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Lord Howell of Guildford: In her statement of 21 May on the Nagorno Karabakh "elections", Baroness Ashton recalled the EU's readiness to offer further support to the work of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Minsk Group and efforts to find a negotiated solution to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. EU efforts in support of the Minsk Group are rightly guided by the advice and wishes of the co-chairs and the parties to the conflict. Present efforts include the work of the EU's Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby. The EU has also recently launched a new €2 million programme to support people to people peace-building projects in the region. The programme builds upon previous work funded by the UK Conflict Pool-which until the launch of this new EU programme was the only
21 Jun 2010 : Column WA151
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Nauru has paid its outstanding subscriptions to the Commonwealth Secretariat; and, if not, what are the arrears.[HL436]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Nauru has arrears of £273,000 owed to the Commonwealth Secretariat dating back to 1999.
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will suspend the entry of patients' records to the Summary Care Records system and any other NHS agencies' databases pending any action to dismantle that system.[HL251]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We believe there is a need for both patients and clinicians to be able to access patient records in an electronic form. This is part of our thinking about making information transparent and available, while involving patients in decisions about their healthcare.
Effective use of the summary care record (SCR) depends on patients and doctors feeling an ownership of the records rather than them being perceived as something imposed by Government. We believe the current processes that are in place need to be reviewed to ensure that both the information that patients receive, and the process by which they opt-out, are as clear and simple as possible. In addition, should patients choose to opt-out they must be able to do so as early in the process as is feasible. Foremost in our minds is the need to ensure the security of the data contained in the record.
We intend to review the content of the record and consider whether we can improve the process whereby patients can opt-out. We will also agree with the key stakeholders what should be added to the record and over what timescale. This work will form part of a wider project to review how information and technology can be leveraged within the health service. Strategic health authorities have been informed that no further information letters should be sent out to patients about the SCR until after the review has concluded.
Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will implement the proposals in Professor Gilmore's review of prescription charges for people with long-term conditions.[HL474]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Decisions on any future changes to the system of prescription charges and exemptions in England would need to be taken in the context of the next spending review, which is due to report in the autumn. In the mean time, there are no plans to make any changes to the current list of conditions which are exempt from prescription charges.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what will be the number of staff of the Office for Budget Responsibility; and what will be the annual cost of employing them.[HL157]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The interim Office for Budget Responsibility comprises a three-person independent Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC), supported by a Civil Service secretariat of eight economists and public finance experts. In addition, the interim OBR is drawing on additional resources from within the Treasury and other government departments.
Two of the three BRC members have previously worked at HM Treasury. The secretariat are HM Treasury employees, redeployed from within the department.
Sir Alan Budd, as chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee, will be advising the Chancellor on the arrangements for the permanent OBR. The annual cost and number of staff of the OBR will depend on decisions on the basis of this advice.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (a) economists, and (b) accountants, are employed by or available to the Office for Budget Responsibility; and how many of them previously worked at HM Treasury or are seconded from HM Treasury.[HL203]
Lord Sassoon: The interim Office for Budget Responsibility comprises a three-person independent Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC), supported by a Civil Service secretariat of eight economists and public finance experts. In addition, the interim OBR is drawing on additional resources from within the Treasury and other government departments.
Two of the three BRC members have previously worked at HM Treasury. The secretariat are HM Treasury employees, redeployed from within the department.
Sir Alan Budd, as chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee, will be advising the Chancellor on the arrangements for the permanent OBR. The annual cost and number of staff of the OBR will depend on decisions on the basis of this advice.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether appointments to the Office for Budget Responsibility have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' Code of Practice; and where the Office for Budget Responsibility positions were advertised.[HL204]
Lord Sassoon: The appointments to the interim Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC) were undertaken on an expedited basis to ensure the interim Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) could perform its functions for the emergency Budget. These appointments were made on an interim basis and are not appointments to a permanent BRC.
Sir Alan Budd, as chair of the interim BRC, will be advising the Chancellor on the arrangements for the permanent OBR, including on the appointments process.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Office for Budget Responsibility will produce its own economic forecasts or audit the forecasts made by HM Treasury.[HL222]
To ask Her Majesty's Government in what way the economic forecasting of the Office for Budget Responsibility will differ in approach and output from that of HM Treasury.[HL223]
Lord Sassoon: The interim Office for Budget Responsibility published its own economic forecast and a description of its forecast approach on 14 June. Copies of the document are available in the Vote Office and have been deposited in the Libraries of the House.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether members of the Office for Budget Responsibility have terminated all involvement with organisations with which they were associated or by whom they were paid; and whether arrangements exist under which members of the office can renew previous employment or association on completing their work with the office.[HL226]
Lord Sassoon: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) was established on an interim basis on 17 May 2010. It is led by a three-person Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC).
Where members of the interim BRC had existing commitments, they are on sabbatical from or have suspended these appointments for the duration of their membership of the OBR.
Sir Alan Budd, as chair of the interim BRC, will be advising the Chancellor on the arrangements for the permanent OBR.
Asked by Lord Corbett of Castle Vale
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many staff are employed from other departments by the Office for Budget Responsibility; and what are the salaries and other emoluments of its senior staff.[HL388]
Lord Sassoon: The interim Office for Budget Responsibility comprises a three-person independent Budget Responsibility Committee (BRC), supported by a Civil Service secretariat of eight economists and public finance experts. In addition, the interim OBR is drawing on additional resources from within the Treasury and other government departments.
Two of the three BRC members have previously worked at HM Treasury. The secretariat are HM Treasury employees, redeployed from within the department.
Sir Alan Budd, as chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee, will be advising the Chancellor on the arrangements for the permanent OBR. The annual cost and number of staff of the OBR will depend on decisions on the basis of this advice.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a minister attended the December Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe ministerial meeting in Athens; and whether the Secretary of State or a Minister will attend the July OSCE informal ministerial meeting in Almaty.[HL442]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): No Minister attended the annual Organization for Security and Co-operation (OSCE) ministerial meeting in Athens on 1-2 December 2009. My honourable friend the Minister for Europe, David Lidington, will attend the July OSCE informal ministerial meeting in Almaty.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of the Philippines about alleged extra-judicial killings, missing persons and the actions of the security forces; and whether they will raise those matters in international organisations.[HL234]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We raised allegations of extra-judicial killings at the UN Universal Periodic Review of the Philippines in 2008, the most recent such review. Since then our embassy in Manila has made regular representations to the Government of the Republic of the Philippines. Most recently our ambassador raised the Maguindanao Massacre with President-elect Aquino on 31 May.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of the Philippines about ratifying the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.[HL235]
Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK in conjunction with other EU members has asked the Philippines to ratify the Rome Statute during the current negotiations on an EU-Philippines Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. UK dialogue on this will have to await the formation of the next Administration following the recent presidential elections in the Philippines.
Asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the funding allocated to regional development agencies for the provision of leaders' boards under the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 will continue until legislation repealing the leaders' boards has been enacted.[HL228]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The Secretary of State has announced that government funding for regional local authority leaders' boards-which took over most of the functions and staff of the old regional assemblies-has been ended. This does not need to await the repeal of Section 5 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and will produce an annual saving of £16 million.
The dismantling of these boards will remove a needlessly complex bureaucracy and see local authorities put firmly back in control of planning in their areas. This will ensure local people can hold their leaders to account.
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the 2009-10 report on the grant-in-aid for Royal travel by air and rail will be published.[HL453]
Earl Attlee: The exact date is yet to be finalised.
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 7 June (WA 27), whether Somaliland has fulfilled the normal criteria for recognition as an independent state.[HL398]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): While based on the technical criteria set out in the Written Answer dated 16 November 1989 (Official Report, col. 494), each case must be assessed on its own particular facts. In the case of Somaliland, there are a number of relevant factors, including UN resolutions and the UN-sponsored peace process, as well as the positions of African Union member states. We therefore do not currently recognise Somaliland as an independent state. However, the Government will keep the policy on recognition of Somaliland under review in line with these factors.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent contact they have had with the people of St Helena regarding the planned airport for the island; and what are their plans for the airport.[HL268]
Baroness Verma: We are currently considering the question of access to St Helena. Ministers or officials have not yet had contact with the people of St Helena since the new Government were established, but will do so in due course. I will inform the House of any decision that is made.
Baroness Verma: We are currently considering the question of access to St Helena. I will inform the House of any decision that is made.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will raise with the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights the case of Mr Ahmet Turk, a former parliamentarian in Turkey and chairman of the Democratic Society Party, who is charged by the public prosecutor for speaking in Kurdish within the parliament building.[HL513]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government continue to support and participate in dialogue with the Turkish Government on issues surrounding freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and Mr Turk's case is contained within these wider discussions. We continue to urge Turkey to amend its laws on freedom of speech, including the restrictions on the use of non-Turkish languages.
We cannot intervene in Turkish laws or the judicial system, but we will continue to monitor this case and expect high legal and judicial standards throughout.
The Government haves no plans to raise Mr Turk's case in these international fora at this time.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have made, or intend to make, representations to the Government of Ukraine about allegations of media censorship in that country by the security services.[HL447]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government welcome President Yanukovych's statement of 20 April, in which he stated, "I will always defend media freedom and do everything possible to ensure transparency of power and the openness of its actions to the press and society". The Government will encourage Ukraine to meet this commitment. The Government are, however, concerned about reports from non-governmental organisations and representatives of the media claiming that media freedoms in Ukraine may be in danger, in part because of interference by the security services.
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