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  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for UK-based airlines of the Single European Sky when the UK leaves the EU.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    The Government is considering carefully all the potential implications arising from the UK’s exit from the EU for our aviation industry. This includes the implications for UK-based airlines relating to Air Traffic Management and the Single European Sky after the UK leaves the EU.

  • Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Harris of Haringey – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Harris of Haringey on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) the EU Commission proposal to introduce a European electronic system for travel authorisation (ESTA), and (2) the implications of the introduction of a European ESTA for UK citizens and businesses following the UK’s departure from the EU; and what representations they have made to the Commission and to EU member states regarding that proposal.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The UK welcomes proposals to increase scrutiny of, and further secure, the EU’s external Schengen border. A brief update on the Commission’s plans to publish draft legislation for an Electronic Travel Information and Authorisation System was provided at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 13 October, which was attended by the Home Secretary. We will examine the proposals in more detail once publication has taken place. The status of UK citizens under any such system will depend upon the nature of the detailed proposals and the outcome of the UK’s negotiations to exit the EU.

  • Lord Mawson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    Lord Mawson – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the HM Treasury

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Mawson on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered the merits of exempting social enterprises from paying corporation tax.

    Lord Young of Cookham

    Many social enterprises are charities, which are exempt from Corporation Tax on most income and gains if they are used for charitable purposes.

    The Government has also taken steps to support social enterprises by introducing the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR). SITR provides tax relief to individuals when they invest in qualifying social enterprises.

    The Government has no plans to exempt all social enterprises from paying Corporation Tax, but keeps all tax policy under review.

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

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

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Pakistan concerning reports of human rights violations in that country.

    Baroness Anelay of St Johns

    ​We remain concerned about reports of human rights abuses in Pakistan. Our concerns are reflected in the latest update to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office annual human rights report. We continue to urge Pakistan to honour in practice all its human rights obligations and uphold the rule of law. During his visit to Pakistan in March, the former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised the importance we attach to safeguarding the rights of all Pakistani citizens regardless of ethnicity, faith or gender.

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

    Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to publish a route map for the development of small modular nuclear reactors in the UK.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    Policy development for small modular reactors, including plans in respect of publishing a Roadmap, remains on-going. We are drawing on the findings of the independent Techno-Economic Assessment, the Phase One expressions of interest documents, the meetings held by officials over the summer with 32 technology vendors, service providers and potential investors, and our continuing discussions with regulators.

  • Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are planning to publish any legal advice they have received on whether or not the UK has the right to withdraw the Lisbon Treaty Article 50 notification before the two year time-limit has elapsed if negotiations to leave the EU under the provisions of Article 50 lead to unacceptable conditions for Brexit.

    Lord Bridges of Headley

    A clear majority of the UK electorate voted to leave the EU and we will respect the will of the people. The Government’s position is that once given, our notification will not be withdrawn.

    Our efforts will be focused on getting the best deal possible for the UK in the negotiations with the EU.

  • Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Cabinet Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many UK citizens also have citizenship of the Republic of Ireland.

    Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen

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

  • Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what policy options they have considered regarding controls on EU citizens entering the UK through Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland following the UK’s departure from the EU.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    At present, the UK remains in the EU and there have been no immediate changes to the rights and obligations that membership entails. This means that EEA, Swiss and UK nationals continue to have the same rights and status that they had before the referendum.

    The Prime Minister has been clear that a practical solution in the interests of all parts of the UK should be found to manage the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland once the UK has left the EU. Senior Officials from the UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland are working closely to consider the implications of the UK’s exit from the EU on the Common Travel Area (CTA). The CTA arrangement predates the EU and leaders in the UK and Ireland have been unequivocal –both want to maintain the current arrangement.

  • Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    Lord Wigley – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Education

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Wigley on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to make available the teaching of the Welsh language in schools in England.

    Lord Nash

    Primary and secondary schools can choose to teach the Welsh language to pupils if there is sufficient demand. It is possible for a pupil in England to take privately a Welsh language GCSE offered in Wales if an examination centre is willing to accept them. This will include a revised Welsh Second Language GCSE available for first teaching from September 2017.

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

    Lord Bradshaw – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2016-10-19.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 19 October (HL2257), how much has been spent by departments other than the Department for Transport.

    Baroness Neville-Rolfe

    There has been no further expenditure made by any other ministerial department into the Competition and Markets Authority inquiry regarding the overlap between Arriva buses and Arriva Trains.

    As an independent non-ministerial department, the CMA is responsible for merger inquiries. In this role, it has spent approximately £480k (including staff time, legal fees and consulting fees) investigating the acquisition of the Northern rail franchise by Arriva Rail North Ltd. It is not possible to establish what proportion of this figure was spent on the assessment of the overlap between Arriva Buses and Arriva Trains.