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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 16 October 2019

Tabled on 15 October 2019 and due for answer by 29 October 2019.

Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made as to whether the execution of Hevrin Khalaf, the secretary-general of the Future Syria Party, constitutes a war crime.  HL72
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the claim by the Syrian Democratic Forces that nine executions of civilians have been carried out since the invasion of Syria by Turkey.  HL73
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have discussed with the government of the United States their condemnation of the executions of Syrian civilians by Turkish-allied Syria groups; and what plans they have to seek a referral of Turkey to the International Criminal Court.  HL74
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish the names of combatants fighting alongside Turkish forces in north-east Syria who are known to have affiliations with ISIS or other terrorist organisations.  HL75
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have received about the plight of religious or political minorities at risk from genocidaires in north-east Syria; and what action they are taking in accordance with the requirements of the Convention on the Prevention of Genocide to protect them and to bring the perpetrators to justice.  HL76
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they are making in establishing international judicial mechanisms to bring those responsible for genocide in Syria and Iraq to justice.  HL77
Answered
Lord Bassam of Brighton to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to fund a UK-wide replacement for the Erasmus+ scheme if the UK cannot associate with the next programme in 2021–27.  HL78
Answered
Lord Bassam of Brighton to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, in the event of a no-deal Brexit, to guarantee funding for student exchanges for the 2020/21 academic year to bring it in line with the funding that would have been provided by the Erasmus+ scheme.  HL79
Answered
Lord Birt to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bulgaria about the behaviour of spectators present at the Bulgaria vs England football match on 14 October.  HL80
Answered
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to legislate to finance rate relief for local authorities in relation to the provision of public lavatories in the present Parliamentary session.  HL81
Answered
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth to ask Her Majesty's Government what provision they are making to enable those adults whose first language is not English to learn the language to a reasonable standard; and what resources they have committed to such provision in the last 12 months.  HL82
Answered
Lord Caine to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote to the people of Northern Ireland the benefits of Northern Ireland forming part of the UK.  HL83
Answered
Lord Caine to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic benefits to Northern Ireland of being a part of the UK.  HL84
Answered
Lord Caine to ask Her Majesty's Government whether promoting the benefits to Northern Ireland of being part of the UK is one of the core functions of the Northern Ireland Office.  HL85
Answered
Lord Caine to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they plan to take to strengthen Northern Ireland's place within the UK.  HL86
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the accuracy of the report on the internal ethics of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, produced in 2018, and (2) the suspension of aid by Belgium, Switzerland and the Netherlands to that Agency; and what steps they are taking in the light of the allegations of nepotism, bullying and corr… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency has published data to the International Aid Transparency Index in order to inform their review of that Agency’s performance.  HL88
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to launch the new national strategy for English Language learning announced this autumn; and whether that strategy will include an assessment of the efficacy of English for Speakers of Other Languages as an English language learning programme.  HL89
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of the funds pledged to the Integration Areas Programme in the September spending round will be used for the provision of childcare services for English for Speakers of Other Languages participants.  HL90
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the funds pledged for the Integration Areas Programme will be used for English for Speakers of Other Languages provision.  HL91
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government what guarantee, if any, has been provided to charities and non-governmental organisations who currently receive funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund through the UK responsible authority rather than through direct bids to the European Commission.  HL92
Answered
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock to ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings have taken place between House of Lords Ministers and Ministers in the Scottish Government in the last six months.  HL93
Answered
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock to ask Her Majesty's Government who attends on their behalf meetings of the Joint Ministerial Committees with the (1) Scottish and (2) Welsh Governments.  HL94
Answered
Lord Foulkes of Cumnock to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received any requests from the Scottish Government for additional powers to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament in the last six months.  HL95
Answered
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to lay regulations to implement mandatory electrical safety checks for the private rented sector; and if so, when.  HL96
Answered
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration is being given to the introduction of mandatory electrical safety checks in the social rented sector.  HL97
Answered
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the publication of the Prevention green paper in July, what steps they plan to take to address and prevent alcohol harm.  HL98
Answered
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of alcohol on health, and health inequalities; and what plans they have to prevent alcohol harm.  HL99
Answered
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty's Government when the new Alcohol Strategy will be published.  HL100
Answered
Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to prevent alcohol harm and reduce health inequalities.  HL101
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how many schools which were approved in wave 9 of the free schools programme are (1) under construction, and (2) open.  HL102
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding was allocated to the Continuity of Education Allowance to fund school places (1) globally, and (2) in England, in each of the last five financial years.  HL103
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to make obstructive pavement parking a civil offence enforced by local authorities.  HL104
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to deal with issues relating to pavement parking.  HL105
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of pavement parking on the safety of pedestrians.  HL106
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to remind the public that driving on the pavement is illegal.  HL107
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, or intend to have, with Transport for London about the restrictions and limitations which exist for sight-seeing buses and coaches, in particular regard to (1) exhaust emissions, (2) travelling in central London during rush hours, (3) stopping and parking on double single yellow lines, and (4) using existi… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Hylton to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to immediately repatriate the children and widows of British citizens or residents in Syria, who wish to return to the UK; and if not, why not.  HL109
Answered
Baroness Lister of Burtersett to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Duncan of Springbank on 8 October (HL17821) and the report of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland Review of Welfare Mitigation Schemes, published in March, which stated that "in the absence of a functioning Assembly it is considered that the only viable opti… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Lister of Burtersett to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that British citizenship is granted to a stateless person born in the UK who fulfils the conditions of paragraph 3 of Schedule 2 to the British Nationality Act 1981 but who cannot afford the registration fee.  HL111
Answered
Baroness Lister of Burtersett to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of children born each year in the UK without British citizenship to (1) a parent also born in the UK without British citizenship, and (2) to a parent who grew up in this country after being brought to the UK at a young age and has continued to live here since; and what steps,… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Lister of Burtersett to ask Her Majesty's Government what impact assessments they have conducted into the statutory good character requirement for children who register as British citizens; and whether they have undertaken any assessment of that requirement's impact on (1) children’s best interests, (2) race discrimination, and (3) race relations.  HL113
Answered
Baroness Lister of Burtersett to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the fee for a child or young person to register as a British citizen upon people born stateless in the UK.  HL114
Answered
Baroness Lister of Burtersett to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that British citizenship is granted to stateless persons born in the UK in accordance with the UK’s obligations under Article 1 of the 1961 UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.  HL115
Answered
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of (1) the report of the United Nations Secretary-General on the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, published on 10 July, (2) the willingness of the Greek Cypriot representatives to resume negotiations and (3) the likelihood of such negotiations leading to an outcome where bot… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass to ask Her Majesty's Government what has been their assessment of the implications of the recent Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Cyprus for the Government’s role as a guarantor power under 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, and for the rights of the Turkish Cypriot community to be fairly represented on the island; and what were the reasons for ag… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Moonie to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 8 October (HL17928), why approximately 90 per cent of applications from those who apply to join the Armed Forces are rejected.  HL118
Answered
Lord Moonie to ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average cost of external advertising for each recruit admitted into the Armed Forces over the last 12 months.  HL119
Answered
Lord Myners to ask Her Majesty's Government whether when the FCA processed the FSMA full Part A application made by Collateral (UK) Limited on 23 March 2016, for which Collateral paid a fee of £1,500, whether it checked the information already contained in its Interim Permission file 656714; and whether it checked details on Collateral at Companies House and the date of Collateral… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Naseby to ask Her Majesty's Government how pensioners who do not have a bank account will receive their pension when the contract with the Post Office expires in 2021.  HL121
Answered
Baroness Randerson to ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements for a no-deal Brexit have been put in place at the port of Holyhead.  HL122
Answered
Baroness Randerson to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review debit card charges for retailers such as vehicle retailers which deal in high value transactions.  HL123
Answered
Baroness Randerson to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made how the rights of, and protection for, customers and retailers are affected when high-value goods are purchased using bank transfers rather than debit cards.  HL124
Answered
Baroness Scott of Needham Market to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the interest rate rises announced by the Public Works Loan Board.  HL125
Answered
Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about Bahraini human rights activist Ali Al-Hajee and his access to (1) dental implants and dental surgery, and (2) unobstructed family visitation; and whether they intend to take any further steps in relation to his case.  HL126
Answered
Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about Bahraini human rights activist Naji Fateel and his access to (1) medical care for his injuries purportedly sustained during torture in detention, (2) unobstructed family visitation, and (3) his right to practice his religion; and whether they intend to take any furth… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Bahrain about political prisoners Hassan Mushaima and Abduljalil al-Singace and their access to specialised medical treatment without being restrained in contravention of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; and whether they intend to take any further step… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding, if any, they allocated from the Defence Assistance Fund to (1) Saudi Arabia, (2) Kuwait, (3) Qatar, (4) the United Arab Emirates, (5) Oman, and (6) Bahrain, in each of the last three financial years.  HL129
Answered
Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the findings of the report by the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy and Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain Breaking the Silence: Bahraini Women Political Prisoners Expose Systemic Abuses, published on 11 September, which reveals patterns of physical, psychological, and… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Scriven to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by Channel 4 about an incident at the Bahraini Embassy in London where photojournalist Moosa Mohammed was reportedly “battered with a wooden stick”, what steps they will take against the Bahraini Ambassador to the UK, and any others involved.  HL131
Answered
Lord Steel of Aikwood to ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given, if any, to including provisions in the Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill for a separate short-stay visa category.  HL132
Answered
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara to ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014 have ensured that VAT is no longer applied to debts enforced under a High Court judgment; and if not, what steps they will take to resolve this.  HL133
Answered
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara to ask Her Majesty's Government whether children visiting farms are protected by the statutory duties on employers and others to protect the health and safety of non-employees, including members of the public, as set out in the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.  HL134
Answered
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara to ask Her Majesty's Government how many cases involving children at farms have been investigated by the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last 10 years.  HL135
Answered
Lord Stoddart of Swindon to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Earl of Courtown on 8 October (HL17934), whether they will now answer the question put, namely what assessment they have made of the constitutional and political implications of the Supreme Court ruling that the Government's decision to advise Her Majesty The Queen to prorogue Parliament… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce violent hate crime towards disabled people.  HL137
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to make 2025 the new target for zero carbon emissions.  HL138
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the prediction by the Institute for Fiscal Studies that a no-deal Brexit would increase borrowing to £92 billion a year and total debt as a share of national income would rise by 2024 to 83 per cent.  HL139
Answered
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