Asked by: Sarah Edwards (Labour - Tamworth)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when his Department last met with (a) Tamworth Borough Council, (b) Staffordshire County Council and (c) Lichfield District Council to discuss flood preparedness.
Answered by Robbie Moore - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Environment Agency works on plans for flood preparedness and resilience with all Category 1 and 2 responders as part of the Staffordshire Local Resilience Forum (LRF). The membership includes the Environment Agency, Staffordshire County Council, Tamworth Borough Council and Lichfield District Council.
The LRF has regular formal meetings at a Strategic and Tactical level, Staffordshire Civil Contingencies Unit (CCU) provide the Secretariat and coordination.
The dates for the most recent and next planned LRF meetings:
Strategic Group
Tactical Group
The Environment Agency also met with Staffordshire CCU Emergency Planners to influence tactical flood plan guidance for all Districts and Boroughs on 15 November 2023.
During flood incidents all LRF members are invited to attend Flood Advisory Service calls arranged by the Environment Agency to be informed of likely flood impacts. A Flood Advisory Service call was held for Staffordshire LRF members on 02 Jan 2024.
The Environment Agency in its strategic overview role for flood risk, meets with Staffordshire County Council formally at least monthly, as Lead Local Flood Authority for the county, representing Boroughs and Districts. There was a meeting between the Environment Agency and Staffordshire County Council on 19 January 2024.
In addition to its work via Staffordshire County Council, the Environment Agency meets directly with Borough and District Councils as required.
There was a meeting with Tamworth Borough Council in July 2023 to discuss progressing a potential flood risk management scheme in the area.
Asked by: Jerome Mayhew (Conservative - Broadland)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to expand the support available through Jobcentres in Broadland constituency.
Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The local Jobcentre team are collaborating with a range of partners to support people into work and help employers fill vacancies. In addition to hosting jobs fairs and delivering sector-based work academy programmes (SWAPs), they are working with Breckland, Kings Lynn & West Norfolk and North Norfolk District Councils, Duke of Lancaster Academy and Fakenham Academy to provide an employment and skills offer to help meet the recruitment needs of local employers.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions and consultations they held with political parties, district councils and civic society in Northern Ireland in advance of their decision to refuse to allocate levelling up monies to the region in their latest funding announcement on 21 November.
Answered by Baroness Penn - Minister on Leave (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State)
In the context of the growing pressure on Northern Irish budgets it is right that the United Kingdom Government should consider its approach to funding available for Northern Ireland in the round. £30 million has been reserved for Northern Ireland from Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund. As part of our commitment to levelling up, we want to work with a restored Executive to find the best approach to supporting people in Northern Ireland, taking account of current budget pressures.
DLUHC wrote to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee and the Northern Ireland Civil Service directly to let them know of our approach to Northern Ireland for Round 3 of the Levelling Up Fund. All Northern Ireland MPs were notified by a letter from Minister Young and DLUHC officials contacted relevant Northern Irish stakeholders on the day of the announcement.
Asked by: Jane Hunt (Conservative - Loughborough)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to tackle non-payment of housing benefit to district councils when the beneficiary is not a registered social landlord.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There are no current plans to change subsidy rules in Supported Housing which are in place to help ensure quality and value for money for taxpayers. Under the Housing Benefit subsidy arrangements, DWP reimburses local authorities for the cost of Housing Benefit in their respective areas subject to the rules set out in legislation. For supported housing cases, 100% subsidy is usually paid to the local authority by DWP where the landlord or provider is registered with the Regulator for Social Housing in England. In cases where the landlord or provider is not registered, the subsidy will still be payable to local authorities, but will be restricted in line with the rules set out in legislation.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will hold discussions with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland on taking steps to help support businesses affected by flooding in Newry, Mourne and Down District.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The floods that occurred have been devastating for those that have suffered the destruction of their homes and businesses. Both Lord Caine and I have separately visited affected areas over the past few days.
In the absence of the Executive, which could have acted swiftly, the UK Government will make available up to £15m of support through the reallocation of existing Northern Ireland funding. This will help with clean-up costs and support businesses to resume trading.
We will continue to work closely with the NI Civil Service and local councils to ensure that support gets to those who need it as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultations they have carried out as to whether the rules and laws which will now be applied in Northern Ireland as a result of EU law applied under the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 should also apply in the rest of the UK.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Departmental officials consulted with officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
No consultations have taken place as to whether regulatory changes in Northern Ireland should apply to heated tobacco products in Great Britain. Heated tobacco use remains low in Great Britain, but we will keep this under review, working with our counterparts in the devolved administrations.
The assessment given to regulatory divergence with the rest of the United Kingdom on the introduction of the regulation is that heated tobacco use throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland is low. From 23 October 2023, there may be heated tobacco products that are permitted on the Great Britain market but that are not on the Northern Ireland market. It continues to be policy of the Department in England to discourage people from taking up tobacco, and to help people quit the use of it.
It will be an offence for anyone to sell heated tobacco products prohibited in the regulations in Northern Ireland. Each district council in Northern Ireland will enforce the new requirements under existing funding. These new requirements are not expected to be a significant burden on each district council, given the low use of heated tobacco products in Northern Ireland.
To assist with regulatory compliance for businesses selling heated tobacco, the Department has sent communications information on the regulations to the Northern Ireland Retail body and the Federation of Small Businesses, along with the suppliers of heated tobacco products on the Northern Ireland market. Information was also shared through the Northern Ireland Business Information website. The changes were also communicated to Northern Ireland councils through the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.
No new regulation has been created in the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 regarding creating an independent advisory panel. Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/786 continues to apply in Northern Ireland and lays down the procedure for the establishment and operation of an independent advisory panel to assist in this determination.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how the different standards between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK as a result of the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 will be enforced; what paperwork will be required; and what checks will be carried out.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Departmental officials consulted with officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
No consultations have taken place as to whether regulatory changes in Northern Ireland should apply to heated tobacco products in Great Britain. Heated tobacco use remains low in Great Britain, but we will keep this under review, working with our counterparts in the devolved administrations.
The assessment given to regulatory divergence with the rest of the United Kingdom on the introduction of the regulation is that heated tobacco use throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland is low. From 23 October 2023, there may be heated tobacco products that are permitted on the Great Britain market but that are not on the Northern Ireland market. It continues to be policy of the Department in England to discourage people from taking up tobacco, and to help people quit the use of it.
It will be an offence for anyone to sell heated tobacco products prohibited in the regulations in Northern Ireland. Each district council in Northern Ireland will enforce the new requirements under existing funding. These new requirements are not expected to be a significant burden on each district council, given the low use of heated tobacco products in Northern Ireland.
To assist with regulatory compliance for businesses selling heated tobacco, the Department has sent communications information on the regulations to the Northern Ireland Retail body and the Federation of Small Businesses, along with the suppliers of heated tobacco products on the Northern Ireland market. Information was also shared through the Northern Ireland Business Information website. The changes were also communicated to Northern Ireland councils through the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.
No new regulation has been created in the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 regarding creating an independent advisory panel. Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/786 continues to apply in Northern Ireland and lays down the procedure for the establishment and operation of an independent advisory panel to assist in this determination.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to appoint the independent advisory panel required under the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023; what consultations have taken place about the membership; and who has so far been appointed to the panel.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Departmental officials consulted with officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
No consultations have taken place as to whether regulatory changes in Northern Ireland should apply to heated tobacco products in Great Britain. Heated tobacco use remains low in Great Britain, but we will keep this under review, working with our counterparts in the devolved administrations.
The assessment given to regulatory divergence with the rest of the United Kingdom on the introduction of the regulation is that heated tobacco use throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland is low. From 23 October 2023, there may be heated tobacco products that are permitted on the Great Britain market but that are not on the Northern Ireland market. It continues to be policy of the Department in England to discourage people from taking up tobacco, and to help people quit the use of it.
It will be an offence for anyone to sell heated tobacco products prohibited in the regulations in Northern Ireland. Each district council in Northern Ireland will enforce the new requirements under existing funding. These new requirements are not expected to be a significant burden on each district council, given the low use of heated tobacco products in Northern Ireland.
To assist with regulatory compliance for businesses selling heated tobacco, the Department has sent communications information on the regulations to the Northern Ireland Retail body and the Federation of Small Businesses, along with the suppliers of heated tobacco products on the Northern Ireland market. Information was also shared through the Northern Ireland Business Information website. The changes were also communicated to Northern Ireland councils through the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.
No new regulation has been created in the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 regarding creating an independent advisory panel. Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/786 continues to apply in Northern Ireland and lays down the procedure for the establishment and operation of an independent advisory panel to assist in this determination.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consultations they have carried out with District Councils in Northern Ireland about the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023; and what estimate they have made of the cost to councils of enforcing these regulations.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Departmental officials consulted with officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
No consultations have taken place as to whether regulatory changes in Northern Ireland should apply to heated tobacco products in Great Britain. Heated tobacco use remains low in Great Britain, but we will keep this under review, working with our counterparts in the devolved administrations.
The assessment given to regulatory divergence with the rest of the United Kingdom on the introduction of the regulation is that heated tobacco use throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland is low. From 23 October 2023, there may be heated tobacco products that are permitted on the Great Britain market but that are not on the Northern Ireland market. It continues to be policy of the Department in England to discourage people from taking up tobacco, and to help people quit the use of it.
It will be an offence for anyone to sell heated tobacco products prohibited in the regulations in Northern Ireland. Each district council in Northern Ireland will enforce the new requirements under existing funding. These new requirements are not expected to be a significant burden on each district council, given the low use of heated tobacco products in Northern Ireland.
To assist with regulatory compliance for businesses selling heated tobacco, the Department has sent communications information on the regulations to the Northern Ireland Retail body and the Federation of Small Businesses, along with the suppliers of heated tobacco products on the Northern Ireland market. Information was also shared through the Northern Ireland Business Information website. The changes were also communicated to Northern Ireland councils through the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.
No new regulation has been created in the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 regarding creating an independent advisory panel. Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/786 continues to apply in Northern Ireland and lays down the procedure for the establishment and operation of an independent advisory panel to assist in this determination.
Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what further assessment they have given to regulatory divergence with the rest of the UK as a result of the application of the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 to Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Departmental officials consulted with officials from the Department of Health in Northern Ireland about the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023.
No consultations have taken place as to whether regulatory changes in Northern Ireland should apply to heated tobacco products in Great Britain. Heated tobacco use remains low in Great Britain, but we will keep this under review, working with our counterparts in the devolved administrations.
The assessment given to regulatory divergence with the rest of the United Kingdom on the introduction of the regulation is that heated tobacco use throughout Great Britain and Northern Ireland is low. From 23 October 2023, there may be heated tobacco products that are permitted on the Great Britain market but that are not on the Northern Ireland market. It continues to be policy of the Department in England to discourage people from taking up tobacco, and to help people quit the use of it.
It will be an offence for anyone to sell heated tobacco products prohibited in the regulations in Northern Ireland. Each district council in Northern Ireland will enforce the new requirements under existing funding. These new requirements are not expected to be a significant burden on each district council, given the low use of heated tobacco products in Northern Ireland.
To assist with regulatory compliance for businesses selling heated tobacco, the Department has sent communications information on the regulations to the Northern Ireland Retail body and the Federation of Small Businesses, along with the suppliers of heated tobacco products on the Northern Ireland market. Information was also shared through the Northern Ireland Business Information website. The changes were also communicated to Northern Ireland councils through the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.
No new regulation has been created in the Tobacco and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2023 regarding creating an independent advisory panel. Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/786 continues to apply in Northern Ireland and lays down the procedure for the establishment and operation of an independent advisory panel to assist in this determination.