Lord Hunt of Chesterton Portrait

Lord Hunt of Chesterton

Labour - Life peer

Became Member: 5th May 2000

Left House: 30th October 2021 (Retired)


Lord Hunt of Chesterton is not a member of any APPGs
3 Former APPG memberships
Polar Regions, Polar Regions (Arctic and Antarctic), Space
Science and Technology Committee (Lords)
8th Jun 2015 - 1st Jul 2019
The Arctic
12th Jun 2014 - 11th Feb 2015
Draft Marine Bill (Joint Committee)
13th May 2008 - 22nd Jul 2008
Science and Technology: Sub-Committee I
3rd Dec 2003 - 18th Nov 2004
Committee On Animals In Scientific Procedures
28th Jun 2001 - 16th Jul 2002


Division Voting information

Lord Hunt of Chesterton has voted in 297 divisions, and never against the majority of their Party.
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All Debates

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Baroness Verma (Conservative)
(8 debate interactions)
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative)
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
(8 debate interactions)
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Department Debates
Cabinet Office
(22 debate contributions)
Department for Transport
(15 debate contributions)
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Legislation Debates
European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018
(815 words contributed)
Space Industry Act 2018
(788 words contributed)
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Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Hunt of Chesterton, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Hunt of Chesterton has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Hunt of Chesterton has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
11 Other Department Questions
21st Mar 2018
To ask the Leader of the House what plans she has to propose a debate in the House of Lords on their consultation on Insolvency and Corporate Governance, announced on 20 March.

My Noble Friend the Chief Whip has no immediate plans to schedule such a debate but I have made him aware of this question. It is of course open to the Noble Lord to use the established routes to seek a backbench debate.

1st Feb 2018
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what steps he plans to take to engage the devolved parliaments and assemblies in the work of the House.

There are a number of areas where we currently engage the devolved parliaments and assemblies in the work of the House. For example, the European Union Committee has twice visited Belfast in the course of its work on the impact of Brexit on UK-Irish relations, most recently on 31 January. It also engaged closely with devolved governments and legislatures in its 2017 inquiry into Brexit: devolution, visiting Cardiff and Edinburgh before publishing its report on 19 July 2017.

Following a recommendation contained in that report, on 12 October 2017 I chaired the first meeting of the Interparliamentary Forum on Brexit, attended by chairs and convenors of committees involved in scrutinising Brexit from the House of Lords, the House of Commons, the Scottish Parliament and the National Assembly for Wales, along with officials from the Northern Ireland Assembly. I then chaired the second meeting of the Forum, again at the House of Lords on 18 January. This engagement is set to continue, with the third meeting of the Forum due to take place in Edinburgh in March. I have also met the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union to discuss engagement with the devolved parliaments and assemblies.

As well as engaging the devolved parliaments and assemblies in our work, staff from across the Administration work formally and informally with their opposite numbers in the devolved parliaments and assemblies, in line with the House Administration’s strategy, to take account of best practice in other organisations. In keeping this two-way engagement, I have ensured that representatives of the devolved parliaments and assemblies have been invited to submit evidence to the current review of Select Committees. In addition, I have also met with a number of colleagues from the devolved parliaments and assemblies as Senior Deputy Speaker and look forward to continuing this work in future.

7th Dec 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to ensure that UK scientific institutions have the funds to collaborate with those in Arctic countries to monitor and predict the melting of permafrost and the release of methane; and what practical steps are being considered to minimise the environmental impact of the melting of permafrost and the release of methane in the Arctic.

The UK is funding and participating in a number of projects that will improve our knowledge of the Arctic, for example the current NERC Arctic Research Programme, the European JPI (Joint Programming Initiative) Climate collaboration between 16 European countries to coordinate jointly their climate research, and NERC’s Discovery Science grant programme. The UK also continues to invest in infrastructure to support polar science such as the new £200m polar research vessel.


The best practical way to limit the melting of permafrost and the subsequent release of methane is to keep the rise in global temperatures as low as possible. At the recent United Nations conference on climate change in Paris, the world took an important step forward with an unprecedented number of countries agreeing to a deal to limit global temperature rises.



Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
10th Nov 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what their policy is for ensuring that the UK continues to participate strongly in the design, research, manufacture and financing of Airbus products.

We work closely with the aerospace industry, through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP), to help raise the productivity and competitiveness of UK supply chain companies at all levels, includingAirbus at Filton and Broughton and their UK suppliers. This work includes supporting industry’s research, design, development, manufacturing and financing of products. A key aim is to help ensure that UK remains Europe’s leading aerospace nation by securing future work with the world’s large aircraft manufacturers including Airbus.



Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
10th Nov 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the French Foreign Minister's visit to Iran, they plan to use the UK's political and official diplomacy to promote Airbus products and make clear that they are not solely French products, but contain significant components from the UK.

We will continue to promote the UK interests in Airbus in support of their global sales campaigns. We work closely with the Company and the governments of France, Germany and Spain on these campaigns given the shared economic benefits that arise from sales of Airbus aircraft. Because of the significant level of UK products on Airbus aircraft, the company is frequently represented on UK trade missions; it also enjoys the financial support of UK Export Finance and the commercial support of UK Trade & Investment’s overseas network.


10th Feb 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, as a contribution to establishing future targets and implementation plans for the reduction of carbon emissions at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015, what policies are being proposed by the United Kingdom delegations to the United Nations specialised agencies responsible for climate change mitigation, including United Nations Habitat, the United Nations Environmental Programme, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the International Maritime Organisation and the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

We recognise the UNFCCC as the only place where a legally binding international agreement could be delivered at the scale necessary to meet the challenge of climate change, given its universal coverage and legitimacy. As such, we are working with countries to intensify domestic preparations for the new deal and want as many as possible to put forward contributions to the UNFCCC by the first quarter of 2015, which set out how they are going to achieve their commitments on post-2020 mitigation. Alongside this we are working closely with UN institutions and relevant international agencies to assess how different international actors can best support an ambitious deal in Paris.

10th Feb 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research is being undertaken by the Met Office and the Natural Environment Research Council on the effects on the global and Arctic climate, including the global temperature rise, caused by the melting of the Arctic permafrost.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is currently funding research into Arctic permafrost through the Arctic Research Programme and the Joint Programming Initiative – Climate (JPI-Climate). The Arctic Research Programme is undertaking research on the release of greenhouse gases from permafrost and how these emissions will influence global warming, and on the interaction between permafrost, greenhouse gases and vegetation in the Arctic:

http://arp.arctic.ac.uk.

JPI-Climate is a collaboration between 14 European countries. They are researching uncertainties in the permafrost-climate feedback, and biogas production from permafrost:

http://www.jpi-climate.eu/news-events/news/ninecollaborativeresearchprojectsawarded.

The Met Office is working with the University of Exeter and the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology to improve the representation of permafrost within the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator, the land surface scheme of the UK Earth System Model (UKESM). The UKESM is a collaboration between NERC and the Met Office.

21st Jan 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what have been the costs or income to the Exchequer, and the changes to the public availability of research, over the past five years resulting from the privatisation of public sector research establishments.

Information over the past 5 years for public sector research establishments (PSREs) that have been privatised is not collated against the headings requested. The 7th Survey of Knowledge Transfer Activities in Public Sector Research Establishments (PSREs) and Research Councils, prepared by Warwick Economics and Development Ltd (July 2014) for BIS, found that reported income from commercialisation activities including business consultancy for PSREs has increased ‘dramatically’, particular in the last three years.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
23rd Oct 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the relative current delivered costs of electricity delivered to users in the United Kingdom produced respectively by nuclear fusion, offshore electricity, solar photovoltaic, gas and coal.

DECC’s most recently published figures for the levelised costs of electricity generation for different technologies are available in the DECC Electricity Generation Costs (December 2013) report:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269888/131217_Electricity_Generation_costs_report_December_2013_Final.pdf

Table 1 below is taken from this report, and shows a range of levelised cost estimates for nuclear offshore wind, solar photovoltaic, and gas projects commissioning in 2014 and 2020 at technology specific hurdle rates (pre-tax real). Estimates are not published for nuclear projects commissioning in 2014, or coal projects without carbon capture and storage commissioning in 2014 or 2020 given there will be no new projects commissioned in this timeframe. DECC does not publish cost estimates for nuclear fusion.

Table 1: Levelised cost estimates for different technologies, technology specific hurdle rates, sensitivities around high/low capital costs

£/MWh

£2012

Projects commissioning in 2014,

£/MWh

Projects commissioning in 2020,

£/MWh

Nuclear

n.a.

79 – 102

Offshore wind Round 2

131 - 168

105 – 135

Offshore wind Round 3

144 - 189

115 - 152

Large scale solar PV

114 - 131

83 - 94

CCGT (gas) *

73 - 76

79 - 83

* CCGT: Combined Cycle Gas Turbine

The levelised cost of a particular generation technology is the ratio of the total costs of a generic plant to the total amount of electricity expected to be generated over the plant’s lifetime (per megawatt hour). Levelised cost estimates are highly sensitive to the assumptions used for capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, load factor, discount rate and other drivers and this means that there is significant uncertainty around these estimates. Estimates of levelised costs differ from the retail electricity prices that are paid by consumers (i.e. on delivery of electricity).

23rd Oct 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what allowance is made in future costings of renewable energy for weather conditions, such as when wind or solar power are not available.

Estimates of the levelised costs of electricity generation for different technologies are published by DECC. The levelised cost of a particular generation technology is the ratio of the total costs of a generic plant to the total amount of electricity expected to be generated over the plant’s lifetime (per megawatt hour). Where relevant, estimates of electricity generation make an allowance for weather conditions based on estimates of when the relevant energy source is expected to be available, on average, over a plant’s lifetime (load factors). This is the case for intermittent renewable technologies such as onshore wind and solar photovoltaic.

Levelised cost estimates also depend on other assumptions, including capital costs, fuel and EU ETS allowance prices, operating costs, discount rates and other drivers. This means that there is a range around levelised cost estimates.

The DECC Electricity Generation Costs (December 2013) report contains DECC’s latest levelised cost estimates.

5th Apr 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the difference in salaries and fees between different professions on the number of professional engineering and science students choosing to work for government departments and agencies; and whether they intend to revise their policy in the light of that impact.

The government do not currently collect this information and so has not made an assessment of this kind.

5th Apr 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what data they collect regarding salaries and fees paid by government departments and agencies to professional engineers and scientists; and what assessment they have made of the comparison between these salaries and fees and those paid by government departments and agencies to financial and legal professionals.

Data on government scientist and engineer salaries are currently held by departmental HR teams. The data on salaries have not been collated centrally, and no such assessment has been made.

In October 2016, the GSE profession published its five year plan. This includes an action plan on Reward and Recognition that will include comparison between departmental practices which will be taken forward by a cross-government working group. They will be working closely with the Cabinet Office Civil Service Employment & Pay (CSEP) team, who will assist with the data collection involved and any benchmarking against industry and academia.

1st Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many references to <i>Pepper v Hart</i> have been made in ministerial statements in the House of Lords.

The Government does not hold this information. Information on Parliament and Ministerial Statements can be accessed online using the Hansard service.

21st Apr 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average training period for graduates newly appointed to the UK civil service, and whether that training includes learning about UK government and history.

The Civil Service graduate programme is known as the Fast Stream and its average training period is up to four years. The Fast Stream core curriculum includes learning about UK Government and history and the central induction for Fast Streamers also has activities relating to this topic. Graduates can also enter the civil service via direct appointment without being part of a formal training scheme. Those who do so have access to a wide range of training options, including how the UK government operates.

21st Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what their current plans are to improve and extend the training of entering civil servants following changes to in-house training over the past 10 years; what plans they have to use universities to help provide training for civil servants; and whether they will encourage specialised agencies and departments to provide their own training or to outsource it where appropriate.

There is a comprehensive induction programme for all new civil servants which was introduced in 2015, as well as department and role specific development provided by each department. Senior external recruits also have opportunities to hear from senior officials, network with their peers and get access to a mentor or buddy as part of their induction. As with every learning and development programme, the content and approach to induction is continually reviewed to ensure that it meets current and future needs.

Civil Service Learning (CSL) provides a core suite of learning for all civil servants, for example on leadership and management. The learning and development providers working with CSL are based around consortia containing universities and their business schools. MIT and Cranfield University are helping to develop the curriculum for the Senior Civil Service, and the Open University is a key partner in delivering learning for all other grades. They have also worked with the London School of Economics on a Policy Masters.

Whilst CSL provides learning that meets the needs of all civil servants, specialised agencies and departments do provide their own training. Examples include the Diplomatic Academy run by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and HMRC’s Tax Academy. Professions also provide their own training – for example through the Commercial College and the Government Finance Academy. This provision represents a mix of internal delivery and outsourcing. CSL provides support and guidance on good practice to departments and professions.

29th Jun 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce co-ordinated training for civil servants at all levels in the central, devolved and regional governments and major government agencies, in order to improve how different branches of government collaborate.

All civil servants across UK have access to e-learning, online resources and classroom courses via Civil Service Learning. These allow civil servants at all levels in central, devolved and regional governments and major government agencies, to work and learn together.

In addition, for senior leaders, there are several academies within Government such as the Commissioning Academy and the Major Projects Leadership Academy, which bring together leaders from across the public sector and support their collaboration.

23rd Oct 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, when purchasing vehicles for use by government departments, what criteria they apply regarding whether to purchase petrol- or diesel- fuelled cars.

Public sector procurers are required to seek value for money through fair and open competition and Government will always award contracts on the basis of the best value for money for the taxpayer.

Crown Commercial Service manages a framework agreement for the supply of diesel, petrol and electric powered vehicles which Government departments use to meet their vehicle requirements.

Departments decide which fuel is most appropriate based on their individual requirements including whole life costs and may access advice and guidance from Crown Commercial Service as appropriate.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
3rd Mar 2020
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or plan to have, with the World Meteorological Organization about expanding that organisation's Water Programme to include (1) extreme flooding, and (2) wind damage.

The UK Government is actively supporting advancement of the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) water related activities through membership of the WMO Executive Council and the WMO Hydrological Coordination Panel. Water issues are recognised within WMO’s new Strategic Plan, which was approved by the World Meteorological Congress in 2019. The Government is supporting WMO to develop a Plan of Action that will strengthen operational National Hydrological Services in areas such as flood risk management, drought preparation, hydrological monitoring and water resources assessment.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
26th Sep 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are their targets for the production of clean energy achieved by nuclear fusion by (1) the public, and (2) the private, sector.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. I will correspond directly with the noble Lord.

9th Jul 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes, if any, they have advocated to the World Meteorological Organization about the changes to the organisation and funding of the hydrological work of that organisation; and what are the connections of that work with the hydrological programmes of UNESCO.

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), with support from the UK Hydrological Adviser, was actively engaged in discussions at the World Meteorological Congress in June 2019, promoting efficiency and transparency in the intergovernmental agreements on the budget and reform of WMO. The UK remain closely involved in the hydrological work of WMO, with the UK Hydrological Adviser promoting the establishment of appropriate links between WMO and UNESCO, supported by his role as vice-chair of UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme.

23rd May 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what analyses they have conducted into the operational lifetime of offshore and onshore wind energy machines; and what guidance they intend to provide in that regard to relevant individuals and organisations.

The Government does not provide guidance on the operational lifetime of wind turbines.

Previous government research relating to onshore wind turbine longevity is available on the government’s website, titled ‘Onshore Wind - Direct & Wider Economic Impacts’.

The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, a collaboration between Innovate UK and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) Catapult, has jointly agreed innovation priorities around four areas, one of which is operations & maintenance and windfarm lifecycle.

14th May 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the difficulties associated with the maintenance of wind turbines and associated equipment; and what steps they are taking, if any, to work with the offshore wind energy industry to address such difficulties.

Operators are responsible for maintaining turbines and associated equipment for their projects.

The Offshore Wind Innovation Hub, a collaboration between Innovate UK and ORE Catapult, has jointly agreed innovation priorities around four areas, one of which is operations & maintenance and windfarm lifecycle. As set out in the Offshore Wind Sector Deal, the sector will look to build on existing work by, for example, exploring the application of robotics and Artificial Intelligence in optimising maintenance and reducing costs.

The renewables share of electricity generation reached 33.3% in 2018 – a record high – with 111TWh generated from renewable sources. Offshore wind generated 26.6TWh which equated to 8% of the UK’s overall annual generation.

25th Feb 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government how, in developing policies to reduce annual average carbon emissions, they collaborate with other countries who share the same objectives.

We work collaboratively with other countries to tackle climate change in a variety ways including via multi-lateral fora and global alliances.

We work on climate via the G7 and G20; we promote ambitious action alongside other countries via the High Ambition Coalition and we drive collective action on the ground through, for example, our hosting of the world’s first zero emission vehicle summit; and creation of Powering Past Coal Alliance, to reduce emissions from the most polluting fuel, which now has over 70 members. We play a key role within the UN Climate Framework, helping secure the agreement of 195 countries to sign up to the historic Paris Climate Agreement in 2015 and then bringing it to life last year at COP24 via the creation of a common rulebook. We are also working with our UN partners to ensure the Secretary General’s Climate Summit in September 2019 brings together key international actors, across the public and private sectors, to drive transformative action on building resilience to climate change.

UK leadership is reflected in the actions of other countries. For example, we were the first country to introduce long-term legally binding emission reduction target, which has now been emulated across the world, including by France, Denmark, Sweden and Mexico

18th Oct 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of research by the Renewable Energy Foundation, The Performance of Wind Farms in the UK and Denmark, published in December 2012, which demonstrates that the working lifetime of offshore wind turbines is shorter than previously thought; whether they intend to revise their low carbon-energy policy or policy on wind turbines as a result; and whether they support any development to turbine technology which could deliver increases to their working lifetime.

The Department periodically reviews the evidence base on the generation costs of renewable electricity technologies, including their operational lifetimes, and when appropriate publishes reports on the topic. The most recent of these publications can be found on the gov.uk website, and a copy is also attached here.

The UK’s oldest offshore windfarm, Blyth (off the coast of Northumberland), was commissioned in 2000 and is still in operation today. The world’s oldest offshore windfarm, Vindeby in Denmark, was decommissioned in 2017 after 25 years of operation.

The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult has a programme of work looking at lifetime asset management and has recently announced an operations & maintenance centre of excellence in collaboration with the University of Hull.

18th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to monitor any change in performance of wind turbines in on-shore and off-shore locations from their time of construction; whether they intend to publish assessments of the likely future lifetime of the wind turbine systems now being constructed in the UK; and if so, whether this information will be provided to organisations that are investing in such systems.

The Department reviews generation performance of a range of existing and new renewables plants, including onshore and offshore wind, on an annual basis as part of setting the level of the Renewables Obligation. The most recent publication can be found here (copy also attached):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewables-obligation-level-calculations-201819

The Department periodically reviews the evidence base on the generation costs of renewable electricity technologies, including their lifetimes, and when appropriate publishes reports on the topic. The most recent of these publications can be found here and attached (copy also attached):

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/beis-electricity-generation-costs-november-2016

7th Jun 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government which components of Euratom's work programme will the UK participate in following the current negotiations; and whether those will include regulation, safety, energy coordination, and long term research and development of fusion and nuclear waste policies.

The Government’s strategy is to seek a close association with Euratom, to the mutual benefit of the UK and the EU, and to provide maximum continuity for the civil nuclear sector. The components of this future relationship with Euratom are subject to negotiations with the EU. The UK will also seek to fully associate itself with the Euratom Research and Training Programme, including the Joint European Torus (JET) and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), and recognises that such an association would necessarily involve an appropriate financial contribution in line with other associated countries.

23rd May 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK funding of the operational hydrology and water programmes of the World Meteorological Organisation continues at present levels and is not affected by the proposed reorganisation of that agency.

The UK’s Permanent Representative to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) is actively engaged in discussions around the WMO budget, strategic plan and governance reform, with appropriate support from the UK Hydrological Adviser. The UK will remain closely involved in the ongoing assessment of options and the development of proposals over the next 12 months, up to the World Meteorological Congress in May - June 2019, where they will be further discussed and decisions made.

27th Apr 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government, following their indication that they will to continue to collaborate with European partners on science and research initiatives post-Brexit, how they intend to support the development of links between UK and European scientific organisations and institutions.

In March, the UK and EU negotiation teams reached an important milestone in the Brexit process by agreeing the terms of a time-limited implementation period, which provides for UK entities’ continued access to EU programmes, including Horizon 2020, for their duration.

Furthermore, as my rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her Mansion House speech, we want to establish a far-reaching science and innovation pact with the EU, facilitating the exchange of ideas and researchers. This could include continuing to cooperate through specific policies and programmes that are greatly to our mutual advantage.

The most substantial areas that we are interested in exploring include Framework Programme 9, Euratom Research and Training and the Copernicus programme. Specifically, we would like the option to fully associate to these programmes – we feel that this is in our joint interests. The scale and strength of the UK’s research and innovation is such that we should be looking for a bespoke relationship. We would like to discuss the details as soon as possible.

6th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 8 November 2016 stating that the re-injection of waste and produced waters will not be permitted from shale gas wells in the UK, what steps they are taking to inform the public about the possible risks associated with fracking, including those related to water injection.

The Government has been clear that shale development must be safe and environmentally sound.

The Government believes that early engagement is vital with communities who may host shale gas developments and we acknowledge that public confidence in the process is important to the success of the industry. We are continuously working with the regulators to ensure that the public understand how our regulatory regime works, and with the industry to encourage effective engagement which addresses local communities’ concerns.

10th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent statements made by the World Meteorological Organization regarding long-term trends in relation to the frequency and intensity of tropical cyclones.

The Government has not conducted a specific scientific assessment of the statements by the World Meteorological Organization regarding the devastating effects of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma on low-lying Caribbean islands and the USA, and possible links between these storms and human-made climate change.

The mechanics of tropical cyclones and how they interact with our changing climate is extremely complex. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, there is a greater than 50% chance that human-induced warming over the next century will lead to an increase in the frequency of intense tropical cyclones in some areas and there is strong evidence that increasing sea temperatures increase the intensity of tropical storms when they develop. Heavier rainfall is also expected as global temperatures rise because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture. Additionally, rising sea levels increase the risk of coastal flooding as hurricanes make landfall.

10th Oct 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of concerns expressed by the UK scientific community regarding future participation in EU funded research projects, what funds will be made available to UK research teams following Brexit.

This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for researchers, innovators and investors across the world. This is why we are increasing research and development investment by £4.7 billion over the period 2017-18 to 2020-21, an increase of around 20% to total government R&D spending, more than any increase in any parliament since 1979.

We would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. On 6 September we published a future partnership paper on collaboration on science and innovation. As part of our ambition for a new deep and special partnership with the EU, recognising our shared interest in maintaining and strengthening research collaboration, the UK will seek an agreement that promotes science and innovation across Europe now and in the future.

While we remain a member of the EU, UK businesses and universities should continue to bid for competitive EU funds, and we will work with the Commission to ensure payment when funds are awarded. The Government will underwrite the payment of such awards, even when specific projects continue beyond the UK’s departure from the EU. This includes awards that are bid for before exit that are successful after exit.

21st Jun 2017
Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact within the UK of the relocation, following Brexit, of EU medical research and related facilities which are currently based in the UK to other EU member states; and what estimate they have made of the (1) short-term, (2) medium-term, and (3) long-term, costs of those relocations.

Science and research are vital to our country’s prosperity, security and wellbeing. This Government wants the UK to be the go-to place for innovators and investors across the world, and we intend to secure right outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union.

We have a world class research base and world beating universities and businesses that mean the UK life sciences will continue to thrive. As shown by the recent investment decisions by GSK, Alnylam and Novo Nordisk, the UK remains open for business.

The Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation, including medical research.

21st Jun 2017
Her Majesty's Government what joint response they are making with the governments of other European countries in response to the US announcement of its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord; and what action they are taking to ensure that all G20 countries fulfil their obligations under that agreement.

The UK underlined our commitment to the Paris Agreement at the G7 Environment Ministers’ meeting earlier this month and at the EU Foreign Affairs and Environment Affairs Councils last week, where, along with European partners, we were clear that we deeply regret the US decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.

We welcome the continued support that the Paris Agreement has received from other political parties here in the UK, other countries, and subnational and non-state actors in the US and around the world. We will continue to work with the US to encourage them to show the leadership they have in the past on reducing carbon emissions.

We will continue to work through the G20, and other international fora, to promote the swift and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement. For example, the Government remains committed to the success of the Green Climate Fund as the key new vehicle for helping developing countries adapt to climate change and follow low carbon development paths. Besides the US, 42 Governments have pledged funding to the GCF, including Germany, France, Sweden, Mexico and Colombia.

29th Mar 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that, following Brexit, UK research groups will receive appropriate funding and organisational assistance to enable them to collaborate with EU research programmes and networks, in the same manner in which research groups in non-EU countries undertake such collaboration.

In the Autumn Statement 2016 the Government announced that we will make Britain the global go-to nation for scientists, innovators and tech investors, by investing an extra £2 billion a year in R&D by 2020/21.

This Government intends to secure the best possible outcome for the UK research base as we exit the European Union. We would welcome an agreement to continue to collaborate with our European partners on major science, research, and technology initiatives. However, whatever happens in the future, the Government is committed to ensuring the UK remains a world leader in international research and innovation.

29th Mar 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will be making representations to the government of the US about reports of the elimination and non-disclosure of scientific data for the Arctic region; and whether they will make representations to UN agencies about the maintenance of this data collection as the Arctic climate changes.

Whilst this Government does recognise that countries will make their own judgments about how best to contribute to and maintain the scientific record, we fully acknowledge the importance of the integrity of the scientific record. We place significant value on science and evidence-based policy making and we will continue to advocate transparent and open scientific data sharing with our international partners.

At present, it would not be appropriate to comment on specifics without further evidence of the reports being made. The UK and the US do however have a long and successful history of working together on a wide range of scientific and technical disciplines. The UK-US scientific partnership is one of the world’s strongest - nearly 30% of the UK’s international co-authored papers are with the US, producing an impact 50% higher than the UK research base average. We expect this collaboration to continue long into the future.

27th Mar 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed the objectives of the Paris Agreement with the government of the United States; and whether they intend to continue to work with the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and other UN agencies to implement those objectives.

Her Majesty’s Government is committed to tackling global climate change. We play a leading role internationally and we are delivering on our commitments to create a safer, more prosperous future for us all.

As he stated in the House of Commons on 28 March, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary raised climate change during his recent visit to Washington. My hon. Friend the Minister for Energy and Industry also raised it during his visit to the United States including during his meeting with Energy Secretary Rick Perry.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in her speech in Philadelphia earlier this year, climate change does not respect national borders and so is a challenge best faced by leading together, including through multinational institutions, like the United Nations (UN), that encourage cooperation and partnership.

We remain committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process, the Paris Agreement and the institutions that underpin it such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. These bodies are invaluable in coordinating global efforts to tackle climate change and ensuring that these efforts are based on robust scientific and economic analysis.

27th Feb 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the emphasis on EU space programme co-operation in section 10.13 of the White Paper<i> The United Kingdom’s exit from and new partnership with the European Union</i>, what plans they have to ensure coherent space research collaboration with the European Space Agency and Russia after the UK withdraws from the EU; and why such co-operation has not been included in the Draft Spaceflight Bill.

The European Space Agency (ESA) is an international organisation, rather than an institution of the European Union. ESA programmes will continue to play an important role in delivering UK national space objectives and, in December 2016, the UK negotiated an investment of more than €1.4 billion over the next five years in ESA space initiatives. The UK will continue to collaborate with Russia through our subscription to ESA. The UK’s membership of the European Space Agency will not be affected by the UK leaving the EU and does not therefore require new legislative measures. The Draft Spaceflight Bill is intended to establish a national regulatory framework to enable launch from the UK.

9th Feb 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Prime Minister’s statement that she favours greater industrial democracy in the UK, whether they intend to establish an all-party inquiry into this matter, along the same lines as the 1977 Bullock Report.

The Government is committed to strengthening the worker voice in the boardroom. The Government’s green paper on Corporate Governance Reform explored a range of options for strengthening the worker voice. The Government will publish its response in due course after analysing the responses it has received.

23rd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are planning to publicise and explain the new arrangement for naming storms over the UK and Ireland.

Details on the naming of storms over the UK and Ireland, together with all the latest information about storms in the UK, are available on the Met Office website at http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/barometer/uk-storm-centre.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
3rd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in developing their policy on fracking, whether they have taken into account the number of earthquakes which measured 3.0 on the Richter Scale in Oklahoma and other places in the US where fracking has been carried out.

We have ensured that strong controls are in place to mitigate seismic risks. Operators in the UK must avoid hydraulically fracturing near faults, and must monitor seismic activity before, during and after operations. Operations will halt if seismic activity exceeds a magnitude of 0.5 or greater on the Richter scale, and the pressure of fluid in the well will be reduced immediately.

Studies in the United States(1) have shown that most induced seismicity is caused by re-injection of waste and produced waters from oil and gas operations, both conventional and unconventional. Re-injection of waste and produced waters will not be permitted from shale gas wells in the UK.

(1) http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/myths.php

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
1st Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the House of Lords Arctic Committee's <i>Responding to a Changing Arctic</i> report, what steps they are taking with other EU and Arctic Council countries to exchange data with Russia about the Arctic region, especially regarding the methane and dangerous greenhouse gases being generated in this region.

The Arctic Council plays a key role in gathering and acting on evidence about environmental change in the region. As an Observer State, the UK engages periodically with the Arctic Council’s Black Carbon and Methane Expert Group, including through submitting its National Report on Enhanced Black Carbon and Methane Emissions Reduction in 2015. This was done alongside seven other nations and the EU.

In October 2016, scientists from UK, Russia, EU and Arctic Council countries met. One of the main issues discussed was the consequence of thawing permafrost in Russia. A key outcome of the discussions will be the development of a roadmap for future research, monitoring and collaboration.

The Government recognises the importance of understanding change in the Russian Arctic and looks forward to seeing valuable new opportunities arising from the new Agreement on Enhancing Arctic Scientific Cooperation reached by the Arctic States this year. This is expected to be signed and come into operation in 2017. The Government will continue to support UK scientific engagement with the Russian Arctic through the work of the Natural Environment Research Council Arctic Office and others.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
10th Oct 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will work with universities in the UK and EU to ensure that exchange programmes similar to the Erasmus programme will continue after the UK leaves the EU.

The referendum result has no immediate effect on students abroad under the Erasmus scheme or applying for 2016/17. Payments will be made in the usual way. Access to the programme after we leave the EU is a matter for the forthcoming negotiations. Consideration of other options will depend on the outcome of these negotiations.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
21st Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the average time in post of Trade Ministers of Her Majesty’s Government in (1) the last five years, and (2) the five years before that.

The average tenure of Ministers for Trade & Investment from 2011 until the departure of my noble Friend Lord Maude in March 2016 is 628 days or approximately 1 year, 8 months.

The average tenure of Ministers for Trade & Investment between 2006 and 2011 was 342 days or approximately 11 months.

23rd Feb 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will use their membership of UN agencies to establish relevant targets for reducing carbon emissions in (1) civil aviation, (2) shipping, and (3) agriculture and forestry, by 2020 as agreed at the Paris Climate Conference in 2015.

This Government is committed to tackling emissions from international aviation, international shipping and agriculture and forestry.

As inherently transnational in nature, international aviation and maritime emissions are regulated by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and are outside of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement. The UK is working through the ICAO and IMO to develop mechanisms which deliver emissions reductions, in line with the long term goal agreed in Paris of keeping average global temperature rise well below 2 degrees. In 2016, the ICAO is set to agree a global market based measure, to offset emissions post-2020. The UK government is engaged in this process.

The Government is also committed to tackling emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and supporting the enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+). The UK played a key role in the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests, which set ambitious targets for halving (by 2020) and halting (by 2030) the loss of natural forests and eliminating deforestation from the production of key agricultural commodities by 2020. The new UN Sustainable Development Goals, agreed in September 2015, also include targets to halt deforestation, sustainably manage and restore natural forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally by 2020. At COP21 the UK endorsed a Leaders’ Statement on Forests which recognised the importance of these goals, as well as the progress on REDD+ under the UNFCCC.

11th Feb 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether their policy for reducing carbon emissions in the UK over the next five years is consistent with their policy for reducing the average concentration of air pollution, and whether they will publish data relevant to that assessment.

Improving the quality of our air and reducing carbon emissions are important priorities for Her Majesty's Government. Later this year we will be publishing detailed plans on how we will deliver against Carbon Budgets, including information about how these measures can also support air quality objectives. Further information on the synergies across these policy objectives was outlined in DEFRA’s air quality plan, Improving Air Quality in the UK - tackling nitrogen dioxide in our towns and cities, December 2015.

17th Oct 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the assistance they and private sector providers offer to people with limited digital skills or understanding, in the light of the increasing number of public support and information services being provided online; and what assessment they have made of the adequacy and funding requirements of services provided to people living with disabilities in accessing public services online.

We are committed to improving citizens’ digital skills and particularly those with limited skills and understanding.

We recently published our plans to improve adult basic digital skills by updating the national standards setting out the digital skills people need to get on in life and work and introducing improved basic digital skills qualifications at two levels:

    • ‘beginner’ designed for adults with little or no prior experience of using digital devices or the internet.
    • ‘essential’ designed for adults with some experience of using digital devices and the internet but lacking the full range of basic digital skills needed for life and work.

We are also introducing a national entitlement to basic digital skills courses from 2020, similar to the existing legal entitlements for English and Maths.

In the interim, we will continue to support the provision of basic digital skills training for adults in colleges and community learning centres across England through the Adult Education Budget and other programmes, including the Future Digital Inclusion programme funded by DfE managed by the Good Things Foundation and delivered through the 3,000 strong Online Centres network. To date, this programme has supported over 800,000 adult learners to develop their basic digital skills, many of whom are socially excluded.

We have also established the Digital Skills Partnership (DSP) to bring together organisations from private, public and third sectors to improve digital skills and capability levels. The Government launched a Digital Inclusion Innovation Fund in September 2018 to support innovative projects aimed at helping older and disabled people.

Government ensures its services are accessible by design and has also committed to ensuring that assistance to access its services is always available for those who are not online. Government departments are mandated to provide assisted digital (offline) support for their services where it is required. Video Relay Service (VRS), for example, is available for some government services, including for claiming welfare benefits. VRS allows two parties in two separate locations to connect remotely via a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter so BSL users can make and receive telephone calls. The three parties involved in the call (caller, called party and interpreter) can all be in different locations.

6th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they have given to local authorities concerning the maintenance of mobile library and information service vehicles in rural areas and outlying urban areas; and how those services are integrated with other relevant council and Government services.

In September 2014 the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a report “Rural library services in England: exploring recent changes and possible futures”. The report provided information to help local communities and authorities to better understand the issues, challenges and opportunities for rural areas arising from changes to library services and what can be done to deliver a comprehensive, efficient and sustainable library service in rural areas that meets local need.