Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference her comments on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme in relation to her Department’s consultation on the new Relationships, Sex and Heath Education guidance on 16th May 2024, what information her Department holds on the number of schools at which alleged inappropriate content on gender identity is being taught.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The department does not systematically collect information on what is taught by schools. The department has made it clear in the draft Relationships, Sex and Heath Education (RSHE) guidance that schools have to ensure that parents are aware of what their children are being taught, which provides the basis for most issues to be resolved locally.
The department’s draft guidance is very clear that schools should teach the facts about equality and the protected characteristics, including gender reassignment, but they should not include contested theory on gender identity in their teaching.
This cautious approach is in line with the draft guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning pupils, which the department consulted on recently, and the recommendations from the Cass Review.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her comments on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme in relation to on her Department’s consultation on the new Relationships, Sex and Heath Education guidance on 16th May 2024, if she will publish the names of the schools at which the alleged inappropriate content she has seen on gender identity has been taught.
Answered by Damian Hinds
The department does not systematically collect information on what is taught by schools. The department has made it clear in the draft Relationships, Sex and Heath Education (RSHE) guidance that schools have to ensure that parents are aware of what their children are being taught, which provides the basis for most issues to be resolved locally.
The department’s draft guidance is very clear that schools should teach the facts about equality and the protected characteristics, including gender reassignment, but they should not include contested theory on gender identity in their teaching.
This cautious approach is in line with the draft guidance for schools and colleges on gender questioning pupils, which the department consulted on recently, and the recommendations from the Cass Review.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the answer of 21 March 2024 to Question 18951 on Crown Court: Snaresbrook, to what proportion of email correspondence Snaresbrook Crown Court responds within five-working days of receipt.
Answered by Mike Freer
We do not hold the information requested regarding what proportion of email correspondence is responded to within five-working days of receipts at Snaresbrook Crown Court. HMCTS does not collect data on response times.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether Snaresbrook Crown Court has customer service targets for dealing with (a) incoming calls and (b) written correspondence.
Answered by Mike Freer
Snaresbrook Crown Court aims to respond to email correspondence within five-working days of receipt, but have no other local targets in place.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that the Help to Buy scheme gives timely responses to enquiries from homeowners.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answers given to Question UIN 192863 and 194924 on 13 and 24 July 2023.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent assessment she has made with Cabinet colleagues of the potential merits of negotiating a waiver to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulations for UK musicians looking to (a) tour and (b) work temporarily in EU countries.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) places obligations on Parties to ensure international trade in wildlife is legal and sustainable.
Defra has worked closely with industry since leaving the EU to understand trade volumes and value, and to look at ways to minimise burdens and friction without reducing our high standards of environmental protection.
One option if travelling with a musical instrument for performance purposes is to apply for a CITES Musical Instrument Certificate (MIC). This is a streamlined process, specifically for musicians, which facilitates repeat movements over the course of three years. MICs are currently free of charge.
Defra will continue to work collaboratively with industry and other stakeholders to understand their needs, balance them against our duty to protect wildlife under the Convention, and identify priorities, as we prepare for the next meeting of the CITES Conference of Parties in 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of the requirement for musicians to ensure that their instruments comply with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulations when travelling to EU countries on the revenue generated by musicians.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) places obligations on Parties to ensure international trade in wildlife is legal and sustainable.
Defra has worked closely with industry since leaving the EU to understand trade volumes and value, and to look at ways to minimise burdens and friction without reducing our high standards of environmental protection.
One option if travelling with a musical instrument for performance purposes is to apply for a CITES Musical Instrument Certificate (MIC). This is a streamlined process, specifically for musicians, which facilitates repeat movements over the course of three years. MICs are currently free of charge.
Defra will continue to work collaboratively with industry and other stakeholders to understand their needs, balance them against our duty to protect wildlife under the Convention, and identify priorities, as we prepare for the next meeting of the CITES Conference of Parties in 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to reduce the impact of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulations on UK musicians seeking to (a) work and (b) tour in the EU.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) places obligations on Parties to ensure international trade in wildlife is legal and sustainable.
Defra has worked closely with industry since leaving the EU to understand trade volumes and value, and to look at ways to minimise burdens and friction without reducing our high standards of environmental protection.
One option if travelling with a musical instrument for performance purposes is to apply for a CITES Musical Instrument Certificate (MIC). This is a streamlined process, specifically for musicians, which facilitates repeat movements over the course of three years. MICs are currently free of charge.
Defra will continue to work collaboratively with industry and other stakeholders to understand their needs, balance them against our duty to protect wildlife under the Convention, and identify priorities, as we prepare for the next meeting of the CITES Conference of Parties in 2025.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent estimate he has made of the impact of the requirement for musicians to obtain an ATA Carnet when taking their instruments to the EU on their earnings.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
ATA Carnets are not a requirement for anyone temporarily importing goods between the UK and EU. They are an optional facilitation which allow goods to be imported temporarily without the normal customs formalities (i.e. customs declarations) and import duty being paid. They allow a single document to be used for multiple countries’ customs controls.
The use of an ATA Carnet is subject to an issuing fee and a requirement to provide a security. It is therefore a commercial decision for businesses and individuals whether a Carnet is the most suitable option for temporarily moving their goods. The Government is not currently having any discussions with the EU to negotiate a waiver of ATA Carnets for creative artists.
An alternative option to an ATA Carnet is the Temporary Admission (TA) procedure. The UK and EU both operate a similar TA procedure which allows goods to be imported temporarily with relief from customs duty and import VAT, subject to certain conditions being met. If TA is used in conjunction with the UK or EU Returned Goods Relief scheme (for returning goods), goods can be moved temporarily between the UK and EU without having to pay import duties.
Asked by: Baroness Harman (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of negotiating an ATA Carnet waiver for UK musicians wanting to tour in the EU.
Answered by Victoria Atkins - Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
ATA Carnets are not a requirement for anyone temporarily importing goods between the UK and EU. They are an optional facilitation which allow goods to be imported temporarily without the normal customs formalities (i.e. customs declarations) and import duty being paid. They allow a single document to be used for multiple countries’ customs controls.
The use of an ATA Carnet is subject to an issuing fee and a requirement to provide a security. It is therefore a commercial decision for businesses and individuals whether a Carnet is the most suitable option for temporarily moving their goods. The Government is not currently having any discussions with the EU to negotiate a waiver of ATA Carnets for creative artists.
An alternative option to an ATA Carnet is the Temporary Admission (TA) procedure. The UK and EU both operate a similar TA procedure which allows goods to be imported temporarily with relief from customs duty and import VAT, subject to certain conditions being met. If TA is used in conjunction with the UK or EU Returned Goods Relief scheme (for returning goods), goods can be moved temporarily between the UK and EU without having to pay import duties.