Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the average time between the (1) application for, and (2) issuing of, an A1 (CA3837) document for UK self-employed workers; and whether they have any plans to reduce the processing time for such applications.
Answered by Baroness Penn
The average time it is taking HMRC to process/issue A1s received online is 15 weeks as it stands today. HMRC processes 3 different applications forms (CA3822, CA3837 and CA8421) that can result in A1s being issued.
It is not possible to break it down to average processing times for each application due to the complexities of HMRC’s internal digital mail systems.
In quarter 3, HMRC plans to upskill additional colleagues to help process the backlog of CA3822s and this will include CA3837s and CA8421s which will help to reduce processing times.
HMRC intend to automate the CA3837 application process in the Autumn which will improve processing times and remove opportunities for error.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to fully digitise the processing of A1 (CA3837) documents for UK self-employed workers in the music industry temporarily working in Europe, including the issuing of such documents.
Answered by Baroness Penn
In response to customer feedback, HMRC introduced a new online version of the form CA3837 in June 2023, which was designed to streamline the application process, offering a number of enhancements and providing additional guidance for more complex questions.
HMRC intend to automate the CA3837 application process in the Autumn which will improve processing times and remove opportunities for error.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to replace all single-use A1 (CA3837) documents for UK self-employed workers in the music industry with an A1 document valid for two years covering multiple unspecified (1) tours, (2) countries, and (3) dates.
Answered by Baroness Penn
HMRC issues A1 certificates where a self-employed individual is subject to UK social security legislation whilst working in the EU. The rules for issuing certificates apply equally to HMRC and EU Member State social security authorities. The government has no plans to seek changes at this time.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the justification for imposing fines for absenteeism in schools; and whether they intend to review the use of this measure.
Answered by Baroness Barran
Absence is often a symptom of wider issues a family is facing. Schools, trusts and local authorities should always work together with other local partners to understand the barriers to attendance and provide support. Where support is not successful, not engaged with, or not appropriate, legal intervention remains an important part of local authorities’ powers to protect every child’s right to a full-time education.
The department has consulted on a new framework to improve consistency and fairness in issuing penalty notices and to ensure they are used effectively as part of the suite of parental responsibility measures. The department will be responding to this consultation in due course.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they are giving to ratifying the UNESCO 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
His Majesty’s Government is fully committed to the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage in the UK.
As with any international treaty, UK ratification of UNESCO Conventions should be considered fully, taking into account value for money to the UK taxpayer and the interests of the Devolved Administrations and our Overseas Territories. This process is making good progress, and Ministers expect to take a decision on the merits of ratification soon.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 4 July (HL8644), what is the nature of the arrangement between the UK and France to which he referred regarding schools trips from France to the UK; and when this arrangement will come into operation.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
At the Leaders’ summit in Paris on 10 March 2023 the UK committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for schoolchildren on organised trips from France.
We are currently working through the details of implementation and more information will be provided in due course.
We would consider negotiating with other countries should they approach us with an interest in making similar arrangements.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 4 July (HL8644), what discussions they intend to have with other EU countries about the possibility of making arrangements for school trips from those countries to the UK.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
At the Leaders’ summit in Paris on 10 March 2023 the UK committed to ease the travel of school groups to the UK by making changes to documentary requirements for schoolchildren on organised trips from France.
We are currently working through the details of implementation and more information will be provided in due course.
We would consider negotiating with other countries should they approach us with an interest in making similar arrangements.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 19 June when he stated that "it is open to other Governments to negotiate an arrangement of the kind we have now negotiated with the French Government" (HL Deb col 3), what steps they will take to make similar arrangements with other EU countries; whether such arrangements regarding school visits will be made with all EU countries; and what is the timescale for the concluding of those agreements.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
The agreement we have is specific to France. Our deal with France has elevated our cooperation on illegal migration to unprecedented levels. We are also deepening our cooperation with European allies upstream and in our near-abroad to tackle illegal migration at every stage of the process.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Barran on 26 April (HL Deb cols 1208–11), whether (1) the National Curriculum, and (2) accountability measures, will be in scope of the Cultural Education Plan.
Answered by Baroness Barran
More details on the Cultural Education Plan will be published shortly, including the Expert Advisory Panel and the Terms of Reference for their work. The Government has already implemented significant reforms to raise expectations in terms of what all pupils are taught and how schools are held accountable, and we do not plan to make further changes to the National Curriculum or performance measures in this Parliament. We value the work of teachers and schools in responding to these changes and as such these matters are out of scope of this Plan.
The Cultural Education Plan will highlight the importance of a high quality cultural education and the important role that wider cultural institutions can play by working with schools.
Asked by: Earl of Clancarty (Crossbench - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the (1) Expert Advisory Panel, and (2) Terms of Reference, for the Cultural Education Plan will be announced.
Answered by Baroness Barran
More details on the Cultural Education Plan will be published shortly, including the Expert Advisory Panel and the Terms of Reference for their work. The Government has already implemented significant reforms to raise expectations in terms of what all pupils are taught and how schools are held accountable, and we do not plan to make further changes to the National Curriculum or performance measures in this Parliament. We value the work of teachers and schools in responding to these changes and as such these matters are out of scope of this Plan.
The Cultural Education Plan will highlight the importance of a high quality cultural education and the important role that wider cultural institutions can play by working with schools.