Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to either (1) encourage, or (2) mandate, the installation of “swift bricks” in new build or refurbished buildings, to assist conservation by providing nesting cavities for swifts and other birds.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
All local authorities have a duty to have regard to conserving biodiversity as part of their policy or decision making. As well as this duty, national planning policy states that the planning system should minimise impacts on biodiversity and provide net gains in biodiversity where possible. Planning Practice Guidance published to help implement planning policy makes clear that relatively small features can often achieve important benefits for wildlife, such as incorporating ‘swift bricks’ and bat boxes in developments and providing safe routes for hedgehogs between different areas of habitat. Specific biodiversity features, such as swift bricks, would normally be required of developments through either the relevant local plan or the local authority’s development control team.
Through the Environment Act 2021 we have introduced a mandatory duty for developers to deliver a ‘biodiversity net gain’, which will mean that habitats for wildlife must be left in a measurably better state than they were before any development.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to making the provision of a spare wheel in all new cars obligatory.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
There are various solutions to flat tyres including full-sized spare wheels, a temporary use space-saver spare, or a sealant and inflation kit. Many manufacturers choose to provide a sealant and inflation kit which has benefits in reducing the weight of the vehicle and reducing CO2 emissions.
Incidences of tyre deflation are relatively rare and the Government currently has no plans to introduce a legal requirement for the inclusion of spare wheels on all new cars.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the reported activity of the Wagner Group in Libya; and if they have made such an assessment, whether they have identified how those activities are funded.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Wagner Group continues to play a destabilising role in Libya. The withdrawal of foreign forces and mercenaries, including the Wagner Group, is one of the UK's top priorities in Libya. We have been clear that this should happen without delay as set out in the UK-led UN Security Council Resolution 2570. The Wagner Group is sanctioned under the UK's Russia sanctions regime and the UK continues to work with international and Libyan partners to restore Libya's sovereignty, put the country on a path to sustained peace, security and prosperity and reduce space for hostile actors.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the Wagner Group's reported activities in Venezuela, including reports of involvement in gold mining.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We are deeply concerned by Wagner Group deployments to the Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Mozambique, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine. We continue to monitor reports of Russian mercenaries in Venezuela, including reports that mercenaries who are either part of or affiliated to the Wagner Group have conducted activities in support of the Maduro regime.
Illegal gold mining in Venezuela involves very serious human rights abuses at scale and is causing significant environmental and wider social damage, especially in the Arco Minero region. Russian private military companies are reported to be active in this area.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigation, if any, they have undertaken into the Wagner Group and its sources of funding.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Wagner Group are a driver of conflict and capitalise on instability for their own interests. Wagner does not offer long-term security answers and operates opaquely. The Wagner Group is one of the over 1,000 individuals and businesses sanctioned under the Russia sanctions regime. It would not be appropriate to speculate on further potential Government activity, as doing so could reduce the impact of any options used in the future.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the security implications of allowing unsearched vehicles, without a car pass, to park in Old Palace Yard.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Parliament benefits from a significant layered security and policing presence, and is within the Government Secure Zone which also has a substantial policing footprint strengthened by additional protective and deterrent measures. Anything in this area that is deemed suspicious or a threat is swiftly identified, assessed and managed. For security reasons, it is not appropriate to detail publicly specific security arrangements or assessments. The Director of Security for Parliament is content to meet with any Members who wish to discuss specific concerns.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any legal or regulatory restriction preventing suppliers from taking back and reusing large plastic sacks that have contained animal feed or fertilizer; and, if so, whether they plan to review this restriction.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
There are no specific restrictions in fertiliser legislation preventing suppliers from reusing fertiliser sacks. However, guidance around the storage and handling of certain fertilisers such as ammonium nitrate may still apply, which could impact on the feasibility of reusing fertiliser sacks. For example, the Health and Safety Executive recommends precautions to prevent the risk of contamination and spillage, including that bags should be completely sealed on filling. In practice, the reuse of large sacks used by farmers is likely to be limited as they are usually cut open to transfer the fertiliser into the spreading equipment.
There are no provisions in UK animal feed legislation preventing the reuse of plastic sacks. However, feed business operators must demonstrate through their feed safety management systems that the packaging materials used for feed are safe and do not have an adverse effect on animal health, human health, and the environment.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total number of hospitalisations of patients with COVID-19 since 1 March 2020.
Answered by Lord Bethell
NHS England began collecting data on the number of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 from 20 March 2020. From 20 March 2020 to 4 July 2021, the number of such patients hospitalised in England is 407,019.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are reviewing the decision not to include Russia in Schedule 3ZA of High-Risk Third Countries in the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (Amendment) (High Risk Countries) Regulations 2021; and if not, why not.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. The Minister will write directly to the Member with a response shortly.
Asked by: Lord Robathan (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what evidence they have identified of money obtained as the proceeds of crime in Russia being laundered in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Dissolution. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.