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Disability: Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether parents of children with special needs are able to recover their costs incurred in appealing to a Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal. [HL4396]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): Parents appealing to the Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal are not able to recoup the costs they incur when making an appeal. The tribunal will pay parents’ and their witnesses’ travel expenses associated with attending the tribunal hearing. In rare circumstances, where the tribunal believes that a party to an appeal has acted unreasonably or deliberately wasted the tribunal’s time, it may order it to meet the other party’s costs.
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Drivers: Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Lord Dixon-Smith asked Her Majesty's Government:
Approximately how much they estimate the average motorist might have to spend to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one tonne per year, assuming the motorist continues to drive the same mileage. [HL4426]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: It is impossible to provide a meaningful estimate, as it would depend on individual car ownership, driving patterns and type of fuels used. There are in fact measures that motorists can take to reduce carbon dioxide emissions that either cost no money or will save money. For example, the “Act On CO2” communications campaign promotes simple tips for driving behaviour, such as correctly inflating tyres, using gears effectively and removing unnecessary clutter from cars, which together can reduce CO2 emissions by 8 per cent.
Drivers: Drink Driving
Baroness Coussins asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The report of the second three-year review of the Government's road safety strategy, published in February 2007, explains that the Government are planning a public consultation process on drinking and driving later this year, including ways in which enforcement of laws against drinking and driving might be made easier for the police. We will consider carefully the need for evidence relating to any proposal made in the consultation paper.
Baroness Coussins asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much they have spent on public education campaigns against drink-driving in each year from 2000 to date. [HL4435]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The dangers of drink-driving form a key part of the Government's THINK! road safety campaign.
Since the department was formed in 2002, we have spent the following each fiscal year:
| Campaign | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 |
Since 2005, we have also worked closely with a range of businesses to reinforce our drink-drive messages, and we estimate that these partnerships, details of which are contained in the department's annual report, which has been placed in the Library of the House, have delivered us several million pounds worth of free extra media value.
Following departmental reorganisations, provision of total expenditure figures for prior to 2002 would involve disproportionate costs.
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Embryology
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many diagnostic and research licences for the creation of pure hybrids up to the two-cell stage have been permitted since 1990 under Section 4(1)(c) and paragraph 1(1)(f) of Schedule 2 to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; when these licences were issued; how many clinics requested such licences; how many clinics were granted such licences; what animals were used; how many such hybrids have been created; and when the last such licences for both categories were granted. [HL4251]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Information held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority is available electronically from 1998 onwards on licences granted. Information on licences issued between 1990 and 1998 can be supplied only at disproportionate cost, as can information on unsuccessful applications.
Since 1998 there have been a total of 64 diagnostic and research licences issued for the hamster egg penetration test. Fifty-two of these were for treatment and storage, and 12 were for research. Licences have been issued to 13 centres, and the last licences were issued on 7 March 2001 for treatment and storage and 25 May 2001 for research.
No information is held on how many hamster egg penetration tests have been carried out under the licences issued.
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the last licences for the hamster egg penetration test (HEPT), permitted under the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, were granted and when they expired; and whether the HEPT has been superseded by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. [HL4340]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: No centre is currently licensed to perform hamster egg penetration testing using human sperm. No applications to perform such a procedure are pending.
The last such licence to be issued was a research licence awarded jointly to the Assisted Conception Unit at King’s College Hospital and the School of Biomedical Sciences, King’s College, on 31 May 2001. The licence has now expired, and both centres have closed.
There is no evidence available to make any inference as to whether intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection has directly superseded the hamster egg penetration test.
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Energy: Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Lord Dixon-Smith asked Her Majesty's Government:
What they calculate to be the approximate cost of physical adaptations to the average house to enable the householder to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one tonne per year, disregarding any reasonable economies in energy usage the householder might make. [HL4425]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): An average house is assumed to have three bedrooms and be semi-detached, typically with empty cavity walls and less than 100 mm of loft insulation. Insulating the cavity walls and topping up the loft insulation to 270 mm would save about one tonne of carbon dioxide, and about £140, a year, besides improving the comfort. It would cost around £700 to install.
Energy: Nuclear Reactors
Lord Jenkin of Roding asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Health and Safety Executive has sub-contracted its regulatory pre-licensing assessment of new nuclear reactor designs to Serco Assurance; and [HL4422]
What residual responsibility for the safety of new nuclear reactor designs will remain with the Health and Safety Executive after sub-contracting its regulatory role to Serco Assurance; and [HL4423]
Under what authority the Health and Safety Executive is entitled to sub-contract its regulatory pre-licensing assessment of new nuclear reactor designs to Serco Assurance; and whether this sub-contract has the Government's express approval. [HL4424]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has not sub-contracted regulatory pre-licensing assessment of new nuclear reactor designs to Serco Assurance or to any other body.
Equality
Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Council Directive 2004/113/EC implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services excludes from its scope sex discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities or services at a place (permanently or for the time being) occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion; and [HL4348]
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What is the justification for excluding from the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 (Amendment) Regulations 2007 sex discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities or services at a place (permanently or for the time being) occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion. [HL4349]
With regard to paragraph B.5 of Annex B of the Discrimination Law Review A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Billfor Great Britain, in what respects Council Directive 2004/113/EC does not cover services and facilities provided at a place occupied or used for the purposes of an organised religion. [HL4356]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Recital 11 of Council Directive 2004/113/EC states that “services” should be taken to be those within the meaning of Article 50 of the EC treaty, which refers to them as services normally provided for remuneration or related to activities of a commercial or industrial nature or provided by craftsmen or professionals. We consider the types of services generally provided at a place occupied or used for the purposes of organised religion, for example churches, mosques and synagogues, do not fall within Article 50 because they will generally relate to religious observance and practice; for example, communal worship and religious teaching. Recital 3 of the directive gives further guidance in making clear that, while prohibiting discrimination, it is important to respect other fundamental rights and freedoms including freedom of religion. We therefore consider these matters to be outside the scope of the directive and have sought to make this clear in the draft regulations on which we are consulting.
It should, however, be noted that our proposals for implementing the directive—such as introducing the directive-based definition of indirect sex discrimination and extending protection from direct discrimination on grounds of gender reassignment—will apply to organisations that provide goods, facilities, services or premises to the public, including any that may do so in a way that reflects the tenets of a particular faith or belief, and to religious organisations, such as churches, where the service or facility is provided to the public but the nature of the service is not directly related to religious observance or worship. Generally it will be unlawful for such organisations to discriminate against a person because of their sex or on grounds of gender reassignment. Limited exceptions to this will be, for example, where voluntary bodies or charitable organisations confer benefits on one sex only and to do so is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What evidence they took into account in deciding, for the purposes of the consultation on the Discrimination Law Review, that “evidence does not support legislation mandating equal pay reviews”, as stated in paragraph 3.7 of A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, published in June. [HL4358]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Government have considered the evidence from a range of sources as set out in the Women and Work Commission's report, Shaping a Fairer Future, published in February 2006, into the causes of the gender pay gap.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have reviewed the effectiveness or otherwise of existing equal pay legislation in securing equal pay for men and women; if so, what is the outcome of their review; and, if not, why they have not done so. [HL4359]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Discrimination Law Review has considered the effectiveness of the law on equal pay. The gender pay gap has narrowed significantly since equal pay law came into effect in 1970, and the number of equal pay cases being brought has risen substantially in recent years, showing that more women are accessing their legal rights to equal pay. However, the review has concluded that equal pay law is constrained by its complexity.
In our consultation document A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, we propose that the law should be updated and simplified to provide greater clarity for individuals and employers about their rights and responsibilities, and seek views on how this might be done.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they propose to impose duties on public authority employers but not on large private sector employers in addressing the gender pay gap; and whether this difference of treatment will result in less protection for those working for large private sector employers than those working for public authorities. [HL4360]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The law on equal pay applies to employers in both the public and private sectors. Our consultation document A Framework for Fairness. Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain proposes simplifying and updating the law, which will help businesses to comply with their responsibilities.
Positive duties on private sector employers to promote equality between women and men would create a significant regulatory burden. Experience suggests that businesses deliver good practice most effectively where they are persuaded of the business benefits. Through our consultation we are seeking views on a number of proposals to promote good equality practice in the private sector.
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Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the consultation paper A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain, published in June, contains no questions about measures to reform existing legislation so as to secure equal pay between men and women for equal work. [HL4361]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Our consultation document seeks views on how the law on equal pay can be simplified and updated. This will provide employers with greater clarity about their legal responsibilities for paying men and women equally for equal work and will lead to greater compliance with the law.
EU: Justice and Home Affairs
Lord Leach of Fairford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 21 May (WA 74), who was their representative in the high-level group on the future of justice and home affairs after the Hague programme set up by the German presidency.[HL4034]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The first ministerial meeting of the high-level group on the future development of justice and home affairs took place in Eltville, Germany, on 20 to 21 May. The Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC attended as the common law representative. A further meeting of the group will take place in Brussels on 25 June, at which Baroness Scotland is also expected to attend.
Female Genital Mutilation
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the number of illegal female circumcisions occurring in the United Kingdom in each of the last three years; whether they are investigating all allegations; and what measures they are taking to encourage reporting of this matter. [HL4172]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Data on the number of illegal female circumcisions in the United Kingdom is not collected centrally.
The investigation of allegations of female genital mutilation (FGM) is an operational matter for the police. However, Home Office guidance (HOC 10/2004) specifically advises the police that it is not acceptable to leave suspected FGM cases un-investigated.
The police are taking FGM seriously. For example, through Project Azure, the Metropolitan Police Service, in conjunction with the Foundation for Women's Health, Research and Development (FORWARD), Africans
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