Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they will respond to the Trade Remedies Authority's interim findings of its review of the UK's steel safeguard measure, published 21 February, in particular its proposal for extending the safeguard for a further two years; and what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK steel industry remains protected from import surges in line with the Trade Remedies Authority recommendations.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Trade Remedies Authority has published its preliminary findings of their extension review of the steel safeguard measure. Their review remains ongoing, and the Department for Business and Trade cannot comment further nor prejudice their final recommendation.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the findings of the First-tier Tribunal ruling relating to the appeal of Jane O’Connor against the Ministry of Defence [2024] UKFTT 00153 (GRC), regarding the health impacts on veterans exposed to radiation during nuclear tests; and what steps they intend to take in response.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The First-tier Tribunal decision is currently being reviewed. The Tribunal has allowed each respondent 28 calendar days, which is the 25 March 2024, to consider the outcome and decide upon any next steps in terms of an appeal; or whether to accept the decision. It therefore would not be appropriate to comment further on this, or any future handling procedures relating to access to medical records of deceased personnel, until such a decision has been made.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following the First-tier Tribunal ruling on the appeal of Jane O’Connor against the Ministry of Defence [2024] UKFTT 00153 (GRC), what plans they have to reassess procedures for access to historical records relating to the health outcomes of nuclear test veterans.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The First-tier Tribunal decision is currently being reviewed. The Tribunal has allowed each respondent 28 calendar days, which is the 25 March 2024, to consider the outcome and decide upon any next steps in terms of an appeal; or whether to accept the decision. It therefore would not be appropriate to comment further on this, or any future handling procedures relating to access to medical records of deceased personnel, until such a decision has been made.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the findings of the First-tier Tribunal in the appeal of Jane O’Connor against the Ministry of Defence [2024] UKFTT 00153 (GRC), what assessment they have made of the accessibility of the 150 records withheld by AWE Aldermaston; and what plans they have to review of the accessibility of these records.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
My right hon. Friend the Minister for Defence People and Families will be visiting the Atomic Weapons Establishment shortly to personally review the information and consider its release into the public domain.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Trade Remedies Authority's interim finding from its review of the UK's steel safeguard measure, published 21 February, that serious injury would recur to UK producers across all 15 categories of steel if the safeguard measure were to be removed; and how this assessment will influence their response to the Trade Remedies Authority's recommendation that the safeguard measure should be extended.
Answered by Lord Johnson of Lainston - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Trade Remedies Authority has published its preliminary findings of their extension review of the steel safeguard measure. Their review remains ongoing, and the Department for Business and Trade cannot comment further nor prejudice their final recommendation.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government on what date they requested access to the 150 documents held by the Atomic Weapons Establishment concerning blood tests taken from British troops during radiation experiments; how many of the files requested were provided; and how many were withheld.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (the Rt Hon Dr Andrrew Murrison) asked officials at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to review the 150 documents to enable his review of that information shortly before the debate on Nuclear Test Veterans: Medical Records on 28 November 2023.
The Minister will personally assess all 150 documents when he visits AWE shortly and will consider their release into the public domain.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to inform Parliament of their findings from their review of documents related to blood tests taken from British troops during radiation experiments.
Answered by Earl of Minto - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
The Minister for Defence People and Families (the Rt Hon Dr Andrrew Murrison) asked officials at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) to review the 150 documents to enable his review of that information shortly before the debate on Nuclear Test Veterans: Medical Records on 28 November 2023.
The Minister will personally assess all 150 documents when he visits AWE shortly and will consider their release into the public domain.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the eighth annual report of the Press Recognition Panel, and what steps they plan to take in response to the three main recommendations contained therein.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
HM Government has no plans to take forward the three main recommendations made in the Press Recognition Panel’s eighth annual report on the recognition system.
The Government committed in its manifesto to the repeal of Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which we will do through the Media Bill, and has consistently supported the independent self-regulation of the press.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government, following their consultation outcome A pro-innovation approach to AI regulation: government response, published on 6 February, where they stated that "it is now clear that the working group will not be able to agree an effective voluntary code" between AI developers and rights holders concerning copyright protected materials, what plans they have to ensure that creators' rights are protected.
Answered by Viscount Camrose - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
The Government is engaging with AI and rights holder sectors to develop an approach that allows both sectors to grow together. Any approach will need to be underpinned by trust and transparency between parties, with greater transparency from AI developers about use of copyrighted material to train AI models and the attribution of outputs having an important role to play. The Government will soon set out further proposals on the way forward.
Asked by: Lord Watson of Wyre Forest (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether the written agreement made with the Rt Hon Suella Braverman QC MP, as mentioned in her resignation letter, was used as the basis for any policy direction in the Home Office; and if so, what the nature of that policy direction was.
Answered by Lord Sharpe of Epsom - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
I refer the noble peer to the answer of 20 November 2023, Official Report, House of Commons, PQ 1905.