Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent discussions they have had with the governments of (1) the United States of America, (2) Saudi Arabia, (3) China, and (4) Malawi, regarding abolishing the death penalty in those countries.

Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The United Kingdom strongly opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances, as a matter of principle. We work through multilateral organisations, such as the UN Human Rights Council and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to raise concerns about the use of the death penalty, as well as through direct conversations with states that continue to retain the death penalty, including with the US, Saudi Arabia, China and Malawi.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what payments will be made to each of the ministers who recently resigned from the Government; and whether they have plans to introduce legislation to make employers liable for similar payments to those who voluntarily resign from the (1) public, and (2) private, sector.

Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords

Under the provisions of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991, a former minister only becomes entitled to a severance payment in the event that they are not appointed to another relevant office within three weeks of stepping down.

The provision of severance payments is set out in legislation, passed by Parliament, that has been applied by successive administrations over a significant period. Severance pay reflects the unpredictable nature of ministerial office.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education broke the Ministerial Code by raising her middle finger to a crowd outside Downing Street on 7 July.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)

The government recognises how important professional conduct, ethical standards and appropriate behaviour are in setting a good example for our children and young people. My right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, is similarly clear that MPs and those in government should be held to the highest standards.

My hon. Friend, the Minister for Skills, Further and Higher Education has acknowledged that she should have shown more composure and regrets that her behaviour fell short of expected standards on this occasion.

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the change in the level of collaborative scientific funding for UK organisations if the UK does not participate in the Horizon Europe programme, and (2) reports that the UK is losing out on £100 million as a result of not participating; and what assessment they have made of the reasons for any reduction in funding.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK stands ready to formalise our association to EU programmes at the earliest opportunity but the EU are not honouring commitments made when the TCA was agreed.

Spending Review 21 confirmed that if we are unable to associate to Horizon Europe, the funding allocated will go to other UK Government-funded R&D programmes, including those to support international partnerships.

The Government is providing the fastest ever sustained uplift in R&D funding, reaching £20 billion per annum by the end of the SR period – £5 billion more than 2021/2022 with HM Treasury committed to £22 billion in 2026/2027 as part of our commitment to the target of UK economy-wide R&D investment reaching 2.4% of GDP by 2027.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional funding they are providing to local authorities to enable them to prevent roads melting in the extreme heat.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

As per section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, it is up to the respective local highway authority to decide how best they maintain their highway network, including during heatwaves, based on local needs and priorities. The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), who work closely with the Department for Transport and are members of the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG), advised highway authorities and road operators that applying granite grit dust on the road surface during high temperatures can help keep the highway network from melting excessively.

The Government has committed £915 million per year for local highways maintenance for local highway authorities outside London and Mayoral Combined Authorities, for the three years starting 2022-23. This represents a highways maintenance funding level consistent with 2021/22. The three-year settlement will enable local highway authorities to plan more effectively for managing their highways assets, preventing potholes and other road defects across their local highway networks.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they have given to local authorities on preventing roads melting in the extreme heat.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

As per section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, it is up to the respective local highway authority to decide how best they maintain their highway network, including during heatwaves, based on local needs and priorities. The Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), who work closely with the Department for Transport and are members of the UK Roads Liaison Group (UKRLG), advised highway authorities and road operators that applying granite grit dust on the road surface during high temperatures can help keep the highway network from melting excessively.

The Government has committed £915 million per year for local highways maintenance for local highway authorities outside London and Mayoral Combined Authorities, for the three years starting 2022-23. This represents a highways maintenance funding level consistent with 2021/22. The three-year settlement will enable local highway authorities to plan more effectively for managing their highways assets, preventing potholes and other road defects across their local highway networks.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in negotiations with the EU regarding a carnet waiver for creative artists.

Answered by Baroness Penn

ATA Carnets are not a requirement for anyone temporarily importing goods between the UK and EU. They are an optional facilitation which allow goods to be imported temporarily without the normal customs formalities (i.e. customs declarations) and import duty being paid. They allow a single document to be used for multiple countries’ customs controls.

The use of an ATA Carnet is subject to an issuing fee and a requirement to provide a security. It is therefore a commercial decision for businesses and individuals whether a Carnet is the most suitable option for temporarily moving their goods. The Government is not currently having any discussions with the EU to negotiate a waiver of ATA Carnets for creative artists.

An alternative option to an ATA Carnet is the Temporary Admission (TA) procedure. The UK and EU both operate a similar TA procedure which allows goods to be imported temporarily with relief from customs duty and import VAT, subject to certain conditions being met. If TA is used in conjunction with the UK or EU Returned Goods Relief scheme (for returning goods), goods can be moved temporarily between the UK and EU without having to pay import duties.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are giving to enable the deployment of technologically mature but presently economically unviable decarbonisation technologies, such as shore power.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

The government is supporting the decarbonisation of the UK Maritime sector through a two-pronged approach: R&D funding and investment; and a comprehensive policy and regulatory programme.

Building on the success of the first Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, in March 2022 the government announced a £206m R&D fund to be managed by the newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). UK SHORE will work in partnership with industry to tackle supply and demand barriers and speed the transition of the UK toward a decarbonised maritime sector. The UK SHORE programme is being scoped and is considering different kinds of projects. The programme will aim to deliver a suite of interventions transforming the UK into a global leader in the design, manufacture and operation of clean maritime technology – boosting both jobs and economic growth.

Earlier this year a 12 -week call for evidence on the uptake of shore power in the UK was launched as part of a commitment in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan. The responses to the call for evidence have been analysed and were published in July 2022. The next step is to use the evidence to develop policy proposals and consult on them later this year.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in establishing clean maritime clusters.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned a study into maritime clusters. The work was delivered by E4Tech and UMAS and identified a wide range of UK locations where innovation strengths could combine with local demand for clean solutions, providing a foundation for maritime clusters. Based on this work, clusters are being considered as one option as part of wider initiatives such as Centre for Smart Shipping, which forms a part of the newly established UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK Shore).

UK SHORE is a £206m Research and Development investment programme, which will work in partnership with industry to tackle the technological barriers to maritime decarbonization and speed the transition of the UK toward a decarbonised maritime sector. It will deliver a suite of interventions transforming the UK into a global leader in the design, manufacture and operation of clean maritime technology – boosting both jobs and economic growth.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of the research and innovation budget they have allocated to support the maritime sector in (1) this, and (2) the next, financial year.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

The proportion of DfT’s R&D budget allocated to the maritime sector is 15.4% in 22-23, and 22.4% in 23-24.

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to consult with local authorities on a long-term plan for dealing with future climate change events causing (1) extreme heat, and (2) flooding.

Answered by Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park

We are consulting local authorities on the development of the UK's third National Adaptation Programme (NAP3). This is our long-term plan for building a more climate resilient country and our response to the latest assessment of UK climate risks, which is due for publication in 2023 and will run until 2028. This programme will address the advice contained in the third and latest assessment of UK climate risk (CCRA3) from January 2022, which included 61 climate risks and opportunities to the UK, including those related to overheating and floods.

We are primarily consulting local authorities through the Local Adaptation Advisory Panel, a Defra-hosted forum focused on climate adaptation issues that brings together central and local government, as well as via the Local Government Association. We are also engaging with groups like the Environment Board of the local representative organisation the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT).

This work builds on previous central-local government collaboration on the development of previous NAPs, including NAP2. NAP2, published in 2018 and running until 2023, includes actions for local government

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the condition of runways at UK airports and their ability to withstand climate change-related weather conditions.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

Safety is our utmost priority in aviation and therefore in extreme heat UK airports have increased monitoring of operations, including runway inspections.

There are a number of factors that can impact wear of runways. To mitigate these risks, regular rehabilitation and resurfacing works are scheduled by all major airports to keep their runways in the best condition to support aircraft movements safely. In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority requires all certified airports to inspect their runway a minimum of two times a day along the standard international guidelines for inspection.

HM Government recognises that the fight against climate change is one of the greatest and most pressing challenges facing the modern world. The third National Adaptation Programme is due in 2023. It will showcase the government’s strategy and plans to tackle the effects of climate change, including how to protect people, infrastructure and the environment in heatwaves.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to publish quarterly lists of the identified benefits arising from the UK’s departure from the EU.

Answered by Lord True - Shadow Leader of the House of Lords

We will not be publishing quarterly lists of the identified benefits. Outside the European Union, Parliament is now able to take advantage of a whole host of regulatory opportunities, spanning from agriculture to financial services, and immigration reform to improved medical regulations. The government has legislated to deliver many of these benefits already.

On 22 June 2022, we published an interactive dashboard cataloguing over 2,400 pieces of retained EU law (REUL), spanning across 300 unique policy areas. The Brexit Freedoms Bill, announced in the Queen’s Speech, will strengthen the Government’s ability to amend, repeal and replace REUL and will support the Government’s ambition to ensure that, now that we have left the EU, the UK can be the “best regulated economy in the world” and move away from the EU’s obsolete “one size fits all” regulatory model.

To ensure that the public knows how much EU-derived law there is on the UK statute book and how much progress the Government is making to reform it, we will be updating the catalogue of REUL on a quarterly basis.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the uptake of maritime qualifications in (1) schools, and (2) colleges.

Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)

Provision is already available for both those under 16 in a school setting seeking to understand more about the industry, and for post-16 students studying at level 2 and 3, who may be seeking to undertake a qualification to progress into an apprenticeship or into employment and wish to take a qualification which will involve a work-based setting.

There are around 40 qualifications focusing on aspects of maritime studies approved for funding for young people and adults, some of which are available only to adults. Others are available to those of school age or in further education. There are 12 apprenticeship standards in this sector approved for delivery, including Maritime Mechanical and Electrical Mechanic, Marine Surveyor, and Seafarer.

The Careers & Enterprise Company is supporting schools and colleges to embed best practice in the delivery of careers information, advice, and guidance, so young people are aware of the full range of training and careers available to them and have access to a broad range of employers and workplaces, including those in the maritime sector. This will be delivered through the national roll-out of Career Hubs, Careers Leaders training, and the Enterprise Adviser Network.

The department has recently established the UK Shipbuilding Skills Taskforce (UKSST). This group is made up of representatives from across industry, trade unions, and training providers. It will look to address skills barriers in the sector by utilising and catalysing existing skills provisions. As part of this, existing provision will be reviewed to see how it can best meet the present skills demand and future needs. UKSST’s work will be driven by the needs of stakeholders from across the sector.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they made an assessment in 2020 of whether limiting their support of UK airlines through access to furlough funding would have an impact on the airlines’ staff numbers and post-pandemic capacity.

Answered by Baroness Penn

The economic impact of the pandemic was widespread across large parts of the economy. It was right that the Government made support available for all businesses that needed it for the whole of the UK. To clarify, any entity with a UK payroll, including airlines, was able to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

When designing and implementing the scheme, the Government carefully considered its impacts on individual sectors and on the economy as a whole, and adapted its approach in response to the changing health and economic context.

In addition to CJRS, the Government provided unprecedented support to the aviation and aerospace sectors throughout Covid-19, with over £12 billion made available through loan guarantees, support for exporters, the Bank of England’s Covid Corporate Financing Facility, and grants for research and development.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article 'News & campaigns' in the Incorporated Society of Musicians July/August 2022 music journal; and what assessment they have made of the concerns expressed in that article that proposals to reform Higher Education courses "will cause particular harm to arts courses, as well as damaging the government's own levelling-up agenda".

Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)

The higher education (HE) reforms, to which the Incorporated Society of Musicians article refers, were subject to consultation earlier this year. The consultation outlined proposals for controls to prevent the growth of low-quality courses with poor outcomes and sought views on what was a fair and appropriate level at which to potentially set a minimum eligibility requirement for access to student finance for degree-level study. The consultation period has now concluded and we are considering the views submitted. The government will respond in due course.

The article concentrates on the government’s proposal to prevent the growth of low-quality courses. If implemented, all areas of HE would be considered, including creative arts, humanities, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses, to inform an assessment of which provision offers the best outcomes. Our focus would be on courses which are of the lowest quality. Supporting students onto high-quality HE courses, that will offer them good outcomes, ensures that students, of all backgrounds, are not misdirected or encouraged towards courses that are unlikely to provide high-quality outcomes and good value for money. This will support levelling up.

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in implementing the Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme.

Answered by Lord Callanan - Shadow Minister (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy is working with partners to introduce a Home Shipbuilding Credit Guarantee Scheme, which is now in the final stages of development.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the article 'News & campaigns' in the Incorporated Society of Musicians July/August 2022 music journal; and what assessment they have made of the concerns expressed in that article that the Schools White Paper "suggests a possible narrowing of focus away from creative subjects such as music".

Answered by Baroness Barran - Shadow Minister (Education)

The department is grateful to the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM) for providing us with a copy of this issue of the Music Journal, which we understand is normally made available solely to its members.

Whilst the department acknowledges that there are challenges to delivering high quality music education in every school, schools the length and breadth of the country are doing just that. The White Paper is clear that ‘as part of a richer school week, all children should be entitled to take part in sport, music and cultural opportunities and that these opportunities are an essential part of a broad and ambitious curriculum’, a point that the ISM itself acknowledged in its response to the White Paper.

The department was pleased to note that the ISM has welcomed the refreshed National Plan for Music Education, which we published in June 2022 and in particular its restatement of the importance of music as an essential part of a broad and ambitious curriculum for all pupils.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to unlock private investment in coastal communities not covered by a freeport.

Answered by Lord Harrington of Watford

My Government places great emphasis on ensuring Coastal Communities are at the forefront of the Levelling Up agenda. Our £4.8 billion Levelling Up Fund will invest in every part of the UK, including coastal areas and I am keen to see bids come forward from coastal communities in the second round of the Fund. Regeneration and Infrastructure projects - which have the potential to boost private investment - will be a key focus of this work

Furthermore, the UK Shared Prosperity Fund will provide £2.6 billion of investment across the whole of the United Kingdom by 2025, with building pride in place, including in coastal communities, a key theme of the Fund's work. Every coastal community in the UK will receive an allocation and places will be empowered to identify and build on their own strengths and needs at a local level

Levelling Up funding will unlock the potential of coastal communities by regenerating town centres and getting infrastructure match fit, making coastal communities a more attractive place to do business and boosting private investment.

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Very sad that my friend, Lord Jones of Cheltenham has passed away. We campaigned together in the 70s and I helped his campaign to become MP in 1992. His murdered assistant Andrew Pennington was also a friend. I introduced him to the Lords in 2005. https://t.co/8PNPMMLlb0

Such a sad loss. A really good & decent person. Nigel Jones served for over 30 years as MP & Peer, & survived a sword attack by a constituent in 2000. - Lib Dem peer Lord Jones of Cheltenham dies aged 74. https://t.co/YpGdD25kXT