Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with representatives from the pensions industry on (a) the divestment of pensions funds from carbon-intensive industries and fossil fuels and (b) incorporating climate-related risk into their investment decision-making.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Governments wants to support trustees in making responsible investment decisions. However, it does not seek to direct pension schemes to invest or divest in any particular way.
We recognise that climate change is a key national and international issue and we have made sure that pension schemes understand their role responding to its effects. In September 2018, following extensive consultation with the pensions industry, this Government laid regulations to clarify that trustees should be taking account of the financial risks of climate change when developing their investment strategies. The regulations come into force from October this year. The FCA are consulting on corresponding provisions for workplace personal pension schemes. As the Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion I have spoken extensively about the new requirements and the Government expectations of pension schemes, including at the Westminster Hall debate regarding Pension Funds: Financial and Ethical Investments on the 22 May 2019:
“For too long there has been a perception by too many trustees -I am happy to clarify this as a Government Minister- that the environmental practices of the firms they invest in are purely ethical concerns, which they do not need to worry about: that is utterly wrong. Aside from the ethical considerations, there are real financial risks resulting from climate change. With the long-term horizons of pension investing, trustees must now consider that when they set out their investment strategies. Trustees who do not consider those matters will be breaching their statutory and potentially their fiduciary duties not only to current but future members.”
The full debate can be viewed here:
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to encourage the pension industry to (a) divest pension funds from carbon-intensive industries and fossil fuels and (b) adopt the recommendations of The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures in their reporting structures.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Governments wants to support trustees in making responsible investment decisions. However, it does not seek to direct pension schemes to invest or divest in any particular way.
We recognise that climate change is a key national and international issue and we have made sure that pension schemes understand their role responding to its effects. In September 2018, following extensive consultation with the pensions industry, this Government laid regulations to clarify that trustees should be taking account of the financial risks of climate change when developing their investment strategies. The regulations come into force from October this year. The FCA are consulting on corresponding provisions for workplace personal pension schemes. As the Minister for Pensions and Financial Inclusion I have spoken extensively about the new requirements and the Government expectations of pension schemes, including at the Westminster Hall debate regarding Pension Funds: Financial and Ethical Investments on the 22 May 2019:
“For too long there has been a perception by too many trustees -I am happy to clarify this as a Government Minister- that the environmental practices of the firms they invest in are purely ethical concerns, which they do not need to worry about: that is utterly wrong. Aside from the ethical considerations, there are real financial risks resulting from climate change. With the long-term horizons of pension investing, trustees must now consider that when they set out their investment strategies. Trustees who do not consider those matters will be breaching their statutory and potentially their fiduciary duties not only to current but future members.”
The full debate can be viewed here:
Asked by: Helen Hayes (Labour - Dulwich and West Norwood)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on encouraging local government pensions funds to divest from carbon-intensive industries and fossil fuels.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The DWP has regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. However, much like with trustees of occupational pension schemes, the local pension committees of the individual Local Government Pension Funds are responsible for their own investment decisions.
As I said during the Westminster Hall debate regarding Pension Funds: Financial and Ethical Investments on the 22 May 2019:
“For too long there has been a perception by too many trustees -I am happy to clarify this as a Government Minister- that the environmental practices of the firms they invest in are purely ethical concerns, which they do not need to worry about: that is utterly wrong. Aside from the ethical considerations, there are real financial risks resulting from climate change. With the long-term horizons of pension investing, trustees must now consider that when they set out their investment strategies. Trustees who do not consider those matters will be breaching their statutory and potentially their fiduciary duties not only to current but future members.”
The full debate can be viewed here:
Asked by: Baroness Parminter (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the possibility of illegal puppy and kitten dealers establishing themselves as rescue centres to continue their trade after the ban on third-party sales of such animals comes into force; whether they intend to carry out a consultation on that issue; and whether they intend to introduce licensing requirements on animal sanctuaries and rescue centres to prevent any such activity.
Answered by Lord Gardiner of Kimble
The Government is committed to banning the third party sale of puppies and kittens in England and the necessary secondary legislation will be laid before Parliament later in this session.
We recognise the concern that some unscrupulous breeders may consider setting up as rescue and rehoming centres, and we will provide guidance to Local Authorities to help them distinguish between genuine rescue and rehoming centres and other commercial operations. In parallel, we are working with stakeholders to understand the impact that any licensing scheme would have on the sector.
Further detail on the Government’s overall approach to the licensing of animal rescue and rehoming centres was set out by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in a Westminster Hall debate on 26 February 2019. The Hansard of the debate can be found here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2019-02-26/debates/EC70319B-914E-408C-A987-7C4DE9D98F1E/AnimalRescueHomes
Asked by: Charlie Elphicke (Independent - Dover)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2019 to Question 215154 on Undocumented Migrants: Kent, how many suspected illegal migrants entered the UK by small boat in each month from October 2018 to January 2019.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
We do not routinely publish this level of data on clandestine entry or attempts to enter the UK. Published data on the numbers can be found in the links below for the Home Secretary’s statement on 31 December 2018 and the subsequent Westminster Hall Debate on 30 January.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-bolsters-border-force-fleet-in-the-channel
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to meet with representatives of fibromyalgia (a) charities and (b) action groups in February 2019.
Answered by Sarah Newton
During the debate on the recognition of fibromyalgia as a disability in Westminster Hall on 15 January (https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-01-15/debates/02089EEE-DA76-4187-8607-CD9405A52EDB/RecognitionOfFibromyalgiaAsADisability,%20col%20315H), I offered to arrange a round table with Ministers from the relevant Departments - including the Department of Health and Social Care - together with myself in my role as Minister for Disabled People to discuss what more we can do about health services, research and benefits for those with fibromyalgia. This round table is due to take place later this month.
Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on the needs of people with fibromyalgia who are making claims for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment support allowance.
Answered by Sarah Newton
During the debate on the recognition of fibromyalgia as a disability in Westminster Hall on 15 January (https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-01-15/debates/02089EEE-DA76-4187-8607-CD9405A52EDB/RecognitionOfFibromyalgiaAsADisability,%20col%20315H), I offered to arrange a round table with Ministers from the relevant Departments - including the Department of Health and Social Care - together with myself in my role as Minister for Disabled People to discuss what more we can do about health services, research and benefits for those with fibromyalgia. This round table is due to take place later this month.
Asked by: Patrick Grady (Scottish National Party - Glasgow North)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if he will publish a response to Early Day Motion 1761 entitled Public ownership of water in England.
Answered by Thérèse Coffey
I responded to a debate called by the Rt Hon. Member for Harrow West in Westminster Hall on 22 January, where I set out the Government’s position on the model for the water industry in England.
Further information can be accessed here:
Asked by: Greg Knight (Conservative - East Yorkshire)
Question
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate the Commission has made of the number of weekly non-passholders who are admitted to the Parliamentary estate without being accompanied or sponsored by a Member.
Answered by Tom Brake
In April 2018, the average weekly number of visitors entering the Parliamentary estate from the three main visitor entrances (Cromwell Green Entrance, Portcullis House and Black Rod’s Garden Entrance) was approximately 17,000. This period comprised both sitting and recess dates. These figures are taken from readings on the security archways that visitors pass through as part of the search and screening process.
Visitors to Parliament access the estate for many reasons. It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the number of non-passholders who are admitted without being accompanied or sponsored by a Member.
Visitors access the estate to meet with a Member or a member of staff; to attend a Member-sponsored meeting (including APPGs) or meetings at official level; to give evidence to a Committee; to lobby; to attend debates in both Houses (in the Chambers and Committees); to attend functions and banqueting events; to take a tour (both paid-for and democratic free tours); or as part of an Education Service visit.
Some of the activities listed require sponsorship by a Member. Other visits will not be directly linked to a Member of either House; such as those attending House or committee proceedings, or attendees at organised functions.
All non-passholders are subject to search and screening measures before entering the estate and must visibly display their visitor pass throughout their time on the estate.
Controls are in place to allow visitors to access certain areas of the building without being escorted by a passholder, including Westminster Hall, St Stephen’s Hall, Central Lobby and certain refreshment facilities.
Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations his Department has received on the effect of the closure of jobcentre plus offices on local communities.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
DWP understands the potential impact that a closure or relocation of a Jobcentre may have and has engaged with stakeholders throughout the process from initial proposal to final decision. As Minister I have responded to all representations such as correspondence from individual customers and local groups, Trade Unions, requests for Westminster Hall debates and meetings with MPs and members from the devolved administrations. Our aim is to continue to maintain our services to claimants and will continue to support them throughout the changes in their Jobcentre location, taking into account their individual circumstances, including any health conditions, disabilities or caring responsibilities.