Tag: Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-09-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they plan to publish the responses to the call for evidence on improving the consumer landscape and quicker switching published by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in May.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Responses to the call for evidence on the consumer landscape and quicker switching are still being considered. The Government will publish a summary of the responses in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-10-29.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish their response to the report of the coroner David Hinchcliff, Inquests Touching the deaths of Christianne Shepherd and Robert Shepherd(Deceased), published on 18 September.

Lord Faulks

The decision whether or not to publish any responses is a matter for the Chief Coroner.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-02-10.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consulted the Charity Commission prior to their announcement on 6 February that charities would no longer be able to use any government grant to influence policy, and if so, what advice the Charity Commission gave.

Lord Bridges of Headley

The announcement on 6 February was on a new clause for all government grant agreements. It is not specific to Charities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-03-01.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to amend the meaning of consultant lobbying to include communications with special advisers, as allowed for in section 2(5) of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014.

Lord Bridges of Headley

The Register complements the existing government transparency regime whereby Ministers and Permanent Secretaries proactively publish quarterly details of their meetings with external organisations and individuals. The Government has no plans to increase the scope of the Register. It is usual practice to publish an updated Code of Conduct for Special Advisers after an election. The updated Code, published on 15 October, does not change the role and powers of special advisers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-05-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what enforcement action local weights and measures authorities in Great Britain have undertaken under Chapter 15 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015 since it came into force on 27 May 2015.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

This information is not held centrally.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2016-09-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made to bring together the work of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman with that of the Local Government Ombudsman.

Baroness Mobarik

In December 2015 the Government confirmed its intention to bring forward draft legislation to create a Public Service Ombudsman, encompassing the existing jurisdictions of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Local Government Ombudsman. The intention remains to publish a draft Bill in this parliamentary session.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Which? survey which showed that 9 out of 10 of the Volkswagen owners surveyed believe they should receive compensation.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

There has been no assessment of the Which? survey.

The Government expects Volkswagen to set out quickly the steps necessary to correct the problem and to support owners of the affected vehicles in the UK.

This Government is already playing its part by ensuring vehicle owners will not incur higher VED or Company Car Tax if their existing vehicles are found to be fitted with illegal software that manipulates emissions tests.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-10-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking in the light of the 21 October Which? investigation reporting that listings on some ticket resale websites are in breach of the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe

Where there are alleged breaches of legislation, enforcement authorities have powers to take appropriate action. Consumers or their representatives should report any alleged breach through the Citizens Advice consumer helpline who will report substantive breaches to Trading Standards, or to the police, to take enforcement action as appropriate.

The Government has launched an Independent Review of consumer protection measures in relation to ticket resale and online Secondary Ticketing facilities under Professor Waterson, and Contributions and evidence from interested parties are welcome. This review will gather evidence on how well the Consumer Rights Act’s new ticketing provisions and wider consumer protections are working.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers increases the role and powers of Special Advisers; and, if so, whether they plan to bring forward regulations under section 2(5) of the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 so that consultant lobbyists would need to register communications made personally to a Special Adviser.

Lord Bridges of Headley

It is usual practice to publish an updated Code of Conduct for Special Advisers after an election. The updated Code, published on 15 October, does not change the role and powers of special advisers.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the new wording in the Ministerial Code, issued in October, alters the legal obligations or duty of ministers to comply with international law and treaties.

Lord Bridges of Headley

I refer the Noble Lady to the answer given to the Noble Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 5 November 2015 to HL3046,HL3047,HL3048, which I have attached for ease of reference.

The Ministerial Code is normally updated and reissued after a General Election. The updated Code makes clear that Ministers must abide by the law. The obligations of Ministers under the law including international law remain unchanged.

Information relating to internal discussions and advice is not disclosed.