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The departmental figures for the years from 2001-02 to 2003-04 relate to national research programme expenditure. They do not include the part of the research and development allocations made annually at that time to NHS providers and spent on dementia research. That information was not collected prior to 2004-05.
The national research network on dementia and neurodegenerative disease, funded by the department's National Institute for Health Research, was launched in August 2006. Its first year costs are included in the department's aggregate expenditure figure for 2005-06.
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Housing: Stamp Duty
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated net annual cost to the Revenue, assuming no behavioural change, of charging no stamp duty on the first £200,000 of domestic property purchases and (a) 5 per cent, or (b) 6 per cent on the excess over £200,000. [HL2491]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The estimated costs of moving from current tax rates and thresholds for residential transactions in 2008-09, to the tax rates and thresholds in the Question, are given in the table below:
| New tax rates and thresholds | Estimated Cost of moving to new tax rates and thresholds in 2008-09 (£ billion) |
These estimates assume no allowance for behavioural change.
Iran: Interception of US Warships
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made about the attempted interception by Iranian patrol boats of United States warships in international waters through the Straits of Hormuz on 6 January. [HL2379]
Lord Bach: We have made no representations concerning the incident in the Straits of Hormuz on 6 January involving Iranian patrol boats and US warships.
Israel and Palestine: Occupied Territories
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they will take following the Government of Israel's authorisation for 330 houses to be built at Givat Ze’ev on land occupied since 1967. [HL2441]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We are concerned by reports that Israel plans to build in the settlement of Givat Ze’ev. We have raised our concerns about these latest reports with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stressed that we see this as unhelpful, particularly when Israelis and Palestinians should be focusing on full implementation of their obligations under phase one of the road map, which include freezing all settlement activity, including natural growth.
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As my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has stated, the UK believes that all Israeli settlements anywhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law. We believe they are a serious impediment to a negotiated two-state solution.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Baroness Northover asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Israel regarding their approval of a resumption of construction of 750 house units in the West Bank settlement of Givat Ze’ev, given the status of the expansion of that settlement under the road map. [HL2620]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We are concerned by reports that Israel plans to build in the settlement of Givat Ze’ev. We have raised our concerns about these latest reports with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and stressed that we see this as unhelpful particularly when Israelis and Palestinians should be focusing on full implementation of their obligations under the road map, which include freezing all settlement activity.
The UK believes that all Israeli settlements anywhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territories are illegal under international law and they are a serious impediment to a negotiated two-state solution.
Legal Aid
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Legal aid expenditure in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years is set out in the following table.
| Year | Expenditure in £ millions |
Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What expenses the chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Human Rights Forum has incurred since its creation. [HL2220]
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Lord Rooker: I am advised that the expenses incurred by Chris Sidoti, chair of the Bill of Rights Forum are as set out in the following table.
| Description | Costs |
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 3 March (WA 159) concerning the post of chair of the Bill of Rights Forum, whether Lord Maginnis of Drumglass and Lord Laird were treated with equality when not appointed to that post. [HL2323]
Lord Rooker: I am not aware of any impact on equality for any particular individual arising from the Bill of Rights Forum appointment process.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 6 March (WA 189) concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Forum and the meaning of the word “significant”, who makes the judgment as to a potential adverse impact in relation to any of the categories set out in Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and how that judgment is made. [HL2406]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my Written Answer of 10 March 2008 (Official Report, col. WA 213). Evidence is gathered through a variety of means, including public consultation where appropriate, and analysed to inform the judgment as to a potential adverse impact on equality.
Northern Rock
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect the report and accounts of Northern Rock to 31 December 2007 to be published. [HL2169]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Northern Rock operates on an arm's-length basis from Government as a commercial entity. It publishes its audited reports and accounts on a regular basis in accordance with statutory reporting requirements.
The publication of audited reports and accounts for 2007 will take place in due course, exactly when is a matter for the board of Northern Rock.
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have received a certificate from the auditors of Northern Rock plc that Northern Rock has no liability to Granite, or any associated company or entity, or to its bondholders. [HL2333]
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Lord Davies of Oldham: Northern Rock's accounts are audited according to generally applicable accounting standards.
Northern Rock has certain commercial arrangements with Granite, namely wholesale deposit bank accounts, swap agreements and an agreement to provide services. Northern Rock is liable to Granite in respect of these arrangements in the same way as it is liable to any other commercial counterparty. However, it is not liable for any of the bonds issued by Granite and those bonds are not covered by the HMT guarantee arrangements.
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Granite, or any associated company or entity, has any right to make a call on Northern Rock or its proprietors for any asset or any financing from Northern Rock; and, if so, in what circumstances. [HL2334]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Northern Rock is contractually obliged to provide certain services to Granite. Northern Rock also has interest rate swap contracts with Granite, and holds some funds on account for Granite. Northern Rock is liable to Granite for these arrangements in the same way it is liable to any other commercial counterparty. Northern Rock has no liability to make good losses on the Granite bonds, and the bonds are not secured on Northern Rock's assets.
Passports
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
In each of the past 10 years, how many British subjects living in Northern Ireland applied for a British citizen's passport; and how many of those were successful. [HL2382]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): This information is not available as passport applicants are not asked what nationality status they wish to have in their passport; this is determined by the Identity and Passport Service and recorded on the personal details page of the passport. The Identity and Passport Service cannot change the status that applicants hold under the British Nationality Act 1981 and British subjects who qualify to become British citizens must apply for registration to the Border and Immigration Agency.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
In each of the past 10 years, how many (a) British citizen's passports and (b) British subject's passports were issued by the appropriate office in Belfast. [HL2386]
Lord West of Spithead: The Identity and Passport Service does not record statistics distinguishing between the different forms of British nationality recorded in passports. The total numbers of passports issued from the Belfast office over the past 10 complete calendar years are shown in the attached table.
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| Year | Passport Output |
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many British citizens' passports and British subjects' passports are currently issued and valid. [HL2543]
Lord West of Spithead: The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) does not hold statistics distinguishing between passports issued to British citizens and those issued to British subjects. The information could only be obtained from individual records and the cost would be disproportionate. The total number of passports issued by IPS and currently valid is estimated at 48,080,000 (an exact figure cannot be given because passports lost and stolen may not immediately be replaced). This figure does not include British passports issued outside the UK by Foreign and Commonwealth Office consular posts.
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