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Disability: Access to Work
Lord Skelmersdale asked Her Majesty's Government:
What proportion of the participants in the access to work pilot schemes were not self-referred. [HL718]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Access to work is a programme that helps disabled people find or stay in employment and has been in existence since 1994. Jobcentre Plus delivers it through a network of business centres.
Under access to work guidance, the customer must apply directly for support, and although they may find out about the programme through other sources such as their employer, a voluntary organisation or a disability employment adviser, it is not possible for other individuals or organisations to make direct referrals to the programme.
EU: Co-operation with NATO
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will table at the next appropriate European Union Council meeting, and at the forthcoming summit, suggestions to improve practical co-operation between NATO and European Union military operations; and what specific proposals they will consider. [HL682]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Within the context of European security, the Government place a high priority on improving EU-NATO relations. While this issue is not on the formal agenda of the forthcoming European Council, the Government are engaged in initiatives to ensure that the two organisations can work effectively together. Much of the work is focused on ensuring that the organisations can co-operate effectively on the ground, particularly in light of potential future EU missions to Kosovo and Afghanistan. The Government support the incoming German presidency mandate to continue to develop the EU-NATO strategic partnership in crisis management.
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Guantanamo Bay: Bisher Al-Rawi
Baroness Williams of Crosby asked Her Majesty's Government:
What reply was received to the letter sent earlier this year by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the United States Secretary of State, Dr Condoleezza Rice, regarding the request for the release and return of Mr Bisher Al-Rawi.[HL883]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): In April 2006 my right honourable friend the then Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, wrote to the US Secretary of State to request, exceptionally, Mr Bisher Al-Rawi's release and return from Guantanamo Bay, having considered particular fact-specific circumstances in his case. The US State Department replied later that month, suggesting more detailed discussions. Embassy officials in Washington have since been in regular contact on this issue with the US Administration and discussions are continuing.
Gulf War 1990-91: Oilfields
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any oil outlets are still burning as a result of the first Gulf War which they have been unable to extinguish; and, if so, how many and where. [HL873]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): Due to a multinational fire-fighting effort shortly after Kuwait's liberation, the last oil fires were extinguished on 6 November 1991.
Gulf War 1990-91: Cost of Operations
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the final cost of the British military contribution to the 1990-91 Gulf War; and how much of this was repaid to the British Exchequer by states in the Middle East. [HL784]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): MoD identifies the costs of operations in terms of the net additional costs it has incurred. The total additional Gulf conflict costs between 1990-91 and 1993-94 were £2,469 million. Contributions from other nations totalled £2,049 million of which £1,520 million was funded by states in the Middle East.
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Gulf War Illnesses
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What specific benefits British veterans of the 1990—91 Gulf War have derived from their monitoring and that of the Medical Research Council of federally funded and other research in the United States into Gulf War illnesses; and from which projects and on what dates such benefits were derived. [HL691]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The extensive US research findings have provided reassurance to UK 1990-91 Gulf veterans by broadly confirming the conclusions of the UK programme. Veterans of the 1990-91 Gulf conflict from the different coalition countries demonstrate similar findings regardless of their Gulf experience. Gulf veterans consistently report more symptoms than those not deployed to the Gulf. Symptoms are similar despite very different exposures to vaccination, nerve agent pre-treatment, smoke from oil fires and other possible hazards. In addition they are not accompanied by consistent physical signs or laboratory abnormalities nor has research to date identified specific causal factors. US and other international research provides no evidence of a unique disease due to service in the Gulf.
Benefits were made clear from a review of published research into Gulf veterans' illnesses undertaken by a team led by Professor Glyn Lewis of the University of Bristol. Three of the reports resulting from this work have already been made publicly available and the remaining three will be published shortly. We will continue to monitor US research for the future on the same basis.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why Wing Commander Dr Derek Hall was informed, in three recent communications from the Veterans Agency and Ministry of Defence, that Gulf War syndrome does not exist; and whether any corrective action has now been taken. [HL753]
Lord Drayson: It would be inappropriate to comment on the particulars of an individual's case particularly when they are subject to appeal but we can confirm that Dr Hall lodged a number of appeals with the Pension Appeals Tribunal (PAT) between 28 April 2005 and 26 April 2006, which have yet to be heard. In October 2006 a new statement of case was issued in support of one of these appeals, and replacement statements of cases were issued in respect of the others. This was necessary to ensure that each statement of case includes all of the available evidence including the substantial evidence provided by Dr Hall.
In general terms the MoD welcomed the decision in October 2005 by the PAT in the case brought by Mr Martin which accepted the use of the umbrella term Gulf War syndrome for those conditions which are causally linked to service in the 1990-91 Gulf War.
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The tribunal's decision in the Martin appeal was equally helpful in reaching the clear conclusion that Gulf War syndrome does not exist as a discrete pathological entity. This remains the position, and any communications reflecting this are correct.
House of Lords: Travel Expenses
Baroness Gale asked the Chairman of Committees:
Whether the House Committee will consider extending the entitlement to travel expenses for Lords’ spouses and civil partners to any person nominated by a Member of the House. [HL1017]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): Proposals to extend Members’ entitlements to expenses, including the entitlement to travel expenses, normally require the approval of the Senior Salaries Review Body (SSRB) and would require amendment by the House of the resolutions governing travel expenses. The SSRB is currently conducting its triennial review of parliamentary allowances and proposals for changes in entitlements to expenses should be presented directly to the SSRB for consideration during its review.
Immigration: Children
Lord Roberts of Llandudno asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The exact information requested is not available; it would be available only by examination of individual case files, at disproportionate cost.
Quarterly snapshots are published showing the number of people detained under Immigration Act powers on the last Saturday of each quarter. The table attached shows the number of persons recorded as being under 18 as at the last Saturday of each quarter in 2006.
Minors are detained only in two limited circumstances: first, as part of a family group whose detention is considered appropriate; secondly, when
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Information on the number of persons detained is published in the Quarterly Asylum Bulletin, on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics Directorate website at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
Immigration: Deportation
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average cost of a deportation appeal before the tribunal where the Home Office is represented by (a) a presenting officer; (b) the Treasury solicitor; and (c) Treasury counsel. [HL231]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The average cost of a deportation appeal before the tribunal where the Home Office is represented by a Home Office presenting officer is £2,054. The average cost where the Home Office is represented by Treasury counsel is £3,105.
Treasury solicitors do not represent the Home Office at appeal hearings and their role is limited to instructing Treasury counsel.
Immigration: Harmondsworth Removal Centre
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many fast-track cases have been initiated since the recent disturbances at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre; and how many are being dealt with at each of the establishments where they are being processed. [HL643]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The induction of new detained fast-track (DFT) asylum applications at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre was temporarily suspended on 29 November as a result of disturbances. The intake of cases into the male DFT process resumed on 11 December with the capacity for an initial intake of five new detainees per working day.
As of Friday 8 November, a total of 123 claimants continue to have their cases managed within the detained fast track and remain detained at Harmondsworth and a number of other immigration detention centres.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the fast-track detainees who were at Harmondsworth immigration removal centre at the time of the recent disturbances and who were at initial application or appeal stage are continuing on the fast track at other establishments, or whether they have been released from the fast track to have their cases processed in the community. [HL644]
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Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In the detained fast track (DFT) process at Harmondsworth on Wednesday 29 November there were 18 detainees whose claims were at the initial application. Of these, two have now been granted asylum and the remainder continue in the DFT process. Fifty detainees’ claims were at the appeals stage. Of these, 43 remain in the DFT process, one detainee was granted asylum on appeal and six detainees have been taken out of the DFT process by immigration judges to have their cases processed in the community.
Immigration: Highly Skilled Migrants
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes have been made this year to the highly skilled migrant programme (applications by young people for highly skilled migrant status); why they were made; when; after what consultation; and when they come into force. [HL142]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement presented by my honourable friend the Minister of State for Nationality, Citizenship and Immigration on 7 November. (col. 39WS)
In that Statement the reasons for the changes to the highly skilled migrant programme (HSMP) were explained. The Statement went on to explain that the previous HSMP rules were being suspended and why: we took these steps to avoid a rush of speculative applications by people who would wish their applications to be considered under the old rules, which is what happened after the publication of the Command Paper on the points-based system. The suspension was to enable us to make the transition effectively to the new rules and to ensure that current levels of customer service were maintained when the new arrangements were introduced. In the interests of good customer service, we made sure that this would not disadvantage applicants substantively. The changes came into effect on 5 December 2006.
Immigration: Yarl's Wood
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What improvements in healthcare for detainees have been made at Yarl's Wood removal centre since the recent report by Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons and, in particular, for those with mental health issues. [HL981]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Work on the action plan that was produced following the inspection of healthcare at Yarl's Wood is progressing. Many of the recommendations raised have been dealt with in full; others are ongoing. With regard to the mental health issue, there are now two detainee counsellors and two more mental health nurses (RMNs) have been recruited, and will be taking up post shortly.
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Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many persons who were raped or tortured abroad have been held at (a) Yarl's Wood removal centre, and (b) all other detention and removal centres since April 2005; and for what purpose. [HL982]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: While there are allegations of torture abroad made in centres, these allegations are not centrally recorded, and could be collated only at a disproportionate cost. There is a system for reporting such allegations, and this system is laid down in the Detention Centre Rules 2001. An allegation of torture is reported to the case holder in the Immigration and Nationality Directorate, and they investigate using the detainee's medical records. Where it is judged appropriate the detainee's case is referred to the Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture.
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