Lord Triesman

So far three of an anticipated four days have been scheduled and advertised (21, 23 and 30 January). The remaining day will be rescheduled as a day had to be set aside for the House to have a further debate under section 13 of the EU (Withdrawal) Act which is now scheduled for 28 January. The progress of all business is, as always, in the hands of the House. But the Usual Channels have agreed to those dates on the assumption that they should allow Committee Stage to be completed inside four days and the Usual Channels are working to get the remaining day scheduled within the first week of February.

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

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply, and I will place a copy of their letter in the House Library.

SAGE is not a membership body. HMG has not published the names of SAGE participants in line with advice from the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure and standard procedure for COBR meetings, to which SAGE gives advice.

HMG will be publishing the names of those participants, who give their consent to this, in the coming days. This will allow for transparency on who is contributing to the science advice being given to the Government.

In line with its usual approach, HMG will publish the minutes of relevant SAGE meetings once SAGE stops convening on this emergency. In addition, the evidence which has been used to inform SAGE advice will be published in the coming weeks where appropriate. Papers relating to SAGE will be published on the Gov.uk website.

There are no regulatory restrictions on overseas nationals registering a company in the UK or serving as directors on UK registered companies. However, all UK registered companies must have a registered office that is based in the UK and directors of UK registered companies must be at least 16 years old and not disqualified or bankrupt.

Listing recognises the special architectural or historic interest of a building, and ensures that the conservation of its significance is given particularly careful consideration by local planning authorities through the planning and listed building consent processes. The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has the power to call in applications for planning permission or listed building consent.

The Bevis Marks Synagogue in the City of London was listed at Grade I in 1950, reflecting its status as the oldest synagogue in Great Britain, and among the oldest in continuous use in Europe. It is one of the most splendid architecturally, as well as being a place of religious and cultural significance.

Historic England is a statutory consultee in relation to applications planning permission or listed building consent relating to Grade I-listed buildings. It is working closely with the Synagogue and the City of London Corporation to ensure that commercial growth in the City is achieved without harm to the Synagogue. As a result of its negotiations with Historic England the City Corporation recently designated a conservation area around the Synagogue and is now considering a specific policy for the protection of the Synagogue’s immediate setting.

Advice to competing national teams at EURO 2020 is a matter for UEFA. Any crowd unrest will be addressed through effective policing and stewarding, as is the case at all football matches

The Government is committed to undertaking a fan-led review of football governance and is currently considering the scope and structure of the review.

We will continue to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders and will analyse all relevant resources as work progresses.

The department does not hold information on the number of Virtual School Heads (VSHs) in post. However, all local authorities in England with responsibilities for children’s social care must appoint at least one person to this post.

The appointment of a VSH for previously looked-after children is a statutory requirement under Section 23ZZA of the Children Act 1989 (inserted by the Children and Families Act 2017).

The Children in Need Review recognised the impact that VSHs have in raising aspiration and promoting educational achievement of looked-after and previously looked-after children, recommending that their role is further extended to cover all children with a social worker. The Timpson Review of School Exclusion also found ‘good evidence that VSHs are effective in supporting schools’.

The department is clear that driving up quality in higher education (HE) in England remains one of our highest priorities. This includes tackling the unacceptable pockets of poor-quality provision and taking regulatory action where appropriate.

The department has encouraged the Office for Students (OfS) to implement a visible and effective inspections regime where the OfS has concerns about the quality of provision. This will involve on-site inspections. The OfS announced its first wave of onsite inspections on 26 May, which will look specifically at business and management courses provided by eight higher education providers (HEPs). These will also examine whether poor-quality online learning has replaced face-to-face teaching to the detriment of students’ academic experience.

Through section 33 of the Skills and Post-16 Education Act 2022, the government has amended the Higher Education and Research Act 2017 to make express provision for the OfS to publish notices, decisions or reports given or made in the performance of its functions, including whether a HEP is under investigation. This new legislation sets out the factors that the OfS must consider when deciding whether to publish. The OfS recently consulted the sector on this and is now considering responses before it makes use of these provisions.

As the independent regulator of HE in England, responsibility for initiating investigations and deciding whether, and when, it announces them, or the names of the providers being investigated, is a matter for the OfS. The OfS is required to consider the implications for students planning their higher education this autumn.

The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef. This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside England is not collected by the department.

We recognise children adopted from care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in education.

In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children who have been adopted from outside of England.

The school admissions code has recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.

We recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of this funding.

The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef. This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside England is not collected by the department.

We recognise children adopted from care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in education.

In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children who have been adopted from outside of England.

The school admissions code has recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.

We recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of this funding.

The department collects and publishes data on the number of children looked after in local authority care in England. The latest figures are published in our annual statistical release here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoptions. Information on the number of children looked after who were adopted during the year between 2010 and 2020 is in Table H1: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/fast-track/9f60e85a-74b8-44b8-7ed5-08d962ee4bef. This is the first release of data covering the time period of the COVID-19 outbreak. Information on the number of children who have been adopted from a care setting outside England is not collected by the department.

We recognise children adopted from care, including those adopted from care overseas, can remain vulnerable and have high levels of need. We are committed to ensuring they have the support they need to thrive in education.

In September 2018, we introduced new duties on local authority virtual school heads and designated teachers to promote the educational achievement of pupils who are no longer looked after because they are the subject of an adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order. This includes support for children who have been adopted from outside of England.

The school admissions code has recently been amended so that, as of 1 September 2021, children adopted from state care outside of England have the same priority in school admission as children who were previously looked after in England. The school admissions code is available to view here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-admissions-code--2.

We recognise that children adopted from outside England and Wales do not currently attract pupil premium plus. The department is aware of this issue and is actively exploring whether pupil premium plus can be extended to these children. In the meantime, schools should support the needs of all pupils, regardless of whether they are eligible to attract pupil premium plus, as support from schools is not contingent on receipt of this funding.

Highways England is accountable to the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State’s requirements of Highways England are set out in Road Investment Strategies which sets the Department’s long-term vision for the strategic road network. The Department has just announced the second Road Investment Strategy which will run from 2020 to 2025. The Road Investment Strategy includes a set of Key Performance Indicators against which Highways England is measured. Subsequently, Highways England will publish its Delivery Plan to set out in detail how the Road Investment Strategy will be delivered on the ground.

The Office for Road and Rail act as Highways Monitor to ensure that Highways England delivers its major programme of investment and other performance commitments. The Office for Road and Rail publishes an Annual Report on Highways England's performance and delivery of its investment plan after each financial year. Highways England’s record is measured as a result of its performance nationally. This regular reporting covers all regions of England.

Performance meetings with Highways England are conducted on at least a monthly basis by both Department officials and Transport Ministers in addition to day by day informal contacts.

Highways England manages the strategic road network that has a vital role in moving people and goods nationwide. It is exploring the impacts that technology will have on use of the network, in line with the grand challenge of the Future of Mobility identified in the Industrial Strategy. It is obliged to act in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework.

Holding directions is a phrase used to describe where Highways England responds to a planning application with a recommendation of non-approval for a defined period.

In 2018/19 497 (12.7% of the total) responses made by Highways England were recommendations of non-approval for a defined period.

In 2017/18 502 (12.3%) of responses made by Highways England were recommendations of non-approval for a defined period.

In 2016/17 322 (8.5%) of responses made by Highways England were recommendations of non-approval for a defined period.

A regional breakdown of these figures is unavailable.

Highways England’s 2019/20 figures will be available in June 2020.

Highways England has not made an assessment of any costs attributable to delays or on the numbers of homes or jobs which may have been delayed as a result of holding recommendations.

The safe operation of the Strategic Road Network is Highways England’s primary concern in responding to planning applications. As such, Highways England has a responsibility to properly evaluate the consequences of proposed developments on the safe and effective operation of its strategic road network. Highways England will comprehensively investigate all evidence to understand the effect proposed developments could have on safety and the performance of the network for all road users. Not infrequently this work will take longer than the statutory deadlines set for Highways England to respond to the planning application consultation. In such circumstances, rather than issue a recommendation of non-approval, Highways England will issue a time limited recommendation of non-approval allowing liaison and negotiation on the development of a viable transport assessment (and solution) whilst keeping the application ‘live’.

Highways England is committed to supporting and enabling growth; its Growth & Housing designated fund has committed some £90million to 28 schemes worth almost £250million, that will enable delivery of up to 45,000 new homes and 44,000 new employment opportunities.

The first Road Investment Strategy period will end on the 31st March 2020. The Office for Road and Rail will report on the first Road Investment Strategy shortly after that date. The Secretary of State for Transport will also provide a report to Parliament as required by the Infrastructure Act (2015).

National Health Service providers are expected to handle all medical data in line with data protection and data retention policies and comply with reporting requirements placed on them by NHS England. The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) for children and young people are commissioned on the terms of the NHS Standard Contract. These terms are mandated and include standard escalation and contract management terms applicable across NHS clinical services.

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

The full unredacted papers dating from 1972 and 1973 are held at The National Archives under file references FCO 17/1763 and FCO 51/297. They were transferred to The National Archives under the terms of the Public Records Act and are publicly available to be viewed.

Antisemitism is evil and has absolutely no place in our - or any - society. In March 2024 the UK took on the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance for one year, which comes ahead of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and the 25th anniversary of the Stockholm Declaration on Holocaust remembrance in January 2025.

We are concerned by repeated reports from Tigray of attacks and damage to civilian infrastructure. We are aware of unconfirmed reports of the use of white phosphorus. We continue to urge all parties to allow unfettered humanitarian access, and independent investigations into human rights abuses to ensure that the perpetrators can be held to account. We assess that hundreds of structures near Gujet in Tigray have been destroyed by fire (22 - 23 February) and it looks likely that this was as a result of a deliberate act. An ongoing lack of access means that it remains difficult to confirm the cause.

The Government is aware of the death of five construction workers over the past two years – of which two were workplace accidents on world cup building sites, and the other three were health-related. We do not have any figures for serious injuries and do not estimate them.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has contributed a total of £191,452 from 2011- 2015 to activities run by the Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) and the Council of Commonwealth Societies (CCS) for whom the RCS organises events. A breakdown of this sum is listed below:

This year the FCO has again provided £20,000 towards the cost of the CCS Commonwealth Service event in Westminster Abbey.

Future funding requests for all Commonwealth organisations will be assessed on a case by case basis.

Infrastructure is a top priority for the Government, essential for jobs, growth, and supporting a high quality of life. Over the next five years the public sector will invest more than half a trillion pounds in the UK’s future prosperity, including investing in infrastructure across the UK.

For example, as part of the second Road Investment Strategy, the Government will spend £2.7bn between 2020 and 2025 in the South West. This will help to build the A303 Stonehenge and the A417 Air Balloon. The South West will also benefit from its share of £5 billion to support the rollout of gigabit-capable broadband in the most difficult to reach 20% of the country, and of £510 million to support the Shared Rural Network to extend 4G mobile coverage cross the UK.

The Government will further publish a National Infrastructure Strategy, setting out the Government’s long-term ambitions for economic infrastructure.

Analysis of income tax liabilities by region is published in HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) statistics table 3.15 – “Income and tax by Parliamentary Constituency”, which is available on the gov.uk website[i].

This liabilities table relates to income tax whether collected through PAYE or another mechanism (such as Self-Assessment). Furthermore, the liabilities table excludes Class 1 National Insurance Contributions which are collected through PAYE.

HMRC does not hold information on all PAYE receipts broken down by parliamentary constituency.

[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-and-tax-by-parliamentary-constituency-2010-to-2011

The Government does not maintain a central list of pension schemes provided by each employer in local government, the NHS and education sectors. However, there are three principal occupational pension schemes covering these workforces, which are the Local Government Pension Scheme 2014, the National Health Service Pension Scheme 2015 (and 1995 and 2008 sections) and the Teachers’ Pension Scheme 2015 (and 2010 section).

Lists of registered occupational pension schemes are not readily available and can only be provided at a disproportionate cost. Information on which registered pension schemes have been absorbed or taken over by other registered pension schemes is not available.

The Government’s position was set out in its response to a petition calling for the sex of violent and sexual offenders be recorded throughout justice system which can be found here:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/590123

The vast majority of the public have complied with the measures the Government has put in place during the pandemic, and we expect everyone to continue to do the right thing and follow the rules and guidance that will help keep us all safe. Our police forces face unprecedented challenges as they play the critical role of maintaining public order during this public health emergency. We have moved quickly to give the police the powers and guidance they need to support compliance with essential social distancing measures, this includes quadrupling the penalty for attending an illegal gathering of over 15 people in England to £800, doubling on each successive offence up to a maximum of £6,400.

The Government has been working closely with tech companies and tackling online grooming as a form of child sexual exploitation is a priority for the Home Secretary.

To address the progress of what social media companies are doing about online grooming, the Home Secretary visited the US in February 2018 and November 2017 and met with social media companies to discuss what they are doing to prevent child sexual abuse material on their platforms.

Additionally, Facebook are a member of the WePROTECT Global Alliance Board. The Board meets bi-annually, and most recently launched the Global Threat Assessment on 14^th February 2018, highlighting the changing nature of the online threat to children.

There is a long tradition of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals serving in the British Armed Forces. They have served with great courage and distinction, and provided an important contribution in defending the UK, both at home and abroad, across many conflicts including the First World War.

At the time of Second Lieutenant Tull's death, the Military Cross could not be awarded posthumously. Although this rule was changed in 1979, this change does not apply retrospectively and there are no plans to change policy. This is in no way a reflection on the bravery and leadership shown by Lieutenant Tull.

There is a long tradition of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic individuals serving in the British Armed Forces. They have served with great courage and distinction, and provided an important contribution in defending the UK, both at home and abroad, across many conflicts including the First World War.

At the time of Second Lieutenant Tull's death, the Military Cross could not be awarded posthumously. Although this rule was changed in 1979, this change does not apply retrospectively and there are no plans to change policy. This is in no way a reflection on the bravery and leadership shown by Lieutenant Tull.

This application is currently being considered by the City of London Corporation. Following requests to call in the application, a holding Direction restricting the grant of permission was issued by this Department on 19 November, to allow those requests to be considered. A decision on whether to call in the application will be made in due course. The issuing of a Holding Direction should not be taken as an indication as to whether an application will be called in or not. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.

Article 15 of The Town and Country Planning (Development Procedure) (England) Order 2015 outlines the statutory publicity requirements for Local Planning Authorities (LPAs). LPAs must give notice by site display in at least one place on or near the land to which the application relates or by serving the notice on any adjoining owner or occupier. They must also publish information about the application on their website and in certain circumstances, they must give notice in a local newspaper. Where relevant planning considerations are raised by local residents, these must be taken into account by the local authority before they determine an application. Publicity beyond the statutory requirements is at the discretion of LPAs.

The Government is committed to the protection of our historic environment, including listed buildings such as the Bevis Marks Synagogue, and we have put in place a strong legislative and policy framework to achieve this. In determining planning applications, local planning authorities are under a statutory duty to have special regard to the desirability of preserving the building or its setting or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. This is supported by national planning policy which, in particular, states that any substantial harm or loss to the significance of a Grade I listed building such as the Synagogue should be wholly exceptional and where there is less than substantial harm, the harm should be weighed against the public benefits. In addition, local planning authorities are required to consult Historic England on any proposals affecting a listed building or its setting.

To assist households impacted by the February severe weather incidents, the Government activated the Flood Recovery Framework, a comprehensive package of support measures to support local recovery.

This package includes the Community Recovery Grant, a one-off £500 hardship grant, available to eligible flooded households. Those households are also able to receive a 100% Council Tax rebate (for a minimum of three months); rebates will apply to the flooded property and any temporary accommodation those households are required to move into. In addition, the DEFRA sponsored Property Flood Resilience scheme makes available grants of up to £5,000 to eligible flooded households to improve the resilience of those properties against future flooding incidents.

Government has no plans at present to develop the M5 as a growth corridor. However, this strategic corridor is important for the economies of the Midlands Engine and the Western Gateway.

We have supported growth through a number of key projects which include: the recent announcement of £219million Housing Infrastructure Fund to improve Junction 10 in Gloucestershire; £12.19million Local Growth Funding to improve the junction 25 at Taunton; and also the creation of 2 Enterprise Zones, Gravity at junction 23 near Bridgwater and at the Exeter and East Devon Enterprise Zone at junction 29.