The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Selsdon on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether, and to what extent, subterranean development is increasing incidents across England of mice and other rodents migrating to adjacent properties; and what steps they are taking to address any such increase.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
My Department has not carried out such an assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost to date of keeping Peter Sutcliffe at Broadmoor Hospital, and what is the projected annual cost of keeping him at a category A high security prison.
Lord Keen of Elie
Decisions over whether prisoners are to be sent back to prison from secure hospitals are based on clinical assessments made by independent medical staff.
The Department for Health advise that information quantifying the costs to date of treating Peter Sutcliffe (now known as Peter Coonan) at Broadmoor Hospital between 1984 and 2016 is not available and would vary throughout the period of detention according to the care and interventions provided to meet his clinical needs and security requirements.
The annual cost in 2014/15 of keeping a prisoner in a High Security prison was £57,000. This information can be found in the attachment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government at what stage of the process of leaving the EU they will invoke the Vienna Accord on the denunciation of treaties.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Treaty on the European Union contains provision for withdrawal in Article 50. It is this process which accordingly applies and has to be followed for the United Kingdom to leave the EU in accordance with international law.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK’s departure from the EU is not delayed by general or presidential elections in other EU countries.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Prime Minister has been clear that we will not be triggering Article 50 before the end of 2016, and the detailed work now underway to prepare for our negotiation over exit is complete. Once we have triggered Article 50, a clear process and timeline then applies. We intend to work closely with other Member states to deliver a smooth and orderly departure in line with that process.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-12.
To ask the Leader of the House why there are half-term recesses for the House of Lords.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
The business of the House is scheduled in a way which allows for periodic adjournments, including at half-term. This is the case because many of its members have family or other outside commitments away from the House, in many cases away from London. The House of Commons has a similar pattern of adjournments.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to remove restrictions on local authorities raising council tax to meet the needs of their communities.
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The Government is committed to working with local authorities to protect hard-working council tax payers from excessive increases. In the Spending Review, the Government announced a new adult social care precept worth 2 per cent for authorities with responsibility for adult social care for the remainder of the Parliament, subject to the approval of the House of Commons. This new precept was in addition to a ‘core’ council tax referendum principle of 2 per cent, which would be reviewed annually. The Government has set out its proposals for council tax referendum principles for 2017-18 in the Local Government Finance Settlement Technical Consultation, released on 15 September 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 3 August (HL1132 and HL1135), whether they consider that they are showing no sense of urgency in negotiating the UK’s departure from the EU and whether they consider that delay in doing so will result in uncertainty and harm to the economy.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government is working thoroughly, systematically and rapidly through the full range of issues. The Prime Minister has been clear we will not be triggering Article 50 before the end of 2016, and the detailed work underway to prepare for our negotiation over exit is complete.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to support all businesses in the UK to best take advantage of the opportunities presented by the EU referendum result.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
We remain committed to making Britain the best place in Europe to start and grow a business and build an economy that works for all. The best way of supporting business is to ensure that the economic fundamentals are strong. Employment is at a record high, there are almost a million new businesses in our country since 2010, and the budget deficit has been reduced by almost two thirds.
The BEIS ministerial team have during the summer met businesses, investors, workers and local leaders in all four home nations, as well as travelling to India, China and Japan.
Furthermore, and for the first time, each local enterprise partnership area and each of the devolved Administrations will have a specific Minister in my Department assigned to them. Personal relationships matter in business, and that should start with the Business Department.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the EU referendum result, what action they are taking to protect workers’ rights.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
There is already a range of protections for workers in UK law. It is important to get the right balance between the needs of employers and employees and that remains our position.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick on 2016-09-12.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics’ Labour Force Survey showing that there has been a 20 per cent increase in the past year of workers on zero-hours contracts, what action they are taking to support those workers.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The latest ONS survey shows that less than 3% of the UK workforce is on a zero hours contract with nearly 70% happy with the hours they work. These contracts have a part to play in a modern, flexible labour market.
Government made exclusivity clauses in zero hour contracts unlawful in 2015, meaning individuals have more control over their lives and can work more hours with another employer if they wish. Government also created a route of redress for individuals whose employer mistreats them if they look for, or work elsewhere.