Asked by: Lord Lea of Crondall (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 7 February (HL Deb, col 1592), and in the light of the report by the Office of Rail and Road on 2 February stating that Highways England is revising the plans about what capital projects it will define by 2020, whether the programme to dual-carriage the A1 north of Newcastle will start in 2020 and be completed on time and on budget by 2023.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
As set out in the Road Investment Strategy (RIS) of December 2014, construction of the A1 dualling schemes between Morpeth and Ellingham is expected to start works in 2019-2020. This is subject to completion of statutory planning processes and continuing to demonstrate value for money.
The A1 in Northumberland programme will also benefit from a package of smaller scale junction improvements, overtaking lanes and pedestrian improvements north of Ellingham. These are planned to start construction in 2018 and this is also subject to completion of statutory planning processes and continuing to demonstrate value for money.
Asked by: Lord Lea of Crondall (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government for what reasons they have decided not to follow the guidance set out in Chapter 14 of the Cabinet Office Guide to Making Legislation in respect of the Trade Union Bill, and in particular the requirement in paragraph 14.10 to publish the final impact assessment "at the final proposal stage".
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
In line with the Cabinet Office guidance, we will publish a final impact assessment before enactment. The Government has already published consultation Impacts Assessments alongside the public consultations that support the overall package of reforms, as well as an equality impact assessment and will publish a further Impact Assessment on the Bill before Lords Committee.
Asked by: Lord Lea of Crondall (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the case for the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group to examine the ability of political parties to operate freely in Swaziland and for members elected as representatives of political parties to represent voters in Parliament, in line with the Commonwealth Charter.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We remain concerned about the lack of progress towards inclusive democracy and the deteriorating human rights situation in Swaziland. The UK is not a member of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), but we continue to encourage all members of the Commonwealth, including members of CMAG, to ensure adherence to commitments made in the Commonwealth Charter. We also support the work of the Commonwealth’s Special Envoy to Swaziland, former Malawian President Bakili Muluzi, to promote democratic reform and political freedom in Swaziland.