Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government how money from the Household Support Fund is allocated; and what criteria they use when deciding how much money each local authority is given.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Shadow Minister (Work and Pensions)
The Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England this financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion.
In England this is being delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. It is for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.
The year-long Household Support Fund extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary cost of living support to those most in need.
The distribution of the funding is targeted at the areas of the country with the most vulnerable households, on the basis of Office for National Statistics (ONS) local population estimates and Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores. Allocation amounts for upper tier Local Authorities in England are therefore reflective of population size and relative deprivation.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Viscount Younger of Leckie to all members of the House of Lords on 13 October, whether the money allocated in the Household Support Fund is new money or money that has already been spent.
Answered by Baroness Penn
The Government is providing £842m to Local Authorities in England to deliver the Household Support Fund in England over 2023/24. The Devolved Administrations have received additional funding via the Barnett formula.
This is additional funding to Local Authorities, not re-allocated from elsewhere.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the job creation and recreational opportunities of repairing broken swing bridges to allow access to inland waterways; and whether they will direct Peel Ports to repair the swing bridge in Faversham.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The Department has not made any specific assessment of job creation and recreational opportunities related to the repair of Faversham swing bridge. The Department has, however, been instrumental in encouraging all parties to work together and find a mutually acceptable resolution and will continue to do so.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East facilities and institutions are not being used by terrorist groups for combat purposes.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East officials, especially those in Lebanon and Syria, to support Palestinian refugees to receive (1) citizenship, and (2) fair treatment from host governments.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the instruction included on the 2016 London Mayoral election that voters should “Vote once [x] in column A for your first choice, and Vote once [x] in column B for your second choice”, whether they instructed the returning officers for (1) that election, and (2) other mayoral elections, to make it clear to voters that they must vote both for a first choice and for a second choice candidate; if so, on what basis that instruction was given; and whether they intend to review their instructions for future mayoral elections.
Answered by Earl of Courtown - Opposition Deputy Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government did not issue instructions to Returning Officers for the May 2016 London Mayoral and other mayoral elections to inform voters they must vote for a first choice and second choice candidate. The instruction on the ballot paper reflects how the supplementary vote works but it is for the voter to decide who they wish to vote for and whether they want to vote for one, two or any candidates. The Government is happy to consider any additional information on how to complete a ballot paper for polls using the supplementary vote system but, as was said in our manifesto, we are keen to move to the First Past the Post system for such polls which we think will be clearer and easier for electors to use.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks made by the Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian Authority calling for legal action against the UK over the Balfour Declaration, what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority regarding the delegitimising of the State of Israel.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have discussed the remarks with Palestinian officials and politicians.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks regarding litigation over the Balfour Declaration made by the Foreign Affairs Minister and the President of the Palestinian Authority, what representations they have made to the Palestinian Authority regarding a return to direct negotiations without preconditions between it and the government of Israel.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have discussed the remarks about litigation with Palestinian officials and politicians. We continue to urge a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although we have not called for a return to direct bilateral negotiations without preconditions. The UK’s vision for a future two-state solution is clear. It should be based on 1967 borders with agreed land swaps, Jerusalem as the shared capital of both states, and with a just, fair and agreed settlement for refugees.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the annual tax summaries sent to taxpayers show income tax as the amount which is 20 per cent of income and does not take account of allowances which reduce income tax to a lower figure.
Answered by Lord Deighton
Individuals’ personal allowance is shown as a tax free amount on their annual tax summary. The income tax calculation shows the taxable income above individuals’ personal allowance, payable at each tax rate.
Asked by: Lord Palmer of Childs Hill (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the level of equipment available to British military personnel who served in Afghanistan to enable them to detect or neutralise improvised explosive devices.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
During the Afghanistan campaign the capability of our counter-Improvised Explosive Device equipment evolved significantly. It is now amongst the best available of its type in the world.