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14 Jun 2011 : Column WA167
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA167
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA167
Tuesday 14 June 2011
Abortion
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many women in each strategic health authority area in
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA168
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The information requested is provided in the following table.
| Number of previous abortions by Strategic Health Authority of residence, 2010 | |||||||
| Strategic Health Authority | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 or more | Total |
- Number of previous abortions are grouped where totals are less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented total would reveal a suppressed value from previously published data.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost to the National Health Service of providing abortions in (a) NHS hospitals, and (b) approved independent sector places in 2010.[HL9673]
Earl Howe: The total cost to National Health Service providers (NHS trusts and primary care trust (PCT) provider arms) of providing abortion services in 2009-10 was £82.6 million.
Information on the cost of abortions performed by the independent sector, which were commissioned directly by PCT commissioners, is not collected centrally. However, the department does collect the cost to NHS providers (NHS trusts, foundation trusts and PCT provider arms) of commissioning or contracting abortions from independent sector providers. The cost of this in 2009-10 was £7.5 million.
Airports: Gatwick
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a discrimination complaint has been lodged with the Civil Aviation Authority against the owner of Gatwick Airport, under Section 41 of the Airports Act 1986.[HL9726]
Earl Attlee: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has received a complaint from Flybe that the charges that Gatwick Airport introduced on 1 April 2011 unreasonably discriminate against operators of smaller aircraft. The CAA is conducting a preliminary examination of the complaint to decide if it should carry out a full investigation under the Airports Act 1986.
Aviation: Air Quality
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any individual or organisation has a duty to inform airline passengers when there has been a fume event on an aircraft in which they travelled following which any pilots or crew members have required medical attention in a hospital or medical centre. [HL9689]
Earl Attlee: Incidents on aircraft flights, including any fume events, should be reported under the mandatory occurrence reporting scheme (MORS) run by the UK's independent aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority, which will investigate them as appropriate.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Civil Aviation Authority requires airlines to provide appropriate training for commercial airline pilots and crews to recognise and respond to in-flight exposure to fumes or smoke, as they recommended in 2001.[HL9692]
Earl Attlee: Pilots and cabin crew are required to be trained and to act in such circumstances in accordance with the aircraft manufacturers' instructions in the form of check lists, flight manuals and company procedures manuals. These manuals and procedures,
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA169
Aviation: Illness
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have a duty to ensure that Resolution A35-12 of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, on the protection of the health of passengers and crews on international flights, is implemented for United Kingdom passengers and crews; and, if not, which organisation or individual does.[HL9690]
Earl Attlee: Resolution A35-12 was made at the 37th session of the Assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organisation held during September and October 2010 and related to the protection of the health of passengers and crews and prevention of the spread of communicable disease through international travel.
In the UK, responsibility for preventing the spread of communicable diseases is with the Department of Health (DoH). Airlines take in-flight responsibility for management of illness occurring in passengers and crew, and from a medical perspective, are required by EU-OPS to provide supplemental oxygen and emergency medical kits. In the event of risk of international spread to or from the UK of communicable diseases, DoH liaises with the relevant national (eg Health Protection Agency) and international agencies (eg World Health Organisation and ICAO).
Banking
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure that new entrants to the United Kingdom banking market are not disadvantaged in the purchase of branches and assets to be sold by Lloyds Banking Group by being subject to standard rather than advanced capital requirements; and what action they or the Financial Services Authority will take if necessary to ensure that capital requirements are equalised.[HL9707]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Financial Services Authority is responsible for determining the approach to calculating capital requirements. It considers these on a case-by-case basis to ensure that capital requirements reflect the risk arising from the business undertaken by the firm.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is owed to the banks in which they have an interest by the Anglo Irish Bank; and what are the arrangements for repayment.[HL9739]
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Lord Sassoon: The Government do not comment on exposures to specific firms.
Banking: Royal Bank of Scotland
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have power to require the Financial Services Authority to release to the Government the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland; and whether they would be free on receipt of the report to publish it without alteration or redaction.[HL9639]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government do not have the power to require the Financial Services Authority (FSA) to release to the Government the PricewaterhouseCoopers report on the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).
The FSA is aiming to deliver a publishable report on the events that led to the failure of the RBS.
The Government look forward to the publication of the report.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether Sir David Walker and Mr Bill Knight, who have been commissioned to produce a report into the collapse of the Royal Bank of Scotland, have power to subpoena witnesses and to oblige the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Financial Services Authority and the Bank of England to disclose documents. [HL9640]
Lord Sassoon: The Treasury Select Committee set out the terms of reference for the independent review of the Financial Services Authority's (FSA) report into the failure of the Royal Bank of Scotland. As stated in the terms of reference, the FSA will take all reasonable steps to ensure that the review team has access to such documents and persons as they consider necessary to undertake this review.
Benefits
Question
Asked by Lord Morris of Manchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government what response they are making to Macmillan Cancer Support's concern about the effect on cancer patients of time-limiting contribution-based employment and support allowance for those in the Work-Related Activity Group to 12 months, in view of cancer patients often requiring longer than 12 months to return to work because of their condition and a lack of suitable jobs.[HL9712]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Time-limiting will only affect those who receive contributory ESA and
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People receiving contributory ESA in the Work Related Activity Group will have access to the full range of employment support including the Work Programme. Those whose benefit has come to an end as a result of the twelve month time limit can remain on the programme if they wish, which will ensure that they continue to receive all the support they need to help them return to, and remain in, work.
We recognise that people with most severe health conditions may need longer-term support. People with the most serious disabilities and health conditions, including many people with cancer, who are placed in the Support Group will not be subject to time-limiting. This includes people who are receiving courses of certain types of chemotherapy, who are automatically placed in the Support Group. And we have just amended legislation so that individuals awaiting or between courses of certain types of chemotherapy will also automatically be placed in the Support Group.
The 12-month time limit will not apply to anyone receiving income-related ESA, whatever group they are assigned to. People moving off contributory ESA as a result of the time limit will be able to apply for income-related ESA (if eligible) if they still require support.
We are determined that the social security system should support people who are diagnosed with cancer in the most sensitive, fair and appropriate way and have been working with Macmillan and others to achieve this. As part of his second independent review
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA172
Care Homes
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (a) private, (b) voluntary, and (c) public, residential care and nursing homes were rated (1) poor, and (2) excellent, by the Care Quality Commission (or its predecessor body) in the latest three years for which information is available; and what proportion were rated (1) poor, and (2) excellent, in each category of ownership in relation to (i) the total homes, and (ii) the total bed capacity.[HL9682]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has provided the following information.
The CQC no longer carries out performance assessment of adult social care providers under the Care Standards Act 2000. Providers of adult social care are now subject to the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, which requires all health and social care providers to register with the CQC and meet essential requirements of safety and quality. The CQC is in the process of consulting on a new excellence award for adult social care, which will provide further information to people using services on the quality of care provided.
Cyclists: Accidents
Question
Asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many road traffic incidents involving cyclists have been reported in (a) Manchester, and (b) Cambridge, in each of the past five years.[HL9809]
Earl Attlee: The number of reported personal injury road accidents involving pedal cyclists within the city council boundaries of (a) Manchester and (b) Cambridge in each of past five years for which figures are available are given in following table:
| Reported personal injury road accidents involving pedal cyclists in (a) Manchester and (b) Cambridge: 2005-2009 | ||
| Number of accidents | ||
| Manchester | Cambridge | |
Department for Work and Pensions: Freehold Buildings
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government of which buildings the Department for Work and Pensions owns the freehold; and what is their monetary value.[HL9731]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The department does not own any freeholds.
Prior to the formation of DWP in 2001 the former Department of Social Security outsourced its estate in 1998 via a private finance initiative (PFI) contract known as PRIME. The estate was sold (freehold, feuhold and long leasehold interests) or transferred (short leasehold interests) to Telereal Trillium.
The proceeds were released to HM Treasury in April 1998 for the original Department of Social Security estate and further in December 2003 when PRIME was expanded to include the former Employment Service estate following the creation of DWP.
Education: Careers Advice
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what initiatives are currently in place to provide face-to-face careers advice for individuals with below average literacy skills.[HL9348]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): We do not prescribe a particular approach for careers advice for young people, including those with below average levels of literacy. Young people receive careers advice and guidance from a number of sources, including local authority services, schools and private and voluntary bodies, as well as websites and telephone helplines. The content of such guidance, and any differentiation on the basis of a young person's needs, has always been locally determined.
The Next Step service provides face-to-face careers guidance to all adults but offers, as a priority, a more intensive service to those with low levels of literacy, which may include several face-to-face discussions with a qualified careers advisor.
Education: Mathematics
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the reasons for the United Kingdom's declining position in the mathematics section in the Programme for International Student Assessment
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA175
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The UK fell in the PISA mathematics ranking from eighth (of 32) countries in 2000 to 28th (of 65) countries in 2009. One reason is that new countries joining the survey are outperforming the UK. Some countries already in the survey are raising their score and moving above us. In PISA 2009, England had a relatively small score gap between high and low achievers-compared to the top-performing countries England had fewer high achievers in mathematics. PISA scores emphasise that we now need to compare ourselves not with the past, but with the best in the world.
The schools White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, signalled the Government's desire to learn from the best in the world. This includes the commitment to ensure that as many mathematics lessons as possible are taught by specialists. There will be stronger incentives to encourage the best graduates to become maths teachers, and a selection of subject enhancement programmes to develop and sustain teachers' continuing professional development across all phases of the school curriculum. We will also seek to improve the specialist subject expertise of graduates in related subjects who teach mathematics in schools. Through the national curriculum review, we are ensuring that our curriculum compares favourably against the curricula of top-performing countries, including those that rank highly in PISA scores for mathematics. The schools White Paper also signals the Government's determination to improve all aspects of schooling by:
sharply reducing the bureaucratic burden on schools;setting clear expectations for what children must know and be able to do at each stage in their education;ensuring proper assessment of pupils at each vital transitional stage;restoring the authority of teachers and head teachers;increasing freedom and autonomy for all schools;strengthening accountability by putting far more information into the public domain; and making it clear that schools-governors, head teachers and teachers-have responsibility for improvement.Finance: Derivatives
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure that the United Kingdom is well placed to take a leading position in the development of electronic trading of over-the-counter derivatives.[HL9706]
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The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The G20 has committed to ensure that all standardised over-the-counter derivative contracts should be traded on exchanges or electronic trading platforms, where appropriate.
In the European Union, this commitment will be implemented via the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, which is currently being reviewed by the European Commission. A draft legislative proposal is expected later this year. The Treasury is engaging closely with the Commission and European partners as the proposal is being developed.
Freedom of Information
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many freedom of information requests the Department for Work and Pensions has received since the Freedom of Information Act 2000 came into force in each year for which records are available; how many were refused; how many have been subject to appeal; and how many appeals were successful.[HL9733]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The Ministry of Justice publishes annual reports containing statistical information on Freedom of Information requests received by monitored bodies, including central government departments. The annual report for 2010, including the quarter four summary, was published on 28 April 2011.
This report can be found at the following address: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/statistics-and-data/mojstats/2010%20Annual%20 and%20Q4%20FOI%20bulletin%20vfinal.pdf.
This report includes statistics on the number of non-routine requests received by this department in 2010 and the initial outcomes of these requests. It also contains the number of complaints to the Information Commissioner of which we have been notified, and the outcomes of these complaints.
All other quarterly reports for 2010 and the annual statistics from 2005 can be found at the following address: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics- and-data/foi/implementation.htm.
Gypsies and Travellers
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of their policies on Gypsies and Travellers with the proposed European Commission Framework for National Roma Integration Strategy goals for education, employment, health and housing; and whether they will produce a draft of the national strategy required by the Framework for discussion with representatives of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. [HL9481]
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA177
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): On 19 May 2011, the EU Council on Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs (EPSCO) adopted conclusions on an EU Framework for National Roma Strategies up to 2020. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Andrew Stunell) submitted a pre-council Written Statement to Parliament on 18 May (Official Report, Commons, col. 18WS) and submitted a post-council Statement on 8 June. The conclusions invite member states "to prepare, update or develop national Roma inclusion strategies, or integrated sets of policy measures within broader social inclusion policies" by the end of 2011. In England, we are developing these policy measures through the Ministerial Working Group on Preventing and Tackling Inequalities Experienced by Gypsies and Travellers, chaired by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Gypsies and Travellers have been involved in deciding the priorities for the working group. The devolved Administrations are developing their own policy measures.
Health: Diabetes
Question
Asked by Lord Morris of Manchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many specialist diabetes nursing jobs will be lost as a consequence of the projected cuts in staffing in that field; and what has been the increase in the number of patients diagnosed with diabetes over the past five years.[HL9713]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Specialist diabetes nurse numbers are not collected centrally.
It is up to local trusts to determine their workforce needs but we have made it clear that any reduction in clinical posts must not have an adverse impact on the quality and safety of patient care. We expect the overall number of compulsory redundancies of clinical staff to be very small and the percentage should be low compared with those for non-clinical staff.
The increase in prevalence of diabetes as recorded by Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) data over the past five years are as follows:
QOF prevalence data for diabetes published by the NHS Information Centre. Patients aged 17 years and over with diabetes mellitus which states whether the patient has Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
An increase of 448,150 people aged 17 and over with a registered diagnosis of diabetes over the period 2005-10.
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA178
Homelessness: Statistics
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 23 May (WA 382), whether they intend to begin collecting comprehensive data on the number of homeless people who squat in properties.[HL9620]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The department has no plans to collect information on the number of homeless people who squat in properties.
Honour-related Violence
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether public funding will continue to be provided for the Honour Based Violence Couples Service.[HL9657]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The Forced Marriage Unit provides funding to local projects, through its annual Domestic Programme Fund as part of building capacity within the NGO sector and providing further support for victims. The Honour Based Couples Service was provided with funding for one year from the Domestic Programme Fund in July 2010.
This funding was part of a larger project to deliver improved safety for victims of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence, improved local agency awareness of, and response to, those fleeing honour-based violence and forced marriage. It has always been made clear that the funding for this project would be time limited.
Housing Benefit
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many visits to the homes of people on housing benefit the Minister for Welfare Reform has undertaken since 12 May 2010.[HL9728]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): I have met and will continue to engage with a number of key stakeholders including local authorities, private landlord associations, housing associations, and homelessness organisations as well as meeting individuals with experience of housing benefit. I have not, however, undertaken personal visits to peoples' homes.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of people claiming housing benefit resident in each of the London Boroughs and the City of London who presently have a spare room.[HL9729]
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA179
Lord Freud: The department's Family Resources Survey collects information on household composition, housing benefit receipt and accommodation size. Using this information it would be possible to estimate the number of housing benefit recipients who have a spare bedroom, applying the size criteria used for housing benefit claimants living in the private rented sector. However, the Family Resources Survey is not large enough to yield reliable estimates down to the level of individual London Boroughs or for the City of London.
Immigration: Detainees
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many children were detained, and where, for immigration purposes on (a) 1 June 2009, (b) 1 June 2010, and (c) 1 June 2011.[HL9674]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The information is not available for the requested dates. Snapshot figures are available and published by the Home Office on children in detention, but solely under Immigration Act powers as at the end of each quarter, excluding those detained in police cells (for safety reasons or age dispute cases), Prison Service establishments and those detained under both criminal and immigration powers. The tables placed in the House Library shows the figures, nearest to the dates requested, for the number of children detained, solely under Immigration Act powers, by place of initial detention.
Information on numbers of children in detention is published quarterly as table 3.7 in the Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary, which is available from the Home Office science, research and statistics website at: http://homeoffice.gov.uk/science-research/research-statistics/migration/migration-statistics1/.
A copy of the latest bulletin, Control of Immigration: Quarterly Statistical Summary Q1 2011 will be placed in the House Library. The Q2 2011 figures, including children in detention as at 30 June 2011, will be available on 25 August 2011.
Intelligence Gathering
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what laws are in place to address alleged collusion between police, intelligence and security forces and criminal elements; and what rules or protocols are in place defining the distinction between intelligence gathering and collusion.[HL9696]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): Police constables and officers of the Security and Intelligence Agencies (SIAs) are subject to the criminal law like everyone else. The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 and its codes, the Security
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Jobcentre Plus: Vacancies
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many jobseekers have been defrauded via Jobcentre Plus vacancy advertisements into selling non-existent goods on eBay; and what steps have been made towards restitution of losses.[HL9720]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): We know of four jobseekers who have been directly affected by applying for vacancies advertised through Jobcentre Plus and that involved selling non-existent goods on eBay. The case for restitution of losses is currently being assessed in each case.
Local Government: Consent Regimes
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many departmental consent regimes apply to local authority decision-making in England; and what plans they have to reduce them.[HL9656]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The most recent departmental audit of consent regimes identified 41 regimes owned by DCLG1. There is no complete list of consent regimes which apply to local authority decision-making.
Responses to the recent Review of Statutory Duties included views on consent regimes. We are currently considering the responses to the review.
- 1 Review of Communities and Local Government Consent Regimes (May 2007) http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/consentregimereview.pdf.
National Insurance
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Polish nationals registered for national insurance numbers in each of the last four quarters; and how many have registered in total since January 2002.[HL9694]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The information requested is contained in the tables below:
The information requested is contained in the tables below:
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA181
| NINo Registrations to Polish Adult Nationals entering the UK (Thousands) Time Series-Calendar Quarter of Registration Date. | |
| Poland NINo Registrations (Thousands) | |
- 3. Registration date is derived from the date at which a NINo is maintained on the National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System.
- 4. Data are published at http://83.244.183.180/mgw/live/tabtool.html.
| NINo Registrations to Polish Adult Nationals entering the UK (Thousands) Time Series-Financial Year of Registration Date. | |
| Poland NINo Registrations (Thousands) | |
- 3. Registration date is derived from the date at which a NINo is maintained on the National Insurance Recording & Pay As You Earn System.
- 5. Data are published at http://83.244.183.180/mgw/live/tabtool.html.
NHS: Clinical Services
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all National Health Service purchasing of non-clinical services is subject to European Union competition laws; and, if so, how long that has been the case. [HL9678]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the legal advice available to them, they have assessed the effect of Part 3 of the Health and
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA182
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of the legal advice available to them, they have assessed the effect of the creation of a statutory independent economic regulator for the healthcare sector (as provided for in Part 3 of the Health and Social Care Bill) on any risk that European Union competition law could be applied to the contracting for NHS clinical services by NHS bodies.[HL9680]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what definition of "NHS clinical services" they use in considering whether the contracting for such services would be subject to European Union competition law. [HL9681]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The proposals currently set out in Part 3 of the Heath and Social Care Bill would not change domestic or European competition legislation, nor the economic activities where it applies.
Clinical services are defined as services that are provided to patients in England on behalf of the National Health Service. Where providers of such services were acting as undertakings they would be subject to competition law. This has been the case since the UK joined the European Union. For commissioners of NHS services, the case law suggests that they are unlikely to be acting as undertakings in respect of their purchasing activities, whether for clinical or non-clinical services.
Commissioners would, however, be subject to EU procurement law as they are now. This has been the case since the UK joined the European Union. The responsibilities of commissioners are set out in the Procurement Guide for Commissioners of NHS Funded Services, first published in 2008. A copy has already been placed in the Library.
Plastic Bags
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 6 June (WA 57), what assessment they have made of the proportionality and subsidiarity of a European Union-wide ban on plastic bags.[HL9742]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): We are currently assessing the options proposed in the Commission consultation on a reduction in the use of plastic bags. These issues will be considered as part of the government response.
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA183
UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what contribution they will make towards implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness in 2011, the fiftieth anniversary of the Convention.[HL9651]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): The Government are satisfied that the UK already meets the obligations contained in the UN Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The UK Border Agency is assisting the United Nations High Commission for Refugees with research on the extent of statelessness in the UK and will carefully consider the recommendations that emerge from it, including an assessment of whether any changes to existing policy and practice are required.
Vehicles: Number Plates
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Attlee on 7 June (WA 126), how many enforcement actions have been taken against suppliers of number plates who are in breach of the law in each from 1996 up until the last year records are available.[HL9798]
Earl Attlee: The register of number plate suppliers has only been in place since 2003. Since then, more than 5,400 visits to suppliers have been carried out resulting in 43 warning letters being sent and 16 prosecutions being taken.
The enforcement action figures cannot be broken down by year.
Visas: Olympic and Paralympic Games 2012
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government what arrangements are being made to ensure the effective administration of visa applications to enter the United Kingdom for competitors and visitors to the Olympic and Paralympic Games of 2012. [HL9675]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Browning): Participants of the London 2012 Olympic Games will receive accreditation cards, which for visa national individuals, will act as a visa waiver. The accreditation cards are valid for travel to the UK, on a multiple-entry basis from the 31 March until 8 November 2012 or six months (whichever is the shorter period).
In advance of the introduction of the accreditation card, the UK Border Agency has introduced a new Olympic/Paralympic Games visit visa to facilitate entry
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA184
Non-accredited visa national visitors travelling to the UK at Games time will be required to apply for a UK visa as per standard immigration controls. Visitors will be encouraged to apply for their visa in good time before they travel to ensure they receive their UK visa. Applicants can apply for a UK visa up to three months in advance of travelling. Overseas staff are anticipating a surge of visit visa applications next summer and resources will be prioritised to ensure they meet existing service standards.
Young People: Work Readiness
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that young people are work-ready in such areas as social skills, timekeeping, and other disciplines, when they complete their initial education.[HL9054]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): At the core of our approach to education policy is trusting professionals: leaving behind top-down prescription. We want to give teachers the freedom to decide how to teach, and to some extent what they teach, their pupils. We also want to allow teachers to have responsibility for a disciplined environment in schools that will allow learning to flourish.
Schools can opt to teach personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education. This provides young people with the knowledge, skills and attributes to make the most of changing opportunities in education and work. They learn to understand the qualities and attitudes needed for employment, including working with others.
In line with our policy of greater autonomy for schools, it will be for schools to choose what relationship they want with employers and how, if at all, they wish to make use of employer support in teaching certain areas.
We are currently supporting the Education and Employers Taskforce, with the aim of ensuring that every school and college has an effective partnership with employers which provides young people with the inspiration, motivation, knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to help them achieve their potential.
Employers will play a key role in helping us to deliver our reforms of vocational routes, particularly in the areas of university technical colleges, studio schools and apprenticeships.
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA185
Zimbabwe
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the recent report by Unicef that each year up to 12,000 children die of malnutrition in Zimbabwe; and whether this is an indication that food aid is not reaching those in greatest need. [HL9395]
Baroness Verma: The UK Government are very concerned about malnutrition in Zimbabwe. As the UNICEF report indicates, undernutrition results from a combination of poor dietary intake and disease.
14 Jun 2011 : Column WA186
The UK has been supporting a range of interventions which tackle the multiple causes of undernutrition in Zimbabwe. For example we have provided 47,000 people with access to anti-retroviral treatment and other key medicines in 2010. We have provided cash transfers to 45,000 people and agricultural inputs to over 1,200,000 people in 2010-11.
Food insecurity in Zimbabwe has improved significantly in the past few years. Over 7 million people required food aid in early 2009. This reduced to only 1.3 million people in early 2011.
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