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30 Apr 2008 : Column WA23
30 Apr 2008 : Column WA23
30 Apr 2008 : Column WA23
Wednesday 30 April 2008
Afghanistan: NATO Forces
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
(a) which member nations of NATO have no forces in Afghanistan; and (b) how many forces each of the other member nations of NATO have in Afghanistan. [HL3222]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Taylor of Bolton): All NATO member nations are contributing forces to the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). We do not comment on the numbers of deployed troops from other nations, which are matters for the countries concerned; however, they are listed with periodic updates on the ISAF website, which can be found at www. nato.int/isaf/index.html.
Airports: Heathrow
The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they will reply to the concerns raised by the Heathrow Airport Independent Monitoring Board's report into short-term holding facilities. [HL3115]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): A letter from the UK Border Agency's chief executive acknowledging the board's 2007 annual report was sent to the chair on 14 April 2008, and was followed by a further letter from the Minister for Borders and Immigration on 23 April 2008.
The board was thanked for its hard work and dedication, and a commitment was made to respond in detail to its concerns within four weeks.
The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:
What their plans are to decrease the waiting time for access to social services by unaccompanied children in short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport. [HL3116]
Lord West of Spithead: The UK Border Agency deals with unaccompanied children seeking admission to the UK as a priority to ensure their safety and welfare. This includes early referral to other agencies where required.
At Heathrow, unaccompanied children are not held in any of the short-term holding facilities as stated. It is UK Border Agency policy only to detain unaccompanied children in the most exceptional circumstances and with appropriate care while alternative arrangements for their safety and welfare are made.
30 Apr 2008 : Column WA24
At Terminals 1, 2 and 3, there are child-friendly facilities in place and proposed plans to implement such facilities at other Heathrow locations. These provide a safe and comfortable environment in which children are supervised by a responsible adult until they are transferred into the custody of a suitable sponsor or local authority.
Benefits: Employment and Support Allowance
Baroness Thomas of Winchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether any earnings from permitted work undertaken by claimants of (a) income-based employment and support allowance and (b) contribution-based employment and support allowance will affect any other benefits they may receive such as housing benefit or council tax benefit; and if so, how. [HL3137]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): Both contributory and income-related employment and support allowance claimants will be able to earn up to, and keep, £88.50 per week without affecting their entitlement.
Claimants on income-related employment and support allowance will be entitled to full eligible housing benefit and council tax benefit in the same way as those currently on income support. This includes those who are undertaking permitted work within the permitted hours and earnings limits and who, therefore, retain entitlement to benefit.
For main phase contributory employment and support allowance-only claimants, the earnings disregard for housing benefit and council tax benefit will remain at £20. Housing benefit or council tax benefit entitlement will, therefore, be reduced by any earnings above this. When combined with the housing benefit/council tax benefit taper, the £20 earnings disregard means that, overall, a person with earnings is better off than without, as they are allowed to keep around £30, not £20, of their housing benefit and council tax benefit if they earn £88.50.
Bloody Sunday: Saville Inquiry
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 17 March (WA 2) concerning the cost of the Saville inquiry, where and how the statement by Tessa Jowell MP on BBC Television's “Sunday AM” programme that the inquiry cost about £400 million was first corrected. [HL2947]
Lord Rooker: The figure was first corrected to Parliament when accurate costs of the Bloody Sunday inquiry were reported by the then Minister of State, the right honourable David Hanson, on 20 July 2006 (Official Report, col. 708W).
30 Apr 2008 : Column WA25
Climate Change
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
For each year from 1988 to 2007 inclusive, what was the total cost to public funds of (a) all research on climate change; (b) all measures in mitigation of climate change; (c) all measures in adaptation to climate change; and (d) all other climate-related expenditure. [HL3113]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): We are unable to provide the information requested, as to do so would be of disproportionate cost.
Crime: Murder of Paul Quinn
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the latest position concerning the investigation of the murder of Paul Quinn in October 2007. [HL2547]
Lord Rooker: The murder of Paul Quinn continues to be investigated by the An Garda Siochana in close co-operation with the PSNI. As this is an ongoing police investigation, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further.
The police on both sides of the border have reported a significant local response to their inquiries.
Food
Lord Krebs asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): Lead responsibility for domestic food security lies with Defra. However, a number of departments address global food security through a range of cross-cutting policies at different levels. These include the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Her Majesty's Treasury.
Lord Krebs asked Her Majesty's Government:
What mechanisms are in place to achieve cross-departmental co-ordination in matters to do with food security. [HL3188]
Lord Rooker: Departments with an interest in domestic food security engage on a continuous basis.
In respect of global food security, cross-governmental co-ordination is currently achieved through ad hoc inter-departmental meetings.
30 Apr 2008 : Column WA26
Immigration: Oakington Removal Centre
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they plan to provide an affordable telephone system for detainees held at Oakington immigration removal centre which will enable them to call their families abroad. [HL3184]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The existing telephone system at Oakington immigration removal centre is self-funding. International phone calls will naturally be more expensive than domestic calls, but we believe that the charges offer value for money.
Detainees are additionally allowed to retain their own mobile telephones while in the centre, and this proves a popular method of maintaining a comparable level of contact with families abroad as those still living in the community.
Baroness Stern asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any instances of improper use of the tannoy system at Oakington immigration removal centre. [HL3186]
Lord West of Spithead: We are aware that there have been isolated instances of misuse of the tannoy system at Oakington immigration removal centre in the past. There are clear instructions on its use and we would expect the contractor to take disciplinary action against any member of staff who fails to comply with these instructions.
Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to circulate the report on the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum to all Members of Parliament, Peers and Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly; and, if not, why not. [HL3084]
Lord Rooker: No. The report of the Bill of Rights Forum was made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, not to the Government. However, the report can be obtained by visiting www.billofrights forum.org/.
Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been sponsored by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in each of the past five years; for how much; and why. [HL2827]
Lord Rooker: The following table provides details of sponsorships by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in each of the past five years.
30 Apr 2008 : Column WA27
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