Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their proposed schemes to encourage new entrants into farming will provide new funding for county and unitary authorities to acquire more land to add to existing county farm estates; and whether they are discouraging local authorities from any further disposal of county farms.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
This Government values the role that county farm estates play in providing a route into farming for new entrants. We want to encourage local authorities to retain and invest in their farm estates. That is why we are developing a new entrant funding scheme to create lasting opportunities for new entrants to access the land, infrastructure and support they need to establish successful and innovative businesses.
We want to encourage applications from local authorities, cooperative and community land organisations, local partnerships, and private and institutional landowners who have innovative ideas and the capability to provide long-term opportunities for talented new entrants.
The details of the scheme including the funding criteria are being developed through a consultative co-design process with stakeholders which includes representatives of local authorities with county farm estates. We aim to report more details about the scheme in the summer of 2021 and launch the scheme in 2022.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the probability of being infected with COVID-19 as a result of contact with items that are delivered to a household compared with other means of infection.
Answered by Lord Bethell
We have made no specific assessment.
COVID-19 spreads from person to person through small droplets, aerosols and through direct contact. Surfaces and belongings can also be contaminated with COVID-19 when people with the infection cough or sneeze or touch them. The risk of spread is greatest when people are close to each other, especially in poorly ventilated indoor spaces and when people spend a lot of time together in the same room.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the ability of local authorities (1) to support the administration of elections scheduled to take place during the COVID-19 pandemic, and (2) to enable the provision of staff to administer such elections on 6 May.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing.
The Government is also bringing forward additional measures to extend the ability to appoint a proxy, so that those that are affected by Covid-19 in the days before the poll are still able to make their voice heard.
Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review. The House will be kept updated.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the performance of Royal Mail in providing a universal postal service during the COVID-19 pandemic; how many instances they have recorded of a failure to provide such a service in specific areas; and (1) where, and (2) when, any such failures have occurred.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Royal Mail, a private company, has well-established contingency plans to mitigate disruption to postal services which are overseen by Ofcom, the independent regulator responsible for monitoring the delivery of the universal postal service.
In its statement of 14 January 2021, Ofcom recognises that the pandemic is an emergency under its regulatory framework and that it is continuing to monitor Royal Mail’s performance carefully, remaining in close contact with the company to ensure it is providing the best service it can to customers. The full statement is available on Ofcom’s website.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) electrification, (2) junction improvements, (3) improved signalling, and (4) new terminal facilities, for rail freight networks are assessed through (a) the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline, or (b) the Governance for Railway Investment Projects scheme and its successor; and if so, how, in each case, they are assessed as priorities by comparison with improvements directed at passenger services.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) is the Government’s primary mechanism for progressing and funding enhancements for both passenger and freight services in England and Wales.
Investment in electrification, junctions and signalling improvements require the development of a business case and are assessed for contribution to the Government’s objectives as well as their affordability, value for money and their deliverability. Each scheme is assessed on its own merits.
By contrast, investments in new freight terminal and interchange facilities are wholly led by the private sector, responding to commercial demands. Freight Operating Companies work closely with the infrastructure manager, Network Rail, to secure appropriate connections onto the railway network and paths for services to operate.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which rail electrification projects in England were agreed between 2010 and 2015; and which (1) have been completed, and (2) have not gone ahead.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The table below includes electrification schemes in the 2012 High Level Output Specification and schemes considered by Sir Peter Hendy's re-planning of Network Rail’s investment programme. It also includes Network Rail’s assessment of whether these schemes have been completed.
Scheme | Completed |
Gospel Oak to Barking Electrification | Yes |
North of England Programmes/Northern Hub - North West Electrification | Yes |
Walsall to Rugeley Trent Valley Electrification | Yes |
MML Programme – Electrification Key Output 1 (Bedford to Kettering/Corby) | Yes |
Bromsgrove Electrification | Yes |
Great Western Electrification Programme |
|
- Maidenhead to Didcot | Yes |
- Didcot to Wootton Bassett Junction | Yes |
- Reading to Newbury | Yes |
- Wootton Bassett Junction to Bristol Parkway | Yes |
- Bristol Parkway to Cardiff | Yes |
- Wootton Bassett Junction to Bristol Temple Meads | No |
- Didcot to Oxford | No |
- Filton Bank | No |
Lostock Junction to Wigan North Western Electrification | No |
MML Programme – Electrification Phase 2 (Kettering to Nottingham and Sheffield via Derby) | No |
Acton (GWML) to Willesden (WCML) Electrification | No |
- Basingstoke – Southampton Central (third rail conversion to OLE) | No |
- Leamington Spa to Coventry Electrification and Capacity | No |
- Oxford to Bletchley Electrification | No |
- Oxford to Leamington and Coventry to Nuneaton Electrification | No |
- Sheffield to ECML electrification | No |
- Southcote Junction to Basingstoke Electrification | No |
North trans-Pennine line electrification (Manchester Victoria and Guide Bridge – Huddersfield – Leeds – Colton Jnc) | No |
Oxenholme to Windermere Electrification | No |
Selby to Hull electrification | No |
Thames Valley Branch Lines | No |
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government which rail electrification projects (1) are currently taking place, and (2) been given approval to start, in England; and what is the proposed start date for each approved project.
Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Enabling and design work is currently taking place on the Midland Main Line to complete electrification up to Market Harborough. Following the Spending Review settlement, we continue to progress development and design of the TransPennine Route Upgrade, including the examination of the case for full electrification of the route. A number of other potential electrification schemes are being considered for further development through the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultation they have undertaken in relation to holding local and other elections in England on 6 May with bodies representing (1) schools, (2) school staff, and (3) parents; and what representations they have received from such bodies.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.
We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for schools that would be used as polling stations in elections on 6 May for (1) the number of days they would need to close for extra cleaning and other management arrangements (a) before, and (b) following, polling day, and (2) the costs of such cleaning and management arrangements.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.
We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.
Asked by: Lord Greaves (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of the people who volunteer on a regular basis to staff polling stations and count votes at elections who will not be available to do so on 6 May as a result of (1) having contracted COVID-19, (2) self-isolating, (3) working at home, (4) being unwilling for other perceived safety reasons, and (5) other reasons; and what assessment they have made of the ability of local authorities (a) to recruit other people, and (b) provide them with the necessary training, to support such polling stations.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Primary legislation states that the elections will go ahead in May 2021.
We continue to work closely with the electoral and public health bodies to resolve challenges and ensure everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and securely - and in a way of their choosing. We are also working to ensure that disruption to children’s education is kept to an absolute minimum. Schools and local authorities should consider relevant public health advice.
We are providing for voters to be able to appoint a proxy at short notice if they need to isolate shortly before or on the day of the polls. Guidance will be published in good time ahead of the polls and this matter will be kept under review.