Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the terms and conditions of civil servant contracts initiated after the COVID-19 pandemic specify (1) a location of work, or (2) the amount of time that civil servants must be present in an office location.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Decisions on flexible working requests are made locally by departments, based on their business needs and delivery requirements. As departments are individual employers they set out their employees’ terms and conditions, including any flexible working policies.
Ministers are clear that civil servants should be in the workplace where needed to drive delivery and they should adhere to their contractual obligations. Workplace attendance has an important role in effective service delivery to the public.
To deliver value for the taxpayer means ensuring we maximise the use of the estate and proactively manage workplace attendance. Therefore, in addition to the thousands of civil servants working in such places as prisons, courts and our UK borders, office-based workers will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of working time in the workplace.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they define (1) a hostile state, and (2) which states they consider currently meet that definition.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
HMG does not have an agreed definition of the term ‘hostile state[s]’. While the term is sometimes used by officials and Ministers, it is not centrally defined and does not describe any specific category of states.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what policy amendments they anticipate to ensure that the UK Single Trade Window complies with prevailing regulations; and when trade bodies will have an opportunity to engage with them on this matter.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Government recognises that for the Single Trade Window to be successful it must meet users’ different needs and the importance of engagement with stakeholders from across the wider border industry, including trade bodies. Significant consultation, user research and engagement have already taken place and will continue as policy design and delivery progress.
We have engaged with trade representatives, industry and border experts, intermediaries and businesses of all sizes including SMEs, via a 2021 discussion paper detailing key STW policy and design choices, a 2022 public consultation on STW features and the draft Border Target Operating Model, published in April 2023. In addition to receiving numerous detailed written responses, we have conducted extensive follow-ups including the commissioning of independent qualitative research via interviews with small businesses and hosting multiple stakeholder events attended by key industry participants.
We will provide further detail on the Single Trade Window, including plans for future engagement with stakeholders, in the final version of the Border Target Operating Model, which we hope to publish soon. We will continue to use the feedback we receive from our ongoing industry engagement and detailed user design activity to ensure that the Single Trade Window complies with all prevailing regulations and balances the needs of all stakeholders.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the timeframes businesses will require to prepare for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model from October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs to businesses of preparing for the implementation of the Border Target Operating Model from October 2023.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will publish details on the Border Target Operating Model to support businesses to prepare for its implementation from 2023.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of implementing the Border Target Operating Model on supply chains.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In April 2023, the Government published through Written Ministerial Statement UIN HLWS695 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2023-04-17/hlws695 the launch of the Border Target Operating Model, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. This sets out plans to introduce security and biosecurity controls from the 31st October 2023 in a way which implements critical protections at the UK border, while ensuring that these new controls are as simple as possible for businesses to comply with. By harnessing data and technology and taking a proportionate, risk-based approach to these controls, we have developed a model that works best for the UK.
On Friday 28 April 2023 we published a detailed risk categorisation of animal products, plants and plant products of EU and EFTA origin. This provides clarity to importers on what controls will be applied to the different risk categories, including when health certificates will be required to import goods from 31st October 2023. Following the publication of this additional information we are working to update our early estimate of the impact and cost of the new model, driving down cost wherever possible.
The relevant business stakeholders told us before publication that they will need time to prepare for these changes, and our phased approach gives them this time. We are working to ensure that UK and international businesses and their supply chains are aware of and understand the new requirements and are ready for these changes.
The Government is using the current period of engagement to listen and gather views through a series of thematic in-person and virtual workshops with the UK’s major supermarkets, logistics and transport firms, and with Business Representative Organisations, to further explore the costs of implementing the new model, and to ensure importing is as smooth as possible where checks are needed.
We will publish a final version of the Border Target Operating Model, reflecting feedback from stakeholders, in the summer.
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what percentage of UK exports derive from inward investment into the UK.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A holding response to the Noble Peer’s Parliamentary Question of 25th April is attached in the answer and the completed response will be deposited in the House of Lords Library.
The Rt Hon. the Viscount Waverley
House of Lords
London
SW1A 0PW
11 May 2023
Dear Lord Waverley,
As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Question asking what percentage of UK exports derive from inwarde investment into the UK (HL7457). Statisticians at the Office for National Statistics are currently undertaking additional analysis to answer your question and will place a copy in the House of Lords Library as soon as it is complete.
Yours sincerely,
Professor Sir Ian Diamond
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to publish (1) the 2025 UK Border Strategy, (2) the Target Operating Model for the UK border, and (3) further details of the Ecosystems of Trust concept.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The 2025 Border Strategy was published in December 2020 and set out the UK Government’s vision for our border to be the most effective in the world. It set out the technological and data innovations that will be required, as well as transformations in governance and reviews of controls and check regimes (1).
The government will make an announcement on the Target Operating Model in due course. The government is already progressing work outlined in the Strategy, including the Ecosystem of Trust. We will publish the results of our innovative trials of new technologies at the border, known as the Ecosystem of Trust pilots, in Spring 2023 (2) and (3).
Asked by: Viscount Waverley (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likely effectiveness of the UK Single Trade Window in 2023.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The Single Trade Window will reduce the cost of trade by streamlining interactions with the Government at the border. It will enable traders to meet their import, export and transit-related obligations by submitting information to the Government once and in one place. We will design the Single Trade Window, in accordance with best practice, in full consultation with users of the border.
We will share more information about the delivery schedule of Single Trade Window and its impact on customers at the UK border in due course.