Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page


16 Feb 1999 : Column WA69

Written Answers

Tuesday, 16th February 1999.

Correction to Official Report

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked the Chairman of Committees:

    Whether he watched the video tape of the proceedings on the House of Lords' Offices Select Committee Report of Tuesday 12 January before making a correction in the Official Report of 12 January (H.L. Deb., col. 85).[HL1106]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham): No.

Peers' Age Profile

Viscount Simon asked the Chairman of Committees:

    What was the average age on 1 February of:


    (a) those Members of this House who are active Life Peers and active hereditary Peers, defining "active" as those attending at least one-third of sitting days (or such other definition of that term as may be appropriate);


    (b) active Life Peers; and


    (c) active hereditary Peers.[HL1055]

The Chairman of Committees: Defining "active" as Peers who attended at least one-third of the sittings days during Session 1997-98 (excluding oath taking days), then:


    (a) the average age on 1 February 1999 of active Life Peers and active hereditary Peers was 65 years and 6 months;


    (b) the average age on 1 February 1999 of active Life Peers was 68 years and 2 months;


    (c) the average age on 1 February 1999 of active hereditary Peers was 62 years and 0 months. (Source: House of Lords Information Office.)

Viscount Simon asked the Chairman of Committees:

    What was the average age on 1 February of:


    (a) those Members of this House who are active Life Peers and all hereditary Peers, defining "active" as those attending at least one-third of sitting days (or such other definition of that term as may be appropriate);


    (b) active Life Peers; and


    (c) all hereditary Peers.[HL1057]

The Chairman of Committees: Defining "active" as Peers who attended at least one-third of the sittings days during Session 1997-98 (excluding oath taking days) and "all hereditary Peers" as meaning the total number of Peers with or without Writs of Summons, including

16 Feb 1999 : Column WA70

minors, who held an hereditary peerage carrying an entitlement to a seat in the Lords, then:


    (a) the average age on 1 February 1999 of active Life Peers and all hereditary Peers was 64 years and 1 month;


    (b) the average age on 1 February 1999 of active Life Peers was 68 years and 2 months;


    (c) the average age on 1 February 1999 of all hereditary Peers was 62 years and 6 months. (Source: House of Lords Information Office.)

Peers' Attendance Record

Viscount Simon asked the Chairman of Committees:

    How many sitting days of this House there were in the 1997-98 Session of Parliament; and, in the same period, what was the average attendance record of (a) active Life Peers; and (b) active hereditary Peers, defining "active" as those attending at least one-third of sitting days (or such other definition of that term as may be appropriate).[HL1056]

The Chairman of Committees: In Session 1997-98 there were 228 sitting days (excluding the formal oath taking days). The average attendance record of active Life Peers during that period (defining "active" as those who attended at least one-third of sitting days) was 160 attendances per active Life Peer. This is calculated by dividing the total number of attendances by active Life Peers during the Session (46,025) by the total number of Life Peers who attended at least one-third of sitting days (287).

The average attendance record of active hereditary Peers during that period was 163 attendances per active hereditary Peer. This is calculated by dividing the total number of attendances by active hereditary Peers during the Session (36,241) by the total number of hereditary Peers who attended at least one-third of sitting days (222). (Source: House of Lords Information Office.)

Viscount Simon asked the Chairman of Committees:

    How many sitting days of this House there were in the 1997-98 Session of Parliament; and, in the same period, what was the average attendance record of (a) active Life Peers; and (b) all hereditary Peers, defining "active" as those attending at least one-third of sitting days (or such other definition of that term as may be appropriate).[HL1058]

The Chairman of Committees: In Session 1997-98 there were 228 sitting days (excluding the formal oath taking days). The average attendance record of active Life Peers during that period (defining "active" as those who attended at least one-third of sitting days) was 160 attendances per active Life Peer. This is calculated by dividing the total number of attendances by active Life Peers during the Session (46,025) by the total number of Life Peers who attended at least one-third of sitting days (287).

The average attendance record of all hereditary Peers during that period was 54 attendances per hereditary

16 Feb 1999 : Column WA71

Peer. This is calculated by dividing the total number of attendances by hereditary Peers during the Session (42,596) by the total number of hereditary Peers, where the "total number of hereditary Peers" is defined as the number of people who, for any part of Session 1997-98, held an hereditary peerage carrying an entitlement to a seat in the Lords. The "total number of hereditary Peers" includes minors and those without a Writ of Summons. (Source: House of Lords Information Office.)

Yugoslavia: Arms and Training Embargo

Lord Burlison asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What steps they have taken to implement the requirement in UNSCR 1160 for United Nations member states to prevent arming and training for terrorist activities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.[HL1033]

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) Order 1998 implemented in UK law the ban on the sale of arms and related material to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia imposed by Security Council Resolution 1160. In order to ensure that we have done everything possible to prevent UK nationals from providing training for terrorist activities in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, an amending order was made on 10 February by the Privy Council to make it an offence to provide training or training facilities likely to assist the carrying out of acts of terrorism there. This is the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Amendment) Order 1999.

On the same date there were also made the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Dependent Territories) (Amendment) Order 1999; the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Channel Islands) (Amendment) Order 1999; and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (United Nations Sanctions) (Isle of Man) (Amendment) Order 1999. These orders contain similar provisions.

Ethiopia and Eritrea: Arms Embargo

Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What steps they are taking to implement the non-binding arms embargo against Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNSCR 1227) and to publicise the ban.

Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: In light of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1227 the Government have banned exports from the UK to Ethiopia and Eritrea of all goods and technology on the Military List, which forms Part III of Schedule 1 to the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994. The Government have also set in hand action to amend the order so that a licence is required for all transshipments of such goods through the UK to either country and, given the embargo, no such licences will be issued. The Crown

16 Feb 1999 : Column WA72

Dependencies and Overseas Territories have been asked to take appropriate action to enforce the ban in their own jurisdictions.

The Government are also pressing for the EU to adopt a mandatory arms embargo.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office will be issuing a press release on the embargo. An updated version of the list of all UK policy commitments on the application of strategic export controls, including arms embargoes, will be placed in the Library of the House. The FCO has already issued guidance on the ban to departments in London, to posts overseas and to other Whitehall departments.

Charter Mark Awards: Retention

The Earl of Lindsey and Abingdon asked Her Majesty's Government:

    Whether any Charter Mark Award has been withdrawn from companies which have failed to continue to offer excellence in delivering public services.[HL915]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): No. The performance of award holders is rigorously monitored and the independent Charter Mark Judging Panel may require an award holder to improve its performance if there are grounds for concern. Holders have to reapply after three years if they wish to retain the award. Two organisations required to improve their performance did not reapply. Seventeen re-applicants did not retain their awards last year.

Carers: Paid Breaks

Lord Selkirk of Douglas asked Her Majesty's Government:

    What would be the estimated total annual cost of introducing a minimum of four weeks' paid respite/short break provision per year for carers who assist disabled persons; and[HL959]

    What would be the estimated annual cost to local authorities of setting national respite care standards which included a requirement to have a minimum of four weeks' paid respite/short break provision per year for carers who assist disabled persons.[HL960]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman): Of the estimated 6 million carers in the United Kingdom, it has been estimated that 60 per cent. look after someone with a physical disability, a further 15 per cent. for someone with a mental and a physical disability and 7 per cent. for someone with a mental disability only. The remainder of carers provide care for someone who needs it because of the results of ageing, although some of this group could also be described as disabled.

16 Feb 1999 : Column WA73

Not all the 6 million carers are in equal need of a break from their caring responsibilities. Some only provide care for a few hours each week, and many others share responsibility with other members of their family.

The cost would also depend on the type of break provided. The most common break for carers at present is time in a residential care home for the person who needs care (at an approximate average cost of £280 a week before charges are taken into account). This is, however, not appropriate for everyone. Many carers would prefer to have a break of a few hours during the day or in the evening on a regular basis, rather than a longer break just once a year.


Next Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page