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29 Nov 2011 : Column WA37
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA37
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA37
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Anguilla
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Howell of Guildford on 15 November (WA 121), what is their assessment of the statement referred to, as reported in The Anguillian newspaper of 30 September.[HL13540]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We have seen the statement reported in the Anguillian newspaper on 30 September. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth office, my honourable friend the Member for North West Norfolk (Mr Bellingham) had a positive dialogue with the honourable Hubert Hughes, the Chief Minister of Anguilla at the annual ministerial meeting with political leaders from the overseas territories on 23 and 24 November. They agreed to continue to work closely together to tackle the challenges that Anguilla faces.
Armed Forces: Cadets
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an education charity can access the Ministry of Defence's Community Fund for the purpose of benefiting United Kingdom cadets aged 13 to 16 and assisting them in gaining vocational qualifications; and, if so, how.[HL13466]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The community covenant complements the Armed Forces covenant and is a voluntary statement of mutual support between a civilian community and its local Armed Forces community, which includes serving personnel, their families and veterans.
The aims of the community covenant include: to encourage local communities to support the Armed Forces community in their areas, and vice versa; to promote understanding and awareness among the public of issues affecting the Armed Forces community; to recognise and remember the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces community; and to encourage activities which help to integrate the Armed Forces community into local life.
Organisations, including education charities, can find out more about the Community Covenant Grant Scheme criteria as well as guidance and an application form on the Ministry of Defence website at: www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/Welfare/ArmedForcesCovenant/ArmedForcesCommunityCovenant.
A copy has been placed in the Library of the House.
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA38
Belarus
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the statement issued by the International Democrat Union expressing their concerns about Belarus and the prosecution of Ales Bialiatski.[HL13447]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government share the International Democratic Union's deep concerns over the deterioration of human rights in Belarus. We continue to be at the forefront of efforts within the European Union and the wider international community to maintain political pressure on the Belarusian authorities to urge them to adhere to their human rights obligations. We have consistently called upon the Belarusian authorities to recognise the rule of law and democratic freedoms, free political prisoners and end human rights abuse. On 6 August, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) expressed his deep concern about the detention of human rights defender Ales Bialyatski and called on the Belarusian authorities "to ensure the rights and freedoms of all human rights defenders are fully upheld in accordance with the international treaties that the Government of Belarus has ratified".
British Council: Funding
Question
Asked by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the British Council spends on international development work by (a) country, and (b) theme. [HL13499]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The British Council plans to spend £146.7 million on international development work in 2011-12. This is divided by country as follows:
| Country | Total (£) |
It is divided by theme as follows:
education and society £121.2 million;English £20.8 million; andarts £4.7 million.The above figures cover international development work funded through contracts, partnerships and grant in aid.
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA40
Building Stability Overseas Strategy
Question
Asked by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish their annual assessment of countries at risk of violence, the early-warning system, as outlined in their Building Stability Overseas Strategy. [HL13441]
Baroness Northover: I refer the noble Baroness to my answer of 22 November 2011 (Official Report, Commons, col. 281W). The Building Stability Overseas Strategy explains that the early warning reports are underpinned by all-source analysis. This means they draw on a range of internal government reporting and cannot therefore be published for national security reasons.
I also refer the noble Baroness to the answer of 22 November 2011 (Official Report. Commons, col. 273W) by the right honourable Andrew Robathan, Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans. The Building Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS) was published jointly by the Ministry of Defence, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development in July 2011 and all three Secretaries of State announced they would share joint responsibility for its implementation. The strategy includes a new approach to turning early warning into early action. By focusing on early warning we will be able to improve our ability to anticipate instability and potential triggers for conflict thus increasing our opportunity to take fast, appropriate and effective action where necessary and where UK strategic interests are at stake.
Early warning processes have been improved by drawing up a watch-list of fragile states comprised of countries that have a high risk of instability and are also of high interest to the UK. These states will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that all appropriate action is being taken to support the aims of the BSOS. The strategy makes clear that the watch-list is internal and both the watch-list and the early warning report draw on a range of internal HMG reporting and cannot therefore be published for security reasons. However, the BSOS is open about the criteria used to select countries for attention.
Burma
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian needs in ethnic areas of Burma where the Government restricts access by international agencies.[HL12561]
Baroness Northover: Humanitarian needs are considerable in many parts of Burma, and are particularly severe in areas of continuing conflict where access by international agencies may often be restricted. When he visited Burma from 15 to 17 November 2011, the Secretary of State for International Development pressed
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Electoral Registration
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the cost of implementing their proposals for individual electoral registration. [HL13693]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The individual electoral registration White Paper published on 30 June 2011 estimated the costs of the move to individual registration as £108 million. We have dropped the previous Government's plans for a voluntary phase leading up to the introduction of individual electoral registration, saving £74 million.
Employment: Agency Workers
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 10 November (WA 82), whether the reports to the European Commission working group on the agency worker directive, on which they base their understanding that the majority of European Union member states that have transposed the directive have done so on the basis of day one equal treatment rights, are publicly available; and whether they will place them in the Library of the House.[HL13436]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The official report from the European Commission working group on the agency workers directive is a technical document and does not include the intentions of member states with regards to implementation: (http://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=6998&;langId=en).
Our understanding of transposition in other member states was compiled by BIS officials attending the working group meetings and is based on oral reports made by representatives of the member states. Actual implementation will not be fully known until after the deadline for implementation across the EU (5 December 2011) and the Commission has carried out its review of implementation in (December 2013).
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA42
Energy: Nuclear Reactors
Questions
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the effects in the United Kingdom of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster; whether any long-term effects of that disaster remain; whether the nuclear reactor at Metsamor in Armenia is of identical or similar design to that which failed at Chernobyl; and, if so, whether they have any concerns about the safety of that reactor.[HL13556]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): Following the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 a number of uplands in Scotland, Northern Ireland, England and Wales were subject to deposition of a number of radionuclide particles due to the weather conditions at the time. The environmental effects of the Chernobyl accident continue to be monitored as part of environmental monitoring for radioactivity. Such monitoring has been carried out across the UK annually for a number of years. There are still restrictions on moving, selling and slaughtering sheep in some upland areas of the UK. These was limited to 340 farms in 2010, compared with 9,700 farms following the accident in 1986. The restrictions on the two remaining farms in Scotland were lifted during 2010.
The Armenian nuclear power plant at Metsamor is a similar Soviet-era design to the one at Chernobyl reactor in that it has no primary containment. The UK has supported the EU position that the reactor at Metsamor should be decommissioned as soon as possible while recognising the reliance of Armenia on the nuclear power plant for energy.
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government with which international agencies that monitor nuclear reactors they co-operate; and whether they have made any representations to such agencies regarding the nuclear reactor at Metsamor in Armenia.[HL13557]
Lord Marland: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) undertakes a range of review services which look at the nuclear safety arrangements of its member states. As part of these services, at the invitation of the Armenian authorities, the IAEA completed an operational safety review of the nuclear power plant near Metsamor in June 2011. The mission noted a series of good practices and also made recommendations to reinforce them.
The IAEA also undertakes international regulatory review service reviews which include the practical application of domestic legislation to nuclear power plants and the role of the regulators. While encouraging all IAEA member states to have IAEA review missions, most recently at the IAEA ministerial conference in June and again at the general conference in September, the UK has not specifically made representations about the need for an IRRS mission to Armenia.
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At the EU level the UK has supported the EU position that the reactor at Metsamor should be decommissioned as soon as possible while recognising the reliance of Armenia on the nuclear power plant for energy.
Energy: Policy
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the light of reports that a new international climate change treaty is unlikely to be agreed before 2020, they will review their energy policy to ensure that the United Kingdom's competitive position is not adversely affected and energy consumers not penalised by the continuation of existing policies, especially in relation to increased reliance on wind farms to meet electricity demand.[HL13644]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): As my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has announced today, Government have launched a package of measures to support those energy-intensive industries whose international competitiveness is most affected by our energy and climate change policies. This underlines our commitment to ensure that manufacturing is able to remain competitive during the shift to a low carbon economy.
For domestic consumers, our analysis published with the Annual Energy Statement 20111 estimates that in 2020 the average household bill will be 7 per cent or £94 lower than without the Government's energy and climate change policies.
DECC regularly reviews its energy policies to maximise cost effectiveness and ensure value for money. For example, we are currently consulting on the support levels for renewable electricity generation technologies-including onshore and offshore wind-as part of the renewables obligation banding review.
1 Estimated impacts of energy and climate change policies on energy prices and bills: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/about-us/economics-social-research/3593-estimated-impacts-of-our-policies-on-energy-prices.pdf.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many local community relations and equality councils in receipt of funding by the Equality and Human Rights Commission are due to have that funding withdrawn; and which they are.[HL13290]
Baroness Verma: The Equality and Human Rights Commission's grant programmes are an operational matter for the commission. I have asked the chief executive to write to you regarding the information that you have requested.
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA44
In March, we announced in our consultation Building a fairer Britain: Reform of the Equality and Human Rights Commission that we would stop funding the commission to provide its grants programmes when they come to a natural end, in the light of the findings of the Government's review of the commission's provision of equality information, advice and support.
EU: Credit Rating Agencies
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Lord Sassoon on 15 November (Official Report, col. 676), what steps they have taken to foster competition in the provision of credit ratings in the United Kingdom; and whether they have made representations to the European Commission to refer credit ratings agencies to European competition authorities.[HL13508]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): As reflected in the Government's response to the European Commission's consultation document1, we have taken a pro-competitive stance in discussions on the development of credit rating agency regulation. As further explained in the spoken and written evidence provided to the House of Lords inquiry on sovereign debt, the Government take the view that efforts to reduce overreliance on credit rating agencies (CRA) ratings, increases in transparency and effective implementation of the registration system in Europe will reduce barriers to entry in the industry and foster competition.
The Government and the Bank of England have been involved in the Financial Stability Board's ongoing work on reducing overreliance on CRA ratings. Previous CRA legislation agreed after the crisis (CRA1 and CRA2) has also encouraged competition. This is illustrated by 12 agencies other than the main three incumbents already having been registered in Europe. The final list is available at: http://www.esma.europa.eu/popup2.php? id=7692.
The relevant competent competition authority in Europe is the European Commission, which released its latest set of legislative proposals on CRAs on 15 November. The proposals include measures to address competition, including increasing transparency and rotating CRAs between issuers. The proposals are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/internal_market/ securities/agencies/index_en.htm.
EU: Finance
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they would oppose the introduction by the European Union of a financial activity charge levied as a regulatory cost offset and structured on an ad valorem basis.[HL13506]
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The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): No such proposal has been tabled by the European Union.
EU: Taxation
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are engaging with the European Union on the necessary conditions for an effective financial transactions tax.[HL13507]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government are not against financial transaction taxes (FTT) in principle, but believe that FTT should only be contemplated at a global level.
Government Departments: Buildings
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Department for Communities and Local Government.[HL13569]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): My department has no current plans to install photovoltaic solar systems on its buildings, but we are working with the Department for Business Innovation and Skill's Technology Strategy Board to explore the benefits of new sustainable technology.
We have already taken a series of measures to reduce the energy usage and CO2 emissions of the department's headquarters, Eland House. In June 2011, the building was awarded an "D" display energy certificate, improving on the "E" rating last year, and the notional "G" grade in 2006-07. As a result of these improvements, the department's energy bill has been reduced by £300,000 a year. By contrast, under the last Administration, this was one of the least energy-efficient buildings in Whitehall, despite it being the lead department on energy efficiency standards in buildings.
Since May 2010, a range of measures has been introduced in line with advice from the display energy certificate to help meet lower energy use and CO2 targets-including installing more efficient lighting, aligning heating and cooling provision with Cabinet Office recommendations and by staff adopting lower carbon behaviours such as turning off office equipment when not in use.
In addition, last year an online tool was launched so members of the public can at the click of a mouse see the energy use by the Department for Communities and Local Government for the first time.
This is part of wider efforts to improve the energy efficiency of both domestic and commercial properties, to reduce CO2 emissions and save taxpayers' money.
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA46
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on buildings owned or occupied by the Cabinet Office. [HL13571]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to install photovoltaic solar systems on Numbers 10, 11 and 12 Downing Street.[HL13608]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Prime Minster's Office forms an integral part of the Cabinet Office. The Cabinet Office currently has no plans to install photovoltaic solar systems on any of its buildings.
Heads of State: Official Visits
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government which heads of state have visited the United Kingdom on official or state visits in 2011.[HL13635]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The following heads of state have paid state visits or have visited the United Kingdom as guests of her Majesty's Government in 2011:
President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan 28 February- 2 March 2011;President Barack Obama of The United States 23-26 May 2011 (state visit);President Traian Basescu of Romania 6-7 June 2011;President Boris Tadic of Serbia 15-16 November;President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia 19-23 November 2011; and President Abdullah Gul of Turkey 20-24 November 2011 (state visit).Health: Dementia
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of (a) hospital admissions, and (b) emergency hospital admissions, on health outcomes for people with a diagnosis of dementia.[HL13533]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We know that people with dementia stay longer in hospital and that there is room for improvement in the quality of their care. That is why improving the quality of care in general hospitals is one of the Government's four key priorities for improving dementia care services. We want to see people with dementia only admitted to hospital when absolutely necessary and, when they are in hospital, to receive high-quality care from staff trained to care for people with dementia.
On 21 September 2011, following a year-long project funded by the department, the Royal College of Nursing launched a new commitment to the care of people with dementia in general hospitals. The commitment
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA47
Housing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applicants were on the waiting list for the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme in each London borough in each year since 2004-05; and how many flats or bungalows became available to let under the Seaside and Country Homes Scheme in each of those years, broken down by county.[HL13460]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): This table shows the total number of households on the waiting list for the seaside and country homes scheme in the past three years. The department does not hold waiting list information before this date.
| Year | Total Households on Waiting List (local authority/housing association households) |
|
1250 (local authority/housing association split not available) | |
The table below shows the number of households in local authority-owned properties seeking a move under the seaside and country homes scheme in 2010-11 and 2011-12, broken down by borough. The department does not hold waiting list information broken down by borough for households living in housing association-owned properties.
| Number of Households on Waiting List | ||
| Borough | 31 March 2011 | 31 October 2011 |
This table shows the number of flats and bungalows available to let since 2007-08, broken down by county. The department does not hold information about properties available before this date.
| Number of Properties Available for Let | |||||
| County | 31 March 2008 | 31 March 2009 | 31 March 2010 | 31 March 2011 | 31 October 2011 |
The seaside and country homes scheme supports better use of social housing stock in London by enabling households aged 60 and above to relocate to specific properties in other parts of the country. It was operated by MoveUK from 2004 to 2006. When that contract was terminated and the MoveUK scheme collapsed under the last Administration, it was then operated by DCLG, and subsequently transferred to the Greater London Authority from April 2011.
I would add that this Government's new national HomeSwap Direct scheme will make it easier for tenants living in a council or housing association home to find a new property in another part of the country.
HomeSwap Direct will mean that for the first time there will be a system in place across the whole of the United Kingdom. Tenants looking to move, whether
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To ask Her Majesty's Government when decisions will be made on the allocation of transitional funding for the completion of schemes in former housing market renewal pathfinder areas.[HL13542]
Baroness Hanham: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement made on 24 November (Official Report, col. WS 82-84).
Housing: Fire Safety
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 16 November (WA 157), other than promoting the importance of a working smoke alarm, what action they are taking to improve fire safety in (1) privately owned housing, and (2) social housing.[HL13646]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 16 December (WA 157).
Working smoke alarm ownership remains at the heart of our efforts to reduce accidental fire deaths and injuries in the home. During 2011-12, we will continue to promote the key message to householders of having a working smoke alarm in their home, through the Fire Kills campaign.
Furthermore, the UK Government welcome the referencing of the new safety standard for cigarettes which was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 17 November 2011. Based on DCLG research, we calculate that the impact of cigarettes that comply with this standard (in England) will save between 25-64 lives per year.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning the arrest and detention of Dr Mazin Qumsiyeh and Mustafa Odeh.[HL13578]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are aware that Dr. Mazin Qumsiyeh and Mr. Mustafah Odeh were arrested in November.
The first arrest was on 13 November in Al-Walaja while the two individuals were filming Israeli soldiers gathered at the site of the security barrier. Both were released on the same day.
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Dr. Qumsiyeh was arrested again two days later with other five Palestinians when they boarded a bus travelling from the West Bank into Jerusalem. Dr. Qumsiyeh was released pending a trial and has been charged with "illegal entry to Jerusalem" and with "obstructing police business".
We have not made any representations on these particular cases. Our embassy in Tel Aviv is monitoring the situation.
Israel and Palestine
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel since the vote to admit Palestine to UNESCO concerning the withholding of taxes collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. [HL13575]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Foreign Secretary, my right honourable friend, the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) called on Israel to reverse its decision to withhold tax revenues on 3 November. In his Statement to Parliament on 9 November, he again condemned this decision, highlighting that it is provocative and against Israel's own interests, since it has direct implications for the Palestinian Authority's ability to maintain effective security in the West Bank.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt) has outlined our concerns to Danny Ayalon, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, on the 23 November.
Our embassy in Tel Aviv has also made representations to the Government of Israel to release the funds.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the cost to United Kingdom public funds of supporting Palestinians, arising from Israel's action in the West Bank since 1967.[HL13577]
Lord Howell of Guildford: As details are not held centrally, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to public funds.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel regarding compensation for Palestinians attacked and injured by Israeli settlers.[HL13650]
Lord Howell of Guildford: We have discussed with the Israeli authorities settler violence and the impact it has on Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. We have encouraged the Israeli authorities to follow through on their stated commitment to bring perpetrators of
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA51
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received reports concerning segregation on buses between villages and settlements in the West Bank.[HL13576]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are aware of recent action taken by groups of non-violent protesters to board buses transiting between settlements. Although there is not a de jure ban on Palestinians using them, there is a de facto block as they often start and finish in settlements that Palestinians are prevented from entering. We will continue to lobby the Government of Israel to make sure that all infrastructure projects and facilities in the Occupied Territories are for the benefit of the local population.
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last made representations to the Government of Israel about the Yitz'har West Bank colony and the Bracha colony and their associated outposts; and with what result.[HL13651]
Lord Howell of Guildford: We regularly make clear that settlements, such as Yitzhar and Bracha, are illegal under international law and deeply unhelpful to efforts to bring a lasting peace to the Middle East conflict. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (My Hague), the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt) and our ambassador in Tel Aviv have all raised the issue of settlements with the Israeli authorities. We have not made separate representations over these specific locations.
The Foreign Secretary most recently condemned settlement activity publicly in his statements of 2 and 9 November:
"Israel's announcement to accelerate the construction of 2,000 settlements housing units, in response to the successful Palestinian application for membership of UNESCO, is a serious blow to the quartet's efforts to restart peace negotiations. This settlement building programme is illegal under international law and is the latest in a series of provocative and unhelpful settlement announcements. I condemn the decision to accelerate such construction. ... We need to see steps towards peace, not actions that divide and isolate the parties further and undermine the prospects for negotiations". (2 November.)
"Israel's announcement last week that it would accelerate the construction of 2,000 settlement housing units was wrong and deeply counter-productive. That was the eighth announcement of settlement expansion in six months. ... We call on Israel to revoke ... those decisions". (9 November.)
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact on family life, further education and emigration of travel restrictions on residents of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Palestinian diaspora.[HL13652]
Lord Howell of Guildford: We remain deeply concerned about the impact of travel restrictions on family life, further education and emigration.
Palestinians from East Jerusalem risk losing their permanent right to live in East Jerusalem if they cannot prove residency for the previous seven years. Records show that more than 13,000 Palestinians have lost their Jerusalem residency status since the annexation by Israel in 1967, including students who have been studying abroad.
Palestinians in the diaspora are not allowed to enter the Occupied Palestinian Territories without approval from the Israeli authorities. Since 2000 there has been a freeze on family reunification permits, despite more than 120,000 requests being submitted to the Palestinian Authority as of October 2005.
We continue to monitor this situation closely and raise our concerns as necessary.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the payment of compensation to shopkeepers in Hebron, who had their shops closed or their apartments seized by Israeli settlers; and, if so, how much.[HL13654]
Lord Howell of Guildford: We have not specifically raised the prospect of compensation for shopkeepers in Hebron. We remain concerned about evictions and demolitions of Palestinian property in the West Bank. The UK has a good record of lobbying hard on issues relating to house demolitions and settlement building.
We view any attempts to change the facts on the ground as a serious provocation likely to raise tensions and cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians, as well as being harmful to the peace process and in contravention of international law.
Ministry of Defence: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the salaries of the six highest-paid civilian individuals currently employed by the Ministry of Defence. [HL13423]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The salaries of the six highest-paid civilian individuals currently employed in the Ministry of Defence, shown in £5,000 bands, are:
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA53
Four of these salaries, including the top two, are paid to senior fixed-term appointees, who have been recruited from outside the Civil Service for their specific skills which the department does not have. The other two salaries are paid to permanent senior civil servants on standard contracts.
May I also refer my noble friend to the data available at http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence /CorporatePublications/FinancialReports/Salaries/ which, in accordance with the Government's transparency agenda contains details of salaries, in £5,000 bands, of all those at senior civil service pay band two level and above? This year's data are due to be uploaded at the end of November.
A copy of the report will be placed in the Library of the House.
Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 31 October (WA 222), whether they will continue their policy of providing funding for employers' contributions for members of public sector pension schemes which open their membership to non-public sector employees.[HL13439]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): There are a limited number of non-public sector employers that have access to public service pension schemes. In these circumstances, employers and employees pay pension contributions for the pension benefits that are earned. Employer contributions are not directly funded by the Government.
Public and Private Sector: Salaries
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the percentage differences in median full-time weekly earnings between the public sector and private sector for (1) the United Kingdom, (2) England, (3) Scotland, (4) Wales and (5) Northern Ireland; and what those figures are when the pension benefit provisions for each sector are incorporated.[HL13729]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: 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 Laird, dated November 2011.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA54
Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom and is based on a one per cent sample of employee jobs taken from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) PAYE records.
Although the ASHE collects data on occupational pension schemes and pension contributions, ASHE does not support the calculation of estimates for median full-time weekly earnings which incorporate pension benefit provisions.
I attach a table showing the percentage differences in median full-time weekly earnings between the public sector and private sector for (1) the United Kingdom, (2) England, (3) Scotland, (4) Wales and (5) Northern Ireland for 2011, the latest period for which figures are available.
| Percentage differences in median full-time weekly earnings between the Public sector and Private sector for, 2011 | |||
| Gross weekly pay £ | |||
| Public | Private | Percentage difference | |
- a: Full-time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. As at April 2011.
Royal Mail: Commemorative Stamps
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the postal authorities to ensure that the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo is marked by a special issue of stamps. [HL13638]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Decisions relating to the subject matter and designs ofstamps, are the direct responsibility
29 Nov 2011 : Column WA55
Royal Mail is aware of the bicentenary of the Battle of Waterloo and it is on a long list of subjects under consideration for 2015. The company will not however be finalising decisions on the content of the 2015 stamp programme until 2013.
Royal Mail has a well established process in place for selecting topics that celebrate or commemorate key national events or major achievements. The company receives over 2,000 suggestions each year and must reduce this number to around 12-14 special stamp set issues under any respective annual programme. Given the high demand it is inevitable that not all suggestions can be taken up.
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Schools: Teachers
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many sick days teachers in maintained schools have taken, by local authority, in the past year.[HL13513]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): Information on the number of sick days taken by teachers in the academic year 2010-11 is expected to become available in spring 2012.
For the academic year 2009-10 the number of sick days taken by teachers employed in publicly funded schools by local authority in England in November 2010 is provided in the table below.
- 1 The overall figures for England includes estimates for local authorities that are not available and therefore the sum of the days lost in each local authority will not equal this total.
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