Skip to main content

House of Lords Business

See what is going on in the House of Lords today, as well as what has happened since June 1998. This includes the relevant Order Paper, Minutes of Proceedings, questions tabled and edition of House of Lords Business. These documents can also all be downloaded.

Questions for Written Answer for 15 October 2019

Tabled on 14 October 2019 and due for answer by 28 October 2019.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to recent events in Hong Kong, what plans they have to draw attention to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, ratified by the governments of China and the UK in 1984 at the next United Nations Security Council meeting.  HL1
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of China about the case of Lee Ming-Che, a Taiwanese citizen, who was sentenced to five years in prison for calling for democratic change in China on the internet; and what response they have received.  HL2
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, and intend to make, to the government of China about the (1) treatment of Lee Ming-Che in, and (2) conditions of, Chishan prison in China.  HL3
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist other national partners in planning an exit strategy for Christians, Yazidis and other minorities in north east Syria who may face genocide.  HL4
Answered
Baroness Barker to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the judgment in R (TT) v the Registrar General for England and Wales & Ors [2019] EWHC 2384 (Fam) on the (1) Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, and (2) regulation of fertility treatment by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.  HL5
Answered
Baroness Barker to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the judgment in R (TT) v the Registrar General for England and Wales & Ors [2019] EWHC 2384 (Fam) on members of the trans community who wish to access fertility treatment at a licensed clinic.  HL6
Answered
Baroness Barker to ask Her Majesty's Government when consultation on the Code of Practice issued under the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 will commence.  HL7
Answered
Lord Bird to ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion, and what amount, of the £250 million Culture Investment Fund will be allocated specifically to libraries  HL8
Answered
Lord Bird to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase literacy levels in England  HL9
Answered
Lord Bird to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to formally recognise and protect the interests of future generations  HL10
Answered
Lord Black of Brentwood to ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, ATA Carnets would be required for musicians who are travelling to perform in multiple EU countries for their musical instruments which are transported either (1) as hand luggage or (2) in trucks.  HL11
Answered
Lord Boateng to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of political prisoners in Cameroon in the light of the discontinuance of proceedings before military tribunals against 333 prisoners arrested in connection with the crisis in the north west and south west regions of that country.  HL12
Answered
Lord Boateng to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the outcomes of the recent national dialogue in Cameroon.  HL13
Answered
Lord Boateng to ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of (1) France, and (2) the United States of America, the councils of the United Nations, and the Commonwealth about recent developments relating to attempts to end the crisis in Cameroon.  HL14
Answered
Baroness Brady to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to stop online (1) trolling, (2) harassment, and (3) cyberbullying; and what measures are in place to protect victims of such abuse.  HL15
Answered
Baroness Brady to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in ensuring the continuation of the provision of free TV licences for over-75s.  HL16
Answered
Lord Caine to ask Her Majesty's Government which ministers from the Northern Ireland Office attended the commemorative events held at Lisburn on 17 August to mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Banner.  HL17
Answered
Lord Caine to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps the Northern Ireland Office has taken to mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Banner.  HL18
Answered
Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Earl Howe on 17 June (HL Deb, col 655), whether the Ministry of Defence review of security clearance procedures for Afghan interpreters who have been relocated to the United Kingdom has been completed; and, if so, what changes have been made to facilitate their employment by NATO.  HL19
Answered
Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government when the contract with thebigword to provide interpreting and translation services in the criminal justice system will be reviewed.  HL20
Answered
Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government when the contract with thebigword to provide interpreting and translation services to the United Kingdom armed forces in Afghanistan will be reviewed.  HL21
Answered
Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a German Excellence Programme, along the lines of the Mandarin Excellence Programme, to boost the take-up of German in state secondary schools.  HL22
Answered
Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government how many officials with relevant foreign language skills are currently employed by the Department for International Trade to work on negotiating free trade agreements for the United Kingdom after Brexit.  HL23
Answered
Baroness Coussins to ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants from each department have taken language courses at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Language Centre over the past 12 months, and in which languages.  HL24
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Coventry to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the decision of the government of India, on 5 August, to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution of India, and what representations they have made to the government of India about that decision.  HL25
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Coventry to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to seek a peaceful resolution of the dispute between India and Pakistan, following the decision of the government of India on 5 August to revoke Article 370 of the Constitution of India.  HL26
Answered
Lord Farmer to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the role of the National Implementation Adviser for Care Leavers.  HL27
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the review of the application of VAT as applied to the NHS.  HL28
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the schools built under (1) the Consortium of Local Authorities Special Programme, and (2) the Second Consortium of Local Authorities building programme are (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools.  HL29
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the schools approved in wave 10 of the free schools programme are (1) under construction and (2) open.  HL30
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the schools approved in wave 11 of the free schools programme are (1) under construction and (2) open.  HL31
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the schools approved in wave 12 of the free schools programme are (1) under construction and (2) open.  HL32
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the schools approved in wave 13 of the free schools programme are (1) under construction and (2) open.  HL33
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Egypt about the 2,285 persons detained since 29 September, mostly without trial, who are being held in prisons, police stations and state security camps, often with insufficient food, water and sanitation, or access for their families.  HL34
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government what action, if any, they are taking about the case of Mr Alaa Abd El Fattah and his lawyer Mr Mohamed El-Baqer, both arrested in Egypt on 29 September.  HL35
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the simultaneous protests and demonstrations in Egypt and Iraq, the latter of which has resulted in 100 civilian deaths.  HL36
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made, or intend to make, to the Kurdistan Regional Government about the blockade of the Maxmur refugee camp; and what discussions they have had with agencies of the United Nations on the impact of the blockade, including on the health of the camp's residents  HL37
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Algeria following the closure of a Christian church at Boghni, the eighth such closure since 2017.  HL38
Answered
Lord Krebs to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) with Network Rail to ensure that wildlife habitats on Network Rail land are preserved, and (2) to ensure that habitat value is taken into account by Network Rail when clearing vegetation.  HL39
Answered
Lord Lipsey to ask Her Majesty's Government what calculations, if any, they have made of the savings that would result if the speed limit in roadworks on the M4 was increased from 50 to 60 miles per hour.  HL40
Answered
Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court to ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of revenue that may be lost as a result of the implementation of the UK proposals for a new Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, published on 2 October.  HL41
Answered
Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in enabling British exporters to conform with wooden packing requirements under International Standards For Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 following the UK's departure from the EU.  HL42
Answered
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on revolutionary guards commanders to prepare themselves for “big events”; and how they intend to respond to such reports.  HL43
Answered
Baroness Masham of Ilton to ask Her Majesty's Government what information they hold on the availability of Vancomycin for the treatment of Clostridium difficile in pharmacies across the country.  HL44
Answered
Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the actions of financial and other advisers to Thomas Cook Group in seeking the payment of fees before the Group collapsed; what plans they have, if any, to launch an investigation into such actions; and whether such an investigation will examine whether these actions constituted an act of fraudulent pre… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty's Government whether the interim permission granted to Regal Pawnbroker Limited, subsequently renamed Collateral (UK) in the Financial Conduct Authority’s register, would have lapsed automatically on 31 March 2016 if an application had not been passed for Part 4A Permission under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000.  HL46
Answered
Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty's Government how many matters are outstanding in calculating the cost to taxpayers of repatriating Monarch Airlines passengers to the United Kingdom; whether independent accountants have been appointed and given access to papers in order to assist in calculating that cost; and what enquiries have been made to Greybull and its associates in the last y… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of loans made by the British Business Bank and sourced from peer-to-peer platforms have defaulted.  HL48
Answered
Baroness Parminter to ask Her Majesty's Government, following their response to the Seventeenth Report of Session 2017–19 by the House of Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (HC855) on 23 September, how many sites have been selected to "pump prime" innovative models of service for adults with eating disorders; and where those test sites will be.  HL4… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Pendry to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent supporters from mainland China bullying and intimidating fellow students from Hong Kong in British universities who are carrying out legitimate activities in support of those demonstrating in Hong Kong in favour of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.  HL50
Answered
Lord Pendry to ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the continuing unrest in Hong Kong, what plans they have to follow the example of the Magnitsky Act legislation of the government of the United States to ban people from Hong Kong and mainland China found guilty of violating human rights and the rule of law from entering the UK, and to freeze their assets.  HL51
Answered
Lord Pendry to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to bring forward legislation to ensure that all holders of British National Overseas passports have the right to enter the United Kingdom to work or study.  HL52
Answered
Lord Pendry to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assist (1) British National Overseas passport holders, and (2) other people who are subject to human rights violations, to ensure that the government of Hong Kong honours the 1984 Sino-British Declaration.  HL53
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to prevent young people from carrying knives.  HL54
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to reform the provision of support for children with special educational needs; and when they intend to introduce such legislation.  HL55
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to ensure the provision of healthcare for UK pensioners living in the European Union post-Brexit.  HL56
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to increase the amount of support offered to university students who have been victims of sexual assault.  HL57
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning Palestinians who live on the Jerusalem side of the separation barrier, are denied entry into Jerusalem without permits and have no freedom of movement in and out of the West Bank.  HL58
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the letter from Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights to Dr Andrew Murrison MP, Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, on 24 September regarding the recent fatal shooting of a Palestinian woman at Qalandiya military checkpoint.  HL59
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they will make to the government of Israel regarding allegations of torture of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli Administrative Detention including the case of Samer Arbeed.  HL60
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect fishermen in Gaza from nonproportional force being used against them by the Israeli navy for transgressing the Israeli imposed fishing zone.  HL61
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the prospects for Palestinian Christians living in East Jerusalem and the West Bank.  HL62
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the plan by Israeli authorities to relocate 36,000 Israeli Bedouin into camps.  HL63
Answered
Lord Tyler to ask Her Majesty's Government how many revisions to Legislation.gov.uk have yet to be made in relation to (1) primary, and (2) secondary legislation; and what are those revisions.  HL64
Answered
Lord Tyler to ask Her Majesty's Government whether Legislation.gov.uk makes use of (1) Google Analytics, or (2) any similar tools; and what personal data is collected by Legislation.gov.uk.  HL65
Answered
Lord Willis of Knaresborough to ask Her Majesty's Government why Avastin is not routinely made available on the NHS for certain groups of cancer patients.  HL66
Answered
Lord Willis of Knaresborough to ask Her Majesty's Government whether Avastin has approval from the European Medicines Authority to be used to treat cancer.  HL67
Answered
Lord Willis of Knaresborough to ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are (1) current applications, or (2) pending requests, for the use of Avastin following Phase 3 clinical trials.  HL68
Answered
Lord Willis of Knaresborough to ask Her Majesty's Government, if Avastin is approved for safe use, whether it could be privately purchased for use by a patient being treated on the NHS.  HL69
Answered
Lord Willis of Knaresborough to ask Her Majesty's Government whether liver and bowel transplantation is currently approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for cancer patients; and if not, whether there are any clinical trials that have reached Phase 3.  HL70
Answered
Lord Young of Cookham to ask Her Majesty's Government whether any Orders in Council have been made which give authority to special advisers to instruct civil servants.  HL71
Answered
Legend for business item text
Item that is new or altered.
* Item is an oral question.
Numbers starting HL are unique identifiers for written questions, Bills or papers.