Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government by what mechanism their proposed planning and infrastructure bill will ensure the provision of new local-authority-owned Gypsy and Traveller sites.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Requirements relating to planning for traveller sites are set out in the Planning Policy for Traveller Sites, revised in 2023. This asks local planning authorities to produce their own assessment of needs for traveller sites in their area and use this evidence to set pitch targets in the Local Plan for Gypsies and Travellers and plot targets for travelling show people. In producing the Local Plan for their area, local planning authorities should identify and update annually a supply of deliverable sites to provide 5 years’ worth of sites against local targets.
Work is underway on the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. More information on what the bill will do is provided here in published (attached) background briefing: FINAL - 17/07/24 King's Speech 2024 background briefing final GOV.uk.docx (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the potential merits of a National Clinical Director for coeliac disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
NHS England has invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology as a workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme as one of its priority workstreams, which includes coeliac disease.
To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease, and improve the diagnostic pathway nationally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the recognition, assessment and management of coeliac disease [NG20]. A copy of the guidance is attached.
NICE guidelines represent best practice, and healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, and service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Guidelines published by NICE are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.
To assist with increasing the visibility of coeliac disease, NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters and other media. It also publishes information for the public, which explains the care people with coeliac disease should receive as set out in the NICE guideline.
Information for the public on coeliac disease is also published by the National Health Service and is available on its website in an online-only format.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government which NHS National Clinical Director, if any, is responsible for coeliac disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
NHS England has invested in senior clinical leadership in gastroenterology as a workstream in the national Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme as one of its priority workstreams, which includes coeliac disease.
To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease, and improve the diagnostic pathway nationally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the recognition, assessment and management of coeliac disease [NG20]. A copy of the guidance is attached.
NICE guidelines represent best practice, and healthcare professionals, including general practitioners, and service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Guidelines published by NICE are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.
To assist with increasing the visibility of coeliac disease, NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters and other media. It also publishes information for the public, which explains the care people with coeliac disease should receive as set out in the NICE guideline.
Information for the public on coeliac disease is also published by the National Health Service and is available on its website in an online-only format.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution that the (1) Sustainable Farming Incentive, (2) Countryside Stewardship, and (3) Landscape Recovery schemes will make to delivering (a) the fifth carbon budget, and (b) the objectives of the Government's Environmental Improvement Plan.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
In the Net Zero Growth Plan (published 30 March 2023) and the Environmental Improvement Plan (published 31 January 2023) the Government has set out how its environment land management schemes will contribute to the reduction in carbon emissions and delivering against the ambitious environmental goals.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery are key interventions through which the government will support farmers and land managers to deliver on ambitions. A detailed programme of monitoring and modelling supports the design of these interventions and their respective contributions to a range of objectives for the environment and climate.
The SFI will reduce the requirement for fertilisers by incentivising herbal lays or legume mixes. Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery are anticipated to provide large carbon sequestration opportunities through tree planting, peatland restoration and agroforestry as well as continuing to offer capital grants that improve slurry storage all of which will deliver for the fifth carbon budget.
The SFI, Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery are designed to support delivering the goals within the Environmental Improvement Plan. As set out in March 2023, this will include contributions to thriving plants and wildlife, clean air, clean and plentiful water, using resources from nature sustainably, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and enhancing beauty, heritage and engagement with the natural environment.
As the environment land management schemes continue to be implemented the Government is undertaking ongoing research and analysis to quantify and refine the impacts these interventions are making and how they are delivering against the goals of the Environment Improvement Plan.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the impact of the (1) Sustainable Farming Incentive, (2) Countryside Stewardship, and (3) Landscape Recovery schemes on (a) reductions in carbon emissions, (b) increased species abundance, and (c) the delivery of their commitment to protect 30 per cent of land and sea for nature by 2030.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
In the Environmental Improvement Plan (published 31 January 2023) and the Net Zero Growth Plan (published 30 March 2023) the Government has set out how its environment land management schemes will contribute to environmental targets and reducing carbon emissions.
The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery are key interventions through which the Government will support farmers and land managers to deliver for the environment and to reduce carbon emissions. A detailed programme of monitoring and modelling supports the design of these interventions and their respective contributions to a range of objectives.
It is estimated that across the SFI, Countryside Stewardship and Landscape Recovery there will be significant contribution to Defra’s effort share to reduce carbon emissions through agricultural decarbonisation, tree planting, peatland restoration and other on farm changes. These interventions will also support the commitment to create or restore 500,000ha of habitat outside of protected areas to improve species abundance and halt species decline, this includes a commitment to support bespoke species recovery in key sites. Additionally, the interventions will ensure land is delivering for nature and new habitat created will be of sufficient quality to be protected, we have committed to ensuring that sites of special scientific interest are brought up to or remain in favourable condition.
As the environment land management schemes continue to be implemented the Government is undertaking ongoing research and analysis to quantify and refine the impacts these interventions are making.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to improve the (1) information, and (2) resources, on coeliac disease provided to (a) primary healthcare professionals, and (b) the public.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has made no assessment of the diagnostic pathway for coeliac disease. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including the diagnosis of coeliac disease.
To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease, and improve the diagnostic pathway nationally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the recognition, assessment and management of coeliac disease [NG20].
NICE guidelines represent best practice and health professionals, including general practitioners, and service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Guidelines published by NICE are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.
To assist with increasing the visibility of coeliac disease, NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media. It also publishes information for the public, which explains the care people with coeliac should receive as set out in the NICE guideline.
Information for the public on coeliac disease is also published by the National Health Service and is available on the NHS.UK website in an online-only format.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the diagnostic pathway for coeliac disease.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government has made no assessment of the diagnostic pathway for coeliac disease. It is the responsibility of integrated care boards (ICBs) to make available appropriate provision to meet the health and care needs of their local population, including the diagnosis of coeliac disease.
To support healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of coeliac disease, and improve the diagnostic pathway nationally, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has produced guidance on the recognition, assessment and management of coeliac disease [NG20].
NICE guidelines represent best practice and health professionals, including general practitioners, and service commissioners are expected to take them fully into account. Guidelines published by NICE are not mandatory and do not replace the judgement of clinicians in determining the most appropriate treatment for individual patients.
To assist with increasing the visibility of coeliac disease, NICE promotes guidance via its website, newsletters, and other media. It also publishes information for the public, which explains the care people with coeliac should receive as set out in the NICE guideline.
Information for the public on coeliac disease is also published by the National Health Service and is available on the NHS.UK website in an online-only format.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to support renewable fuel producers to scale up the domestic production of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in UK-based refineries.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one type of biofuel that offers a lower carbon alternative to fossil diesel. As sustainable biomass is a limited resource, the Government will prioritise its use in sectors that offer the greatest opportunity to reduce emissions, and where there are fewest options to decarbonise through alternative low carbon technologies.
HVO used in transport has been eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme for more than a decade. In 2021, 63 million litres of HVO was supplied under the RTFO in the UK.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they have in place to ensure oil produced in Russia does not enter UK fuel supplies via crude oil imports from other countries.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The import, acquisition, supply and delivery of Russian oil and oil products into the UK has been banned since 5 December 2022. The ban uses the well-established non-preferential rules of origin under which products are regarded as originating from a country if there has been substantial, and economically justified, processing in that jurisdiction.
All importers of oil and oil products into the UK must provide proof of origin to demonstrate that goods are not of Russian origin to enforcement authorities.
Asked by: Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the tax incentives offered by (1) Czechia, (2) Latvia, (3) Luxembourg, and (4) Sweden, to support the further rollout of renewable biofuels, such as Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO); and what plans they have to introduce similar incentives in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Penn
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is taxed at the same rate as diesel and required to be marked if used for an allowed purpose. The Government is aware that other countries use tax incentives to increase the uptake of HVO, but differences between tax systems make direct comparison difficult.
The UK Government encourages the use of HVO through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), which incentivises the use of low carbon fuels and reduces emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport and non-road mobile machinery. The RTFO has been highly successful in supporting a market for renewable fuel since its introduction in 2008.
In addition, the forthcoming Biomass Strategy will review the amount of sustainable biomass available to the UK, including liquid biofuels such as HVO, and how this could be best used across the economy to achieve our net zero target. It is important to ensure that biomass is prioritised within the economy where it offers the greatest opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ‘hard to abate’ sectors where there are fewer options to decarbonise through alternative low carbon technologies.
The Government keeps all taxes under review.