Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported staff shortages at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at Porton Down; what steps they are taking to recruit to the 300 more staff requested by the interim chief executive; and what percentage increase in staffing that figure would represent.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is investing £6.6 billion in research and development over the next four years, and this includes an additional £1.1 billion specifically for science and technology and pull through activities. It's part of the government's announcement 'to sustain strategic advantage through S&T' in the recent Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.
Dstl is using a number of routes to attract diverse talent with apprenticeships, bespoke targeted advertising, schemes for mid-career returners to science, and a focused offer to graduates. Dstl will be seeking to attract niche skills and scarce talents through a network of 'Centres of Excellence', the first being in Newcastle.
Dstl's Full Time Equivalent number of people is 4,357. An additional 300 represents an increase of 6.9 per cent.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 vaccinations have been given to (1) prisoners, and (2) prison officers; and what effect, if any, the vaccinations are having on isolation periods for prisoners in their cells.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
Data on the number of adult prisoners in England that have received Covid-19 vaccinations, as of week ending 4 June, as well as the number of prison officers in Public Sector and Youth Custody Prisons who have declared that they have received their Covid-19 vaccinations, as at midday 11 June 2021, is provided below.
Staff
As of midday 11 June | Staff who have declared that they have received a first dose | Staff who have declared that they have received a second dose |
Total | 5,688 | 2,434 |
Prisoners
As of week ending 4 June 2021 | Population who have received a first dose | Population who have received a second dose |
England total | 27,520 | 16,168 |
Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) strongly encourages all staff and prisoners who are eligible and offered the Covid-19 vaccine to be vaccinated as soon as possible. Employees are asked to provide updates onto the HMPPS HR system once they have had each dose of the vaccine. As the disclosure of their vaccine status is voluntary, it means the self-declaration rates presented below will very likely be lower than the actual number of staff who have been vaccinated. This data will help us understand staff vaccination take up and coverage, plan recovery and infection control measures, and inform recovery decisions.
Data for prisoner vaccinations has been provided by NHS England who are responsible for the vaccination programme. Please note that figures in relation to prisoner vaccinations change daily due to the level of activity in the vaccination programme across the estate and therefore can only be read as a snapshot on the day they were calculated.
Our National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services sets out how we will take decisions about easing restrictions in prisons. Prisons continue to progress through the Stages of the Framework, and vaccination coverage is an important part of the consideration about the necessary degree of restrictions.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential consequences of a takeover of Bacanora Lithium by Ganfeng Lithium; and in particular, whether such a takeover could restrict the UK's access to lithium supplies.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Mergers and takeovers are primarily commercial matters for the parties involved. The Government has powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 to intervene in transactions which raise national security concerns. The Government has recently strengthened those powers through the National Security and Investment Act 2021.
The Government is aware of this proposed transaction and is monitoring developments closely.
The Government recognises the strategic importance of securing the UK’s access to lithium supplies and is supporting the domestic extraction of critical “rare earth” materials, including lithium. For example, we are part funding Cornish Lithium and Geothermal Engineering to build a zero carbon, lithium extraction pilot plant at an existing site in Cornwall through the Government’s Get Building Fund.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to encourage the creation of new charitable trusts focussed on supporting local and regional charitable community activities and initiatives.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government does not have specific plans to encourage the creation of new charitable trusts to support local community initiatives. Local and regional charities play a vital role in strengthening communities and increasing social cohesion and are best placed to understand the needs of their communities. The voluntary and community sectors are independent from government and rely on the hard work of staff and volunteers, as well as funding from individuals, businesses, trusts and foundations.
The Charity Commission for England and Wales produces a range of resources to support individuals who wish to set up a new charity. This guidance is available online here: https://www.gov.uk/set-up-a-charity
The government acts as a steward for these sectors and meets regularly with charities and social enterprises at both ministerial and official level to discuss sector challenges and opportunities. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, this has included distributing the £750 million civil society sector support package announced by the Chancellor on 8 April 2020 and ensuring that fundraising and volunteering can take place safely where it is possible to do so. Over many years the government has worked in partnership with a range of local community foundations and trusts. Most recently this has included the Community Match Challenge and the Big Night In to distribute funding to small local charities as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of visitors to the UK who are currently quarantined in a managed quarantine hotel.
Answered by Lord Bethell
We currently have capacity in United Kingdom quarantine hotels for 4,778 guests and this will be kept under review. From 15 February to 7 April 2021, the number people who have been in Government-approved hotel quarantine is 12,372. This figure is subject to daily fluctuations.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) cost, and (2) practicability, of establishing a police presence at sites in towns and cities that do not have police stations; and if so, what consideration they have given to such sites being staffed by volunteers, communicating with the nearest full police station as required.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
On the 4th February 2021, the Government published a total police funding settlement of up to £15.8 billion in 2021/22, an increase of up to £636 million compared to 2020/21. Overall police funding available to PCCs will increase by up to £703 million (5.4% in cash terms) next year.
Decisions about the allocation of police resources and deployment of officers are for Chief Constables and democratically accountable PCCs. They are responsible for ensuring the needs of the local community are met.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar on 10 March (HL13677), what assessment NHS England & Improvement has made of the impact on the mental health of prisoners of being confined to their cells for 23 hours a day or more.
Answered by Lord Bethell
NHS England and NHS Improvement recognise that isolation and limited interaction with others over a prolonged period of time will have an impact upon prisoners’ mental health and well-being. Across the prison estate, healthcare teams including mental health professionals have been working in partnership with colleagues to identify and meet the mental health needs of the population, provide resources and appropriate interventions to promote well-being and prevent ill-health.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the national availability of warehouse space; what steps they are taking in response; and what assessment the Ministry of Defence has made of the potential for private sector involvement in the utilisation of suitable surplus or underutilised sites and buildings.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The Government Property Agency is working in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to analyse existing storage requirements within the Civil Estate in order to ensure that the future warehousing and depot strategy provides value for money.
The MOD has commissioned a project to evaluate warehousing and storage capacity across the UK, which aims to deliver an initial capability report by spring 2022. There is currently no spare warehousing capacity to offer to the private sector.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the mental health of prisoners of being confined to their cells for 23 hours a day or more.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
NHS England & Improvement and NHS Wales are responsible for the assessment and treatment of the mental health needs of those in prison.
When regime restrictions were introduced in prisons to control the spread of COVID-19 and save lives, we recognised that these measures could increase the mental health needs of those in our care. Maintaining prisoners’ mental health and wellbeing has therefore remained a priority throughout the pandemic.
To address anxiety and boredom, we have made available distraction packs, in cell activities and a range of self-help materials, including a Wellbeing Plan, created with input from mental health charity Mind. We have also given staff resources for assisting prisoners who might be struggling, such as guidance for understanding and supporting someone who is self-harming and wellbeing checks for vulnerable and priority groups of prisoners. The Samaritans phone service has remained available and we are working with them to ensure their Listener scheme continues to facilitate peer support between prisoners.
We have also acted quickly to ensure that prisoners could stay in touch with their loved ones, rolling out secure mobile handsets, providing every prisoner with £5 PIN credit per week and introducing secure video calls.
The National Framework provides a roadmap for easing restrictions in prisons when it becomes appropriate, guided by public health advice, alongside an operational assessment of what can be achieved in custodial settings while keeping staff and those in our care safe.
Asked by: Lord Lee of Trafford (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total value of outstanding unclaimed Premium Bond prizes; how many of those are £1 million prizes; and what efforts are made to trace the winners of such unclaimed prizes.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
As of July 2019, there are currently 1,905,681 unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes worth £69,850,900. NS&I considers a prize as unclaimed when it has not been paid to or cashed in by the Bond holder within 18 months of the prize being issued.
There are no £1 million prizes unclaimed. NS&I undertakes regular media activity to raise awareness of unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes. NS&I also encourages customers to have Premium Bonds prizes paid directly to their bank accounts to reduce the risk of prizes going unclaimed.
Table: Total value and number of unclaimed Premium Bonds prizes
Unclaimed |
| Number of prizes unclaimed | Prize value |
NS&I definition of unclaimed prizes (prizes issued up to and including July 2019) | 1,905,681 | £69,850,900 | |
Industry standard definition of unclaimed prizes (prizes issued up to an including January 2006) * | 397,951 | £23,049,075 | |