Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of reducing the number of sitting peers in the House of Lords.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
The House of Lords has a key role in scrutinising the executive and as a revising chamber. The Government has made no assessment of the merits of reducing the number of sitting peers and notes that unlike the Commons, peers are not full-time salaried legislators. It is important to focus on the number of peers who attend, and not just the number eligible to sit. Existing mechanisms allow sitting peers to retire or resign.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps his Department plans to take to support veterans with increases in the cost of living.
Answered by Johnny Mercer
This Government is committed to supporting all households, including veterans, with the cost of living through initiatives such as cost of living payments.
Veterans in receipt of disability benefits, including the Armed Forces Independence Payment, Constant Attendance Allowance or the Mobility Supplement under the War Pension Scheme, are among those eligible for a £150 disability cost of living payment.
We encourage veterans in need of support to contact the Veterans' Gateway on 0808 802 1212, where a range of information and support services can be accessed.
Fundamentally, the best way that we can tackle increased pressures on the cost of living is by reducing inflation, and that is what this Government is committed to do.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps the Government is taking to tackle (a) intimidation, (b) harassment and (c) violence directed towards public servants.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Civil Service is committed to creating a safe and supportive work environment for all its employees and does not tolerate any form of unacceptable behaviour or abuse towards an employee. Those found to be bullying, harassing, discriminating, or violent towards employees or customers can face disciplinary procedures including charges of gross misconduct, leading to dismissal.
Civil Service HR (CSHR) have provided a suite of products to support departments in managing bullying, harassment and violence in the workplace and by third parties, including Media Attention Guidance which sets out the responsibilities for handling instances of unwanted, intrusive or aggressive media attention.
Departments have their own guidance on dealing with unacceptable customer behaviour including handling situations of - for example - assault against staff. In every incident that involves violence or a targeted threat of violence towards civil servants the police are notified and appropriate action taken.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has plans to ensure official recognition of the efforts of the creators of UK-made covid vaccines through the Honours List.
Answered by Julia Lopez
We appreciate there is a huge appetite across the country to say thank you to all those who are supporting the nation through these unprecedented times.
Both the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 and the New Year Honours 2021 included COVID-19 recognition - and have been symbolic of the nation’s gratitude to those involved in the response to the pandemic on the frontline and in their communities. We anticipate more awards will be made over forthcoming honours rounds to recognise the work of those who have gone above and beyond across all key sectors.
On 12 May the Prime Minister announced that the Government will establish a UK Commission on COVID Commemoration to consider the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives and to recognise those involved in the unprecedented response. The Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether his Department has plans to ensure official recognition for the efforts of the creators of UK-made covid-19 vaccines.
Answered by Julia Lopez
We appreciate there is a huge appetite across the country to say thank you to all those who are supporting the nation through these unprecedented times.
Both the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020 and the New Year Honours 2021 included COVID-19 recognition - and have been symbolic of the nation’s gratitude to those involved in the response to the pandemic on the frontline and in their communities. We anticipate more awards will be made over forthcoming honours rounds to recognise the work of those who have gone above and beyond across all key sectors.
On 12 May the Prime Minister announced that the Government will establish a UK Commission on COVID Commemoration to consider the appropriate way to remember those who have lost their lives and to recognise those involved in the unprecedented response. The Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect on UK businesses exporting to the EU of the decision by many European pallet delivery businesses to require EORI numbers from customers for business to customer deliveries, when only businesses have EORI numbers; and what urgent steps the Government is taking in response to that decision.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Government maintains regular contact with the logistics industry both in the UK and in the EU. Logistics companies - on both sides of the Channel - will make their own commercial decisions on customer deliveries.
Individuals can obtain EORI numbers in order to import or export goods, although EORI numbers are not required if they are importing for their own personal use.
Further to the answer to PQ 175723 on 19 April 2021, the Government is continuing to support businesses and hauliers in navigating new systems and processes.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the effect on UK businesses exporting to the EU of the decision by European pallet delivery businesses to reduce business to customer deliveries in favour of business to business work in response to new UK-EU trade arrangements after the end of the transition period; and what urgent steps the Government is taking to respond to that decision.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
The Government maintains regular contact with the logistics industry both in the UK and in the EU. Logistics companies - on both sides of the Channel - will make their own commercial decisions on customer deliveries.
Individuals can obtain EORI numbers in order to import or export goods, although EORI numbers are not required if they are importing for their own personal use.
Further to the answer to PQ 175723 on 19 April 2021, the Government is continuing to support businesses and hauliers in navigating new systems and processes.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for what reason his Department has issued guidance during the covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021 re-classifying self-serve jet car washes as not fully automatic, and therefore required to close, unlike in previous covid-19 lockdowns.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Throughout the pandemic, we have consistently adapted our response as we have learnt more about the virus and how best to tackle it. Automatic car washes were permitted to operate during the most recent lockdown, recognising the low risk of transmission they posed. Jet car washes, including those that are self-serviced, are not fully automatic and were therefore required to close.
The Government published the ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’, on 22 February, providing a roadmap out of lockdown restrictions in England. As a result of progress made against the virus, England was able to move to Step 2 on 12 April. All car washes, including jet washes, are now permitted to open.
We keep our measures under constant review so as to reflect the latest science and clinical data. Scientific evidence supporting the government response to coronavirus is regularly published here - https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/scientific-evidence-supporting-the-government-response-to-coronavirus-covid-19
Revised guidance for businesses can be found here:
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what assessment he has made of the level of covid-19 antibodies in the population that would be necessary to enable the Government to lift all legal limits on social contact from 21 June 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
In the Government’s Roadmap - ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ - we set out four steps for easing restrictions. The Government aims to lift social contact limits at Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.
The dates for these steps are indicative “no earlier than” dates, which are five weeks apart and wholly contingent on the data and subject to change. Before moving to Step 4 and lifting legal social contact limits, the Government will examine the impact of the previous Step 3 and the four tests:
The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
Asked by: Julian Sturdy (Conservative - York Outer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential to lift all covid-19 restrictions on social contact on or from 21 June 2021.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
In the Government’s Roadmap - ‘COVID-19 Response - Spring 2021’ - we set out four steps for easing restrictions. The Government aims to lift social contact limits at Step 4, which will happen no earlier than 21 June.
The dates for these steps are indicative “no earlier than” dates, which are five weeks apart and wholly contingent on the data and subject to change. Before moving to Step 4 and lifting legal social contact limits, the Government will examine the impact of the previous Step 3 and the four tests:
The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.