Lord Wallace of Saltaire

Electoral law is complex and it is vital that we get the detail right. We are working at pace on the secondary legislation and will share further detail with Parliament as soon we are in a position to.

Individual departments are responsible for their own software procurements. As such, a list of plagiarism software available to government employees is not held centrally by Cabinet Office.

The Government has no plans to make changes with respect to the roles outlined in Section 2 of the Regency Act.

This information is not held centrally.

Procurement Policy Note 04/21 sets out guidance for all central government departments and their agencies to prevent, identify, record and remedy conflicts of interest. The framework includes the relevant processes, procedures, and appropriate checks and balances to effectively manage conflicts of interest in a commercial context.

The new burdens doctrine will cover any additional registration costs for the registration of newly enfranchised overseas electors. UK Parliamentary election costs are paid from the Consolidated Fund. Overseas electors are only eligible to vote in UK general elections.

In Budget 2021, for the coming year, the Government has provided an additional £2.5 million towards removing the arbitrary limit preventing British citizens who live overseas from voting after 15 years.

The Public Contracts Regulations 2015 require contracting authorities to take appropriate measures to effectively prevent, identify and remedy conflicts of interest arising in the conduct of procurement procedures so as to avoid any distortion of competition and to ensure equal treatment of all economic operators.

Meeting net zero is likely to lead to electricity demand doubling by 2050 as other sectors are electrified which will require a generation mix based primarily on renewables. The government acknowledges the valuable contribution of hydropower to the UK energy mix over many decades, including at times when other renewables do not generate. Most hydro capacity was installed during the last century in Scotland, with a smaller amount in Wales and England. Most of these installations are still operating.

Government schemes have supported hydro over many years. Hydro is a mature technology and sites for large projects have generally been exhausted, leaving only smaller schemes to be developed. It should be noted that projections from the comprehensive review for small hydro deployment were met five years early. Introduced last year, the Smart Export Guarantee gives small scale low-carbon electricity generators, such as hydro, the right to be paid for the renewable electricity they export to the grid.

Hydropower accounts for almost 2% of total electricity generation in the UK with a capacity of almost 2GW. Studies in Scotland, England and Wales indicate that there is a maximum remaining technical potential of around 1.5GW for small-scale hydro across these countries, with the majority in Scotland. Economic and environmental constraints mean that in practice the viable remaining resource is less than 1GW or 1% of total electricity generation capacity.

The Data Protection Act 2018 gives the Secretary of State a discretionary power to publish a Framework for Data Processing by Government, which contains guidance about the processing of personal data in connection with the exercise of government functions. The Act requires the Secretary of State to consult the Information Commissioner and other persons he considers appropriate when developing the Framework, and to lay the final version in Parliament before it comes into effect. A laying date has not been set and no decisions have been taken about the nature of any further consultation.

The Data Protection Act 2018 gives the Secretary of State a discretionary power to publish a Framework for Data Processing by Government, which contains guidance about the processing of personal data in connection with the exercise of government functions. The Act requires the Secretary of State to consult the Information Commissioner and other persons he considers appropriate when developing the Framework, and to lay the final version in Parliament before it comes into effect. A laying date has not been set and no decisions have been taken about the nature of any further consultation.

We have updated our regulations to grant home fee status for those students from the Crown Dependencies who meet the residency requirements, and who come to England solely for the purposes of higher or further education study from the 2021/22 academic year. This underpins our strong commitment to the UK’s relationship with the Crown Dependencies.

Students from the Crown Dependencies make an important contribution to our universities, and it is testament to the appeal and success of our higher education sector that so many students from the Crown Dependencies choose to come and study here.

This decision was communicated to the respective governments of the Crown Dependencies, to the Office for Students, and on GOV.UK in January 2021, before regulations were made in February 2021, and came into force in March 2021.

We have updated our regulations to grant home fee status for those students from the Crown Dependencies who meet the residency requirements, and who come to England solely for the purposes of higher or further education study from the 2021/22 academic year. This underpins our strong commitment to the UK’s relationship with the Crown Dependencies.

Students from the Crown Dependencies make an important contribution to our universities, and it is testament to the appeal and success of our higher education sector that so many students from the Crown Dependencies choose to come and study here.

This decision was communicated to the respective governments of the Crown Dependencies, to the Office for Students, and on GOV.UK in January 2021, before regulations were made in February 2021, and came into force in March 2021.

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

All of the records which the FCDO identified in its holdings relating to events surrounding the landing of Flight BA149 in Kuwait in August 1990 were released by The National Archives on 23 November subject to any legal exemptions. Further information about the FCDO's record release programme is available at www.gov.uk/archive-records

The measures that may be imposed within the UK's independent sanctions framework include financial sanctions, immigration sanctions (travel bans), trade sanctions, and aircraft and shipping sanctions. Persons or entities designated under the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018 are not banned from initiating action in UK courts. Designated persons may seek an administrative review of their designation as set out in Chapter 2 of Part 1 of the Act and apply for judicial reviews of decisions in accordance with Chapter 4 of Part 1 of the Act. Guidance on how to challenge UK sanctions is on GOV.UK.

We do not register British nationals abroad, and do not therefore have numbers of British nationals in each country.

All licence applications are assessed against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria, which includes Criterion One concerning the United Kingdom's international obligations to enforce certain arms embargoes, and Criterion Seven concerning the risk of equipment's diversion to an undesirable end-user or end-use. The Government can and does respond flexibly to changing or fluid international situations and is able suspend or revoke licences as necessary when circumstances require.

The number of UK residents who claimed non-domiciled status in returns to HMRC is provided in the table below. Figures are provided for the last ten years, up to 2018-19, the most recent year for which figures are available. The decrease seen between 2015-16 and 2017-18 is explained by the deemed domicile rules introduced in April 2017.

^p = Figures for the most recent years are provisional and are subject to revision due to late filing of tax returns.

Further statistics and commentary are provided in the HMRC publication “Statistics on non-domiciled taxpayers in the UK” which is available on GOV.UK^[1].

^[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-non-domiciled-taxpayers-in-the-uk

The number of UK residents who claimed non-domiciled status in returns to HMRC is provided in the table below. Figures are provided for the last ten years, up to 2018-19, the most recent year for which figures are available. The decrease seen between 2015-16 and 2017-18 is explained by the deemed domicile rules introduced in April 2017.

^p = Figures for the most recent years are provisional and are subject to revision due to late filing of tax returns.

Further statistics and commentary are provided in the HMRC publication “Statistics on non-domiciled taxpayers in the UK” which is available on GOV.UK^[1].

^[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/statistics-on-non-domiciled-taxpayers-in-the-uk

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

In the last 3 years, there has been one Life in the UK test taken in Welsh, and no tests have been taken in Scots Gaelic.

The test taken in Welsh was a customer applying for British Citizenship.

All immigration and nationality fees are set taking account of the criteria set out at Section 68(9) of the Immigration Act 2014:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/22/section/68

These criteria include the cost of processing the application; the benefits and entitlements provided by a successful application; and, the wider cost of running the Border, Immigration and Citizenship (BIC) System.

Fees from immigration products and services contribute to funding a sustainable BIC System and ultimately reduce the reliance on tax-payer funding. The Home Office keeps fees for immigration and nationality applications under review and ensures they are within the parameters agreed with Parliament.

Since 1991 Jersey Field Squadron RE (M) have been mobilised eleven* times in support of UK military operations. All these mobilisations involved both personnel and equipment.

As Jersey's contribution to the UK Defence, the Field Squadron deploys trained reservists to support the Regular Army both on exercises and operations in UK and overseas and have served in both Iraq and Afghanistan as well as supporting Defence’s contribution to the cross Government operations during the COVID 19 pandemic.

*This figure has been drawn from records held on computer systems that have been migrated over the time period, and therefore reflects the current data available.

This will be a UK sovereign deployment but importantly it provides the opportunity to work with NATO allies and our global partners. On 19 January we were pleased to announce that the UK and US Governments have signed a Joint Declaration which allows a United States Navy destroyer and a detachment of United States Marine Corps F-35B fast jets to accompany the task group, together with their supporting personnel. Detailed planning continues and we will make a statement to the House in due course.

The UK is constitutionally responsible for the defence and international relations of the Crown Dependencies (CDs), in recognition of which the CDs make voluntary contributions to the UK Government, either financially (directly and indirectly) or by providing military personnel. As these are general contributions in recognition of the UK’s overall responsibilities, and as it is in the interests of the UK to represent the whole British family internationally, these contributions are not intended to reflect the exact cost of either defending the Crown Dependencies or representing them internationally.

The Isle of Man makes a direct monetary contribution to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury. The Isle of Man’s payments are broken down in Table 1 below.

Table 1

The Bailiwick of Jersey’s contribution is to maintain an Army Reserve Unit (the Jersey Field Squadron, part of the Royal Engineers) on the island. Jersey pays the UK Ministry of Defence’s costs associated with the Jersey Field Squadron and meets the on-island costs directly. Jersey’s total contribution can be found in Table 2 below.

Table 2

The Bailiwick of Guernsey makes part of its contribution in the form of payment of passport fees, which are passed to the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ), these are subsequently paid over to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury. Guernsey also accepts ownership of the breakwater in Alderney and is responsible for its repair, management and maintenance. Guernsey’s contributions can be found in Table 3 below.

Table 3

*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of passport fees from the Bailiwick of Guernsey in respect of 2020 was delayed and therefore receipted in 2021-22. £287,812.00 was received in June 2021 in respect of January 2020 to December 2020 and this amount will be reported in the MoJ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022. The 2020-21 figure for Guernsey passport fees is lower than previous years, as Guernsey received a reduced number of passport applications due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK is constitutionally responsible for the defence and international relations of the Crown Dependencies (CDs), in recognition of which the CDs make voluntary contributions to the UK Government, either financially (directly and indirectly) or by providing military personnel. As these are general contributions in recognition of the UK’s overall responsibilities, and as it is in the interests of the UK to represent the whole British family internationally, these contributions are not intended to reflect the exact cost of either defending the Crown Dependencies or representing them internationally.

The Isle of Man makes a direct monetary contribution to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury. The Isle of Man’s payments are broken down in Table 1 below.

Table 1

The Bailiwick of Jersey’s contribution is to maintain an Army Reserve Unit (the Jersey Field Squadron, part of the Royal Engineers) on the island. Jersey pays the UK Ministry of Defence’s costs associated with the Jersey Field Squadron and meets the on-island costs directly. Jersey’s total contribution can be found in Table 2 below.

Table 2

The Bailiwick of Guernsey makes part of its contribution in the form of payment of passport fees, which are passed to the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ), these are subsequently paid over to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury. Guernsey also accepts ownership of the breakwater in Alderney and is responsible for its repair, management and maintenance. Guernsey’s contributions can be found in Table 3 below.

Table 3

*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of passport fees from the Bailiwick of Guernsey in respect of 2020 was delayed and therefore receipted in 2021-22. £287,812.00 was received in June 2021 in respect of January 2020 to December 2020 and this amount will be reported in the MoJ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022. The 2020-21 figure for Guernsey passport fees is lower than previous years, as Guernsey received a reduced number of passport applications due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The UK is constitutionally responsible for the defence and international relations of the Crown Dependencies (CDs), in recognition of which the CDs make voluntary contributions to the UK Government, either financially (directly and indirectly) or by providing military personnel. As these are general contributions in recognition of the UK’s overall responsibilities, and as it is in the interests of the UK to represent the whole British family internationally, these contributions are not intended to reflect the exact cost of either defending the Crown Dependencies or representing them internationally.

The Isle of Man makes a direct monetary contribution to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury. The Isle of Man’s payments are broken down in Table 1 below.

Table 1

The Bailiwick of Jersey’s contribution is to maintain an Army Reserve Unit (the Jersey Field Squadron, part of the Royal Engineers) on the island. Jersey pays the UK Ministry of Defence’s costs associated with the Jersey Field Squadron and meets the on-island costs directly. Jersey’s total contribution can be found in Table 2 below.

Table 2

The Bailiwick of Guernsey makes part of its contribution in the form of payment of passport fees, which are passed to the UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ), these are subsequently paid over to the Consolidated Fund at HM Treasury. Guernsey also accepts ownership of the breakwater in Alderney and is responsible for its repair, management and maintenance. Guernsey’s contributions can be found in Table 3 below.

Table 3

*Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the issue of passport fees from the Bailiwick of Guernsey in respect of 2020 was delayed and therefore receipted in 2021-22. £287,812.00 was received in June 2021 in respect of January 2020 to December 2020 and this amount will be reported in the MoJ Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31 March 2022. The 2020-21 figure for Guernsey passport fees is lower than previous years, as Guernsey received a reduced number of passport applications due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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

The Crown Dependencies are self-governing jurisdictions and do not receive funding from the UK Exchequer. The UK is constitutionally responsible for their defence and international relations, in recognition of which the Crown Dependencies make contributions to the UK Government, either financially (directly and indirectly) or by providing personnel. These contributions are based on longstanding arrangements with the Crown Dependencies that were last amended in 1987 for the Bailiwick of Guernsey, 1994 for the Isle of Man and 1988 for the Bailiwick of Jersey.

The Crown Dependencies’ contributions have not recently been reviewed and there are no plans to review them in the near future.