Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the planned new base for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in Wolverhampton will be comparable to the London base in (1) the number of staff employed, (2) the staff grading structure, and (3) the numbers of staff per salary grade.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
As the Department's second HQ, the Wolverhampton office will have a wide range of Civil Service roles and grades, including senior roles, and will also have a regular Ministerial presence.
By 2025 the MHCLG Group will have 500 jobs based in the West Midlands region, and overall the MHCLG Group is moving a total of 800 roles out of London by the end of the decade, with a target to have half of the most senior roles based in the regions by 2030. As a result, the MHCLG London office will reduce by at least a quarter by 2025 but will remain our largest single office.
The Department is, as a priority, conducting a search for suitable premises in the city and expects to be able to announce further information on the timetable for opening the office by the Summer.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that funding for COVID-19 recovery schemes in communities will be available to town and parish councils on the same basis as for principal councils.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Whilst the Government does not have the necessary powers to pay parish and town councils directly, the Secretary of State has written to principal authorities to urge them to discuss appropriate funding support for parish and town councils from within the support we have provided to them. The Government has allocated over £8 billion directly to principal authorities since the start of the pandemic and has committed to provide a further £3 billion for 2021/22.
Therefore, I would encourage parish and town councils to continue to liaise with the relevant principal authorities on how this money is allocated in their area.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that in the case of specific funding schemes for (1) parks, (2) play areas, (3) leisure facilities, (4) town centres, (5) high streets, (6) community centres, and (7) other facilities for which town and parish councils commonly exercise powers that are concurrent with those of principal councils, town and parish councils are able to apply or compete for funding on the same basis as principal councils.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
Whilst the Government does not have the necessary powers to pay parish and town councils directly, the Secretary of State has written to principal authorities to urge them to discuss appropriate funding support for parish and town councils from within the support we have provided to them. The Government has allocated over £8 billion directly to principal authorities since the start of the pandemic and has committed to provide a further £3 billion for 2021/22.
Therefore, I would encourage parish and town councils to continue to liaise with the relevant principal authorities on how this money is allocated in their area.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have asked Transport for the North to delay the publication of their business case for (1) a high-speed railway route between Hull and Liverpool, or (2) part of that route; and, if so, why.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department has asked Transport for the North to submit the Strategic Outline Case for Northern Powerhouse Rail after the Integrated Rail Plan is published. A Strategic Outline Case which is consistent with the Government’s policy and funding framework, to be set out in the Integrated Rail Plan, will allow a more rapid alignment around single route options and quicker progress than envisaged in previous plans.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to publish the Integrated Rail Plan for the North of England.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department intends to publish the IRP in early 2021.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 lateral flow tests have been carried out in (1) Lancashire, (2) Pendle and, (3) Burnley, each week since the mass testing programme using these tests started; and whether such tests are now available on request to members of the public whether or not they have COVID-19 symptoms.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The following table shows the number of tests carried out per week in Lancashire since mass testing in started on 21 October 2020.
Week commencing | Number of tests |
21 October 2020 | 1 |
26 October 2020 | 1 |
2 November 2020 | 35 |
9 November 2020 | 331 |
16 November 2020 | 347 |
23 November 2020 | 462 |
30 November 2020 | 4,998 |
7 December 2020 | 2,974 |
14 December 2020 | 3,065 |
21 December 2020 | 2,885 |
28 December 2020 | 3,582 |
4 January 2021 | 15,899 |
11 January 2021 | 23,439 |
18 January 2021 | 33,450 |
25 January 2021 | 50,844 |
1 February 2021 | 57,173 |
8 February 2021 | 53,088 |
15 February 2021 | 32,655 |
The following table shows the number of tests per week in Pendle since mass testing started on 7 November 2020.
Week Commencing | Number of Tests |
7 November 2020 | 2 |
9 November 2020 | 5 |
16 November 2020 | 5 |
23 November 2020 | 11 |
30 November 2020 | 139 |
7 December 2020 | 63 |
14 December 2020 | 334 |
21 December 2020 | 83 |
28 December 2020 | 435 |
4 January 2021 | 1,103 |
11 January 2021 | 1,351 |
18 January 2021 | 2,397 |
25 January 2021 | 3,169 |
1 February 2021 | 3,398 |
8 February 2021 | 3,354 |
15 February 2021 | 2,139 |
The following table shows the number of tests per week in Burnley since mass testing on 13 November 2020.
Week Commencing | Number of Tests |
13 November 2020 | 5 |
16 November 2020 | 5 |
23 November 2020 | 45 |
30 November 2020 | 149 |
7 December 2020 | 67 |
14 December 2020 | 460 |
21 December 2020 | 160 |
28 December 2020 | 157 |
4 January 2021 | 967 |
11 January 2021 | 1,836 |
18 January 2021 | 2,665 |
25 January 2021 | 3,678 |
1 February 2021 | 4,128 |
8 February 2021 | 3,872 |
15 February 2021 | 2,769 |
From 10 December 2020, rapid regular testing for people without symptoms of COVID-19 has been made available across the country with the eligibility of the community testing programme expanded to cover all 314 lower-tier local authorities.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Transport for the North about (1) when the latter's report on the high-speed line between Leeds/Bradford and Manchester will be published, (2) any alternative routes, and (3) further consultation procedures.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Northern Powerhouse Rail Strategic Outline Case is expected to be published once it has been finalised with Transport for the North and approved by the Government, setting out the options under consideration. As with all major transport projects, route consultation will follow at the appropriate time.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the statement by the Prime Minister on 22 February (HC Deb, col 626–8), whether they plan to provide advice to the public on returning to using public transport; and if so, when.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We maintained public transport services so that those who need to travel can continue to do so. Travel advice encourages people use active travel modes where possible and practice social distancing whilst travelling on the public transport network for those needing to make essential journeys.
As restrictions ease we will expect journeys on public transport to increase. Operators have put in place a whole range of measures, such as enhanced cleaning, so passengers can travel safely. We will continue to provide advice on how people can travel safely; this includes on public transport.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which increases in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations since August have been influenced by (1) the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, (2) the return of schools, colleges and universities in September, and (3) the deteriorating weather conditions and reduced hours of daylight; and what research, if any, they have commissioned into the influence of each of these elements.
Answered by Lord Bethell
While we have not made a specific assessment of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme, we would not hesitate to act in response to an increase in infections. We worked closely with businesses to ensure they were COVID-19 secure.
Currently, the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector is being explored by the Government through various studies with the Office for National Statistics, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Public Health England.
We have not made an assessment of the specific influence of weather on the transmission of COVID-19. However, as people to spend more time indoors during the winter which increases the time spent in close proximity to others, the risks of has led to an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the duties of those employed to carry out the census canvass in May 2021.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician
The Lord Greaves
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
10 February 2021
Dear Lord Greaves
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what the duties will be of those employed to carry out the census canvass in May 2021 (HL12955).
Census 2021 will be a digital-first census and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) will be encouraging people to respond online if they can on their mobile phones, laptops, PCs or tablets, and providing a comprehensive range of support (including paper questionnaires) for those who are not able to complete the census online. The ONS expects 70 percent of households to respond without needing a reminder letter or visit from field staff. However, where it is necessary for the field staff to be involved and carry out their assigned duties, please be assured that safety is our number one concern.
For Census 2021, due to take place on the 21 March 2021, the ONS will have up to 40,000 census field staff working across England and Wales. The majority of the field force, who are ONS staff, are due to start the main follow-up work following Census day and no field staff will be knocking on doors until after that day.
An initial tranche of field staff is due to start earlier than this, undertaking tasks that do not require them to interact with members of the public nor knock on doors of households. They will be out and about from 8 March performing duties such as checking addresses of undelivered mail, understanding the local area and understanding the access to buildings etc.
Following Census day, field staff will start following up only those households who have not yet responded to the initial invitation and reminder letters. The primary role of these field officers is to give help and encouragement to those who have not yet filled in their census questionnaire online or on paper, and to direct them to the support services they need. Field staff will never enter people’s houses; they will be supplied with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), will always be socially distanced and will work in line with all government guidance.
All field staff will have been instructed in how to follow a precise door knocking routine to maximise safety for themselves and the public. Field officers will record the status of their visits by recording outcomes on the electronic Field Work Management Tool which has been developed for this purpose. A few examples of the many possible outcomes would be: they may record if the property is derelict, there was no answer (so they left a card), there was a hard refusal to complete. Officers can also collect paper questionnaires and post them for a household if the householder has completed one but is unable to post the return (for example, if the householder is housebound and has no family/friends to post the return for them).
There are also field officers that are responsible for encouraging census returns from communal establishments (CEs), who will start this work on 23rd February. The CEs will be sent out an information pack by post and then the CE officers will contact the managers of each of them. They will discuss with the managers of each establishment the best way to enumerate and they will request an invitation to visit in a COVID secure way, that will follow the protocols established by that establishment, to hand deliver the Census packs to a member of the CE staff, as laid out in regulations. They will always follow local and central government guidelines. There is not a need for CE officers to meet with the residents of the establishment, as the managers of the CEs will organise for the census forms to be filled in by each of the residents.
For more detailed information on ONS field staff roles, the ONS has published a Local Authority Partnership Guide[1] which includes a timeline of key activities during the Census 2021 operation (section 3), factsheets on field staff roles and responsibilities (section 7.2), recruitment allocation and dates for field staff (section 7.3).
The health and safety of census field staff and the public are of the utmost importance to the ONS. Prior to going out into the field, all field staff will be given comprehensive COVID-19 training. This will include detailed guidance on how to use the PPE provided, in addition to the other control measures the ONS has established to ensure everyone’s safety. Full details of the safety measures are available on the Census 2021 jobs website.[2] As set out on that web page, the items of PPE issued to field staff will include, but is not limited to, face coverings, hand sanitiser and sanitising wipes.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
[1] https://census.gov.uk/assets/Census2021_A4_English_LocalAuthorityGuideVersionTwo_LAGD1-A.pdf
[2] https://www.censusjobs.co.uk/covid-19-update/