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We are discussing with the LGA how we take forward the concordat, focusing on its guiding principles and specific commitments. These include encouraging councils to make effective use of their power to promote the well-being of their area; enabling local government to conduct a growing share of the business of government; central government consulting and collaborating with councils in setting national policies and proposing legislation; reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes and the volume of guidance issued by central government to local authorities; supporting and encouraging strong leadership and effective partnership working at local level; and increasing local democratic accountability of key public services, particularly the police and health services.
A single set of 198 national indicators for local authorities and local authority partnerships was announced as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and consultation on detailed definitions of the set concluded on 21 December 2007, with the aim of announcing final decisions in February.
Local authorities across England are currently engaged in discussions with government offices on
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Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they propose to make to the policies and working arrangements of the Department for Work and Pensions following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) that “there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertakes to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; (c) that the number of national indicators should be “around 200”; (d) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes. [HL1748]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Central-Local Concordat, agreed between the Government and the Local Government Association (LGA) on behalf of local authorities in England, was signed in December last year. It commits both parties to a framework of principles to secure a new relationship between central government and local government. Discharging the rights and responsibilities of central government and local government set out in the concordat will require major changes in the behaviour and practice of both parties. The operation of this agreement will be monitored on a continuing basis, through renewed central-local partnership arrangements.
We are discussing with the LGA how we take forward the concordat, focusing on its guiding principles and specific commitments. These include encouraging councils to make effective use of their power to promote the well-being of their area; enabling local government to conduct a growing share of the business of government; central government consulting and collaborating with councils in setting national policies and proposing legislation; reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes and the volume of guidance issued by central government to local authorities; supporting and encouraging strong leadership and effective partnership working at local level; and increasing local democratic accountability of key public services.
The Department for Work and Pensions is in continuing dialogue with the LGA on how best to take forward at local level our shared objectives in the concordat on: creating and sustaining thriving communities where people want to live and work; improving outcomes for children, young people and families; anticipating the needs and aspirations of an ageing society; increasing skills and employment; and creating wealth and rising prosperity, shared by all.
A single set of 198 national indicators for local authorities and local authority partnerships was
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Local authorities across England are currently engaged in discussions with government offices on behalf of all government departments on the content of new-style local area agreements, which will have effect from 2008-09.
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
What changes they propose to make to the policies and working arrangements of the Ministry of Defence following the signing of the Central-Local Concordat on 12 December 2007, both in general and in specific response to the agreement in the concordat (a) that “there should be a presumption that powers are best exercised at the lowest effective and practical level”; (b) that central government undertake to “progressively remove obstacles which prevent councils from pursuing their role, including reducing the burden of appraisal and approval regimes, the ring-fencing of funds for specific purposes and the volume of guidance it issues”; (c) that the number of national indicators should be “around 200”; (d) that in relation to the negotiation of new-style local area agreements “this objective will require major changes in behaviour and practice from central government departments, their agencies, government offices, councils and local partners”; and what is the process and timetable for such changes. [HL1749]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The Central-Local Concordat is a framework of principles for how central and local government should work together, in those areas where this is necessary to deliver public services. As defence is a core role for central government, and is not delivered in partnership with local government, the concordat has no fundamental bearing on the work of my department. We do, however, take account, as appropriate, of its principles in determining our policies and plans.
Consumer Credit
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consider the reintroduction of legislation controlling contractual terms as part of a new regulatory framework to curb any expansion of excessive consumer credit and consequent repayment difficulties. [HL1672]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): We do not have plans for such legislation. However, the changes to consumer credit legislation being introduced by the Consumer Credit Act 2006, which will be fully implemented by October, improve consumer protection by giving
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Crime: Age of Responsibility
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the age of criminal responsibility in each part of the United Kingdom; how that compares with the rest of Europe; and whether they have any intention to lower the age. [HL1844]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The age of criminal responsibility (CR) in England and Wales is 10 years old, it is eight in Scotland and 10 in Northern Ireland. In most European jurisdictions the age of CR is between 14 and 16 years but it can be misleading to make simple comparisons between countries because the youth justice and supporting social systems differ considerably. There are no plans to lower the age of CR in England and Wales.
Crime: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many people committed offences while on bail in Northern Ireland in each of the past five years. [HL1505]
Lord Rooker: Data on bail conditions is not recorded centrally in relation to further offences and to conduct a manual trawl of all crime records would incur disproportionate costs.
Crossrail
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any estimate of the difference in cost of (a) constructing new terminal facilities for the turnaround of Crossrail trains at Maidenhead; and (b) electrifying the line as far as Reading and using turnaround facilities there. [HL1925]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Cross London Rail Links Limited has provided the following project cost estimates, calculated on the same basis as the Crossrail project cost of £15.9 billion.
The cost difference of not constructing Crossrail turnback and stabling facilities at Maidenhead and instead electrifying the Great Western Main Line from Maidenhead to Reading and using the proposed turnback and stabling facilities at Reading is approximately £275 million. This figure includes overhead line equipment, bridgeworks and trackworks.
This figure does not include other additional project costs of extending Crossrail services to Reading, the
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Cyprus
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, given that the United Kingdom is a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, they have authorised the police in the United Kingdom to pursue normal international co-operation with the police in Northern Cyprus; how such co-operation operates in light of the United Kingdom's lack of recognition of, and normal relations with, Northern Cyprus; and whether the Northern Cyprus authorities reciprocate that co-operation at all times. [HL1736]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The UK maintains a dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot community on a range of issues, including international organised crime. We have urged the Turkish Cypriot leadership to tighten anti-money-laundering controls and welcome recent steps in this direction. While we do not recognise the “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, we have co-operated informally on a number of specific cases that have a direct impact on the UK. Co-operation has generally been good and has made a real contribution to our fight against organised crime.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Given that the United Kingdom is a guarantor power under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, what recent discussions they have held with the Government of Greece on the removal of Greek troops and heavy armaments from Cyprus. [HL1737]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The continued presence of foreign troops in Cyprus, and the wider issue of security, can only be fully addressed as part of a UN-brokered comprehensive settlement to reunite the island. In our role of supporting progress towards a settlement, the Government continue to discuss issues relevant to a future settlement, including that of security, with all parties.
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to develop a relationship with the Olive Group of 10 Mediterranean states to influence any future reunification of Cyprus and foster closer links between the European Union and the government of Turkey. [HL1908]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The focus of the UK's policy towards Cyprus remains a comprehensive settlement achieved under the auspices of the UN. While we do not intend to develop a relationship with the Olive Group in that specific context, we will continue to work with each member to encourage support for the
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We continue to support fully Turkey's accession to the EU, conditional on its meeting all its obligations, including the full implementation of the Ankara Agreement Protocol. We share this view with the majority of members of the Olive Group, and we encourage them to play a full part in Turkey's accession process.
Data Storage
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Home Office is committed to working together, both across the department and with other government agencies. In February 2007 the Home Office published the first department-wide information, systems and technology (IST) strategy, which outlines key IST objectives including a commitment to joining up and sharing and reusing IST capability.
Currently, the Home Office’s major immigration, passport and policing databases all have varying degrees of interoperability with other Home Office and wider government systems. In the future, the Home Office intends to work towards interoperability for any databases where there is a clear business requirement and the appropriate security measures and standards can be assured.
Debt
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to recent research by Experian that suggested that one in 10 adults is under severe financial pressure due to debt. [HL1819]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government's assessment of personal debt and their proposals for tackling overindebtedness can be found in the Government's Tackling Over-indebtedness: Annual Report 2007, available at: www.berr.gov.uk/files/file42700.pdf.
Defence Trade Co-operation
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the implementing arrangements for the United Kingdom-United States Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty will be agreed. [HL1803]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): The negotiations on the implementing arrangements for the UK-US Defence Trade Co-operation Treaty have now been completed and signature of the Memorandum of Understanding containing these arrangements took place on 14 February 2008.
EU: Parliamentary Scrutiny
Lord Vinson asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 4 February (WA 153—4), on those occasions when the recommendations of the European Union scrutiny committees of either House have not been overridden, how many have subsequently been incorporated into European Union legislation in 2006 and 2007. [HL1830]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The information requested cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
Euro
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the steps required for United Kingdom membership of the eurozone in order to lower interest rates in the United Kingdom; and whether they plan to seek advice from the Governments of Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus on this issue. [HL1909]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government's policy on membership of the single currency is unchanged. It remains as set out by the former Chancellor in his Statement to the House of Commons in October 1997, and again in the Statement on the five tests assessment in June 2003.
The former Chancellor announced in Budget 2007 that, “the Government do not propose a euro assessment to be initiated at the time of this Budget”. The Treasury will again review the situation at the time of the Budget, as required by the June 2003 Statement.
Falkland Islands: Airbridge
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
How reliable the Falkland airbridge has been since the service was outsourced by the Royal Air Force. [HL1868]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): Since it was outsourced in 2003, the Falkland airbridge has been very reliable and out of 283 flights recorded since 26 February 2003 only 14 have been delayed for longer than three hours.
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