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19 July 2006 : Column WA179
Written Answers
Wednesday 19 July 2006
Armed Forces: Doctors and Dentists
Lord Garden asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the announcement of the pay award for doctors and dentists in the Armed Forces has been delayed; when they will make the announcement; and whether they will fully implement the review body's recommendations.[HL6865]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The Government are currently considering the recommendations of the independent Armed Forces Pay Review Body's 2006 supplementary report on the pay of service medical and dental officers. We hope to make an announcement soon.
Asylum Seekers: Section 4 Support
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether in 2005 or subsequently any children had to be looked after by local authorities because their parents had been refused support under Section 4 of the Immigration and AsylumAct 1999.[HL6836]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): This information is not held within the Home Office.
British Citizenship
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 17 May (WA 37), whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of any further clarifications received from the Government of Nepal.[HL6764]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): No further clarifications have been received to date. As and when they are, we shall place copies in the Library of the House.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will update the British citizenship application form B(OS) and paragraph 12 of the guidance notes to state clearly who should sign an application made by or on behalf of a minor. [HL6793]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: An amendment to this effect will be included in the next version of the form B(OS) and its accompanying guide, which is likely to be introduced by September 2006.
19 July 2006 : Column WA180
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any British nationals (overseas) or British overseas citizens of Chinese ethnic origin who do not possess Chinese citizenship because the person or their parents were born in countries whereby they lost their Chinese citizenship due to a national treaty between China and the relevant countries; whether any such persons have been granted British citizenship under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997; and, based on the current Home Office understanding, which are the countries in question.[HL6794]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: We are not aware of any such cases.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Triesman on 11 July (WA 99—100), how a quota system based on race or ethnicity is compatible with their race equality obligations.[HL6942]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The appointments system for British citizenship applications at our consulate general in Hong Kong applies only to those British nationals who are applying under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997. The appointments system is based not on ethnicity but on the specific Act under which the applications are made.
This system was introduced to improve customer service by preventing long queues at our consulate general in Hong Kong and the potential situation of having to turn applicants away who had not had the opportunity to submit their application on that day. The appointments system gives a guarantee that an applicant will be able to submit their application on the day of their appointment.
From November 2005 to date, our consulate general in Hong Kong has accepted 1,375 applications for registration under the British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997. On average, 100 applications are submitted annually for registration as a British citizen under other British nationality Acts, so it is not deemed necessary to introduce an appointments system for these applications.
British Coal Compensation
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 18 April (WA 167) concerning the exclusion of surface workers from the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, whether the Department of Trade and Industry has now undertaken the proposed review concerning the progress of such claims at common law and the generic issues arising; if so, whether it is in a position to report its findings; whether the
19 July 2006 : Column WA181
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): To date, no surface worker claims against the department have been brought under common law. The DTI has been made aware of seven cases, brought to our attention by two firms of solicitors, that may seek to be removed from the British Coal respiratory disease litigation at a hearing next week. No directions have been received from the solicitors on litigation directions or funding.
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Sainsbury of Turville on 11 May (WA 151) concerning the average cost of £3,790 of handling each claim under the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and under the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, whether the Comptroller and Auditor General and the National Audit Office have now conducted a full investigation as to value for money; and, if so, what was the result.[HL6981]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Comptrollerand Auditor General has decided to include an examination of the coal health compensation schemes in his 2007-08 value for money programme. Work is planned to begin later this year.
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many claimants under both the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and the British Coal vibration white finger litigation have not received final awards of compensation; and how many years those claimants have been awaiting final settlement of their claims, broken down between those who first lodged claims (a) over eight years ago; (b) between seven and eight years ago; (c) between six and seven years ago; (d) between five and six years ago; (e) between four and five years ago; (f) between three and four years ago; and (g) less than three years ago.[HL6982]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The number of claimants whose claims have not yet been fully settled under the respiratory disease (COPD) and vibration white finger (VWF) schemes are given in the following table:
| Age Band | COPD | VWF | Total |
I should advise that these figures include 25,000 claims in which offers have been made but not yet accepted and 22,000 claims that have been denied but the denial has not been accepted. In addition, a number of claims have been withdrawn and others are going through the fast-track process. None of these can yet be considered fully settled.
Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have now instructed Capita, their claims handlers in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation and the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, to ensure that all compensation cheques are drawn solely in favour of the claimants, and not their solicitors or other third parties, to avoid additional fees being deducted from such compensation.[HL6985]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Compensation cheques are made payable to the claimant but sent viathe claimant's representative. The claimant's representative is responsible for ensuring that the correct moneys are paid to the claimant and, for deceased claims, that compensation is correctly distributed.
Child Support Agency
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current deficit of the Child Support Agency; what has been their aggregate contribution to the agency since it was formed in 1993; and whether they have made any comparisons with child support arrangements in Australia.[HL6874]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The agency's debt position is£3.25 billion. This is money that is owed by the non-resident parent and represents money due to the parent with care and to the Secretary of State, if the parent with care is on benefit. This was reported in the agency's annual report and accounts 2004-05.
Aggregate contribution by HM Government to the Child Support Agency since its formation in 1993-94:| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |