Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why analysis of the number of (1) school workers, and (2) other key workers who had COVID-19, has not been included in ONS infection surveys since 6 November 2020; and what plans they have to publish such analysis for the period since 6 November 2020.
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.
14 January 2021
Dear Lord Jones,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking why analysis of the number of (1) school workers, and (2) other key workers who had COVID-19, has not been included in Office for National Statistics (ONS) infection surveys since 6 November 2020; and what plans there are to publish such analysis for the period since 6 November 2020 (HL11748).
The ONS is committed to providing statistics for the public good and produce analysis which covers as many of our users’ needs as possible.
Understanding occupational risk across all sectors is vitally important. As such we are conducting analysis across all occupations to gain a deeper understanding of all professions. This will include occupations within the education sector which we have previously published analysis on. We will publish this analysis in our monthly articles.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer from Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 30 September (HL8064), what penalty they expect to incur if the UK Internal Market Bill is enacted unamended.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Under the Withdrawal Agreement the European Commission can bring infringement proceedings against the UK within the transition period, where it considers that the UK has not met its obligations under the Agreement. The infringement procedure is a frequently used and common mechanism.
The Commission has sent a preliminary letter under this procedure concerning the United Kingdom Internal Market Bill. We are considering the letter.
We are committed to working through the Joint Committee process under the Agreement to find a satisfactory outcome for both sides.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to amend the law on impartiality in the Civil Service.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Part 1 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (CRAGA) provides the statutory basis for the Civil Service Code, and states that the Code must require civil servants to carry out their duties with impartiality. As set out in section 7(5), this requirement does not extend to Special Advisers. The Government has no plans to amend this.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the results of Operation Black Swan before 31 October; and if so, when.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)
Her Majesty’s Government is not aware of the existence of an Operation Black Swan.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to allow EU citizens living in the UK to continue being able to vote in local elections after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Government was clear from the start of withdrawal negotiations that EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU should have their voting and candidacy rights protected.This is part of the wider question of UK citizens' rights in the EU and EU citizens' rights in the UK. We are disappointed that the EU is unwilling to protect these rights in the Withdrawal Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many construction workers from the EU have been employed in the UK in each of the past five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply and I will place a copy of their letter in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the October publication of a revised Ministerial Code, whether the omission in section 1.2 of a commitment to international law and treaty obligations represents a reduction in the role that the United Kingdom’s international obligations play in domestic decision-making, and whether the duty of ministers to comply with the law continues to include international law and treaties.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to the Noble Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 5 November 2015 to HL3046,HL3047,HL3048, which I attach for ease of reference.
The Ministerial Code is normally updated and reissued after a General Election. The updated Code makes clear that Ministers must abide by the law. The obligations of Ministers under the law including international law remain unchanged.
Information relating to internal discussions and advice is not disclosed.