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20 July 2010 : Column WA183



20 July 2010 : Column WA183

Written Answers

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Abdul Baset Al Megrahi

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) does not monitor the location or health of Abdul Baset Ali Al Megrahi. East Renfrewshire was designated as the local authority responsible for monitoring Al Megrahi's health and location because his family lived in Newton Mearns during his imprisonment in Greenock Prison.

The FCO has not made representations to the Scottish Executive about the accuracy of the medical opinions commissioned on Al Megrahi's cancer condition. The Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament conducted an inquiry earlier this year and published its report on 5 February 2010. The report noted that the release of Mr Al Megrahi on compassionate grounds was considered in the normal way and in accordance with good practice. A copy of the report is available at the Scottish Executive's website at: http://www.scottish. parliament.uk/s3/committees/justice/reports-10/jur10-3.htm.

The FCO has not asked for copies of the monthly medical reports on Al Megrahi sent to East Renfrewshire Council as it would not be appropriate for the FCO to ask the council for confidential medical reports.

The Prime Minister has described the release of Mr Al Megrahi as a mistake.

Africa: Lord's Resistance Army

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We regularly discuss the movements of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) with other Governments, (including the US, Uganda and other EU member states).



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Regional military co-operation between Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic, to pursue and apprehend LRA fighters, is continuing. A special division of the Ugandan High Court has been established as a possible alternative system of justice for the LRA commanders indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The Government will press the Ugandan Government to ensure that any alternative system of justice is compatible with the Rome Statute and international law, but ultimately it is for the Government of Uganda to agree with the ICC.

Agriculture: Pigs

Question

Asked by Baroness Byford

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The feeding of swill to pigs is prohibited under Regulation (EC) 1774/2002 on the handling and disposal of animal by-products. The regulation is directly applicable in all EU member states.

Badgers

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The coalition Government have committed that, as part of a package of measures, we will introduce a carefully managed and science-led policy of badger control in areas with high and persistent levels of bovine tuberculosis. We need to consider all the issues carefully, including the scientific evidence, to work out the detail of the package to ensure we get it right. We will be looking at vaccine and culling options as part of that package.

Bank of England: Staff

Questions

Asked by Lord Barnett



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The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The matters raised in these Questions will be for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Bank of England to resolve during the transition to the new regime. The operations of the FSA and the Bank are, and will remain, independent from government. Should any legislation be needed to facilitate these arrangements, the Government will bring it forward in the forthcoming Bill.

The Treasury does not intend to move any staff to the Bank of England as a consequence of the transfer of regulatory responsibility from the FSA to the Bank. The Treasury, Bank and FSA will continue to exchange staff on temporary loans and secondments in the usual manner.

Banking

Questions

Asked by Viscount Waverley

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): UK Trade and Investment works in close partnership with the private sector to promote the UK's strengths in financial and professional services, including regulatory expertise. This year, strategic leadership will be taken forward by TheCityUK, the independent, practitioner-led body set up to build on and consolidate further the UK's promotional effort at home and abroad for this sector. UKTI will support TheCityUK's overseas promotion strategy and UK exporters through its global network of trade promotion officers.

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): With regards to clearing of euro-denominated securities and derivatives, the UK hosts multiple clearing houses offering foreign currency denominated clearing

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including in euros. There is no obligation to have access to central bank liquidity in order to offer these clearing services and in all cases the Financial Services Authority requires that appropriate risk management controls are in place.

Access to European Central Bank (ECB) liquidity facilities is a matter for the ECB.

Banking: Cheques

Question

Asked by Lord Lucas

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): A number of alternatives to cheques are already in common use. They include cash, plastic cards, telephone and internet banking, direct credits and direct debits.

However, there remain gaps, notably in the area of person-to-person and person-to-business payments, and payments to schools and charities are a particular concern. Here, the payments industry is looking at potential enhancements to existing payment methods, for example to enable dual authorisation before a payment can be made, and new forms of payment. New forms may include mobile phone payments and, potentially, new paper-based instruments that could be handled electronically.

Benefits

Questions

Asked by Lord Laird

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Drug and alcohol addiction is one of the most damaging root causes of poverty, and helping people who are trapped on benefits through drug and alcohol addiction so that they can recover and find employment is a top priority for the Government.

The department has recently published research examining the issues surrounding benefit uptake in England by individuals who use illicit drugs, in particular heroin and crack cocaine, Problem Drug Users, Experiences of Employment and the Benefit System, Department for Work and Pensions, Research Report No. 640, June 2010. (http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/report_ abstracts/rr_abstracts/rra_640.asp).



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The study explores the wider context of education, training and employment for drug users as well as the role of treatment. The report found that drug users face a number of barriers to employment which can include a lack of self-confidence, mental and physical health problems, a criminal record, lack of skills and qualifications and employer discrimination. In addition, financial problems can lead to homelessness and an increase in levels of crime. The department is working closely with the Ministry of Justice to strengthen collaborative working to improve the employment rates of offenders and reduce reoffending.

The department is currently undertaking similar work on alcohol misuse and will publish this upon completion as part of the department's standard research publication process.

Asked by Lord Myners

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The information is in the table:

£ million (nominal terms)2009-10

Incapacity Benefit

6,111

Employment and Support Allowance

1,268

Source: DWP Statistical and Accounting Data

1) Figures are rounded to the nearest £million.

2) Tables containing benefit expenditure by Benefit, Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency can be found at the following URL: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/medium_ term.asp and a copy has been placed in the Library.

Budget Responsibility Committee

Questions

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): As the Chancellor confirmed at his hearing before the Treasury Select Committee on Thursday 15 July, positions on the Budget Responsibility Committee will be advertised.

Asked by Lord Myners



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Lord Sassoon: The interim Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) terms of reference, published on 8 June, require the Treasury to provide the interim OBR with full access to the data, analysis and resources necessary to fulfil the roles set out in the terms of reference. The interim OBR has discretion over what material is published in fulfilling the remit set out in the terms of reference.

Children: Early Learning and Development

Questions

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The learning and development requirements for early years providers are set out in the early years foundation stage (EYFS). The Government have asked Dame Clare Tickell, chief executive of Action for Children, to carry out an independent review of the EYFS to consider how to reduce burdens on those who have to deliver it, and to ensure it is clear about how professionals can best support young children in their early learning and development, so they are prepared to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by more formal learning.

The review will formally start in September this year, and will report in spring 2011. It is our intention to undertake a full consultation before any changes are implemented. A Statement has been placed in the House outlining further details about the scope of the review.

Children: Forced Labour

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The UK Government are concerned about allegations of the use of child labour in producing goods for British retailers. However, we do not believe that trade restrictions such as import bans would be effective in combating child labour. Instead, we are strongly in favour of incentives for discouraging child labour. The EU's generalised system of preferences+ (GSP+) trading scheme offers reduced tariffs to

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economically vulnerable countries that ratify and effectively implement 27 international conventions, including on child labour.

The UK Government also strongly support the ethical trading initiative (ETI). We will encourage UK businesses to sign up to the ETI to challenge poor labour standards around the world-including child labour-and drive practical measures to improve them.

Climate Change

Question

Asked by Lord Maples

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): No particular global temperature series is used in formulating the Government's climate change policies. The Government's policies draw on a broad body of scientific and economic evidence, brought together through expert advice and international scientific assessments. Historic warming of the climate is an important part of this evidence and is provided by three independent assessments of near-surface temperature data, carried out by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and by a collaboration of the Met Office Hadley Centre and University of East Anglia, which show almost identical warming trends over the past century. This warming is corroborated by other data sets from instruments on satellites and weather balloons, and physical indicators including sea-level rise.

Debt Management Office

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government will closely examine the market's response to the Department for Work and Pensions' announcements over the next few weeks. The Debt Management Office (DMO) is always ready to listen to feedback from its stakeholders on possible actions to be taken to meet market requirements. The DMO's remit makes clear that it would consult market participants, and seek HM Treasury's approval, before introducing any new instruments, although there are no plans to consult at this stage.

Debt: Interest Rates

Question

Asked by Lord Greaves



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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Since 2004, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has provided funding of more than £21 million to fund specialist regional teams across the country to tackle the problem of illegal money lending. To date, the teams have helped more than 11,500 victims, written off £31 million of illegal debt and secured over 100 convictions and prison sentences totalling 70 years.

Deep Sea Mining

Question

Asked by Lord Patten

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Deep seabed mining activity is regulated by the International Seabed Authority, established by UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which the UK is a party. The Government strongly support the work of the authority to regulate mining activity on the seabed in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

Through our membership of the council of the authority, we will continue to take an active interest in the development of mining on the seabed as it becomes increasingly viable from a technical and economic standpoint. We will also seek to ensure that potential future UK commercial interests are protected and that environmental concerns are adequately addressed.

Direct Selling Association

Question

Asked by Lord Lucas

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): All services fall within the scope of the directive, unless they fall within one of the exclusions in Article 2 of the directive. Thus, where members of the Direct Selling Association provide services and these services are not excluded in Article 2 of the directive, they will be subject to the requirements of the directive. The department's consultation on the implementation of the services directive in November 2007 included the Direct Selling Association in its list of organisations consulted.

The services directive, which was implemented in the UK through the Provision of Services Regulations 2009, will make it easier for service providers to trade in other member states and across borders. It should help reduce compliance and information costs, and enhance transparency. The directive, when fully implemented by all member states, is expected to benefit the UK economy by £4 billion to £6 billion per annum.



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Disabled People: UN Convention

Questions

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The UK Government have ratified the convention and we will meet our commitments under it. The previous Government took a reservation and interpretive declaration to Article 24, on education, and we have no plans to change this.

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The department has made progress in developing a review process for its benefit appointees-a group affected by Article 12.4 of the convention. Setting up a review process is a major undertaking for the department because there are close to 900,000 customers with appointees.

Progress will be considered in light of spending review plans.

Education: Special Educational Needs

Question

Asked by Lord Condon

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The Lamb inquiry made 51 recommendations. A number have been implemented. For example, the Children, Schools and Families Act 2010 legislated to give parents the right to appeal to the first-tier tribunal (special educational needs and disability) when a review of their child's special educational needs (SEN) statement does not result in any amendments, as recommended by the inquiry. That Act also put into law the recommendation that Ofsted must, in particular, report on how mainstream schools meet the needs of disabled children and those with SEN. The Equality Act 2010, following another of the inquiry's recommendations, removed the exemption

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on schools and local authorities to provide auxiliary aids and services as part of their duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled pupils. The Government are considering when to commence the relevant sections of these Acts.

Work on other recommendations has also been completed. For example, guidance on writing SEN statements has been published and training for local authority officers in working with the parents of children with SEN has been delivered. The Government are considering the outstanding recommendations as they develop their detailed policies in this area.

Elections

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Yes, subject to an electoral registration officer's determination as to whether they meet the residence requirements for electoral registration. In addition, they must meet the age requirement and not be subject to any legal incapacity to vote.

Elections: Voting System

Questions

Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours

The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Under the alternative vote, in those systems where voters may mark a preference for as few or as many candidates as they wish, a candidate would require more than 50 per cent of voters' first preferences or more than 50 per cent of votes remaining in the count in order to be elected.



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Under the optional preferential form of the alternative vote, if no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of voters' first preferences, then the candidate in last place is eliminated, and each vote originally allocated to the eliminated candidate is reallocated to a remaining candidate according to the next preference expressed on each ballot paper. Where there is no next preference given, the ballot paper is "exhausted" and is set aside from the count. The process of eliminating candidates and reallocating votes will continue until a remaining candidate has more than 50 per cent of the votes left in the count.

It is theoretically possible, if perhaps unlikely, that every elector could decide not to mark any preferences beyond a first preference. In this instance, the order of candidates could not be changed by following the counting process through to the end. However, if the count were to proceed in the same way as any other alternative vote count, with the last placed candidate eliminated and his/her votes either transferred or exhausted, the winning candidate would by definition have won more than 50 per cent of the votes left in the count. However, this may not amount to more than 50 per cent of the total votes cast. The only exception to this would be a case in which the final two candidates had an exactly equal number of votes.

As my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister announced on 5 July, a Bill will be introduced before the summer to provide for a referendum on the alternative vote system, and for a review of constituency boundaries in order to create fewer and more equally sized constituencies. The Bill will set out further details about the form of alternative vote system to be put in the referendum.

Energy: Oil

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): We are not aware of any current provision within EU law which would enable any EU body to require a moratorium on new drilling, or on deep water drilling. We are also not aware of any formal proposal in this area having been put forward by the Commission to date. Should any such proposal be made, HMG would consider its exact nature and its proposed legal basis. But HMG remain of the firm view that these are matters which are properly left to individual member states.

EU: Budget

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): At a time of fiscal consolidation across many EU member states, the Government believe it is only fair the EU budget plays its part.

In 2005 the previous Government agreed to rising UK contributions to the EU budget over the period 2007-13. But to reflect today's realities we have repeatedly called for a freeze in the EU budget next year.

The Commission's initial proposal for the EU budget for the period 2014-20 is expected early next year. The Government expect the Commission's proposal to take account of fiscal consolidation efforts across member states. At the negotiation of the next EU budget, the Government will strongly defend the UK's national interests, and ensure the budget is focused on those areas where the EU adds value.

EU: Finance Regulation

Question

Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The work of the EU Economic Task force is continuing. The task force will make its final report, with recommendations, in time for the European Council on 28 and 29 October.

At the first meeting of the task force on 21 May, the Chancellor stated that the Government will not support any measures that would undermine the role of national Parliaments in setting budgets. As is the established policy, we will not submit the UK Budget to the EU before it has been debated and agreed in Parliament.

EU: Subsidiarity

Question

Asked by Lord Rooker

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The EU has to apply the principle of subsidiarity when it acts in areas in which it has competence, except in areas of exclusive competence.

The examination of the EU's existing competences promised in the programme for Government will consider whether the balance of competence between the EU and the UK in certain areas currently falls in the right place.



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Finance: Derivatives

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): On 14 June the European Commission published a consultation paper on derivatives and market infrastructure. This covers issues relating to risk management standards for central clearing counterparties (CCPs), as well as margining requirements for CCPs clearing multiple asset classes. A final proposal from the Commission is expected in September 2010.

The UK authorities are engaging in the consultation process and will feed in views as appropriate.

Finance: Small Businesses

Question

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government want the banking system to serve business, not the other way round. We will bring forward detailed proposals to foster diversity in financial services, promote mutuals and create a more competitive banking industry. The Government are committed to working with the building society sector as part of this work and continue to monitor business lending.

Higher Education: Overseas Students

Question

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): I welcome the fact that increasing numbers of Indian students want to come to the UK to study. This is a measure of the reputation British universities enjoy around the world for excellence and quality.

The Government are actively engaged in building on the excellent links that some of our universities already have with India. Co-operation between universities in the UK and in India is to our mutual benefit. The UK higher education sector is already very active in India in developing partnerships, with over 80 collaborations in place.



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The level of student recruitment from outside the European Union is a matter for individual universities taking account of their own capacity constraints and the demand for places. Universities do not receive government funding for such students and are free to charge fees as they see fit. As autonomous organisations they have flexibility to invest any income they receive, including that from international students, in facilities and services that enable them to expand the number of places they offer to those coming from overseas.

Housing

Questions

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The Government have no plans to introduce powers which could reduce the right of eligible tenants to purchase their home under the right to buy scheme.

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

Baroness Hanham: We recognise that there is a continued need for social housing and we remain committed to the provision of social housing.

Full scrutiny of expenditure showed that the previous Government made commitments in 2010-11 that were not securely and fully funded including the housing pledge. Of the £1.5 billion to fund the housing pledge, we have now secured and authorised £1.25 billion.

Decisions on future levels of funding for affordable housing for social rent and low cost home ownership will be made in the spending review which will be announced in the autumn.

Immigration: Deportation

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton



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The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones): There have been five occasions for the period 12 May to 31 May 2010 when pilots have refused to carry individuals due to be deported or removed from the United Kingdom from British airports (the UK Border Agency do not hold data on transit airports) mainly due to the disruptive behaviour of the individual concerned. Four of these individuals have subsequently been removed.

In order to ensure data quality, information held by the UK Border Agency is reconciled with data from the travel service provider. As this is provided one month in arrears, data for June are not yet available.

This is internal management information and has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols and should be treated as provisional and subject to change.

Insolvency

Question

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Pre-pack administrations can provide the best return for creditors as a whole. However, it is important that they are used responsibly and that creditors are given full information. The Insolvency Service is actively monitoring disclosures made to creditors and is working with the insolvency profession and their regulators to improve performance against the professional standard.

We are currently considering the responses to a consultation inviting views on their use and on whether the right balance is struck in the current regime.

IRA

Questions

Asked by Lord Tebbit

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The investigation and prosecution of anyone involved in terrorist activity are matters for the police and prosecuting authorities.

Asked by Lord Laird

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government are committed to engaging with the Irish Government to consider how best both Governments can contribute to dealing with the past in Northern Ireland.

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Government do not believe that ascertaining the number of people killed and injured by Semtex explosives provided by the Government of Libya to the IRA is a necessary part of their role in facilitating contact between those privately campaigning for compensation and the Government of Libya.

Kenya

Question

Asked by Lord Tebbit

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK welcomes strongly the leading role played by Kenya in the fight against piracy, including through the prosecution and detention of pirate suspects.

The UK supports the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) programme working in Kenya to enhance court and prison facilities to enable the prosecution and imprisonment of pirate suspects. It also works to improve the working conditions for both court and prison staff. The total budget for the UNODC Kenya programme is $US 4 million. The EU budget, to which the UK contributes, has provided $US 2 million. The UK uses its role in the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia to identify continued budget support to the UNODC programmes in Kenya and other regional countries as a key priority and encourages contributions from other key partners.

Kyrgyzstan

Questions

Asked by Viscount Waverley



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The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The recent violence underlines the importance of Kyrgyzstan putting in place, in conjunction with key international actors, a credible mechanism to review and reconcile the fears and concerns of those affected. To that end, the UK co-sponsored a resolution in the UN Human Rights Council on 18 June 2010 which called for a transparent investigation into the events of April 2010 and the recent violence, and urged the Kyrgyz authorities to promote inter-community reconciliation.

Asked by Viscount Waverley

Lord Howell of Guildford: The UK is working closely with international partners, including the EU, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the UN, in support of the democratic process underway in Kyrgyzstan. This represents the best chance to ensure peace, institutional stability, open dialogue, rule of law and democracy for all the people of Kyrgyzstan. The UK provides core funding to those and other international bodies. In addition the UK is supporting ongoing work with two non-governmental organisations in the south, one aimed at preventing conflict and the other at encouraging inter-community dialogue. The situation on the ground remains extremely fragile, and we will continue to encourage steps that help Kyrgyzstan move forward, including emphasising the need for an inter-community dialogue.

National Minimum Wage

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): I refer the noble Lord to the Statement I made on 21 June (Official Report, col. WS 96) which set out the remit for the Low Pay Commission's 2011 report.

The Government value the work of the independent Low Pay Commission. However, we need to ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible. We are currently considering how to achieve this as part of the wider cross-government review of arm's length bodies.



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North Korea

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK welcomes this useful resolution. The UK shares the concerns it highlights about human rights in North Korea. Some recommended actions are already taking place. For example, the EU raised the plight of North Korean refugees at the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue held in Madrid on 29 June 2010. The EU has also sponsored UN resolutions for the past six years and supports the mandate of the UN special rapporteur to visit North Korea to make a full assessment of the situation. We will consider, in consultation with our EU colleagues, the best way to address the points raised in this resolution.

Northern Ireland Office: Civil Servants

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is reviewing its staffing needs in the context of the current spending review.

Nuclear Fusion: Research

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The European Commission, which manages the Euratom funding for ITER, has advised member states that the main reasons for the increase in cost of the European contribution to the construction of ITER are as follows:

the 2001 cost estimates were made on a insufficiently rigorous basis;the need for additional and more complex technical components to deliver ITER successfully;escalation of the materials and construction costs at much faster than average inflation rates;

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the increase from three to seven parties increased the complexity of project integration;the unforeseen effort needed to ensure sufficient design specifications of the ITER components to be able to initiate calls for tender from industry;higher resources than foreseen for inspection and testing to comply with the quality assurance requirements for a nuclear installation and the millions of parts to be assembled; andthe start-up costs of establishing autonomous organisations-ITER Organisation and "Fusion for Energy"-from scratch.

Council conclusions on ITER were adopted as an A point at the Agriculture and Fish Council meeting on 12 July. Council agreed that additional commitments to be found for ITER for 2012-13 should come from a mix of sources within the current EU budget including the framework programme.

Passports

Question

Asked by Lord Kilclooney

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We cannot accept the fraudulent misuse of British passports. In March this year, my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed the previous Government's request for formal assurance that in the future the state of Israel would never be party to the misuse of British passports. We continue to seek these assurances from the Government of Israel.

Pedlars

Question

Asked by Lord Lucas

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The services directive provides that any requirements imposed on service providers must be proportionate, non-discriminatory and justified based on one of a limited number of grounds. They must be transparent and able to be met electronically. UK pedlars should be able to learn quickly, via a member state's point of single contact, an electronic portal describing all requirements to be met in order to deliver a particular service in that member state, what it is they need to do to trade in that market.



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Member states are now engaged in a process of mutual evaluation, reviewing together those remaining requirements on service providers. The aim of the mutual evaluation process is to enhance understanding among member states, increase transparency of requirements and encourage rigorous implementation of the directive by allowing inquiry and challenge between member states. The UK has been actively involved in this process, questioning remaining barriers which seem overly burdensome.

Member states have notified a number of requirements with regard to ambulant traders, and the UK did indeed take the opportunity, at the most recent mutual evaluation meeting, which looked at retail services, to explore further the requirements by other member states with regard to pedlars. Although requirements varied between member states, there was no suggestion that pedlars should not benefit from the liberalising aims of the directive, and we would wish to hear from UK pedlars who continue to face barriers in other member states, and which conflict with the terms of the services directive.

Police: Northern Ireland

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Lord Shutt of Greetland: The provisions of the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 on recruitment to the PSNI are reviewed on an ongoing basis, in line with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's obligations under that Act.

Prudential Regulatory Authority

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The matter raised in this Question will be for the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and the Bank of England to resolve during the transition to the new regime. The day-to-day operations of the FSA and the Bank are, and will remain, independent from Government. Should any legislation be needed to facilitate these arrangements, the Government will bring it forward in the forthcoming Bill.



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Railways: Electrification

Question

Asked by Lord German

Earl Attlee: Network Rail is currently undertaking an engineering study of the Great Western main line, including the Severn Tunnel, to establish in greater detail the work required to electrify the route. Their findings will be presented to the Department for Transport in the near future.

Railways: Franchises

Question

Asked by Lord Bradshaw

Earl Attlee: The terms of all franchise agreements give a general power to the Secretary of State to grant or refuse consent to change of control and to attach conditions to such consent.

Only the National Rail Franchise Terms contained within the South Central franchise agreement, signed in 2009, make explicit reference to the Secretary of State charging fees in respect of granting consent to a change of control.

Rats

Question

Asked by Lord Swinfen

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Under the proposed EU regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the placing on the market and use of biocidal products, and according to the text under discussion in the European Council, the risk and socio-economic tests that must be satisfied for particularly hazardous active substances to be used are that:

d) exposure of humans or the environment is negligible; or

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e) the active substance is necessary to control a serious danger to public health or the environment; orf) not being able to use the active substance would cause disproportionate negative impacts compared with the risk to human health or the environment arising from use of the substance, and there are no suitable alternatives.

The draft European regulation is presently under negotiation and the final text is likely to require a second reading between the European Council and the Parliament.

Roads: Animal Accidents

Questions

Asked by Lord Mancroft

Earl Attlee: The Department for Transport collates information on animals identified as carriageway hazards in reported personal injury road accidents. However, information on the types of animals involved in accidents and whether they are killed or injured is not available.

It is not recorded whether the road on which an accident occurred was a primary road. The number of reported personal injury road accidents on motorways and A roads in 2009 involving animals in the carriageway and casualties in these accidents is shown in the following table.

Reported personal injury road accidents involving an animal1 in the carriageway, casualties in these accidents, by accident and casualty severity on motorways and A roads: Great Britain 2009
Accident SeverityAccidentsCasualty SeverityCasualties

Fatal

3

Killed

3

Serious

49

Seriously injured

55

Slight

327

Slightly injured

478

Total

379

Total

536

1Excludes ridden horses.

Asked by Lord Mancroft



20 July 2010 : Column WA205

Earl Attlee: The number of reported personal injury accidents on motorways and A roads involving at least one pedestrian casualty who was crossing the road in each of the past five years is shown in the following table. It is not recorded whether the road on which an accident occurred was a primary road.

Reported personal injury accidents on motorways and A roads involving a pedestrian casualty crossing the road: GB 2005-2009
YearNumber of accidents

2005

8,478

2006

7,841

2007

7,523

2008

7,266

2009

6,848

Roads: Contractors

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Earl Attlee: The contract for the Al Peterborough to Blyth grade separated junctions road scheme was awarded in 2003 following a competitive tendering process. The contract was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union. Quality (including proven ability to keep scheme costs within budget) was the sole criterion used to select the contractor. The selection was based on an evaluation of the tenders by an internal assessment panel. Of the 17 companies that expressed an interest, five were invited to tender and proceeded to do so.

Schools: Free Schools

Question

Asked by Baroness Scott of Needham Market

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The Government are keen to receive proposals for free schools from a broad range of proposers, including charities, educational groups, teachers and parent groups. We are aware of a number of groups in Suffolk, including groups associated with existing middle schools, interested in establishing new free schools. We will consider carefully all proposals received to ensure they have strong educational aims and objectives, and take into account the impact they might have.



20 July 2010 : Column WA206

Schools: Teachers

Question

Asked by Lord Quirk

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): Information is not available in the form requested.

The department collects information on the reason pupils are excluded from school. Data on reasons for exclusion include information on physical assault, verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult, but not specifically against teachers or school staff.

The reasons for exclusion were collected for the first time for the school year 2003-04 via the termly exclusions survey. In 2005-06 data were collected via the School Census for secondary schools only. From 2006-07 the collection was extended to include primary and special schools. Caution is needed when comparing results from the two sources, which have some differences in scope.

Information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by reason for exclusion is shown in the tables below for primary schools in England, London, Birmingham and Manchester. Table 1 relates to permanent exclusions and table 2 to fixed period exclusions.

Table 1
Maintained Primary Schools (1)
Number of permanent exclusions for physical assault against an adult 2003-04-2007-08 (2)
EnglandLondon Government Office RegionBirmingham Local AuthorityManchester Local Authority

2003-04

280

30

10

10

2004-05

280

30

10

10

2005-06

..

..

..

..

2006-07

260

40

10

x

2007-08

280

40

10

10

Source: School Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.

(2) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil level data.

.. Not applicable. Data not collected.

x Less than 5.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.



20 July 2010 : Column WA207

Table 2
Maintained Primary Schools (1)
Number of fixed period exclusions for physical assault against an adult 2003-04-2007-08
EnglandLondon Government Office RegionBirmingham Local AuthorityManchester Local Authority

2003-04

5,190

680

80

100

2004-05

5,960

830

150

110

2005-06

..

..

..

..

2006-07

6,710

1,060

250

110

2007-08

7,090

1,120

220

90

Source: School Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.

.. Not applicable. Data not collected.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

The department does not hold the requested information for Wales. Information relating to Wales is available from the Welsh Assembly Government http://wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/theme/schools/?lang=en.

Asked by Lord Quirk

Lord Hill of Oareford: The department collects information on the reason pupils are excluded from school. Data on reasons for exclusion includes information on physical assault, verbal abuse or threatening behaviour against an adult, but not specifically against teachers or school staff.

The reasons for exclusion were collected for the first time for the school year 2003-04 via the termly exclusions survey. From 2005-06 onwards data were collected via the School Census. Caution is needed when comparing results from the two sources, which have some differences in scope.

Information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions by reason for exclusion is shown in the tables below for state-funded secondary schools in England, London, Birmingham and Manchester. Table 1 relates to permanent exclusions and table 2 to fixed period exclusions.

Table 1
State-Funded Secondary Schools (1)(2)
Number of permanent exclusions for physical assault against an adult 2003-04-2007-08 (3)
EnglandLondon Government Office RegionBirmingham Local AuthorityManchester Local Authority

2003-04 (4)

780

120

20

10

2004-05 (4)

900

130

30

20

2005-06

740

130

20

10

2006-07

680

120

20

10

2007-08

600

120

20

10

Source: School Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.

20 July 2010 : Column WA208

(2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies).

(3) Figures relating to permanent exclusions are estimates based on incomplete pupil level data.

(4) Excludes city technology colleges and academies as data were not collected for these school types

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

Table 2
State-Funded Secondary Schools (1)(2)
Number of fixed period exclusions for physical assault against an adult 2003-04-2007-08
EnglandLondon Government Office RegionBirmingham Local AuthorityManchester Local Authority

2003-04 (3)

8,110

1,110

190

120

2004-05 (3)

9,480

1,320

290

180

2005-06

8,360

1,310

210

230

2006-07

8,560

1,340

260

160

2007-08

7,430

1,240

200

160

Source: School Census and Termly Exclusions Survey

(1) Includes middle schools as deemed.

(2) Includes city technology colleges and academies (including all-through academies).

(3) Excludes city technology colleges and academies as data were not collected for these school types.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.

The department does not hold the requested information for Wales. Information relating to Wales is available from the Welsh Assembly Government http:// wales.gov.uk/topics/statistics/theme/schools/?lang=en.

Sellafield: Security

Question

Asked by Lord Corbett of Castle Vale

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): There is no mutual aid deployment protocol between the Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) and Cumbria Constabulary. There is, however, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the CNC and Cumbria Constabulary that was agreed in May 2006. This is currently being revised with the expectation that this will be completed by February 2011. This MOU deals with requests by CNC for assistance from Cumbria Constabulary and is not a reciprocal arrangement for mutual aid.

Any requests from Cumbria Constabulary for assistance by the CNC will fall within the scope of Section 59 of the Energy Act 2004, which provides for CNC officers serving with other police forces, including the Cumbria Constabulary. In these circumstances, CNC officers will be under the direction and control of the chief officer of the relevant force. This was the situation during the shooting incident in West Cumbria on 2 June 2010 when CNC officers provided assistance

20 July 2010 : Column WA209

under the direction and control of the chief constable of Cumbria Constabulary. Such assistance will, though, be agreed only if the security arrangements at the Sellafield nuclear site remain robust.

Steven Willcox

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): None. The purpose of repatriation is to enable a prisoner to serve a sentence imposed abroad in his own country. It is not intended to enable a prisoner to receive a reduction in the sentence simply as a consequence of transfer.

St Helena

Question

Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham

Baroness Verma: Details of aid provided to St Helena by the Department for International Development (DfID) are published annually in Statistics on International Development, which is available in the House Library and on the DfID website at: http://www.dfid.gov.uk/About-DFID/Finance-and-performance/Aid-Statistics/Statistics-on-International-Development-2009/.

DfID provided the following amounts to St Helena and dependencies (including Tristan da Cunha) between 2004-05 and 2008-09:

2004-05

£14,481,000

2005-06

£13,564,000

2006-07

£15,692,000

2007-08

£17,550,000

2008-09

£35,738,000

The Secretary of State has recently commissioned a review of DfID's aid programmes to determine how we can achieve better value for money for the taxpayer and fulfil our obligation to the citizens of UK Overseas Territories. Future allocations of funding to St Helena will be determined in due course.

Turks and Caicos

Question

Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham



20 July 2010 : Column WA210

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Although the individuals concerned were suspended in August 2009, the provisions in the 2006 constitution on disqualification for elected or appointed membership of the House of Assembly are set out in Section 47 of Schedule 2 to the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2006: (www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20061913.htm).

These provisions, like the rest of the constitution, are under review.

UK Credit Rating

Question

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Budget set out a comprehensive plan to accelerate the reduction in the deficit and put debt on a downward path. The credit rating agencies continue to assign the UK the highest possible credit rating.

Working Time Directive

Question

Asked by Lord Rooker

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Although there is no complete opt-out from the working time directive, individuals who wish to do so can oput from the maximum 48-hour working week. My Government consider this to be a very important flexibility and are committed to its retention as reflected in the coalition agreement. The opt-out is available in all sectors of the economy, including motorsport.

Zimbabwe

Question

Asked by Lord Avebury



20 July 2010 : Column WA211

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): In St Petersburg the EU will seek to agree with civil society representatives, the rough diamond industry and Kimberly Process (KP) participants how to improve the quality, independence and credibility of the monitoring mechanism. The EU expressed its concerns to Mr Chikane, both directly and through the KP, about his reported role in Farai

20 July 2010 : Column WA212

Maguwu's arrest. Although a number of KP members have called for Mr Chikane's removal, others support him, maintaining that Mr Chikane cannot be held responsible for the actions of state agencies and that the KP has no mandate to interfere in internal legal proceedings. The UK will continue to work closely with the EU to monitor the effectiveness of the monitoring mechanism.

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