Lord Austin of Dudley

The Government does not directly fund or have a relationship with the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL). The Government only has a funding relationship with the independent British Academy, who in turn fund hundreds of researchers across the humanities and social sciences, as well as eight British International Research Institutes (BIRI), including the CBRL. These connect researchers and support world-leading research. They are independent organisations, overseen by Boards of Trustees. However, the Academy undertakes regular reporting, evaluation and monitoring of their funding through which issues can be raised or assurances sought on any aspect of delivery.

Great Britain has highly diverse sources of gas supply. These include pipelines from the UK and Norwegian continental shelves (UKCS & NCS), interconnection with the European continent, and three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminals, providing the UK with one of the largest LNG import infrastructures in Europe.

The UK’s diverse range of sources of gas supply is a strength to the Government’s approach to energy security. The integrated nature of the global gas market, and the fact that it is an internationally traded commodity, ensures that the UK continues to work closely with all its international partners.

Official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) is not detailed enough to identify jobs linked to the production of specific products, nor can they capture jobs using or related to specific products.

In 2019 (the latest year for which we have full year estimates), manufacturing as a whole accounted for 2.7m jobs, while the Construction sector accounted for 2.3m. Approximately 14,000 of the jobs in manufacturing were in the manufacture of machinery for mining and construction.

Broadcasting regulation compliance is a matter for Ofcom, all regulatory decisions made by Ofcom are fully independent of the Government. Ofcom has an ongoing duty to ensure that all UK licenced broadcasters adhere to requirements under broadcast licence rules.

Broadcasting regulation compliance is a matter for Ofcom, all regulatory decisions made by Ofcom are fully independent of the Government. Ofcom has an ongoing duty to ensure that all UK licenced broadcasters adhere to requirements under broadcast licence rules.

The Culture Secretary and Sports Minister recently led a roundtable discussion with current and former players from the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship, which discussed online racist abuse and players’ perspectives on tackling discrimination in the game.

We are clear that the online racist abuse of football players is unacceptable. We must do all we can to tackle it. We are taking steps through the online harms regulatory framework to ensure that online abuse, whether anonymous or not, is addressed. Under a new legal duty of care, companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including illegal online abuse. All companies will need to take swift and effective action against such content.

The police have a range of legal powers to identify individuals who attempt to use anonymity to escape sanctions for online abuse, where the activity is illegal. The government is working with law enforcement to review whether the current powers are sufficient to tackle illegal anonymous abuse online. The outcome of that work will inform the government’s future position in relation to illegal anonymous online abuse

Companies providing high-risk, high-reach services will also need to undertake regular risk assessments to identify legal but harmful material on their services. These companies will need to set clear terms and conditions which explicitly state what categories of legal but harmful material they accept (and do not accept) on their service. Companies will need to enforce these terms and conditions consistently and transparently and could face enforcement action if they do not. The Online Safety Bill, which will give effect to the regulatory framework, will be ready this year.

The Culture Secretary and Sports Minister recently led a roundtable discussion with current and former players from the Premier League, English Football League (EFL), Women’s Super League (WSL) and Women’s Championship, which discussed online racist abuse and players’ perspectives on tackling discrimination in the game.

We are clear that the online racist abuse of football players is unacceptable. We must do all we can to tackle it. We are taking steps through the online harms regulatory framework to ensure that online abuse, whether anonymous or not, is addressed. Under a new legal duty of care, companies will need to remove and limit the spread of illegal content, including illegal online abuse. All companies will need to take swift and effective action against such content.

The police have a range of legal powers to identify individuals who attempt to use anonymity to escape sanctions for online abuse, where the activity is illegal. The government is working with law enforcement to review whether the current powers are sufficient to tackle illegal anonymous abuse online. The outcome of that work will inform the government’s future position in relation to illegal anonymous online abuse

Companies providing high-risk, high-reach services will also need to undertake regular risk assessments to identify legal but harmful material on their services. These companies will need to set clear terms and conditions which explicitly state what categories of legal but harmful material they accept (and do not accept) on their service. Companies will need to enforce these terms and conditions consistently and transparently and could face enforcement action if they do not. The Online Safety Bill, which will give effect to the regulatory framework, will be ready this year.

Our Departmental priority for the Kurdistan region of Iraq is to support the continuing reconstruction of its infrastructure and the protection of its cultural heritage. We work closely on this issue with the British Embassy, British Council and heritage experts from the UK and Iraq. If we are successful in protecting its cultural heritage, UK and Iraqi businesses in the tourism sector will be among the beneficiaries.

The government is clear that missing school for events such as political protests is unacceptable and should not be condoned.

The department has been monitoring events closely and has written to all schools and local authorities supporting leaders and teachers in taking firm action. The department encourages schools and local authorities to set clear expectations to parents on attendance, confirming that absence for this kind of activity should be treated as unauthorised. The department has been clear that school leaders and local authorities should be enforcing attendance policies, and they should take immediate action where these policies have been breached. In the most egregious cases this can mean fines or prosecution. The department has shared this communication with Ofsted to ensure all inspectors are clear on the position.

The government abhors antisemitism in all its forms and has for several years pushed for greater action from higher education providers in addressing it. This has included encouraging them to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism, in order to have universal clarity of what constitutes antisemitic behaviour.

The government expects universities and other higher education providers to comply with their legal duties on discrimination and harassment, as well as their legal duties to protect free speech. Universities must balance the exercise of their legal duties, including on a case-by-case basis.

We expect higher education providers to be at the forefront of tackling antisemitism, making sure that higher education is a genuinely fulfilling and welcoming experience for everyone.

All higher education providers should discharge their responsibilities fully and have robust policies and procedures in place to comply with the law, to investigate and swiftly address hate crime, including any antisemitic incidents that are reported. We expect higher education providers to have robust policies and procedures in place to address staff disciplinary issues.

All higher education providers have procedures for handling student complaints and, if students are unhappy with their experience, they should use the processes in place to complain formally to their provider outlining their concerns. Where a student complaint cannot be resolved through the institution’s complaint processes, a student at a provider in England and Wales can ask for his or her complaint to be reviewed by an independent body, the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education. Students also can and should inform the police if they believe the law has been broken.

With regards to the case of Professor David Miller, universities are independent and autonomous organisations which are responsible for the management of their own affairs and for meeting their duties under the law. Accordingly, the government has not intervened directly in this case. It is the responsibility of the University of Bristol to determine whether or not Professor Miller’s remarks constitute lawful free speech. In doing so, the government’s view is that they may wish to consider, in particular, his remarks about current students at the University of Bristol. It is important to distinguish between lawful, if deeply offensive, views on the one hand, and unacceptable acts of abuse, intimidation, and violence on the other.

Regardless of whether or not it is found that Professor Miller’s conduct constitutes lawful free speech, the government considers that the University of Bristol could do more to make its condemnation of that conduct clear to current and future students and to show its commitment to creating a welcoming environment for Jewish students. The government considers Professor Miller’s views to be ill-founded and wholly reprehensible, and wholeheartedly rejects them.

The data for the Sutton Trust report was collected at the start of the new term. Since then, the department has substantially increased delivery of devices to support vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils with remote learning.

The government is investing over £400 million to support access to remote education and online social care services, including securing 1.3 million laptops and tablets for disadvantaged children and young people.

Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, over one million laptops and tablets have been delivered to schools, trusts, local authorities and further education providers, as of Monday 15 February, with over 490,000 delivered since 4 January 2021.

The Department has also partnered with the UK’s leading mobile operators to provide free data to help disadvantaged children get online as well as delivering over 60,000 4G wireless routers for pupils without connection at home and buying more for issues.

Where remote education is needed and pupils continue to experience barriers to digital remote education, we expect schools to work to overcome these barriers. This could include distributing school-owned laptops or supplementing digital provision with different forms of remote education such as printed resources or textbooks. This should be supplemented with other forms of communication to keep pupils and students on track or answer questions about work.

The Department has introduced a £350 million National Tutoring Programme for disadvantaged pupils and students. This will increase access to high-quality tuition for disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people, helping to accelerate their academic progress and tackling the attainment gap between them and their peers.

As part of the National Tutoring Programme, schools in the most disadvantaged areas are being supported to employ in-house academic mentors to provide tuition to their pupils. During this period of national restrictions, as members of school staff, we expect mentors to continue providing tuition support to pupils in line with their school's policies.

The Department has responded to a written enquiry from the Sutton Trust and do not have any current plans to meet. We have conducted surveys with schools, pupils and parents throughout the COVID-19 outbreak and have collected data on access to technology, which will be published in due course.

The Department for International Trade (DIT) team in Iraq continues to assess the ongoing opportunities in the energy sector in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and help British companies access applicable opportunities.

Companies in the Oil & Gas sectors are making particular progress in the KRI and we would recommend that any prospective market entrant should seek advice from the DIT team in the country about how to mitigate risks. Companies should also bear in mind that, as per the Prime Minister’s announcement of 12th December 2020, the Government is phasing out direct support to the fossil fuels sector as the UK transitions toward a low-carbon economy.

No specific estimate has been made of fatal accidents caused by mobile concrete batching plants in each of the last five years.

No specific estimate has been made of fatal accidents caused by 32 tonne drum ready-mix concrete vehicles in each of the last five years.

Further to the response to HL13350, the permitted maximum laden weight of volumetric concrete mixers has not been reduced. A temporary arrangement to enable market adjustments to the operation of the vehicles complying in practice to the standard weights applicable to heavy goods vehicles has been put in place. The longer-term market adjustments may include the same vehicle or other vehicles types travelling for additional distances.

A special dispensation was made for volumetric concrete mixers in operation or on order by the end of 2018 to allow them to operate at weights higher than the usual maxima. Articulated vehicles are allowed to operate at maximum laden weights of up to 44 tonnes, depending on their axle configurations.

No specific estimate has been made of the effect on CO2 emissions of requiring operators of volumetric concrete mixers to comply with the standard weight limits applicable to heavy goods vehicles (and other specialised vehicles). A total of 1106 volumetric concrete mixers are currently in circulation in Great Britain operating under Vehicle Special Orders permitting them to operate at higher than usual weights. The Department’s estimate is that these vehicles represent the vast majority of the type in operation.

No specific estimate has been made of the number of this vehicle type produced in the UK on an annual basis in each of the past five years. A total of 1106 volumetric concrete mixers are currently in circulation in Great Britain operating under Vehicle Special Orders permitting them to operate at higher than usual weights. The Department’s estimate is that these vehicles represent the vast majority of the type in operation at that time and that the service life of the vehicles average effectively about ten to twelve years.

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.

The Department established a Ministerial Oversight Group to ensure consistent adherence to guidance on how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPRs) are used. The National Health Service provides online guidance and information for the public on DNACPR decisions, including information on asking for a second opinion or a review and if there are concerns about, or disagreement with, a DNACPR form in a patient’s or family member’s medical records. The Care Quality Commission continues to ensure providers understand their responsibilities if allegations of inappropriate application of DNACPR decisions are brought to their attention, as well as raising cases with the relevant bodies including the General Medical Council as appropriate.

The Department does not record how many DNACPR decisions are in place or whether there is agreement with those decisions, nor do we collect comparative data showing the proportion of DNACPR decisions in comparison to hospital admissions.

The UK supports the Kurdistan Region of Iraq's education sector and recently hosted the Prime Minister and Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government and discussed opportunities for collaboration in education. In discussions with the Secretary of State for the Department for Education we agreed to work closely to further expand our collaboration. Our Consulate in Erbil continues to identify opportunities for and work with UK institutions that offer both academic and vocational training programmes, including City and Guilds who now have established an office in Iraq.

We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants, and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions which would benefit the Iranian people. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

We have reached the end of talks in Vienna to restore the JCPoA. The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants, and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions which would benefit the Iranian people. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

We urge all parties to focus on rapidly concluding the deal and implementing it in full.

We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions iin exchange for Iran returning to full compliance with its nuclear commitments. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

We are at the end of talks to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). The deal on the table is a result of intensive negotiations and is based on input from all JCPoA participants and the United States. The US has offered to lift JCPoA-related sanctions iin exchange for Iran returning to full compliance with its nuclear commitments. In exchange, Iran would reverse its nuclear escalation, return its nuclear programme to strict JCPoA limits and restore extensive monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Government does not routinely comment on whether groups are, or are not, being considered for proscription. The Government keeps the list of proscribed organisations under review.

We have robust legislation in place to deal with internet trolls, cyber-stalking and harassment, and perpetrators of grossly offensive, obscene, or menacing behaviour.

We have published the Full Government Response to the Online Harms White Paper, which includes specific measures to work with private companies and ensure that they are held to account for tackling illegal activity and content, such as hate crime, harassment, and cyber-stalking, as well as activity and content which may not be illegal but is nonetheless highly damaging to individuals (legal but harmful). The Full Government Response will be followed by legislation, which we are working on at pace, and will be ready this year.

The Home Office also funds a Police Online Hate Crime Hub to improve the police response to victims of online hate crime.