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27 Oct 2006 : Column WA265
Written Answers
Friday 27 October 2006
Anti-social Behaviour Orders
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 7 December 2005 (WA 100), when the Home Office will publish its evaluation of anti-social behaviour orders.[HL7770]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Publication of the evaluation of ASBOs will now be next year. In the mean time, we monitor ASBOs and their use on an ongoing basis and adjust policy in response.
Armed Forces: Helicopters
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Minister for the Armed Forces, Mr Adam Ingram, on 9 October (Official Report, Commons; col 176W), how many Sea King, Lynx and Puma helicopters are held undeployed in reserve; and what steps are required to make them deployable.[HL7712]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The helicopter fleet does not contain any “reserve” aircraft. Aircraft are either in the forward fleet with the front-line commands (FLCs) being used for operational deployment or other tasks; in the depth fleet for maintenance and upgrades; or awaiting disposal action where the airframe life has been achieved or is beyond economical repair.
The numbers of Sea King, Lynx and Puma helicopters in the forward and depth fleets as at 5 October 2006 is shown in the table below.
| Forward Fleet | Depth Fleet | Total Fleet1 | ||
| On Operations | Other Tasks | |||
| 1 Does not include aircraft currently classified as unrepairable or redundant. | ||||
Action needed to prepare these aircraft for any given deployment will vary depending on the likely duration of the requirement and on the capability and number of aircraft required. Aircraft in the depth fleet are undergoing programmed maintenance and repair, which is crucial to sustaining the forward fleet. Maintenance and support policies are designed to ensure that the maximum number of aircraft from the departmental fleet can be made available at the highest state of readiness should they be required to meet an intensity of operations demanding high numbers of aircraft.
Construction Industry: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will ensure that in any review of the centrally administered holiday pay schemes included in the Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 3) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/597) the dispensation for the construction industry will not be abandoned.[HL7831]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: HMRC continually monitors and reviews the operation of all exemptions from the payment of national insurance contributions to ensure that the legislation is meeting its intended objectives and that the original policy rationale is still relevant.
Crime: Mental Health Act
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many recorded crimes were committed in each of the last 10 years by individuals whilst detained or sectioned under the Mental Health Act 1983; and what was the category of each offence.[HL7662]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The information requested is not collected centrally.
Government Departments: Financial Reporting
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Home Office has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7654]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Home Office has in place arrangements for staff to raise matters of concern in confidence with a nominated official. Staff are strongly encouraged to report wrongdoing if they suspect that it may be taking place. The department undertakes to support members of staff who do this, provided that they are acting in good faith, through the departmental health and welfare service, trade unions and staff networks.
There is a dedicated internal procedure for reporting alleged fraud and corruption. Staff are advised: to ascertain promptly what has occurred or is suspected; to document the details; and to contact the Home Office fraud liaison officer, either on the fraud hotline number or in writing. Staff also have the right to report a matter directly to the police if they prefer. Within the department's internal audit unit, there is a dedicated anti-fraud and investigation team, which examines issues of impropriety that come to light and advises management on managing risks of irregularity, fraud and corruption.
In all other cases of suspected malpractice, staff are advised to discuss the matter with their line manager or another manager. Alternatively, they can report the matter in confidence to a nominated senior officer. They can also seek the advice and support of a welfare officer, a trade union or recognised staff association representative, or one of the staff networks. The independent Civil Service Commissioners will also consider accepting a direct complaint. In line with the Civil Service Code, staff are advised to report to the appropriate authorities (police, HM Revenue and Customs etc) evidence of criminal or unlawful activity by others.
The Home Office does not tolerate harassment or victimisation of anyone reporting matters where they suspect fraud, corruption or irregularity.
Japanese Knotweed
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many cases there have been in each of the past five years of prosecutions relating to Japanese knotweed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991, or any other relevant legislation; and how many were successful.[HL7633]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform are not able to separately identify the number of prosecutions relating to Japanese knotweed under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 or the Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations Act 1991. Information for Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Executive and that for Northern Ireland for the Northern Ireland Office.
North Korea: Security Council Resolution
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
What role they expect the United Kingdom to play in the implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolution on North Korea, especially in regard to naval capacity and the imposition of a naval blockade.[HL7695]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The UK fully supports UN Security Council resolution 1718, which calls on member states to take such co-operative action, including through inspection of cargo, as is available to them under existing national and international law. This means using existing powers to prevent the trafficking of embargoed goods to or from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). It does not impose a naval “blockade” on DPRK. Accordingly, the UK is examining ways to enforce this measure within our sovereign territorial jurisdiction. We are also working with other member states of the UN to identify what additional co-operative action may be undertaken, including on the high seas.
Pensions: Armed Forces
Lord Morris of Manchester asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether the Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments has received correspondence regarding the Pensions Appeals Tribunals (Additional Rights of Appeal) (Amendment) Regulations 2006, the Pensions Appeals Tribunal (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2006 and the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1438); and, if so, whether it will be made publicly available.[HL7984]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): I have asked the chairman of the Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments to respond directly to the noble Lord on this matter.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether he will place in the Library of the House copies of the correspondence between the Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments and the Lord Morris of Manchester regarding the Pensions Appeals Tribunals (Additional Rights of Appeal) (Amendment) Regulations 2006, the Pensions Appeals Tribunals (Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme) (Rights of Appeal) Amendment Regulations 2006 and the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2006 (S.I. 2006/1438).[HL7985]
The Chairman of Committees: I have asked the chairman of the Select Committee on the Merits of Statutory Instruments to respond directly to the noble Lord on this matter.
Railways: Passenger Numbers
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the latest available figure of those travelling by rail in (a) Wales (Arriva Trains franchise); and (b) Northern Rail franchise.[HL7922]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Statistics on rail usage for individual train operators are published by the Office of Rail Regulation in the National Rail Trends Yearbook, a copy of which is in the House Library.
Taxation: Inheritance Tax
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
What would be the annual cost of raising the threshold for inheritance tax to (a) £350,000, or (b) £400,000.[HL7714]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: Raising the inheritance tax threshold with effect from 2007-08 would have the following effect on forecast revenue:
| Year | Reduction in receipts from raising threshold to | |
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