Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the police are permitted to request that hospitals share medical records and notes of suspects following their arrest under national security legislation, and what guidance exists for police forces and hospitals regarding such requests.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hanson of Flint on 20 April (HL16210), when they intend to provide the promised update.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The noble lord will appreciate that this question relates to a live investigation, and I am unable to comment on any timelines relating to it.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect enquiries following the arrest and bail of David Taylor under national security legislation will be completed.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
It would not be appropriate to comment on what remains a live Police investigation.
The Government will update Parliament at an appropriate moment.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current health of Palestine Action hunger strikers Heba Muraisi, Lewie Chiaramello and Kamran Ahmed.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government is unable to comment or provide details on the personal health information of named individuals.
NHS England commissions health services in prisons, and healthcare providers monitor the health of all individuals in custody to ensure they receive appropriate care.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many imprisoned Palestine Action protestors have received hospital treatment while in prison.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally. All prison healthcare providers are commissioned by NHS England and contracted to use National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and have pathways of care in place for food and fluid refusers. If a person requires hospital care this will also be available and facilitated.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many imprisoned Palestine Action protestors have received hospital treatment while on hunger strike.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not held centrally. All prison healthcare providers are commissioned by NHS England and contracted to use National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and have pathways of care in place for food and fluid refusers. If a person requires hospital care this will also be available and facilitated.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many Palestine Action protestors are (1) in prison, (2) in prison awaiting trial, (3) serving prison sentences, (4) on hunger strike and awaiting trial, and (5) on hunger strike and serving prison sentences.
Answered by Lord Timpson - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
As of 12 December, 29 Palestine Action protestors are in prison; seven are on hunger strike and awaiting trial. None are serving prison sentences. Six are currently being tried and the remainder are awaiting trial.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many arrests have been made following the proscription of Palestine Action; and how many, if any, of such arrests were made for (1) protesting peacefully, and (2) protesting violently.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
Enforcement of the criminal law is an operational matter for the police.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 18 June (HL7933), what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from maintaining the Winter Fuel Payment for all citizens of age except higher-rate taxpayers.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has been clear that it wants more pensioners to benefit from Winter Fuel Payments. More than three quarters - the vast majority of pensioners - will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. The threshold is also broadly in line with average earnings and ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty.
Taxing the Winter Fuel Payment would go against the general rule that income replacement benefits are taxable but those such as Winter Fuel Payments, which are designed for specific costs, generally are not.
The Winter Fuel Payment remains tax free, ensuring those pensioners on lower and middle incomes receive the full benefit of the Winter Fuel Payment, which would not be the case if it was a taxable payment. The new £35,000 threshold ensures those pensioners with the highest incomes do not benefit from the payment and ensures fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers.
There are about 2 million pensioners with an income above £35,000. Based on 2023-24 data, the last publicly available estimates of this data, about 750,000 pensioners were higher rate tax payer and around 90,000 were additional rate tax payers.
Our Winter Fuel Payment policy is in line with our wider welfare reforms – ensuring support is targeted and that it is a responsible use of taxpayers’ money.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 18 June (HL7933), what would be the anticipated net revenue gain from taxing the Winter Fuel Payment.
Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has been clear that it wants more pensioners to benefit from Winter Fuel Payments. More than three quarters - the vast majority of pensioners - will benefit from a Winter Fuel Payment. The threshold is also broadly in line with average earnings and ensures the means testing of Winter Fuel Payments has no effect on pensioner poverty.
Taxing the Winter Fuel Payment would go against the general rule that income replacement benefits are taxable but those such as Winter Fuel Payments, which are designed for specific costs, generally are not.
The Winter Fuel Payment remains tax free, ensuring those pensioners on lower and middle incomes receive the full benefit of the Winter Fuel Payment, which would not be the case if it was a taxable payment. The new £35,000 threshold ensures those pensioners with the highest incomes do not benefit from the payment and ensures fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers.
There are about 2 million pensioners with an income above £35,000. Based on 2023-24 data, the last publicly available estimates of this data, about 750,000 pensioners were higher rate tax payer and around 90,000 were additional rate tax payers.
Our Winter Fuel Payment policy is in line with our wider welfare reforms – ensuring support is targeted and that it is a responsible use of taxpayers’ money.