Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
These initiatives were driven by Lord Willoughby de Broke, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
Make provision for the holding of a referendum in the United Kingdom on the United Kingdom’s continued membership of the European Union.
First reading took place on 27 July. This stage is a formality that signals the start of the Bill's journey through the Lords.The 2010-12 session of parliament has prorogued and this Bill will make no further progress.
Lord Willoughby de Broke has not co-sponsored any Bills in the current parliamentary sitting
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is not currently considering charges against anyone in relation to the tragic death of PC Yvonne Fletcher.
In any case referred to the CPS by the police, a decision to prosecute is made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and a case must meet the evidential and public interest stages of the Code Test.
In accordance with the Code, the CPS will consider any new information that is referred to them by the police in relation to this case, and will continue to bring offenders to justice wherever possible.
Currently there are no changes to the pre-transition period pet travel requirements for entry into Great Britain (GB) from the EU or Northern Ireland. We continue to accept Pet Passports issued in the EU, Northern Ireland and Part 1 listed third countries and Pet Passports issued in GB prior to January 2021. We also accept Animal Health Certificates (AHC) issued in GB, and Great Britain Pet Health Certificates (which can be used when travelling from a Part 2 or ‘not listed’ country, or a ‘Part 1’ country that does not issue pet passports). Pets travelling from Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man do not need this documentation.
The pet health requirements remain in place to protect GB’s biosecurity from diseases such as rabies and the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. This means that all dogs, cats and ferrets entering GB from the EU must continue to be microchipped, have been vaccinated against rabies and for dogs, including assistance dogs, to have been treated against tapeworm (unless travelling from a tapeworm-free country).
We have extensive guidance on GOV.UK with detailed information on what pet owners must do to ensure a seamless journey for their pet into GB: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain.
We operate one of the most rigorous and robust pet checking regimes in the world for non-commercial pet travel movements. Every pet animal entering GB on approved routes under the pet travel rules undergoes documentary and identity checks. Any animals found to be non-compliant with the pet travel rules may be refused entry or detained until compliant.
The Government has a manifesto commitment to crack down on puppy smuggling. We are now making some significant changes to domestic law, with potential changes to our import requirements, through the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Bill was introduced in Parliament on the 8 June and second reading took place on 25 October. The Bill will progress through Parliament when parliamentary time allows.
The UK has been formally ‘listed’ as a ‘Part 2’ third country for the purposes of the EU pet travel regulations, which means that new rules apply to pet movements from Great Britain (GB) to the EU and Northern Ireland (NI). The pet health and documentary requirements for such pet travel are set out under the EU Pet Travel Regulations.
Defra recognises the undue impact that these changes are having on pet owners and assistance dog users. Defra has been clear that there are no animal health or biosecurity justifications for these additional rules to travel to the EU or NI. We will continue to press the EU Commission in relation to securing ‘Part 1’ listed status and recognition of the UK’s tapeworm-free status, recognising that achieving this would alleviate some of the new requirements for pet owners and assistance dog users travelling, including the requirement for an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). We see no valid animal health reason for these to not be granted and we have one of the most rigorous pet-checking regimes in Europe to protect our biosecurity. We have submitted a detailed technical case setting this out and are continuing to engage with the EU on a workable solution.
We are proactively engaging with the assistance dog community and relevant stakeholders on the impacts on dog movements from Great Britain to the EU. We will continue to work closely with assistance dog organisations to share the latest advice and guidance (in accessible formats) with their members on pet travel requirements.
Our advice for pet owners and users of assistance dogs travelling is that they should continue to contact their vet at least one month in advance to ensure their pet has the correct vaccinations and paperwork to travel abroad. The costs of completing and issuing an AHC are commercial decisions, set by individual veterinary practices.
We are working closely with the Rural Payment Agency (RPA) to look at all the available options to support farmers who are being affected by wet weather issues.
The RPA has published online guidance to provide advice around crop diversification requirements and force majeure. We encourage farmers to look at that guidance in the first instance.
We are currently exploring what options are available to us to offer flexibility to the 2020 Basic Payment Scheme rules now we have left the EU.
The Government will do whatever is necessary to deal with COVID-19 now and will also continue to invest in the country’s future infrastructure.
The Government continues to engage with the European Union on certification to ensure that travel between the United Kingdom and the EU is supported by a common approach.
The Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactures Vaxzevria and Covishield and both branded vaccines are the same as the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. All SII-made doses approved by the UK regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and administered in the UK were branded as the ’COVID-19 vaccine AstraZeneca’ which is now known commercially as ‘Vaxzeria’. The MHRA has not approved doses branded as ‘Covishield’ and none have been administered in the UK. All AstraZeneca vaccines given in the UK are the same product and appear on the NHS COVID Pass as Vaxzevria. The European Medicines Agency has authorised Vaxzevria vaccine and it is therefore recognised by the EU.
The Government is not aware of any Georgian nationals resident in the UK who have been designated under UK sanctions.
The Foreign Secretary is engaging actively with a range of international partners to explain our position and impress on them the gravity of situation. We want to build up a groundswell of those who share our commitment to international law. We believe that is the most effective means of getting China to live up to its obligations and responsibilities as a leading member of the international community. We will also work within international institutions such as the UN Human Rights Council to ensure that China upholds the commitments they made as co-signatory to the Joint Declaration. The UK and the US raised the issue at the UN Security Council on 28 May.
We are concerned by the arrests of Martin Lee and other pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong. We are following these cases closely. Senior Officials have raised our concern about the arrests with the authorities in Hong Kong, Beijing and with the Chinese Embassy in London. We will continue to make our views clear publicly and privately.
The Government notes that NatWest has published a statement on this matter, clarifying that it is not its policy to exit a customer on the basis of legally held political and personal views. [1]
More broadly, the Government has published a policy statement setting out its plans to enhance requirements applying to the termination of payment accounts.[2]
[1]. https://www.natwestgroup.com/news-and-insights/news-room/press-releases/our-updates/2023/jul/statement-on-review-of-bank-accounts-closure-process.html#:~:text=Customers%20have%20a%20right%20to,this%2C%20wider%20change%20is%20required.
[2]. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/payment-account-contract-termination-and-freedom-of-expression
Prior to the conflict the Home Office had one Visa Application Centre (VAC) based in France, that being the VAC in Paris.
To support people in Northern France who are eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme, the Home Office has set up a new temporary Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Arras, replacing the interim site in Lille. The Arras VAC is now open. It will only be used for referrals from Border Force of Ukrainians arriving in Calais without visas. Individuals eligible for the Ukraine Family Scheme should not travel to Arras or Northern France, but instead apply online (if they hold a valid passport), or make an appointment to attend their nearest VAC in person which is an easier way of getting the permissions to travel to the UK needed.
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and respond effectively to any variants of concern, U.K. health authorities must have the correct contact and travel information for all passengers arriving into the U.K. Consequently, the completion of an accurate Passenger Locator Form (PLF) remains a mandatory requirement for travel.
The current international travel regulations require different measures to be taken dependant on a passenger’s vaccination status. The PLF enables passengers to verify their vaccine status through the form.
The PLF has recently been updated to simplify the form and extend the completion window. As other measures at the border are lifted, health measures remain under regular review and adjusted in line with the latest public health advice. The necessity of the form and its contents is kept under constant review.
Whether to seek extradition in a case is an operational decision for law enforcement and prosecution agencies. The UK Government, as a matter of longstanding policy and practice, will neither confirm nor deny whether an extradition request has been made or received until such time as an arrest has been made in relation to the request.
The Royal Navy is one of only two navies in the world able to operate 5th generation aircraft from two carriers.
By maintaining two aircraft carriers, the UK has one carrier available at very high readiness for operational deployment, at all times.
Any decision to deploy the carriers will be made in conjunction with our allies and partners and will be based on operational need. This is kept under constant review.