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Data for 2009 are not yet available.
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large-scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Public Finances
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they offer civil servants about communicating with members of the public on matters of public policy which the civil servant is responsible for. [HL1696]
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The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): All civil servants are required to carry out their duties in accordance with the Civil Service Code which sets out the core values and standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. Copies are available in the Libraries of the House.
Railways: Contracts
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of suggestions for gross cost contracts for future rail franchises. [HL1890]
The Secretary of State for Transport (Lord Adonis): Gross cost contracts would place all revenue risks of passenger train operations with the public sector and would require the Government to be more greatly involved in specification and monitoring of all elements of rail operations, including the setting of fares, timetable development, revenue protection, service quality and marketing activities. We do not believe that government involvement in such an approach would benefit users or franchisees.
The Government believe that the ability of private sector operators to attract more passengers, grow the market, improve the service and receive the revenue benefits of such actions is a key element of the current franchise model and one of the reasons for the significant growth delivered in recent years.
Our discussions with operators have generally supported this view.
Rwanda
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their decision to support the admission of Rwanda to the Commonwealth was debated in either House of Parliament. [HL1868]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave him on 2 February 2010 (Official Report, col. WA 31).
Sport: Clubs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with local authorities to promote the Community Amateur Sports Club scheme. [HL1825]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government have not had any recent discussions with local authorities about the Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) scheme. However the Minister for Sport recently visited a
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Sufi Muslim Council
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding they have given to the Sufi Muslim Council since it was launched in 2006; under which schemes funding has been awarded; and what measures are in place to ensure those funds are used for the purposes for which they were awarded. [HL1609]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): I refer my noble friend to the Answers given on:
6 July 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 116);
15 December 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 221); and
16 December 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 254).
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether money will be awarded to the Sufi Muslim Council in 2010; if so, for what purpose; and how they will monitor any funds given to ensure they are used for their purpose. [HL1610]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: The Department for Communities and Local Government currently has no plans to award funds to the Sufi Muslim Council in 2010.
Syria: Kurds
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any discrimination experienced by the Kurdish minority in Syria, and whether they possess normal citizenship and language rights. [HL1523]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made or will make to the government of Syria about the recent arrests of (a) Hassan Ibrahim Saleh, (b) Mohamed Mustapha, (c) Maroof Mullah Ahmed, and (d) Anwar Nasso, who have called for autonomy for the Kurdish region. [HL1524]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Kurdish politicians arrested in Syria since December 2002 have been brought before military or security courts, and whether they have had legal representation. [HL1525]
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the whereabouts and well-being of (a) Dilbireen Osei Hamdeen, a student from Derbasieh arrested on 16 August 2009 in Syria, and (b) Havraz Mohammed Amin Hassan, a student from Qamishli arrested on 14 December 2009; and whether they will make representations to the government of Syria on those cases. [HL1526]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): We are concerned about human rights in Syria. My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary has raised human rights when he has met Syrian Foreign Minister Muallem. My honourable friend the Minister of State at the Foreign Office, Mr Lewis, reiterated in a Westminster Hall debate on 24 June 2009 that Kurdish rights were still not legitimised within the Syrian constitution. We have highlighted our concerns about the general situation of Kurds in Syria in our 2008 annual human rights report.
My officials in Damascus have regular contact with Kurdish human rights defenders and monitor the situation closely, including the rights to citizenship and language rights. They have been following the cases of Hassan Ibrahim Saleh, Mohamed Mustapha, Maroof Mullah Ahmed, Anwar Nasso, Dilbireen Osei Hamdeen and Havraz Mohammed Amin Hassan. We have not raised their cases specifically-among the many hundreds of political prisoners in Syria-but with the EU are focusing our lobbying on a small number of high-profile individuals (such as the prominent human rights lawyer Haitham al Maleh).
The criminal justice system in Syria is in need of reform and, where possible, we have sought to push this process forward. Unfortunately, it is common for detainees to be denied access to legal representation for some time while in custody. Of particular concern is the Supreme State Security Court, a special court that exists outside the ordinary criminal justice system to prosecute those perceived as challenging the Government. This court is exempt from the rules of criminal procedure that apply in Syria's criminal courts. Defence lawyers usually see their clients for the first time on the day of the trial and the court denies them the opportunity to engage in oral defence or call on witnesses. Most trials consist of four short sessions, often less than 30 minutes each. Defendants have no right to appeal their verdict to a higher tribunal.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether (a) Mr Fasih Yasamani from Khoy was hanged on 7 January, (b) Mr Ehsan Fatahiyou was executed on 11 November 2009, and (c) 17 other political prisoners of Kurdish origin are awaiting execution, in Syria; and whether they will make representations for clemency to the government of Syria. [HL1527]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: Reports unfortunately confirm that Ehsan Fattahian was executed on 11 November 2009, and that Fasih Yasamani was executed on 6 January 2010. Both executions happened
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On 20 November 2009, the EU presidency summoned the Iranian ambassador in Stockholm to condemn a spate of executions, including Mr Fattahian's, and plead for clemency in the case of 13 others, all of Kurdish origin, facing the same fate. The presidency noted there was credible information to suggest that the sentences appeared to be politically motivated. On 20 January 2010, my honourable friend Ivan Lewis raised the cases directly with the Iranian ambassador, expressing concern at reports that they faced imminent execution. Mr Lewis reiterated our long-held concerns about the trials not meeting international standards, and urged the Iranian Government to show clemency.
These executions undermine Iran's claimed commitment to justice, human rights and democratic values. Our long-standing opposition to capital punishment under all circumstances is clear; we raise these concerns with the Iranian authorities bilaterally and through the EU at every appropriate opportunity. We did so on over 70 separate occasions last year, and will continue to do so.
Taxation: Avoidance
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what budget has been allocated to HM Revenue and Customs for 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12 to provide resources to investigate and eliminate (a) tax evasion, and (b) tax avoidance. [HL1754]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) allocates all resources on the basis of identified risk. HMRC staff cover the full range of risk-based compliance work. It is therefore not possible to provide a breakdown of the budget allocation in the manner requested.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to minimise avoidance of new taxation measures being introduced. [HL1815]
Lord Myners: The Government are committed to ensuring that new legislation minimises the opportunities for avoidance. All new measures are scrutinised by tax avoidance experts as part of the policy development process to ensure they are well targeted and effective. Consultation, where it is possible, also helps identify potential weaknesses in draft legislation. In the longer term the Government are committed to making further improvements to the robustness of the tax framework by developing principles-based or thematic approaches to legislation.
The Government will continue to use intelligence obtained from the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes regime and other sources to keep track of new developments in the avoidance market and where necessary will act swiftly to close down abusive schemes.
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Taxation: Capital Gains Tax
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be (a) the revenue implications, and (b) the additional number of people who would pay tax, if the capital gains tax threshold were reduced to (1) £1,000, (2) £2,500 and (3) £5,000 for individuals and trustees in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. [HL1357]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the revenue implications of applying capital gains tax at the marginal rate of income tax in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. [HL1358]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be (a) the revenue implications, and (b) the additional number of people who would pay tax, if the capital gains tax threshold were reduced to (1) £1,000, (2) £2,500 and (3) £5,000 for individuals and trustees and capital gains were charged at the marginal rate of income tax in 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12. [HL1359]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): HMRC holds limited data on the number of individuals and trustees using all or part of their annual exempt amount (AEA) and therefore it is currently not possible to estimate the revenue implications from the proposed reductions to the AEA.
Due to the difficulties of assessing the large behavioural responses which would result from a change of this kind, a reliable estimate of the revenue implications of applying capital gains tax at the marginal rate of income tax can be determined only at disproportionate cost.
Taxation: Havens
Questions
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether HM Revenue and Customs has seen an increase in offshore deposits in African tax havens since the start of the economic downturn. [HL1734]
To ask Her Majesty's Government which departments monitor the development of countries in Africa as tax havens; and what role each department has. [HL1795]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they have in place regarding the development of countries in Africa as tax havens. [HL1796]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the growth of Somalia as a tax haven. [HL1797]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any risk that increased scrutiny of, and sanctions against, known tax havens will result in the growth of untraceable, hidden havens in lawless or ungoverned territories. [HL1798]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to track the growth in new tax havens. [HL1799]
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The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): HM Treasury, HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for International Development work with a number of multilateral institutions including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Monetary Fund which monitor the use of tax avoidance and tax shelters across a wide range of countries including those in Africa. Action to address tax havens is currently under discussion at a number of international working groups. HMRC is not aware of an increase in offshore deposits in African tax havens since the economic downturn and has seen no evidence of Somalia developing as a tax haven used by UK residents.
Terrorism
Questions
Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average time served by foreign nationals imprisoned for terrorist offences since 2001. [HL737]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many foreign nationals imprisoned for terrorist offences since 2001 have been (a) released, and (b) deported. [HL738]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): Data on all foreign nationals imprisoned for terrorist offences since 2001 could only be answered by breaching cost limits.
However, information on terrorist arrests and outcomes and stops and searches is published in the following Home Office statistical bulletins:
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http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0409.pdf; and
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb1809.pdf.
Transport: Tax Incentives
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what incentives are currently available through the income tax system to encourage those going to work to travel by (a) bus, and (b) rail. [HL1764]
The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): There are two incentives available specifically for bus travel to work. The first exempts an employee from tax and national insurance contributions (NICs) on the benefit of an employer-provided work bus service, subject to certain conditions. There is a second exemption from tax and NICs where an employee benefits from an employer giving a subsidy or other support to a bus service provider to introduce, continue or improve a local public bus route. This exemption is subject to certain other conditions and does not apply where a subsidy is provided for local bus services generally.
There are no specific incentives for rail travel to work. However, an employer can provide an interest-free loan, or a loan with a rate of interest below normal commercial rates, to an employee. Subject to certain conditions about the amount of the loan, the interest foregone on the loan is not treated as a taxable benefit. This loan may used to assist the employee in the purchase of a season ticket for public transport by bus or rail but is not confined to this purpose.
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