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The Government, through these initiatives, is providing guidance on standards of discipline in corporate governance and remuneration that will provide a framework for action by market participants, leading to stronger market discipline on the part of boards of directors and shareholders. Neither the work of the FSA or the Walker review is intended to dictate the quantum of remuneration, either for individuals or at the level of groups or institutions. This remains a matter for boards of directors, under the oversight of their shareholders.
Bloody Sunday Inquiry
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 9 July (WA 163), whether they will publish a breakdown of the £188 million incurred in connection with the Bloody Sunday inquiry. [HL5026]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): I will write to the noble Lord and a copy of the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
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Remuneration
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose measures to tackle any negligence on the part of shareholders, at annual general meetings and other times, in granting excessive remuneration to directors and in nominating members of remuneration committees. [HL4886]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Lord Young of Norwood Green): The appointment and remuneration of directors is a matter for companies and their shareholders. The Government have consistently made clear the importance of linking pay to performance over the long term and that exceptional rewards for mediocre performance are not in the interests of companies, their shareholders or the UK as a whole.
Sir David Walker's review of the corporate governance of banks and the Financial Reporting Council's review of the combined code on corporate governance are both looking at shareholder engagement with companies. The Government will be paying close attention to their conclusions.
British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat has cost in each year since its creation; and what are the projections for the next two financial years. [HL4874]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): The cost of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat is met by two Governments. The total cost to the British Government for the last eight years is shown in the following table. Costs for 1999-2001 are no longer held.
| Financial Year | BIIGS Costs |
British-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership
Questions
Asked by Lord Janner of Braunstone
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will announce the results of the first round of applications to the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership. [HL4040]
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The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): The results of the first round of applications to the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership are expected to be announced in the autumn.
Asked by Lord Janner of Braunstone
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions the Secretary of State for Universities and Skills has had with his Israeli counterparts on the possibility of expanding the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership scheme. [HL4041]
Lord Drayson: There have been no discussions with the Israeli Government about an expansion of the Britain-Israel Research and Academic Exchange Partnership (BIRAX) scheme. The first academic awards for the scheme are now due to be announced in the autumn.
Broadcasting: Digital Radios
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Carter of Barnes on 30 June (WA 30-31), what assessment they have made of the domestic reception of digital radio broadcasting in Northern Ireland, the time taken to warm up digital radios and their signal reception. [HL4805]
The Minister for Communications, Technology and Broadcasting (Lord Carter of Barnes): The Digital Radio Working Group (DRWG)* looked closely at digital audio broadcasting (DAB) current and planned coverage across the UK. One of the key purposes of the work of the group was to provide momentum to encourage digital radio rollout. This has continued with the Digital Britain White Paper.
Figures provided by the DRWG's Spectrum Group at the end of 2008 showed that 87.6 per cent** of the population in Northern Ireland are able to receive DAB. We acknowledge there is a short delay when switching on some DAB radio sets. This is caused by the processor "powering up" in much the same way as a computer does.
There have been discussions between broadcasters and manufacturers about improving the reception of DAB sets. I expect this to continue in the future to improve the reception of sets further.
- *The DRWG was established in November 2007 by the Secretary of State to consider digital radio in the UK.
- **The figure of 87.6 per cent population coverage of DAB in Northern Ireland is based on BBC Radio 2's coverage. Radio 2's FM coverage in Northern Ireland is 98.3 per cent.
Building Regulations
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the revised Part G of the building regulations will fully incorporate British Standard 6465 in relation to equal provision of toilets for men and women in offices. [HL5107]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The scale of toilet provision in different building types that are workplaces is in the first instance a matter for the Health and Safety Executive's Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) that supports the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992. The guidance in approved document G (sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency) therefore makes reference to the need to be in accordance with the minimum levels of provision set out in the ACOP. However, it also explains that further guidance on the provision of toilets is set out in British Standard 6465 for those building types not covered by the ACOP or where someone wishes to provide more than the minimum recommended.
Children: ASBOs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to conduct an independent review of the application of anti-social behaviour orders to children. [HL5088]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Although the Home Office is not conducting an independent review of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) given to children, a consortium of research institutions have been commissioned to undertake an evaluation of the comparative effectiveness of interventions to address anti-social behaviour.
Results from this evaluation are due to report in 2010. The evaluation will look at anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs), but does not focus on young people, as we are aware of research being carried out by other research bodies that are looking at the impact of anti-social behaviour interventions on young people.
We have provided written guidance for anti-social behaviour practitioners and a practitioners' advice line manned by experts in the field and website. We have also held a series of workshops around the country to help practitioners make the best use of the tools and powers. In addition, we have also introduced legislation to require a one-year review period for ASBOs on young people which was formally built into best practice in the latest Home Office guidance issued in August 2006. This was implemented on 1 February 2009.
Children: Custody
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the Prison Reform Trust's finding that the number of children remanded in custody while awaiting trial has increased by 41 per cent in the last seven years; and what is their response to each of the 12 points in the action plan suggested by the trust to reduce the numbers. [HL4994]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): We welcome the Prison Reform Trust's report and its contribution to this difficult issue of the numbers of young people being remanded into custody. The decision on whether to grant bail or remand a defendant to custody is one for the courts to make, in each case, in line with the statutory framework primarily set out in the Bail Act 1976. Data provided by the Youth Justice Board indicate that, over the past seven years, there has been a 10 per cent decrease in the number of young people remanded into custody.
| Young people remanded in custody or to secure conditions 2002-2008 | |||||||
| Year | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
Officials are meeting representatives from the Prison Reform Trust shortly to discuss the report's findings and recommendations and consider how we can take the issues forward.
Children: Independent Representatives
Question
Asked by Baroness Garden of Frognal
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether children without parental care are given an independent representative to defend their best interests in the education system. [HL5090]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): "Parent" under the education Acts includes anyone who has parental responsibility and, for most purposes, anyone who has care of a child. There should therefore be no children without a "parent" with the possible exception of some young people aged 16 and over who are deemed to be capable of defending their own interests, with appropriate support.
For children who are looked after by the local authority (ie who may not have a birth parent who is able or willing to act in their interests), the Government have put in place a range of measures to ensure that their best interests are defended in the education system. The local authority has a specific duty to promote the child's educational achievement. It must also ensure that each looked-after child has a care plan, which must include a personal education plan developed with the designated teacher for looked-after children at the child's school (see below). The plan must be kept under regular review (at least every six months) and an independent reviewing officer (IRO) must be appointed to monitor the review process. The reviews look at the appropriateness of the child's education plan to ensure that it promotes their educational achievement. If the IRO has concerns that the local authority is in breach of its duties to the child or that the child's rights are being breached by the authority or any other person or body (including the child's school), then he has power to refer the child's case to CAFCASS (the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) for consideration of legal proceedings to obtain redress for the child.
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Looked-after children are also entitled to support from an independent advocate when making any complaint or representation about their care, including education provision.
In addition, from September this year, every school must have a designated teacher for looked-after children, who will take responsibility for ensuring that these children's teaching and learning needs are met.
Civil Service: Career Development
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what priority is given to practical field experience in the recruitment and career development of civil servants working on overseas development policy and its implementation for the Department for International Development at HM Treasury.[HL4948]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of civil servants working on overseas development policy and its implementation for the Department for International Development at HM Treasury have practical field experience; and how many such civil servants there are. [HL4949]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): Recruitment to all posts in the Treasury is based on the essential and desirable skills and experience as determined by the recruiting manager, and the behavioural competencies relevant to the grade of the post. Career development is based around the requirements of the role, the competencies and the Professional Skills for Government framework.
Members of the international and financial directorate have a broad range of relevant skills, including wide experience in a range of international roles.
Climate Change: Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of total annual United Kingdom emissions, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalent, is accounted for by (a) livestock, and (b) the human population in the normal course of breathing. [HL4897]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): (a) The UK greenhouse gas inventory shows that agriculture as a whole accounts for around 8 per cent of UK total emissions in 2007. This includes significant contributions from methane (37.7 per cent of UK total methane emissions) and nitrous oxide (74.4 per cent of UK total nitrous oxide emissions). Direct emissions from the UK livestock sector in 2007 were 2.9 per cent of the UK total emissions.
21 July 2009 : Column WA309
(b) Carbon dioxide emissions from the human population in the normal course of breathing are not included in the UK greenhouse gas inventory.
Community Relations: Islam
Question
Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, David Lammy, on 19 May (Official Report, House of Commons, 1338-9W) on Community Relations: Islam, (a) what other subjects apart from Islamic studies have been designated as strategically important subjects; (b) when they were designated as such; (c) how much additional funding has been allocated to Islamic Studies courses since the subject's designation as strategic; and (d) how many students are currently taking Islamic Studies courses in the United Kingdom. [HL5116]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Lord Young of Norwood Green): (a) The following subjects were defined by the Government in a letter from the Secretary of State on 1 December 2004 as strategically important:
Arabic and Turkish language studies and other Middle Eastern area studies, former Soviet Union Caucasus and central Asia area studies;Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin and other far eastern languages and area studies;science, technology, engineering and maths;21 July 2009 : Column WA310
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