Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what date they have asked the Tees Valley Mayor to submit his final response to the independent Tees Valley Review published on 23 January, and whether they plan to publish this response in full.
Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The previous government’s independent review into the Tees Valley Combined Authority’s oversight of the South Tees Development Corporation and Teesworks Ltd was published 29 January 2024. The then Secretary of State wrote to the mayor in March 2024 requesting a further report in six months’ time. We expect to receive this report in September 2024, and to publish this in due course.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what guidance is given to UK ambassadors and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office officials attending Formula One races linked to human rights abuses in the Gulf region.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
All FCDO Staff are expected to maintain the highest standards of propriety and regularity at all times in line with the Civil Service Code and Diplomatic Service Code. The motorsport industry generates over £10 billion each year in the UK and provides significant employment opportunities. UK Ambassadors have regularly attended Formula One events as part of their official duties. However, we put the protection of human rights around the world at the heart of what we do and work with our allies to encourage all states to uphold their international human rights obligations.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government, what assessment they have made of allegations that the Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) finances institutions implicated in torture; what additional oversight mechanisms will be put in place to monitor the human rights considerations of GSF operations; how the funding for the GSF is justified; and when the summary of projects funded by the GSF will be made transparent to the public.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Gulf Strategy Fund (GSF) helps deliver HMG objectives across the Gulf Cooperation Council States. All cooperation through the FCDO International Programme, including the GSF, is subject to rigorous risk assessments to ensure all work meets our human rights obligations and our values. The Annual Summary of projects funded by the GSF in 2023/24 will be published later this year.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office sent notes to the Home Office in relation to Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei in August 2022 and March 2023 and, if so, for what purpose.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
While His Majesty's government does not comment on individual cases, as part of official processes Government departments do liaise as necessary.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to include the rights of Church of England Bishops to sit in the House of Lords in their public consultation on the reform of the Lords.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
Measures to modernise the constitution were announced in the King’s Speech, including legislation to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. This will be the first step in wider reform to the second chamber, as set out in the manifesto.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have raised concerns with the government of Bahrain over human rights issues since taking office; if so, when and to whom; and if not, whether they intend to do so.
Answered by Lord Collins of Highbury - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
His Majesty's Government has not made representations to the Government of Bahrain regarding human rights since taking office. The UK supports Bahrain's reforms and will continue to encourage their government to meet international and domestic human rights commitments.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what is their forecast of the number of people currently seeking asylum that will still need to have their case decided by the end of (1) 2024, and (2) 2025.
Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)
The Home Office routinely publishes information on a quarterly basis, including the number of cases outstanding. Data on the total number of outstanding cases in the asylum system (‘asylum work in progress’), asylum decision makers, processing times and productivity is published in the ‘Immigration and Protection’ data of the Migration transparency data - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
We are unable to forecast the number of people with outstanding case decisions as each case is decided on its own individual merits and there are many factors that can delay and contribute to the length of time to process asylum claims.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to extend the services that could be provided by community pharmacies as part of Pharmacy First.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Pharmacies play a vital role in our healthcare system. We are committed to embedding Pharmacy First and building on it, expanding the role of pharmacies and to better utilising the skills of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. That includes making prescribing part of the services delivered by community pharmacists.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill on 29 July (HL238), and further to the incident mentioned in that Answer, what assessment they have made of the general incidence of East Midlands Railways (EMR) operating carriages without air conditioning in recent hot weather resulting in passengers and staff having to endure high temperatures and the associated health risks; and whether they plan to take any action against EMR in response.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
While there has been no specific assessment into the functionality of air conditioning during the recent hot weather, a sample of EMR's trains are independently inspected each month to assess overall ambience, and this includes the temperature of the carriage.
Asked by: Lord Scriven (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what emphasis they intended to make on human rights in negotiating a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The UK is a leading advocate for human rights around the world. The Department for Business and Trade are currently assessing progress across the programme of Free Trade Agreements currently under negotiation. Economic growth is our first mission in government and Free Trade Agreements have an important part to play in that. The Department's trade deals will be aligned with its industrial strategy, to bring prosperity to communities across the country and fulfil our mission of securing the highest sustained growth in the G7.