Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which (1) Secretaries of State, and (2) ministers, had not undertaken anti-money laundering and sanctions courses by 21 July 2024; and whether the Prime Minister has undertaken such courses.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Following appointment to ministerial office, all ministers receive induction briefings from their departments to support them in their ministerial duties.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the negative impacts that the removal of tax-free shopping from the UK has had and will have for retail businesses across all sectors.

Answered by Baroness Vere of Norbiton

As set out at Spring Budget 2024, the government is considering the findings of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s review of the original costing of the withdrawal of tax-free shopping, published in the Economic and Fiscal Outlook on 6 March, alongside industry representations and broader data.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to deliver the reforms to category B driving licence flexibility proposed by the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to reduce the barriers to using 4.25 tonne electric vans.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of current category B driving licence restrictions on uptake of 4.25 tonne electric vans.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of current MOT rules for 4.25 tonne electric vans on the uptake of such vehicles.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review MOT rules for 4.25 tonne electric vans to reduce barriers to using such vehicles.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the applicability of EU drivers' hours rules to 4.25 tonne electric vans on the uptake of such vehicles.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to review the applicability of EU drivers' hours rules to 4.25 tonne electric vans to reduce the barriers to using such vehicles.

Answered by Lord Davies of Gower - Shadow Minister (Home Office)

To support the zero emission van market, the Government has already introduced regulatory flexibilities for electric vans by increasing the regulatory weight threshold from 3.5 tonnes to 4.25 tonnes for driver licence and operator licence rules.

The Department carried out a call-for-evidence on MOT testing last year, which, among other things, asked the public for views on changing MOT testing rules for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans. The findings have since been analysed and the Government published its response in January.

Officials have continued to engage with industry on the issues of MOT testing, drivers’ hours and tachographs for 3.5t-4.25t zero emission vans to understand how Government can remove barriers to decarbonisation for fleets. Safety is a primary consideration in assessing any changes to regulatory weight thresholds.

Question

To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what consideration has been given to allowing the Ambassador of China to visit the House of Lords parts of the parliamentary estate.

Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble

In September 2021, in response to Chinese government sanctions being placed upon Members of both Houses of Parliament, Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker determined that the Ambassador of China would no longer be permitted access to the Parliamentary Estate. The decision of the Speakers remains unchanged.

Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask His Majesty's Government when the application by China to situate its embassy in a new site in London is expected to be determined; and whether they anticipate any delay to that process, and if so, why.

Answered by Baroness Taylor of Stevenage - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The planning application for a proposed new Chinese Embassy is currently with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. The timing of determining the application is a matter for them as the local planning authority. No further comment can be made in respect of this, or any prospective scheme, as to do so may prejudice any future decision the Deputy Prime Minister in her role as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government may need to make should this application come before her in the future.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether British citizens with residency in a Schengen Area country will be required to register biometrics and fingerprints on their first visit to the Schengen Area after the EU’s entry / exit system is introduced.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The EU’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of any of the participating European countries.

However, non-EU nationals that hold a residency card or permit in a Schengen Area country and those holding documents showing they qualify as Withdrawal Agreement beneficiaries will not be required to register for EES, this includes British citizens.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what implications the presence of Croatia on the Financial Action Task Force grey list has for the provision of British banking services in relation to that country.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) publicly lists jurisdictions with weak anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing regimes. The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs) require regulated businesses, including banks, to undertake ‘enhanced due diligence’ in respect of business relationships and transactions involving countries on the FATF’s lists, defined as ‘High Risk Third Countries’.

Croatia was listed by the FATF in June 2023, so is a High Risk Third Country for the purposes of the MLRs. While enhanced due diligence measures are required, there is no expectation that services linked to a particular country should be withdrawn due to a country’s listing by the FATF.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent they consider countries’ presence on the Financial Action Task Force's grey and black lists in assessing their suitability for (1) existing trade agreements or (2) trade agreement negotiations.

Answered by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The UK plays an active role within the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and will continue to work with partners globally to tackle money laundering and the financing of terrorism. We will continue to seek provisions in our trade agreements that address the trade-distorting effects of corruption.

The Government is also committed to publishing a Trade Strategy in Spring 2025 that will be growth-based and future focused and will set out the government’s approach to future trade policy including our overarching approach to trade levers such as trade agreements.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted an impact assessment of adding China on to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is working at pace to implement the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. We have recruited a case management team and are developing the IT arrangements. We expect the scheme to commence in Summer 2025.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage. Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier and an impact assessment will be published alongside any regulations which specify countries on the enhanced tier of the scheme.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an estimate of the reduction in foreign direct investment from China from adding it to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is working at pace to implement the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. We have recruited a case management team and are developing the IT arrangements. We expect the scheme to commence in Summer 2025.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage. Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier and an impact assessment will be published alongside any regulations which specify countries on the enhanced tier of the scheme.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have of the impact on economic growth of adding China to the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme.

Answered by Lord Hanson of Flint - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Government is working at pace to implement the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme. We have recruited a case management team and are developing the IT arrangements. We expect the scheme to commence in Summer 2025.

It would not be appropriate to comment on the scope of any specifications under the enhanced tier at this stage. Work is underway to identify which foreign powers will be placed on the enhanced tier and an impact assessment will be published alongside any regulations which specify countries on the enhanced tier of the scheme.

The proposed foreign entities to be included on the enhanced tier will be subject to formal debate and agreement by both Houses of Parliament in due course.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government to what extent pragmatic but stable engagement with China is integral to their foreign policy.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

As G20 countries and members of the UN Security Council, the UK and China have a shared responsibility to work together. This Government will take a long-term, consistent and strategic approach to UK-China relations; cooperating where we can, competing where we need to and challenging where we must.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer is planning to visit China in early 2025, and what level of priority they are giving to developing a relationship with China built on trade and investment.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

A strong UK-China relationship is important for both countries, and investment and growth are priorities for this government. China is one of our biggest trading partners and therefore it is important to have serious, pragmatic discussions with its leaders, cooperating where we can, competing when needed and challenging where we must.

The Prime Minister met President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in November and agreed that the Chancellor should visit Beijing in 2025 to discuss economic and financial cooperation with her counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng. Ministerial travel will be confirmed in the usual way.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of heat pump installers; and what measures they are taking to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of them to meet the targets contained in the Government's heat pump strategy.

Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government is working closely with industry to ensure that sufficient installers are available to install heat pumps. The Heat Pump Association (HPA) estimate that as of 2023, the heat pump installer workforce is made up of between 4,000 and 10,000 trained and active installers. Nearly 8,000 individuals completed training in 2023, so we are well in line with current workforce training needs.

To meet future demand, the Government is supporting trainees in England taking training relevant to heat pumps and heat networks under the £5 million Heat Training Grant. Industry is also investing in upskilling the existing workforce. Octopus Energy has invested £10 million in a new training centre in Slough, Ideal Heating have announced a multi-million-pound training centre in Bridgehead near Hull, and Aira is investing £300m in the UK heat pump market, including setting up training academies.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the likelihood of a "G2", similar to the G20, between China and the United States, and what steps they are taking to influence the establishment of such a group.

Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

We take a close interest in the relationship between the US and China as P5 members. We engage with the countries individually in pursuit of our interests. The US is an indispensable ally, and we are committed to the depth and breadth of the UK-US relationship across defence, intelligence and foreign policy. We will continue to work with the US on the basis of our shared values and interests. With China, we will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing our relations, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can, compete where we need to, and challenge where we must.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to develop educational provision for emerging renewables infrastructure so that the relevant engineering skills and training are sufficient to sustain the industry.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Education)

The government is committed to the UK becoming a Clean Energy Superpower, achieving clean power by 2030 and net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Skills have a crucial role to play in achieving this mission.

The department is working to ensure the English skills system supports learners, workers and employers to prepare for jobs in renewable energy. This includes the new growth and skills offer, which will prioritise investment that supports economic growth, increases opportunity, better meets employers’ skills needs and increases investment in skills shortage areas.

Other reforms include the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) and Skills England. The LLE will launch in the 2026/27 academic year and will broaden access to high-quality, flexible education and training by providing funding for full courses as well as modules of high-value courses.

Skills England is a new body which will provide authoritative assessments of skills needs, ensure a comprehensive suite of apprenticeships and technical qualifications and work with devolved areas and regional organisations to ensure skills needs are met. Skills England published its first report in September, highlighting the skills needed to support targets on net zero, the Clean Energy Mission and UK targets for environmental improvements. Skills England are working closely with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, which focuses on developing a skilled workforce in core energy and net zero sectors, including renewables.

There is already considerable provision for the skills key to renewable infrastructure in delivery across England. For example:

• Over 40 of the occupational standards that underpin technical education in England are directly supportive of the clean energy industry. This includes the wind turbine technician maintenance and operations engineering technician level 3 and the domestic air source heat pumps and solar thermal systems technician specialism of the plumbing and domestic heating technician level 3.
• Education and training providers must have regard to their local skills improvement plan when making decisions on provision that may be relevant to the skills, capabilities or expertise required now or in the future in their area. This is particularly important for areas with major renewable energy projects.
• There are an extensive number of vocational education courses available in further education (FE) settings for renewable energy skills. For example, Skills Bootcamps in Renewable Energy and level 3 awards in installing solar PV panels.

Employers have a crucial role to play in ensuring skills products are up to date and providing the knowledge and training learners need for jobs in the renewable energy industry. Employers can contribute in a range of ways including participating in route reviews or trailblazers for occupational standards, providing industrial placement or work experience opportunities for young people and working with careers hubs to provide up to date industry information. It is also crucial that employers communicate their skills and workforce needs with their local FE training providers to enable those providers to know what provision to offer.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which current members of the House of Lords will be affected by the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill as currently drafted.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill delivers the manifesto commitment to remove the right of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. As a result of the Bill, the 92 seats currently reserved for hereditary peers will be removed. The Bill will remove the remaining hereditary peers at the end of the Parliamentary session in which it receives Royal Assent. A list of the current hereditary peers can be found below