Asked by: Lord Pendry (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether their assistance with rising energy costs will extend to football clubs.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
His Majesty’s Government recognises the importance of football clubs, both professional and at grassroots level, which provide valuable opportunities for communities to come together and to take part in sport.
The Government also understands the impact rising energy prices will have on organisations of all sizes. In September we announced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, under which businesses and other non-domestic energy users will be offered support. This includes support to football clubs.
After an initial six months of the scheme, the Government will provide ongoing focused support for vulnerable industries. A review is currently underway to determine where this should be targeted to make sure those most in need get support.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the Brexit Support Fund is easily accessible to small businesses; and what steps they are taking to increase applications.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
The SME Brexit Support Fund was designed specifically for small businesses and we’ve worked closely with Business representative organisation to promote it. The Government is providing extensive guidance to businesses to ensure that the SME Brexit Support Fund is accessible to small businesses to pay for practical support, including training and/or professional advice. This guidance includes videos, webinars and step-by-step guides.
HMRC continue to work closely with a wide range of business representative organisations and trade associations to help businesses engage with new requirements, including through the latest public information campaign, cross-Government industry steering groups and events to increase application to the SME Brexit Support Fund.
PwC, the administrators of the grant, have emailed over 20,000 businesses who have expressed an interest in the scheme to re-engage unconverted registrants and those with partially completed applications. They have also introduced an outbound calling team and have spoken to over 1800 potential applicants to encourage them to submit an application, providing assistance as necessary.
Asked by: Andy Slaughter (Labour - Hammersmith)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether the small claims portal will be launched to the general public in 2021; what resources he has made available for communications to the public on how to make a minor injury claim under that new regime; and if he will he make a statement.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
As confirmed in a Written Ministerial statement on 21 April 2020 the Government remains committed to implementing the Whiplash Reform Programme by April 2021.
The Portal will be accompanied by comprehensive and clear guidance for the public and if at any stage users need assistance, they can call a dedicated Portal Support Centre.
We intend to engage with the public, third sector, representative organisations and professional users during the pre-launch, launch and post launch periods to ensure that those who need to access the service know how to do so.
Asked by: Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide assistance to the?Outward Bound?Trust to ensure it is able to continue to provide (1) financial support to students who wish to attend school residential trips, and (2) tourism services in remote parts of the UK.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
We recognise that COVID-19 has significantly impacted the tourism sector, including organisations providing outdoor educational trips. My Department has engaged with stakeholders throughout the crisis to monitor the impact on tourism services across the UK. We will continue to consult the sector to assess how we can most effectively support businesses, organisations and customers during the recovery period.
We have announced unprecedented support for business and workers, including those in the tourism sector, to protect them against the current economic emergency. This includes employee support through the recently extended Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, plus various loan schemes which offer government backed and guaranteed loans.
The Department for Education is currently advising that professional outdoor education and adventure holiday providers that would usually offer activities for schools and/or summer holiday activities to children should remain closed for the time being. This will be kept under review.
Asked by: Simon Baynes (Conservative - Clwyd South)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all firms entitled to assistance under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme are able to access it.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government has responded to helpful feedback to ensure that companies feel the full benefits of available support through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) by:
The Government will continue to see if there are other areas for improvement across the scheme as a whole.
Asked by: Lord Kennedy of Southwark (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to professional membership companies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
As of 3rd April, professional membership organisations that receive at least 50% of their income from trading activity and that otherwise meet the scheme eligibility criteria can access the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS).
CBILS supports small and medium-sized businesses with access to working capital (including loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance) of up to £5 million and for up to six years. The Government will also make a Business Interruption Payment to cover the first 12 months of interest payments and any lender-levied fees, so smaller businesses will benefit from no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.
Asked by: Lord Warner (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O'Shaughnessy on 27 November (HL3647), what guidance is available to patients on the most appropriate body to submit complaints to regarding denial of access to medical records; whether doctors are obliged to provide access to medical records if a complaint is upheld; and whether they have any plans to simplify the complaints process for patients who are denied access to their medical records.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
NHS Choices and the Information Commissioner provide online only guidance on making a complaint to the National Health Service about access to medical records. In addition, assistance may be provided locally by Patient Advice and Liaison Services and NHS Complaints Advocacy Services.
If someone is unhappy with the outcome of their complaint to the NHS, they are able to take that complaint to the Health Service Commissioner and the Information Commissioner.
Except in prescribed circumstances, organisations are obliged to provide patients with access to their medical records. Failure to do this is a breach of the Data Protection Act. Where individual doctors refuse to comply with an upheld complaint the matter should be referred to the relevant professional body.
There are currently no plans to change current NHS complaints arrangements.
Asked by: Stephen Gethins (Scottish National Party - North East Fife)
Question to the Department for International Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help improve trade with Ukraine.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for International Trade (DIT) helps British companies enter the Ukrainian market and increase their competitiveness through overseas trade. We also offer professional and personalised assistance to help companies in Ukraine locate and expand in the UK. So far this year DIT has helped British companies deliver more than £40m of export wins in Ukraine. At the same time we ensure that UK companies are aware of the specific business risks which they might encounter when operating in Ukraine. More details are on our website https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisations/uk-trade-investment-ukraine and https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-business-risk-ukraine.
Asked by: Baroness Jowell (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what dedicated and expert resources they have in each department to support bereaved families and survivors in the event of a terrorist attack.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government, law enforcement, and the security and intelligence agencies work tirelessly to prevent terrorist attacks wherever possible. Resources are in place for the provision of general and specialist support for those affected by terrorist attacks either in the UK or abroad, including bereaved families and survivors.
A range of medical, psychological, liaison, and compensation support arrangements can be provided suited to the specific circumstances.
Our approach is set out below.
Support for victims of terrorism overseas
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office provides support during any crisis overseas, including a terrorist attack, ensuring that the government responds effectively to deliver rapid and professional assistance to British nationals affected. The crisis centre in London can bring together teams of more than a hundred people from across government to coordinate a response and can call on trained staff to both bolster the team in London and be deployed to the country affected. This includes consular support to survivors and to families of victims, working with police family liaison officers and overseas authorities to provide support, assistance and information.
Immediately after the 2015 terrorist attack in Sousse, the Prime Minister established an ad hoc Ministerial Committee to coordinate support from across government to all British Nationals that were affected. The Committee has oversight of arrangements for the memorial service (which took place on 12 April), a physical memorial, compensation and a programme to provide support for those experiencing mental health difficulties.
Support for victims of terrorism in the United Kingdom
In the event that an attack were to take place in the UK, bereaved families and survivors are entitled to support and services under the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime; this is published by the Ministry of Justice and can be accessed online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/476900/code-of-practice-for-victims-of-crime.PDF. This includes access to medical support and any specialist support such as psychological support. Families and victims are able to access these directly without a referral.
The Victim Information Service provides advice for victims of terrorism. This can be accessed online at www.victimsinformationservice.org.uk/im-victim-terrorist-attack/ or by phone on 0808 168 9293.
Government funding is also provided for the national Homicide Service and a number of smaller organisations to support those living in England and Wales bereaved by murder or manslaughter, whether committed here or abroad which includes those bereaved by terrorism.
Compensation
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority administers both the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme and Victim of Overseas Terrorism Compensation Scheme, which provide compensation to victims of terrorist attacks in the UK and of designated terrorist attacks overseas.
Northern Ireland-related terrorism
Responsibility for dealing with Northern Ireland-related terrorism rests with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and, for that reason, this answer does not cover Northern Ireland-related terrorist attacks in Northern Ireland. The response does however, cover any Northern Ireland-related terrorism in Great Britain.
Asked by: Lord Polak (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance they provide to charities and NGOs in Israel.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We currently supply funding for projects delivered by twelve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (including East Jerusalem); ten through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund and two through the Bilateral Programme Budget. The following ten Israeli NGOs deliver projects through the Conflict Stability and Security Fund: The Peres Centre for Peace; Injaz - Centre for Professional Arab Local Governance; Kids Creating Peace; Yesh Din; Gisha; Peace Now; Terrestrial Jerusalem; The International Peace and Cooperation Centre; Rabbis for Human Rights; and the Jerusalem Community Advocacy Network. We also fund projects delivered by the following NGOs through the Bilateral Programme Budget: Burj Al Luqluq Youth Centre and Silwan Youth Centre.