Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have in place to encourage saving.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
The Government is committed to ensuring people are supported to save, and that they can access a wide range of competitive savings products. The retail savings market currently offers a range of competitive options to savers, who can now access the highest rates in recent years on a variety of instant access and fixed-term products.
The Government launched the Help to Save scheme in September 2018 to directly encourage those on lower incomes to save. This encourages saving for those on Working Tax Credit or receiving Universal Credit. These savings accounts provide a bonus of 50p for every £1 saved over 4 years.
The Government has also introduced other measures in recent years to encourage saving. Individuals can save up to £20,000 into their ISA each year and coupled with the Personal Savings Allowance of up to £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers and up to £500 for higher rate taxpayers, around 95% of people with savings income pay no tax on that income.
The Lifetime ISA is a long-term savings product to encourage younger people to save for their first home or for later life. The government provides a 25% bonus on savings of up to £4,000 each year, provided the savings are kept for the long-term.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the reliability of rail services.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Despite the fact fewer trains are operating on the network, and passenger demand is still suppressed compared to pre-pandemic levels, current performance remains unacceptably low.
The Department has been clear that the current, sustained poor performance on the railway is unacceptable, and industry needs to make significant improvements to deliver the punctual, reliable services that passengers and taxpayers deserve.
The Department will continue to monitor the situation very closely and hold industry to account, including through regular high-level meetings with both Network Rail and representatives from the train operating companies.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the cost to the economy of the increased number of (1) delays, and (2) cancellations, of rail services.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department recognises that delays and cancellations, especially those made close to the time of travel, can be very inconvenient for passengers and prevent them from travelling with confidence. When trains are regularly cancelled this can disrupt people’s lives, communities and the economy.
The Department does not hold information on the cost to the economy of the current poor performance on parts of the rail network. The Department has been clear that industry needs to make significant improvements to deliver the punctual, reliable services across the country that support economic growth.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the performance of Royal Mail in relation to the delivery of letters and parcels; and what steps they intend to take in response to any such assessment.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
It is for Ofcom, as the independent regulator of postal services, to set and monitor Royal Mail’s service standards and decide how to use its powers to investigate and take enforcement action should Royal Mail fail to achieve its obligations without good justification. The Government has no role in Ofcom’s regulatory investigations.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of the RAF base at Wethersfield in Essex as a site for housing migrants.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The United Kingdom has a legal obligation to provide asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute with accommodation and other support whilst their claim for asylum is being considered.
Work across government was undertaken to identify and secure more appropriate, cost-effective accommodation options around the country. The site will provide basic, and functional accommodation whilst asylum seekers await a decision on their claim.
The Home Office, supported by the MoD, is working on proposals which will see the current MoD Wethersfield site providing suitable accommodation for single adult male asylum seekers.
The site at MoD Wethersfield is designed to be as self-sufficient as possible, helping to minimise the impact on local communities and services. This includes 24/7 security to reduce the need for police patrols, on-site catering, healthcare and transport provision for those housed on site.
The safety and security of the local communities, those resident on the sites and the sites themselves are of the utmost importance. We are working closely with local police forces and other stakeholders to ensure appropriate security arrangements are in place.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote volunteering in support of public services.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
HM Government is committed to enabling people to volunteer in all manner of ways, including in support of public services. Volunteers play important roles alongside staff as magistrates, in schools, and in the NHS, for instance. Each public service area is responsible for its own volunteer management and for developing its strategic involvement of volunteers.
The Government is currently taking several steps to promote volunteering in support of public services. For example, the Department for Education continues to support the recruitment of school governors. The ‘Inspiring Governance’ programme recruits volunteers from business to become school governors and to serve on the local governing bodies of academy trusts. Since the programme began in 2016, it has placed 6,782 volunteers in governance roles. The Government has also invested over £1 million to support the recruitment of magistrates from a diverse range of backgrounds. A revised recruitment process has been introduced making use of best practice to ensure that it is fairer, more inclusive, and more accessible. These changes have been supported by a new marketing campaign designed to raise the profile of the magistracy, particularly among under-represented groups of society.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have received about the impact of the loss of the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre following its sale.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The decision to sell the Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre was made by VMIC UK Ltd's Board of Directors. The facility was subsequently sold to Catalent. Once completed, it is intended that the facility will be capable of producing a range of therapeutics and vaccines.
Officials regularly engage with industry stakeholders to understand the wider landscape and implications for vaccine development and manufacturing in the UK and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage people to quit smoking.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is taking a range of steps to help people quit smoking. We know the single best thing a smoker can do for their health is to quit smoking. We continue to provide funding to local authority stop smoking services via the Public Health Grant. This dedicated, personalised support is vital to help people quit smoking for good. In October, we held our successful Stoptober campaign. Since its inception in 2012, this campaign has helped more than 2.1 million people quit smoking.
The Department also works closely with the National Health Service on smoking cessation. As part of the Long-Term Plan, the NHS is committed to delivering tobacco treatment services to all inpatients, pregnant women and people accessing long-term mental health and learning disability services.
The Government remains committed to our ambition for England to be Smokefree by 2030 and we will set out further action to achieve this very soon.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to transfer additional powers to combined authorities in 2023; and if so, what powers to which authorities.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We want to see every part of England reap the benefits of devolution and have made significant progress with the six new deals announced in 2022. The Government is in discussions with places to identify potential candidates for new devolution deals in 2023 and we will set out more detail in due course.
This Government is committed to not just extending the benefits of devolution to new parts of England, but to deepening existing devolution settlements. As the Chancellor set out at the Autumn Statement, the government will deliver the Levelling Up White Paper commitment to sign new 'trailblazer' devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authorities by early 2023. The government is in discussion with the mayors of these areas to devolve powers to deliver levelling up in areas such as skills, transport and housing. These 'trailblazer' deals will act as a blueprint for other areas to follow.
This Government has set itself a mission that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal. The Levelling Up White Paper made clear that devolution is essential for Levelling Up. For too long, decisions impacting many communities of England have been taken in Whitehall. Devolution is about giving local areas more flexibility, freedom and accountability to deliver. Before 2010 the only significant devolution in England had been in London. Now, strong mayors in our major cities are acting as agents of economic growth. Levelling up requires strong and dynamic local leadership, that can understand how complex issues come together in a place; tailor policy to local priorities; attract investment; and seize each area's opportunities.
Asked by: Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further devolution deals they expect to conclude in 2023.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
We want to see every part of England reap the benefits of devolution and have made significant progress with the six new deals announced in 2022. The Government is in discussions with places to identify potential candidates for new devolution deals in 2023 and we will set out more detail in due course.
This Government is committed to not just extending the benefits of devolution to new parts of England, but to deepening existing devolution settlements. As the Chancellor set out at the Autumn Statement, the government will deliver the Levelling Up White Paper commitment to sign new 'trailblazer' devolution deals with Greater Manchester and the West Midlands Combined Authorities by early 2023. The government is in discussion with the mayors of these areas to devolve powers to deliver levelling up in areas such as skills, transport and housing. These 'trailblazer' deals will act as a blueprint for other areas to follow.
This Government has set itself a mission that by 2030, every part of England that wants one will have a devolution deal. The Levelling Up White Paper made clear that devolution is essential for Levelling Up. For too long, decisions impacting many communities of England have been taken in Whitehall. Devolution is about giving local areas more flexibility, freedom and accountability to deliver. Before 2010 the only significant devolution in England had been in London. Now, strong mayors in our major cities are acting as agents of economic growth. Levelling up requires strong and dynamic local leadership, that can understand how complex issues come together in a place; tailor policy to local priorities; attract investment; and seize each area's opportunities.