Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of a delay of trial trenching requirements for solar farms until after consent is granted upon the protection of archaeological sites from disturbance.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Criteria for assessing potential impacts of large-scale solar projects on the historic environment are set out in planning guidance. In most cases, applicants are required to seek expert assessment. Where assessments include investigative work, such as trial trenching, this should be proportionate.
Conducting this work during the pre-application planning phase enables developers to consider findings and, if necessary, mitigate impacts by adapting project design at an early stage.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of large-scale development consent order solar projects being able to bid in contracts for difference auctions on achieving the objectives of Clean Power 2030.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Solar projects over 5MW were eligible to apply for Allocation Round 6. The Government is committed to accelerating solar deployment to meet clean power 2030 and reviews the Contracts for Difference scheme before every round to ensure it continues to deliver this and other objectives. We will confirm details for Allocation Round 7 in due course.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have undertaken an impact assessment of trial trenching requirements on ground-mounted solar farm project developers.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
No formal impact assessment has been made.
Planning guidance and consents set requirements for archaeological surveys where appropriate, and techniques used may include trial trenching. The most appropriate technique is likely to depend on the specific circumstances in each case.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the level of remuneration recently offered to recruit a chief technology officer for the army by comparison to roles of equivalent seniority and experience in the private sector, and what assessment they have made of the implications for the security of the UK.
Answered by Lord Coaker - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Over the past twelve months, the British Army has undertaken civil service recruitment for two Chief Technology Officers. Both roles were advertised with salaries aligned with centrally approved remuneration frameworks, set by the Cabinet Office. This includes applicable allowances for the Digital, Data, and Technology (DDaT) profession, which remain under constant review.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans there are, if any, for (1) the asexual, and (2) the aromantic pride flags, to be displayed at 10 Downing Street.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are currently no plans to display the asexual and aromantic pride flags at 10 Downing Street.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 15 October (HC7508), whether (1) the transgender pride flag, and (2) the bisexual pride flag, benefit from deemed consent under Class 7 of Schedule 3 to The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) (England) Regulations 2007; and whether this is reflected in any guidance issued.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Flag advertisements which benefit from deemed consent are set out in Class 7 of Schedule 3 to The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisement) (England) Regulations 2007. Guidance is set out in Flying flags: A plain English guide.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the decision to display bisexual pride flags at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for Bisexual Awareness Week in September, whether an equality impact assessment or analysis was produced to assess the impact on people of other sexual orientations or gender identities; and what plans they have to display other pride flags within the next 12 months.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The FCDO is committed to championing the rights of LGBT+ individuals globally. This year, for Bisexual Awareness Week, the FCDO flew the Bisexual flag within the grounds of our HQ in London to show support to our colleagues. An equalities assessment was made against our Public Sector Equality Duty commitments which concluded that this would raise awareness and promote tolerance. The FCDO stands for inclusivity, diversity and acceptance, both at home and abroad. We celebrate the diversity of our staff throughout the year and recognise various anniversaries, events or international days which can include flying flags or lighting up the FCDO in relevant colours.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will provide funding for the 20 additional towns added to the Long Term Plan for Towns at the Spring Budget.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
As set out at Autumn Budget, the Long-Term Plan for Towns will be retained and reformed, as part of a new regeneration programme.
The 75 places across the UK that were previously selected to receive funding under the Long-Term Plan for Towns will receive up to £20 million of funding and support over the next decade.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether, when developing and implementing (1) health care, and (2) equalities policies, it is the position of (a) the Government, and (b) NHS England, that men can get pregnant.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
It is not the position of the Government, or NHS England, that a person whose biological sex is male can get pregnant.
Asked by: Lord Lucas (Conservative - Excepted Hereditary)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Centre for Perioperative Care's CPOC Manifesto: A Blueprint for NHS Efficiency, published on 12 April, in the light of the review of the NHS by Lord Darzi of Denham.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
In light of the review of the National Health Service by Professor Lord Darzi, which highlights the importance of driving productivity in hospitals, the Government welcomes the manifesto of the Centre for Perioperative Care (CPOC) and will consider its recommendations. The Government is already working with NHS England to improve perioperative care, which can reduce length of stay, improve patient outcomes, and increase productivity. In May 2023, NHS England published guidance setting out five core perioperative care requirements relating to the care of adult patients awaiting planned inpatient surgery. These measures address the key objective of identifying health needs as early as possible in perioperative pathways, and then using time on the waiting list to optimise health, through optimisation of both existing health conditions and of health-related behaviour. NHS England is working to oversee and support implementation, and will continue to do so throughout 2024/25. In addition, NHS England is also undertaking work on other areas addressed in the CPOC manifesto such as drinking, eating, and mobilising after surgery.