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  • Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Randerson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Randerson on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the policy of the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) and of the Office of Road and Rail (ORR) on the circumstances in which Driver-Only Operation can safely be implemented; and whether they have had discussions with RSSB and ORR on that issue.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Trains where the driver has responsibility for all aspects of operation, including the doors (known in the industry as ‘Driver Only Operation’) have been in service in Great Britain for over 30 years.

    The Office of Rail and Road (ORR), in its role as the independent railway safety regulator, has scrutinised this approach and is satisfied that, with suitable equipment, proper procedures and competent staff in place, it is a safe method of working.

    A number of projects have been published by RSSB on various aspects of Driver Only Operation on passenger trains. Its research has concluded that, when properly managed, there are no increased risks from dispatching a train without a guard being present.

    Department for Transport officials regularly meet with ORR and RSSB representatives to discuss a variety of railway safety issues including Driver Only Operation.

  • Lord Kilclooney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Lord Kilclooney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kilclooney on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recent actions of the government of Bahrain towards the main Shia opposition group; what is their assessment of the state of human rights in that country; and whether the development of a new Royal Naval base in Bahrain is progressing.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    The Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Mr Johnson), issued a statement on 17 July expressing concerns about the Bahraini High Administrative Court’s decision to dissolve the main Bahraini Shia opposition political society Al Wefaq. We continue to follow the case closely. We have urged the Government of Bahrain to protect political freedoms and representation for all Bahraini citizens and to encourage all sides to engage in constructive and inclusive dialogue to promote social cohesion and inclusivity.

    We regularly discuss human rights and reform with the Government of Bahrain and it is a standing agenda item for the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meeting, held most recently in June 2016. The former Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also raised concerns about recent developments with the Bahraini Foreign Minister on 14 June, and during his visit to Bahrain on 30 May.

    We have begun work on the future UK maritime hub at Mina Salman in Bahrain, HMS Juffair, to support Royal Navy deployments. We continue to maintain a naval presence which includes mine countermeasure ships, frigates, destroyers and maritime helicopters to contribute to the stability of the region and to make sure vital sea lanes remain open in the region.

  • Lord Howarth of Newport – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    Lord Howarth of Newport – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Howarth of Newport on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take action to support users of software that is no longer supported by the original vendor, for example by requiring the release of the source code of unsupported software to a third party.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 software must be of satisfactory quality, which includes durability for a period a consumer can reasonably expect. If it is not, the consumer may be entitled to a remedy under the Act, for example, a repair or replacement of the software or, if this is not possible, the right to demand some money back. The Government has no plans to require the release of the source code of unsupported software to a third party.

  • Lord Inglewood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Inglewood – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Inglewood on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Brexit will increase, decrease, or have no material impact on, the need for more housing in England.

    Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

    It is too early to say. Whatever the impact, this government remains committed to increasing the supply of homes for the 86 percent of people who aspire to own their own home. The Spending Review doubled the housing budget and set out the most ambitious affordable housing programme since the 1970s, which will help us to achieve our ambition of delivering one million homes.

  • Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from interested parties about the recent EU deactivation specification as it applies to deactivated historical firearms as defined in the Policing and Crime Bill.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The EU Implementing Regulation 2015/2403 on deactivation standards which came into force on 8 April 2016 sets new technical specifications for deactivated weapons.

    Clause 114 of the Policing and Crime Bill creates a specific new offence to sell or gift a weapon that has not been deactivated to the new EU Deactivation Standard.

    We have received representations from a small number of interested parties who have been concerned that the EU specification is not as effective as the previous UK standards. In addition, we were contacted by members of re-enactment and living history societies wishing to travel to France with their firearms to participate in commemorative events linked to the D-Day landings and the Battle of the Somme.

    We have published guidance on the Regulation which includes requirements for additional measures for deactivated weapons brought into the UK. These measures, which go beyond the EU specification in a small number of areas, were introduced to align the requirements more closely with the previous UK standards. We have also worked with the UK Proof Houses to ensure that certification to the new standards is prioritised for re-enactors wishing to travel with their firearms.

  • Lord McColl of Dulwich – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord McColl of Dulwich – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord McColl of Dulwich on 2016-07-18.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, Karen Bradley MP (HC Deb, cols 33WH–54WH), on independent advocates for trafficked children, (1) what is the timetable for establishing early adopter sites of independent child trafficking advocates, (2) what geographic areas will constitute a site for these trials, and (3) what mechanisms will be put in place for monitoring the outcomes of children who received an advocate in the first phase of these trials.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The Government is in the process of identifying a provider of independent child trafficking advocates and three early adopter sites.

    To ensure we assess the revised independent child trafficking advocates model appropriately, early adopter sites will cover areas with different demographics as well as having a range of experiences of working with trafficked children.

    Officials are developing an outcomes framework with support from a wide selection of academics and professionals who have expertise and experience in working with local authorities and trafficked children.

  • Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Barry Sheerman – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Barry Sheerman on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Attorney General, on how many occasions the Law Officers referred a criminal sentence to the Court for Appeal for review on the grounds that it was unduly harsh in the last 12 months.

    Robert Buckland

    Whilst the Attorney General’s Office can ask the Court of Appeal to review a sentence which is considered to be unduly lenient, the Law Officers have no power to intervene when a sentence is too harsh. Therefore there have been no referrals to the Court of Appeal on the grounds that a sentence was unduly harsh.

  • Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Jim Shannon – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many deaths have been caused by air pollution in each of the last 10 years.

    Chris Skidmore

    The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

  • Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Economic and Domestic Affairs secretariat spent on legal advice relating to Freedom of Information cases in the last 12 months.

    Ben Gummer

    The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

  • Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Tom Watson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Watson on 2016-07-18.

    To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much the Propriety and Ethics Unit spent on legal advice relating to Freedom of Information cases in the last 12 months.

    Ben Gummer

    The information requested is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.