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www.dfid.gov.uk/news/files/budget09_vfm.asp
More information on DfID's approach to value for money is set out on page 39 of the 2009 Value for Money Update, available on the Cabinet Office website at:
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/media/203122/value_for_money.pdf.
Department for International Development: Travant
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what benefits accrued to the United Kingdom from the Department for International Development's £15 million investment in Travant in 2007. [HL3102]
Lord Tunnicliffe: The Department for International Development (DfID) has no investment in Travant. Investment in Travant is made by CDC using its own capital. By making this investment, CDC is making a contribution to the achievement of the UK's broader poverty reduction objectives: increased private investment (as through entities such as Travant) is vital to generate the sustainable enterprises, jobs, incomes and taxes that lift people out of poverty and away from aid dependency.
Euro
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Bank of England last intervened to support the euro; what was the extent of that intervention; and how much of that intervention has been refunded to the Bank of England by the European Central Bank. [HL2962]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): The Bank of England, acting as agent for HMT, last intervened to support the euro in September 2000. This action was taken as part of a concerted intervention by the G7 monetary authorities. The Bank purchased €85 million in this intervention, as reported in the October 2000 reserves press release (www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_107_00.htm). The intervention was not refunded to the Bank by the ECB, in line with normal practice.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will send a delegation to Malta, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, the United Kingdom Sovereign Bases in Cyprus, and Iceland, to examine the effect on those countries of euro membership. [HL3260]
Lord Myners: We have no plans to send a delegation to the countries mentioned in the noble Lord's Question.
11 May 2009 : Column WA161
Houses of Parliament: Police
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many police officers were deployed on 29 April to supervise a meeting about former Gurkha soldiers and a demonstration in Parliament Square by Tamils. [HL3256]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): This is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police. The Home Office does not hold this information.
Houses of Parliament: Road Closures
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government why St Margaret Street and Old Palace Yard were closed to traffic on 29 April; and for how long they were closed. [HL3255]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): This is an operational matter for the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
Houses of Parliament: Select Committees
Questions
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 20 April (WA 346), on how many occasions and in what circumstances Ministers of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport have refused to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees during the past five years. [HL2999]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has no record of any Minister refusing to give evidence to a parliamentary Select Committee in the past five years.
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 20 April (WA 346), on how many occasions and in what circumstances Ministers of the Department of Health have refused to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees during the past five years. [HL3001]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): None.
11 May 2009 : Column WA162
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 20 April (WA 346), on how many occasions and in what circumstances Ministers of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have refused to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees during the past five years. [HL2983]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and his ministerial team take their responsibilities to Parliament and its committees very seriously. They appear regularly before parliamentary committees in the course of their inquiries. The specific information requested is not held centrally. The Foreign Secretary recently answered queries from the Joint Committee on Human Rights in written form, and explained that he did not believe he could add to his answers through an oral hearing.
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Lord President (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon) on 20 April (WA 346), on how many occasions and in what circumstances Ministers of the Department for International Development have refused to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees during the past five years. [HL3058]
Lord Tunnicliffe: I am not aware of any occasion where a Minister from the Department for International Development has refused to give evidence to a parliamentary Select Committee during the past five years.
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 20 April (WA 346), on how many occasions and in what circumstances Ministers of the Northern Ireland Office have refused to give evidence to Parliamentary Select Committees during the past five years. [HL3059]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: There have been occasions when particular dates suggested by parliamentary Select Committees have not suited diaries, but there have been no occasions within the past five years when Ministers of the Northern Ireland Office have refused to give evidence to a committee.
Houses of Parliament: Summer Recess
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the length of the parliamentary Summer Recess in view of the current financial situation. [HL3220]
11 May 2009 : Column WA163
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): As is usual practice, the Government Chief Whip announced the intended dates for the Summer Recess to the House at the end of the last Session, but as ever they are subject to the progress of business.
Housing: Valuations
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (a) garden sheds, (b) conservatories, (c) fish ponds, or (d) garden gnomes, within the curtilage of a domestic dwelling, are potentially taken into account by the Valuation Office Agency when assessing dwellings for council tax valuation and revaluation purposes. [HL3158]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): Only features that form part of a dwelling are taken into account, and only where they are substantial enough to affect market value. Conservatories may do so, depending on their size and the materials used. Normal garden sheds, fish ponds and chattels, such as garden ornaments, usually do not, and are therefore not typically taken into account.
Justice: Family Law
Questions
Asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the average net earnings after VAT and expenses of family law practitioners dependent upon publicly funded work in each of the past three years.[HL3116]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the anticipated total costs of legal representation in family law cases supported by public funds in the current financial year; and what were the figures for the past three years.[HL3118]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy in the Library of the House.
Northern Bank
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what role they played in the reimbursement of funding to the Northern Bank following the robbery of its Belfast headquarters.[HL3131]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): No compensation was paid to the Northern Bank by Her Majesty's Government following the robbery of its Belfast headquarters.
11 May 2009 : Column WA164
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 30 March (WA 199—200) concerning funding of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, why the Commission was allocated more money in 2008—09 than its original budget; and whether they will place a copy of the relevant business case in the Library of the House. [HL2764]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: As previously stated in the Answer given on 30 March (Official Report, cols. WA 199-200), budgets of all sponsored bodies are reviewed throughout the financial year. Where appropriate, budgets are adjusted to reflect pressures arising throughout the year. A copy of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's August monitoring return and the Northern Ireland Office response has been placed in the Library of the House.
At the end of 2008-09 financial year, the commission raised additional pressures. A copy of the commission's letter and the Northern Ireland Office response has been placed in the Library of the House.
All additional funding provided, on approval during the financial year, is included in the commission's annual expenditure which is published each year in its annual report and accounts. Copies are placed in the Libraries of both Houses. The commission's 2008-09 annual report and accounts will be published in due course.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the murders of two soldiers in Antrim on 7 March and a police constable in Craigavon on 10 March, they have considered the legality of the visit of Professor Monica McWilliams, of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, to detained dissident republican suspects at Antrim police station on 23 March under the powers granted by Sections 69 to 69D of the Northern Ireland Act 1998; and whether they have had discussions with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission or the Police Service of Northern Ireland or both regarding the matter. [HL3147]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's visit to Antrim serious crime suite was arranged with the agreement of the chief constable and the commission's formal investigation powers were not invoked. The commission routinely visits places of detention with the agreement of the relevant authorities, as part of its remit under Section 69(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
In line with usual practice, the visit has been discussed at official level with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission and the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
11 May 2009 : Column WA165
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the murders of two soldiers in Antrim on 7 March and a police constable in Craigavon on 10 March, they have been informed of the nature of the investigation being carried out by Professor Monica McWilliams, of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; whether they have been given the terms of reference of the investigation; whether they were prepared by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and whether they will publish the terms of reference. [HL3148]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's visit to Antrim serious crime suite was arranged with the agreement of the chief constable and the commission's formal investigation powers were not invoked.
The commission routinely visits places of detention with the agreement of the relevant authorities, as part of its remit under Section 69(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and no formal terms of reference were provided.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following the murders of two soldiers in Antrim on 7 March and a police constable in Craigavon on 10 March, Professor Monica McWilliams, of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, waited 15 days from the arrest before visiting the suspects in a police station; and, if not, whether the Police Service of Northern Ireland tested the legality of any visit. [HL3221]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's visit to Antrim serious crime suite was arranged within short notice with the agreement of the chief constable and the commission's formal investigation powers were not invoked. The commission routinely visits places of detention with the agreement of the relevant authorities, as part of its remit under Section 69(1) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Northern Ireland Office: Allowances
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 24 April (WA 420) concerning the number of staff in the Northern Ireland Office who received allowances in each of the past five years, what are the figures expressed as percentages of the total staff of the Northern Ireland Office. [HL3218]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: In each of the past five years 99.8 per cent of staff of the Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and executive NDPBs, received an allowance. Allowances include the revised environmental allowance and, where appropriate, London weighting.
11 May 2009 : Column WA166
Olympic Games 2012
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Davies of Oldham on 23 April (WA 412) that the Government Olympic Executive “is the only body assessing the entire Olympic project”, what is the role of the International Olympic Committee Co-ordination Commission in respect of the London 2012 Olympic Games. [HL3288]
Lord Davies of Oldham: An International Olympic Committee Co-ordination Commission is formed shortly after the election of a host city to oversee and assist the organising committee (OCOG) as it works towards organising the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. With respect to London 2012, the co-ordination commission acts as a liaison between the International Olympic Committee, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), the international federations and the national Olympic committees.
For the London 2012 Games, the Government Olympic Executive is the only UK body overseeing the entire London 2012 Olympic programme.
Police: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 20 April (WA 362) concerning police officers undertaking television interviews while driving a police car on a public road, whether they consider that practice to be safe and in keeping with the Highway Code. [HL3047]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 act applies to police officers as well as members of the public and failure to drive without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for others can result in prosecution.
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