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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 11 February 2021

Tabled on 10 February 2021 and due for answer by 24 February 2021.

Baroness Altmann to ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people recorded by HMRC as earning below the Personal Allowance for taxable income who contributed to a workplace pension using ‘relief at source’ tax relief in all tax years since 2017; and of this number, how many were (1) women, and (2) men.  HL13216
Answered
Baroness Altmann to ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of people recorded by HMRC as earning below the Personal Allowance for taxable income who contributed to a workplace pension using ‘net pay’ tax relief in all tax years since 2017; and of this number, how many were (1) women, and (2) men.  HL13217
Answered
Baroness Altmann to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish the results of their call for evidence on pensions tax relief administration, and in particular those relating to the issue of low earners paying 25 per cent extra for their pension if their employer chooses to use a ‘net pay’ auto-enrolment pension scheme.  HL13218
Answered
Baroness Altmann to ask Her Majesty's Government what reporting they require from (1) pension providers, (2) employers, and (3) payroll operators, to verify the accuracy of auto-enrolment pension contributions; and what steps they (a) have taken, or (b) plan to take, to ensure that pension contribution records are routinely (i) checked, and (ii) reconciled, for auto-enrolment data… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Altmann to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken in the last 12 months to maintain visiting rights for prisoners while there have been restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic; how many visits were permitted for each category of prisoner each month; what estimate they have made of the percentage of all prisoners who have received visitors s… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Altmann to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the number of women who did not receive an automatic uplift to their State Pension under the 2009 pension rule changes, and (2) the number of women who did not claim pension uplifts that they were due prior to 2009.  HL13221
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the legal opinion by Alison Macdonald QC, Jackie McArthur, Naomi Hart and Lorraine Aboagye on International criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Uyghur population in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, published on 26 January.  HL13222
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of the United States about the previous US administration’s determination that China has committed genocide in its repression of Uighurs and other minority groups; and what plans they have to make a similar determination.  HL13223
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that (1) the number of people trying to leave North Korea over the border rivers of Yalu and Tumen has risen since the beginning of January, and (2) many would-be defectors have been shot and killed by border guards.  HL13224
Answered
Lord Alton of Liverpool to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society that 80 per cent of Tigray is currently unreachable for aid access and that people are at risk of starvation.  HL13225
Answered
Lord Balfe to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 8 February (HL12500), why they have appointed a Trade Envoy for Taiwan; and why they have not appointed a Trade Envoy for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.  HL13226
Answered
Lord Balfe to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 8 February (HL12500), what is the period of office for which Trade Envoys are appointed; and what performance reviews they conduct into the (1) work, and (2) effectiveness, of such Envoys.  HL13227
Answered
Lord Balfe to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 8 February (HL12500), what consideration is given to the political affiliation of Trade Envoys before they are appointed.  HL13228
Answered
Lord Balfe to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 8 February (HL12500), what criteria they use to determine which countries have a Trade Envoy appointed to them.  HL13229
Answered
Lord Balfe to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Grimstone of Boscobel on 8 February (HL12500), what (1) financial, (2) administrative, (3) Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and (4) other Government department or agency, support is given to Trade Envoys.  HL13230
Answered
Lord Black of Brentwood to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that homeless people without access to GP services receive a COVID-19 vaccine.  HL13231
Answered
Lord Black of Brentwood to ask Her Majesty's Government how many homeless people have been admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in England.  HL13232
Answered
Lord Bradley to ask Her Majesty's Government how many equality impact assessments undertaken by the Ministry of Justice since December 2019 identified the possibility of indirect discrimination on the basis of any of the protected characteristics defined by law; and in relation to such assessments, on how many occasions they (1) altered the policy proposal, (2) decided not to proc… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Browne of Belmont to ask Her Majesty's Government what additional support they have provided to frontline police officers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  HL13234
Answered
Lord Browne of Belmont to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the efficacy in aiding police investigations, and (2) the number of successful prosecutions resulting from the use, of body-worn camera footage.  HL13235
Answered
Lord Browne of Belmont to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to enforce the UK’s fishing rights.  HL13236
Answered
Lord Browne of Belmont to ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made towards negotiating trade agreements with the governments of (1) Canada, (2) Australia, and (3) New Zealand.  HL13237
Answered
Lord Browne of Belmont to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that homeless people receive COVID-19 vaccinations.  HL13238
Answered
Lord Browne of Belmont to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that armed forces personnel receive a COVID-19 vaccine.  HL13239
Answered
Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to put forward amendments to the World Trade Organization’s proposed ‘Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19’ (IP/C/W/669).  HL13240
Answered
Lord Clement-Jones to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish (1) the questions put, and (2) the statements made, by the UK representative at the World Trade Organization Council for TRIPS meeting on 4 February regarding the proposed ‘Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19’ (IP/C/W/669). … Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what steps can be taken against members of the House of Lords who express anti-Semitic opinions falling within the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of anti-Semitism in the course of their parliamentary duties and activities (1) during, and (2) outside, Parliamentary proceedings.  HL13242
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy concerning permission for new buildings, not connected with open spaces' or leisure purposes, to be built in Royal Parks.  HL13243
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government what recommendation was made by the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation about the location of the proposed National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre.  HL13244
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) consultation, and (2) site comparison, they undertook in relation to the proposed National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre between 13 January 2016 when the UK Holocaust Memorial Foundation recommended a location for that centre and the Prime Minister’s announcement on 27 January 2016 that the chosen location was Victor… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their report Britain’s Promise to Remember: The Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission Report, published in January 2015, what progress they have made on implementing the recommendation that a physical campus with a lecture theatre, classrooms and offices should be developed as part of the “world-class learning cen… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Deech to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their report Britain’s Promise to Remember: The Prime Minister’s Holocaust Commission Report, published in January 2015, what progress they have made on implementing the recommendation of that report (1) to set up an endowment fund to secure the long term future of Holocaust education, and (2) create a professoria… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government what funding has been provided to local authorities (1) to support (a) asylum seekers, (b) refugees, and (c) migrants, to register with a GP, and (2) to ensure that those people are factored into COVID-19 vaccination plans.  HL13248
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that asylum seekers living in temporary accommodation receive COVID-19 vaccinations.  HL13249
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government whether migrants who have not paid the International Health Surcharge will be charged for a COVID-19 vaccination; and whether there will be any checks on a person's immigration status before such vaccinations are carried out.  HL13250
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government whether COVID-19 vaccinations will be made available to EU nationals who have not confirmed their status under the EU Settlement Scheme after the 30 June deadline for applications has passed.  HL13251
Answered
The Lord Bishop of Durham to ask Her Majesty's Government whether NHS staff organising COVID-19 vaccination appointments are required to ask patients for proof of residence in the UK.  HL13252
Answered
Lord Empey to ask Her Majesty's Government how much match funding they have given the Northern Ireland Executive to address paramilitary activity up to the end of the current financial year; and how much they will provide (1) in the 2021/22 financial year, and (2) beyond.  HL13253
Answered
Lord Empey to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the dispute between the government of Belgium and the Libyan Investment Authority over access to frozen Libyan assets in Belgium.  HL13254
Answered
Lord Empey to ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Belgium about the treatment of frozen Libyan assets in Belgium.  HL13255
Answered
Lord Empey to ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Northern Ireland Executive Minister of Finance has asked to roll over unspent resources from the current financial year into the next financial year; and if so, (1) when they received this request, and (2) what, if any, indication the Minister gave of the amount of unspent resources.  HL13256
Answered
Lord Field of Birkenhead to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the (1) level, and (2) adequacy, of Vitamin D content in Healthy Start vitamins.  HL13257
Answered
Lord Field of Birkenhead to ask Her Majesty's Government what is the shelf life of Healthy Start vitamins; and what steps they take to ensure that such vitamins are delivered within at least three months of expiry.  HL13258
Answered
Lord Field of Birkenhead to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have identified any correlation between the number of deaths of care home residents and the number of care home (1) staff, and (2) residents, who decide not to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.  HL13259
Answered
Lord Foster of Bath to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 9 February (HL12590), whether they will clarify what is meant by “as many homes as possible”.  HL13260
Answered
Baroness Grey-Thompson to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they take to ensure that information about disability accessibility at COVID-19 (1) vaccination centres, and (2) testing sites, is made available in accessible formats.  HL13261
Answered
Lord Hain to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the report by Maverick Citizen Cartel Power Dynamics in Zimbabwe, published on 9 February, what plans they have to impose further sanctions on ministers and officials in the government of Zimbabwe.  HL13262
Answered
Baroness Hayman of Ullock to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) non-compliant, and (2) non-DEFRA-approved, animal microchip databases are shut down.  HL13263
Answered
Baroness Hayman of Ullock to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to inform cat owners of (1) the need to be aware of (a) non-compliant, and (b) non-DEFRA-approved, microchip databases, and (2) the implications of registering their details on such a database.  HL13264
Answered
Baroness Hayman of Ullock to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage cat owners (1) to microchip their cats, and (2) to keep registered microchip contact details up to date.  HL13265
Answered
Baroness Hayman of Ullock to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that local councils scan cats collected as a result of road traffic accidents for microchips.  HL13266
Answered
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the press release by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Care Quality Commission demands improved waiting times at Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, published on 21 January, following its report Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Gender identity services: insItem text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter dated 22 January from the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution to members of the Parliamentary Parties Panel and the May 2021 polls delivery plan, published on 5 February, what evidence they have which supports the cessation of (1) doorstep campaigning, and (2) the delivery of lea… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter dated 22 January from the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution to members of the Parliamentary Parties Panel and the May 2021 polls delivery plan, published on 5 February, what evidence they have to suggest that the delivery of leaflets by individual political party activists carr… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter dated 22 January from the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution to members of the Parliamentary Parties Panel and the May 2021 polls delivery plan, published on 5 February, what steps they have taken to ensure that (1) independent, and (2) smaller political party, candidates are no… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb to ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation, if any, they undertook with (1) independent candidates, (2) smaller political parties, and (3) the Independent Group of the Local Government Association, in the development of the letter dated 22 January from the Minister for the Constitution and Devolution to members of the Parliamentary Parties Pane… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Judd to ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from (1) NGOs, and (2) others, about (a) the World Trade Organization’s proposed ‘Waiver from certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement for the prevention, containment and treatment of COVID-19’ (IP/C/W/669), and (b) the need of developing countries for immediate access to the COVID-19 vaccines curre… Item text truncated - open link to view full item text
Answered
Lord Krebs to ask Her Majesty's Government whether they (1) sought, or (2) received, advice from the Climate Change Committee before deciding not to refuse planning permission for the proposed coal mine in Cumbria.  HL13273
Answered
Lord Krebs to ask Her Majesty's Government what expert advice on climate change impacts they received before deciding not to refuse planning permission for the proposed coal mine in Cumbria.  HL13274
Answered
Lord Krebs to ask Her Majesty's Government who are the official advisors on (1) the natural environment, and (2) climate change, within the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.  HL13275
Answered
Baroness Mallalieu to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have (1) to consider, and (2) to publish, an impact assessment on industries interlinked with the UK betting sector before implementing the affordability checks proposed by the Gambling Commission.  HL13276
Answered
The Lord Bishop of St Albans to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether current council tax bands in England adequately reflect changes to property prices since 1991.  HL13277
Answered
The Lord Bishop of St Albans to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness in deterring tax avoidance of the policies of (1) France, (2) Denmark, (3) Belgium and (4) Poland, which exclude companies (a) registered in, or (b) linked to, offshore tax havens from accessing taxpayer funded relief programmes.  HL13278
Answered
The Lord Bishop of St Albans to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ethical implications of awarding public contracts to firms which (1) directly, or (2) indirectly, help to promote tax avoidance.  HL13279
Answered
The Earl of Sandwich to ask Her Majesty's Government how many asylum seekers given leave to remain in the UK over the last five years have committed (1) minor, and (2) serious, offences; and of this number, how many ultimately applied for and received indefinite leave to remain.  HL13280
Answered
Lord Stevenson of Balmacara to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the Institute for Fiscal Studies Who is excluded from the government's Self Employment Income Support Scheme and what could the government do about it?, published on 27 January; and what plans they have to introduce targeted support to freelance workers in the creat… 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 extend National Skills Fund allocations beyond July 2021.  HL13282
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of universities to deliver adequate technical skills training.  HL13283
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reduce the rates relief threshold for small businesses.  HL13284
Answered
Lord Taylor of Warwick to ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase participation rates of people from Black, Asian, and minority ethnic communities in apprenticeship programmes.  HL13285
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government whether UK citizens are permitted (1) to act as mercenaries, and (2) to train with foreign militaries; and if so, (a) under what legislative or other framework such activity is permitted, and (b) in what countries they permit such activity.  HL13286
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that UK citizens have been accused of involvement in the deaths of Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  HL13287
Answered
Baroness Tonge to ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on the human rights of Palestinians of the decision by the government of Israel to classify a nature reserve near the Ainun area in Tubas as a military zone.  HL13288
Answered
Lord Tyler to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to reinstate the EnAble Fund for Elected Office to encourage disabled people to participate as candidates in the May 2021 elections.  HL13289
Answered
Lord Tyler to ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to offer (1) assistance, or (2) exemption from the restrictions in place to address the COVID-19 pandemic, to deaf candidates in the May 2021 elections who are not able to contact electors by phone.  HL13290
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.