Lord Tebbit Portrait

Lord Tebbit

Conservative - Life peer

Became Member: 6th July 1992

Left House: 31st March 2022 (Retired)


Lord Tebbit is not a member of any APPGs
2 Former APPG memberships
Spinal Cord Injury, St George's Day
Draft Disability Discrimination Bill (Joint Committee)
21st Jan 2004 - 27th May 2004
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
3rd Sep 1985 - 12th Jun 1987
Party Chair, Conservative Party
3rd Sep 1985 - 12th Jun 1987
Secretary of State for Trade
16th Oct 1983 - 1st Sep 1985
Secretary of State for Employment
14th Sep 1981 - 15th Oct 1983
Standing Orders
1st Nov 1978 - 9th Jun 1983
Minister of State (Department of Industry)
5th Jan 1981 - 14th Sep 1981
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Trade)
7th May 1979 - 5th Jan 1981
Science and Technology Committee (Commons)
1st Nov 1978 - 4th Apr 1979
Science and Technology Committee
1st Nov 1978 - 4th Apr 1979
Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
1st Nov 1978 - 4th Apr 1979


Division Voting information

Lord Tebbit has voted in 478 divisions, and 10 times against the majority of their Party.

15 Jun 2020 - Abortion (Northern Ireland) (No. 2) Regulations 2020 - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Conservative Aye votes vs 125 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 112 Noes - 388
17 Jul 2019 - Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 21 Conservative No votes vs 42 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 182 Noes - 37
24 Feb 2015 - Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Mitochondrial Donation) Regulations 2015 - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 16 Conservative Aye votes vs 73 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 48 Noes - 280
26 Nov 2014 - Consumer Rights Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 7 Conservative Aye votes vs 116 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 163 Noes - 189
10 Jul 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 37 Conservative Aye votes vs 47 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 89 Noes - 267
4 Jun 2013 - Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 65 Conservative Aye votes vs 79 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 148 Noes - 390
15 Jun 2011 - Estates of Deceased Persons (Forfeiture Rule and Law of Succession) Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 5 Conservative Aye votes vs 128 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 242 Noes - 209
16 Feb 2011 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 27 Conservative Aye votes vs 118 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 215
9 Feb 2011 - Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 8 Conservative Aye votes vs 111 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 136 Noes - 195
13 Oct 2008 - Counter-Terrorism Bill - View Vote Context
Lord Tebbit voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 1 Conservative No votes vs 141 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 309 Noes - 118
View All Lord Tebbit Division Votes

All Debates

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
Lord Bates (Conservative)
(21 debate interactions)
Viscount Younger of Leckie (Conservative)
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
(20 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Home Office
(44 debate contributions)
Leader of the House
(29 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
View all Lord Tebbit's debates

Lords initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Lord Tebbit, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.


Lord Tebbit has not introduced any legislation before Parliament

Lord Tebbit has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting


Latest 50 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
5 Other Department Questions
14th Oct 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what studies they have made of the effects of large solar energy plants upon plant and animal wild life.

In 2014 the National Solar Centre of the Building Research Establishment published Biodiversity Guidance to Solar Developments in order to support developers in managing the effect of generating stations on plants and animal wildlife. This can be found at:


http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/nsc/Documents%20Library/NSC%20Publications/National-Solar-Centre---Biodiversity-Guidance-for-Solar-Developments--2014-.pdf


14th Oct 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many acres of land are now occupied by solar energy farms.

While DECC holds information on the numbers and capacities of solar farms, DECC does not hold information on the quantity of land used for each. This information may be held by individual local planning authorities.

10th Dec 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they have in place to monitor the diversity of (1) Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, and (2) LGBT, persons serving as directors of public companies.

Under the Companies Act listed companies are required to report on diversity, including gender, in their annual reports. Company reporting is overseen by the Financial Reporting Council and companies are required to follow the UK Corporate Governance Code on a comply-or-explain basis.

In September 2014 FRC published an updated Code, including changes to the preface reinforcing the importance of diversity in all its forms on the board. This includes, but is not limited to, gender and race.

At the launch on 15th December 2014, the Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills welcomed a new private sector-led campaign which will look to address the lack of ethnic diversity in boardrooms, based in part on research that indicates the proportion of Black & Ethnic Minority people in leadership positions is lower than expected compared to the wider population (estimated at 5.1% and 14% respectively). Measuring progress is a key part of the campaign.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe
Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
14th Oct 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 26 September (HL1855), whether they will list those Members of the House who have benefited from their contribution to costs incurred in attending meetings overseas on climate change.

The Government contributed £1,800, as part of a Foreign & Commonwealth Office Prosperity Fund project on carbon markets, towards travel and accommodation costs for Baroness Worthington to attend an emissions trading experts meeting in China in April 2014.

8th Sep 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government have much they have spent on travel and accommodation in respect of Members of the House of Lords attending meetings on global climate change during the current financial year.

The Government has contributed £1,800 for travel and accommodation for Members of the House of Lords to attend meetings overseas specifically on climate change in the current financial year.

3rd Apr 2019
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many ministers, including Government Whips, have resigned since the 2017 General Election.

I refer my noble friend to my answer of 4 December 2018 [HL 11735], since when nine ministers have resigned from the Government.

The number of ministers appointed to Her Majesty's Government, and the roles to which they are appointed, will vary from time to time. Since 4 December, nine ministers have joined the Government.

22nd Nov 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government which ministers, set out by name and by ministerial responsibility, have resigned from office since the 2017 General Election.

The following ministers have resigned from office since the formation of the Government on 11 June 2017:

  • Lord Price CVO, former Minister of State for Trade Policy
  • Lord Nash, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the School System
  • The Rt Hon Baroness Anelay of St. Johns DBE, former Minister of State for Exiting the European Union
  • The Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, former Secretary of State for Defence
  • The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, former Secretary of State for International Development
  • The Rt Hon Damian Green MP, former First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office

  • The Rt Hon Justine Greening MP, former Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities
  • Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, former Baroness in Waiting (Government Whip)
  • The Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, former Secretary of State for the Home Department and Minister for Women and Equalities
  • Dr Philip Lee MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Youth Justice, Victims, Female Offenders and Offender Health
  • The Rt Hon Greg Hands MP, former Minister for Trade Policy
  • The Rt Hon David Davis MP, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • The Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
  • Steve Baker MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • Andrew Griffiths MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Small Business Consumers and Corporate Responsibility
  • Guto Bebb MP, former Minister for Defence Procurement
  • Tracey Crouch MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Civil Society
  • Jo Johnson MP, former Minister of State for Transport and Minister for London
  • The Rt Hon Dominic Raab MP, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • The Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
  • Suella Braverman MP, former Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union
  • Shailesh Vara MP, former Minister of State for Northern Ireland
  • Sam Gyimah MP, former Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation
6th Nov 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) oral questions, and (2) written questions, tabled by members of the House of Lords they considered not to relate to matters of Government responsibility in the last 3 months.

The requested information is not readily available. The information requested can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

18th Jul 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government which ministers have resigned their Government appointments since the Chequers Summit meeting on 7–8 July; and what Government positions each of those ministers held.

The following ministers have resigned from Government after the Chequers Summit:

  • Rt Hon Boris Johnson MP, former Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

  • Rt Hon David Davis MP, former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

  • Guto Bebb MP, former Minister for Defence Procurement

  • Steve Baker MP, former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union

  • Andrew Griffiths MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

25th Jan 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they received any forewarnings of financial difficulties at Carillion PLC.

The Government constantly monitors the health of all of its strategic suppliers and reviews its contingency plans as necessary. Carillion publicly issued profit warnings on three occasions.

6th Jul 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 27 June (HL657), whether the "special status" enjoyed by the Sovereign is granted by EU law.

The European Court of Justice has held that EU law must be interpreted in the light of the relevant rules of international law and that, as such, under EU law Heads of State enjoy a special status (different from that of all other Union citizens).

13th Jun 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Sovereign is subject to legislation originating in the EU.

In relation to UK law civil and criminal proceedings cannot be taken against the Sovereign as a person under UK law.


Under EU law, EU Heads of State enjoy a special status, in accordance with generally accepted principles of international law.

17th Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 16 March (HL6672), whether the respective Codes of Conduct for (1) ministers, (2) officials, and (3) special advisers, allow them to draft letters to be signed by retired military officers or business people and then published in national newspapers.

The respective Codes of Conduct for Ministers, officials and special advisers make clear the role of these individuals in developing and implementing Government policies.

17th Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 16 March (HL6552), how they define an "extended Ministerial Office", and for what purpose they are being established.

Guidance on the nature and make up of extended ministerial offices (EMO) is set out in guidance published by the Government. The Guidance makes clear that EMOs are designed to support Secretaries of State and other Ministerial Heads of Departments. An EMO may include civil servants fulfilling the traditional private office role, special advisers and external appointees. The office may include support for policy formation, implementation, media, correspondence, relations with Parliament, as well as the traditional private office function.

16th Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 14 March (HL6673), whether Mr Hopkins importuned any persons to sign letters to national newspapers concerning the European Referendum or the consequences of a national vote for leaving the EU; and if so, how many (1) were importuned, (2) signed, and (3) declined to do so.

I refer the Noble Lord to the Prime Minister's answer to the hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Ms Dorries) on 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 32. As set out in the Civil Service Code, it is the role of the civil service to support the Government of the day in developing and implementing its policies.

2nd Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser, have played any part in the drafting of letters subsequently signed by retired military officers or business people and published in national newspapers in the last year.

In carrying out government business, Ministers, officials and special advisers must abide by their respective Codes of Conduct.

2nd Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser, importuned any persons to sign letters concerning the European Referendum or the consequences of a national vote for leaving the EU in national newspapers; and if so, (a) how many were importuned, (b) how many signed, and (c) how many declined to do so.

I refer the Noble Lord to the Prime Minister's oral response to the Hon Member for Mid Bedfordshire on 22 February 2016: Column 32.

20th Jan 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether members of the "political cabinet" have access to (1) matters covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989, or (2) other governmental matters not within the public domain.

Paragraph 4.8 of the Cabinet Manual sets out that political Cabinets are convened by the Prime Minister, but they are not attended by officials. Sensitive papers, such as those covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989, are not distributed to political Cabinets.

20th Jan 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the relationship is of the "political cabinet" to the Cabinet.

Paragraph 4.8 of the Cabinet Manual sets out that political Cabinets are convened by the Prime Minister, but they are not attended by officials. Sensitive papers, such as those covered by the Official Secrets Act 1989, are not distributed to political Cabinets.

2nd Jun 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures they have put in place to ensure that legislative proposals have been adequately discussed and agreed by committees of the Cabinet and the Cabinet before being announced.

The Parliamentary Business and Legislation Committee is tasked with overseeing the Government's legislative programme. The Government does not comment on the proceedings of Cabinet or its committees.

Information on the legislative process is available on the gov.uk website. A copy of ‘Guide to Making Legislation’ has been attached for ease.

14th Oct 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 18 August (HL1666), which section of the Ministerial Code deals with the expression of personal views which are not Government policy whilst answering questions at the despatch box.

I refer the noble peer to the answer I gave on 26 September, Official Report, Column WA514.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
8th Sep 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 18 August (HL 1666), which section of the Ministerial Code deals with the expression of personal views which are not government policy whilst answering questions at the Despatch Box.

The Ministerial Code sets out the duties and responsibilities of Ministers. It is of course not unprecedented for Ministers to express personal views at the Despatch Box.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
30th Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that ministers speaking from the despatch box in their capacity as ministers should not express personal opinions in conflict with Government policy; if so, how that policy is enforced; and, if not, whether they intend to introduce such a policy.

The Ministerial Code provides guidance to Ministers on their accountability to Parliament.

21st Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comment by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 1 July (HL Deb, col 1709), whether they consider the Franks inquiry into the Falklands War to have been thorough and vigorous.

As I stated on 16 July (HL Column WA127), the Franks Report was an important Inquiry for the public record, establishing events and learning lessons.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
2nd Jul 2014
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the comment by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 1 July (HL Deb, col 1709) that he still held the opinion that the Franks inquiry on the Falklands War was not entirely thorough or rigorous, whether in making that comment he was speaking in a personal or ministerial capacity.

I have recently responded to two debates on the Chilcot Inquiry in my Ministerial capacity. In the course of both, I drew a comparison between the Chilcot Inquiry and the Franks Inquiry, simply to note the information available to the Chairmen of those Inquiries, the significant difference in their scope, including the giving of evidence in public. Both are important Inquiries for the public record, establishing events and learning any lessons. In addition, I offered a personal reflection on the Franks Inquiry [based on my previous work in this area].

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
4th Jun 2014
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their total expenditure on financial support for organisations which lobby them on government policy.

The information requested is not held centrally. Government Departments fund and contract with various organisations. It would be a matter for the relevant Department to determine whether any of these organisations lobby the government inappropriately.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire
Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
26th May 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 11 May (HL Deb, col 172), that the proposed Hinkley Point C power station "will provide reliable energy at an affordable cost", what is their estimate of that unit cost.

The Strike Price for Hinkley Point C is £92.50/MWh, reducing to £89.50/MWh if EDF proceed with Sizewell C

11th Jan 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 10 January (HL Deb, col 1856), what is their definition of a social enterprise.

Social enterprises are businesses with primarily social/environmental objectives, whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or community rather than mainly being paid to shareholders or owners. We are currently refreshing our own government estimates of the nature and size of the social enterprise market in the UK, and we will publish our research early in 2017.

4th Sep 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of studies by the British Trust for Ornithology which show that the population of starlings has fallen by 66 per cent since the 1970s.

The Government is aware of the British Trust for Ornithology data on starlings. The Government’s wild bird statistics that measure relative abundance show decreases for starlings of 81% in the long term (1970-2015) and 5% in the short term (2010-2015).

The cause of the decline in starlings, although not fully understood, is likely to be linked to food availability and over winter survival. To support starlings and other birds there are agri-environment scheme options that aim to boost food availability. In the period 2008-2014, farms in Higher Level Stewardship agreements, specifically undertaking bird friendly management options, found a sustained 79% increase in starling abundance.

4th Sep 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of low concentrations of anti-depressants on the courtship and breeding of starlings.

The experiments conducted by University of York in collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) demonstrated that exposing starlings to a maximal environmentally relevant concentration of an anti-depressant (fluoxetine) altered courtship behaviour in wild-caught starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). The males sang less and were more aggressive towards females that had been dosed with an anti-depressant than to the untreated females and in addition the treated females were also initially more aggressive towards males than the untreated females. However there were no effects on female courtship behaviour or on circulating female hormones in treated females. These findings suggest that exposure to this dose of anti-depressant reduced female attractiveness to the male but the reasons why are not clear. Whether these levels of anti-depressants in the environment would have a significant effect on an individual’s fitness or the population as a whole requires further investigation.

4th Sep 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of research by the Environment Department at the University of York which found that worms, maggots and flies at sewage treatment plants contain traces of many drugs, including anti-depressants.

Researchers at the University of York have published in a peer reviewed journal that earthworms collected at sewage treatment plants contained mean concentrations of 26.20±4.70 ng/g of the anti-depressant fluoxetine (trade name Prozac) (Bean et al. 2017). In a recent paper concerning the effects of low, environmental relevant, concentrations of Prozac on the courtship of starlings (Whitlock et al. 2018), they also refer to work by other researchers showing earthworms at sewage treatment plants to contain other contaminants including pharmaceuticals (Markman et al. 2007 & 2008). There are many other studies globally showing uptake of pharmaceuticals into a variety of invertebrate species.

The uptake of pharmaceutical residues from sewage, sewage effluent and sewage sludge has been shown to negatively impact invertebrates themselves and provides a clear route of exposure to many species of wildlife including birds and bats. The full significance of this is still being assessed.

References

Bean, T. G., Arnold, K. E., Lane, J., Bergstrom, E., Thomas-Oates, J. E., Rattner, B., & Boxall, A. B. A. (2017). Predictive framework for estimating exposure of birds to pharmaceuticals. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3771

Markman S,Guschina I,Barnsley S,Buchanan K,Pascoe D,et al. (2007) Endocrine disrupting chemicals accumulate in earthworms exposed to sewage effluent. Chemosphere 70: 119–125.

Markman S, Leitner S, Catchpole C, Barnsley S, Müller CT, Pascoe D, et al. (2008) Pollutants Increase Song Complexity and the Volume of the Brain Area HVC in a Songbird. PLoS ONE 3(2): e1674. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0001674

Sophia E. Whitlock, M. Glória Pereira, Richard F. Shore, Julie Lane, Kathryn E. Arnold. Environmentally relevant exposure to an antidepressant alters courtship behaviours in a songbird. Chemosphere, 2018; 211: 17 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.07.074

(12/12)

4th Jul 2017
Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the findings of Professor Tyler of Exeter University relating to transgender fish in rivers affected by residues of contraceptive pills, what action they intend to take to avoid health risks to humans.

The class of substances known as Endocrine disruptors (EDCs) which include oestrogens found in contraceptive pills are a hazard to some wildlife. While it is correct that EDCs are a recognised environmental issue, which continues to be researched with a view to the protection of wildlife, EDCs do not pose a threat to drinking water supplies as drinking water treatment facilities will remove oestrogens, if they were to occur in river water.

The Environment Agency is currently commissioning work to survey the incidence and severity of intersex in wild fish in a number of rivers that were surveyed 15 years ago, to assess how the situation may have changed.

13th Sep 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Ragwort Control Act 2003 in preventing the spread of ragwort.

The effectiveness of this Act is assessed annually by recording details of complaints and enforcement cases. Research undertaken for Defra in 2013 concluded that ragwort is not becoming more widespread.

The Ragwort Control Act 2003 contains provision for a Code of Practice for the management and control of ragwort.

Common ragwort is one of the five, so called ‘injurious weeds’ and is toxic to grazing livestock including horses, so the priority is to protect them where there is a risk of them ingesting dead, dying or green ragwort. The Government recognises the impact that ragwort ingestion can have and we ask that landowners take all reasonable steps to ensure that ragwort does not spread from their land onto adjoining land, where it poses a risk to grazing livestock, land used for grazing or to produce hay/forage. Where complaints are received and there is a genuine risk to grazing livestock then action to ensure compliance is taken with private individuals or public bodies.

23rd Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the possible role of the contraceptive chemical E22, which is resistant to water purification techniques, in the increase in number of freshwater and coastal water fish bearing both male and female sexual organs.

In the UK, environmental regulators, scientific experts and the water industry have been researching the link between the synthetic steroid, 17α-ethinyloestradiol (EE2, used in human oral contraception) and fish populations to understand the role of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the reproductive physiology of fish. Most work has focused on EE2 which has been measured in some of our rivers and downstream of sewage treatment works (STWs); this matches findings in other countries.

Based on scientific evidence from the UK and in Europe, there is reasonable certainty that very low concentrations of EE2 can cause feminisation (intersex condition) in male fish. The incidence of intersex seems to relate to the size of the STWs and the dilution ability of receiving waters. In the UK, fish inhabit comparatively small-sized rivers where limited dilution of EE2 occurs. Conventional STWs can remove EE2 from sewage, but not to the very low levels of less than one nanogramme per litre (ng/L) where no endocrine disrupting effects are predicted. In some cases the impact on fish populations remains unclear, and some affected populations appear to be self-sustaining.

In 2014, EE2 was included on the European Commission’s ‘watch list’ under the Water Framework Directive to gather information on its occurrence in surface waters across the European Union. Data will be reported by the UK and other Member States, and reviewed by the Commission throughout 2017 to assess whether this pharmaceutical is to be prioritised for monitoring and control and is to be included in future versions of the Directive.

23rd Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the levels of pollution in (1) drinking water, (2) river water, and (3) coastal waters, caused by chemicals used in medications which are resistant to present purification techniques

The Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI) published research in 2012 to assess the levels of pollution caused by a range of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs found in source waters, such as rivers, abstracted for drinking water and the comparative levels after water treatment. Over a year, substances were measured at four sites. Results agreed with similar studies and concentrations in English surface waters are generally low and below 1 microgramme per litre (1 μg/L). Levels of pharmaceuticals and drugs in drinking waters after treatment were generally significantly lower than those found in surface waters. This indicates that the drinking water treatment systems used in England and Wales are effective at removing these contaminants. The study concluded that the presence of low levels of pharmaceuticals and illicit drugs in drinking waters in England and Wales do not pose an appreciable risk to human health.

There is evidence that widely used pharmaceuticals are detected at low concentrations in sewage effluent and receiving surface waters. Due to a lack of good quality toxicity data for many of these substances to assess reliably risks to aquatic wildlife that may be exposed to them, research is underway in the UK, at European level and by the pharmaceutical industry to characterise the risks better. This includes a Chemical Investigations Programme, undertaken by England’s water companies, where significant investment is being made to investigate around 20 substances from 2015-2017. Reported data will improve our understanding of the contamination of surface waters due to these chemicals and information will contribute to assessment of the risk posed to, or via the aquatic environment.

In addition, the UK is participating in a European monitoring network of surface water sites on a ‘watch list’ of contaminants and pharmaceuticals, including the active ingredient of the contraceptive pill, EE2. The Devolved Administrations are doing something similar. Data will inform the Commission’s selection of future priority substances requiring control, and the chemical status of the EU’s surface waters with respect to these chemicals.

3rd Mar 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 2 March (HL6363), whether they have the power to make regulations requiring origin marking of dairy products without the consent of the EU.

We have consistently pushed within Europe for improved origin labelling on all food and these efforts have resulted in strong requirements for meat and meat products in the Food Information Regulations EU 1169/2011. We will continue to seek even stronger origin requirements for dairy products, to ensure that where the dairy ingredient of cheese, butter and cream is different from the place of manufacture this is clearly declared on the label.

Where there are harmonised measures, domestic legislation normally takes into account the principles of mutual recognition to prevent deliberate trade barriers between Member States.

The UK food industry recognises that country of origin information is important to British consumers and in 2011 industry developed and committed to a set of voluntary principles for clearer country of origin labelling. The proposed EU implementing act will strengthen the voluntary principles and improve the quality and consistency of origin information.

26th Nov 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 16 November (HL3254), what is the UK share of the Common Agricultural Policy budget for 2015 in percentage and cash terms respectively.

In 2015, the UK was allocated 7% of the Common Agricultural Policy budget which is equivalent to €4 billion.

8th Sep 2014
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any control orders made under the Ragwort Control Act 2003 currently in force; and whether there are any plans to make any such control orders.

The Ragwort Control Act 2003 makes no provision for control orders. The purpose of the Act is to provide for a code of practice to give guidance on how to prevent the spread of ragwort to be prepared. This resulted in the Code of Practice on How to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort which was published in 2004.

Natural England, the delegated authority for investigating complaints about injurious weeds, can issue enforcement notices under the Weeds Act 1959 where ragwort poses a high risk to grazing livestock or agricultural land.

The number of enforcement notices served under the Weeds Act 1959 in 2013, 2012 and 2011 is as follows:

Year

Enforcement notices served

2011

42

2012

36

2013

37

Enforcement is a last resort and where possible we encourage communications between landowners and complainants to try and resolve the issue. In the vast majority of cases this approach is successful.

12th Jul 2018
To ask Her Majesty's Government at what time the White Paper The Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union (Cm 9593) was made available to (1) Members of the House of Lords, (2) Members of the House of Commons, (3) the BBC, (4) the EU, and (5) heads of other governments.

The White Paper on the Future Relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union was published on the GOV.UK website and shared in a letter to the Chairs of the European Union Committee and the Commons Exiting the European Union and European Scrutiny Committees at the moment the Secretary of State stood up to make his statement.

Copies of the White Paper were put in the libraries of both Houses at 0930 on 12 July but due to an administrative error, the White Paper was not distributed to Members of the House of Commons ahead of the debate. There was no intent on the Government’s part to withhold information from the House and the Secretary of State has apologised for this oversight.

Lord Callanan
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
20th Jul 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their position that leaving the EU is in the British national interest.

We will make a success out of leaving the European Union. We will protect and strengthen the national interest.

14th Mar 2017
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Shaughnessy on 13 March (HL5692), in the context of NHS hospital sleeping accommodation, what is their definition of the opposite sex of (1) men, and (2) women.

As set out in the guidance Eliminating mixed sex accommodation in hospitals, it is for each trust to determine how best to accommodate patients, taking into account national guidance on action to eliminate mixed sex accommodation, the relevant quality and safety standards, and patients’ own preferences. A copy of the guidance is attached.

1st Dec 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they are currently spending on measures to prevent (1) dementia, and (2) HIV and AIDS.

We will invest more than £300 million on dementia research over the course of this Parliament. This includes research into causes, diagnosis, cures, care and prevention of dementia.

A key aspiration in the Challenge on Dementia 2020, published in February 2015, is to improve public awareness and understanding of the factors which can increase the risk of developing dementia and how people can reduce their risk by living more healthily.

Public Health England (PHE) has responsibility for the risk reduction element of the 2020 Challenge and has allocated around £62,000 in 2016-17 to support this ambition.

PHE has also allocated £2.5 million in 2016-17 for its Prevention and Sexual Health Promotion programme. These monies are dispersed on HIV prevention programmes, the HIV Prevention Innovation Fund, support for the national HIV self-sampling service, as well as the Sexual and Reproductive Information Service, and on monitoring and evaluation of the programme.

On 4 December 2016, NHS England announced an investment of up to £10 million over 3 years as part of a major extension to the national HIV prevention programme led by PHE. The aim is to support those most at risk of acquiring HIV through providing access to pre-exposure prophylaxis within a clinical trial. NHS England also funds access to post-exposure prophylaxis.

22nd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider the restoration of an apprenticeship-based route to qualification as a state registered nurse.

As part of the Government agenda to develop aspirational apprenticeships, the Department of Health and Health Education England have actively supported the development of an apprentice standard for a registered nurse. This has recently been approved by the Department for Education. The employer-led Trailblazer Group will need to complete the assessment plan and end point assessment before the standard is ready for delivery and can be used by employers.

We expect to see the first nursing degree apprenticeship programmes begin in September 2017.

22nd Nov 2016
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of nurses who qualified in 2010 left the NHS within five years of qualification.

NHS Digital provides data on the number of nurses working in the National Health Service in England, but information on the percentage of nurses who qualified in 2010 and left the NHS within five years of qualification, is not collected.

17th Jun 2015
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what part of the total expenditure on the National Health Service during 2014–15 was incurred (1) by general practice, (2) by individual hospitals, and (3) in respect of administration of the National Health Service (a) at Government level, and (b) by NHS management above the level of individual hospitals.

The 2014-15 data is not available as the accounts are still being audited.

29th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total cost to the UK of aid given in connection with the recent hurricanes and storms in the Caribbean and South-Western United States.

The UK has provided £92 million of funding in response to the damage inflicted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and is matching public donations to the British Red Cross Appeal up to £3 million. On 27 November the Prime Minister announced a further £70 million package of recovery and reconstruction support for the affected Overseas Territories. This will be delivered over the next three years and will be supplemented by up to £300 million of loan guarantees.

£72 million of the immediate response and early recovery funding has been allocated to the UK Overseas Territories. This is being managed through the cross-Whitehall Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and is being delivered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and the Department of Health. In addition £20 million of official development assistance​ has also been allocated from the DFID budget for the response to the impact in Barbuda and Dominica.

The £70 million long term recovery and reconstruction package will also be governed by the CSSF.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
29th Nov 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government upon which departmental budget the costs of UK aid given to persons and institutions damaged in the recent hurricanes and storms in the Caribbean and South-Western United States has been allocated.

The UK has provided £92 million of funding in response to the damage inflicted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and is matching public donations to the British Red Cross Appeal up to £3 million. On 27 November the Prime Minister announced a further £70 million package of recovery and reconstruction support for the affected Overseas Territories. This will be delivered over the next three years and will be supplemented by up to £300 million of loan guarantees.

£72 million of the immediate response and early recovery funding has been allocated to the UK Overseas Territories. This is being managed through the cross-Whitehall Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) and is being delivered by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Justice, Home Office and the Department of Health. In addition £20 million of official development assistance​ has also been allocated from the DFID budget for the response to the impact in Barbuda and Dominica.

The £70 million long term recovery and reconstruction package will also be governed by the CSSF.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)