House of Lords

Session 2017-19 Thursday No. 273 16 May 2019

PARLIAMENTARY DE BATES (HANSARD)

HOUSE OF LORDS

WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND WRITTEN ANSWERS

Written Statements ...... 1

Written Answers ...... 4

[I] indicates that the member concerned has a relevant registered interest. The full register of interests can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests/ Members who want a printed copy of Written Answers and Written Statements should notify the Printed Paper Office. This printed edition is a reproduction of the original text of Answers and Statements, which can be found on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/. Ministers and others who make Statements or answer Questions are referred to only by name, not their ministerial or other title. The current list of ministerial and other responsibilities is as follows.

Minister Responsibilities Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal Earl Howe Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Lord Agnew of Oulton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord Ashton of Hyde Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Baroness Barran Whip Baroness Blackwood of North Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care Oxford Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Wales Office Baroness Buscombe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions Lord Callanan Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip Lord Duncan of Springbank Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office and Scotland Office Lord Gardiner of Kimble Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Baroness Goldie Whip Lord Henley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Lord Keen of Elie Advocate-General for Scotland and Ministry of Justice Spokesperson Baroness Stedman-Scott Whip Baroness Sugg Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip Baroness Vere of Norbiton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport, Whip Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office and Minister for Equalities, for International Development Lord Young of Cookham Cabinet Office Spokesperson, Treasury Spokesperson and Whip Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip

Written Statements 16 May 2019 Page 1

Institutional Cycle Priorities Written Statements The Presidency will inform the Council on the follow- Thursday, 16 May 2019 up discussions in regards to priorities for the next institutional cycle in the ECOFIN area. ECOFIN Working Lunch Following on from the discussions at April informal [HLWS1524] ECOFIN in Bucharest, EU Finance Ministers will hold a Lord Young of Cookham: My right honourable friend working lunch to discuss the challenges of labour the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Philip Hammond) has mobility and their potential solutions. today made the following Written Ministerial Statement. A meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs ENABLE Guarantee Scheme Council (ECOFIN) will be held in Brussels on 17 May 2019. The UK will be represented by Mark Bowman [HLWS1522] (Director General, International Finance, HM Treasury). Lord Henley: My Honourable Friend the The Council will discuss the following: Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility, Kelly Early Morning Session Tolhurst MP has made the following written statement: The Eurogroup President will brief the Council on the ENABLE Guarantee is a scheme administered by the outcomes of the 16 May meeting of the Eurogroup, and British Business Bank that encourages participating banks the European Commission will provide an update on the and other financial institutions to lend more to small and current economic situation in the EU. Ministers will then medium-sized enterprises by either addressing the high discuss the possibility of the European Investment Bank capital consumption associated with such lending for developing country strategies. banks or by reducing the cost of funding for other Excise Duties financial institutions in order to increase the supply and The Council will be invited to reach a political diversity of finance to SMEs. agreement on the Directive on general arrangements for British Business Bank programmes are supporting more excise duty (recast), the Regulation on administrative than £5.9bn of finance to over 82,000 smaller businesses cooperation of the content of electronic registers, and the (as at September 2018). The Department has approved Directive on the structures of excise duty on alcohol and guarantee facilities totalling £1 billion within the alcoholic beverages. ENABLE programme. Economic and Monetary Union We are now extending the scheme to other financial The Council will hold an exchange of views on the way institutions (as defined in the Request for Proposals forward in areas of the Economic and Monetary Union, available on the British Business Bank’s website), in specifically in regards to the Reform Support Programme. order to further increase the diversity of supply of funding available to SMEs. This extension will not create a new Current Financial Services Legislative Proposals contingent liability. The Romanian Presidency will provide an update on The aggregate amount of the guarantees issued by the current legislative proposals in the field of financial Department under the scheme is expected to be circa £2 services. billion, with extension beyond this subject to further International Meetings review. Within this £2 billion, the aggregate notional amount of the guarantees extended to other financial The Presidency and Commission will update the institutions is capped at £400 million. This enables the Council on the outcomes of the G20, IMF and World Department to manage its risk appetite and limit its credit Bank spring meetings that took place in April, and the risk exposure. Council will be invited to approve the Terms of Reference for the upcoming G20 meeting in June. As a matter of record, I will be laying a Departmental Minute today. The Council will then hold a policy debate on digital taxation in the international context, and the Finnish delegation will debrief the Council on the first meeting of EU JHA Opt-in: Cybercrime the Finance Ministers Coalition for Climate Action. [HLWS1527] European Semester Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the The Council will be invited to adopt conclusions on the Minister of State for Security (Ben Wallace) has today outcomes of the 2019 In-Depth Reviews of made the following Written Ministerial Statement: macroeconomic imbalances in Member States as part of The Government has decided not to opt into (under the the Macroeconomic Imbalances Procedure; and the UK’s JHA opt-in Protocol) either the proposed EU implementation of 2018 Country-Specific Council Decision to participate in the negotiations of the Recommendations. Second Additional Protocol to the Cybercrime (“Budapest”) Convention or the proposed EU Council Page 2 16 May 2019 Written Statements

Decision to authorise EU US negotiations on a cross- The report is available on Gov.uk and details the border data access agreement. progress made in discussions between the UK The first proposed Council Decision enables the EU Government and devolved administrations regarding Commission to participate in negotiations relating to the common frameworks in the third reporting period covered Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe under the legislation, and sets out that no ‘freezing’ Cybercrime (“Budapest”) Convention, on behalf of the regulations have been brought forward under section 12 European Union. of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act. The second proposed Council Decision authorises the A copy of the “The European Union (Withdrawal) Act EU Commission to commence negotiations with the US and Common Frameworks - 26 December to 25 March on an EU US international data access agreement, with 2019” report has been placed in the library of both the aim of ensuring compliance by US-established Houses." The publication of the report reflects the Service Providers to requests from EU Member States for Government’s continued commitment to transparency. stored electronic content. The US’s Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act provides that only Industrial Strategy (West Midlands) an international agreement between the US and a foreign [HLWS1521] government can allow for such compliance by US- established Service Providers. Lord Henley: My Rt hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Greg Clark) I have decided not to opt into the EU Council Decision has made the following statement: on participating in the Second Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Budapest Convention to ensure that the Our modern Industrial Strategy is a long-term plan to UK is able to negotiate its own position and interests, boost productivity and earning power for people without being limited or bound by the EU negotiation throughout the country. policy. This includes enabling the UK to ensure that a Since 2010, local leaders, working in partnership with flexible approach is taken in negotiating the Protocol to government, have delivered historic City Deals with accommodate the different systems and processes of a Greater Birmingham and Solihull, Coventry and wide range of participant states (beyond the participating Warwickshire and the Black Country. Having secured EU Member States). significant Growth Deal funding, the West Midlands then The UK is already in the process of negotiating its own came together as one to capitalise on these important new reciprocal UK-US data access agreement, a bilateral powers and establish new leadership through two treaty (as required under the CLOUD Act) that enables successful Devolution Deals. US companies to comply with lawful orders from UK Building on these strong foundations, we set out in the authorities for the production of electronic modern Industrial Strategy to work in partnership with communications without any conflict of law. As such my places to develop Local Industrial Strategies. Local rt hon Friend the Minister of State for Policing and the Industrial Strategies are central to our aim of creating Fire Service has decided not to opt into the Council prosperous communities across the country. They are Decision on opening EU US negotiations on cross-border being developed locally and agreed with government. data access. This is in line with the UK’s decision not to They are long-term, based on clear evidence and aligned opt into the draft EU e-evidence Regulation, which sets to the modern Industrial Strategy. internal EU rules relating to the production of electronic Today we launched the first of these strategies – the communications. West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy. This has been Until the UK leaves the EU we remain a full member, developed locally by the West Midlands Combined and the Government will continue to consider the Authority, led by Mayor Andy Street, supported by the application of the UK’s opt-in to EU legislation on a case Local Enterprise Partnerships and agreed with by case basis, with a view to maximising our ability to government. protect the public. This Strategy sets out how, in partnership with West Midlands local leaders, we will work to deliver on a range EU Withdrawal Act: Common Frameworks of commitments including: [HLWS1526] • delivering on our Future of Mobility Grand Challenge, which aims to be at the forefront of the development of Lord Young of Cookham: My right honourable friend cleaner, safer, easier and more reliable future modes of the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for transport, cementing the West Midlands’ position as the the Cabinet Office has today made the following Written UK’s automotive heartlands; Ministerial Statement: • playing a leading role in the UK’s trials of connected I am today laying before Parliament a report, ‘The autonomous vehicles, with the West Midlands aiming European Union (Withdrawal) Act and Common to deploy the first fully operational connected Frameworks - 26 December 2018 to 25 March 2019’ as autonomous vehicles in advance of the 2022 required by paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the European Commonwealth Games; Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. 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• driving investment into electric vehicle manufacturing the UK naval training mission training the Iraqi Navy and in the region, completing the UK Battery entities contracted or subcontracted to the GoI, US or UK Industrialisation Centre and maximising the impact of forces or NATO. the Faraday Battery Challenge; In light of the deployment of military forces of non- • putting the West Midlands at the heart of transport NATO EU countries in Iraq and in accordance with the innovation in the UK by delivering the UK’s first large- GoI request for international support, the Government scale 5G testbed; and wishes to make clear that it considers as exempt from the • helping meet the Artificial Intelligence and Data embargo exports serving the purposes of UNSCR 1546 to Grand Challenge by supporting the development of a the forces of EU as well as NATO countries deployed in West Midlands Translational Medicine and Med-Tech Iraq at the request of the GoI. The Government also commission to accelerate the ‘lab to patient’ ecosystem. wishes to make clear that it considers exports serving the same purposes to United Nations agencies present in Iraq The West Midlands is a global force and a major part of at the request of the GoI, and their contractors and the UK economy, generating £99bn of GVA — five per subcontractors, as exempt from the embargo. cent of UK output. The region is growing fast, with output up 27 per cent over the past five years. A record Accordingly, the Government considers as exempt from number of people are in work and the lowest number are the embargo exports to the GoI, the United Nations out of work. Productivity is increasing too, at twice the Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), UN agencies in rate of the UK in 2017-18, while carbon emissions have Iraq, diplomatic missions in Iraq, the NATO [training] reduced by 18 per cent over the last five years – showing mission in Iraq, the forces of NATO or EU countries in that while we grow our economy we can reduce the Iraq, and entities contracted or subcontracted to the GoI, impact on our planet. NATO, the forces of such NATO or EU countries, UNAMI or such UN agencies. As in the statement of 11 The West Midlands is a region in renaissance. November 2010, export licence applications to these end Together, this work sets the long-term future for how the users will not therefore require the approval of the GoI West Midlands can fully realise its potential. prior to approval of the application but may require extra A copy of the West Midlands Industrial Strategy will be information to be provided by the entity seeking the placed in the Libraries of the House. export licence. For exports serving the purposes of UNSCR 1546 to entities other than these, the exporter is Iraq: Export Licence System required to provide a supporting document from the GoI to demonstrate that the proposed export is required and [HLWS1525] thus exempt from the embargo. All export licence Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My Right Honourable applications for Iraq as elsewhere will be assessed on a Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Jeremy Hunt), has made the National Arms Export Licensing Criteria and the following written Ministerial statement: Government will not issue a licence where to do so would This Statement updates and supersedes the Written be inconsistent with the criteria. Ministerial Statement of 11 November 2010 on the ‘Iraq: Export Licence System’ (Official Report, 11 Nov 2010: NATO Parliamentary Assembly Column 24WS). [HLWS1523] UN Security Council Resolution 1546 of 2004 (UNSCR 1546) includes an exemption to the arms embargo on Iraq Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My Right Honourable for supplies of arms and related materiel required by the Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Government of Iraq (GoI) or the multinational force to Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Jeremy Hunt), has made the serve the purposes of the resolution. The Written following written Ministerial statement: Ministerial Statement on 11 November 2010 stated that The hon. Member for Slough (Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Her Majesty’s Government would consider as exempt Dhesi) has replaced the hon. Member for Ilford South from the embargo exports to the GoI, the United Nations (Mike Gapes) as a Member of the United Kingdom Assistance Mission for Iraq, diplomatic missions in Iraq, delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. the US forces in Iraq, the NATO training mission in Iraq,

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Baroness Williams of Trafford: After reports Written Answers indicated that an asylum decision was not drafted in accordance with Home Office policy guidance, Asylum Thursday, 16 May 2019 Operations conducted an investigation into this matter. A small number of religious conversion cases were sampled A1 and no further cases were identified during this sampling exercise. Asked by Baroness Randerson All such decisions are currently subject to further To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any of the scrutiny, pending the roll out of additional specialist 11 planned road building schemes announced by training, which has been developed in collaboration with Highways England in April as being paused indefinitely the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for affect the A1; and if so, which parts. [HL15474] International Freedom of Religion or Belief. Baroness Vere of Norbiton: In delivering the road The Asylum Learning and Development Team started investment strategy, Highways England routinely reviews to deliver the specialist training package on religious its delivery plans to ensure that proposed road schemes claims on Monday 8 April, which will be mandatory for will deliver value for money and minimise disruption for all asylum decision-makers. motorists. Highways England publishes its annual Delivery Plan each year to provide details of its planned Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control work programme for the next 12 months and beyond. The Asked by Baroness Golding next regular update of this is scheduled to be published this summer. To ask Her Majesty's Government how many cattle have been tested positive for bovine tuberculosis and then following slaughter have been negative on post- Asia Bibi mortem testing; and what progress has been made in Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool producing an accurate test before cattle are slaughtered. [HL15458] To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 2 Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The early detection and May (HL15272), what was the most recent response removal of tuberculosis (TB)-infected cattle before they they received from the government of Pakistan about develop advanced pathology and/or clinical signs of the the right of Asia Bibi to join her family in Canada; and disease (and thus become highly infectious) is a key when they anticipate that this will take place. element of bovine TB eradication programmes, including [HL15530] England’s 25 Year Bovine TB Strategy. To that effect, we use ante-mortem tests that measure the animals’ immune Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The British Government response to infection with the bovine TB bacterium welcomes reports that Asia Bibi has been able to travel (Mycobacterium bovis – M. bovis), rather than rely on freely out of Pakistan and is now able to make decisions direct detection methods. about her future. The single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin We also welcome the Pakistan Government’s (SICCT) test, commonly known as the ‘skin test’, commitment to the rule of law, following the Supreme together with the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), Court of Pakistan’s decision in January to uphold her is the legal standard approved in the EU legislation for the acquittal of blasphemy charges. diagnosis of TB in live cattle in the UK. As with cases of Our primary concern has always been Asia Bibi’s TB in humans, only a proportion of those animals infected safety and security. Since Asia Bibi’s sentencing in 2010, with M. bovis and reacting to a tuberculin skin test or we have been in close and extensive contact with a range IGRA display gross lesions of TB when subjected to post- of international partners to support a positive outcome for mortem meat inspection in the slaughterhouse. her. In 2017 (the last year for which an analysis of post- mortem findings is available), approximately 60% of the Asylum: Religion 32,000 cattle compulsorily removed for bovine TB control reasons in England as skin test reactors or IGRA Asked by Baroness Cox positives did not have visible lesions of TB on post- To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the mortem and were also negative for M. bovis on Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 4 bacteriological culture (where performed). April (HL14728), what were the findings of their Defra and the Animal and Plant Health Agency investigation into reports which indicated that some (APHA) are constantly striving for new ways to maximise asylum decisions were not drafted in accordance with the effectiveness of TB testing of cattle to achieve the Home Office policy guidance on how asylum decision- objectives of the Strategy. APHA may exceptionally makers are expected to approach religious-based authorise the private use of non-validated diagnostic tests claims. [HL15495] for bovine TB in herds where the disease is persistent, in Written Answers 16 May 2019 Page 5 order to help detect additional infected animals that may workless households compared with 2010. A copy of my have been missed by the approved official tests (rather letter has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. than to negate a positive result to such tests). A policy position paper on non-validated diagnostics for TB in Commonwealth: Midwives and Nurses cattle is now available on the APHA Vet Gateway (http://apha.defra.gov.uk/vet-gateway/index.htm). Asked by Lord Crisp Over £4 million was allocated to TB research and To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will development in 2018/19, with the anticipation of a similar be raising the proposal that 2020 be designated the Year spend this financial year. The majority of these finds are of the Nurse and Midwife at the Commonwealth Health being invested in improving diagnostic tests alongside Ministers Meeting on 19 May. [HL15454] vaccine development. However, validation for a new test Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK recognises the to World Organisation for Animal Health standards would vital work conducted by nurses and midwives across the only lead to official adoption if it demonstrated proven Commonwealth and supports the WHO Executive Board's advantages in the detection of disease alongside the proposal for 2020 to be recognised as the “Year of the current test portfolio. Nurse and Midwife”. We look forward to discussing important topics such as this at the Commonwealth Health Channel Ferries: Contracts Ministers Meeting later this month. Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick Eggs To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment Asked by Baroness Kennedy of Cradley they have made of the effects of the recent decision to cancel the remaining contracts with no-deal Brexit ferry To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they operators on supply chains in the freight sector. have made of the number of eggs produced in the UK [HL15489] for enriched colony systems in 2019. [HL15501] Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government does not Lord Gardiner of Kimble: UK Packing Station egg expect there to be a significant impact on supply chains in throughput figures are collated quarterly and cover the the freight sector. Shippers will continue to have access to vast majority of total eggs produced. Eggs produced from ferry and Channel Tunnel freight services provided on a hens in enriched colony systems accounted for 42% of the commercial basis, as usual. total throughput in the first quarter of 2019 in the UK. This equates to 1.2 billion eggs.

Children: Poverty Forced Marriage: Children and Young Asked by Baroness Primarolo People To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 30 April (HL Deb, To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times in col 857), to what period the “huge progress on child 2018 the Forced Marriage Unit provided advice or poverty” refers. [HL15605] support on forced marriage to (1) a person aged 15 or Lord Agnew of Oulton: I issued a letter of correction under, and (2) a person aged 16 or 17. [HL15521] on 9 May 2019 explaining that my reference to children Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK is a world- moving out of poverty since 2010 should have been a leader in the fight to stamp out the brutal practice of reference to the number of children in workless forced marriage, with our joint Home Office and Foreign households. There are now 665,000 fewer children in and Commonwealth Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) workless households compared with 2010. A copy of my which leads efforts to combat it both at home and abroad. letter has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. We made forced marriage a criminal offence in 2014 to Asked by Baroness Primarolo better protect victims and send a clear message that this abhorrent practice is totally unacceptable and will not be To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the tolerated in the UK. answer by Lord Agnew of Oulton on 30 April (HL Deb, col 857), how many children have (1) moved out of The joint Foreign & Commonwealth Office and Home poverty, and (2) moved into poverty, in each year since Office Forced Marriage Unit (FMU) operates a public helpline to provide advice and support to victims, those at 2010 for which figures are available. [HL15606] risk, and professionals. Statistics on the number of cases Lord Agnew of Oulton: I issued a letter of correction dealt with by the FMU, including a breakdown by region on 9 May 2019 explaining that my reference to children and age, are published annually and available online at moving out of poverty since 2010 should have been a https://www.gov.uk/guidance/forced-marriage#statistics- reference to the number of children in workless on-forced-marriage households. There are now 665,000 fewer children in Figures for 2018 will be published soon. Page 6 16 May 2019 Written Answers

Heritage Lottery Fund: Public Records information. Data regarding the Fund’s grant decisions has recently been released as part of its commitment to Asked by Lord Aberdare Open Data. To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 24 April (HL Deb, High Speed 2 Railway Line cols 600–602) on records held by the National Lottery Asked by Lord Berkeley Heritage Fund that the fund took legal advice and that even if it had retained the records, “it would not have To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they been able to make them available”, what was the nature intend to publish an up-to-date cost estimate and of the legal advice taken; and on what grounds it was business case for HS2 Phase 1; and whether they will argued that such records could not be made available. table a motion for approval of each in both Houses of [HL15448] Parliament before permanent works begin. [HL15451] Lord Ashton of Hyde: The National Lottery Heritage Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Full Business Case Fund (the Fund) took advice from its professional legal for Phase One will be published later in 2019 and will advisors as to the legal status of the Conservation include an assessment of the latest estimates of cost, Management Plans, which included advice on copyright schedule and benefits. Publication of the Full Business and on the implications to the Fund if they were to make Case will support authorisation of Notice to Proceed for the CMPs available to third parties. The advice concluded Phase One which is when HS2 Ltd instructs its main that if the Fund disclosed the Conservation Management works civil contractors to commence construction of the Plans it would risk being in breach of copyright railway. Asked by Lord Aberdare The Government already has the statutory powers to build HS2 Phase One. Authorisation of Notice to Proceed To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the is a commercial and administrative process conducted reply by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 24 April (HL Deb, between the Government, HS2 Ltd and its main works cols 600–602), what specific steps the National Lottery civil contractors, and does not therefore require a motion Heritage Fund will take to “strengthen the emphasis on of parliamentary approval. creating a legacy record for funded projects and on making this publicly accessible wherever possible”. Asked by Lord Berkeley [HL15449] To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they Lord Ashton of Hyde: The National Lottery Heritage intend to publish an up-to-date cost estimate and Fund (the Fund) is in discussions with various business case for HS2 Phase 2A at least two weeks representatives from the archives sector, including The before the High Speed Rail (West Midlands–Crewe) National Archives and the Archives and Records Bill has its second reading in the House of Lords. Association. The aim of these discussions is to find ways [HL15452] to ensure that grant recipients make application material Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department for more widely accessible in future, partly by removing Transport will periodically update the phase 2a cost practical obstacles to doing so. estimate and business cases in line with the Government’s The Fund is also expediting the compilation of a list of protocol for developing major projects. The HS2 Phase 2a 1300 park and garden projects for which Conservation Outline Business Case was published alongside the Management Plans may have been produced, which they deposit of the Phase 2a hybrid Bill in July 2017. The will make available to interested parties upon request. Department intends to update the Phase 2a Business Case and cost estimate to inform the Full Business Case after Asked by Lord Aberdare the Phase 2a hybrid Bill achieves Royal Assent. To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 24 April (HL Deb, House of Lords Terrace: Smoking cols 600–602), whether records held by the National Lottery Heritage Fund were digitally recorded before Asked by Lord Storey the physical copies were de-stroyed; if so, what form To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what assessment this digitisation took; what facilities the digital version he has made of smoking on the Lords’ Terrace. offers; who holds the digitised version; and what access [HL15608] there is for the public and other users. [HL15450] Lord Laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked Lord Ashton of Hyde: The National Lottery Heritage me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond Fund (the Fund) digitally recorded documents critical to on his behalf. Smoking is permitted on the Lords’ Terrace its grant contracts, and securely destroyed records no in the designated smoking area adjacent to the House of longer required for retention. The documents that were Commons and on the Peers’ smoking table, which is retained were scanned in PDF format. The retained located near the top of the ramp and is currently outside records are held by the Fund, and are not accessible to the the designated smoking area. The Services Committee public because they contain confidential commercial will consider a paper on this matter at its meeting in June. Written Answers 16 May 2019 Page 7

Immigrants: Detainees Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett Asked by Baroness Randerson To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they reply by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 3 April (HL have, if any, to reconsider their decision to not reopen Deb, col 165), what is their definition of "indefinite" as the Uckfield to Lewes railway line. [HL15475] applied to the term "indefinite detention". [HL15466] Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has no Baroness Williams of Trafford: It is not possible to current plans to reinstate the line between Lewes and detain people for an indefinite – or unrestricted – period. Uckfield, but are committed to improving services on In order for detention to be lawful there must be a both the Uckfield line and the wider Brighton Main Line. realistic prospect of the individual’s removal within a You may also be aware that £19.2m has been spent on reasonable timescale. the Uckfield line to enable longer ten car trains to operate, providing much needed extra seating and space for Immigration: EU Nationals passengers. Asked by Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws Motorways To ask Her Majesty's Government which Asked by Baroness Smith of Gilmorehill organisations they have commissioned to provide support to applicants to the EU Settlement Scheme. To ask Her Majesty's Government what [HL15513] assessment they have made of the effectiveness of smart motorways; and how many penalty notices have Baroness Williams of Trafford: Details of the 57 been issued for non-compliance with smart motorway organisations awarded EU Settlement grant scheme restrictions on each motorway. [HL15488] funding will be announced mid-May once the commercial activity has been concluded. Baroness Vere of Norbiton: Smart motorways are an important part of the modernisation of England’s Israel: Palestinians motorways. The Government’s policy is to implement smart motorways on the busiest sections of motorway, as Asked by Lord Hylton they provide a way to increase capacity and improve performance without the need to widen the road. To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Smart motorways have reduced congestion and Israel about their current withholding of tax revenues improved journey time reliability, by making the hard which are due to be paid to the Palestinian Authority. shoulder available as a traffic lane and using variable [HL15460] speed limits to smooth traffic flow. Each scheme has to meet a strict safety objective, which is to be at least as Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have regularly raised safe as a traditional motorway. with the Government of Israel our concerns about Israel's An assessment of the first two smart motorway ‘all lane decision to withhold tax revenues to the Palestinian running’ schemes, on the M25, shows that they are Authority (PA). We expect economic and fiscal delivering the intended benefits. This assessment is agreements between Israel and the PA to continue to be detailed in the ‘M25 J5-7 Monitoring Third Year Report’ fully implemented, including Israel's obligations under the and the ‘M25 J23-27 Monitoring Third Year Report’, Oslo Accords and Paris Protocol. both published on 16 July 2018 by Highways England. Israeli Settlements: Water The issuing of penalty notices is a matter for the police force in each area, since Highways England is not an Asked by Lord Hylton enforcement body. To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to the government of Motorways: Cameras Israel about the plans of Mekorot Water to build a water Asked by Lord Bradshaw pipeline through the West Bank (Area C) province of Qalqilya and Salfit in order to supply nearby Israeli To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they settlements. [HL15459] have made of the amount of time that has been spent on giving type approval for the cameras needed to enforce Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have repeatedly regulations on smart motorways. [HL15491] made clear to the Israeli authorities our concerns about the damage to water sources and the destruction of Baroness Williams of Trafford: It is important that Palestinian agricultural land that has been caused by systems which are approved by the Home Office can be settlement-related activity. We will continue to call on the relied upon in court. They are therefore subjected to a Israeli authorities to cease such activity. stringent and robust process. Page 8 16 May 2019 Written Answers

The length of time that takes depends on many welcomes any steps towards the peaceful resolution of variables, not all of which are under the control of the tensions and the end of hunger strikes; we welcome Home Office, for example meeting the technical Egypt's role in this process. We regularly raise the requirements, meeting deadlines for submission of situation of Palestinians in Israeli prisons with the Israeli devices and documentation and then performing authorities who have reiterated their commitment to treat satisfactorily during the testing stages. prisoners and detainees humanely and in accordance with international law. Pakistan: Minority Groups Peat Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool Asked by Lord Teverson To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to assist Pakistani Ahmadi and Christian To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they refugees, fleeing persecution in Pakistan and awaiting have to introduce regular reporting on the proportion of determination of their asylum cases in Sri Lanka, who peat being sold in compost and used as a growing are seeking refuge in police stations and elsewhere due medium in horticulture. [HL15522] to fear of targeted attacks on minorities. [HL15526] Asked by Lord Teverson Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The British Government To ask Her Majesty's Government what has agreed with Sri Lankan counterparts the need for assessment they have made of progress towards their inclusivity and respect for human rights in their response voluntary targets for the phasing out of the use of peat to the Easter Sunday attacks and underlined the from compost and horticulture for (1) 2020, and (2) importance of Sri Lankans working together to reduce 2030. [HL15523] intercommunal tensions. Minister for Security and Economic Crime Ben Wallace visited Sri Lanka on 2-3 Asked by Lord Teverson May and reiterated these points. To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they We have raised concerns with the Sri Lankan have to introduce mandatory targets for the phasing out Government at reports of incidents of violence and of the use of peat for compost and horticulture; and intimidation against Muslims, refugees and asylum whether any such targets will be earlier than the current seekers since the Easter Sunday attacks. We have also voluntary targets. [HL15524] raised concerns specifically about the situation in Negombo, where approximately 1,050 refugees were Lord Gardiner of Kimble: We are working with the displaced from their ordinary places of residence and are industry to put in place a replacement for our previous now being temporarily housed. monitoring of peat use in growing media, which last reported in 2016. The British High Commission in Colombo is in regular contact with the Sri Lankan Government, UN agencies The 2016 report showed that peat use in 1) the amateur and civil society organisations who are working towards a sector (2020 target) was down 21% in 2015 compared to sustainable solution, including to identify secure 2011, and 2) the professional grower sector (2030 target) relocation options to ensure protection of both refugees was down 26% since 2011. Nevertheless, whilst progress and asylum seekers. had been made in reducing peat use, it appears to be stalling. The Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific and I have both met the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in We stated in the 25 Year Plan for the Environment that recent weeks to raise concerns about refugees and if by 2020 we have not seen sufficient movement to peat minority rights in Sri Lanka. The Minister of State for alternatives, we will look at introducing further measures. Asia and the Pacific also addressed this issue in the House We have been discussing how we should judge what of Commons on 9 May. constitutes “sufficient movement” away from peat use and what potential further measures could look like. Palestinians: Prisoners These discussions are ongoing. Asked by Lord Hylton Political Parties: Finance To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment Asked by Baroness Tonge they have made of the ending of a hunger-strike by Palestinian prisoners in Israel affiliated to Hamas, and To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions of the provision of access by the government of Israel they have had with the Electoral Commission about to public telephones in order for such prisoners to speak putting in place safeguards to ensure that political to their families; and whether they intend thank the parties do not receive donations from people promoting government of Egypt for its assistance in this matter. the interests of other countries during and between [HL15461] election campaigns. [HL15749] Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have made no Lord Young of Cookham: The Electoral Commission assessment on this specific issue, the British Government in its 2018 report ‘Digital campaigning - Increasing Written Answers 16 May 2019 Page 9 transparency for voters’, included recommendations Lord Agnew of Oulton: The department is clear that relating to foreign donations and campaigning. The off-rolling is unacceptable, and whilst the department Government has discussed these with the Electoral believes this practice is relatively rare, the government is Commission. committed to continue working with Ofsted to define and On 5th May 2019, the Government announced it will tackle the practice of off-rolling. consult on safeguarding UK elections. The consultation Pupils leave school rolls for many reasons including: may consider recommendations for increasing permanent exclusion, moving to another school, or transparency on digital political advertising, including by changes of circumstances (such as when a pupil moves to third parties; closing loopholes on foreign spending in a new area). All schools must notify the local authority elections; preventing shell companies from sidestepping when a pupil’s name is to be deleted from the admission the current rules on political finance and on action to register. There is no legal definition of ‘off-rolling’. tackle foreign lobbying. However, the law is clear that a pupil’s name can only be deleted from the admission register on the grounds Political Parties: Limited Liability prescribed in regulation 8 of the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006, as amended. Asked by Lord Wigley Following media coverage of off-rolling in 2017, the To ask Her Majesty's Government which registered department wrote to all secondary schools, reminding political parties in the UK have the status of also being them of the rules surrounding exclusion. companies with limited liability. [HL15752] Ofsted already considers records of children taken off Lord Young of Cookham: The Electoral Commission roll and has also recently consulted on proposals that will registers political parties and maintains the registers of see a strengthened focus on this issue. It has proposed that political parties in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is where inspectors find off-rolling, this will always be independent of the Government and accountable to addressed in the inspection report, and where appropriate Parliament. will lead to a school’s leadership being judged inadequate. Ofsted will publish the outcome of its The Electoral Commission publishes a database of consultation soon. registered political parties on its website. This includes whether a political party is also a campaigner. Further In March 2018, the government launched an externally- information can be found at: led review of exclusions practice, led by Edward Timpson http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk. CBE. The review explored how head teachers use exclusion, and why pupils with particular characteristics Prisons: Bahrain are more likely to be excluded from school. It has also considered the differences in exclusion rates across Asked by Lord Scriven primary and secondary schools in England. To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to reports The Timpson review and the government’s response that a delegation headed by the director of Bahrain’s were published on 7 May. The review makes 30 Jau Prison, Brigadier General Abdul Salam al-Araifi, recommendations and highlights variation in exclusions visited correctional facilities in the UK before Easter, practice across different schools, local authorities and by whom the visit was funded; and if it was funded by certain groups of children. The government agrees with the Government, from which funding stream this came. all 30 recommendation in principle, and the department [HL15484] has committed to working with education leaders over the summer to design a consultation on making schools Lord Keen of Elie: In April 2019, a delegation of accountable for the outcomes for permanently excluded officials from Bahrain’s Ministry of Interior visited HMP children, to be launched in the autumn. Among other Berwyn and HMP Whitemoor. This delegation included things, the department will seek views on how to mitigate Brigadier Abdulsalam al-Arifi, the Director General of the potential unintended consequences Edward Timpson Reformation and Rehabilitation in Bahrain’s Ministry of has identified in his review, including how to tackle the Interior. HMP Berwyn and Whitemoor provided practice of off-rolling. complimentary refreshments for the delegation during their visits, at a cost of approximately £69.00 total. All Railways: Compensation other costs associated with the visit were borne by the delegation. Asked by Baroness Randerson To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment Pupil Exclusions they have made of the reasons for the variation between Asked by Lord Storey train operating companies in the percentage of compensation claims from passengers which are To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they rejected; and what steps they are taking, if any, to have taken against those schools who are illegally off- ensure a more consistent approach to such rolling their pupils. [HL15609] compensation claims. [HL15477] Page 10 16 May 2019 Written Answers

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Department has not promoting a negative view of religious and ethnic collected or made assessments as to the reasons for minorities in Sri Lanka; what discussions they have had passenger claims being rejected. The Office of Rail and with the government of Sri Lanka and UN agencies Road (ORR), as the industry regulator, is responsible for about this; and what were the outcomes of any such approving and monitoring train operator’s complaint discussions. [HL15528] handling procedures under which compensation claims Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has not made are managed and deciding whether action is necessary. such an assessment. The UK regularly discuses human We are mandating increased use of technology through rights, reconciliation and the importance of social the introduction of simple and speedy ‘one-click’ inclusion with the government of Sri Lanka, including automated claims systems, available via smartphones and through encouraging the implementation of UNHRC smartcard registration. This forms part of obligations for resolution 30/1. The UK has supported civil society future train operators under new franchises. organisations that have engaged children and youth across the country through social media, youth exchange Social Security Benefits: Disability programmes and the arts in breaking racial stereotypes and creating better ethnic and religious understanding and Asked by The Countess of Mar relations between communities. The British Council has To ask Her Majesty's Government when the initiated research on school culture in Sri Lanka that will Tribunals Service intends to proceed with the look at issues including equality, rights, attitudes and introduction of Continuous Online Resolution for community engagement to foster social inclusion. personal independence payments and employment and Through its Active Citizens programme the British support allowance appeals; and in what circumstances a Council brings together youth from different communities case would be considered unsuitable for consideration to work together on projects that address issues at the by such a process. [HL15467] community level. Lord Keen of Elie: The system to support Continuous Online Resolution (COR) is currently being tested with Tenants’ Associations the Tribunal’s judiciary. As soon as testing has shown the Asked by Baroness Thornhill system to be robust, a small number of people with a pending Personal Independence Payment appeal will be To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment invited to take part in an initial pilot of COR. Current they have made of the difficulties of forming and indications are this is likely to commence before the sustaining Recognised Tenants’ Associations since summer. the Tenants' Associations (Provisions Relating to Recognition and Provision of Information) (England) The Tribunal’s judiciary intend, following successful Regulations 2018 came into force on 1 November 2018; testing, to be able to offer COR to all appellants. A case and whether there are now exemptions which allow would be unsuitable if the parties did not wish to undergo landlords to avoid recognition of proposed and existing that process or the panel thought it unsuitable. Recognised Tenants’ Associations. [HL15615] Southern: Standards Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: At this stage, the Government has not received evidence of any difficulties Asked by Baroness Randerson related to the Statutory Instrument. However, we do To ask Her Majesty's Government why there are recognise that it has only been in force for just over 6 continuing weekend closures of the railway lines months. We are monitoring the operation of the Statutory between Lewes, Seaford, Newhaven, Eastbourne, Instrument and will review it in Autumn 2019 if Hastings and London; and by which date such closures necessary. are expected to cease. [HL15476] Tenants’ Associations (Provisions Relating to Baroness Vere of Norbiton: I recognise these closures are inconvenient to passengers but they are nonetheless Recognition and Provision of Information) vital so that Network Rail can upgrade the railway and (England) Regulations 2018 provide better reliability and improved passenger journeys Asked by Baroness Thornhill for years to come. A further closure is required so that signaling work can To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they take place later this year and once a date is agreed, it will have to review the Tenants' Associations (Provisions be published so that passengers will be made aware. Relating to Recognition and Provision of Information) (England) Regulations 2018 which came into force on 1 November 2018. [HL15614] Sri Lanka: Minority Groups Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government is Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool working with the Tribunal to monitor the operation of the To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment Statutory Instrument. If necessary, we will seek to review they have made of the role of school textbooks in it in Autumn 2019. Written Answers 16 May 2019 Page 11

Trade Fairs: Iraq and offenders, and appropriate for the provision of care for detainees. [HL15472] Asked by Lord Hylton Lord Keen of Elie: Carrying on the youth justice To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK reforms from 2017, we are providing funding for every construction and professional firms they expect to Prison Officer in the Youth Custody Service to undertake attend the Erbil International Fair in northern Iraq in a youth justice qualification and, on completion, transition June. [HL15462] into a new youth justice specialist role on promotion and Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Construction fair at a higher pay-grade. Over 400 frontline staff are taking place in Erbil in June (26 June – 29 June) is currently enrolled on this qualification. advertised as a ‘Made in Iraq’ fair, so consequently will To better support young people in custody, we are attract primarily local dealers and contractors, and we are rolling out the Custody Support Plan (CuSP) and not aware of any UK firms planning to attend. implementing the use of Promoting Risk Intervention by Situational Management (PRISM). CuSP will provide The Erbil International Trade Fair (30 Sept - 03 Oct) is each young person with a personal officer to work with in the biggest international multi-sector trade fair organised order to build trust and consistency. PRISM is an in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. UK companies that evidence-based process specifically designed and tested attend the Fair are likely to decide to participate closer to for use within custodial institutions. It provides a the time, though are more likely to participate as delegates comprehensive framework for reviewing features of an or visitors rather than as exhibitors. In previous years, the environment that are known to contribute to the likelihood local distributors of JLR and JCB have exhibited. and emergence of violence. As well as this we are working closely with the NHS on Youth Custody ‘Secure Stairs’, which is a new integrated approach to strengthen the provision of health care to address the Asked by Lord Ouseley needs of young people holistically and co-ordinates To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are services through a coherent, joined up approach. In being applied to young offender institutions and secure addition, we are increasing psychology staff and support, training centres to make them safe and secure for staff and opening Enhanced Support Units for young people with the most complex needs.

Index to Statements and Answers

Written Statements ...... 1 Social Security Benefits: Disability ...... 10 ECOFIN ...... 1 Southern: Standards ...... 10 ENABLE Guarantee Scheme ...... 1 Sri Lanka: Minority Groups...... 10 EU JHA Opt-in: Cybercrime ...... 1 Tenants’ Associations ...... 10 EU Withdrawal Act: Common Frameworks ...... 2 Tenants’ Associations (Provisions Relating to Industrial Strategy (West Midlands)...... 2 Recognition and Provision of Information) (England) Regulations 2018 ...... 10 Iraq: Export Licence System ...... 3 Trade Fairs: Iraq ...... 11 NATO Parliamentary Assembly ...... 3 Youth Custody ...... 11 Written Answers ...... 4

A1 ...... 4 Asia Bibi ...... 4 Asylum: Religion...... 4 Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control ...... 4 Channel Ferries: Contracts ...... 5 Children: Poverty...... 5 Commonwealth: Midwives and Nurses ...... 5 Eggs ...... 5 Forced Marriage: Children and Young People ..... 5 Heritage Lottery Fund: Public Records ...... 6 High Speed 2 Railway Line ...... 6 House of Lords Terrace: Smoking...... 6 Immigrants: Detainees ...... 7 Immigration: EU Nationals ...... 7 Israel: Palestinians ...... 7 Israeli Settlements: Water ...... 7 Lewes-Uckfield Railway Line ...... 7 Motorways ...... 7 Motorways: Cameras ...... 7 Pakistan: Minority Groups ...... 8 Palestinians: Prisoners ...... 8 Peat ...... 8 Political Parties: Finance ...... 8 Political Parties: Limited Liability ...... 9 Prisons: Bahrain ...... 9 Pupil Exclusions ...... 9 Railways: Compensation ...... 9