Tag: St Albans

Bishop of St Albans asks about risk of vector borne diseases becoming prevalent in the UK

The Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on the risk of vector borne diseases such as dengue fever and West Nile virus becoming prevalent and established in the UK on 14th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of vector-borne diseases, including dengue fever and West Nile virus, becoming established in the United Kingdom, as outlined in the report Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK published by the UK Health Security Agency on 11 December.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about underage and illegal workers in delivery services

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Offord of Garvel on 28 November (HL427), whether they have assessed how many (1) underage children, and (2) illegal workers, have been working as delivery riders; and if so, how many of each there were in (a) 2021, and (b) 2022.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con, Home Office): The Home Office does not hold this information.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about promotion of broadband social tariffs for the elderly

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase their promotion of social tariffs in areas of deprivation in the light of the finding that many older people are unaware of social tariffs, particularly in the broadband sector, in the report A constant struggle: The impact of high household costs on older people facing financial hardship, published by Independent Age in September.

Viscount Camrose (Con, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology): The Government has worked closely with internet service providers to ensure provision of social tariffs for those on Universal Credit and other means tested benefits – including Pension Credit.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about plans to encourage payment of living wages for UK employees

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 13th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to encourage employers to pay their employees a real living wage in light of the finding in the report, UK Poverty 2023, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation on 26 January, that 11 per cent of all destitute respondents are in paid work.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about train manufacturing and refurbishment in the UK

The Bishop of St Albans asked a question on contracts for train manufacture and refurbishment in the UK on 12th December 2023, following a government statement on the potential closure of the Alstom manufacture site in Derby:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, last week in the other place the Department for Transport said that the contract tenders for refurbishing existing trains would be brought forward very soon. Time is short for Alstom, the only end-to-end manufacturing facility in the UK. Can the Minister give any assurances about how soon these contracts will be brought forward, because the days are now being counted down?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about proliferation of infectious diseases resulting from climate emergencies

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked  His Majesty’s Government what precautions they have taken against the spread of infectious diseases resulting from future climate emergencies.

Lord Markham (Con, DHSC): The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) established a Centre for Climate and Health Security to address the challenges posed by climate change to public health. UKHSA was commissioned by the National Adaptation Programme to update the evidence on the health impacts of climate change through a United Kingdom-focused report entitled Health Effects of Climate Change in the UK. This report is due to be published in mid-December.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about aid to Bangladesh in support of Rohingya refugees

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 27 November (HL485), how much the UK donated in aid to the Rohingya response in Bangladesh in (1) 2017, (2) 2018, (3) 2019, (4) 2020, (5) 2021, and (6) 2022.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about transport poverty in rural areas

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 12th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to respond to the high level of transport poverty in rural areas, as outlined in the report Getting the measure of transport poverty published by the Social Market Foundation on 15 November.

Lord Davies of Gower: The Government understands that the transport needs of communities in rural areas differ from those in urban environments for a variety of reasons including demographics, lower population density and travel distances.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about sexism and misogyny in the Ministry of Defence

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 11th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government:

  • what assessment they have made of the allegations of sexism, misogyny and sexual assault in the Ministry of Defence, in a recent letter sent in October which included testimonies from 60 female civil servants at the Ministry of Defence.
  • what plans they have to commission an independent investigation into the culture of sexism and misogyny at the Ministry of Defence, as called for by the FDA trade union.
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Bishop of St Albans asks about regulation of e-scooters and e-bikes following accidents and deaths

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 6th December 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what plans they have to strengthen the regulation of e-scooters and e-bikes following the 1,080 collisions and 7 deaths in the 12 months to June.

Lord Davies of Gower (Con, Department for Transport): The law is already clear, private e-scooters are illegal to use on public roads, cycle lanes or pavements and rental e-scooters may only be used within trial areas run by the Department. A range of motoring offences and penalties also already apply for using an e-scooter illegally and/or irresponsibly. Users can face criminal prosecution, a fixed penalty notice, points on their driving licence, and the e-scooter can be impounded.

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