Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which Government departments are using facial biometric technology; and for what reasons and purposes.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
Two Government departments have involvement with this type of technology.
The Home Office operates the e-gates facial recognition system at some airports. This compares a person’s face with biometric information held in their passport. The purpose of this system is to verify identity and speed entry to the UK by reducing the need for people to pass through desks staffed by immigration officers.
The Home Office also operates the Police National Database on behalf of police forces. This includes a database of facial images taken from people who have been arrested. Images of suspects can be compared with this database for the purpose of detection of crime.
The Department for Transport regulates Eurotunnel’s use of biometric checks on staff entry to high security zones but it does not use facial biometric technology to run checks on members of the public.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Young of Cookham on 11 July (HL 291), why changing the system of courtesy titles for (1) the spouses of women members, and (2) the same sex spouses and civil partners of members, of the House of Lords is not a priority for the current parliamentary session.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
The Government does take the issue of inherent inequalities seriously, however, the Government’s priorities for the coming Parliamentary session were set out in The Queen’s Speech.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 27 June 2016 (HL662), whether they intend to prioritise the establishment of honorary titles for the spouses of women members of the House of Lords; and for same sex spouses and civil partners of members of the House of Lords.
Answered by Lord Young of Cookham
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave Lord Lexden on 11 July 2017 (HL291): The Government is sympathetic to those who are seeking to change the current system of courtesy titles, and has considered this complex issue. However, resolving this difficult matter is not a priority for the current Parliamentary session.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to set up a commission to look at the question of the disestablishment of the Church of England, in the light of the communiqué from Anglican Primates about homosexuality and same-sex marriage.
Answered by Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government has no plans to set up such a commission.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to strip honours received from individuals who are implicated in the recent child exploitation cases.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
It is possible to rescind an honour on the advice of the Forfeiture Committee and with the approval of the Sovereign. Forfeiture may be considered for holders of awards in civilian or military Orders of Knighthood and for those appointed Knight Bachelor. We cannot comment on whether or not specific cases are being considered for forfeiture. There is no posthumous forfeiture of honours.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what examination they are giving to granting 16 and 17 year-olds votes in United Kingdom elections in the event of the Scottish Government reducing the voting age in Scotland to 16.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
There is no consensus within Government on the question of lowering the voting age for Westminster elections and therefore no plans to do so in this Parliament. However the Government welcomes the ongoing discussions and debates on this issue.