Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had about the future of the Asia Infrastructure Bank.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The UK continues to engage closely with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and its members in line with the UK Government’s priorities. The AIIB’s 2030 Corporate Strategy sets out an ambitious approach to climate change, including a target that 50% of its investments will be climate finance by 2025.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to improve palliative care in England.
Answered by Lord Kamall
NHS England and NHS Improvement’s palliative and end of life care delivery plan focuses on improving access to appropriate services, ensuring the sustainability of providers in the sector and improving the quality of the services received in line with the NHS Long Term Plan. Additionally, Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: A national framework for local action 2021-2026, created by a partnership of 27 organisations across health and social care sets out our vision to improve palliative, end of life and bereavement care in England. A copy of the framework is attached.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for a future UK military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Answered by Baroness Goldie
The plan for the UK's future military presence in the Indo-Pacific region was outlined in the Defence Command Paper in March and remains on track. Following the success of the Carrier Strike Group's deployment to the region, we are now delivering on the commitments set out in the Defence Command Paper. HMS Spey and Tamar are now operating in the Pacific Ocean where they will work with allies and partners in the region for the foreseeable future, building on the UK’s existing presence in the Indo Pacific, including in Brunei and Singapore.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, for future legislation of the micro-chipping of (1) dogs, and (2) cats.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
All dogs in England must already be microchipped under the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, unless they are certified as exempt. We are currently carrying out a post-implementation review of the regulations, which will be published later this year. This review will also consider how the current database system is working in practice
We committed in our manifesto, and reaffirmed in our Action Plan for Animal Welfare, our intention to introduce compulsory cat microchipping. We carried out a public consultation on these proposals earlier this year. Defra officials are currently analysing the responses. We aim to publish a summary of responses and set out our proposals later this year.
This is a devolved matter and these developments relate to the situation applying in England.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to give Local Authorities a legal obligation to enforce the dog licensing regulations.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
Local authorities already undertake enforcement action in relation to breaches relating to licensable activity involving dogs, such as sales, breeding and boarding activities, as set out under section 3 of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (the 2018 Regulations).
These regulations were developed to help improve welfare standards across a range of animal-related activities that are licensed by local authorities. The 2018 Regulations built on previous well-established requirements, many of which have existed for over 50 years including the animal boarding legislation which dates from 1963. Standards of welfare have developed considerably since that time, not least with the passing of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the 2006 Act).
The Government guidance which supports the 2018 Regulations is statutory, and local authorities are required to take it into account. This guidance aims to improve consistency in interpretation and application of the licensing regime across England. A person who carries on any licensed activity without a licence issued under the 2018 Regulations commits an offence under section 13(6) of the 2006 Act and would be liable to imprisonment for a term of up to six months, a fine, or both. Local authorities are provided with broad enforcement powers under the 2006 Act and, under section 30 of the 2006 Act, may prosecute any breach of the legislation.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received from (1) the National Farmers’ Union, (2) the Food and Drink Federation, and (3) the Road Haulage Association, regarding the desirability of introducing a short-term visa system for foreign workers; and what has been their response.
Answered by Baroness Williams of Trafford - Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
The Government has received representations from a range of organisations, including the National Farmers’ Union, the Food and Drink Federation and the Road Haulage Association, regarding the requirement to introduce a short-term visa system for foreign workers.
The Government position remains we will not be introducing a short-term visa allowing recruitment at or near the minimum wage with no work-based training requirements. Immigration must be considered alongside investment in, and development of, the UK's domestic labour force, rather than as an alternative to it. This is especially relevant in light of the many UK workers who face an uncertain future given the economic impacts of the pandemic and the end of the furlough scheme. Employers facing recruitment difficulties should in the first instance engage with the Department for Work and Pension about the support they can provide.
The UK Government is closely monitoring labour supply and working with economic sector leaders to promote jobs, training, and a range of other initiatives.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce legislation to make pet theft a specific criminal offence.
Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park
The Government fully understands the deep distress caused by the theft of a much-loved pet and recognises that the theft of a sentient creature is different from an item of property, however valuable. All reported crimes should be taken seriously, investigated and, where appropriate, taken through the courts and met with tough sentences.
The Government's Pet Theft Taskforce has been set up to recommend any necessary measures – legislative and non-legislative - to tackle this crime and consists of Government officials from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Home Office and Ministry of Justice along with operational partners. The Taskforce is considering the issue from end to end, including causes, prevention, reporting, enforcement, prosecution and sentencing, and is examining every option available to make sure perpetrators feel the full force of the law.
The taskforce is due to report its recommendations this summer.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are making available to immigrants from Hong Kong; and, in particular, those settling in London.
Answered by Lord Greenhalgh
On 31 January, the UK launched a new immigration route for British National (Overseas) [BN(O)] status holders and their dependents and on 8 April, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government announced a new UK-wide Welcome Programme to support Hong Kong BN(O) status holders with a package worth £43.1 million. Further detail on the announcement was published (attached) on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/national-welcome-for-hong-kong-arrivals
Alongside this announcement, a comprehensive Welcome Guide was published on GOV.UK for Hong Kong BN(O) status holders settling in the UK, in both English and Cantonese. Further information is available (attached) at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/welcome-a-guide-for-hong-kong-british-national-overseas-visa-holders-in-the-uk
To co-ordinate support and offer practical advice to BN(O) status holders, MHCLG is working with Strategic Migration Partnerships (SMPs) to establish a network of 12 Welcome Hubs across the UK including in London.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will give students from Hong Kong domestic fee status at universities in England.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
To qualify for home fee status in England, a person must have settled status or a recognised connection to the UK. This includes people who are covered by the EU Withdrawal Agreement, who have long residence in this country, or who have been granted international protection by the Home Office. There are also requirements associated with ordinary residence in the UK. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, people with Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status will be able to qualify for home fees once they have acquired settled status in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Goodlad (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which areas will (1) be designated national parks, (2) be designated areas of outstanding natural beauty, or (3) otherwise protected from development, by 2030.
Answered by Lord Benyon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Natural England, as the statutory advisor to the Government on landscape, announced on 24 June 2021 an ambitious programme to create and improve protected landscapes.
As part of this programme Natural England has with immediate effect started work to consider the creation of two new Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), the Yorkshire Wolds and the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge; and expansions of both the Surrey Hills and Chilterns AONBs.
The Government has committed to protect and improve 30% of UK’s land for biodiversity by 2030. To meet this commitment, Natural England will also undertake an all-England landscapes assessment to identify any remaining places suitable for National Park or AONB designation.
We have announced our intention to publish a Green Paper on nature recovery, including wildlife reform, before the end of the year. This consultation will provide the opportunity to influence how we can improve our wildlife laws to deliver our ambitions for nature recovery, including improving sites and habitat protections, aligning these with the Government’s strategic priorities for nature and biodiversity.