Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Department for International Development programmes for development assistance must include measures to limit the global spread of plastic waste and other waste that degrades the environment.
Answered by Lord Bates
The UK Government is a global leader in protecting oceans and marine life and has already taken significant steps to tackle plastic waste (such as the carrier bag charge and ban on microbeads in rinse-off products).
The Department for International Development already funds programmes that include measures to limit the global spread of plastic waste and other waste that degrades the environment, for example through the Global Environment Facility. The Global Environment Facility funds the Addressing Marine Plastics programme alongside other international waters, chemicals and waste programming. The Department is currently working with other parts of government to consider how to extend the impact of our work in this area.
In addition, Department for International Development officials are required to identify environmental risks associated with each programme, and ensure that they are managed. The guidance does not explicitly cover plastic waste, but is intended to include the full range of environmental risks relevant to each programme.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the amount of plastic waste being collected by local authorities is sufficient to prevent that waste degrading the environment; and which government agencies are (1) monitoring the current situation, and (2) planning for the future, in this regard.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Environmental Protection Act 1990 requires local authorities to make provisions for the collection and disposal of household waste, including arrangements for the collection of plastics where appropriate.
The Government and the Environment Agency with support from the Waste and Resources Action Programme work with local authorities to monitor the effectiveness of these services and to promote comprehensive collection and recycling of waste, including plastics.
The Government wants to reduce the harm plastics pollution has on the environment and in 2018 will publish a resources and waste strategy which will set out actions in this area, including how we will work towards zero avoidable waste by 2050.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, in conjunction with local authorities, to improve the environment of roads to a level comparable to that in other EU countries, including the provision of (1) more frequent and cleaner lay-bys for cars and lorries, and (2) better and more extensive sound barriers.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
(1) The Department for Transport recognises the need for new or expanded lorry parking provision, including laybys for short breaks, on various parts of the road network nationally. The Department is currently considering how the Government can work collaboratively with other relevant stakeholders, including local authorities and industry, to address this national shortage. Formal parking for HGVs with dedicated spaces and facilities is available in the main at Motorway Service areas and trunk-road service areas.
Local highway authorities have a duty under Section 41 of the Highways Act 1980 to maintain the highways network in their area including laybys. The Act does not set out specific standards of maintenance, as it is for each individual local highway authority to assess which parts of its network are in need of repair and what standards should be applied. Central Government has no powers to override local decisions in these matters.
(2) The Road Investment Strategy has provided funding for Highways England to address historical noise issues on the Strategic Road Network with a target to improve 1150 Noise Important Areas by 2020. Noise barriers are being delivered to address a number of Noise Important Areas and also to provide mitigation for major project schemes.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether tolls could be introduced to fund the expansion and environmental improvement of the strategic road network.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The Government is spending £15 billion through its Road Investment Strategy to improve the Strategic Road Network. No systematic assessment has been made about using tolls for funding expansion and improvement of the strategic road network in general. However, the Government considers that tolls can have a role in funding expensive infrastructure such as river crossings.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the performance of privatised prison services in the past year; and whether they intend to review the case for returning those services to the public sector.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
We have robust processes in place to closely monitor privately managed prisons and will not hesitate to take action if and when standards fall short. There is a HMPPS Controller based in every privately managed prison, accountable for providing assurance that the contracts are delivered in accordance with agreed contractual delivery indicators, and that the prison provides safe, decent and secure services. Senior Contract Managers (SCMs) provide an additional level of operational assurance and support for the Controllers.
Privately managed prison contracts set out a strict performance framework, consisting of prescriptive performance targets. Failure by the provider to meet performance targets results in performance points and, potentially, financial remedies being applied against the provider. It is important to recognise, however, that privately managed prison providers achieve the majority of their contractual targets.
Any decision to revoke a contract to operate a privately managed prison will be made after following a clear process and where the operator fails to improve performance despite this process. We do not currently anticipate any such action taking place against any privately managed prison.
Privately managed prisons have been a key feature of the prison estate for over 20 years and will continue to play an important role.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
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.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
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.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the performance of privatised rail services in the past year; and whether they intend to review the case for returning those services to the public sector.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
The benefits of franchising to passengers and taxpayers are clear. Passenger numbers have doubled since privatisation. The private sector have invested billions in new trains and improved services whilst Government subsidy to the industry has reduced by over £2bn over ten years. We always assess franchising decisions against the best interests of passengers and taxpayers.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
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.
Answered by Lord Henley
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.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to support the funding and planning of the infrastructure of Freetown following the flooding in August; and whether they intend to provide support for a programme to train technical experts.
Answered by Lord Bates
Our deepest sympathies are with the people of Sierra Leone affected by the mudslide and flooding. The UK allocated £5m for emergency power and clean water, and to clear waterways to prevent further flooding.
Since Ebola, DFID has provided clean water and sanitation to over 500,000 people, including through new boreholes across Freetown. We are upgrading power supplies and doubling the number of households with access to solar energy. This support includes technical training for local workers, which will improve their ability to respond in times of crisis. The World Bank and UN are assisting the government to develop a long term strategy for urban planning, and we are working closely with them to assess the city’s longer term housing needs.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Chesterton (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how cures and treatments in the NHS are being developed to reduce the danger in hospitals of anti-microbial resistance.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
The UK Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy published in 2013 set out the key actions needed to tackle AMR: preventing infections, making appropriate use of the treatments available, and promoting the development of new treatments. In 2016 the government announced ambitions to halve healthcare-associated Gram-negative bloodstream infections and inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials by 2020-2021. To promote the development of new drugs, diagnostics and alternative treatments we have established unprecedented levels of research collaboration, together with increased investment, including the £50 million Global AMR Innovation Fund. The Government is committed to working with the global finance and health community to develop a global system that rewards companies that develop new, successful antibiotics and make them available to all who need them.