Lord Lucas

The Government announced its response to the consultation on the Gender Recognition Act via Written Ministerial Statement, and published the analysis report on 22 September. The announcement was that there will be no changes to the GRA legislation, but that we will be making the process less bureaucratic by digitising the application process and reducing the fee. There is therefore no need to review policies of all departments, police forces, schools, NHS trusts or other public bodies as the law will not change.

The Government believes that the protection of single-sex spaces, as provided for in the Equality Act, is important. The Government reiterated in their recent response to the Gender Recognition Act consultation that the Equality Act provides crucial protections for sex and gender reassignment as protected characteristics.

The NHS has already started a series of long-term studies to better understand the outcomes of children and young people who are referred to gender identity services. NHS England are also currently reviewing the evidence base related to young people on the gender dysphoria pathway, including the evidence base that underpins the use and administration of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones.

Dr Hilary Cass, OBE, is leading an independent review into gender identity services for children and young people. This will examine the recent rise in the number of children seeking treatment and how care can be improved for children and young people. The review will report back with recommendations next year.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf.

In total, there are three gender-neutral toilets located on the Principal Floor of the House of Lords; two on the West Front Corridor and one by the Salisbury Room. Currently there are no plans to increase the number of gender-neutral toilets on the Principal Floor.

The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond on his behalf. The issue relates to a new security feature introduced as part of Apple’s iOS update, which affected the sharing of contact information between the Outlook app and other apps on Apple devices. The Parliamentary Digital Service is currently working with Microsoft to introduce a fix for this which meets Parliament’s security requirements to ensure that parliamentary data are held securely, and in particular to ensure that access to data through non-parliamentary apps does not compromise security. Once they have a revised fix from Microsoft it will be tested and then if viable released to users. Parliament’s approach towards the management of and access to its data is common to that followed in many organisations.

In accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty, under s.149 of the Equality Act 2010, a full Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted when the Domestic Abuse Prosecution Guidance 2022 was revised in order to appropriately identify and consider its potential impact in terms of equality. It gave due regard to equality considerations for protected characteristics as detailed within the body of s.149.

The EIA for the Domestic Abuse Prosecution Guidance remains under review and has been updated on several occasions since the guidance was published in 2022. The CPS do not intend to place a copy of the EIA in the Library as it is continuously reviewed and updated. A copy of the document as it appeared in 2022 has been provided.

All employees are expected to act in accordance with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Values which state, “We will treat everyone with respect. We will respect each other, our colleagues, and the public we serve, recognising that there are people behind every case.”

A member of the National D&I team is a member of the Sex Equality and Equity Network (SEEN) civil service network to ensure that a gender critical perspective is considered when commenting on policy and process change.

The Domestic Abuse Prosecution Guidance was revised in 2022 to reflect changes brought in by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DA Act).

The new legislation created the need for an updated document that accurately reflects the law relating to domestic abuse and appropriately supports prosecutors in their application of it. The revision was necessary, and as such, no external organisations or individuals were consulted as to whether the CPS should revise the Guidance.

External stakeholders were consulted on later revisions of the guidance

The Solicitor General has answered a question regarding the organisations consulted when Annex D of the guidance was being developed (PQ 604).

The government must meet the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, which place a legal obligation on employers to provide a 'reasonable' temperature in the workplace. The current operational temperatures in open plan offices vary across government.

We are following, and closely monitoring, industry and HSE guidance in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of reducing the operational temperature setpoint by 2°C.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

Lord Lucas

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

13 July 2021

Dear Lord Lucas,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions relating to Census 2021 in England and Wales asking firstly how many 2021 census forms were (1) requested, and (2) have been completed and returned (HL1710); secondly, how many fines have been issued for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1711); and what plans there are to compare the census data with the Department for Work and Pensions' database of National Insurance numbers to identify (1) NI numbers which should be terminated, and (2) individuals who should be fined for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1713).

Census 2021 was designed to be a digital-first census and we encouraged people to complete online where possible, but we made sure that those who preferred to use a paper questionnaire were able to do so. Most households were sent a letter with an access code to complete the census online. Ten percent of households, where the take-up of the online option was likely to be relatively low, were sent a paper questionnaire in place of the Census 2021 letter. Each paper questionnaire also included an access code so that the household could complete online. Similarly, while most reminder letters sent to households that had not yet completed the census included the online access code, some households were sent paper questionnaires as part of the reminder and follow-up process. Paper questionnaires and online access codes were also available on request via our freephone contact centre or the Census 2021 website.

The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations, with a return rate of 97 percent of households across England and Wales and an online-completion rate above our target of 75 percent. The return rate is based on the number of households where we have a valid return, as a percentage of all addresses that are not considered to be vacant. Final response rates will be calculated after following the processing of data from the census and the Census Coverage Survey, and may therefore differ from the return rate. While this processing is continuing, we are not able to provide the detailed information requested. We are planning to publish an article in the autumn with information on how people completed the census, including whether they did so online or on paper.

As regards the number of fines for non-completion and for providing false information in Census 2021, I would like to clarify that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not have the power to impose fines under the Census Act 1920. Fines can be imposed by the courts as a result of a successful prosecution, and the ONS works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on bringing cases to court where necessary. The ONS is currently undertaking the non-compliance process, including gathering evidence to be passed to the CPS where appropriate. The main objective of this work is to persuade the few people who refuse to complete a questionnaire to do so; as such, people can avoid the risk of a fine for non-completion at any stage by completing the census.

We have no plans to use census data for the purposes described in your question. In accordance with all relevant legislation, UK Statistics Authority policy, and the promises made to census respondents, personal information collected during the census can and will be used for statistical purposes only, and not used in any way that could have a direct impact on individuals.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

Lord Lucas

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

13 July 2021

Dear Lord Lucas,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions relating to Census 2021 in England and Wales asking firstly how many 2021 census forms were (1) requested, and (2) have been completed and returned (HL1710); secondly, how many fines have been issued for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1711); and what plans there are to compare the census data with the Department for Work and Pensions' database of National Insurance numbers to identify (1) NI numbers which should be terminated, and (2) individuals who should be fined for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1713).

Census 2021 was designed to be a digital-first census and we encouraged people to complete online where possible, but we made sure that those who preferred to use a paper questionnaire were able to do so. Most households were sent a letter with an access code to complete the census online. Ten percent of households, where the take-up of the online option was likely to be relatively low, were sent a paper questionnaire in place of the Census 2021 letter. Each paper questionnaire also included an access code so that the household could complete online. Similarly, while most reminder letters sent to households that had not yet completed the census included the online access code, some households were sent paper questionnaires as part of the reminder and follow-up process. Paper questionnaires and online access codes were also available on request via our freephone contact centre or the Census 2021 website.

The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations, with a return rate of 97 percent of households across England and Wales and an online-completion rate above our target of 75 percent. The return rate is based on the number of households where we have a valid return, as a percentage of all addresses that are not considered to be vacant. Final response rates will be calculated after following the processing of data from the census and the Census Coverage Survey, and may therefore differ from the return rate. While this processing is continuing, we are not able to provide the detailed information requested. We are planning to publish an article in the autumn with information on how people completed the census, including whether they did so online or on paper.

As regards the number of fines for non-completion and for providing false information in Census 2021, I would like to clarify that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not have the power to impose fines under the Census Act 1920. Fines can be imposed by the courts as a result of a successful prosecution, and the ONS works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on bringing cases to court where necessary. The ONS is currently undertaking the non-compliance process, including gathering evidence to be passed to the CPS where appropriate. The main objective of this work is to persuade the few people who refuse to complete a questionnaire to do so; as such, people can avoid the risk of a fine for non-completion at any stage by completing the census.

We have no plans to use census data for the purposes described in your question. In accordance with all relevant legislation, UK Statistics Authority policy, and the promises made to census respondents, personal information collected during the census can and will be used for statistical purposes only, and not used in any way that could have a direct impact on individuals.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond | National Statistician

Lord Lucas

House of Lords

London

SW1A 0PW

13 July 2021

Dear Lord Lucas,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions relating to Census 2021 in England and Wales asking firstly how many 2021 census forms were (1) requested, and (2) have been completed and returned (HL1710); secondly, how many fines have been issued for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1711); and what plans there are to compare the census data with the Department for Work and Pensions' database of National Insurance numbers to identify (1) NI numbers which should be terminated, and (2) individuals who should be fined for non-completion of the 2021 census (HL1713).

Census 2021 was designed to be a digital-first census and we encouraged people to complete online where possible, but we made sure that those who preferred to use a paper questionnaire were able to do so. Most households were sent a letter with an access code to complete the census online. Ten percent of households, where the take-up of the online option was likely to be relatively low, were sent a paper questionnaire in place of the Census 2021 letter. Each paper questionnaire also included an access code so that the household could complete online. Similarly, while most reminder letters sent to households that had not yet completed the census included the online access code, some households were sent paper questionnaires as part of the reminder and follow-up process. Paper questionnaires and online access codes were also available on request via our freephone contact centre or the Census 2021 website.

The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations, with a return rate of 97 percent of households across England and Wales and an online-completion rate above our target of 75 percent. The return rate is based on the number of households where we have a valid return, as a percentage of all addresses that are not considered to be vacant. Final response rates will be calculated after following the processing of data from the census and the Census Coverage Survey, and may therefore differ from the return rate. While this processing is continuing, we are not able to provide the detailed information requested. We are planning to publish an article in the autumn with information on how people completed the census, including whether they did so online or on paper.

As regards the number of fines for non-completion and for providing false information in Census 2021, I would like to clarify that the Office for National Statistics (ONS) does not have the power to impose fines under the Census Act 1920. Fines can be imposed by the courts as a result of a successful prosecution, and the ONS works closely with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) on bringing cases to court where necessary. The ONS is currently undertaking the non-compliance process, including gathering evidence to be passed to the CPS where appropriate. The main objective of this work is to persuade the few people who refuse to complete a questionnaire to do so; as such, people can avoid the risk of a fine for non-completion at any stage by completing the census.

We have no plans to use census data for the purposes described in your question. In accordance with all relevant legislation, UK Statistics Authority policy, and the promises made to census respondents, personal information collected during the census can and will be used for statistical purposes only, and not used in any way that could have a direct impact on individuals.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Sir Ian Diamond

The Contact Centre Services framework agreement (RM3815) has minimum security standards for technology and people vetting, as well as standards in place for data protection (GDPR) within the framework agreement terms and conditions that all suppliers must adhere to.

Customer authorities may put in place call-off contracts with Service Level Agreements where suppliers will need to report on staff's availability to answer/handle calls.

However, specific call off clauses agreed between suppliers and customers concerning surveillance and working conditions of remote workers are not reported back centrally to the Crown Commercial Service.

The Ministerial and Other Maternity Allowances Act provides for maternity leave for mothers, irrespective of gender reassignment. We believe that all people should be treated with respect and their rights protected. We also believe in the compatibility of protecting women’s rights and the rights of transgender people.

It is not for the government to comment on the journalistic practice of offering a right of reply, and the confidentiality of such correspondence.

In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not usually disclosed.

The Government recognises the significant impact of Covid-19 on young people, particularly the most vulnerable.

Young people benefit from many of the interventions introduced by the Government to support the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced on 25 November that a specific £16.5m Youth Covid-19 Support Fund will protect the immediate future of grassroots and national youth organisations across the country. The Government has also released £90m from dormant accounts to support charities tackling youth unemployment.

The Intelligence and Security Committee was reconstituted on 14 July 2020.

The public have been able to report suspicious emails to the NCSC (National Cyber Security Centre) through the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) since April 21st, 2020 by emailing report@phishing.gov.uk, when it was launched alongside the Cyber Aware campaign.

The average salaries of civil servants at delegated grades who retired between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019 are below. We do not track individual salaries back to previous years at delegated grades.

These figures are sourced from the Annual Civil Service Employment Survey, rounded to the nearest £100, and only include those with a known salary: 22% of retirees did not have a reported salary.

Average salaries of civil servants at a Senior Civil Service (SCS) level who retired between 1 April 2018 and 31 March 2019, for the most recent available year and two years prior are below.

These figures are sourced from the Cabinet Office SCS database. Grade is as at the time of retirement. Figures are not released where less than 5 staff are counted (indicated by “-”), rounded to the nearest £100, and only include those with a known salary in both years. Salary data is not available for all prior years, and 19% of retirees did not have a recorded salary over this period.

The draft Census (England and Wales) Order 2020 was laid in Parliament on 2 March 2020. It makes provision for the 2021 Census to ask a male/female sex question as in previous censuses. In addition, it is proposed the 2021 Census asks a voluntary question on gender identity for those 16 and over. This follows the Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Act 2019 which enables census questions on sexual orientation and gender identity to be asked on a voluntary basis.

There is no central guidance for police forces on the recording of sex or gender of persons in connection with a crime.

The Personal Demographic Service (responsible for the NHS Number) record contains no clinical information. It holds administrative gender, which is not necessarily the same as clinical gender in some cases.

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Dear Lord Lucas,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking (a) how many crimes recorded in the last five years for which data are available involved the use of rifles; and in each case, (i) what types of rifles were involved, (ii) how such rifles were obtained, and (iii) what types of crime such rifles were used to commit (HL12712); and (b) how many crimes recorded in the last five years for which data are available involved the use of blades; and in each case, (i) what types of blades were involved, (ii) how such blades were obtained, and (iii) what types of crime such blades were used to commit (HL12713).

Although the data are collected by the Home Office, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes figures on the number of offences recorded by the police involving the use of firearms (including rifles) and knives or sharp instruments.

Table 1 shows the number of offences recorded by the police in England and Wales involving the use of a rifle, in each of the latest five years that data are currently available. These data were published across several releases, the latest of which being Table 9 of the ‘Offences involving the use of weapons: data tables’[1] release for the year ending March 2017. Data for the year ending March 2018 are due to be published on 7 February 2019.

Table 2 shows the latest available data on the number of offences recorded by the police in England and Wales involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument. To provide a consistent time-series, these data exclude offences recorded by Greater Manchester Police, who recently uncovered a technical issue affecting their recording of offences involving knives and sharp instruments. These data were published alongside the ‘Crime in England and Wales: year ending June 2018’ bulletin in Table F3a of ‘Other related tables’[2].

The police recorded knife or sharp instrument offences data are submitted to the Home Office via an additional special collection. This special collection includes the offences: homicide; attempted murder; threats to kill; assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm; robbery; rape; and sexual assault. Although not all offences are included, those selected are thought to cover most offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.

Data are not available in relation to the type of rifle or knife or sharp instrument that was involved in the offences recorded by the police or how the weapon had been obtained by the perpetrator(s).

Yours sincerely,

John Pullinger

Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in which rifles were reported to have been used, by offence group, year ending March 2013 to year ending March 2017[3]^,[4]

Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office

Table 2: Selected violent and sexual offences involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by the police in England and Wales (excluding Greater Manchester Police), year ending March 2014 to year ending June 2018[5]^{,[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12]}

Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/offencesinvolvingtheuseofweaponsdatatables

[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesotherrelatedtables

[3]Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics.

[4]Since publication of this year’s data (12 February 2015), one additional firearm offence involving the use of a rifle has been recorded. This is not included in this table as an updated offence type breakdown for this year has not been published.

[5]Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics.

[6]Police recorded crime statistics for offences involving a knife or sharp instrument based on data from 43 police forces in England and Wales. Data from Greater Manchester Police are excluded. A review of GMP data has identified undercounting of crimes involving a knife or sharp instrument. This occurred due to a technical issue with the identification and extraction of all relevant records of these offences from their crime recording system. GMP have changed the methodology they use to extract knife or sharp instrument offences and data from December 2017 onwards have been revised. However, data for earlier periods have not been revised and are likely to exclude relevant crimes that were recorded in GMP. Due to these changes, data for GMP have been excluded from the time series.

[7]Police recorded knife and sharp instrument offences data presented in this table are submitted via an additional special collection. Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument.

[8]Data from Surrey Police include unbroken bottle and glass offences, which are outside the scope of this special collection; however, it is not thought that offences of this kind constitute a large enough number to impact on the national figure.

[9]An audit of Thames Valley Police into the recording of knife and sharp instrument offences since the introduction of their new recording system in April 2014 has revealed that they were previously under-counting these offences. Data for the year ending March 2016 have been revised, but data for the year ending March 2015 have not.

[10]Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Police forces have implemented new crime recording systems and therefore data for the latest period may be under-recorded.

[11]Sexual assault includes indecent assault on a male/female and sexual assault on a male/female (all ages).

[12]Homicide offences are those currently recorded by the police as at 11 September 2018 and are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. These figures are taken from the detailed record level Homicide Index (rather than the main police collection for which forces are only required to provide an overall count of homicides).

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

Dear Lord Lucas,

As National Statistician and Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, I am responding to your Parliamentary Questions asking (a) how many crimes recorded in the last five years for which data are available involved the use of rifles; and in each case, (i) what types of rifles were involved, (ii) how such rifles were obtained, and (iii) what types of crime such rifles were used to commit (HL12712); and (b) how many crimes recorded in the last five years for which data are available involved the use of blades; and in each case, (i) what types of blades were involved, (ii) how such blades were obtained, and (iii) what types of crime such blades were used to commit (HL12713).

Although the data are collected by the Home Office, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes figures on the number of offences recorded by the police involving the use of firearms (including rifles) and knives or sharp instruments.

Table 1 shows the number of offences recorded by the police in England and Wales involving the use of a rifle, in each of the latest five years that data are currently available. These data were published across several releases, the latest of which being Table 9 of the ‘Offences involving the use of weapons: data tables’[1] release for the year ending March 2017. Data for the year ending March 2018 are due to be published on 7 February 2019.

Table 2 shows the latest available data on the number of offences recorded by the police in England and Wales involving the use of a knife or sharp instrument. To provide a consistent time-series, these data exclude offences recorded by Greater Manchester Police, who recently uncovered a technical issue affecting their recording of offences involving knives and sharp instruments. These data were published alongside the ‘Crime in England and Wales: year ending June 2018’ bulletin in Table F3a of ‘Other related tables’[2].

The police recorded knife or sharp instrument offences data are submitted to the Home Office via an additional special collection. This special collection includes the offences: homicide; attempted murder; threats to kill; assault with injury and assault with intent to cause serious harm; robbery; rape; and sexual assault. Although not all offences are included, those selected are thought to cover most offences involving a knife or sharp instrument.

Data are not available in relation to the type of rifle or knife or sharp instrument that was involved in the offences recorded by the police or how the weapon had been obtained by the perpetrator(s).

Yours sincerely,

John Pullinger

Table 1: Offences recorded by the police in England and Wales in which rifles were reported to have been used, by offence group, year ending March 2013 to year ending March 2017[3]^,[4]

Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office

Table 2: Selected violent and sexual offences involving a knife or sharp instrument recorded by the police in England and Wales (excluding Greater Manchester Police), year ending March 2014 to year ending June 2018[5]^{,[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11],[12]}

Source: Police recorded crime, Home Office

[1]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/offencesinvolvingtheuseofweaponsdatatables

[2]https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesotherrelatedtables

[3]Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics.

[4]Since publication of this year’s data (12 February 2015), one additional firearm offence involving the use of a rifle has been recorded. This is not included in this table as an updated offence type breakdown for this year has not been published.

[5]Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics.

[6]Police recorded crime statistics for offences involving a knife or sharp instrument based on data from 43 police forces in England and Wales. Data from Greater Manchester Police are excluded. A review of GMP data has identified undercounting of crimes involving a knife or sharp instrument. This occurred due to a technical issue with the identification and extraction of all relevant records of these offences from their crime recording system. GMP have changed the methodology they use to extract knife or sharp instrument offences and data from December 2017 onwards have been revised. However, data for earlier periods have not been revised and are likely to exclude relevant crimes that were recorded in GMP. Due to these changes, data for GMP have been excluded from the time series.

[7]Police recorded knife and sharp instrument offences data presented in this table are submitted via an additional special collection. Other offences exist that are not shown in this table that may include the use of a knife or sharp instrument.

[8]Data from Surrey Police include unbroken bottle and glass offences, which are outside the scope of this special collection; however, it is not thought that offences of this kind constitute a large enough number to impact on the national figure.

[9]An audit of Thames Valley Police into the recording of knife and sharp instrument offences since the introduction of their new recording system in April 2014 has revealed that they were previously under-counting these offences. Data for the year ending March 2016 have been revised, but data for the year ending March 2015 have not.

[10]Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Police forces have implemented new crime recording systems and therefore data for the latest period may be under-recorded.

[11]Sexual assault includes indecent assault on a male/female and sexual assault on a male/female (all ages).

[12]Homicide offences are those currently recorded by the police as at 11 September 2018 and are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. These figures are taken from the detailed record level Homicide Index (rather than the main police collection for which forces are only required to provide an overall count of homicides).