House of Lords Written Answers and Statements
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Session 2019-21 Thursday No. 222 29 April 2021 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) HOUSE OF LORDS WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND WRITTEN ANSWERS Written Statements ................................ ................ 1 Written Answers ................................ ..................... 2 [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 Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Lord Agnew of Oulton Minister of State, Treasury and Cabinet Office Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Ashton of Hyde Chief Whip Baroness Barran Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Baroness Berridge Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Department for International Trade Lord Bethell Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care Baroness Bloomfield of Hinton Whip Waldrist Lord Callanan Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip Lord Frost Minister of State, Cabinet Office Lord Gardiner of Kimble Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Baroness Goldie Minister of State, Ministry of Defence Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Lord Greenhalgh Minister of State, Home Office and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Lord Grimstone of Boscobel Minister of State, Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for International Trade Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay Whip Baroness Penn Whip Baroness Scott of Bybrook Whip Baroness Stedman-Scott Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions Lord Stewart of Dirleton Advocate-General for Scotland Lord True Minister of State, Cabinet Office Baroness Vere of Norbiton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office Lord Wolfson of Tredegar Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip © Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2021 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/ Written Statements 29 April 2021 Page 1 The review has also involved bilateral engagement with Written Statements countries that have successfully implemented a domestic COVID-status certification system, including Denmark Thursday, 29 April 2021 and Israel. Last week, I visited Israel to see the operation of their “Green Pass” system first hand. As well as COVID-19 Update meeting with the Health Minister and the senior officials responsible for the design and development of the Green [HLWS941] Pass, I held discussions with a range of venue operators, Lord True: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the including stadium, nightclub and concert organisers, to Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office understand more about the experience of businesses in (Michael Gove MP), has today made the following operating this system. written statement: The Government issued a public call for evidence on 15 As part of The Covid-19 Reponse - Spring 2021 March 2021, which generated 52,450 responses. These publication, the Government committed to explore replies represented a wide range of viewpoints in both whether and how COVID-status certification might be support and in opposition of certification, from a broad used to reopen our economy, reduce restrictions on social range of respondents, including: members of the public, contact and improve safety. sports organisations, large and small businesses The subsequent Roadmap Reviews Update publication representing a range of industries, civil society and of 5 April set out that the Government believes that voluntary groups, privacy, equalities and ethics COVID-status certification could have an important role specialists, and clinicians. to play, both domestically and internationally, as a The Government can trial COVID-status certification in temporary measure. certain settings, including large events, as part of the The Government recognises the significant public and Events Research Programme, alongside trials of a range parliamentary interest in the question of COVID-status of other safety measures. The Government will continue certification. That is why the Government is conducting to work closely with sectors on its approach. The an extensive review seeking a wide range of input and Government has set out that it believes there are some insight. The review has conducted in-depth discussions settings (such as essential public services, public transport with clinical, ethical, equalities and privacy specialists, and essential shops) where COVID-status certification faith and disability groups, businesses and business should never be required, in order to ensure access for all. representative organisations. I have personally led six The Government will continue to explore the equity and roundtables so far, with representatives from businesses ethical concerns about any form of COVID-status and business groups, including with the hospitality, certification. entertainment, and live music and entertainment sectors, The Prime Minister has made clear that COVID-status as well as parliamentarians, policy specialists, and certification will not be required in any settings at step 2 clinicians. I am planning further roundtables, including and 3 of the roadmap. The Government has committed to one with sports organisations. setting out the conclusions of the review ahead of step 4. Page 2 29 April 2021 Written Answers Written Answers Afghanistan: Females Asked by The Marquess of Lothian Thursday, 29 April 2021 To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the rights of women in civil society Accountancy and Taxation: Professional in Afghanistan, including the right to education for Organisations girls, are protected following the withdrawal of UK and NATO troops in September. [HL15010] Asked by Lord Mendelsohn Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK remains To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment committed to supporting Afghanistan on its path to a they have made of the recommendation made by the more peaceful and positive future. We will continue to Association of Accounting Technicians in its response, work closely with the UN, Afghanistan and our published on 6 August 2020, to the HM Revenue and international partners to intensify peace efforts as NATO Customs call for evidence on raising standards in the forces drawdown. tax advice market, that anyone offering paid-for tax and The UK has assisted in the significant improvement in accountancy services should be required by law to be a the rights of all Afghans, including women and member of a relevant professional body. [HL15302] minorities. There are 8.2 million more children in school Asked by Lord Mendelsohn now than in 2002, including 3.7 million girls. However, only a negotiated and inclusive settlement will safeguard To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment the rights and freedoms that Afghans want and deserve. they have made of the impact of their recent proposals We will continue to make clear to all sides that any to require unregulated tax advisers and accountants to political settlement must protect progress, including hold professional indemnity insurance on the insurance protection for women and minorities. premiums for those who already hold such insurance by virtue of their membership of a relevant professional Afghanistan: Home Country Nationals body. [HL15303] Asked by Baroness Coussins Asked by Lord Mendelsohn To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy will be they have made of the desirability of requiring those administered solely by UK Embassy staff or whether who provide tax and accountancy services in the UK (1) any provision for its delivery will be contracted out to to be appropriately qualified, (2) to undertake private companies. [HL15281] Continuing Professional Development, (3) to be subject to robust complaints and disciplinary processes, and (4) Baroness Goldie: The Afghan Relocation and to be regulated by an Office for Professional Body Assistance Policy is an MOD owned policy which is Anti-Money Laundering Supervision-supervised jointly administered by the MOD, Home Office and professional body in relation to Anti-Money laundering FCDO. Initial contact will be with the expert in theatre activity; and whether they have any plans to implement team, with assistance