Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce legislation to provide the Digital Markets Unit with statutory powers in the next parliamentary session.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
The Government consulted on our proposed approach to a new pro-competition regime, overseen by the Digital Markets Unit, last year. The consultation closed in October, and we are carefully considering the responses. We will set out the final design of the regime in our response shortly, and will introduce legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure a level playing field is established by legislative and regulatory means to allow UK news publishers to negotiate for proper and fair payment by technology companies for the news content they generate.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
Newspapers play an invaluable role in the fabric of our society and the Government is committed to considering all possible options in the interest of supporting the sustainability of the press. We understand concerns about the effect of the power and position of some online platforms when dealing with news publishers, as was identified by the Cairncross Review.
The Government set out its proposals for a new pro-competition regime for digital markets in a public consultation in July 2021. The regime will drive a more vibrant and innovative economy across the UK. In line with codes proposed in the Cairncross Review, the regime’s conduct requirements will improve competition and transparency and make an important contribution to the sustainability of the press. We have also sought advice from the Competition and Markets Authority and Ofcom on how the regime would govern the relationship between platforms and content producers including news publishers. No final decisions have been made.
A consultation response will be published in due course and we will legislate to put the regime on a statutory footing as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking (1) to support the establishment of a Digital Markets Unit within the Competition and Markets Authority, (2) to provide the necessary financial support for the recruitment of personnel to the new Digital Markets Unit, and (3) to ensure the new Digital Markets Unit has the necessary powers to intervene on a statutory basis.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay
The Government established a new non-statutory Digital Markets Unit (DMU), housed within the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), in April 2021 to begin to put into effect the pro-competition regime. We will legislate to put the Digital Markets Unit on a statutory footing as soon as parliamentary time allows.
At the recent Spending Review, the Government agreed to provide the CMA with an additional £20 million by 2024-25 to support the dedicated Digital Markets Unit and other CMA functions.
The DMU will have a range of powers to monitor and enforce the regime. The focus of the regime will be on resolving concerns through constructive engagement with firms, without the need for formal investigations. The DMU will need, however, robust powers to deter and tackle non-compliance. We set out our proposals for these powers in our 2021 consultation, and will publish our response to that consultation in due course.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to recruit retired judges and magistrates to serve on a temporary basis to reduce delays in court hearings; and, in bringing forward any such plans, what assessment they have made of their potential contribution to reducing these delays.
Answered by Lord Wolfson of Tredegar
The mandatory retirement age for most judicial office holders, including magistrates and judges, is 70. The Lord Chief Justice (or in some instances the Senior President of Tribunals) may, with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor, extend the appointment of judges below the High Court following their compulsory retirement date for a period of one year and for further one-year periods, up to the point at which the judge turns 75, where it is in the public interest to do so. In addition, many salaried judges may be authorised to sit in retirement on a fee paid basis.
The government intends to legislate to raise the judicial mandatory retirement age (MRA) to 75 through the Public Service Pensions and Judicial Offices Bill, to be introduced shortly. The legislation will include a transitional provision to enable retired magistrates who are younger than the new MRA to apply to return to the bench, subject to business need. The process by which such applications are to be made and considered will be set out in due course.
These and other measures to increase judicial capacity to meet demand are crucial to ensure we can continue to support the recovery of our courts and tribunals and reduce delays in hearings.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of diplomatic protection accorded to the EU Ambassador to the UK; and what plans they have, if any, to grant them full diplomatic status.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
We continue to engage with the EU on the long-term arrangements for the EU Delegation to the UK, and it would not be right to pre-empt the outcome of those discussions. Pending the conclusion of an Establishment Agreement, the Head of the EU Delegation and their staff enjoy privileges and immunities under Protocol 7 to the EU Treaties.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made on the impact of COVID-19 on the rehabilitation needs of people living with neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis; and what plans they have to work with NHS England on a long term strategy for delivering (1) physiotherapy, (2) speech and language therapy, and (3) occupational therapy to people with neurological conditions to help them maintain their wellbeing.
Answered by Lord Bethell
On 23 December 2020, NHS England outlined priorities for the remainder of 2020-2021, including maximising capacity to treat non-COVID-19 patients. This capacity includes services to people with neurological diseases, for example physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. The provision of rehabilitation support in England is a local matter, and local commissioners are best placed to provide services according to local need.
NHS England and NHS Improvement have commenced work on updating their guidance for clinical commissioning groups on commissioning accessible, high quality rehabilitation services. This has included engagement with professional bodies’ clinicians, alongside other stakeholders, societies and third sector organisations who represent the patient voice.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made about the barriers to prescribing Sativex to treat spasticity in people with multiple sclerosis; and what plans they have to work with NHS England and organisations such as the MS Society to address any such barriers.
Answered by Lord Bethell
The Department has made no recent assessment. However, Departmental officials regularly engage with stakeholders and organisations such as the MS Society, to discuss a range of issues, including concerns relating to access to treatments.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what presence they have, if any, in the (1) Al Hol, and (2) Roj, camps in north-east Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Her Majesty's Government does not have any presence in Al Hol or Al Roj internally displaced persons camps in north-east Syria. The UK suspended all services of the British Embassy in Damascus and withdrew all diplomatic personnel from Syria in 2012.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have, if any, that British nationals may be put on trial in north-east Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The UK Government is clear that those individuals who have fought for, or supported Daesh, whatever their nationality, should face justice and accountability through prosecution in the most appropriate jurisdiction: often in the region where the crimes took place. Her Majesty's Government is not aware of any current trials in north-east Syria involving British nationals.
Asked by: Lord Dubs (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the return of women and children to the UK from the Al Hol and Roj camps in north-east Syria.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
We are aware that some British nationals are living in internally displaced persons camps in Syria. This Government's highest priority is to ensure the safety and security of the UK. It is essential that we do not make judgements about the national security risk someone poses based on their sex or age. Women who travelled to join Daesh can, and in many cases do, pose as significant a risk to our national security as returning male fighters. Her Majesty's Government's assessment remains that risks posed by those adults who travelled to Syria are best managed outside the UK, however each case is considered on its own merits. Where we become aware of British unaccompanied or orphaned children, or if British children are able to seek consular assistance, we will work with relevant UK and international partners to facilitate their return where feasible, subject to national security concerns. Each request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.