You are here: Parliament home page > Parliamentary business > Publications and Records > Lords Publications > Lords Hansard > Lords Hansard by Date > Daily Hansard
Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page


9 July 2010 : Column WA79



9 July 2010 : Column WA79

Written Answers

Friday 9 July 2010

Banking

Questions

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The UK fully supports the work of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision to strengthen the market risk framework, and to require banks to hold significantly more capital against their trading book activities, including derivative dealing by major investment banks. As a result of these revisions, the Basel Committee has estimated that market risk capital requirements will increase by three to four times for large internationally active banks. The Basel Committee has agreed a co-ordinated start date of no later than 31 December 2011.

Asked by Lord Myners

Lord Sassoon: The UK implements internationally agreed Basel Committee on Banking Supervision standards through the Capital Requirements Directive. The UK implemented the Capital Requirements Directive on 1 January 2007. However, since then, no new capital requirements have been placed on banks as a result of decisions made by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision.

However, in addition to proposals made by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision the European Union has adopted the Capital Requirements Directive II. The Capital Requirements Directive II was adopted in October 2008 and will come into force on 31 December 2010. The Capital Requirements Directive II improves the regulatory framework in several areas including: the large exposures regime, the definition of capital, supervisory arrangements and the treatment of securitisations.

In response to the financial crisis the Basel Committee agreed reforms to strengthen the capital requirements for the trading book and re-securitisations. These reforms are to be implemented no later than the end of 2011. The Basel Committee is currently working on the package of reforms known as Basel III, which the G20 aims to have in place by the end of 2012. The Government strongly support the work of the Basel Committee.



9 July 2010 : Column WA80

BBC

Questions

Asked by Lord Patten

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Under the terms of its charter and agreement, the BBC is operationally independent of Government and there is no provision for Government to intervene.

The BBC should be prepared to defend all expenditure decisions it makes and demonstrate value for money.

The chair of the BBC Trust set out his commitment to financial responsibility and efficiency in a speech on 30 June.

Asked by Lord Patten

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The BBC may use licence fee revenue to meet its pension liabilities.

The BBC announced its proposals for the future of the BBC pension scheme on 29 June.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Questions

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are deeply concerned by the violence against human rights defenders, parliamentarians, journalists and members of civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern very closely and will continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights and freedom of expression.

Most recently our ambassador to DRC raised our concerns at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya with government officials and the DRC Foreign Minister.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool



9 July 2010 : Column WA81

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned at the intimidation and violence faced by human rights defenders including journalists, parliamentarians and civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern very closely and will continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights defenders, journalists, parliamentarians and civil society. Most recently the Minister for Africa issued a statement of concern at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya and our ambassador followed this up with the DRC Foreign Minister.

We regularly raise these issues with the Government of DRC and follow up systematically.

We are also providing practical support to ensure that human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society are able to carry out their work. We have appointed a liaison officer and made their contact details available to local non-governmental organisations (NGO) and civil society. The UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Protection Unit also provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.

We also provide £11 million to a media fund jointly administered with France and Sweden to support professionalisation, regulation, and the economic viability of the media in DRC. Funding goes to local media organisations and NGOs including Journalists in Danger which campaigns for freedom of the press.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

Lord Howell of Guildford: We are deeply concerned at the intimidation and violence faced by human rights defenders including journalists, parliamentarians and civil society in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We follow cases of concern very closely and will continue to press the Government of DRC bilaterally and with our EU partners to meet their responsibility for protecting human rights defenders, journalists, parliamentarians and civil society. Most recently the Minister for Africa issued a statement of concern at the death of human rights defender Floribert Chebeya and our ambassador followed this up with the DRC Foreign Minister.

We regularly raise these issues with the Government of DRC and follow up systematically.

We are also providing practical support to ensure that human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society are able to carry out their work. We have appointed a liaison officer and made their contact details available to local non-governmental organisations (NGO) and civil society. The UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) Protection Unit also provides protection services to those in danger including relocation and advice on personal security.



9 July 2010 : Column WA82

We also provide £11 million to a media fund jointly administered with France and Sweden to support professionalisation, regulation, and the economic viability of the media in DRC. Funding goes to local media organisations and NGOs including Journalists in Danger which campaigns for freedom of the press.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK as a permanent member of the UN Security Council played a key part in negotiations on UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1925, the renewal of the mandate for the UN Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) (MONUSCO). UNSCR 1925 mandates MONUSCO to provide logistical support for the DRC elections which are scheduled to take place in 2011.

We work closely with our EU partners in DRC on a range of issues including the political situation in DRC. Recently we co-drafted with the EU and the UN a letter to the DRC outlining necessary election benchmarks which the Government of DRC need to address.

We remain active in both organisations on these issues.

Fuel Prices

Questions

Asked by Lord Laird

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): Fuel duty rates on road fuels are currently 57.19p per litre. In mid June 2010 unleaded petrol was on average 117.9p per litre as detailed in the Department of Energy and Climate Change's latest quarterly energy prices publication of 24 June 2010. Excluding VAT and fuel duty, the current average price of petrol would be 43.15p per litre. VAT is levied at the standard rate on the base petrol price plus the fuel duty.

It is not possible to state with certainty what the extra cost of a litre of petrol will be as a result of the proposed VAT increase as retail road fuel prices in January 2011 will be subject to prevailing market conditions.

Aviation turbine fuel used in private pleasure flying in turbine powered aircraft is subject to duty at the same rate as road diesel at 57.19p per litre. Aviation gasoline used in piston powered aircraft is subject to

9 July 2010 : Column WA83

duty at 38.35p per litre. VAT at 17.5 per cent is applicable to retail sales of road fuels and aviation fuel used for commercial flights within the UK and private pleasure flying. VAT at 20 per cent will be applicable from 4 January 2011 in the same instances.

IRA

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The department does not hold this sort of detailed information.

The pursuit of compensation from the Government of Libya is a private matter-the role of the Government has been to facilitate contact between the campaign and the Libyan Government.

Museums and Galleries

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

Lord Shutt of Greetland: No, the Government are not considering introducing entrance charges to national museums and galleries.

Northern Ireland Office: Taxis

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

The process would require a manual investigation of all travel and subsistence forms submitted by staff for these two calendar months.

It should also be noted that policing and justice functions were devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 12 April 2010. The Northern Ireland Office is now differently configured.



9 July 2010 : Column WA84

Olympic Games 2010

Question

Asked by Lord Bates

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The UK co-sponsored the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 64/4 of 19 October 2009 because we supported Canada's ambition to promote the contribution that sport can make to peace, including through the Olympic Truce.

As the host country for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games, Canada sought to promote the contribution that sport can make to peace, including through the Olympic Truce. The UK co-sponsored it to support Canada's ambition, and to recognise our role as host country for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Police: Northern Ireland

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: Roman Catholic composition in the PSNI regulars currently stands at 29.05 per cent, compared to 8.3 per cent prior to the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000. This represents good progress towards a more representative police force. The temporary provisions of the Act that allow for recruitment on a 50:50 basis are enacted by order, which expires at the end of March 2011.

Rats

Question

Asked by Lord Swinfen

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The European Union has plans to encourage less hazardous rodenticides through a proposed new EU biocides regulation which would require changes in certain component substances of rodenticides.

One of the purposes of the new regulation is to exclude the use of rodenticides containing active substances with particular hazards such as carcinogens, mutagens, substances toxic to reproduction, and substances that are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT). However, recognising the wider public health and socio-economic harm that can result if

9 July 2010 : Column WA85

effective rodenticides are not available, the proposal also provides a mechanism for such rodenticides to be used where certain risk and socio-economic criteria are met.

Unemployment

Questions

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The available information is in the table below. Information is not available in respect of Northern Ireland as this is a devolved matter which is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Department for Employment and Learning.

Number of Notified Job Vacancies(6) in each Region of England, Wales and Scotland by available quarters 2009-10
Quarter/Region2009 Jan-Mar2009 Apr-Jun2009 Jul-Sep2009 Oct-Dec2010 Jan-Mar2010 Apr-May(6)

East

57,238

66,959

83,742

85,759

70,905

61,958

East Midlands

47,494

60,704

74,263

85,941

63,844

54,097

London

67,709

76,363

88,182

102,850

81,087

65,077

North East

39,868

42,573

44,052

44,321

39,427

32,329

North West

94,361

103,580

122,904

140,593

117,915

97,444

Scotland

60,860

69,265

74,155

74,118

60,260

49,931

South East

79,841

90,083

107,247

117,386

101,422

86,613

South West

57,974

69,277

80,191

85,384

72,189

61,128

Wales

31,097

40,031

49,773

56,364

42,925

35,116

West Midlands

63,314

77,812

92,796

107,857

81,281

76,124

Yorkshire and The Humber

63,022

68,751

83,098

84,289

73,479

60,935



9 July 2010 : Column WA86

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

Letter from Stephen Penneck, Director-General for ONS, to Lord Roberts of Llandudno, dated July 2010.

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking what percentage of people aged (a) under 18, and (b) 18 to 25, were registered as unemployed in May in (1) each of the English regions, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland. (HL864)

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides figures for the number of people registered as unemployed based on claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.

Table 1 attached shows the number and percentage of 16 to 17 and 18 to 24 year-olds claiming JSA in each country and government office region in May 2010 in line with the standard age bands available for JSA statistics.

National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment and unemployment, are available from the NOMIS website at: http://www.nomisweb.co.uk.

Table 1: Number of persons aged 18-24 and 16-17 claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in each of the English regions, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in May 2010
18-2416-17
People%People%

North East

23,375

8.9

210

0.3

North West

54,555

8.0

635

0.3

Yorkshire and The Humber

44,655

8.1

565

0.4

East Midlands

30,600

7.1

345

0.3

West Midlands

47,360

9.2

385

0.3

East

29,930

6.0

450

0.3

London

48,840

6.7

425

0.2

South East

36,645

4.9

610

0.3

South West

22,515

4.8

475

0.4

Wales

23,850

8.2

220

0.3

Scotland

37,680

7.8

1,680

1.3

Northern Ireland

16,840

9.2

85

0.2

Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page