Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect critical national infrastructure from potentially hostile states, particularly in the nuclear sector.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in the UK, including the Civil Nuclear sector, is subject to thorough scrutiny and must satisfy stringent sectoral regulatory and national security requirements. For the Civil Nuclear sector specifically, the Office for Nuclear Regulation independently oversees and enforces the UK’s nuclear regulatory regime.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish an independent public inquiry into their handling of the COVID-19 pandemic; and, if so, when such an inquiry will take place.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
As the Government has already made clear that there will be opportunities to look back, analyse and reflect on all aspects of COVID-19. The Prime Minister has said that this will include an independent inquiry at the appropriate time. For now the Government is focused entirely on responding to the pandemic and saving lives. Further details will be set out in due course and announced in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to (1) close public parks, and (2) enforce only essential travel on public transport networks; and if they have any such plans, when they anticipate bringing them into effect.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
On 23 March, the Government announced enhanced measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, including the closure of certain businesses and venues. A full list has been published on the GOV.UK website. The Government’s priority is to save lives and the best way for people to protect themselves and others from illness is to stay at home.
Exercise is important for people’s physical and mental wellbeing. Parks are generally permitted to remain open, but only for individuals and households to exercise once a day in a manner consistent with social distancing measures. Communal spaces within parks such as playgrounds and football pitches are closed.
The Government has advised that people should stay local, and use open spaces near to their home where possible to avoid unnecessary travel. Where parks cannot be used in accordance with the social distancing measures, it is up to the local authority to determine what action is necessary.
Transport should only be used for one of the limited reasons specified in the guidance: shopping for basic necessities as infrequently as possible; one form of exercise a day; any medical need, or to provide care for a vulnerable person; and travelling for work purposes (only where working from home is not possible). The British Transport Police is deploying dedicated teams to national rail and London Underground stations to reinforce Government messaging and to help to enforce the new health protection regulations, and the Government will not hesitate to go further if that is what the evidence advises.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the Security, Defence and Foreign Policy review; when they intend to start the consultation process; and which stakeholders will be involved.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Further to the answers given to PQ HL320 and PQ HL324, the Prime Minister has committed to undertake the deepest review of Britain's security, defence, and foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. The review will examine how we strengthen and prioritise our alliances, diplomacy and development; it will consider all aspects of our defence and security capabilities.
Announcement on the timings of the review will be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they expect the Security, Defence and Foreign Policy review to be completed in 2020.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Further to the answers given to PQ HL320 and PQ HL324, the Prime Minister has committed to undertake the deepest review of Britain's security, defence, and foreign policy since the end of the Cold War. The review will examine how we strengthen and prioritise our alliances, diplomacy and development; it will consider all aspects of our defence and security capabilities.
Announcement on the timings of the review will be made in the usual way.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what resources they have allocated to their Defending Democracy Programme; which department is leading the programme; and which stakeholders they are engaging.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
The Defending Democracy Programme is led by and coordinated through the Cabinet Office, with input from a number of other departments. The programme has been set up to:
Protect and secure UK democratic processes, systems and institutions from interference, including from cyber, personnel and physical threats;
Strengthen the integrity of UK elections;
Encourage Respect for open, fair and safe democratic participation;
Promote fact-based and open discourse, including online.
The programme draws together expertise and ongoing work from across Government.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to address the reported levels of dissatisfaction with democracy in the UK.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
We will consider the findings of the Future of Democracy Global Satisfaction with Democracy report as part of the Defending Democracy Programme. This programme aims to safeguard our democratic processes and ensure our democracy remains safe and inclusive.
The Government is introducing measures to maintain public confidence in democracy by improving transparency and accountability. The introduction of a digital imprints regime for online advertising is one such measure. The digital imprint proposals will be published in due course.
The Cabinet Office is continuing to work closely with DCMS, regulators and other key stakeholders to confirm the extent of such regulations and how they can best be put into practice.
Voters deserve to have confidence in our democracy and the Government is absolutely committed to ensuring this remains the case.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the University of Cambridge's Centre for the Future of Democracy Global Satisfaction with Democracy 2020 that dissatisfaction with democracy is "at an all-time high" including in the United States and the UK.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
We will consider the findings of the Future of Democracy Global Satisfaction with Democracy report as part of the Defending Democracy Programme. This programme aims to safeguard our democratic processes and ensure our democracy remains safe and inclusive.
The Government is introducing measures to maintain public confidence in democracy by improving transparency and accountability. The introduction of a digital imprints regime for online advertising is one such measure. The digital imprint proposals will be published in due course.
The Cabinet Office is continuing to work closely with DCMS, regulators and other key stakeholders to confirm the extent of such regulations and how they can best be put into practice.
Voters deserve to have confidence in our democracy and the Government is absolutely committed to ensuring this remains the case.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated cost to the public purse of the General Election on 12 December.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The full cost of the election will not be known until after the poll, once all expenses claims have been received and settled and Royal Mail invoices paid.
Asked by: Lord Truscott (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether, and the extent to which, Cambridge Analytica interfered in the EU referendum campaign in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Government is responsible for prescribing the rules in relation to campaigning, funding and spending at elections and referendums. It is for the Electoral Commission to regulate these rules.
The Electoral Commission is an independent body and the detail of any investigations undertaken by the Electoral Commission is a matter for them.