Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have had, or will have, discussions with the Scottish Government about shared responsibilities for the water quality of the River Tweed.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
The Secretary of State for Defra met with ministers from the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and DAERA on 16 September at their Inter-ministerial Group meeting. The group agreed to enhance joint scientific research and local field trials to tackle pollution of culturally and economically important water bodies, which could support efforts to protect and restore the River Tweed.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to setting limits for the consumption of ultra-processed foods served in state schools.
Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)
The School Food Standards regulate the food and drink provided at lunchtime and other times of the school day. The Standards aim to ensure that the right foods are available for children every day and restrict foods high in fat, salt and sugar, including high sugar foods and confectionery.
Diets high in calories and saturated fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) are associated with an increased risk of obesity and chronic diseases. Government dietary advice, based on recommendations from The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) and depicted within the Eatwell Guide, already shows that many foods that would be classified as ultra-processed are not part of a healthy, balanced diet as they are HFSS.
SACN has concluded that observed associations between ultra-processed foods and health are concerning, but it is unclear whether these foods are inherently unhealthy due to processing or due to their nutritional content.
The Ministerial team is working with departmental officials on plans to deliver manifesto commitments, including making quick progress to deliver breakfast clubs in every primary school. The department’s aim is to deliver better life chances through a system which works for all. As part of this, and as with all government programmes, the department will keep its approach to school food under continued review.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to setting limits for the consumption of ultra-processed foods served in NHS hospitals.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is important that patients receive healthy, nutritious food while in hospital.
Nutritional guidelines for patient food is provided by the British Dietetic Association in an online-only format. Portion control and costs are generally agreed by each hospital site or through local food frameworks.
The NHS National Standards for Healthcare Food and Drink set out the requirements for more sustainable menus. This includes fewer processed foods high in sugar, salt and fats. A copy of the standards is attached.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with (1) European counterparts, and (2) other international partners, about how provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora are being implemented.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Lord Chamberlain (HM Household)
Defra officials regularly discuss how the provisions of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) are implemented with both European counterparts and other international partners. This includes at regular meetings of the CITES Standing Committee which was last held in November 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following their consultation last year, whether they plan to introduce legislation to protect hedgerows this spring and during the bird breeding season.
Answered by Lord Douglas-Miller
Following overwhelming support to our consultation last summer, which received almost 9,000 responses, on 16 April the Government laid before Parliament new regulations that will place management practices for hedgerows on agricultural land into legislation. These practices include a cutting ban between 1 March and 31 August to protect nesting birds during this period, and a 2m buffer strip around a hedge where green cover must be established and maintained to protect the health of the hedge and the wildlife that use it.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to employing refugees who are qualified dentists to help alleviate the backlog in NHS dentistry.
Answered by Lord Markham - Shadow Minister (Science, Innovation and Technology)
The General Dental Council (GDC), which is responsible for the regulation and registration of dentists, has advised that it is keen to support refugees with their registration applications wherever possible. Dedicated information for refugees can be found on the GDC’s website, in an online only format.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to undertake a study of the impacts to date of Brexit on the London Stock Exchange.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton
The government does not intend to review the impacts of Brexit on the London Stock Exchange.
The UK is Europe’s leading hub for investment, and London continues to be the only European hub in the top ten of the Global Financial Centres Index. The government is committed to building on these strong foundations to make the UK the global capital for capital.
Leaving the EU provides the freedom for the UK to tailor financial services regulation to UK markets, including through the government’s Smarter Regulatory Framework programme. Under the programme, assimilated law is being replaced by a regulatory framework tailored to the UK that will benefit businesses and consumers alike.
The government is taking forward an ambitious programme of reform to improve the competitiveness of UK markets. This includes overhauling the UK’s Prospectus Regime to create a simpler and more effective regime than its EU predecessor, delivering on a key recommendation of Lord Hill’s Listing Review. Legislation to deliver this reform was laid on 27 November 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they intend to reply to the letter dated 24 July from Baroness Quin to the Minister of State at the Department for Education regarding the inclusion of traditional music in music teaching in schools.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)
I can confirm that a response to the correspondence dated 24 July 2023 from the Noble Lady was sent on 21 August 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to introducing legislation to make solar panels mandatory for all new house building projects except for in exceptional circumstances.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne
I refer the noble Lady to the answer given to Question UIN 198649 on 19 September 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Quin (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to consider introducing measures to ensure that no new housing developments are permitted in areas where the sewage system is already unable to prevent the discharge of raw sewage into neighbouring rivers.
Answered by Baroness Swinburne
The National Planning Policy Framework expects local planning authorities to plan for the development and infrastructure required in their area, including infrastructure for wastewater and utilities. They should work with other providers, such as sewage companies, to assess the quality and capacity of infrastructure and its ability to meet forecast demands
The Government has made a commitment, as part of its reform package under the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, to consult on whether or not we should make water companies statutory consultees on certain planning applications, and if so, how best to do this. It will be important that water companies engage local planning authorities on the right applications at the right time so they can input effectively and not slow down the application process.