Became Member: 9th July 1986
Left House: 9th July 2024 (Non-attendance)
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Lord Willoughby de Broke, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Make provision for the holding of a referendum in the United Kingdom on the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the European Union.
First reading took place on 27 July. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.The 2010-12 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
Lord Willoughby de Broke has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
A formal assessment of the impact of a court judgment on business is only carried out where a change in our domestic law is thought necessary in the light of that judgment. No such change is expected to arise from Fag og Arbejde v Kommunernes Landsforening (aka the “Kaltoft” case).
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is not currently considering charges against anyone in relation to the tragic death of PC Yvonne Fletcher.
In any case referred to the CPS by the police, a decision to prosecute is made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and a case must meet the evidential and public interest stages of the Code Test.
In accordance with the Code, the CPS will consider any new information that is referred to them by the police in relation to this case, and will continue to bring offenders to justice wherever possible.
Currently there are no changes to the pre-transition period pet travel requirements for entry into Great Britain (GB) from the EU or Northern Ireland. We continue to accept Pet Passports issued in the EU, Northern Ireland and Part 1 listed third countries and Pet Passports issued in GB prior to January 2021. We also accept Animal Health Certificates (AHC) issued in GB, and Great Britain Pet Health Certificates (which can be used when travelling from a Part 2 or ‘not listed’ country, or a ‘Part 1’ country that does not issue pet passports). Pets travelling from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man do not need this documentation.
The pet health requirements remain in place to protect GB’s biosecurity from diseases such as rabies and the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. This means that all dogs, cats and ferrets entering GB from the EU must continue to be microchipped, have been vaccinated against rabies and for dogs, including assistance dogs, to have been treated against tapeworm (unless travelling from a tapeworm-free country).
We have extensive guidance on GOV.UK with detailed information on what pet owners must do to ensure a seamless journey for their pet into GB: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain.
We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet checking regimes in the world for non-commercial pet travel movements. Every pet animal entering GB on approved routes under the pet travel rules undergoes documentary and identity checks. Any animals found to be non-compliant with the pet travel rules may be refused entry or detained until compliant.
The Government has a manifesto commitment to crack down on puppy smuggling. We are now making some significant changes to domestic law, with potential changes to our import requirements, through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill was introduced in Parliament on the 8 June and second reading took place on 25 October. The Bill will progress through Parliament when parliamentary time allows.
The UK has been formally ‘listed’ as a ‘Part 2’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel regulations, which means that new rules apply to pet movements from Great Britain (GB) to the EU and Northern Ireland (NI). The pet health and documentary requirements for such pet travel are set out under the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Defra recognises the undue impact that these changes are having on pet owners and assistance dog users. Defra has been clear that there are no animal health or biosecurity justifications for these additional rules to travel to the EU or NI. We will continue to press the EU Commission in relation to securing ‘Part 1’ listed status and recognition of the UK’s tapeworm-free status, recognising that achieving this would alleviate some of the new requirements for pet owners and assistance dog users travelling, including the requirement for an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). We see no valid animal health reason for these to not be granted and we have one of the most rigorous pet-checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity. We have submitted a detailed technical case setting this out and are continuing to engage with the EU on a workable solution.
We are proactively engaging with the assistance dog community and relevant stakeholders on the impacts on dog movements from Great Britain to the EU. We will continue to work closely with assistance dog organisations to share the latest advice and guidance (in accessible formats) with their members on pet travel requirements.
Our advice for pet owners and users of assistance dogs travelling is that they should continue to contact their vet at least one month in advance to ensure their pet has the correct vaccinations and paperwork to travel abroad. The costs of completing and issuing an AHC are commercial decisions, set by individual veterinary practices.
We are working closely with the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) to look at all the available options to support farmers who are being affected by wet weather issues.
The RPA has published online guidance to provide advice around crop diversification requirements and force majeure. We encourage farmers to look at that guidance in the first instance.
We are currently exploring what options are available to us to offer flexibility to the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme rules now we have left the EU.
I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary
Natural England has issued three new licences.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.
I refer the Noble Lord to the letter sent from the Chairman of Natural England to the Secretary of State www.gov.uk/government/publications/general-licences-for-controlling-wild-birds-letter-from-natural-england-chair-to-environment-secretary
Natural England has issued three new licences.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State has now taken over ultimate decision making powers for general licences relating to the purposes covered by the three revoked general licences, recognising the scale of interest and concern that has been generated by the decision by Natural England to revoke the general licences that were in place prior to 25 April.
While just under 50% of agreement holders have received their 2018 advance payment, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has been working hard to ensure that remaining payments are issued as quickly as possible. The RPA took on administration of Environmental Stewardship in October 2018 and is continuing to simplify the administration of the scheme as far as possible under the current EU system, streamlining processes and boosting the workforce to speed up processing.
Over 99% of Countryside Stewardship participants have received their payment for 2017 claims and payments for 2018 claims are underway. The Rural Payments Agency took on administration of Countryside Stewardship in October 2018 and is continuing to simplify the administration of the scheme as far as possible under the current EU system, streamlining processes and boosting the workforce to speed up processing.
Over 99% of Environmental Stewardship agreement holders have received their 2016 advance and final payments. For 2017 just under 98% have received their advance payment and 80% have received their 2017 final payment. The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) has been working hard to ensure that remaining payments are issued as quickly as possible. The RPA took on administration of Environmental Stewardship in October 2018 and is continuing to simplify the administration of the scheme as far as possible under the current EU system, streamlining processes and boosting the workforce to speed up processing.
UK and EU experts have identified no safety concerns which would preclude the continuing use of glyphosate and so the Government supports its continued approval by the EU. An EU decision will be binding on the UK while we are still within the EU.
Leaving the EU means we will have the opportunity to consider carefully how future policies can best be tailored to the needs of the UK. Decision-making on the use of pesticides after the UK leaves the EU will be based on careful scientific assessment of the risks. Our highest priority will continue to be the protection of people and the environment.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) achieved the target of making the majority of BPS payments in December 2015, paying 44,408 (50.9%) of eligible claims by the end of December. The agency also delivered on its target of making the vast majority of payments by end of January, paying 66,800 (77%) of eligible claims with a value of around £1bn.
The Government understands the importance of BPS payments for farmers. The targets, ‘majority’ and ‘vast majority’, were established in line with the RPA’s priority to pay as many farmers as possible, as quickly as possible, from the opening of the payment window back in December.
The deadline for 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments remains 30 June 2016 and as stated in the response of 17 June, this is the deadline the Rural Payments Agency was working towards for the remaining top up BPS payments. On 8 June, Commissioner Hogan confirmed his intention to extend the date by which Member States may make CAP direct payments without the usual reductions in the rate of reimbursement from the EU to the Member States concerned. This does not constitute an extension to the payment window. It means that, subject to a successful request, payments can continue to be made after 30 June without the application of the usual reductions for late payments on the Member State.
We are currently assessing the UK position in terms of the value of payments made by 30 June and the expected value of payments to be made before 15 October for each of the four UK paying agencies. Once this assessment has been completed we will be in a position to decide whether the UK needs to submit a request to the Commission for such penalties to be waived.
Commissioner Hogan announced his intention to allow applications from Member States for CAP direct payments to be made after the closure of the payment window without incurring the penalties that would otherwise fall on paying agencies for making late payments. Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) noted this announcement.
Once we have received information from all UK paying agencies concerning the value of payments made by 30 June, we will be in a position to consider whether the UK should submit a request for such penalties to be waived.
The RPA remains focused on getting top up 2015 BPS payments to those that received bridging payments, out as promptly as possible.
The Chief Executive of the Rural Payments Agency did not receive a bonus payment for the 2015/16 performance year.
Commissioner Hogan announced his intention to allow applications from Member States for CAP direct payments to be made after the closure of the payment window without incurring the penalties that would otherwise fall on paying agencies for making late payments. Defra and the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) noted this announcement.
Once we have received information from all UK paying agencies concerning the value of payments made by 30 June, we will be in a position to consider whether the UK should submit a request for such penalties to be waived.
The RPA remains focused on getting top up 2015 BPS payments to those that received bridging payments, out as promptly as possible.
The Rural Payments Agency continues to make the remaining top up BPS payments to those that received a bridging BPS payment and anticipates completing this work by the end of June 2016.
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Senior Civil Servants (SCS) who are moderated as top performers at the end of the performance management year are eligible to receive a bonus payment.
The performance management year for the SCS runs from 1 April to 31 March. Performance markings for 2015/16 will be determined by the end of May 2016. Only then will the eligibility of SCS for bonus payments be known.
Senior Civil Servants who are moderated as top performers at the end of the performance management year are eligible to receive a bonus payment.
The performance management year for the SCS runs from 1 April to 31 March. Performance markings for 2015/16 will be determined in May 2016. Until this time, we will not know which Senior Civil Servants will receive a payment.
The government publishes information on the job titles and pay grades of senior civil servants on a twice yearly basis.
The Rural Payments Agency are on track to start making payments for 2015 BPS Claims from December. The majority of these will be in December and the vast majority in January. The payment window runs from December to the end of June.
While the core of the new online Rural Payments system is working well, there have been performance problems around the interface between the customer portal and the back end of the system. That one area was not consistently stable and it was having a negative effect on the rest of the service.
As a result, the Rural Payments Agency (RPA) switched the approach to delivery of the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 to one where farmers and their agents use existing forms to complete their claims by the extended deadline.
Over the longer term we will continue to work on a user-friendly web interface - but for this claim year the priority is making sure farm businesses get the help and support they need to get their claims in on time.
We are currently assessing the additional costs from the revised approach.
The RPA will be making full payments as early as possible in the payments window, which opens in December.
Since 2010, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has received a total of £1.03 billion in bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA) from the Department for International Development (DFID).
The table below shows the amount of DFID bilateral ODA to the DRC broken down by year:
Year | Amount in Millions |
2010 | £161.5 |
2011 | £145.8 |
2012 | £138.2 |
2013 | £155.4 |
2014 | £164.1 |
2015 | £139 |
2016 | £128.4 |
Total | £1,032.4 |
Source: Statistics on International Development 2017
The Government will do whatever is necessary to deal with COVID-19 now and will also continue to invest in the country’s future infrastructure.
The Government continues to engage with the European Union on certification to ensure that travel between the United Kingdom and the EU is supported by a common approach.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactures Vaxzevria and Covishield and both branded vaccines are the same as the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. All SII-made doses approved by the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and administered in the UK were branded as the ’COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca’ which is now known commercially as ‘Vaxzeria’. The MHRA has not approved doses branded as ‘Covishield’ and none have been administered in the UK. All AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK are the same product and appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency has authorised Vaxzevria vaccine and it is therefore recognised by the EU.
The Government is not aware of any Georgian nationals resident in the UK who have been designated under UK sanctions.
We are concerned by the arrests of Martin Lee and other pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong. We are following these cases closely. Senior Officials have raised our concern about the arrests with the authorities in Hong Kong, Beijing and with the Chinese Embassy in London. We will continue to make our views clear publicly and privately.
The Foreign Secretary is engaging actively with a range of international partners to explain our position and impress on them the gravity of situation. We want to build up a groundswell of those who share our commitment to international law. We believe that is the most effective means of getting China to live up to its obligations and responsibilities as a leading member of the international community. We will also work within international institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that China upholds the commitments they made as co-signatory to the Joint Declaration. The UK and the US raised the issue at the UN Security Council on 28 May.
The UK played an influential role in shaping the EU-Turkey summit on 29 November where these issues were discussed. The Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), attended the summit, where the EU and Turkey agreed to step up cooperation on the many common issues that we face. We welcomed the clear message the summit sent of the importance the EU attaches to its wide-ranging partnership with Turkey. Turkey is a key partner in the EU’s response to the migration crisis and we commend its generosity in ably hosting over 2.2 million refugees from the crisis in Syria and Iraq. A funding package of €3 billion will help ease the refugee burden on Turkey whilst preventing further uncontrolled migration to the EU. Any progress in Turkey’s visa-liberalisation roadmap will not directly affect the UK as we do not participate in the immigration and border aspects of the Schengen acquis.
The Government is clear that the European Commission’s role is as set out in the relevant Treaties. Article 17 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU) specifies that the European Commission’s role includes, inter alia, ensuring the application of the Treaties and overseeing the application of Union law under the control of the Court of Justice of the European Union. Article 17 of the TEU also provides that, in carrying out its responsibilities, the Commission shall be completely independent.
The Government notes that NatWest has published a statement on this matter, clarifying that it is not its policy to exit a customer on the basis of legally held political and personal views. [1]
More broadly, the Government has published a policy statement setting out its plans to enhance requirements applying to the termination of payment accounts.[2]
[1]. https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/news-room/press-releases/our-updates/2023/jul/statement-on-review-of-bank-accounts-closure-process.html#:~:text=Customers%20have%20a%20right%20to,this%2C%20wider%20change%20is%20required.
[2]. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payment-account-contract-termination-and-freedom-of-expression
Switzerland is an important financial partner for the UK. Swiss financial institutions can operate in the UK in line with existing applicable UK and EU law.
The UK has also taken steps to ensure the continuity of this relationship once we exit the European Union, including the transition of the EU-Swiss Direct Insurance Agreement into a UK-Swiss Direct Insurance Agreement.
Autumn Budget 2017 made a number of announcements about the Government’s plans for ISAs, Venture Capital Trusts, the Enterprise Investment Scheme, and the tax treatment accorded to pension contributions.
The ISA annual subscription limit for 2018-2019 will remain unchanged at £20,000. In April 2017 the annual ISA allowance increased by a record amount to £20,000.
Both the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) scheme are being expanded to provide further support for knowledge intensive companies while re-directing investment from low-risk ‘capital preservation’ investments into entrepreneurial, growth companies. Full details of the EIS and VCT changes can be found in the Government’s response to the consultation Financing Growth in Innovative Firms, published alongside Autumn Budget 2017.
The Budget also confirmed that the lifetime allowance for pension savings will increase in line with the Consumer Price Index, rising to £1,030,000 for the tax year 2018 to 2019.
Autumn Budget 2017 made a number of announcements about the Government’s plans for ISAs, Venture Capital Trusts, the Enterprise Investment Scheme, and the tax treatment accorded to pension contributions.
The ISA annual subscription limit for 2018-2019 will remain unchanged at £20,000. In April 2017 the annual ISA allowance increased by a record amount to £20,000.
Both the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trusts (VCT) scheme are being expanded to provide further support for knowledge intensive companies while re-directing investment from low-risk ‘capital preservation’ investments into entrepreneurial, growth companies. Full details of the EIS and VCT changes can be found in the Government’s response to the consultation Financing Growth in Innovative Firms, published alongside Autumn Budget 2017.
The Budget also confirmed that the lifetime allowance for pension savings will increase in line with the Consumer Price Index, rising to £1,030,000 for the tax year 2018 to 2019.
The Government consulted on the process and safeguards for the Direct Recovery of Debts between 6 May and 29 July 2014. This policy will modernise and strengthen HM Revenue’s and Customs’ ability to recover tax and tax credit debts from those who are refusing to pay what they owe but have sufficient funds in their accounts.
The Government will publish draft legislation in due course.
In line with the Government’s Tax Policy Framework, this draft legislation will be consulted on before it is included in the Finance Bill, where it will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny
Prior to the conflict the Home Office had one Visa Application Centre (VAC) based in France, that being the VAC in Paris.
To support people in Northern France who are eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Home Office has set up a new temporary Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Arras, replacing the interim site in Lille. The Arras VAC is now open. It will only be used for referrals from Border Force of Ukrainians arriving in Calais without visas. Individuals eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme should not travel to Arras or Northern France, but instead apply online (if they hold a valid passport), or make an appointment to attend their nearest VAC in person which is an easier way of getting the permissions to travel to the UK needed.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and respond effectively to any variants of concern, U.K. health authorities must have the correct contact and travel information for all passengers arriving into the U.K. Consequently, the completion of an accurate Passenger Locator Form (PLF) remains a mandatory requirement for travel.
The current international travel regulations require different measures to be taken dependant on a passenger’s vaccination status. The PLF enables passengers to verify their vaccine status through the form.
The PLF has recently been updated to simplify the form and extend the completion window. As other measures at the border are lifted, health measures remain under regular review and adjusted in line with the latest public health advice. The necessity of the form and its contents is kept under constant review.
Whether to seek extradition in a case is an operational decision for law enforcement and prosecution agencies. The UK Government, as a matter of longstanding policy and practice, will neither confirm nor deny whether an extradition request has been made or received until such time as an arrest has been made in relation to the request.
In the White Paper ‘The UK’s future skills-based immigration system’ (Cm9722) the Government has set out its plans for a secure and smooth UK border control.
This includes proposals for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. It is our intention to require EU Citizens to obtain an ETA, but we intend to discuss this further in negotiations with the EU.
There are no plans to make criticism of immigration a specific criminal offence.
The Royal Navy is one of only two navies in the world able to operate 5th generation aircraft from two carriers.
By maintaining two aircraft carriers, the UK has one carrier available at very high readiness for operational deployment, at all times.
Any decision to deploy the carriers will be made in conjunction with our allies and partners and will be based on operational need. This is kept under constant review.