Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what considerations will determine when they will lift the present restrictions on the number of people who are permitted to sing in an amateur choir.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
Non-professional singing indoors should only take place in a single group of up to 6 people and activities should be organised to allow for social distancing to be maintained.
We are aware that singing can increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission through the spread of aerosol droplets. Therefore, it is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions. We will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. The Prime Minister has announced that easing of restrictions at Step 4 has been delayed until 19 July. Further detail on Step 4 will be set out as soon as possible, subject to the four tests for easing restrictions.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 18 February (HL1480), whether an Act of Parliament established Norfolk Island as a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia; and if not, (1) how it was established as such a territory, and (2) how Parliament was consulted.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
In 1914 Norfolk Island became a Territory under the authority of the Commonwealth of Australia by way of a (UK) Order in Council and the (Australian) Norfolk Island Act of 1913 (enacted by the Australian Parliament).
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Norfolk Island (1) was within the geographical boundaries of the Commonwealth of Australia or any State thereof when the power to make laws for Norfolk Island was given to the Commonwealth of Australia in 1914, or (2) has since become within those boundaries.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Norfolk Island has been a Territory of the Commonwealth of Australia since 1914 and its governance is a matter for that country.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis they appointed the consultancy Big Ideas to increase public engagement with the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre planning application; what specific remit they gave Big Ideas in undertaking that work; and how much they expect to pay Big Ideas for those services.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Big Ideas is a community interest company specialising in community engagement and commemoration. We are providing £118,000 funding to encourage local and national conversations on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. This work has included engaging with mother and toddler groups, schools, and clubs for the elderly alongside national engagement with survivors, youth and civic organisations. Portal engagement is only one facet of Big Ideas work.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the exact wording of the questions asked by Big Ideas when seeking the views of members of the public about the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
With the consent of Westminster City Council, Big Ideas places on the Council’s planning portal both objections and supportive comments relating to the proposed Holocaust Memorial and learning Centre. Big Ideas acts in an open and transparent way. The exact wording of the questions asked is and has always been, since their engagement, in the public domain. They can be viewed here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdO4Ua3NaO6Ge3593pb7vOcaQ7htIFPDvpSEokF5A-eY5IDkA/viewform
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what methodology was used by Big Ideas to select participants in their consultation on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Big Ideas were asked to encourage debate on the importance of a national Memorial to the Holocaust. This work has included engaging with mother and toddler groups, schools, and clubs for the elderly alongside national engagement with survivors, youth and civic organisations.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of respondents to Big Ideas' consultation on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre were (1) resident, and (2) working in Westminster; and, in assessing public views on the planning application for that Centre, what assessment they have made of the relative weight that should be given to the views of (a) local people, and (b) other people whose lives would not be directly affected by that development.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
This is a matter for Westminster City Council to decide.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the accusation of the Save Victoria Tower Gardens Campaign that they employed Big Ideas to "rig" their own planning application for a UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Big Ideas is being funded to encourage local and national conversations on the proposed UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre. The planning decision sits with Westminster Council.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take action to support users of software that is no longer supported by the original vendor, for example by requiring the release of the source code of unsupported software to a third party.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 software must be of satisfactory quality, which includes durability for a period a consumer can reasonably expect. If it is not, the consumer may be entitled to a remedy under the Act, for example, a repair or replacement of the software or, if this is not possible, the right to demand some money back. The Government has no plans to require the release of the source code of unsupported software to a third party.
Asked by: Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to discuss the Tier 1 visa system at the anti-corruption summit to be held in London in May.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Anti-Corruption Summit, to be held on 12 May, will convene global leaders from government, business and civil society to discuss a wide range of issues relating to corruption. The agenda for the Summit is being finalised.