.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The assistance centre supports professionals with overseas qualifications intending to work in the UK, and UK qualified professionals seeking to practise overseas. Its website and telephone advice service help professionals identify the right regulators, which may not always be clear.
Some regulators are pursuing recognition arrangements with EU counterparts, and the Government is agreeing new trade deals with provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The assistance centre will be useful to UK professionals as they make use of these provisions to work or provide services overseas.
Finally, the assistance centre provides support and guidance to authorities responsible for regulating professions in the UK. Many authorities use the assistance centre as a source of information on international recognition agreements.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for making arrangements in relation to the assistance centre.
The current assistance centre, the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications, has 2.5 full time equivalent staff and is provided at a very modest cost. The exact terms of the contract for the service are commercially sensitive.
The UK had a National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications in 2007 when the legislation implementing the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC came into force. It was initially housed within government before a contract to run the service was awarded to ECCTIS Limited in December 2008.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2013/55/EU changed the requirement from each EU Member State having a National Contact Point to having an assistance centre. When the implementing legislation for this Directive came into force, the UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications changed to the UK National Assistance Centre in January 2016. The requirement for the assistance centre was preserved in retained EU law at the end of the Transition Period.
Providing a statutory basis for the continued existence of an assistance centre in the Bill includes placing a duty on competent authorities to cooperate with it. This is to ensure that the assistance centre has the necessary information to help support the delivery of its functions, rather than relying on voluntary information sharing arrangements. The information shared by regulators with the assistance centre is limited in nature, so this is not an onerous duty for regulators.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The assistance centre supports professionals with overseas qualifications intending to work in the UK, and UK qualified professionals seeking to practise overseas. Its website and telephone advice service help professionals identify the right regulators, which may not always be clear.
Some regulators are pursuing recognition arrangements with EU counterparts, and the Government is agreeing new trade deals with provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The assistance centre will be useful to UK professionals as they make use of these provisions to work or provide services overseas.
Finally, the assistance centre provides support and guidance to authorities responsible for regulating professions in the UK. Many authorities use the assistance centre as a source of information on international recognition agreements.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for making arrangements in relation to the assistance centre.
The current assistance centre, the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications, has 2.5 full time equivalent staff and is provided at a very modest cost. The exact terms of the contract for the service are commercially sensitive.
The UK had a National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications in 2007 when the legislation implementing the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC came into force. It was initially housed within government before a contract to run the service was awarded to ECCTIS Limited in December 2008.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2013/55/EU changed the requirement from each EU Member State having a National Contact Point to having an assistance centre. When the implementing legislation for this Directive came into force, the UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications changed to the UK National Assistance Centre in January 2016. The requirement for the assistance centre was preserved in retained EU law at the end of the Transition Period.
Providing a statutory basis for the continued existence of an assistance centre in the Bill includes placing a duty on competent authorities to cooperate with it. This is to ensure that the assistance centre has the necessary information to help support the delivery of its functions, rather than relying on voluntary information sharing arrangements. The information shared by regulators with the assistance centre is limited in nature, so this is not an onerous duty for regulators.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The assistance centre supports professionals with overseas qualifications intending to work in the UK, and UK qualified professionals seeking to practise overseas. Its website and telephone advice service help professionals identify the right regulators, which may not always be clear.
Some regulators are pursuing recognition arrangements with EU counterparts, and the Government is agreeing new trade deals with provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The assistance centre will be useful to UK professionals as they make use of these provisions to work or provide services overseas.
Finally, the assistance centre provides support and guidance to authorities responsible for regulating professions in the UK. Many authorities use the assistance centre as a source of information on international recognition agreements.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for making arrangements in relation to the assistance centre.
The current assistance centre, the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications, has 2.5 full time equivalent staff and is provided at a very modest cost. The exact terms of the contract for the service are commercially sensitive.
The UK had a National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications in 2007 when the legislation implementing the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC came into force. It was initially housed within government before a contract to run the service was awarded to ECCTIS Limited in December 2008.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2013/55/EU changed the requirement from each EU Member State having a National Contact Point to having an assistance centre. When the implementing legislation for this Directive came into force, the UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications changed to the UK National Assistance Centre in January 2016. The requirement for the assistance centre was preserved in retained EU law at the end of the Transition Period.
Providing a statutory basis for the continued existence of an assistance centre in the Bill includes placing a duty on competent authorities to cooperate with it. This is to ensure that the assistance centre has the necessary information to help support the delivery of its functions, rather than relying on voluntary information sharing arrangements. The information shared by regulators with the assistance centre is limited in nature, so this is not an onerous duty for regulators.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The assistance centre supports professionals with overseas qualifications intending to work in the UK, and UK qualified professionals seeking to practise overseas. Its website and telephone advice service help professionals identify the right regulators, which may not always be clear.
Some regulators are pursuing recognition arrangements with EU counterparts, and the Government is agreeing new trade deals with provisions on the recognition of professional qualifications. The assistance centre will be useful to UK professionals as they make use of these provisions to work or provide services overseas.
Finally, the assistance centre provides support and guidance to authorities responsible for regulating professions in the UK. Many authorities use the assistance centre as a source of information on international recognition agreements.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is responsible for making arrangements in relation to the assistance centre.
The current assistance centre, the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications, has 2.5 full time equivalent staff and is provided at a very modest cost. The exact terms of the contract for the service are commercially sensitive.
The UK had a National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications in 2007 when the legislation implementing the Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2005/36/EC came into force. It was initially housed within government before a contract to run the service was awarded to ECCTIS Limited in December 2008.
The Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive 2013/55/EU changed the requirement from each EU Member State having a National Contact Point to having an assistance centre. When the implementing legislation for this Directive came into force, the UK National Contact Point for Professional Qualifications changed to the UK National Assistance Centre in January 2016. The requirement for the assistance centre was preserved in retained EU law at the end of the Transition Period.
Providing a statutory basis for the continued existence of an assistance centre in the Bill includes placing a duty on competent authorities to cooperate with it. This is to ensure that the assistance centre has the necessary information to help support the delivery of its functions, rather than relying on voluntary information sharing arrangements. The information shared by regulators with the assistance centre is limited in nature, so this is not an onerous duty for regulators.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) already includes measures for short-term business visitors, who can perform a list of 11 activities without requiring a work-permit, subject to a limited number of Member State reservations. EU Member States may allow more activities without a work-permit than those specified in the agreement. This will vary country to country.
Visa-free travel is not usually part of Free Trade Agreements, although the UK and EU both allow visa-free visits in their domestic laws. EU nationals can visit the UK for up to 6 months and perform a wide range of business activities (which can be found under the ‘Permitted Activities’ of the Immigration Rules). UK nationals can visit the EU for 90 days in every 180 days and also perform a range of visitor activities, although these will vary from Member State to Member State.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
The Job Retention Scheme has been designed to help employers retain staff during the coronavirus outbreak. The guidance explains that anyone who meets the eligibility requirements can be considered for the Scheme - where the employee and employer agree. That includes pregnant women. The limited number of exclusions are explicitly set out in the guidance.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Detailed guidance for businesses about the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund is published on GOV.UK setting out the process, eligibility and deadlines for applying to the scheme. This guidance is updated regularly to include additional information where necessary.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU State Aid rules continue to apply in the UK until the end of the Transition Period.
As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission has introduced some welcome flexibilities into the rules to deal with the impacts of the Coronavirus, in the form of a Temporary Framework. This facilitates aid going to the businesses who need it most, quickly and more efficiently.
A business can receive up to EUR 800,000 of Temporary Framework aid. Other support can be given under the normal de minimis rules. These allow up to EUR 200,000 to be given to a business in a three-year period. De minimis aid can be received in addition to Temporary Framework aid.
The Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund is under the provisions of the Temporary Framework. A grant for a specific shop would come out of a charity’s €800,000 allowance if that charity were considered to control that retail shop. A case by case analysis of each charity retailer’s company structure and activities would be necessary to determine this. The number of shops each charity would be considered to control boils down to whether it exercises sufficient control (either legally or factually) over shops such that they ought to be considered for state aid purposes to be one organisation.
The combination of these and other measures constitute an unprecedented programme of Government support for business to address the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy)
The law is clear: only safe products may be placed on the market.
Under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 any distributor, including those selling second-hand goods online, must act with due care to ensure that electrical products are safe. Where a product is found not to be in conformity with essential safety requirements, they have a duty to take corrective action. This may include withdrawing the electrical equipment or issuing a recall.
The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 (GPSR) also place a requirement on distributors not to supply products for sale that they know, or should know, are dangerous.
The Government is clear that anyone involved in the supply of goods should take the necessary action to ensure public safety. If a product is recalled because it is unsafe it should not be supplied second hand or made available for resale. Information on current recalls is available online on the Government's product recall campaign website.
Local Authorities are responsible for enforcing a wide range of legislation and ensuring their staff are suitably trained and competent to enforce it. The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) funds the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) to provide learning and development activities to front line officers. The current planned programme of training for 2020 includes regulation of the sale of second hand electrical goods.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) is conducting extensive research with 4,000 consumers to understand their attitudes to product registration and trial different approaches. Officials are developing proposals to increase registration, including assessing the merits of mandatory registration for electrical products as part of this work.
Whether the UK will remain a part of RAPEX is dependent on the outcome of the negotiations on the future economic partnership between the UK and the EU. It is the Government’s intention to seek deep regulatory cooperation with the EU as part of a new free trade agreement.
In November, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) launched the Product Safety Database to enable national and local regulators in the UK to share information on product safety notices.
The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. Legislation is in place to require that manufacturers only place safe products on the market and take action where they identify a safety issue with products already on the market.
Whirlpool informed OPSS in October 2019 that it was investigating a potential issue with door locks on some models of washing machine. OPSS required the company to provide detailed data on this issue in order to have clarity on the nature and scale of the problem and to identify the appropriate response to protect public safety. Following assessment of the issue, it was agreed that a full recall should be instigated and the recall programme was announced on 17 December 2019.
OPSS is now monitoring the recall closely and will hold the company to account if it does not an effective recall.
The Government is committed to protecting consumers from unsafe products. The Chief Executive of the Office for Product Safety and Standards wrote to online platforms when the recall was announced by Whirlpool requesting them to take steps to ensure affected washing machines and other recalled items were not available on their platforms to protect public safety.
My hon. Friend the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, has previously written to the UK heads of Amazon, Alibaba, eBay, Facebook and Gumtree to ensure they are playing their part in protecting UK consumers from unsafe goods and is closely monitoring the situation.
6 Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's DCMS questions)The government is committed to working with industry to address concerns over any irresponsible promotions, advertising, and marketing relating to alcohol, particularly to ensure that children and young people are suitably protected from harm.
Material in the Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) and Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice (BCAP) Codes relating to the advertising and marketing of alcohol products is exceptionally robust, recognising the social imperative of ensuring that alcohol advertising is responsible and in particular that children and young people are suitably protected. If new evidence emerges that clearly highlights major problems with the existing Codes, then the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has a duty to revisit the Codes and take appropriate action.
Furthermore, the government continues to work with the Portman Group, the social responsibility body and regulator for alcohol labelling, packaging, and promotion in the UK. It operates its Codes of Practice to ensure that alcohol is marketed in a socially responsible way, only to those aged 18 and over, and in a way that does not appeal particularly to those who are vulnerable. The Codes are widely supported by the industry, with over 150 signatories including producers, importers, wholesalers, retailers, and trade associations.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK advertising industry has some of the strictest alcohol regulations in the world. The Advertising Standards Authority uses its codes of practice for advertising to stipulate that alcohol must not be directed at people under 18 or contain anything likely to appeal to them by reflecting youth culture.
Anybody cast for an advertisement for alcohol must be, and look, 25 years of age or over. Consumption of alcohol must not be linked to increased popularity, sexual success, confidence, sporting achievements or mental performance. Anything which portrays drinking alcohol as a competitive challenge or as having therapeutic qualities is banned, as is anything that promotes binge drinking or suggests that alcohol can solve one’s problems.
If new evidence emerges that clearly highlights major problems with the existing Codes, then the Advertising Standards Authority has a duty to revisit the Codes and take appropriate action.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Withdrawal Agreement protects UK nationals who live or are a frontier worker in an EU Member State at the end of the Transition Period. Those who have had a professional qualification recognised under the EU legislation listed in the Withdrawal Agreement will keep the right to practise the profession in the Member State in which they live or work. This includes many professions in scope of the Mutual Recognition of Professional Qualifications Directive such as engineering and accounting.
As of 1 January 2021, UK-qualified professionals who wish to supply services in the EU should seek recognition for their qualifications using the national rules in EU Member States. Professionals should check the European Commission’s Regulated Professions Database to find out if their profession is regulated in the state in which they are seeking to work. They should then contact the single point of contact for that country to find out how to get their professional qualification recognised. Alternatively, they can seek advice from the UK Centre for Professional Qualifications (UK NARIC) to find out which regulatory or professional body they should contact.
The UK-EU TCA provides a framework under which the UK and the EU may agree Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on the recognition of professional qualification covering the UK and all 27 EU Member States. Once an arrangement is adopted under the TCA, UK professionals will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition for their professional qualifications within EU Member States.
Arrangements are implemented on a profession-by-profession basis and depend upon reciprocal cooperation from both the UK and EU Member States. The framework enables UK and EU professional bodies or authorities to make recommendations on MRAs to the Partnership Council. Once an arrangement has been adopted, a professional qualified in the UK (e.g. an engineer) will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition of their qualifications within an EU Member State.
The Government continues to engage with stakeholders in the tourism sector to hear their priorities for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. Officials are currently engaging with the tourism trade bodies, including the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) to gather feedback on priority regulators and qualifications for the tourism sector.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides a framework under which the UK and the EU may agree Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on the recognition of professional qualification covering the UK and all 27 EU Member States. Once an arrangement is adopted under the TCA, UK professionals will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition for their professional qualifications within EU Member States.
Arrangements are implemented on a profession-by-profession basis and depend upon reciprocal cooperation from both the UK and EU Member States. The framework enables UK and EU professional bodies or authorities to make recommendations on MRAs to the Partnership Council. Once an arrangement has been adopted, a professional qualified in the UK (e.g. an engineer) will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition of their qualifications within an EU Member State.
The Government continues to engage with stakeholders in the tourism sector to hear their priorities for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. Officials are currently engaging with the tourism trade bodies, including the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) to gather feedback on priority regulators and qualifications for the tourism sector.
The government will provide help and guidance to UK regulatory authorities and professional bodies to help them benefit from these provisions as well as other recognition paths. Where visas apply, our agreement with the EU contains measures that will help ensure processes are as prompt and smooth as possible.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides a framework under which the UK and the EU may agree Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) on the recognition of professional qualification covering the UK and all 27 EU Member States. Once an arrangement is adopted under the TCA, UK professionals will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition for their professional qualifications within EU Member States.
Arrangements are implemented on a profession-by-profession basis and depend upon reciprocal cooperation from both the UK and EU Member States. The framework enables UK and EU professional bodies or authorities to make recommendations on MRAs to the Partnership Council. Once an arrangement has been adopted, a professional qualified in the UK (e.g. an engineer) will be able to use the terms outlined in the arrangement to secure recognition of their qualifications within an EU Member State.
The Government continues to engage with stakeholders in the tourism sector to hear their priorities for the UK’s future relationship with the EU. Officials are currently engaging with the tourism trade bodies, including the British Association of International Mountain Leaders (BAIML) to gather feedback on priority regulators and qualifications for the tourism sector.
The government will provide help and guidance to UK regulatory authorities and professional bodies to help them benefit from these provisions as well as other recognition paths. Where visas apply, our agreement with the EU contains measures that will help ensure processes are as prompt and smooth as possible.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
2 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's Defra questions)The Government's assessment of the estimated costs of Lords Amendment 18 to the Agriculture Bill was published in the explanatory notes to the Lords Amendments to that Bill.
We are working to ensure that essential Parliamentary business can continue as far as possible during this period.
With reference to the Agriculture Bill, the Government remains committed to reforming English agricultural policy, so that we can reward our farmers and land managers for protecting our environment, improving animal welfare and providing a supply of healthy, home-grown produce. We know that farmers and land managers need as much certainty as possible. The Government will reflect on any delays to Parliamentary business and legislation and provide more information in due course.
The Government remains committed to progressing the Fisheries Bill. The Bill will allow us to manage our fisheries more sustainably and appropriately after the transition period. As with agriculture, however, we know that fishers need certainty. This is why the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 will convert the body of EU law in force at that time into retained EU law, appropriately amended by statutory instruments. We continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure they are informed and prepared.
1 Department for International Trade Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's DIT questions)We recognise the importance of the involvement and monitoring of labour-related issues by UK stakeholders on this agreement.
That is why this deal establishes a committee for cooperation, and UK stakeholders will have the opportunity for consultation and active engagement. The provisions agreed allow for businesses and other labour organisations to support the effective implementation of the agreement. We are currently considering options for how this can be best achieved.
Minister of State (Department for International Trade)
Ports policy in Wales is devolved and is a matter for the Welsh Government. The Department for Transport is working closely with and supporting the Cabinet Office’s Border and Protocol Delivery Group (BPDG) on delivering the required preparations for the end of the transition period. In July 2020, the government committed to spending £470 million on new border infrastructure to support ports in building extra capacity to meet the new control requirements where there is space to do so, and, if necessary, to build additional inland sites across the country where checks can take place.
The Port Infrastructure Fund (PIF) will support ports in preparing for any potential disruptions that may occur at the end of the transition period. The PIF has been open for applications from 2 October and industry is encouraged to utilize the fund where applicable.
HMG is also working with Welsh and Scottish Governments to confirm the infrastructure requirements for Wales and Scotland. This includes sites which will be required to be in place to support both Holyhead in Anglesey and specific ports in South West Wales.
DfT officials are working closely with English Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) with high volume EU facing Roll-on Roll-off ports in their areas, ensuring that these LRFs have the required information and analysis to enable them to put in place appropriate traffic management plans in case of traffic disruption following the end of the EU Transition Period.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We published our revised reasonable worst-case scenario planning assumptions on 23 September for the end of the Transition Period. Such a scenario could lead to queues of up to 7,000 HGVs in Kent. We are working with the Kent Resilience Forum to maintain traffic flow and to mitigate the effects of any disruption that occurs. This includes additional holding capacity for HGVs in Kent.
The Kent Resilience Forum’s preparations include a Driver Welfare plan that will provide reasonable and proportionate distribution of welfare to both passenger and freight traffic during significant congestion. It covers the deployment of food, water, medicine, warmth and sanitation. This can be adjusted to respond to different levels of congestion. This will benefit from the Forum’s experience of previous incidents where there has been congestion in Kent as a result of delays in crossings of the Short Straits.
Our delivery plans ensure that all Inland Border Facilities will have adequate toilet facilities for drivers and any driver companions to use, including accessible and children toilets.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
13 Department of Health and Social Care Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's DHSC questions)We have committed to consult on our intention to introduce calorie labelling on pre-packaged alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants in due course. The consultation will include further details about the proposed timescale for implementation of the policy.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government’s evidence review on the public health burden of alcohol in 2016 found evidence that exposure to alcohol marketing can increase the risk that children will start to drink alcohol, or if they already drink, can increase the risk that they will consume greater quantities. There is evidence to show exposure to alcohol advertising can induce physiological cravings to drink, but not necessarily relapse, among ex-dependent drinkers. However, this was from a single study and more research is needed to fully understand the impact. We continue to monitor the emerging evidence in this area.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We are committed to consult shortly on our intention to make companies provide calorie labelling on all pre-packaged alcohol they sell. The consultation will also cover introducing calorie labelling on alcoholic drinks sold in the out of home sector, for example bought on draught or by the glass. An impact assessment will be published alongside the consultation.
Due to the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, the addiction strategy has been delayed. Work is expected to resume later in 2021.
The Government’s guidance advises public sector contracting authorities on how to assess suppliers in terms of mitigating the risk of modern slavery. Contracts are normally placed in line with Departmental terms and conditions which include clauses requiring Good Industry Practice to ensure that there is no slavery or human trafficking in supply chains. Suppliers appointed to our NHS Supply Chain frameworks must comply with the Labour Standards Assurance System or they can be removed from consideration for future opportunities.
At the start of the crisis in March the National Health Service across the United Kingdom had access to over 9,000 mechanical ventilators including 7,484 in England and 1,655 in the devolved administrations.
Today, there are around 30,400 (current total 30,382) mechanical ventilators available to patients across the UK. The additional stock comprises 6,089 from established suppliers (118 manufactured in UK, the rest overseas) and 15,154 from new suppliers, through the Prime Minister’s ventilator challenge, mostly made in the UK.
At the start of the crisis in March the National Health Service across the United Kingdom had access to over 9,000 mechanical ventilators including 7,484 in England and 1,655 in the devolved administrations.
Today, there are around 30,400 (current total 30,382) mechanical ventilators available to patients across the UK. The additional stock comprises 6,089 from established suppliers (118 manufactured in UK, the rest overseas) and 15,154 from new suppliers, through the Prime Minister’s ventilator challenge, mostly made in the UK.
On 27 March, the Government published new guidance for those who are buying, selling or letting properties during the pandemic. This guidance includes advice to both the public and industry.
Buyers who are due to move into an empty property are being advised to go ahead, but others have been told to delay their transaction.
The Government stressed that while there was no need to pull out of a purchase, people must currently stay at home to help prevent COVID-19 from spreading.
COVID-19 is a global public health emergency. The United Kingdom is playing a leading role in the global response and we will continue to work closely with the G7, the World Health Organization, the European Union and other international partners at both Ministerial and official level.
The Government is committed to tackling health harms from alcohol and supporting the most vulnerable at risk from alcohol misuse. We continue to support and deliver programmes at both national and local levels to address harms including establishing Alcohol Care Teams in the hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol related admissions and a commitment in the Prevention Green paper to encourage drinking habits towards low and no alcohol products. The Department of Health and Social Care is working jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions investing £6 million on a programme of work which started in 2018/19, to improve outcomes and support for children whose parents are alcohol dependent. This includes nine local areas which are testing innovative and collaborative working; funding for voluntary sector organisations to develop new resources and training; a helpline and contact services for children, and funding several projects in the voluntary sector over 2020/21 to support those living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and to reduce the number of alcohol exposed pregnancies to prevent new cases of FASD.
The Government is committed to tackling health harms from alcohol and supporting the most vulnerable at risk from alcohol misuse. We continue to support and deliver programmes at both national and local levels to address harms including establishing Alcohol Care Teams in the hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol related admissions and a commitment in the Prevention Green paper to encourage drinking habits towards low and no alcohol products. The Department of Health and Social Care is working jointly with the Department for Work and Pensions investing £6 million on a programme of work which started in 2018/19, to improve outcomes and support for children whose parents are alcohol dependent. This includes nine local areas which are testing innovative and collaborative working; funding for voluntary sector organisations to develop new resources and training; a helpline and contact services for children, and funding several projects in the voluntary sector over 2020/21 to support those living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and to reduce the number of alcohol exposed pregnancies to prevent new cases of FASD.
In his capacity as Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, Lord True will answer questions, and repeat statements, in the House of Lords on the UK's negotiations with the EU on the future relationship.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
1 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's FCDO questions)The membership of the Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) consists of a range of stakeholders and consumer organisations are an important element. They are currently represented through Citizens Advice.
The Government welcomes views on the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement through a variety of channels including the regular engagement with departments.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.
Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is continuing to engage with interested stakeholders, including public health professionals, on these reforms. A consultation was launched in October and stakeholders are encouraged to respond before the deadline of 30 January 2022. A tax information and impact note will be published following the consultation when the policy is final, or near final, in the usual way.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government keeps alcohol duties under review and the impact of changes to alcohol duty is considered carefully at each fiscal event, including its effects on society, the economy and wider needs.
Alcohol duties are kept under review and the impact of a change to alcohol duty is considered at each fiscal event. This takes a variety of data sources into account, including those relating to public health as well as the financial implications of any change.
All taxes are kept under review and the impact of a change to alcohol duty is considered at each fiscal event, including its effect on health.
The Treasury is conducting a review of the alcohol duty system. As part of this it is engaging with public health groups along with other interested stakeholders. However, while public health is an important factor, it is not the sole consideration, as the Government will also need to take account of the wider fiscal and economic implications of reform.
All taxes are kept under review and the impact of a change to alcohol duty is considered at each fiscal event, including its effect on health. As a freeze in duties involves no changes to rates, the Government expects there to be no direct impact on public health.
The Government is confident that the FCA has a broad suite of authorisation, supervision and enforcement powers to regulate the conduct of claims management companies (CMCs). The Financial Guidance and Claims Act 2018 transferred responsibility for the regulation of CMCs from the Claims Management Regulator, a unit of the Ministry of Justice, to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as of 1 April 2019.
This transfer was intended to enable the application of the FCA’s Senior Managers Regime to CMCs, allow for the creation of more detailed conduct rules to address issues that were causing consumer detriment, and effectively facilitate tougher regulation. The Act also provided for a ban on cold calling, unless prior consent has been given, by amending the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations.
Following the transfer, the FCA is currently carrying out a process of re-authorisation, whereby all CMCs must re-apply for permission to operate in the sectors regulated by the FCA. Once this process of re-authorisation has progressed further, HM Treasury will be able to make any necessary assessments of whether the current model for CMC regulation is operating effectively.
Legislation in the Nationality and Borders Bill does not in itself enable overseas asylum processing; we need a deal with a likeminded partner for that. I will not tie the hands of our negotiators by commenting on the content nor form of a deal, this is a matter for the negotiating table.
Minister of State (Home Office)
1 Ministry of Defence Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's ministry-of-defence questions)The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has overall responsibility to Parliament for the Joint Committee, therefore Lord True will answer questions and repeat statements in the House of Lords.
Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
4 Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's DLUHC questions)We continue to engage with the social sector to ensure that leaseholders are supported and do not have to bear the costs associated with remediation of unsafe non-ACM cladding. Housing Associations will be able to apply for funding to cover the cost of remediation that they would otherwise pass on to leaseholders. Each Housing Association will need to make its own assessment as to how best to meet the remaining remediation costs in line with their business plans and different sources of income.
Minister of State (Home Office)
The Secretary of State considered the decision to launch the Building Safety Fund in line with requirements under the Public Sector Equality duty. Funding is being provided to support leaseholders in both the social and private sectors. Where funding is claimed from government, the costs of remediating unsafe non-ACM cladding systems cannot be passed onto leaseholders.
Minister of State (Home Office)
Government has committed to creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to succeed European structural funds and bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations. The UK Government can cut out bureaucracy and create a fund which invests in UK priorities and is easier for local areas to access.
The government understands the importance of this investment for people, business and places and will set out further plans for the fund in due course. Final decisions on the design of the fund will need to be taken after a cross-Government Spending Review. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with interested parties whilst developing the fund.
Minister of State (Home Office)
On 13 January 2020, the Government laid before Parliament new regulations that will require private landlords to make sure the electrical installations in their properties are safe.
The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require that:
- Electrical installations must be inspected and tested by a qualified and competent person at least every five years;
- Electrical safety standards must be met;
- Reports (known as ‘Electrical Installation Condition Reports or ‘EICRs’) must be provided to tenants, and to local authorities on request.
The Regulations also set out enforcement powers for local authorities who will be able to tackle those rogue landlords who breach their new duties under the Regulations.
Subject to approval by parliament, these requirements will come into force for all new tenancies from 1 July 2020 and for all existing tenancies from 1 April 2021.
Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
1 Ministry of Justice Questions
(View all Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town's ministry-of-justice questions)The Government is aware of the European Commission’s notification that it is not in a position to give its consent to UK accession to the Lugano Convention 2007. However, we understand that member states have not yet been given an opportunity to formally vote on that position.
We are committed to ensuring cross-border legal disputes can be resolved smoothly, in the interests of families, consumers and businesses both in the UK and across Europe. We maintain that we meet the criteria for accession – it is open to countries outside the EU; all non-EU parties to Lugano support UK membership.