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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
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 30 May (HL7826), 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
All vessels that have been subject to seizure are held by Border Force until completion of any criminal investigation activities.
The majority of boats are not fit for re-sale and unseaworthy, as they arrive in very poor condition and may be damaged during the recovery process.
The boats are disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors and, where appropriate, any suitable materials are recycled. There are no plans to revisit these arrangements.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to return to a system of imperial measurement; and, if so, what assessment they have made of (1) levels of understanding among younger people, and (2) any impact upon the UK’s competitiveness in world trade.
Answered by Earl of Minto
The Government is reviewing the current law on units of measurement and has gathered information from the consultation ‘Choice on units of measurement: markings and sales’. A government response will be published in due course.
The Government recognises that metric units remain essential for international trade. Any legislative changes would require an impact assessment, including an equality impact assessment.
Asked by: Lord Balfe (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements are in place to dispose of boats used to bring illegal migrants across the English Channel; and whether they plan to revisit these arrangements.
Answered by Lord Murray of Blidworth
All vessels that have been subject to seizure are held by Border Force until completion of any criminal investigation activities. The majority of boats are not fit for re-sale or to ever go to sea again, as they arrive in very poor condition and may be damaged during the recovery process. The boats are disposed of by Border Force’s approved contractors and, where appropriate, any suitable materials are recycled. There are no plans to revisit these arrangements.