Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the policy of (1) the Treasury, and (2) the Government Equalities Office, on the consultations being conducted by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority on new diversity and inclusion reporting requirements for financial services firms; and what assessment they have made of whether those proposals are in line with their policy on increasing economic growth.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) are non-governmental bodies which are independent from the Treasury and have broad powers to make rules in order to advance their statutory objectives. The regulators are required by legislation to carry out their general functions, which include rule-making, in a way that advances their competitiveness and growth objectives.
In line with statutory requirements, the FCA and PRA have included in their consultations an explanation of the compatibility of the proposed rules with their duties, including consideration of the competitiveness and growth objectives.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to make the online self-assessment tax return form SA100 available to download, so that taxpayers wishing to submit paper returns do not have to telephone His Majesty's Revenue and Customs to obtain it.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government wants to encourage as many people as possible to complete their self assessments online. HMRC therefore asks taxpayers who do not initially opt to complete their return online to call HMRC. This approach allows HMRC to speak to taxpayers to encourage them to file online, or to find out if they need additional support and guidance to do so, before sending them a paper form if needed. The SA100 form is available for download on gov.uk.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have plans to transport Sri Lankan nationals from Diego Garcia to the UK and if so, how many persons, and when; what assessment they have made as to how many such persons were trafficked to Diego Garcia by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an organisation proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000, or its associates; what security risks may arise as a result of any links to the LTTE; and what consideration they have given to the possibility of returning them to Sri Lanka as a safe country.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office is engaging in ongoing discussions with relevant departments regarding this issue. The BIOT is not a suitable long-term location for the migrants, which is why we are working to find a lasting solution. The BIOT Administration have put in place a process for considering claims for protection, which is thorough and comprehensive, but do not comment publicly on individual claims for protection. We are not aware of any involvement of LTTE in trafficking the migrants, and continue to cooperate with international partners to try and prevent criminal groups exploiting individuals and sending them on dangerous journeys across the sea.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the cases of those still subject to the "two strikes” sentence imposed under the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 or the “automatic life" sentence introduced in 2012; and whether there is scope to align their licence conditions with those imposed through the Victims and Prisoners Act 2024 on prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence for public protection.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
Section 2 of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 (the 1997 Act) introduced a mandatory life sentence for a second serious offence, meaning judges had to impose a life sentence on anyone convicted of a second specified serious offence, unless there were exceptional circumstances.
Although the ‘two-strike’ life sentence and the IPP sentence can be imposed for similar specified offences, unlike the IPP sentence, the ‘two-strike’ life sentence is a life sentence, and offenders will therefore be subject to licence conditions for life if they are released by the Parole Board. The recent changes to the IPP licence, which can be terminated pursuant to section 31A of the 1997 Act, would therefore not align with this life licence.
We will be launching a review of the sentencing framework. The details of this review will be announced in due course.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the regulation 28 prevention of future deaths report issued on 12 April by the Senior Coroner for the coroner area of Milton Keynes in the case of Scott Rider, to which a response was due under statute by 23 May.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Ministry of Justice’s response to the Regulation 28 Prevention of Future Deaths report issued on 12 April by the Senior Coroner for Milton Keynes was sent by the Director General of Operations for HM Prison and Probation Service on 15 May 2024.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how a simplified licensing process for powered light vehicles would impact (1) the uptake of powered light vehicles, (2) the accessibility of cheaper forms of personal mobility, and (3) the decarbonisation of road transport.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
The Government has collected robust evidence on the use of different regulatory regimes, including licensing, to support the previously announced Low-speed Zero Emission Vehicle category. Any assessment of evidence would be published as part of a consultation on regulations before they come into force and will be brought forward when parliamentary time allows. The Government has made no assessment of how changes to licensing might impact the uptake of L-category vehicles.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of how the Motorcycle Industry Association’s proposals to incentivise the progressive access licensing route would impact road safety.
Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Secretary of State for Wales
In December 2023, officials met with motorcycle stakeholder representatives to listen to and discuss various motorcycle initiatives including ideas for reform. Discussions continue, and a roundtable with Ministerial attendance is scheduled for the 8th of May.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they had with the "build to rent" sector to understand the impact of the proposed abolition of the Stamp Duty Land Tax Multiple Dwellings Relief announced in the Spring Budget, beyond the consultation from November 2021 to February 2022.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The abolition of Multiple Dwellings Relief follows an external evaluation which found no strong evidence the relief is meeting its original objectives of supporting investment in the private rented sector.
Larger investors who purchase 6 or more properties in a single transaction can still continue to benefit from the non-residential rates of Stamp Duty Land Tax.
The government will continue to engage with stakeholders in the build to rent sector to understand any concerns.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government when in early 2024 they intend to consult on the impacts of the July 2023 High Court ruling in Uber Britannia Ltd v Sefton MBC on the VAT treatment of Private Hire Vehicles, as undertaken in paragraph 5.81 of the Autumn Statement 2023.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government remains committed to consulting on the impacts of this ruling, and will publish a consultation in due course.
Asked by: Lord Moylan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will request NHS England to permit the prescription of Thiamine capsules as an alternative to tablets.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
Clinicians are responsible for making prescribing decisions for their patients, considering best prescribing practice and appropriate national and local guidance.
In respect of the prescribing of unlicensed medicines, the National Health Service’s long-established practice is reflected in professional guidance. Individual patient needs should be fulfilled by, firstly, using a licensed medicine within its licensed indication, or if there is nothing suitable, using a licensed medicine outside its licensed indication. If there is still nothing suitable after this, the clinician can consider using an unlicensed medicine.
Thiamine tablets are available as a licensed medicine. Thiamine capsules are not a licensed medicine. Thiamine supplements can be purchased from pharmacies or shops. These include vitamin B complex tablets and multivitamin tablets where thiamine is listed as an ingredient. NHS guidance states that vitamins and minerals should not be routinely prescribed in primary care as there is insufficient high-quality evidence to demonstrate their clinical effectiveness. However, subject to funding, a clinician can prescribe any product on the NHS that they consider to be clinically necessary for the treatment of their patient unless it is listed in Schedules 1 or 2 of the NHS (General Medical Services Contracts) (Prescription of Drugs etc.) Regulations 2004. Parts XVIIIA and XVIIIB of the NHS Drug Tariff list the drugs, medicines and other substance that may not be ordered, or may only be ordered on the NHS in certain circumstances under the above regulations.