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2 Mar 2009 : Column WA115
Written Answers
Monday 2 March 2009
Banking
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any evidence of a movement of bank lending flows towards normal corporate and personal borrowers, rather than into passive assets, following the recent second tranche of support. [HL1226]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): On 19 January, the Government announced measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. These build on measures announced on 8 October last year.
The Government intend to negotiate lending agreements with the banks participating in certain facilities. These will have specific and quantified lending commitments, and will be binding and externally audited.
These measures have helped to stabilise the credit market. This is an essential condition for banks to develop greater confidence to lend to creditworthy businesses, homeowners and consumers.
Banking: Interpal
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the government of the United States to remove the restrictions preventing the British-registered charity Interpal from receiving full banking services. [HL1121]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Government recognise the importance of the issues raised and share the concern that aid should reach those who need it most.
Although the general picture on charitable assistance to Gaza is positive, many people have raised concerns about the position of the UK-registered charity Interpal following difficulties with retaining banking services in the UK.
The banking issues affecting the charity are unusual, and are not representative of the wider picture on the ability of UK charities to provide aid to those in need. However, we still share concerns about any interruption to humanitarian aid. While commercial decisions on providing accounts and clearing services are for the banks themselves, we are discussing with relevant parties how best to ensure that charities can retain access to the banking system.
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The Treasury has written to the US Government to reiterate the importance we attach to the delivery of effective charitable aid and to strengthen our dialogue with the US on how best we can facilitate legitimate charitable work.
We shall consider making further representations if appropriate.
British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many reports from the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (formerly the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body) they have received in the past five years, and how many reports they have responded to in writing. [HL1377]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): The Government have received 14 reports from the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body since February 2003, and have responded to two of these reports in writing. The reports responded to were:
Enquiry into Special Needs Educational Provision in Britain and Ireland, with Special Reference to Autism (February 2005); responded to on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills by Lord Adonis, November 2005, andThe Implications of the Introduction of British ID Cards for the Common Travel Area (April 2006); responded to on behalf of the Home Department by Joan Ryan MP, September 2006, Liam Byrne MP, (April 2008) and Phil Woolas MP, December 2008. Links between the BIIPB and the Nordic Council (February 2004);Delivery of health services to rural populations (April 2004);Waste Management (June 2004);Truth and Reconciliation for Northern Ireland (January 2005);European Funding programmes and Developing Understanding across Borders (March 2005);European Funding in Socially Deprived Areas of Northern Ireland (April 2006);Challenges and Opportunities facing the Small Farm Sector (April 2006);Life Chances for Young People from the Economically Deprived Areas of Belfast (2006);Barriers to Trade (January 2007);The Irish Community in Britain (2007);Renewable Energy except Nuclear (2007); and The Integration of Recently Arrived Migrants to Northern Ireland, Ireland and Wales (2008).A copy of these reports and the responses of Her Majesty's Government can be found on the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body's website at www.biipb.org.
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Business Support
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the increase in the availability of bank finance to businesses as a result of the recent reductions in the bank rate. [HL594]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will encourage banks and other financial institutions to increase the finance they have available to lend to businesses by borrowing from the private sector at reasonable rates and over long periods. [HL595]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): Decisions by the private sector on whether and how to raise bank finances are matters for private sector businesses and lenders. The recent cuts in interest rates announced by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee are expected to have a positive effect on inter-bank lending and credit markets more generally. As credit conditions ease, the banks should pass on savings to their customers wherever they can. The Chancellor has met with the CEOs of the major UK banks to make this clear.
On 14 January 2009, the Government announced a package of support to address the cash flow, credit and capital needs of smaller businesses. This package implements and builds upon the commitments the Government made in the Pre-Budget Report. Details are available at www.businesslink.gov.uk/realhelp/finance.
On 19 January 2009, the Government also announced a package of measures designed to reinforce the stability of the financial system, to increase confidence and capacity to lend, and in turn to support the recovery of the economy. Details are available at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_05_09.htm.
Children: Domestic Violence
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their definition of domestic violence includes violence against children; and, if not, whether they plan to change their definition in the light of the link between child protection and domestic violence. [HL1425]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Children are not covered in the current government definition because they are already covered by child protection legislation and procedures. The Government recognise the strong links between child protection concerns and domestic violence and changes to the existing definition will be considered in our national domestic violence delivery plan for 2009-10.
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China
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the recent talks with the Chinese Prime Minister was devoted to climate change issues; and how much was devoted to the world economic downturn. [HL1228]
Lord Davies of Oldham: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister had three sets of formal talks with Premier Wen and the visiting ministerial delegation. Climate change and the world economic downturn were discussed extensively at all these meetings. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister also co-chaired a breakfast meeting with leading economists to discuss the global economy and agreed a joint statement on the economic crisis which can be found at www.number10.gov.uk/Page18220.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Ed Miliband) also covered climate change during a separate discussion with Zhang Ping, director of the National Development and Reform Commission.
Drugs: Cannabis
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government why the order giving police the power to issue penalty notices for possession of cannabis was not brought forward in time to coincide with the recent upgrading of cannabis to a class B drug. [HL1176]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): As the department responsible for cannabis reclassification and the associated policing response the Home Office will respond to this Question. The legislation on introducing penalty notices for disorder (PND) is owned by the Ministry of Justice.
An order adding 21 new offences to the penalty notice for disorder (PND) scheme under the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 was laid before Parliament by the Ministry of Justice on 15 December 2008. This order included adding the offence of possession of cannabis to the scheme. In view of concerns raised over certain aspects of other offences, such as taxi touting, this order was withdrawn on 19 January 2009.
On 20 January 2009 the Government laid a further order that proceeded with adding cannabis possession to the PND scheme. In view of the parliamentary timetable, the earliest possible date that the offence could come into force was 28 January 2009.
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Fire and Rescue Service
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many firefighter posts in England are filled on a retained basis; and what proportion that is of the total number of firefighters. [HL1648]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): As at 31 March 2008 there were 14,166 retained duty system firefighters in England, this is 31 per cent of all firefighters.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fire stations in England are crewed on a retained basis (a) wholly, and (b) in part; and what proportion that is of the total. [HL1649]
Baroness Andrews: The number and type of fire stations in England is set out below.
As at 31 March 2008 there were 774 wholly retained duty system fire stations in England, 54 per cent of all fire stations. Day-crew stations may be crewed by both wholetime and retained firefighters, while wholetime—other duty system and nucleus stations utilise both wholetime and retained firefighters.
| Fire stations in England as at 31 March 2008 | |
| Type of fire station | Number |
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many fire call-outs in England and what proportion of the total each year are by tenders and appliances that are crewed on a retained basis. [HL1650]
Baroness Andrews: A total of 294,000 fires were attended, by fire and rescue services in England, in the year ending 31 March 2008.
Information on the crewing of tenders and appliances that attend fire incidents is not held centrally and can only be provided at disproportionate cost.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the position of retained firefighters under the proposals being considered by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament for amending the Working Time Directive; and what is their position on those proposals. [HL1651]
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Baroness Andrews: Implementation of the working time directive, by setting a 48-hour maximum to the working week, could seriously impact on firefighters working the retained duty system in view of the substantial numbers who work full time for a primary employer. The UK Government therefore place great importance on retaining their opt-out from the directive, a position that was acknowledged by the European Union Council of Ministers in June when it agreed in the common position that it should be retained, and will continue to defend it.
The amendments to the common position voted by the European Parliament on 17 December are the latest step in a complex negotiation; a process of conciliation between both parties, the presidency and the Commission is now under way. Officials from my department are in contact with a range of fire and rescue service stakeholders to ensure that the potential impact is understood; and working with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, which has the UK lead on the working time directive, to inform the ongoing debate and ensure MEPs and EU member states are briefed appropriately.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel proposing that the compensation settlement by the Government of Israel to the family of James Miller following his shooting in May 2003 should provide a precedent for similar payments to any Gazan civilian victims of the recent military action. [HL1264]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The agreement between the family of James Miller and the Government of Israel was a private settlement between the parties. Any other compensation matters are a matter for the Israeli Government.
Health: Drugs
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action will be taken following the claim in the Daily Mail of Professor David Nutt, chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, that “taking ecstasy is no more risky than riding a horse”. [HL1395]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): As stated in the other place on Monday 9 February, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary spoke to Professor David Nutt, Chair of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, to express her considerable concern about his recent article published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology.
2 Mar 2009 : Column WA121
House of Lords: Pensions
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask the Chairman of Committees whether, in view of the decision of the Sub-Committee on Lords' Interests in 2006 (Priv 2006—07/1), the debate on 19 July 2007 (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 402—18) and recent events, he will re-submit to the Committee for Privileges the suggestion that members of the House of Lords in receipt of a European Union pension should declare that interest in debates about European Union matters. [HL1753]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): No. However, if the noble Lord writes to me with a specific proposal, and explaining why he thinks the Committee should now revisit its previous decisions on this matter, I shall be happy to put his letter before the Committee.
Housing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much borrowing by local authorities will be permitted for the provision of newly built or acquired social housing for letting in 2009—10 and subsequent years up to 2012. [HL1613]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): Under the prudential system, local authorities are free to borrow for any kind of capital spending without government permission, provided that they and their auditors are satisfied that they can afford to service the debt.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total number of new homes built in 2008; what was the number built in the Eastern region; and how this is broken down on a county basis in the Eastern region. [HL1627]
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