Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proposal included in the report by the Law Commission Hate crime laws: A consultation paper, published on 23 September, to remove the dwelling exception from section 18 of the Public Order Act 1986; whether they intend to take steps to ensure that freedom of speech is upheld regardless of any changes arising as a result of that consultation; if not, why not; and what discussions the have had with the Law Commission about that proposal.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government is committed to upholding free speech and legislation is in place to protect this fundamental right. The UK is an open and diverse country and freedom of speech is one of the values that defines us as a society. The Law Commission’s consultation closes on the 24th December and we encourage those with an interest to share their views.
We will consider the review’s recommendations and respond once it is complete.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the BBC since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic about their obligations under the Royal Charter for the continuance of the British Broadcasting Corporation, presented to Parliament in December 2016, “to provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them”.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The government meets with the BBC on regular occasions to discuss a wide range of issues. When speaking to Tim Davie to congratulate him on his appointment as the new Director General of the BBC, the Secretary of State welcomed Tim Davie’s commitment to impartiality at the BBC. In an age of fake news and self reinforcing algorithms, the need for genuine impartiality is greater than ever.
In April the BBC announced a wide-ranging package of measures to help keep the nation informed, educated, and entertained through these unprecedented times. These new measures included daily and weekly coronavirus updates, supplied across television, radio and online platforms.
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent of government, and it is for the BBC Board to ensure that all of the BBC’s output meets the highest standards the public expects. Ofcom is the independent regulator of the BBC, and is responsible for holding the BBC to account in this regard.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 12 March (HL2248), whether the Law Commission review of legislation related to hate crime has called witnesses; if so, whom; what weight any such hearings with witnesses are giving to the importance of free speech in the UK; whether they intend to submit any recommendations by the Law Commission to Parliament for approval; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the legislation related to hate crime, which will report in 2021. The review’s Terms of Reference require the Law Commission to make recommendations that ‘comply with, and are conceptionally informed by’ the right to freedom of expression.
The Law Commission are scheduled to conduct a public consultation later in the year as part of their review. They will be seeking a wide range of perspectives and inviting comment from all interested parties. They have conducted pre-consultation meetings and will hold formal consultation meetings with stakeholders.
As part of their review, the Law Commission are engaging with a variety of stakeholders, including civil rights group, the CPS, community organisations, law enforcement, legal experts and academics.
The Government will reflect on the Law Commission’s recommendations when it is due to report next year.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to finance new nuclear generation through (1) the use of long-term borrowing, and (2) partnering with the private sector, in order to achieve their net-zero target for greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are looking at options for the financing of new nuclear projects. In 2019, we consulted on a Regulated Asset Base as a possible funding model for future nuclear projects. We will respond to the consultation in due course.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total level of subsidy given to (1) private, and (2) commercial, users in 2019 to encourage the burning of woodchip; and what was the total level provided to all users from 2015 to 2019 inclusive.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Subsidies for burning woodchip are paid under three renewable energy schemes.
The Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme and the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme support the generation of renewable electricity. The RO does not pay a direct subsidy; support is through tradeable renewable electricity certificates. The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme supports renewable heat technologies.
The table below sets out the spend under each scheme relating to the use of solid biomass (information is not available relating to the burning of woodchip specifically). The RO and CFD schemes do not distinguish between private or commercial users, although the users are mainly commercial. In the CFD scheme there were no payments made for generation from solid biomass before 2016.
The figures for GB are as follows:
Scheme | Spend (£m) | |
2019 | 2015-2019 | |
RO – solid biomass[1] | 991 | 4,338 |
CFD | 408 | 1,063[2] |
Renewable Heat Incentive |
|
|
| 52 | 237 |
| 373 | 1,419 |
| 47 | 100 |
| 471 | 1,757 |
Overall total | 1,870 | 7,158 |
[1] The RO figures are based on Ofgem’s certificate report as at 17 June 2020 from their Renewables and CHP Register
[2] CFD payments for generators using solid biomass are for 2016-2019 as no payments were made before 2016
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - 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 impact of any subsidies provided to incentivise the burning of woodchip on reducing levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government keeps the impact of the burning of biomass, including woodchip, on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under review.
The UK only supports biomass for heat and electricity generation which complies with strict sustainability criteria, and generating stations utilising biomass only receive subsidies in respect of compliant biomass. These criteria include a minimum 60% lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions saving, compared to emissions from an EU fossil fuel comparator for electricity. The calculation requires transport, growing and processing emissions to be included. The greenhouse gas savings requirement will be tightened in a trajectory to 2025.
Those plants using biomass, with a capacity greater than or equal to one megawatt, must also prepare an annual sustainability report, compiled by a third-party auditor/verifier which will provide assurance that biomass is from sustainable sources.
Recent analysis done in relation to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme estimated lifetime carbon savings as follows:
Lifetime carbon savings (MtCO2e) from RHI installations (for all types of solid biomass, not just woodchip). | |
Domestic biomass boilers | 2.4 |
Non-domestic biomass boilers | 37.5 |
Biomass CHP | 3.9 |
Total | 43.8 |
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of Public Health England’s (1) preliminary planning before, and (2) advice during, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Bethell
Public Health England’s (PHE) preliminary planning before, and advice during, the COVID-19 pandemic has been guided by the scientific evidence. This is a new virus and PHE continues to keep its planning and advice under review to ensure it is informed by the latest evidence.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 4 February (HL728), what discussions they have had with the Law Commission about how they intend to conduct the review of legislation related to hate crime; whether that Commission intends to call for evidence; if so, (1) when, and (2) whom, it will call for evidence; and whether the Crown Prosecution Service will be involved in that review.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the legislation related to hate crime, which will report in early 2021. The review is considering parity in the existing legislation and the case for additional groups to be protected by legislation. Officials have met with the Law Commission since the review was commissioned for informal progress updates.
The Law Commission are scheduled to conduct a public consultation later in the year as part of their review. They will be seeking a wide range of perspectives and inviting comment from all interested parties.
As part of their review, the Law Commission are engaging with a variety of stakeholders, including the CPS, community organisations, civil rights groups, law enforcement, legal experts and academics.
The Government has asked the Law Commission to undertake a review of the legislation related to hate crime, which will report in early 2021. The review is considering parity in the existing legislation and the case for additional groups to be protected by legislation. Officials have met with the Law Commission since the review was commissioned for informal progress updates.
The Law Commission are scheduled to conduct a public consultation later in the year as part of their review. They will be seeking a wide range of perspectives and inviting comment from all interested parties.
As part of their review, the Law Commission are engaging with a variety of stakeholders, including the CPS, community organisations, civil rights groups, law enforcement, legal experts and academics.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 3 February (HL727), what consideration they have given to requiring allegations of an offence of stirring up religious hatred to be supported by two witnesses, in order to restrict frivolous complaints.
Answered by Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Waldrist
It is an operational matter for the police to determine whether and how to investigate all incidents reported to them. The Crown Prosecution Service will also apply the Code for Crown Prosecutors to ensure a prosecution will not proceed where a complaint is deemed to be frivolous. Decisions to prosecute are furthermore subject to consideration under the Freedom of Expression defence contained in Section 29J of the Public Order Act 1986.
Asked by: Lord Vinson (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 3 February (HL187), whether it is possible that a hearsay remark, if construed by a bystander as offensive, could be reported as a hate crime and the perpetrator interviewed by the police as a result; and if so, what steps they intend to take to protect freedom of speech.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
It is an operational matter for the police to determine whether to investigate all incidents reported to them. When investigating allegations of hate crime it is for the police to apply the relevant legislation, including the freedom of expression defence contained in section 29J of the Public Order Act 1986.