Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of fee-charging agencies offering coaching to prospective applicants for membership of the House.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Neither the Government nor the House of Lords Appointments Commission endorse any service or company charging for advice on how to make and complete an application to the House of Lords.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to revise the factors they take into account when considering the suitability of individuals to be nominated for a life peerage.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government committed in its manifesto to reform the process of appointments to the House of Lords to ensure the quality of new appointments and to seek to improve the national and regional balance of the second chamber and is actively considering how this can be achieved.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of changes proposed in the Deregulation Bill, there will be a grace period for drivers whose parked cars cause obstructions in bus lanes or at yellow box junctions.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
In December, the Government’s consultation on parking asked for comments on the scope for introducing new grace periods for parking, including what areas it should apply to. In the Government’s response to the consultation, we announced we will introduce a mandatory 10 minute free period (a) at the end of paid-for on-street parking, (b) at the end of free on-street parking, and DCLG will also lead work to extend the same grace period to local authority off-street parking. I have placed in the Library a copy of the Government’s response to the consultation. We have not announced any grace periods for bus lanes or yellow box junctions.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of changes proposed in the Deregulation Bill, hospitals, schools and colleges will be able to request local authorities to enforce parking restrictions.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
Local authorities will continue to be responsible for parking enforcement on public highways, therefore hospitals, schools and colleges can continue to request local authorities to enforce parking restrictions on public highways. I have placed in the Library a copy of the Government’s response to the consultation, which outlines in detail what the Government is proposing.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of changes proposed in the Deregulation Bill, shops and garages will be able to use CCTV cameras to combat theft.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s proposals relate to the use of CCTV by local authorities to issue parking fines. They do not relate to or limit the use of CCTV by police forces or others to tackle crime. Indeed, Ministers believe that public confidence in CCTV is strengthened if it is used to catch criminals not make money.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of changes proposed in the Deregulation Bill, police forces will be able to use for existing purposes CCTV cameras that they control.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
The Government’s proposals relate to the use of CCTV by local authorities to issue parking fines. They do not relate to or limit the use of CCTV by police forces or others to tackle crime. Indeed, Ministers believe that public confidence in CCTV is strengthened if it is used to catch criminals not make money.
Asked by: Lord Bradshaw (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of changes proposed in the Deregulation Bill, local authorities will be allowed to use CCTV cameras to enforce rules regarding the use of bus lanes.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
The Government is proposing to ban the use of CCTV for parking enforcement, subject to a very small number of exceptions that emerged following the public consultation, including parking in bus lanes. The proposals do not affect any moving traffic offences. Therefore local authorities will still be able to use CCTV to enforce against either parking or driving in bus lanes.
A copy of the Government’s response to the consultation is in the Library of the House.