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Written Question
Defence Equipment: Iron and Steel
Monday 5th February 2024

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the closure of the Port Talbot steelworks on the UK’s ability to defend itself and to support the defence of its allies.

Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)

Tata Steel's plans to cease UK primary steel production at its Port Talbot steelworks are not anticipated to adversely impact defence. Specialist steels that are unavailable from UK sources are already sourced by our prime contractors from overseas suppliers. Other grades of steel are likely to remain available from UK sources or are widely available on world markets.

Ministers across Government, including the Minister for Defence Procurement, continue to work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we have the capability to procure the steel required for the UK's national security and defence programmes.


Written Question
Ukraine: Development Aid
Friday 5th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to earmark funds to support Ukraine in the period after the cessation of hostilities.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Supporting Ukraine to build a secure and prosperous future is an essential part of our effort to help Ukraine defeat Russian aggression. The Ukraine Recovery Conference (21-22 June 2023) raised over $60 billion in new support, including $3 billion in UK guarantees to World Bank lending and £240 million of UK bilateral assistance for 2023-24. The UK has earmarked up to $1 billion a year in fiscal support through World Bank guarantees between 2023 and 2027. Bilateral allocations for the 2024-25 financial year are still being finalised and funding beyond 2025 will be confirmed after the next Spending Review.


Written Question
Asylum: Deportation
Friday 5th January 2024

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following reports that international aid from Sweden will soon depend on whether the recipient country accepts the repatriation of its citizens, such as asylum seekers and migrants deemed a security risk, what assessment they have made of the case for adopting a similar policy for the United Kingdom.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

UK Official Development Assistance (ODA) is provided with the primary purpose of contributing to reduction in poverty. Allocation decisions are informed by a range of modelling and information sources, including absolute poverty, humanitarian need, geopolitical prioritisation and the ability of a country to self-finance its own development. The recently published White Paper on International Development makes clear that the UK will prioritise its ODA where it is most needed and most effective.


Written Question
Intensive Care: Children
Thursday 30th November 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the report Disagreements in the care of critically ill children published by the Department of Health and Social Care on 18 September, what changes they intend to make to the care of critically ill children and when they anticipate these will come into effect.

Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department is considering the recommendations made in the report and what actions can be taken to help avoid disagreements arising between the parents of critically ill children and clinicians treating them and, where this is not possible, resolve disagreements more quickly and compassionately.


Written Question
Aviation: Industrial Disputes
Monday 13th November 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to use the provisions of the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act 2023 to override a pilot's discretion to make the final decision as to whether the aircraft takes off as provided under international aviation regulations.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Any decisions by the pilot in command of an aircraft made in accordance with relevant aviation safety requirements, with regard to the safety of a particular flight, would not constitute industrial action. Such decisions are therefore outside of the scope of Part V of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the amendments being made to that Part by the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Act.


Written Question
Railway Stations: Cambridge
Monday 24th July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Greater Anglia Railways about planned ticket office closures at Cambridge railway station; and what opportunities there are for (1) the public, and (2) parliamentarians, to express their views on the proposals.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

To propose any changes to the opening hours, or the closure of ticket offices, train operating companies must follow the process set out in the Ticketing and Settlement Agreement.

Train operators must consult on any proposed changes, advertising them at the relevant stations and inviting members of the public who wish to comment on the proposal to write to the relevant passenger body (either Transport Focus or London TravelWatch) within a 21-day period. Greater Anglia Railways has set out its proposals on its website.

Parliamentarians are encouraged to raise any concerns with the relevant Passenger Bodies through the established consultation process. Further detail of how to do this can be found on station posters or on the Train Operating Company websites.


Written Question
Human Trafficking: Boats
Tuesday 4th July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Murray of Blidworth on 19 June (HL8185), whether there is any way in which boats “disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors” could be reused by people smugglers.

Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided to Question HL7826 on 23 May.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Monday 3rd July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government, following the closure of three flight schools this year, what further financial protection they intend to give trainee pilots from UK flight school failures.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Responsibility for regulating flying training in the UK rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA’s approval of a flying school or training establishment as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) are designed to provide confidence that they are able to perform their operations safely. However, as the CAA does not regulate the ongoing financial viability of flying schools or clubs, approval to conduct flight training does not imply any certification of financial stability. I have asked my officials to engage with the CAA to consider this in more detail.


Written Question
Aviation: Training
Monday 3rd July 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government how, if at all, they intend to improve the financial regulation of UK flight schools.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)

Responsibility for regulating flying training in the UK rests with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA’s approval of a flying school or training establishment as an Approved Training Organisation (ATO) are designed to provide confidence that they are able to perform their operations safely. However, as the CAA does not regulate the ongoing financial viability of flying schools or clubs, approval to conduct flight training does not imply any certification of financial stability. I have asked my officials to engage with the CAA to consider this in more detail.


Written Question
People Smuggling: Boats
Monday 19th June 2023

Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps, if any, they have taken (1) to identify the source of boats used for people smuggling to the UK, and (2) to stop the supply of boats used for such smuggling from being obtained by the smugglers.

Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth

The Home Office works closely with international partners and with manufacturers to tackle the supply of the small boats used in these dangerous, illegal and unnecessary crossings.

However, it would not be in the interests of operational security to detail the specific activities being undertaken.