Tag: Lord Kennedy of Southwark

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-04-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to boost the co-operative housing sector in England.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

We recognise the significant role Housing Co-Operatives can play in delivering locally led housing development. The Government continues to be supportive of Housing Co-Operatives, because we want to see communities more in control of decisions that affect them. The March Budget confirmed £60 million a year from additional receipts from higher stamp duty rates on additional residential properties will be redirected into rural and coastal areas for community supported housing.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-05-23.

To ask the Chairman of Committees how many staff in the House of Lords are employed on zero-hours contracts.

Lord Laming

The House of Lords does not employ any staff on zero-hours contracts on an exclusive basis. It employs 28 staff on zero-hours contracts in the Catering and Retail Services department, primarily for banqueting events. These are roles where staffing demands vary significantly week to week and are often unpredictable. The House also employs 22 freelance Hansard reporters. In order to meet overnight publication deadlines for Grand Committee debates, Hansard needs to supplement its permanent team with temporary reporters

Zero-hours staff employed by the House of Lords are free to turn down shifts offered by the House. They have equivalent employment rights to full-time staff including pension and holiday pay entitlements, which are better than those of most agency staff. All staff in the House of Lords, including those on these contracts, are paid at least the London Living Wage.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-09-14.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Turkey concerning that government’s response to the attempted coup d’état in July.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

The UK Government has unreservedly condemned the failed attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of Turkey on 15 July. Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary spoke to their Turkish counterparts on the day following the coup attempt. The Minister for Europe and the Americas visited Turkey on 20-21 July to reiterate the UK’s support for democracy in Turkey, the first Minister to do so following the coup attempt. During his visit he stressed the need for Turkey to respect human rights and the rule of law, and the importance of taking measures under the State of Emergency that are proportionate and justified. The Foreign Secretary met his Turkish counterpart on 7 September in London.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-10-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to encourage local government, where possible, to use biodiesel made from waste food products.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation has supported a strong market for sustainable biodiesel made from wastes through double rewards, and benefits all economic players with an interest in encouraging the use of sustainable biodiesel.

In addition buses that run on biodiesel are eligible for the Bus Service Operators Grant. Operators receive 34.57pence per litre of biodiesel used on their bus routes.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-11-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of the land in England is open access land, and what plans they have to increase that amount.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 there is a right of access for open-air recreation on foot to 2,137,756 acres of land which are mapped as open country and registered common land. This is about 6.5% of the total area of England.

Section 16 of the Act enables the owner, or a person with a long-leasehold, of any land to voluntarily dedicate open access rights over that land. To date, 384,419 acres of land have been dedicated, mostly by the Forestry Commission.

Natural England is aiming to dedicate all 224 of the national nature reserves and similar holdings it owns, or land held on a lease of at least 90 years. Natural England has dedicated 31,876 acres of national nature reserves with a further 2,915 acres becoming accessible on 7 February 2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-11-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are giving to producers of biodiesel made from waste products.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) provides double rewards for biofuels derived from wastes.

The Department concluded a post-implementation review of the RTFO in April 2014. Evidence from the review indicates that double rewards for biofuels from wastes, which were introduced under the RTFO in 2011, have encouraged a strong market for biodiesel from used cooking oil in the UK.

Since the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) was established waste based biofuels have risen from 12% of total biofuel supply in the first year of the obligation 2008/09, to 50% according to the data for 2014/15 (Biofuels Statistics obligation year 7 2014/15 – Report 5).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-12-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to make a final decision about airport expansion in the South East.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

On 10 December, the Government accepted the Airports Commission’s case for expansion in the South East. We agree with the Commission’s shortlist of three options, all of which it concluded were viable. The Government will now conclude a package of further work by the summer, and will ensure that the timetable for delivering additional capacity set out by the Commission does not alter.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-12-17.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what use the Royal Navy is making of unmanned vehicles.

Earl Howe

The Royal Navy (RN) recognises that autonomous systems offer a unique opportunity to maintain our operational advantage, and benefits significantly from the use of unmanned vehicles in both air and sea environments.

The Scan Eagle Unmanned Aircraft System offers enhanced maritime surveillance and improved situational awareness in support of the RN in a number of operational theatres.

The Hunt Class Mine Countermeasure Vessels employ an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV) for remote mine-disposal known as the Seafox mine-disposal system. In addition, the Fleet Diving Squadron employs a small UUV for seabed searches.

The RN continues to explore how autonomous systems can further augment its capabilities into the future.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-02-22.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the timescale for reviewing the formula that assesses a local authority’s needs against the costs that it incurs in addressing such needs.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

By the end of this Parliament, local authorities will fund local services from local taxes, including £26 billion raised from business rates. This is a real opportunity to reshape the role of local government and a major step forward in our plans to boost growth and give local people more control over how their money is spent.

We have announced that we will conduct a review of what the needs assessment formula should be in a world in which all local government spending is funded by local resources not central grant, and use it to determine the transition to 100 per cent business rates retention. We will develop this approach in partnership with local government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2016-04-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of legislation governing housing co-operatives and the case for updating or consolidating that legislation.

Baroness Williams of Trafford

The Government has no current plans to change legislation governing fully mutual housing co-operatives.