Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent steps they have taken to address the issue of problem online gambling; and what measures they plan to implement to protect vulnerable individuals online.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Shadow Minister (Culture, Media and Sport)
His Majesty’s Government recognises that, while millions of people gamble online without experiencing problems, for some it becomes an addiction with serious consequences. It is particularly important to take steps to protect vulnerable people, including young people, from risks associated with problem online gambling.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport recently published a White Paper following our review of the Gambling Act 2005. This White Paper outlines a range of proportionate measures to tackle practices and products which can drive harm and ensure that people who are at risk of gambling harm and addiction are protected. These include new player protection checks, a stake limit for online slots games, improvements to consumer redress, and a statutory levy on operators to fund research, education and treatment.
We will work with the Gambling Commission and others to bring these measures into force at the earliest possible opportunity. Where further consultations are necessary, our aim is to publish them as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to provide an automatic right to a British passport for those born in the Republic of Ireland but who are UK (1) residents, (2) voters, and (3) taxpayers in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
British citizenship is acquired automatically by those with a close and continuing connection with the UK, such as through birth here, or by descent. Many Irish nationals with a historical connection with the UK may already have British nationality and would be eligible for a British passport.
Irish nationals living in the UK who were born in the Republic of Ireland after 1 January 1949, and are not otherwise British, must apply to naturalise, based on a period of residence in the UK, should they wish to become British citizens. In this respect Irish nationals are not treated any differently to other foreign nationals.
We have no plans to change this.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - 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 inclusion of Northern Ireland infrastructure projects in the Levelling Up Fund.
Answered by Baroness Scott of Bybrook - Shadow Minister (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
I refer the noble Lord to the answer given by my Hon Friend, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Levelling Up (Dehenna Davison) to Question UIN 129836 on 26 January 2023.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent assessment they have made of the quality of NHS care for veterans and their families.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
We have no current plans to make a specific assessment. NHS England regularly review their service provision. This is done through a range of key performance indicators including waiting times and number of referrals and through engagement exercises when procuring new services. As health is a devolved matter, it will be for the devolved administrations in conjunction with the National Health Service to determine which services and the quality of those services, should be assessed in their jurisdiction.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current support available for the aviation sector and its supply chain.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Through the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme, industry and Government are co-investing in the development of cutting-edge aircraft technology to grow UK’s share of the global aerospace market.
The 2021 Spending Review increased government’s commitment to aerospace R&D by 50% to £685 million across the Spending Review Period, extending the programme to 2031. By 2025, government and industry will invest almost £4 billion in developing new ultra-efficient and zero emission aircraft technologies.
We have supported industry investment in supply chain competitiveness through our ‘Sharing in Growth’, SC21 Competitiveness & Growth, and NATEP programmes, which have benefited from over £140m public funding, leveraging additional private investment.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government what date those entitled to support under the Northern Ireland Energy Support Scheme will receive payment.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 19 December 2022 the Government announced that all households in Northern Ireland will receive support with their energy bills this winter through a single payment of £600. This is made up of £400 of the Energy Bills Support Scheme and £200 of the Alternative Fuel Payment. This will be delivered through electricity suppliers, with payments starting in January.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that payments due to Northern Ireland consumers under the Energy Bills Support Scheme will be made before Christmas.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Households in Northern Ireland will receive a £400 discount on their energy bills through the Northern Ireland Energy Bills Support Scheme (NI EBSS) this winter. The Government is working intensively with electricity suppliers to deliver a solution and to provide the support as soon as possible.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to tackling the increased cost of living.
Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)
The Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Steve Baker MP, recently met the former Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy, Gordon Lyons. They discussed a range of topics and it was made clear that a restored Northern Ireland Executive will allow decisions to be taken by locally elected politicians, including on crucial issues such as the cost of living.
The UK Government is committed to helping households this winter and that is why, despite the absence of an Executive, Northern Ireland households will receive a package of support including the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Energy Price Guarantee, Energy Bill Relief Scheme and funding for off-grid households.
These measures are once again clear evidence of the benefits that Northern Ireland gains from being an integral part of a strong United Kingdom
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to strengthen the UK's energy security through an increase in domestic gas production.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government plans to strengthen energy resilience and manage declining domestic gas production through the North Sea Transition Authority’s launch of the 33rd licensing round on 7 October 2022. Applications for the 33rd round will be open until 12 January 2023 and the first licence awards should follow in the second quarter of 2023.
Asked by: Lord Hay of Ballyore (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support homeowners with rising mortgage rates.
Answered by Baroness Penn
Around 75% of residential mortgage borrowers are on fixed-rate deals and are therefore shielded from interest rate rises in the short term. It is also worth noting that lenders are required to stress test all new prospective borrowers’ ability to continue repaying their mortgage under higher interest rates.
However, the Government has already taken immediate action to help households through the Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bills Support Scheme. This is in addition to the £37 billion of targeted support for the cost of living this financial year.
When mortgage borrowers are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay their mortgage, Financial Conduct Authority guidance requires firms to provide support through tailored forbearance options. The Government has also taken a number of measures aimed at helping people to avoid repossession, including Support for Mortgage Interest loans for those in receipt of an income-related benefit, and protection in the courts through the Pre-Action Protocol, which makes it clear that repossession must always be the last resort for lenders.