Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to ensure that the UK’s critical national infrastructure is protected from security threats.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
Much of the UK’s Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) is owned or operated by the private sector. Lead Government Departments (LGD) for each CNI sector work closely with the National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and regulators to ensure that owners and operators have adequate resilience for the risks they face. Government support takes the form of direct engagement through site visits and briefings and through the provision of information on risks and best practice guidance.
In the Resilience Framework, the Government has additionally committed to introducing minimum standards for resilience, where these are not already in place; this includes specific and ambitious cyber resilience targets for CNI sectors to meet by 2025 as announced at CyberUK in Belfast in April this year.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of departmental civil servants work (1) wholly, and (2) primarily, from home; and how these figures compare to those prior to March 2020.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Since the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, Civil Servants have increased their numbers in the office as steps have been taken to ensure offices are able to operate at full capacity as quickly as possible. In the Cabinet Office, for example, all of our core office buildings around the country are now operating again at full capacity and office occupancy in our HQ building is already back to pre-pandemic levels.
The Minister for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency is monitoring office occupancy levels across government and will support all Ministers in delivering their return to the workplace plans.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether research undertaken by the US Department of Veterans Affairs could help shape policy in relation to veterans’ affairs in the UK.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs (OVA) has established links with the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and engages through the Five Eyes research network. The Minister for Defence, People and Veterans visited the US in November 2021 where the VA showcased their work, providing an opportunity for the US and UK to learn from each other. The OVA works closely with academic partners from across the UK, and we are often exposed to research based on US data and analysis. We aim to publish a Data and Research strategy plan later this year, which will include appropriate reference to learning from research conducted in the UK and overseas.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the negotiations with the Vice President of the European Commission on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Frost
We are currently engaged in technical discussions with the Commission in order fully to understand their proposals. We welcome the EU’s recognition that there are serious problems with the Protocol which need to be solved. But it’s clear there is still a substantial gap between our two positions in areas such as governance, customs and SPS.
We hope to settle these issues consensually and reach a positive outcome through negotiations. However, we have been clear that if an agreement cannot be reached Article 16 is a legitimate safeguard provision, which we are prepared to invoke if necessary.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland on UK sovereignty.
Answered by Lord Frost
The Government’s position on this matter is set out in Command Paper (CP 502), published on 21 July.
Article 1 of the Northern Ireland Protocol states that “This Protocol respects the essential State functions and territorial integrity of the United Kingdom.” Nonetheless, the Government is clear that the current governance arrangements under the Protocol must evolve to reflect the reality that the Protocol is an agreement between two sovereign and autonomous entities, not a relationship of subordination where one party’s rules have to be applied mechanically by the other. That is why the UK's Command Paper sets out the Government's intention to remove the remaining role of the EU institutions and of the CJEU in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reported statement by President Macron that Northern Ireland is not a full part of the United Kingdom.
Answered by Lord Frost
We do not comment on private diplomatic exchanges. The Government believes it is important that all discussions related to the Northern Ireland Protocol take place on the basis of the clear statements in the Protocol itself that it respects the UK’s territorial integrity (Article 1(2)) and that Northern Ireland is part of the UK’s customs territory (Article 4) and internal market (Article 6(2)).
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the European Union's conduct in recent discussions relating to trade between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.
Answered by Lord Frost
The EU’s attempt to activate Article 16 of the Protocol in late January created a new situation, with regard to the application of the Protocol. Nevertheless, there have been constructive discussions between us and the EU. These discussions have begun to clarify outstanding issues and have established some positive momentum. Nonetheless, a number of difficult issues remain. As set out following my meeting with Vice President Šefčovič on 15 April, contacts will be intensified at all levels through the structures provided by the Withdrawal Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) schemes, and (2) initiatives, they plan to introduce (a) to strengthen the Union, and (b) foster more links between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
This Government is committed to strengthening the Union and the links between different parts of the UK, including between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Departments are taking a variety of actions to strengthen the Union.
Earlier this year the Prime Minister announced a review would be undertaken into union connectivity, exploring ways to improve connectivity between our four nations and to bring forward funding to accelerate infrastructure projects.
The Government is working closely with the devolved administrations on a variety of different policy agendas including preparations for the end of the UK transition period and the response to the Covid-19 pandemic. We are also working with the devolved administrations to improve intergovernmental relations.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the passage of goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland which are not then transported to Ireland will not be subject to disruption from 1 January 2021.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Following the statement made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 9 December, updates will be made to the House shortly setting out further detail on all Northern Ireland Protocol issues.
Asked by: Lord Browne of Belmont (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking, if any, to prevent increased costs being incurred by Northern Ireland businesses as a result of provisions within the Northern Ireland Protocol.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Government outlined its approach to the Protocol in the Command Paper published in May 2020. We will continue to work with businesses to ensure that the Protocol is implemented in a way that minimises burdens and supports the continued flow of goods.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has established a Business Engagement Forum, which discusses a range of issues concerning the implementation of the Protocol. We have also outlined guidance to business on the requirements of the Protocol which we will update as work proceeds.
In addition, the Government is also providing support to business as they prepare for the end of the transition period and beyond. This includes the new Trader Support Service, a £200m scheme that will provide an end-to-end service which will guide traders through new administrative processes at no additional cost.
We have also committed to exploring further support to those agrifood producers engaging with new sanitary and phytosanitary processes, with further detail to be set out in due course