Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 17 February (HL4749), what are the specific quantities of asbestos found in the Palace of Westminster, and what assessment has been made of the risks of asbestosis.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Asbestos containing materials (ACMs) are present across the Palace of Westminster, to date a total of 1057 items have been identified. The assessment of risks is determined by management surveys that identify and where deemed necessary the ongoing monitoring the condition of any ACMs. The purpose of the management survey is to identify the presence, material score (condition) and proximity risk (e.g. how likely the ACMs are to be disturbed).
Where management surveys identify a significant risk related to the ACMs they are removed by a licenced asbestos removal contractor. Where more invasive works are planned across the Palace such as for construction projects, refurbishment or demolition, a survey is undertaken and where ACMs are identified and where practicable, planning is made for removal.
There is a programme of management surveys conducted by experts who identify the presence of asbestos and update the Parliamentary asbestos register. These surveys inform the asbestos risk assessment which determines how asbestos containing materials are managed or removed where necessary. Detailed processes are in place to support safe invasive works including support from an asbestos analytical consultant and removal of asbestos containing materials via a licenced asbestos removal contractor.
Parliament appoints competent internal duty holders to advise on risks, and actions required to make the estate safe, and provides appropriate training and awareness to employees on risks related to asbestos.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment has been made of the extent of asbestos in the Palace of Westminster; and the danger of anybody working in or visiting the Palace contracting asbestosis.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Ensuring Parliament is safe is a key priority for the administrations of both Houses. Parliament has comprehensive procedures in place to ensure it discharges its duties under The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, mitigating the risks arising from asbestos and ensuring these are effectively controlled. It has a detailed asbestos management plan setting out competencies of duty holders and articulating how asbestos risks are mitigated on the estate.
There is a programme of management surveys conducted by experts who identify the presence of asbestos and update the Parliamentary asbestos register. These surveys inform the asbestos risk assessment which determines how asbestos containing materials are managed or removed where necessary. Detailed processes are in place to support safe invasive works including support from an asbestos analytical consultant and removal of asbestos containing materials via a licenced asbestos removal contractor.
Parliament appoints competent internal duty holders to advise on risks, and actions required to make the estate safe, and provides appropriate training and awareness to employees on risks related to asbestos.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many national public inquiries there have been since 2004; and what was the average (1) cost, (2) length, and (3) fee paid to the lawyers involved.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Since 2004, His Majesty’s Government has established 21 non-statutory inquiries, 24 statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005, and one inquiry under other legislation, on a broad range of subject matters. 30 of the total 46 inquiries have formally completed. Several of these statutory inquiries had previously been established as non-statutory inquiries or inquests.
The length of completed inquiries in this period ranges from 1 to 99 months, and published costs vary significantly from between £0.2m and £194m. The Cabinet Office does not centrally hold data on legal costs. Further information can be found on inquiry and departmental websites and in the National Archives.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 19 December 2024 (HL3442), how many small fire outbreaks in the Palace of Westminster there were in each year from 2014 to 2024.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The number of small fire outbreaks in the Palace of Westminster each year from 2014 to 2024 are as follows:
Year | Number of Incidents |
2014 | 5 |
2015 | 6 |
2016 | 10 |
2017 | 4 |
2018 | 4 |
2019 | 3 |
2020 | 1 |
2021 | 2 |
2022 | 1 |
2023 | 5 |
2024 | 3 |
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have consulted Alan Bates about the convictions of sub-postmasters due to the Post Office's Capture project.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 17 December, the Government published its response to the independent report into Capture, committing to offer redress to affected postmasters. We will develop our proposals through engagement with postmasters and key stakeholders.
The Kroll report does not make conclusions on whether Capture led to unsafe convictions The scale of convictions relating to Capture is so far unknown and no convictions have been overturned by the courts to date. The Criminal Cases Review Commission and its Scottish equivalent are actively reviewing cases which have been submitted, and the Government expects Post Office Ltd to fully engage with any ongoing or future investigations into Capture.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to pardon and compensate sub-postmasters convicted as a result of the Post Office's Capture project.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 17 December, the Government published its response to the independent report into Capture, committing to offer redress to affected postmasters. We will develop our proposals through engagement with postmasters and key stakeholders.
The Kroll report does not make conclusions on whether Capture led to unsafe convictions The scale of convictions relating to Capture is so far unknown and no convictions have been overturned by the courts to date. The Criminal Cases Review Commission and its Scottish equivalent are actively reviewing cases which have been submitted, and the Government expects Post Office Ltd to fully engage with any ongoing or future investigations into Capture.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the problems common to the Post Office's Capture and Horizon projects.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
On 17 December, the Government published its response to the independent report into Capture, committing to offer redress to affected postmasters. We will develop our proposals through engagement with postmasters and key stakeholders.
The Kroll report does not make conclusions on whether Capture led to unsafe convictions The scale of convictions relating to Capture is so far unknown and no convictions have been overturned by the courts to date. The Criminal Cases Review Commission and its Scottish equivalent are actively reviewing cases which have been submitted, and the Government expects Post Office Ltd to fully engage with any ongoing or future investigations into Capture.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what are the latest figures for antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crimes for the (1) Metropolitan Police, (2) Greater Manchester Police, and (3) West Midlands Police, compared with the figures for September 2023; and what is the average figure for all police forces over the same period.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office collects information on the number of religious hate crimes by targeted religion on a monthly basis from police forces in England and Wales. However, information is only available for 31 police forces, including the Metropolitan and Greater Manchester Police, for the time period asked about. The available data broken down by month from September 2023 to March 2024 are given in the table below:
Number of religious hate crimes targeted against Jews and Muslims recorded by the police by month, 31 police forces in England and Wales, September 2023 to March 2024 | |||||||
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| Hate crimes targeted against Jews |
| Hate crimes targeted against Muslims | ||||
Month | Metropolitan Police | Greater Manchester Police | Total for 31 police forces |
| Metropolitan Police | Greater Manchester Police | Total for 31 police forces |
September | 42 | 8 | 95 |
| 77 | 19 | 194 |
October | 315 | 85 | 577 |
| 153 | 40 | 325 |
November | 222 | 68 | 444 |
| 166 | 49 | 362 |
December | 124 | 33 | 264 |
| 89 | 40 | 243 |
January | 108 | 37 | 226 |
| 71 | 37 | 217 |
February | 91 | 34 | 211 |
| 96 | 34 | 233 |
March | 108 | 51 | 238 |
| 129 | 51 | 332 |
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Monthly average (September 2023 to March 2024 | 144 | 45 | 294 |
| 112 | 39 | 272 |
Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office |
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Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether a decision on the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster is still expected to be taken in 2025.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The R&R Client Board published the strategic case for the R&R Programme in March 2024. This set out that three options for how to deliver the R&R works to the Palace (including full decant, continued presence and enhanced maintenance and improvement) will be developed in detail. This detailed work, which will include estimated costs and timescales as well as risks and mitigations for all three options, is expected to be presented to the Houses by the end of 2025 to enable an evidence-based decision on how best to restore the Palace.
Asked by: Lord Hain (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that large amounts of sanctioned Russian liquefied natural gas reach European markets through Zeebrugge.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK has taken extensive action to limit energy revenues that are funding Russia's war. The UK prohibited the import of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) in January 2023 and banned the export of energy related goods. In September 2024 we used new powers to sanction carriers transporting Russian LNG, followed by a second set of vessels in October. These carriers were shipping LNG from Russia's flagship Arctic LNG 2 project which has ceased production as a result of UK and partner sanctions. We are committed to working with partners, including the EU, to take further steps to constrain Russian revenue.