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Elections: Voting System
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the objective of their proposal to introduce the alternative vote system is to move towards a system of proportional representation. [HL1598]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): No. The Government believe that the alternative vote would enhance the legitimacy of MPs and increase the electorate's stake in their representative. However, unlike proportional representation, the alternative vote would retain the link between an MP and a single geographical constituency. The Government believe that this is an essential feature of our democratic system. Ultimately, it would be for the public to decide in a referendum whether the alternative vote system should be introduced.
Equine Infectious Anaemia
Question
Asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce a requirement that a negative test result for equine infectious anaemia be produced by importers of horses before the animals are brought into the United Kingdom. [HL1653]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Davies of Oldham): The EU rules on free trade in livestock place responsibility on the "exporting" member state to control diseases on its territory and to certify that any consignments for export to another member state are safe.
In addition and in recognition of the endemic equine infectious anaemia (EIA) situation in Romania, EU legislation requires all horses from Romania to be tested for EIA pre-export.
As a further assurance, the rules allow the importing country to carry out checks for compliance with certification, which can include a blood test, on a proportion of consignments. A requirement to test all imported horses would be a burdensome restriction on trade, would be disproportionate to the risk and would fall foul of EU trade rules.
EU: UK Official Staff
Question
Asked by Lord Wallace of Saltaire
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proposals they have to develop the qualifications and languages of United Kingdom officials dealing with European Union business, and of United Kingdom candidates for posts in European Union institutions. [HL1516]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) runs two EU training programmes, in association with the National School for Government. Since April 2007, 440 FCO staff have undertaken the introductory level course, and 170 staff the intermediate level course.
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills also runs an EU skills academy, training 150 staff since April 2009.
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The Government have recently relaunched the European Fast Stream. The scheme will support an intake of 10 fast-stream entrants each year in their preparations for taking the Concours examinations to join the EU institutions. Each European fast streamer will be placed in a position within the Civil Service that will give them experience of working with the EU; will undertake a five-month internship position with one of the EU institutions; and receive language training in either French or German. European fast streamers who are not successful at the Concours will rejoin the regular Civil Service Fast Stream, bringing with them their experience of working with the EU and their improved language skills. The Government are also working to improve networking and information sharing between officials dealing with EU business in all government departments.
European Public Prosecutor
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will support any proposal for the establishment of a European Public Prosecutor. [HL1865]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): No. The Government have consistently opposed the creation of a European Public Prosecutor (EPP).
Extradition: Gary McKinnon
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 27 January (WA 339), whether, as "where a ministerial decision is in question", a case concerning issues of national importance such as the economy, public order or the essential services is permitted an exemption to the House's Sub Judice Resolution of 11 May 2000, and reference to the issues or the case may be made in motions, debates or questions, they will reconsider their answer. [HL1765]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): In the particular case of Gary McKinnon, the court has granted permission for there to be a judicial review hearing of my right honourable friend the Home Secretary's decision in November 2009 that extradition would not breach human rights.
Notwithstanding the terms of the resolution, it would not be appropriate to hold a debate on the very matters which are to be argued before and decided by the courts.
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Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the role of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office following the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty and the appointment of a High Representative for Foreign Affairs. [HL1552]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): There is no material change to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's role following the implementation of the Lisbon treaty and the appointment of the High Representative.
Government Departments: Bonuses
Question
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government for each of the past three years for which figures are available, how many people were eligible for performance bonuses and special bonuses in the Home Office and its agencies, by civil service band; how many people received each type of bonus, by civil service band; what the average payment was for each type of bonus, by civil service band; and what the maximum payment was for each type of bonus, by civil service band. [HL5]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): An element of the overall pay award for the Home Office and its agencies is allocated to non-consolidated variable pay related to performance.
These payments are used to drive high performance and form part of the pay award for members of staff who demonstrate exceptional performance, for example by exceeding targets set or meeting challenging objectives.
Non-consolidated variable pay awards are funded from within existing pay bill controls and have to be re-earned each year against pre-determined targets and, as such, do not add to future pay bill and pension costs. The percentage of the pay bill set aside for performance-related awards for the Senior Civil Service (SCS) is based on the recommendations of the independent Senior Salaries Review Body.
The attached tables set out how many people were eligible for and received a non-consolidated variable pay award, by Civil Service band, awarded in the Home Office and its agencies for the two most recent years for which information is available. The Identity and Passport Service does not pay individual performance bonuses below grade seven, but each member of staff below the SCS is eligible to receive an equal share of a corporate non-consolidated payment which rewards them for the successful delivery of key organisational objectives and financial targets. In 2007-08 this payment was £449 made to 3,930 members of staff; in 2008-09 it was £450 made to 3,919 members of staff.
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Government Departments: Consultancy Services
Questions
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government which (a) auditors, and (b) firms providing consultancy and advisory services, have been approved for use by departments and their agencies in each of the past five years for which information is available. [HL1706]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): There is no central approval process in Government for (a) auditors or (b) firms providing consultancy and advisory services used by departments and their agencies. Government departments and their agencies are responsible for procuring these services directly from suppliers.
Buying Solutions operates a management consultancy and accounting services framework agreement. Suppliers can bid to be on framework agreements when such contracts are let by Buying Solutions or individual departments. In these cases, as with all public sector contracts, departments and agencies are required to achieve value for money through fair and open competition. Procurers are required to award each contract to the bidder offering the best combination of quality and whole-life costs that meets the users' requirements.
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Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used to determine whether a firm can be put on the approved list for consultancy and advisory services. [HL1711]
Lord Myners: Government do not maintain lists of approved suppliers. Buying Solutions operates a management consultancy and accounting services Framework Agreement. Suppliers can bid to be on framework agreements when such contracts are let by Buying Solutions or individual departments. In these cases, as with all public sector contracts, departments and agencies are required to achieve value for money through fair and open competition. Procurers are required to award each contract to the bidder offering the best combination of quality and whole-life costs that meets the users' requirements.
Government Departments: Muslim Organisations
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Ministers in his department have had with Muslim organisations in each of the last three years; and what were the purposes of the meetings. [HL1575]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): Ministers have frequent meetings with stakeholders. I am therefore unable to provide the requested information due to the disproportionate cost and time involved in compiling details of all ministerial meetings with Muslim organisations over the past three years. The department also does not categorise engagement with stakeholders in this narrow sense.
Government: Office Equipment
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Barbara Follett, on 9 December 2009 (Official Report, Commons, col. 390W), what was the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500 sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier paper paid by the Wales Office in the latest period for which figures are available. [HL1120]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Wales Office pays on average £1.66 per ream for A4 80 gsm photocopier paper.
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India: Orissa
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 5 January (WA 58), what assessment they have made of the number of convictions resulting from the 3,200 complaints submitted to the police in the aftermath of the 2008 communal violence in Orissa, India. [HL1603]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): We cannot confirm the number of convictions resulting from the complaints submitted to the police in the aftermath of the 2008 violence in Orissa. An EU delegation is due to visit Orissa this month and will be discussing the progress made on the conviction of perpetrators with the appropriate Orissa officials and assessing progress in delivering compensation and rebuilding houses.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 5 January (WA 58), what assessment they have made of progress in delivering compensation and rebuilding houses destroyed in the 2008 communal violence in Orissa, India, including reports that victims continue to reside in tents and makeshift shelters. [HL1604]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We cannot confirm the number of convictions resulting from the complaints submitted to the police in the aftermath of the 2008 violence in Orissa. An EU delegation is due to visit Orissa this month and will be discussing the progress made on the conviction of perpetrators with the appropriate Orissa officials and assessing progress in delivering compensation and rebuilding houses.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 5 January (WA 58), what assessment they have made of reports that 100 victims of violence in Orissa, India, were forcibly moved from a town market place in which they were sheltering in advance of a European Union delegation visit to the area. [HL1605]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We are aware of media reports alleging that some victims of the communal violence in 2008 were moved in advance of a planned EU delegation visit to Orissa but we are unable to verify the reports.
India: Religion
Question
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