Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to creating new regulations on car headlight glare, in the light of the number of drivers reporting problems with dazzling, particularly from LEDs.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
Regulations are already in place to help prevent headlamps, including those using LED technology, from causing dazzle and glare. Vehicle manufacturers must supply evidence that their new vehicles comply with international road vehicle approval regulations and the requirements applied to headlamps define maximum and minimum intensity, light pattern and position on the vehicle. In addition, domestic legislation prohibits the use of headlamps that cause undue dazzle or discomfort for other road users and headlamp aim is checked at the annual MOT test.
Police recorded collision statistics in Great Britain do not show any discernible trend over time that would suggest an underlying road safety issue linked to advances in lighting technology. The Department’s officials continue to support international activity reviewing the relevant vehicle lighting standards.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average turn around time for the Office of the Public Guardian to register a Lasting Power of Attorney.
Answered by Lord Bellamy
It is currently taking the Office of the Public Guardian (OPG) up to 20 weeks to register a lasting power of attorney (LPA), including a 4-week statutory waiting period to allow for objections.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential benefits of making public health a licensing objective by amending the Licensing Act 2003.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
The Government has no plans to introduce Health as a Licensing Objective at this time.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure consumer health awareness on alcohol product labels by way of (1) the Chief Medical Officers’ low-risk drinking guidelines, and (2) other health-promoting means, such as (a) ingredient, and (b) calorie, listing.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We have announced the intention to consult on whether to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on prepacked alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants. The consultation will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis. Respondents may also suggest additional labelling requirements for consideration, such as ingredient listing. The consultation will launch in due course.
The Department continues to promote the low risk drinking guidelines through public health messaging, including the ‘Better Health’ campaign and the Drink Free Days app.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to schedule a date for the launch of the alcohol calorie labelling consultation.
Answered by Lord Kamall
We have announced the intention to consult on whether to introduce mandatory calorie labelling on prepacked alcohol and alcohol sold in on-trade businesses such as pubs and restaurants. The consultation will also seek views on whether the provision of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines should be mandatory or continue on a voluntary basis. Respondents may also suggest additional labelling requirements for consideration, such as ingredient listing. The consultation will launch in due course.
The Department continues to promote the low risk drinking guidelines through public health messaging, including the ‘Better Health’ campaign and the Drink Free Days app.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government why neither Which? nor any other specific and independent consumer voice has been included in the membership of the Domestic Advisory Group established under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The membership of the Domestic Advisory Group (DAG) consists of a range of stakeholders and consumer organisations are an important element. They are currently represented through Citizens Advice.
The Government welcomes views on the implementation of the UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement through a variety of channels including the regular engagement with departments.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the letter from Baroness Williams of Trafford to all peers on 2 March regarding the Nationality and Borders Bill and offshoring, whether any such arrangement with a third country would require a treaty.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Shadow Chief Whip (Lords)
Legislation in the Nationality and Borders Bill does not in itself enable overseas asylum processing; we need a deal with a likeminded partner for that. I will not tie the hands of our negotiators by commenting on the content nor form of a deal, this is a matter for the negotiating table.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure that the (1) definition, and (2) scope, of actuarial activities to be subject to proposed statutory regulation by the Auditing, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA) does not lead to regulatory duplication and regulatory arbitrage.
Answered by Baroness Penn
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a separate assessment has been made of the (1) proportionality, and (2) cost, of proposed reforms to actuarial regulation, distinct from the audit profession, in the transition from the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to the Auditing, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA).
Answered by Baroness Penn
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with stakeholders to ensure the future governance of the proposed model for the Auditing, Reporting and Governance Authority (ARGA) takes account of the distinctness of the actuarial professional from the audit and accountancy profession.
Answered by Baroness Penn
HM Government consulted publicly on its proposals to reform the regulation of the actuarial profession in chapter 11.2 of its White Paper ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate governance’. As part of the consultation process, the Government has held discussions with a range of actuarial stakeholders.
The Government is considering the responses to its consultation and will respond in due course.