Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to extend employment legislation to give volunteers in voluntary organisations the same protection rights as those available to paid employees.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
In general, employment law (for example through the Employment Rights Act 1996) provides protection to ‘employees’ or ‘workers’. Many volunteers are not employees or workers, and so do not have the same legal status and protections as paid employees or workers. However, depending on the details of the volunteering arrangement, it is possible for volunteers to be workers in some cases. Some guidance on the definition of a worker is provided on the gov.uk website..
The government has consulted on whether volunteers are adequately protected by the protections within the Equality Act 2010, and responses to that consultation are currently being considered.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is also working with charities and the charity regulator to encourage safe cultures within charities that protect volunteers.
The gov.uk website explains what rights a volunteer may have.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend that the BSI will continue to (1) be a full member of the European standards system, and (2) an EU-notified body, post-Brexit; if so, what will be the mechanisms by which those outcomes are achieved; and how they intend that BSI will continue to have an impact on European technical and safety standards post-Brexit.
Answered by Lord Henley
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the UK’s National Standards Body. BSI is independent of the UK Government and the European standards organisations are independent of the European Union. BSI has made clear its preference to remain a member of the European standards organisations, and thereby to continue in the development of all European standards, including those focusing on technical and safety aspects.
We are working with BSI to ensure that our future relationship with the European Standards Organisations continues to support a productive, open and competitive business environment in the UK.
Outside its work as the National Standards Body, BSI Group also has a role as a Notified Body providing third-party testing of products. The UK Government recognises the valuable role of third-party testing in providing confidence. We want to ensure that UK companies have the maximum freedom to operate within European markets, and to let European businesses do the same in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to refer Carillion’s tendering activities and the connected actions of relevant officers of the company over the past three years to the Serious Fraud Office for inquiry.
Answered by Lord Henley
My Rt Hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has written to the Insolvency Service and the Official Receiver to ask it to fast track its investigation into Carillion’s directors, and to broaden the scope of this to include former directors, to determine whether their actions caused detriment to creditors, employees and the pension schemes. He has also written to the chairman of the Financial Reporting Council and asked it to conduct an investigation into the preparation of Carillion’s accounts past and present, as well as the conduct of the company’s auditors.
If in the course of the Official Receiver’s investigation he discovers any indication of criminal offences having been committed, he can refer them to a prosecuting authority including the Serious Fraud Office.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the UK’s requirements under the Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context will be met following withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty, noting that compliance with the requirement under Article 37 of the Treaty for Member States to submit to the Commission general data concerning any plan for the disposal of radioactive waste has previously been used to demonstrate that the UK is fulfilling those requirements.
Answered by Lord Henley
The UK’s obligations under the Espoo convention are not met through compliance with Article 37 of the Euratom Treaty. They are met through the UK’s planning regime, in particular through the Environmental Impact Assessment and related processes.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are plans in place to empower independent bodies to produce legislation for specific issues in the UK relating to radiation protection and the control of radioactive substances; and if so, how they are proposing (1) to select such bodies, and (2) to fund them for undertaking such work.
Answered by Lord Henley
Government has no plans to empower independent bodies to produce legislation in relation to radiation protection and the control of radioactive substances.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether planning and consenting legislation, such as the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016 (SI 2016/1154), will be amended to ensure that a favourable assessment from the European Commission is no longer required following withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty, prior to granting a permit or consent; and if so, how.
Answered by Lord Henley
The UK’s future relationship with Euratom is subject to negotiation with the European Commission. Our aim is to seek a close and effective association with Euratom in future which aims to maintain as much continuity as possible. Any potential amendments that may be required to legislation as a result of the negotiations are under consideration.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the UK regulations for radiation protection and the control of radioactive substances will remain (1) effective, and (2) in line with internationally accepted standards facilitating international trade and cooperation, when the UK withdraws from the Euratom Treaty.
Answered by Lord Henley
This Government remains absolutely committed to high standards of radiation protection for workers, the public and the environment after the UK’s withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty.
International standards for radiation protection and the control of radioactive substances are issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Irrespective of our future relationship with Euratom, we will continue to apply the international standards on nuclear safety and will remain accountable on nuclear safety matters through our membership of the IAEA.
These standards are reflected in Euratom’s nuclear safety legislation. A programme to update UK legislation to transpose the revised Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive, which sets out standards for radiation protection, is currently underway and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to enhance and further develop the UK's relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency prior to, and following, withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty; whether a UK department has been clearly identified to lead this relationship and secure suitable outcomes across nuclear, non-nuclear and the wider radiation protection interests; and what process has been put in place to ensure that all relevant departments, in both the UK and the devolved administrations, work together to ensure that a suitable outcome is reached.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is the lead UK Department for the relationship with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The UK plays a central role in the IAEA as a major contributor of financial and technical assistance, and is influential in shaping the Agency’s governance and policy as a permanent member of the Board of Governors.
The Department coordinates across government, with the Office for Nuclear Regulation, the Devolved Administrations and other interested stakeholders, as well as with the UK Mission in Vienna, to build on our existing influence within the IAEA in support of the UK’s nuclear, non-nuclear and wider radiation protection priorities. We will continue to do this alongside shaping the UK’s future relationship with the EU and Euratom.
The UK will continue to take a leading role in shaping the global nuclear safety and security regimes through its influence in the IAEA. We remain absolutely committed to maintaining high standards of radiation protection for workers, the public and the environment.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are being taken to ensure that the UK maintains its position and reputation as a leader in radiation protection standards following withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty; whether those steps include the strengthening of the relationship with the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP); and whether Government funding will be provided to support participation in ICRP committees and working groups.
Answered by Lord Henley
Maintaining nuclear and radiation safety remains our top priority and this Government remains absolutely committed to the highest standards of nuclear and radiation safety and protection, and to support the industries that use radioactive substances.
Radiation protection standards are already well established in existing UK legislation, which – like Euratom legislation – is and continues to be informed by and based on the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) and the safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). This commitment is demonstrated by the fact that the UK is currently implementing the Euratom Basic Safety Standards Directive, which updates our radiation protection standards.
Public Health England (PHE) does not make any financial contributions to the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) but provides contribution ‘in kind’ through the participation of its staff members to ICRP meetings, workshops and symposia, and by carrying out specific work at its Centre for Radiation Chemical and Environmental Hazards.
Asked by: Lord Carlile of Berriew (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a reciprocal notification system will be established to ensure that the UK is informed of any dangerous experiments, as defined in the Euratom Treaty, undertaken by Euratom member states following withdrawal from the Euratom Treaty.
Answered by Lord Henley
Protecting the public and ensuring the highest standards of nuclear safety will always be top priorities for the Government, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) and industry. The UK has a robust and well established domestic civil nuclear safety regime, and this will remain in place as we leave Euratom. We will continue to apply the international standards on nuclear safety as agreed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and will remain part of the IAEA’s nuclear emergency notification and response system, which includes Euratom member states.
As stated in the Government’s Written Ministerial Statement on Euratom on 11 January 2018, the UK will be seeking a close association with Euratom. In negotiating such an association the Government will seek to maintain close and effective cooperation with Euratom on nuclear safety.