Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to forge links with and between the British Olympic Association, the sports lottery providers and selected British universities to ensure that top sportsmen and women can tailor their academic pursuits with their international sports programmes; and what proposed initiatives already exist.[HL5375]
Lord Popat (Con): UK Sport work closely with athletes to ensure that they can fit education around their training and competitions.
The English Institute of Sport operates the Performance Lifestyle support service on behalf of UK Sport which is available to all athletes on the World Class Performance Programme. Athletes are entitled to apply for Personal Development Awards funding towards the costs of further education, career development or gaining vocational skills.
Homelessness: Rough Sleepers
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to prevent the spread of tuberculosis among rough sleepers in the United Kingdom. [HL5235]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): We are investing £470 million over the current spending review period to help local authorities and voluntary sector partners prevent and tackle homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions.
We have also supported the voluntary sector to deliver “StreetLink” a national rough sleeping hotline, website and app, to connect rough sleepers to local services. In London, “No Second Night Out” is making a big difference. The CHAIN annual data for 2012-13 shows that “No Second Night Out” helped ensure that three quarters (75%) of new rough sleepers spend just a single night on London’s streets. All local authorities have committed to adopt the “No Second Night Out” approach.
The Housing Act 1996 places a statutory duty on local housing authorities to secure accommodation where an applicant is homeless through no fault of their own, eligible for assistance and is in priority need. The priority need categories include people who are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or physical disability. Local authorities provide a range of emergency accommodation and priority will be determined locally.
NHS London, since April 2011, has been funding a mobile X-ray unit to screen for tuberculosis (TB) in hard to reach groups in London and a “Find and Treat” service to help ensure people identified with suspected active TB by the mobile X-ray unit are supported in accessing appropriate services and to complete TB treatment. Find and Treat also finds TB patients who have been lost to TB services and supports them in re-engagement with services.
Guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence on identifying and managing tuberculosis in hard to reach groups recommends that local NHS and partner organisations should collaborate to provide accommodation for homeless people diagnosed with active pulmonary tuberculosis irrespective of their eligibility.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to provide English language courses to non-native-English-speaking rough sleepers. [HL5236]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: Homeless migrants, who satisfy residency rules and are in receipt of qualifying benefits may be entitled to attend courses in English and English for Speakers of Other Languages. But this Government’s first priority is to prevent migrant rough-sleeping.
We are investing £470 million over the current spending review period to help local authorities and voluntary sector partners prevent and tackle all homelessness, rough sleeping and repossessions.
We have supported the voluntary sector to deliver “StreetLink” a national rough sleeping hotline, website and app, to connect rough sleepers to local services. In London and in other major UK cities, 'No Second Night Out' is making a big difference. The CHAIN
annual data for 2012-13 shows that “No Second Night Out” helped ensure that three quarters of new rough sleepers spend just a single night on London's streets.
It is clearly a cause of concern that more than half of all rough sleepers in London are foreign nationals and this is why we are working to warn foreign nationals of the risks of coming to this country unprepared. My Department’s activities have included education campaigns led by the voluntary sector warning those coming here without appropriate support about the dangers of ending up destitute and sleeping rough on our streets. Those same campaigns make clear how other migrants have been successful in the UK and what conditions and attributes led to their success (for example, guaranteed employment before they left home, language skills etc).
We want and need migrants to know they are very welcome and to encourage those who are ambitious for themselves and the contribution they can make to our country. But this Government is also clear that we must not make access to our benefits system or the opportunity to use public services a reason for people to come here.
Where, sadly, a foreign national who does not have the right to remain in the UK is sleeping rough, the Government is working with local authorities and the third sector in supporting voluntary reconnection to a migrant’s home country where that is the most appropriate solution to their homelessness. In some cases those who do not satisfy residency rules and who refuse to return home voluntarily may have to be administratively removed. European Economic Area nationals who are begging or sleeping rough will be administratively removed. From the beginning of this year they will then be barred for re-entry for 12 months, unless they can prove they have a proper reason to be here, such as a job.
Horticulture: Peat
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the use of peat in horticulture.[HL5368]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Natural Environment White Paper set out our ambition to end the use of peat through a voluntary partnership with the horticultural sector by 2030.
The Government response to the Sustainable Growing Media Task Force report was published in 2013 and is available to view on the GOV.UK website. It set out where our resources will be focussed over the next few years to assist in the transition to sustainable growing media and reduced peat use. We are committed to working with the industry to deliver the Roadmap towards Sustainable Growing Media and to overcome the barriers to peat reduction. For example, we are supporting the development of a performance standard and criteria for responsibly sourced and manufactured growing media.
A policy review will take place in 2015 to assess the delivery of the roadmap and to identify further actions necessary.
House of Lords: Meat
Question
To ask the Chairman of Committees what percentage of (1) beef, (2) lamb, (3) bacon, (4) ham, and (5) pork, served in House of Lords catering outlets is produced in the United Kingdom. [HL5386]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Sewel): 100% of the beef, lamb, ham and pork served in House of Lords catering outlets is produced in the United Kingdom.
Approximately 20% of the bacon served in the House is produced in the United Kingdom. The other 80% is produced in the Netherlands, and is served in the River Restaurant only.
Housing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities have made an application for funds under the £20 million of additional discretionary housing payments from the Department for Work and Pensions.[HL5289]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): A £20 million Discretionary Housing Payment reserve fund was put in place to provide additional support for local authorities experiencing financial pressures following the implementation of the Removal of Spare Room Subsidy. Access to additional funding was via a bidding scheme which was open to all 380 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales.
By the time the scheme closed on 3rd February 2014 bids had been received from the following 86 local authorities:
Immigration
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what forms of appeal would be available to someone who has been deprived of their citizenship under the current proposals in the Immigration Bill.[HL5153]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, under the proposed reforms relating to the residence test applicable to those eligible for legal aid, legal aid would be available to someone who had been deprived of their citizenship under the amendment to section 40(4) of the British Nationality Act 1981 currently being considered as part of the Immigration Bill, were that deprivation to take place while the individual was outside the United Kingdom.[HL5154]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Any individual who is deprived of their citizenship including cases where action is taken under the provisions set out in the Bill, has a full right of appeal against the Secretary of State's decision. Where the Secretary of State certifies that her decision to deprive the individual of citizenship has been taken wholly or partly in reliance on information which should not be made public in the interests of national security, or in the interests of the relationship between the UK and another country or because it is otherwise not in the public interest to release the information, any appeal will be to the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC). If the decision is not so certified, any appeal will be to the Immigration & Asylum Chamber (First Tier).
In both cases there is the opportunity for onward challenge to the Upper Tribunal or the Court of Appeal or other higher courts.
Where an individual is outside the UK when they are served with the deprivation decision, they must bring their appeal from outside the UK.
Legal aid reform will not substantively alter the current position of immigration applicants. Where the appeal against the deprivation of citizenship is to the Immigration and Asylum Chamber, legal aid is not currently available unless the applicant is an asylum claimant. This will be unchanged by the proposed reform.
As set out in Transforming Legal Aid; Next Steps, the proposed residence test would not apply in certain categories of case which broadly relate to an individual's liberty, where the individual is particularly vulnerable or where the case relates to the protection of children. This includes proceedings before the SIAC, which will not be subject to the residence test, even where the appeal is brought from outside the UK.
Asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on how many occasions United Kingdom immigration officials have stopped and questioned individuals in-country, away from ports and borders, in each of the last five years.[HL5212]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The following table lists Enforcement visit encounters from January 2009 to September 2013.
| Calendar year | No. of Encounters |
These figures relate to all individuals encountered on any type of enforcement operation conducted in the United Kingdom, other than those conducted at ports and borders.
Whilst conducting enforcement operations, our officers will invite individuals to answer questions about their immigration status to those where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that they are immigration offenders. In accordance with Home Office guidance, our officers will record all individuals encountered, both offenders and non-offenders.
These figures do not relate to number of unique individuals as a person may have been encountered on one or more occasions.
Immigration Bill
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why clause 18 of the Immigration Bill would enable the Secretary of State to impose a financial penalty on a landlord, without recourse to a court, and give that Minister
discretion as to the amount of the penalty; and what precedent, if any, there is for such authority.[HL5434]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The provisions in the Immigration Bill relating to landlords are modelled closely on the existing civil penalty scheme for employers of illegal workers in the Immigration and Asylum Act 2006. Under the proposed scheme, a landlord will face a civil financial penalty for letting property to an illegal migrant if they have failed to comply with specified document checks. This civil scheme is distinct from criminal prosecution involving bringing a case to court, and the Bill does not create a criminal offence for landlords. The scheme incorporates important safeguards to ensure the arrangements are transparent and to protect the rights of landlords. The maximum level of penalty is specified at £3,000 on the face of the Bill (clauses 18 and 33), and may only be adjusted by affirmative resolution order. Penalties will operate in accordance with a scale set out in a statutory code of practice under clause 27, and landlords will have a right to object to the Secretary of State against a penalty (clause 24) and then to appeal to the civil courts (clause 25) on the grounds that they are not liable to the penalty, have established an excuse, or the level of penalty is too high.
Immigration: Detention
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 7 January (WA 276), why the system of gathering data on the medical welfare of those detained for immigration purposes was changed.[HL4840]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 7 January (WA 276), what was the system for gathering data on the medical welfare of those detained for immigration purposes before 2012; and what is the system now.[HL4841]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 7 January (WA 276), how information relating to self harm would be (1) gathered, and (2) made publicly accessible, other than in response to Freedom of Information Act 2000 requests.[HL4842]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Management information relating to individuals placed on Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork monitoring, or individuals requiring medical attention as a result of self harm, is part of data collated for internal performance monitoring. The data collation process was changed in 2012 to avoid duplication and to improve and rationalise data quality.
Prior to 2012 data was collated centrally by month. After 2012 changes were made to the reporting frequency, data periods covered, and categories of data collected.
Information on the number of incidents of self harm is management information and does not form part of published statistics. There are no plans to change this.
India
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the Indian authorities to release all Sikh political prisoners and to allow Sikhs to engage in peaceful political activity in support of Sikh demands, including the right to self-determination.[HL5414]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Our High Commission in New Delhi continues to monitor the general human rights situation in India and also maintains a dialogue with Indian officials about minority rights issues in India, including with regards to the Sikh community. Minority rights, including those of Sikhs, were discussed at the EU-India human rights dialogue on 27 November 2013.
India: Golden Temple, Amritsar
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to apologise to the Sikh community for the advice given to the government of India in relation to the operation at the Golden Temple in 1984.[HL5410]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) said in his statement to the House on 4 February, Official report, Column 155: ‘if any of us thought that any British assistance had contributed to unnecessary loss of life and to suffering in this case, or in any other case, we would all want to say that that was a mistake and for the country to make an apology. But that is not what is established by the Cabinet Secretary’s report. The picture is very different from that, and we all have to base our opinions, in the end, on the facts.’
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to release all documents relating to communications between the governments of the United Kingdom and India in respect of the operation at the Golden Temple in 1984 and the subsequent relationship between the government of India and its Sikh community up to the present day.[HL5412]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: When the Cabinet Secretary’s report to the Prime Minister was published, the British Government also released a further five documents to explain the full picture of UK advice on this operation. As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), said in his statement to the House on 4 February: “we have taken this step because the whole investigation has been based on a commitment to the maximum possible transparency. We want to be as open as possible with the British public, in so far as that does not undermine the principle upheld by successive British governments of not revealing any information relating to Intelligence or Special Forces.” Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they engaged with the government of India over the recent revelations about the role of the United Kingdom Government in the operation at the Golden Temple in 1984, and the investigation into the matter by Sir Jeremy Heywood; and whether they intend to make public the details of that engagement. [HL5413]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: We shared the Cabinet Secretary’s report with the Indian government in advance as it relates to an Indian army operation and it was only appropriate to give them due notice. This was purely for their information. The Indian government had no input into the drafting of the report.
Insurance: Financial Products and Insurance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any enforcement action has been taken by financial regulators in respect of individuals directly involved in, or overseeing, the mis-selling of retail financial products including payment protection insurance. [HL5350]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): This question has been passed on to the FCA. The FCA will reply directly to the noble Lord by letter. A copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
Interception of Communications Commissioner
Question
Asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what, if any, reports they have received in the past 24 months from the Interception of Communications Commissioner in relation to any United States base operating in the United Kingdom.[HL5396]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Interception of Communications Commissioner reports annually to the Prime Minister and to Parliament. These reports discharge the Commissioner's role to keep under review the use of lawful interception within the UK, and the authorisation systems in place to control that use. The Ministry of Defence has received no reports in the last 24 months which make specific reference to any United States base operating in the UK.
Internet: Broadband
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why it has been necessary further to delay the target delivery date of superfast broadband from 2015 to 2017, and what is their current assessment of the likelihood that the new target date will be met.[HL5134]
Lord Popat (Con): The target date has not been changed. The Government announced 2017 as the date for extending superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises, the original target date of 2015 of superfast broadband for 90% of premises remains and has not been deferred. We are confident that the 2017 target date for extending coverage of superfast broadband is realistic.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Jewish students domiciled in the United Kingdom travel to Israel each year for military training. [HL5251]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Ministry of Defence does not hold this information.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about reported clashes between its forces and volunteers at the village of Ein Hijleh in the West Bank on 6 or 7 February and the subsequent declaration of the area as a “closed military zone”.[HL5322]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv recently raised our concerns about these reported events with the Israeli Defence Force.
Lobbying
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the statutory register of lobbyists, introduced by the Transparency of Lobbying, Non-party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014, is to be established.[HL5452]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Government aims to establish the statutory register of lobbyists in good time before the end of this Parliament.
Mental Health
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration will be given to requests for an independent investigation into the number of black mental health patients undergoing coercive and discriminatory treatment, with particular reference to the roles of the police, including Armed Response Units, the Care Quality Commission and the Independent Police Complaints Commission. [HL5181]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what responses have been made to Black Mental Health UK since 2010 about their concerns and representation on behalf of black mental health patients reportedly experiencing coercive and discriminatory treatment, and in particular in respect of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.[HL5182]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We are aware of the concerns of many stakeholders about levels of physical restraint in mental health settings and in particular about the use of physical restraint in respect of patients from black and minority ethnic communities. Current guidance, including the Mental Health Act Code of Practice, make it clear that physical restraint is only used as a last resort in the management and containment of conflict in mental health wards. The Government’s aim, as set out in Closing the Gap: Priorities for Essential Change in Mental Health, a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, is to radically reduce the use of all restrictive practices and take action to end the use of high risk restraint, including face down restraint and holding people on the floor.
We have asked the Royal College of Nursing, working with other relevant organisations and service users, to produce new guidance on minimising restrictive practices across health and social care. This guidance specifically refers to the fact that high quality care should be the experience of all service users, including those who are more at risk of being restrained for whatever reason.
We have also commissioned Skills for Care and Skills for Health to develop guidance to support the commissioning of training in positive behaviour support, de-escalation and restraint reduction techniques.
To support this, later in the year, we will announce a two-year programme “Positive and Safe”. We will consider further measures needed to ensure the required changes happen, particularly in relation to training, information and regulation.
The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) recent report, Monitoring the Mental Health Act in 2012/13, makes it clear that on the rare occasions when it is necessary to call the police to manage patients’ behaviour, this remains a response to ‘exceptional circumstances where staff are not able to safely manage behaviour, despite implementation of all relevant national guidance on staff training and the establishment of therapeutic environments’. It also emphasises the need for clear protocols between all relevant organisations.
As part of developing rapid and appropriate responses to any person in mental health crisis, the Department and the Home Office have worked with a range of organisations, including Black Mental Health UK (BMHUK), to develop a new national Crisis Care Concordat, which clearly sets out what kind of support people in mental health crisis should receive and makes it clear that there should be a protocol about when, very exceptionally, police need to be called to manage patient behaviour in a health or care setting. In these exceptional cases, health professionals continue to be responsible for the health and safety of the person.
The CQC is committed to the delivery of the Crisis Care Concordat. In 2014, it will conduct a thematic programme focussing on the experience and outcomes of people in mental health crisis (including people from black and minority ethnic communities) and will publish its national report in the Autumn.
On 12 February 2013 the Government announced in a statement on police integrity its intention to transfer resources from forces to The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC). This will enable the IPCC to deal with all sensitive and serious cases involving the police and put an end to the police investigating the police in serious cases. On 18 December 2013 the Home Office indicated that in 2014-15 it will provide £18 million from the police settlement to build up the capacity and capability of the IPCC to take on additional cases.
We are aware that South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) has an extensive history of engagement with the communities it serves, including those represented by BMHUK.
There are currently no plans to conduct a further independent review following Lord Adebowale’s Independent Commission on Mental Health and Policing Report.
National Audit Office
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 16 December 2013 (WA 147), what are the itemised costings that they expect the National Audit Office to incur in conducting six value for money examinations for £1.7 million; and why that
estimated cost is greater than that of the three value for money studies conducted by the Audit Commission of which the direct costs totalled £155,000.[HL5242]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stowell of Beeston on 16 December 2013 (WA 147), what is the source for the information about the National Audit Office; and how it is consistent with the National Audit Office’s published strategy for 2014/15 to 2016/17 which states that they will carry out eight value for money studies each year, costing £2.5 million. [HL5243]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The expected cost of £1.7 million a year for six value for money studies by the National Audit Office, was based on an estimate supplied by the National Audit Office, and approved by the Public Accounts Commission. The National Audit Office is currently working up its detailed work programme and costings in anticipation of commencement of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s new powers under the Local Audit and Accountability Act.
The respective costs of value for money work incurred by the Audit Commission, and those estimated by the National Audit Office are not directly comparable. The remit, scope and nature of work vary from study to study, and costs will depend on the work required to complete each examination. In addition, the National Audit Office’s estimated costs include all costs; the Audit Commission’s costs referred to previously exclude other and overhead costs, which are unavailable.
The National Audit Office has confirmed that the £2.5 million figure in its approved strategy for 2014/15 to 2016/17 includes additional work that is unrelated to the Local Audit and Accountability Act. This work focuses primarily on two value for money studies on NHS Foundation Trusts and will be completed under the National Audit Office’s existing powers. £1.7 million of the £2.5 million stated in their. strategy represents the estimated cost of the six additional studies that the National Audit Office expects to undertake as a consequence of its new powers under the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.
More broadly, the abolition of the Audit Commission regime will deliver a net £1.2 billion of savings for taxpayers over a ten year period.
NATO: UK Personnel
Question
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, have been appointed as United Kingdom permanent representative to NATO. [HL5426]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The number of women and men who have been appointed as Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation since 1984 are as follows:
Network of African Science Academies–European Academies’ Science Advisory Council
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs will represent the policy of the Scottish and Welsh Governments as well as the United Kingdom Government when he speaks at the Network of African Science Academies–European Academies’ Science Advisory Council workshop in Addis Ababa on 26 February 2014; whether any Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs officials will accompany him; and what is the current estimated cost to the Exchequer.[HL5429]
Lord De Mauley (Con): Although the Secretary of State was billed to speak at this event, in fact no Defra Ministers or officials will be attending.
NHS England
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the policy of NHS England in respect of disclosing all potential conflicts of interest of those who work for it.[HL5407]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England has advised that its “Standards of Business Conduct” policy, which is published on its website, requires all staff to declare any interest, either on appointment or when the interest is acquired, which may directly or indirectly give rise to an actual or potential conflict of interest. This can be found at:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/stand-bus-cond.pdf
The policy outlines potential conflicts to assist staff in making a declaration and requires a register to be maintained and reviewed annually by the Board Secretary.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the policy of NHS England in respect of registering its meetings with lobbyists.[HL5408]
Earl Howe: NHS England has advised that it does not require staff to record all meetings with outside bodies. However, any form of hospitality must be recorded in accordance with its published standards of conduct, and a register of such hospitality is maintained.
NHS England supports discussions with the wider health and social care system, patients, the public, industry and their representatives. These discussions are essential to inform its work, learn from best practice elsewhere, identify areas for improvement and encourage innovation.
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what code of conduct or other guidance applies to NHS England when commissioning reports or when meeting representatives of pharmaceutical companies. [HL5451]
Earl Howe: NHS England supports on-going discussions with the wider health and social care system, patients, the public, industry and their representatives, as an essential way to inform its work, learn from best practice elsewhere, identify areas for improvement and encourage innovation.
NHS England has in place principles and procedures for managing and registering potential conflicts of interests, which are set out in the Standards of Business Conduct guidance, and is available on its website:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/stand-bus-cond.pdf
NHS England does not require staff to record all meetings with outside bodies. However, any form of hospitality must be recorded in accordance with its published standards of conduct, and a register of such hospitality is maintained.
NHS: Accident and Emergency Services
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will maintain the standards of accident and emergency care and ensure that doctors are available at all times.[HL5362]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Maintaining responsive urgent and emergency care services across the country is a priority for the Government. The Mandate sets out the Government’s requirements for NHS England to improve outcomes in a range of areas. It is the role of NHS England to give serious consideration as to how it will support the commissioning system to deliver these outcomes.
Accident and emergency (A&E) care is evaluated on the national standard that 95% of patients should not wait more than four hours in an A&E department from arrival to transfer, discharge or admission to a bed in the hospital.
In April 2011, the Department introduced eight clinical quality indicators that put in place more meaningful performance measures that balance timeliness of care with other indicators of quality, including clinical outcomes and patient experience.
Percentage of patients with certain ambulatory care sensitive conditions admitted to hospital;
Total time in the A&E department;
These indicators will be further reviewed by Sir Bruce Keogh’s review into urgent and emergency care, which is closely linked to the Seven Days a Week forum.
Looking forward to the introduction of seven day services, we will expect all NHS services to be able to meet patients’ needs as they arise.
To do this, trusts should adopt the Seven Days a Week forum clinical standards to ensure that patients have seven day access to the services they need, driving up clinical outcomes and improving patient experience at weekends.
— Patient experience;—Time to first consultant review;—Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) review;—Shift handovers;—Diagnostics;—Intervention / key services;—Mental health;—On-going review;—Transfer to community, primary and social care; and—Quality improvement.
NHS England’s ambition is for all the clinical standards to be adopted in every community in England by the end of 2016-17.
NHS: Clinical Senates
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the chairs and members of each of England’s National Health Service clinical senates.[HL5334]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many meetings each of England’s clinical senates had in 2013; and whether any of those were held in public.[HL5335]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the budgets for each of England’s clinical senates in 2013; and whether details of their expenditure will be recorded and made public.[HL5336]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how clinical senates are embracing the views of those who work in the health service who are not doctors.[HL5337]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the budget of each of the four National Health Service clinical networks.[HL5338]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the impact the work of the four National Health Service clinical networks on clinical commissioning groups and others in 2013.[HL5339]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England has established clinical senates in 12 geographical areas to be a source of independent, strategic advice and guidance to commissioners and other stakeholders to assist them to make the best decisions about healthcare for the populations they represent.
They have a multi-professional membership to ensure clinical representation encompasses the breadth of professions. This includes nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, as well as doctors. Membership encompasses the ‘birth to death’ spectrum of National Health Service care and also includes patient representatives.
A full membership list for each of the 12 clinical senates, including Chairs, has been placed in the Library.
Clinical senates are comprised of a core Clinical Senate Council and a wider Clinical Senate Assembly or Forum. The number of meetings held by each of the 12 clinical senates in 2013 is shown in the following table. NHS England has advised that none of these meetings were held in public.
| Clinical Senate | Meetings in 2013 |
|
None, as the Clinical Senate is still in the early stages of development | |
*These were specified by NHS England as being meetings of the Clinical Senate Council.
There are 12 Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs), which are aligned to Clinical Senate geographical regions. They are managed by 12 'host' Area Teams with oversight by the Area Team Medical Director and Area Team Director. Established in 2013, the SCNs serve key areas of major health and wellbeing challenge.
NHS England has identified four priority service areas for SCNs, which can also be referred to as 'clinical networks'. These are:
Cardiovascular (including cardiac, stroke, renal and diabetes);Maternity, Children and Young People;Mental Health, Dementia and Neurological Conditions; andCancer.
The size of each is locally determined, based on patient flows and clinical relationships and each region may develop other clinical networks depending on local need. The networks have been developing priorities in conjunction with their stakeholders which include
all commissioners (clinical commissioning group (CCG) and specialised commissioning), providers, third sector and patients.
Work plans for the four clinical areas have been aligned with CCG plans to deliver maximum impact and the clinical networks have provided clinical support and advice on related issues. They are also leading work to inform areas of specialised commissioning. Clinical advice is being made available to support the development of CCGs’ two year operational plans and five year strategic plans.
NHS England has advised that there has been no formal assessment of impact of the networks to date. However, there is an oversight group for each SCN and this monitors progress against the SCN annual plans, which were signed off in 2013.
NHS England allocates combined funding for Clinical Senates and SCNs in each of the 12 regions. It is not possible to determine the budget for each of the four priority service areas, as resources are shared at the regional level. The following table shows the combined 2013 budgets for Clinical Senates and Strategic Clinical Networks by geographical region.
| Geographical Region | Running Costs | Programme Costs | Total |
Notes:
1. Running costs include any cost incurred that is not a direct payment for the provision of healthcare or healthcare related services. Examples include business support services, the provision of policy advice, cost of accommodation and office services.
2. Programme costs include any costs that relate to direct payments for the provision of healthcare or healthcare related services. Examples of programme costs for the senates and networks include the work being done on cancer, maternity, children's health, cardiovascular (cardiac, stroke, renal, diabetes), mental health, dementia and neurosciences.
NHS: Data
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the inclusion on the Health and Social Care Information Centre’s table Data Linkage and Extract Service Charges: 2013–14 of prices for selling identifiable personal data, including “a one-off extract tailored to the customer’s requirements of specified data fields containing patient identifiable data, sensitive data items or both” is compatible with assurances that patient confidentiality will remain inviolable. [HL5198]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): There are very strict rules about what information the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) can release to the National Health Service and to outside organisations.
Under provisions in the Health and Social Care Act 2012, HSCIC cannot publish or release data that identifies or enables the identification of any individual without a legal basis to do so.
While the HSCIC charges a fee to cover its costs—for example, the costs of linking data from different sources for a specific purpose—it does not make profits from providing data to other organisations, nor does it subsidise any applicants to receive the data. Charges are provided on the HSCIC website in order to be transparent.
Anonymised information does not identify any individuals. Information that identifies an individual or enables an individual to be identified can only be disclosed where there is already a legal basis for doing so.
Only researchers who have obtained the patient’s express permission or who have been granted legal approval are allowed to access information that identifies individuals. Only the Secretary of State or the Health Research Authority can grant this legal approval and they do so following independent advice from the Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG). The CAG considers each individual application against the legal framework.
NHS: Francis and Keogh Reports
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they are targeting resources to implement the Francis and Keogh reports at acute healthcare providers and not mental health providers.[HL5278]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): A service development uplift of £150 million was agreed to address emerging quality pressures associated with implementing recommendations from the Keogh and Francis reviews.
NHS England and Monitor took an independent decision to focus on the acute sector where they found evidence of significant emerging pressures was greatest.
NHS England and Monitor are committed to making an evidence-based approach to pricing decisions and will work with all parts of the health service, including mental health, to understand the cost pressures that they face to inform the price setting process for 2015-16.
The Government has enshrined in law the equal importance of mental health and physical health. We have made improving mental health and treating mental illness a key priority.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking while implementing the Francis and Keogh reports to achieve parity of esteem between mental and physical health.[HL5279]
Earl Howe: The Government has enshrined in law the equal importance of mental health and physical health and we have made improving mental health and treating mental illness a key priority. Whilst the events at Mid Staffordshire were primarily the result of failings in the acute sector, the Government’s response to the Francis inquiry sets out measures which are intended to reform the entire health and care system. Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First explicitly makes reference throughout the document to the numerous measures that apply to social care and mental health alongside core NHS services. Similarly, mental health was specifically explored through the Keogh Review’s examination of urgent care pathways and the Care Quality Commission is currently developing its improved methodology on mental health inspections.
Key actions applicable across mental health as well as physical health include:
appointments of new chief inspectors for hospitals, primary care and social care;a new set of simpler fundamental standards that make explicit the basic standards beneath which care should never fall;a failure regime for quality as well as finance;improving the quality of training and expected conduct of healthcare assistants to ensure safer and compassionate care;a new statutory duty of candour on organisations and strengthening candour in professionals’ codes and guidance;new leadership programme for nursing and clinical staff;transparent monthly reporting of ward-by-ward staffing levels and other safety measures;a new programme to promote patient safety across all healthcare settings;andbetter support for patients who need to raise a complaint and better trust information about their complaints including quarterly reporting of complaints data and lessons learned by trusts, and the Ombudsman to significantly increase the number of cases she considers.
NHS: Patient Deaths
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve the investigation of patient deaths occurring under National Health Service care.[HL5225]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England is currently reviewing the National Health Service Serious Incident Framework. This describes the principles and procedures that all organisations providing, commissioning or overseeing NHS-funded care should follow when responding to Serious Incidents. Serious Incidents by definition include all unexpected or avoidable deaths in NHS-funded care. The revised Framework will provide up to date guidance on the appropriate response to such deaths, including how investigations should be carried out and quality assured to deliver learning and improvement of services.
The current Framework is available at:
www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sif-guide.pdf
NHS England is also working on plans for a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Investigation academy to drive good practice in the use of RCA investigation, ensuring its full potential is harnessed in order to inform learning and measurable patient safety improvement.
In addition reforms to the process of death certification and the coroner service, including the appointment of a Chief Coroner, will help identify appropriate cases for referral to the coroner for further investigation as well as benefiting bereaved families across England and Wales by creating more effective coroners services.
NHS: Seven-day Working
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Earl Howe on 6 February (HL Deb, col 309), what assessment they have undertaken of the risk of patients and their relatives taking legal action as a result of poor outcomes, including a higher risk of death to patients, at the weekend. [HL5307]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): No assessment has been undertaken of the risk of patients and their relatives taking legal action as a result of poor outcomes at the weekends.
Northern Ireland: Flags and Parades
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 20 January (WA 85), whether the phrase “under current arrangements”, together with “not directly
participating”, indicates that they or the government of the Republic of Ireland have been indirectly participating, or intend to participate directly, in those talks; whether they share the view expressed in recent comments by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Ireland, Eamon Gilmore, that the two governments should intervene if necessary; and, if so, to what extent they consider that course of action consistent with Strand 1 of the Belfast Agreement.[HL5344]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Haass process was initiated by the parties themselves and as the Prime Minister has pointed out, there is no question of the Government imposing a solution from outside that does not have the backing of Northern Ireland’s political leadership. The Government remains in close contact with the NI parties and is looking at how best to support their efforts. The Irish Government too wants to support efforts to secure cross-party agreement. This approach is in complete conformity with the Belfast Agreement.
Overseas Aid
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess the safety of aid workers following recent events in Juba; and to what extent aid and development programmes, especially humanitarian, health and education programmes supported by the United Kingdom, will continue to be provided as before. [HL5461]
Baroness Northover (LD): Aid agencies are doing an invaluable job under difficult circumstances in responding to the current crisis in South Sudan. The situation remains difficult with access to many of those in need constrained, including as a result of insecurity. We have called upon all parties to the conflict to ensure safe and secure access for humanitarian agencies and to respect their neutrality. We condemn interference in the humanitarian response and the violence that has resulted in the deaths of three aid workers since December.
Before the current crisis, South Sudan was already one of the least developed countries in the world with over half of its population living below the poverty line. Alongside our emergency humanitarian funding, DfID had a long term development programme targeted at primary education, providing health care and nutrition, tackling hunger and strengthening justice and security.
With over 700,000 people displaced within South Sudan and 145,000 to neighbouring countries, DfID’s priority in the past few weeks has been to assess and respond to the immediate humanitarian situation. We are also currently working with key partners to determine to what extent we can continue to deliver important elements of our development programme, including to help meet needs in health, education and food security, especially for the most vulnerable.
Overseas Conflict: Explosive Weapons
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General and the International Committee of the Red Cross that explosive weapons with a wide impact area should be avoided in densely populated areas.[HL5300]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The British Government’s view is there is no utility in attempting to describe, beyond the current provisions given under International Humanitarian Law, a category of “explosive weapons with wide impact area”. We condemn the indiscriminate or disproportionate use of any weapon, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects. The UK fully complies with and is a champion of International Humanitarian Law which makes provision for the use of lethal force only with adequate precautions, and is committed to upholding the Geneva Conventions and encouraging others to do the same.
Pensions
Question
Asked by Baroness Hollis of Heigham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Freud on 15 January (HL Deb, col GC 144), what is their estimate of the annual cost of overseas healthcare and other benefits for survivors’ dependents if the new Bereavement Support Payment is treated as a survivor pension under European Union law.[HL5456]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The information requested is not available. DWP has to date not made such an assessment.
Pets for the Elderly Foundation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they are making to provide further support to the Pets for the Elderly Foundation.[HL5226]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department is currently providing no support to the Pets for the Elderly Foundation and has no plans to do so in the future.
Quangos
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many quangos there were in December 2013; how the numbers compare with those in May 2010; whether they have plans to disband any further quangos; and, if so, which.[HL5204]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): In 2010 the Government pledged to reduce the number and cost of public bodies. By December 2013, the Government had abolished more than 180 bodies with more than 160 bodies merged into fewer than 70 bodies. This represents over 90% of all planned abolitions and mergers. The number of public bodies will have reduced by 300 by March 2015. This is the largest restructuring of public bodies in a generation, making the landscape smaller, more accountable, more efficient, less costly, and offering better value for money to the public.
Railways: Cornwall
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take to support the economy and people of Cornwall as a result of the cessation of train services to the remainder of the country. [HL5374]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The focus for the Government at this time is three-fold:
• to ensure that damaged rail infrastructure is repaired and full rail services restored as quickly as possible; • in the meantime to ensure that alternative transport options are provided so that Cornwall’s communities and businesses continue to have effective transport connections with the rest of the country: and• to examine for the longer term measures for improving the resilience of transport links into Cornwall, including potential options for alternative routes.
In the immediate term the Department for Transport is working hard with train and bus operators and Network Rail, the Highways and Maritime and Coastguard Agencies, in addition to airlines and airport operators, to ensure that the immediate needs of the area are met following the severe weather and flooding.
In particular, the Department has worked closely with Flybe to ensure that additional capacity, through increased flight frequency and larger aircraft, is added to the air route between Newquay and London. Flybe have also committed to maintaining their normal pricing structure on these flights. To benefit air passengers further, Newquay Cornwall Airport has agreed temporarily to suspend the £5 Airport Development Fee payable by all departing passengers. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport
has also chaired an urgent resilience meeting with bus and coach operators to ensure that all necessary extra services are in place to reduce the impacts of severe weather across the country. Coach operators have laid on thousands of extra seats to ease the pressure in the worst affected areas.
In addition, First Great Western has put in place special ticketing arrangements so that rail passengers who are affected by flood disruption in Cornwall do not miss out on cheaper advance fares while revised timetables are in place.
We can then turn our attention to measures that can support the rapid recovery of the economy in the South West. This includes a review of options for improving the resilience of transport infrastructure.
This, in combination with the Government’s wider efforts to reduce the impact of the severe weather, including making the armed forces available to those areas worst impacted, will help the country to get back on track as quickly as possible.
Railways: High Speed 2
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to possible amendments to the proposed routes for HS2 north of Birmingham that could provide the ability to run through class-compatible HS2 trains between London and Bradford, and between London and York, Newcastle and central Scotland via Leeds.[HL5340]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The consultation on Phase Two of HS2, the routes from the West Midlands to Leeds, Manchester and beyond, closed on 31st January. Responses are now being analysed by an independent response analysis company and will feed into proposals for changes to the line of route. The Secretary of State for Transport will announce his decision on the proposed Phase Two route by the end of 2014.
Schools: Physical Activity
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of rising obesity levels, what plans they have to ensure that children in schools undertake sufficient levels of physical activity.[HL5274]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): We are seeing encouraging signs of progress on obesity, with rates in children falling to 14% in 2012, the lowest level of child obesity since 1998, but we still have much further to go.
London 2012 inspired the country to enjoy sport, and the Government wants to embed that enjoyment of sport and physical activity in children from an early age, so that children develop a lifetime habit of healthy activity. Through the cross-Government primary physical education (PE) and sport premium we are providing
over £450 million of ring-fenced funding across academic years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16. This goes directly to primary schools, to be spent on the improvement of PE and sport, so that all children benefit from high quality teaching, and have the opportunity to compete against their peers. Building on this, the Prime Minister pledged on 6 February that this funding would continue until 2020, a significant commitment to the health of our children and young people.
The Department of Health are also currently providing Change4Life Sports Clubs in over 10,000 primary and secondary schools - each designed to offer schools a way of reaching the least active, including those who may not be attracted to sport. Almost 38,000 children in primary Change4Life Sports Clubs now take part in 60 minutes of physical activity every day.
Skills Funding Statement
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 30 January (WA 244), whether they will consult Gypsy, Traveller and Roma organisations on the wording of the statement reminding training providers of their Equality Act duties for the next Skills Funding Statement; and when they plan to publish this.[HL5298]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): We did not consult on the wording as it is simply a reminder about existing duties under the Equality Act and the requirement to make reasonable adjustments. The Skills Funding Statement was published on 10 February and is available on the www.gov.uk website. The Statement also includes a section on equality and diversity data.
South Sudan
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with President Museveni about the role of the Ugandan military in the conflict in South Sudan.[HL5217]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke with Ugandan President Museveni on 3 January about the conflict in South Sudan, including the Ugandan military role. The UK’s Envoy for the South Sudan talks met President Museveni on 17 January to discuss the Ugandan and regional response to the conflict. Alongside our Troika and EU partners, we have been clear since the outbreak of conflict of the risks of any military intervention by South Sudan’s neighbours.
The Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed on 23 January provides for the withdrawal of allied forces from the theatre of operations, and we will be monitoring closely the adherence of all forces to this agreement.
Sport: Olympic Winter Sports
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to continue to fund outstanding Olympic winter sport student athletes with Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) funding for the 2014 to 2018 quadrennium; how many winter sports athletes are currently supported on the programme; and how many English Institute of Sport-funded psychologists, physiologists and coaches are supported to assist those on the TASS programme.[HL5327]
Lord Popat (Con): UK Sport funding provided to Sports Aid for the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS) is confirmed until September 2014. UK Sport and Sport England continue to work together on talent development in England, with the future funding of TASS under consideration.
The 2013/14 TASS programme supports 39 winter sport athletes, 4 of whom are currently in Sochi. Around 50% of Team GB in Sochi have been through the TASS programme.
TASS has its own network of support via the TASS Universities Hub Network and does not use the EIS network or their staff.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much financial support has been invested from lottery and government funding in each of the Olympic winter sport disciplines from 2010 to 2014 inclusive. [HL5324]
Lord Popat: Funding for Olympic Winter Sport disciplines from 2010 to 2014 are as follows:
| Olympic Sport | Funding award (£) |
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to support the development of coaching in slopestyle snowboarding at dry ski slopes and indoor snow centres in the United Kingdom. [HL5325]
Lord Popat: Sport England is investing £1.5 million to get more people skiing and snowboarding in England. This investment supports and develops paid and volunteer
coaches to get more people skiing and help talented skiers and snowboarders to develop and progress within the sport.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many dry ski slopes and indoor snow centres there are in the United Kingdom; and how much investment from both government funding and lottery funding directly supports coaching and access for young people for each winter sport discipline in each such facility.[HL5326]
Lord Popat: At present there are 83 skiing and snowboarding facilities in the UK. There are 67 dry ski slopes, six indoor snow centres and 10 outdoor natural snow centres.
Sport England is investing £1.5 million of lottery and exchequer money to get more people skiing and snowboarding in England. This investment focuses on 16 skiing and snowboarding hubs across England as well as Snowsport England’s programme Go Ski Go Board which gives young people over the age of 14 a six week coached introduction to the sports.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any programmes to link primary school children living in the catchment areas of dry ski slopes and indoor snow centres to coaching programmes at those centres in the winter sports disciplines; and, if so, where such programmes are currently operating. [HL5376]
Lord Popat: Snowsport England works with the English Schools Ski Association (ESSKIA) to establish and maintain links between primary schools and local ski slopes to give more children and young people the opportunity to go skiing and snowboarding. ESSKIA has representatives working in Bromley, Gloucester, Hemel, Pendle, Silksworth, Southampton and Stoke.
State Aid
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 23 January concerning European Union powers relating to state aid to United Kingdom undertakings (WA 166), what are the 26 cases before the European Commission; and what is the timescale for discussion of those cases.[HL5231]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): Since the previous Written Answer, 4 of the 26 cases have received approval from the European Commission. These are:
- All-Island Collaborative R&D Scheme (Innova) - prolongation- Enterprise Capital Funds
- Scottish R&D&I Scheme- Support for land remediation – prolongation
One further case has been put on hold by the UK, and 4 new cases have been notified. The 25 cases currently before the Commission are therefore as follows:
1. Agricultural and Horticultural Levy Board Market Research Scheme2. Agricultural and Horticultural Levy Board Technical Support Scheme3. Aid for indirect carbon price floor costs 4. Amendment to SA.35565 - Renewables Obligation (RO) scheme 5. Electricity Market Reform: Capacity Market6. Electricity Market Reform - Investment Contract (early Contract for Difference) for the Hinkley Point C New Nuclear Power Station7. Electricity Market Reform - Renewables Contract for Difference 8. English Woodland Grant Scheme 9. Government support to the Thames Tideway Tunnel project 10. Green Bus Fund 11. Isles of Scilly Airlinks12. Isles of Scilly and Penzance sealinks13. Liverpool City Council Cruise Liner Terminal 14. The Marine Energy Array Demonstrator (MEAD) Scheme15. Modifications to NEST pension scheme 16. Northern Ireland Gas Pipeline - extension to the West and the North West17. Partnership support for regeneration18. R&D&I Scheme for Northern Ireland - extension to 31 December 201919. Regional Stadia Development in Northern Ireland20. Renewables Obligation in Northern Ireland21. Regional Growth Fund - Jaguar LandRover (JLR)22. Update to the UK Film Tax Relief23. Video games tax relief24. Waste Contract to provide waste disposal services for spent fuel and intermediate level waste (ILW) from new nuclear power stations25. Welsh Red Meat Advertising Scheme
As set out in the Procedural Regulation 659/1999, the Commission is required to conclude the preliminary examination of notified cases within two months of receiving the complete notification. From pre-notification to decision, cases are usually before the Commission for between 6 and 18 months.
Sudan
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of President Omar al-Bashir’s declaration that counter-insurgency operations will be completed in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states in 2014, followed by the completion of military operations in Darfur.[HL5220]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are greatly concerned that the Government of Sudan continues to pursue a military victory in Darfur, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan. It is clear that the only resolution of these conflicts lies in dialogue and political reconciliation to address their causes, not in military means.
In Darfur we are urging all parties to ensure full unhindered humanitarian access, and pressing the Government of Sudan to honour its commitments under the Doha peace agreement. In Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan we are pressing the Government of Sudan and Sudanese People’s Liberation Movement-North to negotiate a cessation of hostilities and full humanitarian access. We welcome the African Union’s invitation to both sides to begin talks in Addis Ababa on 13 February. We believe that a national process of reform is also needed to address the wider problems of governance and democratic accountability in Sudan that lie behind these conflicts.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of actions of the government of Sudan in carrying out aerial bombardment in South Kordofan and Blue Nile states and in the denial of access by humanitarian organisations to those regions.[HL5221]
Baroness Warsi: We condemn all military actions which target civilians, including indiscriminate aerial bombardment, and have made it clear bilaterally with the Sudanese government and through the UN Security Council that the only resolution to these conflicts is through political dialogue, not military means.
In his visit to Sudan on 14-16 January, the Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds), welcomed the talks between the Government of Sudan and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (North) that are due to begin in Addis Ababa on 13 February. He pressed for both parties to agree an immediate ceasefire and to allow unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies to reach all those in need.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken following the recent deaths of staff of the International Red Cross and of other non-governmental organisations working in Darfur, and with what results; and how they assess the safety of such aid workers.[HL5458]
Baroness Northover (LD): The most recent death of a humanitarian worker concerns a Sudanese Red Crescent Society volunteer in South Kordofan, who was killed by a land mine. Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States are some of the most challenging and dangerous areas in which to deliver humanitarian aid due to the continuing conflict, and the significant threats posed by land mines and banditry. We continue to raise the issue of humanitarian access with the Government of Sudan who have the ultimate responsibility to ensure the safety of humanitarian workers.
Through its contribution to the UN Common Humanitarian Fund in Sudan, the UK supports the UN Department of Safety and Security who provide security services and advice for humanitarian workers.
Transport: Taxis
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to discourage the use of unlicensed taxi cabs.[HL5420]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government’s principal role in relation to taxis and private hire vehicles is to ensure that the legislative framework is fit for purpose and to provide guidance to licensing authorities. On the former, we have asked the Law Commission to review the legislation and they will be reporting to us in April 2014. On the latter, we have published Best Practice Guidance for licensing authorities. The Guidance stresses the importance of enforcement in ensuring that passengers use only properly licensed taxis and private hire vehicles.
Tunisia, Israel and Palestine
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the European Union Foreign Affairs Council on 20 January, and subsequent meetings, they and their European Union colleagues will (1) give priority to measures intended to increase employment in Tunisia, and (2) make representations to the government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority regarding the benefits of reaching agreements. [HL5293]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), agreed Conclusions on Tunisia at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 10 February. The Conclusions call on the new Tunisian government to stimulate economic growth and address unemployment. They reaffirm the EU’s support for tackling the country’s socio-economic challenges. Specific measures will include a €4.7 million micro-finance package.
Bilaterally, the UK’s Arab Partnership (AP) also supports employment creation in Tunisia: for example through funding vocational training, and Small and Medium-sized (SME) enterprise development. The AP also helps fund job creation projects implemented by International Financial Institutions, primarily through the African Development Bank and the International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group.
The UK has made regular representations to the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority regarding the benefits of reaching an agreement, including
to both sides, most recently, on 10 February. In this regard, work is underway in the EU on an unprecedented package of support for both parties to be given in the event of a final status deal. This ambitious offer of incentives highlights the benefits of such an agreement.
UN: Commission on the Status of Women
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Worcester
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their objectives for the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women which will take place at the United Nations in New York from 10 to 21 March. [HL5019]
Lord Popat (Con): The UK’s objectives for the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women are to:
i. In the run up to the 58th session, build a positive negotiation climate in relation to the priority theme and the post 2015 framework;
ii. Enhance the UK’s reputation as an international leader on advancing the rights of women and girls;
iii. Achieve strong agreed conclusions which will provide a solid platform for post-MDG discussions; and
iv. Promote and showcase the UK’s initiatives to achieve gender equality.
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Worcester
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to consult civil society organisations, churches and faith communities ahead of the fifty-eighth session of the Commission on the Status of Women that will take place at the United Nations in New York from 10 to 21 March.[HL5021]
Lord Popat: Engagement with a wide range of civil society organisations is a key element of the UK’s work to prepare for the Commission on the Status of Women. To date we have:
i. Convened a large Ministerial led consultation event with representatives of UK non-governmental organisations including faith-based organisations.
ii. Worked with the UK NGO CSW Alliance (a diverse network of some 100 women and development organisations with an interest in women’s rights and the Commission on the Status of Women) and in particular a liaison group that they have established.
iii. Organised a meeting with key international development organisations including those that are faith-based to draw on their expertise on the Millennium Development Goals.
iv. Continued to issue monthly dedicated CSW e-newsletters that provide UK NGOs with regular information on the UK’s CSW plans.
United Arab Emirates
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of the United Arab Emirates about the situation of Mr Jamal Hassan al-Hosni, since his arrest on 24 November 2013 in Abu Dhabi, and about that government’s intentions concerning his future career and liberty. [HL5321]
Lord Popat (Con): We are not aware of the case of Mr Jamal Hassan al-Hosni. We encourage all governments to ensure that due process is carefully and transparently followed in all cases, and that civil liberties are protected. We continue to raise human rights issues with the United Arab Emirates Government.
United Nations Commission of the Status of Women
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to promote a target on universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights within the new Millennium Development Goals framework at the 58th Session of the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women in March.[HL5471]
Baroness Northover (LD): The UK supports the conclusions of the High Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, which recognised universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights as an essential component of a healthy society, and therefore believes sexual and reproductive health and rights should be reflected in the post-2015 framework. Our objective at the 58th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women is to secure Agreed Conclusions on the importance of gender equality, the empowerment of girls and women and sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post 2015 framework.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to promote a stand-alone goal on gender equality and women’s empowerment, as part of the new Millennium Development Goals framework at the 58th Session of the United Nations Commission of the Status of Women in March.[HL5472]
Baroness Northover: The UK has been clear in its call for a standalone goal on gender equality and girls and women’s empowerment as well as ensuring that these issues are addressed throughout the goals and targets in the framework to be agreed by the members of the United Nations. Our objective at CSW 58 is to secure agreed conclusions on the importance of gender equality, and the empowerment of girls and women in the post-2015 framework.
We are working with others across the international community, including civil society, to ensure that this is achieved.
United Nations Commission on Population and Development
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Government officials will attend the April session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development in New York.[HL5469]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to include parliamentarians from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population, Development and Reproductive Health or expert non-governmental organisations in the delegation attending the April session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development.[HL5470]
Baroness Northover (LD): Officials from the AIDS and Reproductive Health team in the Department for International Development will attend the 47th Commission on Population and Development. We welcome close cooperation with civil society and are exploring the possibility of including a non-governmental representative as part of the UK delegation.
United Nations: UK Personnel
Questions
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, from the United Kingdom have been nominated successfully for posts as Secretary-General, Under Secretary-General or Assistant Secretary-General at the United Nations since 1984.[HL5423]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Since 1984, two women and 13 men from the United Kingdom have been appointed to Under Secretary-General or Assistant Secretary-General posts at the United Nations. Three of these candidates have held several different posts at this level. Some of these have been nominated or supported by the Government but others are individuals who have pursued their own career within the UN system. This calculation includes only those Under Secretaries-General or Assistant Secretaries-General appointed within the UN Secretariat. It does not cover British staff in the field such as those holding roles as Special Representatives and Special Envoys of the Secretary General or other ad hoc senior appointments (there are currently eight British nationals in these categories, one of whom is female). Neither the British government nor the United Nations itself maintains historical registers of such appointments. There has never been a British Secretary General; by convention the permanent five members of the UN Security Council do not put forward candidates for the role.
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) women, and (2) men, have held United Kingdom head of mission status at the United Nations or its agencies since 1984.[HL5424]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The number of women and men who have held Head of Mission status at the UN or its agencies since 1984 are as follows:
UKMIS New York – Female (0)/ Male (8)UKMIS Geneva – Female (2)/ Male (7)
Vladimir Bukovsky
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the forthcoming 25th anniversary of the collapse of Soviet communism, what plans they have to recommend honours to Her Majesty for leading dissidents now living in the United Kingdom, and in particular Mr Vladimir Bukovsky.[HL5365]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Due to the confidential nature of the UK honours process, we do not comment on or divulge details of any recommendations made in respect of honours for any particular individual.
Waterways and Rivers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley (HL4801), when the high banks containing the rivers Parrett and Tone were last repaired or their levels raised. [HL5272]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): During the 1990s, as part of the ‘Bridgwater to Burrowbridge Bank Strategy’, discrete short lengths of the River Parrett banks were raised and/or widened.
In 2001/2002 works were undertaken to pile and raise the standard of protection along a 4km length of the right bank of the River Tone (the Stanmoor Bank Scheme).
From 2005-2010 there was another programme of ‘urgent bank raising or widening works’ along discrete short lengths of both banks of the River Parrett between the M5 flyover and Oath Lock.
In 2005 Oath Lock Sluice on the River Parrett was replaced. In 2008/09 Newbridge Sluice on the River Tone was refurbished. These major assets control water levels and help the Environment Agency to manage flood risk in the Parrett and Tone catchments.
Waterways: Dredging
Question
Asked by Lord Willoughby de Broke
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the provisions of the European Union Waste Framework Directive 2008/98/EC, concerning sewage and other pollution, will limit the scope of dredging operations in areas affected by recent flooding.[HL5238]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The provisions of the Waste Framework Directive do not limit the scope of dredging operations in areas affected by recent flooding. However, the spreading of dredged material on land (with or without the presence of sewage) would normally require the benefit of an environmental permit to protect human health and the environment.
Defra provides exemptions from the need for an environmental permit for a) the deposit of non-hazardous dredged material along river banks and b) the spreading of dredged material to beneficially condition agricultural land. These exemptions are subject to maximum limits on the amount of waste that can be deposited or spread and provide a light touch approach to meet Waste Framework Directive requirements. Exemptions need to be registered with the Environment Agency. Registration is free, may be done at any time and is valid for three years.
World Meteorological Organisation
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current contribution paid by the United Kingdom to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO); what proportion is used for activities on operational hydrology; and what plans they have to fund an increase in the exchange of practical information and research on operational hydrology by the WMO. [HL5260]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The UK contribution to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) in 2014 was £2.2 million. About 4.5% of the total regular WMO budget is allocated to the WMO Hydrology and Water Resources Programme (HWRP).
Member States influence the work of the HWRP through the WMO Commission for Hydrology. The UK is one of the most active members of the Commission for Hydrology, donating the time of many experts to its work, facilitating the exchange of practical information and research on operational hydrology to the benefit of the UK.
The WMO budget for its next financial period will be agreed in 2015, where the UK will, as always, ensure there is adequate funding for the WMO’s hydrology activities balanced against the other priorities for the UK within the WMO and affordability for members.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to alter the United Kingdom’s representation in operational hydrology in the World Meteorological Organisation by appointing the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency as the United Kingdom’s alternative representative, alongside the Chief Executive of the Met Office as the permanent representative.[HL5262]
Viscount Younger of Leckie: World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) regulations stipulate that each Permanent Representative may appoint a hydrological
adviser who should be the representative of the respective national Hydrological Service, or equivalent national agency, and should advise the Permanent Representative with respect to WMO activities in operational hydrology and water resources.
The UK Permanent Representative with WMO has consistently appointed the Director of the Centre of Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) (or their designate) as their hydrological adviser because as a national body the CEH also represents the UK within other UN bodies responsible for hydrology, and so provides globally recognised scientific expertise and advice for the UK’s approach to hydrological issues within the WMO. There are no plans to change this arrangement.