10 Former APPG memberships
County, Greece, Gypsies, Travellers and Roma, Ireland and the Irish in Britain, Irish in Britain, Isle of Man (Manx), Mindfulness, Policing, Policing and Security, TerrorismDivision Voting information
Baroness Harris of Richmond voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 13 Liberal Democrat No votes vs 29 Liberal Democrat Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 144 Noes - 133
Debates during the 2019 Parliament
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)
(5 debate interactions)
(4 debate interactions)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
(3 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(12 debate contributions)
(9 debate contributions)
(8 debate contributions)
(7 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(4,151 words contributed)
(2,555 words contributed)
(1,424 words contributed)
(1,168 words contributed)
Lords initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Baroness Harris of Richmond, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Baroness Harris of Richmond has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Baroness Harris of Richmond has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)6 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Baroness Harris of Richmond's BEIS questions)Policy on the environment is owned by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and any decisions regarding retained EU law on the environment are for Defra Ministers to take.
Policy on public health is owned by the Department for Health & Social Care, and any decisions regarding retained EU law on public health are for DHSC Ministers to take.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government remains committed to proactively engaging with devolved administrations at official and Ministerial level on the reviews into retained EU law and sunsetting of EU regulations.
To date, there have been regular official level discussions with the devolved administrations and we will continue to engage in areas of interest as the Bill progresses through Parliament.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government published advice called Trusted Research in September 2019. This aims to support the integrity of the system of international research collaboration. It outlines potential risks to UK research and innovation. It helps researchers have confidence in international collaboration and make informed decisions around potential risks. It also explains how to protect research and staff from potential theft, misuse of exploitation. The sector is adopting the advice and institutions are changing the ways they make decisions on such investments.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is taking a number of steps to reduce the overall bureaucratic burden on universities in receipt of research funding. The Government will shortly announce an independent review of research bureaucracy. This will build on the initiatives already underway in major public funding organisations.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is the largest public funder of research and innovation in the UK. UKRI requires institutions, including universities, applying to its research opportunities to demonstrate compliance against several requirements depending on the type of opportunity and nature of the proposed research. These are:
- Research Ethics, Misconduct and Conflicts of Interest
- Use of Animals in Research
- Health & Safety
- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
- Safeguarding
- Bullying and Harassment
- Whistleblowing
In addition, UKRI may also request information concerning the support available for career development and training of staff involved in the proposed research.
UKRI regularly review and improve their processes following ongoing consultation and discussion with applicants to their opportunities and institutions, including universities.
UKRI has recently launched a new programme, Simpler and Better Funding, to review and improve its systems and processes for applicants, institutions and wider stakeholders.
With regard to health and care research funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, the National Institute of Health Research is working to reduce administrative burdens across the health and care research sector in a number of areas - one of these being the funding application process.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As part of the proposed National Security and Investment regime, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State will be able to call-in acquisitions of control over qualifying assets to scrutinise them for potential national security concerns. Before any acquisitions can be called-in, the Secretary of State must publish a Statement setting out how they expect to use this call-in power. The Government expects parties will use this Statement to help decide whether to voluntarily notify both entity and asset acquisitions to the Secretary of State.
A draft of the Statement was published alongside the introduction of the Bill on 11 November 2020. It explains that certain areas of the economy are expected to be the areas most likely to give rise to national security risks. That includes acquisitions of control over assets that are integral to the relevant activities of the entities within those sectors.
This will ensure that parties are unable to simply circumvent the regime by acquiring sensitive assets rather than the entities that own these assets. The Secretary of State does, however, expect to intervene in such acquisitions exceedingly rarely.
Clause 11 of the Bill provides the Secretary of State with the power to amend the types of asset acquisitions of control that fall within scope of this regime through secondary legislation. The Secretary of State will keep the functioning of this regime under review and will consider over time whether any further exemptions are appropriate. Any use of this power would be guided by the operation of the regime in practice and any patterns of activity that are observed.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies, which have so far allowed 1,000 apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
As of October 2023, there are 45 flexi-job agencies supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of flexi-job agencies can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
Organisations such as mayoral combined authorities and local authorities will be able to apply to become a flexi-job agency if they can successfully meet the conditions of registration. The department will share details of any plans to re-open the register in due course. The conditions of registration can be found attached.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies, which have so far allowed 1,000 apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
As of October 2023, there are 45 flexi-job agencies supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of flexi-job agencies can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
Organisations such as mayoral combined authorities and local authorities will be able to apply to become a flexi-job agency if they can successfully meet the conditions of registration. The department will share details of any plans to re-open the register in due course. The conditions of registration can be found attached.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The department is supporting sectors with short-term project-based work through flexi-Job apprenticeship agencies, which have so far allowed 1,000 apprentices to work with different host employers, and on a range of projects, to gain the skills and knowledge needed to be successful in their chosen field.
As of October 2023, there are 45 flexi-job agencies supporting the delivery of apprenticeships in sectors such as creative, construction, agriculture and digital, across every region in England. The current register of flexi-job agencies can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/flexi-job-apprenticeships/flexi-job-apprenticeship-agencies.
Organisations such as mayoral combined authorities and local authorities will be able to apply to become a flexi-job agency if they can successfully meet the conditions of registration. The department will share details of any plans to re-open the register in due course. The conditions of registration can be found attached.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
This has been a very difficult time for students, as it has for everyone, and we encourage universities and private landlords to review their accommodation policies to ensure they are fair, clear, and have the interests of students at heart.
Since universities and private accommodation providers are autonomous and responsible for setting their own rent agreements, the government plays no role in the provision of student residential accommodation. Whether students are entitled to a refund or to an early release from their contract will depend on the specific contractual arrangements between them and their provider.
If students have concerns about their accommodation fees, they should first raise their concerns with their accommodation provider. If their concerns remain unresolved, and their higher education provider is involved in the provision of the accommodation, students at providers in England or Wales can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their complaint.
If students think their accommodation provider is treating them unfairly, they can raise a complaint under the accommodation codes of practice as long as their provider is a code member. The codes can be found at: https://www.thesac.org.uk/, https://www.unipol.org.uk/the-code/how-to-complain and https://www.rla.org.uk/about/nrla-code-of-practice.shtml.
More broadly, the government does of course recognise the financial hardship that some students may face in these exceptional circumstances. The Department for Education has worked with the Office for Students to clarify that higher education providers are able to draw on existing funds, worth around £256 million for academic year 2020/2021, towards hardship support. We are also making available an additional £50 million of hardship funding this financial year. In total we have made £70 million of funding available for student hardship given the £20 million made available to higher education providers in December 2020.
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
11 Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Questions
(View all Baroness Harris of Richmond's Defra questions)Defra is in the process of analysing its REUL stock to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, and what should be repealed, or amended. This work will determine how we use the powers in the Bill, including in relation to food and environmental standards.
The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and in reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose for the UK’s unique environment and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. Any changes to environmental regulations will be driven with those goals in mind.
Maintaining the UK’s high food standards also remains our priority. HM Government remains committed to promoting robust food standards nationally and internationally, to protect consumer interests, facilitate international trade, and ensure that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK secured a fisheries treaty with Norway which was signed on 30 September 2020 and approved by Parliament on 2 December 2020. It also secured fisheries memoranda of understanding with Iceland and with Greenland published on 11 November 2020.
The UK is currently conducting a series of negotiations with several of its coastal State partners on fishing opportunities and access arrangements for 2021. The UK's overriding priority in these negotiations is to agree the right deal, which is balanced in the best interests of the entire British fishing industry.
Ahead of the conclusion of those annual negotiations, the UK's distant water fleet already has access to Norwegian waters to fish in the waters around Svalbard, by separate arrangement with the Norwegian authorities. The details of these opportunities were published on 14 January in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats covering the period to 31 March 2021.
The Kirkella received its licence from the UK Single Issuing Authority on 13 January. Following internal procedures, she set sail for Svalbard last week, and is already more than half way to her destination.
The UK secured a fisheries treaty with Norway which was signed on 30 September 2020 and approved by Parliament on 2 December 2020. It also secured fisheries memoranda of understanding with Iceland and with Greenland published on 11 November 2020.
The UK is currently conducting a series of negotiations with several of its coastal State partners on fishing opportunities and access arrangements for 2021. The UK's overriding priority in these negotiations is to agree the right deal, which is balanced in the best interests of the entire British fishing industry.
Ahead of the conclusion of those annual negotiations, the UK's distant water fleet already has access to Norwegian waters to fish in the waters around Svalbard, by separate arrangement with the Norwegian authorities. The details of these opportunities were published on 14 January in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats covering the period to 31 March 2021.
The Kirkella received its licence from the UK Single Issuing Authority on 13 January. Following internal procedures, she set sail for Svalbard last week, and is already more than half way to her destination.
The UK secured a fisheries treaty with Norway which was signed on 30 September 2020 and approved by Parliament on 2 December 2020. It also secured fisheries memoranda of understanding with Iceland and with Greenland published on 11 November 2020.
The UK is currently conducting a series of negotiations with several of its coastal State partners on fishing opportunities and access arrangements for 2021. The UK's overriding priority in these negotiations is to agree the right deal, which is balanced in the best interests of the entire British fishing industry.
Ahead of the conclusion of those annual negotiations, the UK's distant water fleet already has access to Norwegian waters to fish in the waters around Svalbard, by separate arrangement with the Norwegian authorities. The details of these opportunities were published on 14 January in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats covering the period to 31 March 2021.
The Kirkella received its licence from the UK Single Issuing Authority on 13 January. Following internal procedures, she set sail for Svalbard last week, and is already more than half way to her destination.
The UK secured a fisheries treaty with Norway which was signed on 30 September 2020 and approved by Parliament on 2 December 2020. It also secured fisheries memoranda of understanding with Iceland and with Greenland published on 11 November 2020.
The UK is currently conducting a series of negotiations with several of its coastal State partners on fishing opportunities and access arrangements for 2021. The UK's overriding priority in these negotiations is to agree the right deal, which is balanced in the best interests of the entire British fishing industry.
Ahead of the conclusion of those annual negotiations, the UK's distant water fleet already has access to Norwegian waters to fish in the waters around Svalbard, by separate arrangement with the Norwegian authorities. The details of these opportunities were published on 14 January in the Secretary of State determination of fishing opportunities for British fishing boats covering the period to 31 March 2021.
The Kirkella received its licence from the UK Single Issuing Authority on 13 January. Following internal procedures, she set sail for Svalbard last week, and is already more than half way to her destination.
Ofwat makes an annual Request for Information to retailers, concerning their activities in the business retail market. This includes a request for information and data concerning water efficiency and the extent to which business customers have saved water as a result of water efficiency measures.
Business customers who have elected to become ‘Self-suppliers’ – generally large consumers of water - reported significant water efficiency savings in 2019. Eight self-suppliers, for example, reported saving around 567Ml in 2019 - approximately 5% of their 2019 consumption.
In March 2020, Ofwat and the Environment Agency (EA) wrote an open letter to water retailers and wholesalers requesting that they work together to develop an action plan to help deliver greater water efficiency in the non-household sector. Ofwat and the EA have proactively engaged with industry to develop the action plan, which is due to be signed off shortly. The action plan aims to:
- Provide greater clarity on expectations and ambition for business water efficiency;
- Improve understanding of how business water is being used, where and how much;
- Improve collaboration in water resource planning and in identifying and progressing options to meet future business and societal water needs;
- Identify and address barriers to the delivery of business water efficiency; and
- Deliver insights into business customer motivations to save water using them to inform water saving campaigns and initiatives.
The Water Act 2014 placed a new duty on Ofwat to further the resilience objective, which is to secure the long-term resilience of water supply and sewerage systems. It is for Ofwat, as the independent economic regulator, to consider how best to deliver its statutory duties when carrying out all relevant regulatory functions.
Ofwat has set out how it has met the resilience duty in its response to the UK Government’s Strategic Policy Statement at the Price Review Final Determination 2019. The document is available online: www.ofwat.gov.uk/publication/uk-government-priorities-and-our-2019-price-review-final-determinations.
Ofwat’s role is to promote competition through a well-functioning market where that will further the interests of customers. In furthering this role, since the market has opened the regulator has explored barriers to market entry, for example, credit security arrangements for smaller new entrants. Where appropriate, Ofwat has supported (and on occasions sponsored) market code amendments aimed at promoting new entrants to the market.
Over the past three years, we have seen greater choice for business customers with around twenty retailers operating in England. In addition, a number of larger customers have become licensed to operate as self-suppliers. The self-supply model enables customers to have greater control over their data, and has delivered price and water efficiency savings. In 2019/20, an additional three self-supply licences were granted bringing the total to 12 as at end March 2020.
Since the business retail market opened in 2017, customer awareness and engagement has increased. In 2019/20, 58% of business customers (and 96% of large business customers) were aware that they can choose their retailer, up from 53% in 2018/19 and 48% in 2017/18. The annual rate of switching and/or re-negotiating remains at around 4%. Market Codes help to govern and underpin the business retail market. However, it is the responsibility of retailers to promote their services to encourage switching.
Ofwat’s role is to promote competition through a well-functioning market to further the interests of customers. Since market opening, Ofwat has published annual reports on the business retail market, with a focus on benefits delivered to customers. In August 2020, Ofwat also published its ‘review of incumbent company support for effective markets’, which made clear that a number of market frictions continue to impede the development of effective competition and better customer outcomes and challenged industry to address these as a matter of urgency. Ofwat recognises that industry efforts to improve market functioning have accelerated, aided by collaborative leadership from the market operator (MOSL), but also highlights that resolution of market frictions continues to require urgent attention from all trading parties to build on improvements seen to date.
The Department continues to explore options for how Ukrainian communities can be supported in the UK. To support the registration of Ukrainian vehicles, officials within the DfT are working across Whitehall to identify any other potential actions within existing legislative frameworks and will look to utilise these as appropriate.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Following close work between the Department, Network Rail and Tees Valley Combined Authority, a Full Business Case for a package of interventions at Darlington Station has recently been submitted for consideration. This is currently being reviewed as part of the process for determining if delivery funding will be awarded for the scheme.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government has renewed the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS), which provides support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England, for an additional 6 months from 1 April 2021. It will cover the equivalent of their business rates liabilities or COVID-19 losses – whichever is lower – for the first 6 months of the 2021/22 financial year, subject to certain conditions and a cap per claimant of £4m.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Department has not produced economic forecasts of recovery and growth in the air transport or travel sectors. The Department maintains a capability to produce a range of passenger demand scenarios, reflecting the uncertainty surrounding the potential shape of recovery, for internal use.
The Department recognises the severe impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on travel, and work continues to understand how best the industry can be supported at this time. The Government is working on a strategic framework for the recovery of the sector. It will explore the return to growth of the aviation sector, and will include consideration of workforce and skills, regional connectivity, noise, innovation and regulation, and consumer issues.
Aviation businesses have access to the unprecedented economic support package that the Chancellor has put in place to help businesses to manage the challenges they are facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to this, the Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS) opened for applications on 29 January to provide support for eligible commercial airports and ground handlers in England.
Through the Global Travel Taskforce, the Government will work closely with the industry to find ways to safely and gradually ease restrictions on international travel. We will set out more detail on this soon.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government remains committed to supporting regional connectivity across all transport modes, including the importance of maintaining a thriving and competitive aviation sector in UK to deliver connectivity.
We welcome the engagement and evidence provided by the industry over the past several months through the Expert Steering Group and bi-lateral discussions and will build on this engagement and collaboration to develop measures to support regional air connectivity, particularly in the context of sector recovery.
In addition, the Union Connectivity Review will make recommendations on how the UK Government can level up transport infrastructure and improve connectivity between the four nations, looking at road, rail, air and sea links.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The new UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) does not place any restriction on air services between points in the UK and points in the EU, ensuring that UK-EU trade can continue to travel freely by air.
Furthermore, the TCA recognises that, at their discretion, EU Member states may permit UK airlines to operate non-scheduled air services within and beyond the EU. The TCA also allows the UK and individual EU Member States to negotiate and agree a bilateral exchange of additional “5th Freedom” all-cargo rights. My officials are engaging closely with EU Member States and with industry on these matters.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that Phase 1 of the vaccination programme should target individuals in order of age and risk. The vaccination programme will build up in the weeks and months ahead and extend to more and more people.
It is likely a number of transport workers and British Transport Police will be vaccinated in Phase 1 due to their age or underlying health conditions. The JCVI have recommended that vaccination of those at increased risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 due to their occupation should be a priority in the next phase, including British Transport Police and Transport workers.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The UK has now entered a period of intensive negotiations with the EU. We approach this intensified process with a determination to get a deal, which respects our status as an independent sovereign state and allows us to control our own laws.
We are seeking to agree arrangements on aviation safety with the EU. This will facilitate the recognition of aviation safety standards, maintain high safety outcomes and enable continued regulatory cooperation between the UK and EU.
Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
11 Department of Health and Social Care Questions
(View all Baroness Harris of Richmond's DHSC questions)Through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, the Government is currently reviewing which retained European Union law should be repealed, reformed or preserved. the Government continues to work with a range of stakeholders to ensure that any such reforms maintain and improve current standards in patient safety and public health.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to introduce an annual respiratory services delivery report.
The Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) sets and assesses competence against the standards for quality assured spirometry. The ARTP oversee a national register of those who achieved certification in the performance and/or interpretation of spirometry. Additional funding has been made available to systems in 2021/22 and 2022/23 for the training and accreditation of staff in the provision and interpretation of quality assured spirometry. This process is being supported by respiratory clinical networks.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide devices to diagnose asthma. These devices were selected by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) for tailored support in 2021/22 as part of the Rapid Uptake Product (RUP) programme to increase adoption in the National Health Service.
During 2021/22, the RUP programme produced resources with AAC partners to support successful implementation and improve patient access to these products. This included educational packages for health professional responsible for care to improve knowledge and skills.
There are no plans to introduce an annual respiratory services delivery report.
The Association of Respiratory Technology and Physiology (ARTP) sets and assesses competence against the standards for quality assured spirometry. The ARTP oversee a national register of those who achieved certification in the performance and/or interpretation of spirometry. Additional funding has been made available to systems in 2021/22 and 2022/23 for the training and accreditation of staff in the provision and interpretation of quality assured spirometry. This process is being supported by respiratory clinical networks.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence approved Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide devices to diagnose asthma. These devices were selected by the Accelerated Access Collaborative (AAC) for tailored support in 2021/22 as part of the Rapid Uptake Product (RUP) programme to increase adoption in the National Health Service.
During 2021/22, the RUP programme produced resources with AAC partners to support successful implementation and improve patient access to these products. This included educational packages for health professional responsible for care to improve knowledge and skills.
Systems have been asked to work towards restoring asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) registers and spirometry checks for adults and children to pre-pandemic levels in 2022/23. The Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) for 2022/23 includes respiratory indicators in relation to the diagnosis of asthma and COPD which was fully re-instated in April 2022.
For people with a diagnosis of asthma, the QOF sets thresholds for maintaining a record of patients with either a record of spirometry and one other objective test between three and six months after diagnosis, and within six months of registration for those newly registered with a diagnosis of asthma but no record of objective tests performed at the date of registration.
For those with COPD, the QOF asks practices to maintain a record of people with a diagnosis on or after 1 April 2021 whose diagnosis has been confirmed by quality assured post bronchodilator spirometry between three months before or six months after diagnosis or within six months of registration, in addition to patients with a clinical diagnosis on or after 1 April 2021 who are unable to undertake spirometry.
The NHS Long Term Plan proposed interventions which included early and accurate diagnosis, increasing service provision for pulmonary rehabilitation, medicines optimisation, a care bundle for community acquired pneumonia and self-management of respiratory conditions. We are expanding pulmonary rehabilitation into less served communities and improving self-management support for patients with lung disease.
The Quality Outcomes Framework ensures all general practitioner practices in England establish and maintain a register of patients with a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma diagnosis in accordance with the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence’s guidelines. This ensures regular reviews and monitoring of those with asthma and COPD.
We are encouraging the use of preventer inhalers, inhaled corticosteroid inhalers and reducing overuse of reliever inhalers and short-acting bronchodilator inhalers, which are associated with poorer clinical outcomes. A Commissioning for Quality and Innovation incentive for a care bundle for community acquired pneumonia commenced in April 2022. The Lung Health @home project is working with the national respiratory programme to enable more patients to manage their lung health at home and ensuring they can access the most appropriate support. The project aims to deliver supported self-management and exercise and activity tools for those diagnosed with a chronic lung condition. NHS England and NHS Improvement have also established 13 Respiratory Clinical Networks to provide clinical leadership of respiratory services.
NHS England and NHS Improvement published guidance on 25 March 2020 instructing all general dental services and community dental services to suspend routine care and all face to face urgent care, unless delivered through an urgent dental centre. As the commissioner of National Health Service dental services, it is NHS England and NHS Improvement’s responsibility to make decisions on provision of the NHS services it commissions. Decisions are made by NHS England and NHS Improvement as a whole taking into account both clinical and commissioner advice.
To provide a more comprehensive response to a number of outstanding Written Questions, this has been answered by an information factsheet PPE - note for House of Lords which is attached, due to the size of the data. A copy has also been placed in the Library.
NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that National Health Service dental services can gradually resume from 8 June. The guidance was clear that the pace of the restart should be only as fast as possible compatible with maximizing safety for patients and dental staff.
Over 600 urgent dental centres remain open across England to assist with the resumption of routine dentistry.
NHS England and NHS Improvement announced on 28 May that National Health Service dental services can gradually resume from 8 June. The guidance was clear that the pace of the restart should be only as fast as possible compatible with maximizing safety for patients and dental staff.
Over 600 urgent dental centres remain open across England to assist with the resumption of routine dentistry.
2 Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Questions
(View all Baroness Harris of Richmond's FCDO questions)The UK continues to negotiate for the whole UK family, which includes Gibraltar. We remain fully committed to finding a solution that supports Gibraltar, its people and its economy.
The UK and the Government of Gibraltar have held a number of constructive discussions with Spain on this issue. It is clearly in all parties' interests to find a solution, to ensure ongoing well-being and prosperity in the region.
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is working with Crown Agents to procure and deliver essential medical supplies to Gibraltar and the other Overseas Territories, working in partnership with the Overseas Territories' Chief Medical Officers to prioritise requirements. Initial shipments of medical supplies have arrived in Gibraltar.
British Forces Gibraltar have also been able to provide logistics support and assistance in the establishment of a temporary hospital (Europa Point Nightingale Facility) to provide the Gibraltar Health Authority with additional capacity. We stand ready to consider any further requests from Government of Gibraltar for support of this nature.
The Prime Minister wrote to the Chief Minister on 28 March, assuring him of the UK's commitment to support Gibraltar.
As set out at Budget 2021, the Government will extend the CJRS for a further five months from May until the end of September 2021 in order to aid businesses and employees through the next stage of the pandemic. Furloughed workers in the UK will continue to receive more generous support than those in many other countries, as the CJRS ensures employees receive 80% of their current salary for hours not worked, up to £2,500 per month.
The scheme will be extended on current terms – with no additional employer contributions – until the end of June 2021.
As the economy reopens and demand returns, the Government will ask employers to make a small additional contribution, of 10% towards the cost of paying for unworked hours, from July. As the economy reopens further, this employer contribution will increase to 20% in August and September.
On 16 July 2020, the government published a consultation[1] on “Public service pension schemes: changes to the transitional arrangements to the 2015 schemes”, accompanied by an Equalities Impact Assessment[2] (EIA). The EIA considered the impacts of the proposals on those with protected characteristics as identified in the Equality Act 2010, including sex.
As part of this consultation, the government also asked for views on the implications of the proposals for people with protected characteristics. The consultation closed on October 11, and the government is now considering the issues raised in response to the consultation.
The Equalities Impact Assessment will be updated in response to issues raised and will be published alongside the government’s response to the consultation in due course.
The Home Office collects and publishes information on the size and composition of the police workforce, including officer numbers and leavers, in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area (PFA), annually in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales
Data on the number of police officers in the police service, as at 31 March in each year from 2007 to 2023, can be found in the ‘Police Workforce Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1172892/open-data-table-police-workforce-260723.ods
This data is available on both a full-time equivalent (FTE) and headcount basis and includes officers seconded into forces as well as officers on career breaks or parental leave.
Table 1 below shows the number of police officers employed in the England in Wales, by year, in both headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) terms.
Table 1: Police officer numbers, by year, England and Wales
As at 31 March | Number of officers (headcount) | Number of officers (FTE) |
2019 | 125,811 | 123,189 |
2020 | 131,576 | 129,110 |
2021 | 137,690 | 135,301 |
2022 | 142,505 | 140,228 |
2023 | 149,566 | 147,430 |
Data on the number of police officers leaving the police service, in the years ending 31 March 2007 to 2023, can be found in the ‘Leavers Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1172932/open-data-table-police-workforce-leavers-260723.ods
The table 2 below shows the number of police officers leavers (excluding transfers between forces) in the England in Wales, by year, in FTE terms.
Table 2: Police officer leavers (excluding transfers) by year, England and Wales
Year ending 31 March | Police officer leavers (FTE) |
2019 | 7,387 |
2020 | 7,141 |
2021 | 6,018 |
2022 | 8,117 |
2023 | 9,192 |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The Home Office collects and publishes information on the size and composition of the police workforce, including officer numbers and leavers, in England and Wales, broken down by Police Force Area (PFA), annually in the ‘Police Workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletin which can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales
Data on the number of police officers in the police service, as at 31 March in each year from 2007 to 2023, can be found in the ‘Police Workforce Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1172892/open-data-table-police-workforce-260723.ods
This data is available on both a full-time equivalent (FTE) and headcount basis and includes officers seconded into forces as well as officers on career breaks or parental leave.
Table 1 below shows the number of police officers employed in the England in Wales, by year, in both headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) terms.
Table 1: Police officer numbers, by year, England and Wales
As at 31 March | Number of officers (headcount) | Number of officers (FTE) |
2019 | 125,811 | 123,189 |
2020 | 131,576 | 129,110 |
2021 | 137,690 | 135,301 |
2022 | 142,505 | 140,228 |
2023 | 149,566 | 147,430 |
Data on the number of police officers leaving the police service, in the years ending 31 March 2007 to 2023, can be found in the ‘Leavers Open Data Table’ here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1172932/open-data-table-police-workforce-leavers-260723.ods
The table 2 below shows the number of police officers leavers (excluding transfers between forces) in the England in Wales, by year, in FTE terms.
Table 2: Police officer leavers (excluding transfers) by year, England and Wales
Year ending 31 March | Police officer leavers (FTE) |
2019 | 7,387 |
2020 | 7,141 |
2021 | 6,018 |
2022 | 8,117 |
2023 | 9,192 |
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
The government is committed to giving chief fire officers operational independence as laid out in the white paper and recommended by the independent fire inspectorate.
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office)
Accommodation is offered on a no-choice basis across the United Kingdom and there are established mechanisms in place, via Migrant Help and Support Casework, if individuals have a specific, acute need to be accommodated in a particular area.
Accommodation providers may need to move individuals if the property they are currently occupying is no longer suitable or must be handed back to the owner when contract with the landlord expires. However we limit the amount of moves that can take place through our contract.
The Government believes the existing provisions to consider health matters in relation to licensing applications are sufficient at present.
Directors of Public Health in England and Local Health Boards in Wales have been responsible authorities under the Licensing Act 2003 since 2012. As responsible authorities, health bodies are automatically notified of new licence applications and can make representations based on the existing licensing objectives
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms (HM Household) (Chief Whip, House of Lords)