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19 Mar 2009 : Column WA63
Written Answers
Thursday 19 March 2009
Banking
Questions
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty's Government from whom HM Treasury seeks specialist advice on banking issues when negotiating rescue packages for banks. [HL1834]
To ask Her Majesty's Government from whom HM Treasury seeks specialist advice on pension issues in the banking sector. [HL1835]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): As the Memorandum of Understanding between HM Treasury, the Bank of England and the FSA sets out, the tripartite authorities have regular meetings and discussions to work together towards the common objective of financial stability in the UK.
In addition, the Treasury takes advice from a range of sources, including other government departments as relevant, both government and commercial lawyers on legal issues, and external accountancy and investment banking advisers as appropriate.
Banking: Bonuses
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Answer by Lord Myners on 10 February (Official Report, House of Lords, cols. 1009—1011), when he expects the required decisions to be made on the issue of bonuses in the banking sector. [HL1502]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): UK Financial Investments (UKFI) manages the Government's shareholdings in the recapitalised banks. UKFI has a role in scrutinising banks' compliance with the recapitalisation conditions and also in scrutinising remuneration policies, to protect the interests of the taxpayer as a major shareholder.
On 17 February 2009 an announcement was made in respect of the pay and rewards settlement for the Royal Bank of Scotland. On 9 March 2009 an announcement was made in respect of Lloyds Banking Group.
Banking: Lloyds
Question
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (a) Mr Eric Daniels, chief executive of Lloyds Banking Group plc, and (b) Sir Victor Blank, chairman, are domiciled in the United Kingdom for tax purposes. [HL2046]
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The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): I am unable to disclose information on the tax status of these individuals as HMRC has a statutory obligation not to disclose the affairs of taxpayers.
Banking: Loan Guarantee Scheme
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much has been taken up by banks under the loan guarantee scheme to date. [HL1476]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): On 8 October 2008, the Government announced, as part of a comprehensive package of measures, the credit guarantee scheme. The scheme took effect on 13 October and assists eligible institutions in refinancing maturing wholesale funding. Banks have drawn down some £100 billion of guarantees.
The enterprise finance guarantee was launched on 14 January 2008 to ensure that viable businesses can continue to access the finance they need through their lenders. As of 20 February 2008 some 400 loans with a value of over £40 million have been offered and are being processed.
Belfast Agreement
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 5 March (WA 173) concerning relationships on the island of Ireland, whether the Belfast agreement places the same importance on equality in the Republic of Ireland as in Northern Ireland. [HL2015]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Belfast agreement relates primarily to Northern Ireland and its relationships with the other constituent parts of the United Kingdom and on the island of Ireland—the so called “East-West” and “North-South” relationships referred to in the chapters of the agreement entitled Strands 3 and 2 respectively.
As made clear in the Declaration of Support at the beginning of the agreement, both the United Kingdom and Irish Governments are committed to equality—as well as partnership and mutual respect—as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between north and south, and between these islands. The agreement also set out, in the chapter entitled “Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity”, a number of steps that would be taken by the Irish Government including the introduction of equal status legislation, the implementation of enhanced employment equality legislation and the continuation of steps to demonstrate respect for the different traditions in the island of Ireland.
19 Mar 2009 : Column WA65
British Coal Compensation
Questions
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 152—53) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, whether they have made any assessment of (a) the payment of £4,484 in costs to solicitors representing two claimants, each awarded under 50p compensation; (b) the payment of £51,566 in costs to solicitors representing 23 claimants, each awarded between 51p and £1 compensation; (c) the payment of £569,468 in costs to solicitors representing 254 claimants, each awarded under £5 compensation; (d) the payment of £9,290,848 in costs to solicitors representing 4,144 claimants, each awarded under £50 compensation; and (e) the payment of £100,226,368 in costs to solicitors representing 44,704 claimants, each awarded under £500 compensation; and, if so, what were their findings and whether there are any lessons to be learned. [HL2094]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The department has not made any such assessments. However, the department has accepted the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee's conclusions that its initial negotiations with solicitors has led to significant costs. Lessons learnt from this would be applied in the event we find ourselves in a similar position in the future.
Under the coal health compensation schemes, solicitors are paid for their work according to an agreed tariff. The number of claims each solicitor handles is outside the department's control as each claimant chooses their representative. The department negotiated the tariff for the work required to progress claims based on the anticipated volume of claims at the time and the processes involved in handling the claims. The work undertaken by solicitors is similar regardless of the level of compensation that falls due to the claimant.
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 152—53) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation, how many claimants were awarded compensation of under £2,242. [HL2095]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The total number of claims received under the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease scheme was 592,000. Of these 287,055 claimants were awarded compensation under £2,242 in full and final settlement as at 8 March 2009.
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 153—54) concerning the payment of
19 Mar 2009 : Column WA66
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The department has not made any such assessments. However, the department has accepted the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee's conclusions that its initial negotiations with solicitors has led to significant costs. Lessons learnt from this would be applied in the event we find ourselves in a similar position in the future.
Under the coal health compensation schemes solicitors are paid for their work according to an agreed tariff. The number of claims each solicitor handles is outside the department's control as each claimant chooses their representative. The department negotiated the tariff for the work required to progress claims based on the anticipated volume of claims at the time and the processes involved in handling the claims. The work undertaken by solicitors is similar regardless of the level of compensation that falls due to the claimant.
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 4 March (WA 153—54) concerning the payment of compensation and costs in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation, how many claimants were awarded compensation of under £1,402. [HL2097]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The total number of claims received under vibration white finger scheme was 170,000. Of these 5,069 claimants were awarded compensation under £1,402 in full and final settlement as at 8 March 2009.
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many claimants in the British Coal respiratory disease litigation died after registering their claims but before receiving their final award of compensation. [HL2098]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The total number of claims received under chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) scheme was 592,000. Of these 21,658 claimants died before receiving their full and final compensation as at 8 March 2009.
A further 1,752 claims are yet to be settled where the claimant has died since registering their claim. The COPD scheme is due to be substantially completed on 30 November 2009, and the department expects any residual claims to reach settlement during 2010.
19 Mar 2009 : Column WA67
Asked by Lord Lofthouse of Pontefract
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many claimants in the British Coal vibration white finger litigation died after registering their claims but before receiving their final award of compensation. [HL2099]
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The total number of claims received under the vibration white finger is 170,000. Of these 5,768 claimants died before receiving their full and final compensation as at 8 March 2009.
A further 25 claims are yet to be settled where the claimant has died since registering their claim. However, the VWF scheme is due to be substantially completed by May 2009.
Children: Fingerprinting
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government in respect of the decision by the UK Border Agency to fingerprint children from the age of six, what studies and trials they have conducted on the feasibility and effectiveness of fingerprinting children; whether these studies have been conducted over time to monitor the effect of changes in fingerprints as children grow; and whether issues have been identified concerning the cooperation of children with the process. [HL1580]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The requirement for fingerprints to be taken from the age of six comes from EU Regulation 380/2008. The requirement for this age group to give their fingerprints is applied across the whole of the EU.
The UKBA has many years of experience of taking fingerprints from children aged five and upwards, effectively and without difficulty, and the benefits have been wide ranging from helping to abate child trafficking to being able to reduce the number of fraudulent claims made for public funds.
As children grow, although the size of the area of the fingerprint will grow with age, the actual characteristics (and pattern) that make the fingerprint unique to the child and are used as a part of the identification process remain constant throughout life and do not change or alter with age. If superficial damage occurs the skin will grow back in exactly the same arrangement as at birth.
No issues have been identified concerning the co-operation of children with the process of fingerprinting. Many of the children will have already have given their fingerprints and photographs on earlier occasions in connection with a visa application for the UK or other countries. When evaluating the pilot scheme for the identity cards for foreign nationals, children followed the same quick, easy and clean (ink-free) process that they saw their parents follow and there was no evidence to suggest that children were adversely affected by the process.
19 Mar 2009 : Column WA68
Children: Social Networking Websites
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidelines they have published regarding the use of social networking websites by children under 16 years of age. [HL2019]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Home Secretary's Taskforce on Child Protection on the Internet produced good practice guidance for the providers of social networking and other user interactive services. This guidance was launched in April 2008.
The guidance was produced to provide good practice recommendations for the providers of social networking and other user interactive sites to enhance safety of children and young people (aged under 18) using their services.
Climate Change
Question
Asked by Lord Leach of Fairford
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the stable or declining global average temperatures since 2001; and how these will inform their policy on climate change mitigation. [HL2104
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The short-term decrease in global average temperature that occurred between 2001 and 2008 resulted from natural, internal processes in the climate system. These cause temperatures to fluctuate from year to year and from decade to decade. Temperatures were lower in 2007 and 2008 than in previous years, for example, due to a La Nina event in the Pacific Ocean, which caused cold water at depth to rise to the surface. Over short periods, this natural variability is larger than the changes expected due to global warming, so it can easily result in the temperature trend being constant or negative over a period of a decade or so, as has happened on occasion during the 20th century.
The effect of greenhouse gases on the climate system is evident in the long-term temperature trend, which is upward (as demonstrated by the fact that the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred in the past 12 years). As long as greenhouse gas emissions continue, global average temperatures will continue to rise in the long-term, with potentially dramatic implications for food and water supplies, human health, national security and the global economy. For this reason, the slight decline in global average temperature since 2001 will not affect the UK Government's policy on climate change mitigation. Rather, this policy will continue to be based on the latest scientific evidence regarding the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate system.
19 Mar 2009 : Column WA69
Co-operation Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much they have spent on entertainment for Co-operation Ireland in each year since 1997. [HL2088]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Office (excluding agencies and Executive NDPBs) spent £5,736.35 in November 2008 for an event relating to Co-operation Ireland which has been referred to in previous Answers. There are no records of any other expenditure on hospitality for Co-operation Ireland since 1997.
Crime: Legal Costs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average payment to (a) solicitors, and (b) barristers, in criminal cases in Northern Ireland in the past three years; and what are the figures for England and Wales. [HL2003]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The average bills paid to solicitors and counsel in Crown Court cases in Northern Ireland for the past three years was as follows:
| Financial Year | Solicitor | Counsel |
This means that typically the average defence cost for a Crown Court case in Northern Ireland in 2007-08 would be between £9,015 and £13,887 depending on the number of legal representatives assigned to the defendant.
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