Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of unpredictable housing transaction timelines on removals and storage businesses and the ability of those businesses to meet demand.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The home buying and selling process in England is cumbersome , taking an average of nearly five months to complete and a third of transactions fall through – this is holding up the property market.
We believe an improved home buying and selling system that is more efficient has the potential to help people move into their homes more quickly and plan their moves with more certainty. This will benefit the storage and removals sector by enabling more predictable moving timelines, helping businesses anticipate demand more effectively.
On 9 February we announced action to improve home buying and selling by digitalising the process. In collaboration with HM Land Registry, we are working with local authorities to digitise property data, introduce common data standards, and enable digital identity services for the property sector. More information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-land-registry-local-land-charges-programme/local-land-charges-programme.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to revise the shortage occupation list to include key removals and storage industry roles to address skills shortages in the sector.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Immigration White paper, published 12 May, set out proposed reforms in a number of areas, including to the shortage occupation list, further details of which will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of value added tax (VAT) thresholds on competition in the removals and storage industry; and whether they plan to lower the threshold to align with European economies and tackle VAT avoidance in the sector.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Consideration of changes to the VAT threshold would have to carefully balance the potential benefits to businesses, the economy as a whole, and tax revenues.
The Chancellor makes decisions on tax policy at fiscal events in the context of the overall public finances. The Government keeps all taxes under review.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the case for giving greater weight to a durable and sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians by recognising Palestinian statehood.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
As the Prime Minister has made clear, the UK supports a two-state solution that guarantees security and stability for both the Israeli and Palestinian people. We agree that the people of the West Bank and Gaza must be given the political perspective of a credible route to a Palestinian state and a new future. And it needs to be irreversible.
We believe that recognition of Palestinian statehood should not come at the start of a new process, but it does not have to be at the very end of the process.
We must start by resolving the immediate crisis in Gaza. Gaza is an Occupied Palestinian Territory and must be part of a future Palestinian state. However, Hamas is still in control of parts of Gaza, and Israeli hostages remain in captivity - this shows that we are still at the start of the process.
Ensuring Hamas is no longer in charge of Gaza and removing Hamas' capacity to launch attacks against Israel are essential and unavoidable steps on the road to lasting peace; as is working together to support the new Palestinian government as it takes much-needed steps on reform and resumes governance in Gaza as well as the West Bank.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk to Palestinian refugees caused by efforts to abolish UNRWA.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We recognise the essential and pivotal role that UNRWA plays in providing health and education services and humanitarian relief to Palestinian refugees. The United Nation's General Assembly voted on 12 December 2022 to extend UNWRA's mandate until 30 June 2026.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what reassurances they have sought from the government of Israel regarding their cooperation with the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services investigation into the allegations made against UNRWA.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the events that took place on 7 October in Israel are appalling, which is why we took decisive action to pause future funding to the organisation.
The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will set out its position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of Catherine Colonna's final report, UNRWA's response and the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) investigation into these allegations.
We continue to urge Israel and all parties with relevant information to cooperate fully with the OIOS investigation.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government on the basis of what evidence they have continued to suspend funding to UNRWA despite other allies, including Germany, having restored funding to the agency.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Allegations that UNRWA staff were involved in the events that took place on 7 October in Israel are appalling, which is why we took decisive action to pause future funding to the organisation.
The Prime Minister has been clear that the UK will set out its position on future funding to UNRWA following careful consideration of Catherine Colonna's final report, UNRWA's response and the ongoing UN Office for Internal Oversight Services investigation into these allegations.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made any further assessment of the legality of licensing military equipment destined for Israel since the provisional measures order was issued by the International Court of Justice on 26 January.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
All export licence applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis against the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, including with regard to international humanitarian law.
The Government can and does respond quickly and flexibly to changing international circumstances. All licences are kept under careful and continual review as standard. We are able to amend, suspend or revoke extant licences and refuse new licence applications as circumstances require.
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade receives legal advice as appropriate, on all matters related to export licensing, as part of advice from officials.
Any legal advice received is subject to legal professional privilege and as such we do not comment on legal advice that may or may not have been sought or received.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government, in the light of the recent decisions by the governments of Belgium, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands suspending the licensing of arms and military equipment to Israel, whether they will review the United Kingdom’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria and suspend the licensing of arms and military equipment to Israel.
Answered by Lord Offord of Garvel - Shadow Minister (Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government takes its defence export responsibilities extremely seriously and operates some of the most robust export controls in the world.
The Government continue to monitor closely the situation in Israel and Gaza, and if extant licences are found to be no longer consistent with the UK Strategic Export Licensing Criteria (the SELC), then those licences can be revoked, suspended or amended.
Asked by: Baroness Janke (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are considering suspending the licensing of military equipment to Israel if it conducts a ground offensive in Rafah.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston
The Government takes its defence export responsibilities extremely seriously and operates some of the most robust export controls in the world.
We continue to monitor closely the situation in Israel and Gaza, and if extant licences are found to be no longer consistent with the UK’s Strategic Export Licensing Criteria, then those licences can be revoked, suspended or amended.