Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have issued instructions to any government departments to cease or avoid the use of (1) Hikvision, or (2) Dahua, equipment; and if so, (a) which departments, and (b) with what justification.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
I refer the noble Lord to PQ HL4954 of 23 January 2023 but, for the benefit of the House, on 24 November 2022, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster laid a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) instructing departments to cease deployment of surveillance equipment on sensitive sites on the government estate, where such equipment is produced by companies subject to the National Intelligence Law of the People’s Republic of China. Departments have been advised to consider whether there are sites to which they would wish to extend the same risk mitigation.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the effects of (1) vehicle speeds, and (2) journey times, on emissions in urban areas; and if so, whether higher (a) vehicle speeds, or (b) journey times, have a greater effect on emissions levels.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has commissioned studies to assess the impact of vehicle speed on emissions, for example undertaking a high-resolution emission modelling approach to understand changes in vehicle speeds and how it relates to emissions. The Department uses the best available evidence to model emissions in urban areas, including evidence linking vehicle speeds with emissions based on international guidelines. The evidence is that the factors influencing emissions are complex and the relative impact of vehicle speed, acceleration/deceleration and distance travelled (which are all related to journey times), will vary depending on the local situation.
In addition, the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit helps local authorities to calculate NOx emissions in their local areas using outputs from traffic models, which use a range of parameters including speed and distance travelled (which influence journey time) and the number of vehicles. The results of these parameters are contained in their Full Business Cases which are all published documents.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the effects of low emission zones in urban areas on (1) vehicle usage, (2) average vehicle speeds, (3) average vehicle journey times, (4) emissions levels, and (5) overall air quality.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has commissioned a robust evaluation programme for the collection and analysis of air quality, traffic, and behavioural insights data from Local Authority areas implementing measures for the reduction of nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Case studies give further understanding of how local plans are affecting local groups and businesses.
The Government has published a series of annual reports which set out and discuss the analysis of these evaluation findings. Headline findings from these reports and other analyses give an insight into the effects of Clean Air Zones and other measures on air quality and vehicle fleets in Local Authorities. The 2021 annual report is available to view on the Defra Science Search - AQ0851.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 23 November (HL3410), which ministers (1) applied for, or (2) have received, salary payments equal to a quarter of their annual salary following their appointment by Prime Minister Truss and subsequent dismissal by Prime Minister Sunak; and what was the sum paid in each case.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
As indicated in the Written Answer of 23 November, Ministers’ entitlement to a payment on ceasing to hold office is set out in the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 (section 4). As such payments are a statutory entitlement, they are made as a matter of course by the relevant department where a minister meets the criteria, unless the entitlement is waived by the minister in question.
Any payments made under section 4 of Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991 to ministers who served under the former Prime Minister will be published by departments in their audited annual reports and accounts in due course.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether ministers appointed by Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss who were either (1) demoted, or (2) dismissed on the appointment of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak are entitled to (a) severance, or (b) any other form of payment for the period during which they were in office.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Under the Ministerial and Other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, Ministers who leave office are entitled to receive a payment equal to a quarter of their annual salary. This applies only where a Minister is under 65 and is not appointed to a ministerial office within three weeks of leaving government.
Salary entitlements for ministers are set out in Schedule One of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975, and ministerial salary information is published on GOV.UK.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what evaluation they have made of the commercial viability of the use of compostable potato starch bag packaging by government agencies.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HM Government is not currently providing any specific support for the development of compostable potato starch bag packaging and have not evaluated the commercial viability of using compostable potato starch bag packaging by government agencies. Through UK Research and Innovation, we have provided over £190 million to over 280 projects in the last 5 years, for research to help us reduce plastic waste and increase the sustainability of the plastic packaging we use.
In light of evidence received in response to our call for evidence on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastic, our focus is on working towards all plastic packaging being recyclable or reusable rather than compostable. Currently there is insufficient industrial composting capacity throughout England to manage compostable plastics at end of life and our call for evidence suggests these materials are often stripped out at the start of the process and landfilled or incinerated. This packaging also does not contribute to a circular economy in the same way as packaging that can be reused or recycled into new packaging or products do, as compostable plastic packaging is generally intended to be used once.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what support they are providing for the development of compostable potato starch bag packaging.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
HM Government is not currently providing any specific support for the development of compostable potato starch bag packaging and have not evaluated the commercial viability of using compostable potato starch bag packaging by government agencies. Through UK Research and Innovation, we have provided over £190 million to over 280 projects in the last 5 years, for research to help us reduce plastic waste and increase the sustainability of the plastic packaging we use.
In light of evidence received in response to our call for evidence on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastic, our focus is on working towards all plastic packaging being recyclable or reusable rather than compostable. Currently there is insufficient industrial composting capacity throughout England to manage compostable plastics at end of life and our call for evidence suggests these materials are often stripped out at the start of the process and landfilled or incinerated. This packaging also does not contribute to a circular economy in the same way as packaging that can be reused or recycled into new packaging or products do, as compostable plastic packaging is generally intended to be used once.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by Vladimir Putin at the Russian Energy Week event in Moscow on 12 October about deliveries of gas to European countries via surviving pipelines.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has been clear of the need to phase out the use of Russian gas. Russia has demonstrated it can never again be trusted as a reliable energy provider, regardless of the supply route. We are working with international partners to secure alternative energy supplies as quickly as possible, and it is clear that renewables and nuclear offer the most reliable way to secure our long-term energy security and prosperity.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cause of the damage to Nord Stream gas pipelines; and what evidence they are using as part of that assessment.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All currently available information indicates that this damage is the result of sabotage. The UK and G7 leaders have been clear: we condemn any deliberate disruption of critical infrastructure.
Intentional damage to civilian infrastructure is reckless and irresponsible. The leaks not only caused risks to shipping but also substantial environmental damage in the Baltic Sea. The UK supports the investigations by Denmark, Sweden and Germany and stand ready to provide necessary support.
Asked by: Lord Campbell-Savours (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what resources they are providing to support the investigations into the damage to the Nord Stream gas pipelines.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All currently available information indicates that this damage is the result of sabotage. The UK and G7 leaders have been clear: we condemn any deliberate disruption of critical infrastructure.
Intentional damage to civilian infrastructure is reckless and irresponsible. The leaks not only caused risks to shipping but also substantial environmental damage in the Baltic Sea.
The UK supports the investigations by Denmark, Sweden and Germany and stand ready to provide necessary support.