The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-10-19.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Price on 18 October (HL2097), whether they have assessed that the Secretary of State’s curriculum vitae (CV) demonstrates experience of working inside British business; and if so, which part of that CV.
Lord Price
My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for International Trade’s CV is available on gov.uk.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2015-11-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek to improve the effectiveness of national and global measures to counter internet fraud and other online crime.
Lord Bates
Cyber Security, including combating cyber crime, is a top priority threat to national security. That is why, through the National Cyber Security Programme, we have invested over £90 million over the last five years to bolster the law enforcement response, and we will continue to invest. As the Chancellor announced on 17 November, we plan to almost double investment in cyber security, including cyber crime, to £1.9 billion over the next five years.
Cyber Crime, including internet enabled fraud will continue to call for a multi layered response from Government, Law Enforcement and Industry to successfully tackle the threat. At the National and International level the National Cyber Crime Unit in the National Crime Agency (NCA) will continue to lead operations to disrupt serious cyber crime at scale. This includes joint operations with industry and international law enforcement partners across the globe, to disrupt cyber criminals, attack their infrastructure and protect UK businesses and citizens.
Having an accurate national picture of the threat is critical to informing our ongoing response. That is why there has been and will continue to be significant investment in Action Fraud and the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, which has seen the reporting of fraud and cyber crime trebled, from 72,000 before the centralisation of reporting to over 230,000 reports. As a result of this improvement in reporting we have now got a much improved intelligence picture.
Industry also has a central role in fraud and Cyber Crime prevention. That is why we are working with the banking sector and law enforcement agencies to more effectively disrupt fraudsters and protect victims. The Government also continues to raise awareness of cyber crime and fraud at all levels, through the Cyber Streetwise campaign, while providing advice to help individuals and small businesses adopt safer behaviours online and to be better protected. The third phase, launched in September this year focuses on promoting the adoption of three simple online behaviours: use of three random words to create a strong password; install security software on all devices; and always download the latest software and app updates as soon as they appear.
The UK also leads international efforts to raise global cyber resilience through our work with the National Crime Agency (NCA) and multilateral institutions such as the United Nations, the Council of Europe and others, to strengthen the ability of countries to deal with the threat from Cyber Crime. In the past three years the NCA has used Government funding to increase the investigative capacity of a range of Law Enforcement partners around the World. The projects, which range from ‘on-the-job’ investigative mentoring to legislative and technical training in the UK, focus on supporting the NCA’s priority countries overseas and build capability and mutually beneficial relationships with key partners across the globe.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to reduce queuing by motor vehicles for Dover ferries in summer peak periods.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
There are a number of measures currently in place to manage traffic on its approach to Dover port. These include a recently opened extended area within the port that can hold up to 300 lorries, along with the TAP (Traffic Assessment Project) traffic management system that allows port-bound lorries to be held outside the town on the A20 at traffic lights until space at the Port becomes available and to prevent queuing in central Dover during busy periods. The Government also has use of Manston airport as a contingency should the need arise.
A consultation regarding the building of a lorry park next to the M20 at Stanford West started on 12 August and will run until 23 September 2016. Up to £250 million has been committed to this scheme.
The lorry park at Stanford West, on the M20 close to junction 11, was selected as the preferred site last month following a separate consultation between December 2015 and January 2016.
This Government wants to have a country that works for everyone, and we are committed to keeping drivers in Kent moving.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-10-18.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the conclusion by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) that there was no consistent evidence that the Troubled Families Programme had any significant or systematic impact on those families which took part in the programme, what evidence they have for the statement by the Communities Minister, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, on 17 October that this programme has transformed the lives of thousands of families”; and what is their response to the NIESR report National Evaluation of the Troubled Families Programme.”
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The NIESR Impact Study was just one of 6 reports comprising the independent evaluation of the first Troubled Families Programme. The evaluation found that the programme had many positive achievements. These include:
Families feeling more confident and optimistic about being able to cope in the future
Joining up local services for families by encouraging a single keyworker approach to work with the whole family on all of its problems
Raising the quality and capacity of local data systems
Better joint working with partners such as Jobcentre Plus
The data shows that nearly 120,000 of the families on this programme saw their lives improve – more children attending school, youth crime and anti-social behaviour significantly cut and, in more than 18,000 families, an adult holding down a job. The evaluation does not dispute this fact.
Unsurprisingly, the ambitious and innovative impact study which used national administrative datasets to track changes in families circumstances over comparatively short time periods, was unable to specifically attribute positive outcomes achieved in employment, youth crime or school attendance to the Troubled Families Programme.
This was because at that time the level of change achieved was not significantly different from that seen in a group of families not on the programme with whom comparisons were made. This is not the same, however, as saying that the evaluation shows family outcomes did not improve, as some have wrongly inferred.
Of course, we will continue to review all evidence of how the programme is working, to learn from it and see if there’s more we can do to help families facing such multiple problems. In fact, we have already adapted the new programme in a number of ways, including extending the length of time over which family outcomes will be tracked – from 12 months to 5 years.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2015-11-23.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 2 November (HL2691), when they expect to be able to collect reliable data on the incidence and cost of internet fraud; and whether they will publish that information.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what aspects of the Hinckley Point project could not have been fully considered in advance of EDF agreeing to proceed with the contract.
Baroness Neville-Rolfe
The then DECC Secretary of State reviewed all aspects of the project in October 2015 and gave a minded to decision. The Government is now considering all component parts to make a final decision.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2015-12-09.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 10 February (HL4482), what assessment they have made of what is an acceptable and safe level of borrowing for (1) individuals and households, (2) non-financial corporations, and (3) financial institutions.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
The government does not have an explicit target for household or corporate borrowing. The government is adamant not to repeat the mistakes of the past, which is why it created the independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) within the Bank of England to ensure that emerging risks and vulnerabilities across the financial system as a whole are identified, monitored and effectively addressed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the trend of investment in the British economy since the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
Before the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, the UK government published short-term and long-term assessments of the likely impact on the economy of the UK leaving the EU. HM Government is monitoring economic developments closely and the independent Office for Budget Responsibility will produce an updated economic forecast alongside Autumn Statement 2016.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2015-12-09.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 9 March (HL5261), whether they have considered setting an explicit target for private-sector and financial corporation debt, and if not, why not.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
As mentioned in the answer of 9 March, the Government does not set a specific target for private sector debt. However, the Financial Policy Committee (FPC), established as a policy committee of the Bank of England, is empowered to identify, assess, monitor and take action in relation to risks across the UK financial system. This includes risks which arise from beyond the core banking sector (such as private sector debt). The FPC actively monitors developments in the aggregate level of credit extended to UK households and private non-financial corporations, and has the macroprudential policy tools required to address any risk it identifies.
For example, the countercyclical buffer is a macroprudential instrument which is designed to protect the banking sector from periods of excess aggregate credit growth that can contribute to system-wide risk. The countercyclical buffer rate in the UK is currently set at 0%, and is reviewed on a quarterly basis.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Birt on 2016-09-05.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the law governing cyclists is effectively enforced.
Baroness Williams of Trafford
The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for Chief Officers of police. This Government supports any action taken by the police to deter and reduce the number of cycling offences.