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Criminal Records Bureau
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the costs to local authorities of undertaking checks with the Criminal Records Bureau since the bureau's inception. [HL800]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): I am unable to provide the information requested. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) would need to perform a manual trawl, at disproportionate cost, of each individual local authority registered with the bureau in order to access the financial implications of undertaking CRB checks.
The CRB charges £31.00 for a standard disclosure and £36.00 for an enhanced disclosure. The bureau continues to process disclosure applications for volunteers free of charge.
Department for Transport: Staffing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the anticipated employment costs, indicating all emoluments, of the franchise managers, finance managers and contract managers in the Department for Transport advertised in the Times on 16 January. [HL821]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Lord Adonis): Salaries for these posts are within the set pay bands. They will attract the usual pension and other allowances which form part of the department’s remuneration package, as follows:
| Posts (all London based) | Number of posts | Pay Band Salary (PB) |
|
PB5 £36,080 to £42,240 plus £1,250 for part accountancy qualification | ||
|
PB5 £36,080 to £ 42,240 plus £5,000 for accountancy qualification |
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether compensating savings are planned in the staffing costs of the Department for Transport as a result of filling the posts advertised in the Times on 16 January for franchise managers, finance managers and contract managers. [HL822]
Lord Adonis: These posts are currently filled by contractors, so there will be compensating savings by filling these posts with permanent staff.
Energy: Reserves
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are proposals for the “mutualisation” of energy reserves in the European Union; and, if so, what is their position on such proposals. [HL627]
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The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): There are no proposals for the “mutualisation” of energy reserves in the European Union. The UK and other EU member states retain the right to determine the conditions for exploiting their energy resources, their choice between different energy sources and the general structure of their energy supply.
Fishing: Vessels
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many small fishing vessels received an unannounced inspection in the past 12 months for which figures are available; and what percentage resulted in the vessel being detained. [HL722]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): No notice is given of any inspections carried out by coastal enforcement officers of the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) staff in England and the fisheries staff of the Welsh Assembly Government. Vessels inspected at sea will usually receive notice of approximately five minutes in order to ensure safe embarkation of officers. UK fishing vessels are not normally detained to port except in special circumstances. Full details of MFA inspection procedures can be found on the MFA website at www.mfa.gov.uk/protection/conduct.htm.
In the calendar year 2008, coastal fisheries staff in England and Wales carried out 1,141 inspections on land of vessels under 10 metres in length, resulting in the detection of 10 infringements. Similarly, in 2008 there were 78 inspections of vessels under 10 metres in length carried out at sea within English and Welsh waters, resulting in the detection of six infringements. No vessels were detained.
Gaza
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they are making to Israel about the alleged use of white phosphorus shells in Gaza. [HL521]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We are very concerned about reports of white phosphorus ammunition being used by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza. We have made this clear directly to both the Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv.
Gaza is an exceptionally densely populated area where white phosphorus used as an air burst is liable to cause particularly horrific injuries to non-combatants. We consider such use in these circumstances unacceptable.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether compensation will be payable by Israel for damage to United Nations Relief and Works Agency schools in Gaza. [HL523]
Lord Malloch-Brown: We have made clear our concern at attacks on UN sites and the mounting civilian casualties. Any claim for compensation would be a matter for the individuals concerned (or their relatives), the UN and Israel.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children have been killed in (a) the Gaza Strip; and (b) Israel as a result of the current conflict between the two territories. [HL549]
Lord Malloch-Brown: According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (on 21 January 2009) 412 children have been killed in the course of the current conflict in Gaza.
No Israeli children have been killed in the conflict.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of the women and children seriously injured as a result of the current conflict involving Israel and the Gaza Strip have received appropriate medical care in the Gaza Strip. [HL551]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The UN reports that hospital and intensive care facilities remain overwhelmed. But because of the situation in Gaza we do not have accurate figures.
We are strongly supporting international efforts to alleviate the humanitarian situation in Gaza, including by providing funding of £26.8 million.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women and children from the Gaza Strip have been transferred to Egyptian hospitals as a result of the current conflict involving Israel and the Gaza Strip. [HL552]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The department does not hold such figures.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to secure Israeli compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions. [HL558]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The ceasefire now in effect in Gaza is a critical part of UN Security Council Resolution 1860. We are now working closely with our partners, including Israel, to ensure that it becomes the durable and fully respected ceasefire called for in 1860. We are also continuing our efforts to support the peace process and realise the goal of a two-state solution.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will recall the British Ambassador to Israel until the Israeli Defence Force has fully withdrawn from Gaza. [HL559]
Lord Malloch-Brown: The Government do not believe that such a move would help advance our objective of an immediate and sustainable ceasefire.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they received from the Government of the United States about their decision not to vote in favour of the latest United Nations Security Council Resolution on Gaza. [HL563]
Lord Malloch-Brown: US Secretary of State Rice made the position of the United States clear publicly in the UN Security Council. Our discussions with the US in the wake of UN Security Council Resolution 1860 have focused on achieving the immediate, durable and fully respected ceasefire envisaged in the resolution.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports in the New York Times about military fragments collected in Gaza which contained white phosphorous and were fired over civilian neighbourhoods. [HL641]
Lord Malloch-Brown: We are very concerned about reports of white phosphorus ammunition being used by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza. We have made this clear directly to both the Foreign Ministry and Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv.
My honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bill Rammell, has also made clear to the other place that Gaza is an exceptionally densely populated area where white phosphorus used as an air burst is liable to cause particularly horrific injuries to non-combatants. We consider such use in these circumstances unacceptable.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Hamas were willing to extend the six-month ceasefire when it expired in December 2008. [HL643]
Lord Malloch-Brown: Hamas made clear through increasing rocket fire on Israel and through its public comments that it would not renew the ceasefire.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the force being used in Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces is proportionate; and what discussions they have had with the Government of Israel about whether that use is proportionate. [HL778]
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Lord Malloch-Brown: The EU presidency issued a statement on 27 December 2008 clearly spelt out that the Israeli Defence Force military response was disproportionate. We supported that statement then and will continue to support it. We have consistently urged Israel to avoid civilian casualties.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will discuss with the Government of Israel the alleged misuse of white phosphorus shells by the Israel Defence Forces in Gaza. [HL779]
Lord Malloch-Brown: We are very concerned about reports of white phosphorus ammunition being used by the Israeli Defence Force in Gaza. Gaza is an exceptionally densely populated area where white phosphorus used as an air burst is liable to cause particularly horrific injuries to non-combatants. We consider such use in these circumstances unacceptable.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children and women were (a) killed, and (b) wounded by Israeli weapons in Gaza since 27 December 2008; and how many of those injured are still in hospital. [HL840]
Lord Malloch-Brown: According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health (on 21 January) 412 children and 110 women were killed during the conflict and 1,855 children and 795 women were injured.
We do not have figures for how many received medical attention or remain in hospital.
Health: Diabetes
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the register of those with diabetes mellitus prepared under the quality and outcomes framework lists only those 17 years old and over; and whether they will alter the register to include all those with diabetes mellitus. [HL957]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The quality and outcomes framework (QOF) records the number of people recorded on general practice diabetes registers in England. The register excludes those patients aged 16 and under because the care of children with diabetes is generally under the control of specialists.
The department has asked the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence to oversee a new independent and transparent process for developing and reviewing QOF clinical and health improvement indicators for England from 1 April 2009 as part of their role in providing guidance for the National Health Service based on evidence of clinical effectiveness and cost effectiveness. We launched a public consultation on the proposed new process on 30 October 2008.
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House of Lords: Annual Report
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask the Chairman of Committees further to the House of Lords annual report 2007—08, whether in future he will publish the cost of maintaining the heritage and integrity of the House's buildings and collections separately from the House's other costs. [HL949]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): The cost of maintaining the heritage and integrity of the House’s buildings and collections is individually itemised on page 26 of the annual report 2007-08, but it is included when calculating the overall expenditure of the House because it relates to one of the administration’s core tasks, as approved by the House Committee. For clarity, I have also arranged for this cost to be listed separately from all other costs in the next edition of The Work of the House of Lords.
Housing Benefit
Question
Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Government intend to publish a housing benefit reform consultation document in the first half of 2009. This will begin a formal period of external consultation on potential reforms to the housing benefit system, as announced in the welfare reform White Paper, Raising expectations and increasing support: reforming welfare for the future. The timing of this consultation has not been finalised.
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