| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA281
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA281
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA281
Monday 30 January 2012
Alcohol
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty's Government how the Department of Health will define "recovery" in their forthcoming alcohol strategy in terms of people who have an alcohol problem.[HL14870]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The core components of the definition of "recovery from dependence" are the same for all substances including for alcohol.
The drugs strategy 2010, Reducing Demand, Restricting Supply, Building Recovery: Supporting People to Live a Drug Free Life defines recovery as involving three overarching principles-well-being, citizenship, and freedom from dependence. It is an individual, person-centred journey, as opposed to an end state, and one that will mean different things to different people.
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance in February 2011, Alcohol-Use Disorders Diagnosis, Assessment and Management of Harmful Drinking and Alcohol Dependence that advises that abstinence is the appropriate goal for most people with alcohol dependence, and people who misuse alcohol and have significant psychiatric or physical comorbidity (for example, depression or alcohol-related liver disease).
We expect to publish the Government's alcohol strategy in the first months of this year.
Bangladesh
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have about the progress being made by the Government of Bangladesh on implementing the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord. [HL15055]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We welcome the Bangladesh Prime Minister's commitment to the full implementation of the 1997 Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, and the recent agreement to amend the 2001 Land Dispute Resolution Commission Act. We believe that comprehensive and effective implementation of the peace accord would contribute significantly to the security of the inhabitants, the stability of the region, and to the national development of Bangladesh.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA282
Bank of England
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic forecasting record of the Bank of England, in the light of recent downward revisions of its forecasts for economic growth.[HL14825]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Bank of England publishes economic forecasts in its quarterly Inflation Reports. The next forecast will be published in February.
Other independent forecasts are publicly available, including those of the independent Office for Budget Responsibility's (OBR). The OBR will publish a fully updated forecast alongside Budget 2012.
HM Treasury also publishes a compilation of independent economic forecasts each month on its website. These include forecasts made by the OBR, international institutions and City firms. Among other things, this allows for comparison of the Bank of England's forecasts with a range of other forecasts.
Banking: Bonuses
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will use their voting rights in the advisory vote on remuneration and the re-election of the chairman of the Remuneration Committee at the forthcoming annual general meetings of the Royal Bank of Scotland and the Lloyds Banking Group, if they do not support the decisions made by the boards of those companies on executive remunerations and bonuses.[HL14824]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): UK Financial Investments (UKFI) is engaging both banks as bonus decisions are taken. UKFI will evaluate the outcome of the remuneration committee decisions at both banks once they have been taken and will assess their voting intentions then.
The Government are committed to tackling unacceptable bank bonuses. At the start of 2011, the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) placed a limit of £2,000 on cash bonuses in respect of 2010. The bonus pool for 2010 was significantly lower than the previous year. We have made it clear that we think the bonus pool in respect of 2011 bonuses should be lower and more transparent.
The Government welcome Stephen Hester's decision to waive his bonus and enable him to focus on making RBS more stable and sustainable, with a view to it returning to the private sector.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA283
Benefits
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in employment support allowance and incapacity benefit appeals which are determined in favour of the appellant at a tribunal hearing, what is the proportion in which further evidence had been supplied at a stage where that evidence could have been taken into account for a revision; in how many such cases was the evidence (1) medical, or (2) non-medical; and in how many cases it was supplied by an official representative.[HL14790]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): No information is available as to the number of appeals which are found in favour of the appellant where evidence supplied to DWP could have been taken into account for a revision. Although data are shared between MoJ and DWP concerning appeal outcomes, this information only refers to whether appeals have been allowed or disallowed. DWP is working with HMCTS to explore ways of sharing information that may be used to improve the quality of DWP decision-making.
Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government to which benefits non-domiciled British citizens are entitled.[HL14800]
Lord Freud: Details of the benefits that are payable abroad and the countries where they can be paid are shown below. Entitlement depends on meeting the qualifying conditions, not on domicile or nationality.
State pension, bereavement benefits, industrial injuries disablement benefit and guardian's allowance-payable anywhere in the world under UK national legislation.
Incapacity benefit, contribution-based employment and support allowance (ESA), maternity allowance, disability living allowance (care component), attendance allowance and carers allowance-payable in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland under the EC social security co-ordinating Regulation (Regulation 883/04).
Incapacity benefit and maternity allowance are also payable in certain other countries where the UK has a bilateral social security agreement covering export of these benefits. ESA is not covered by any of the bilateral agreements.
Contribution-based jobseeker's allowance (JSA)-payable for up to three months if a person goes to look for work in another EEA member state or Switzerland, provided they were already getting it before they left the UK. JSA is not payable in countries covered by bilateral social security agreements.
Winter fuel payment-payable in the EEA and Switzerland provided the person was entitled to it before they left the UK.
Child benefit and child tax credit-payable in the EEA and Switzerland under the EC social security coordinating regulation (Regulation 883/04). Child benefit may also be payable in certain other countries
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA284
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people were claiming jobseeker's allowance in the Corby parliamentary constituency in each year from 1992 up until the last year for which records are available.[HL14912]
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 Kennedy, dated January 2012.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking how many people were claiming Jobseeker's Allowance in the Corby parliamentary constituency in each year from 1992 until the last year for which records are available. (HL14912)
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles the number of claimants of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) from the Jobcentre Plus administrative system.
Table 1, attached, shows the number of people claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in Corby constituency, in December of each year from 2004-2011, as being the latest data available. The Corby parliamentary constituency changed to new boundaries at the 2010 general election. Figures for the current Corby parliamentary constituency are only available from 2004.
National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at http://www.nomisweb co.uk.
| Table 1. Number of persons claiming Jobseeker's Allowance resident in the Corby constituency. | |
Source Jobcentre Plus administrative system
Big Society: Guidance
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of recent disputes regarding the cultivation of a verge in Mytchett, Surrey, what guidance they are providing to local authorities about applying the principles of their big society policy.[HL14794]
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA285
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Ministers are aware of the media reports of a family being charged by Surrey County Council highways for a cultivation licence to remove dead plants, broken bottles and other fly-tipped rubbish from a verge outside their home.
If correct, this could indeed be an example of bureaucracy hindering big society volunteering and good-spirited neighbourliness. Avoiding needless bureaucracy frees resources for councils to use for services such as elderly care or road maintenance and to keep down their council tax.
Although not issuing formal guidance, the Government encourage councils at all times to support and facilitate residents in volunteering to look after the areas in which they live.
Civil Service: Retirement
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average age of retirement from the senior civil service in the Department for Education; what this figure was for its predecessor departments; and what was the average pension paid to these retired senior civil servants in each year since 2001. [HL14941]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The Department for Education was created in May 2010. The information sought on the average age of retirement, and pension paid, to senior civil servants in the Department for Education and its predecessors, is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate costs.
Creative Industries
Question
Asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current value of the creative industries to the United Kingdom economy, in terms of gross domestic product contribution, growth and jobs.[HL14841]
Baroness Rawlings: The latest Creative Industries Economic Estimates bulletin was released in December 2011, in which the contribution to the economy of the creative industries is estimated-covering gross value added (GVA), employment, exports in services and number of businesses.
The creative industries as a whole were estimated to contribute £36.3 billion, or 2.9 per cent, to the UK's GVA in 2009.
Relative to the UK's total GVA, the creative industries' GVA has increase by 0.07 per cent in 2009 (from 2.82 per cent in 2008), but in absolute terms the GVA reduced by 1 per cent from 2008 (£36.6 billion to
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA286
1.50 million people are employed in either the creative industries or in a creative role in another industry (5.14 per cent of UK employment). This is a small increase on 2008 (1.44 million employed and 4.99 per cent of UK employment).
The full Creative Industries Economic Estimates statistical release is available on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's website: http://www.culture. gov.uk/publications/8682.aspx
Crime: Rioting
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons for the number of claims made or paid out to businesses for reparations following the August riots; and what systems have been put in place to monitor the number of claims by businesses being made and paid out.[HL14421]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): This Government are determined to ensure that riot compensation claims are dealt with more quickly. The Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice has met with police authority chairs and insurers to establish ways of speeding up payments to claimants. As a result, more efficient systems of payments, requiring less documentation, have been established.
Developing Countries: Taxation
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby
To ask Her Majesty's Government what resources have been allocated to assisting tax authorities in developing countries.[HL14828]
Baroness Northover: Her Majesty's Government assist tax authorities in developing countries in a number of different ways. Most assistance is provided through the Department for International Development, which helps build the capacity of individual tax authorities and provides assistance which benefits tax authorities more indirectly. Some assistance forms part of bigger programmes with a scope which extends beyond tax authorities. The wide range of assistance and of ways in which it is provided mean that the information requested is not easily obtained.
In preparation for the International Development Committee inquiry on Tax in Developing Countries: Increasing Resources for Development, DfID is preparing an estimate of resources used to assist tax authorities in developing countries. Her Majesty's Government will provide it to the noble Lord when it becomes available, which should be before 6 February.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA287
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the resources allocated to assisting tax authorities in developing countries between 2011 and 2020.[HL14829]
Baroness Northover: The Government, through the Department for International Development (DfID), allocates aid resources to different regions and countries. Plans for specific aid projects are largely determined by staff in-country, reflecting the importance of individual country contexts. The Government's spending review process (SR10) sets out agreed departmental resource allocations to 31 March 2015.
Country plans are based on a range of factors, including perceived need, assistance provided by other donors and the results which we think we can deliver. Thus, the overall resources we devote to assisting tax authorities in developing countries will be the result of individual decisions taken by different departments and country offices as situations evolve. We do not have a central plan to increase or decrease the overall resources allocated to this area of work.
In addition to the assistance provided through DfID, HM Revenue and Customs actively supports projects to enhance the capacity of tax collection administrations in developing countries, including by hosting two flagship training courses on behalf of the Commonwealth Association of Tax Administrators.
Drugs: Trafficking
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what protection they provide to British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean against the illegal international drug trade.[HL14877]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government are committed both to the fight against the illegal international drugs trade in the Caribbean and to its constitutional responsibilities for the safety and security of the Overseas Territories. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ministry of Defence, Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) and other parts of the Government work closely with Overseas Territory governments.
SOCA supports all the Caribbean Overseas Territories with training, equipment and staffing resources to combat a broad spectrum of serious and organised crime, including drug trafficking. This co-operation is supported by the FCO-funded Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser based in Miami. Together they have co-operated on a number of successful organised crime operations in recent months. These operations have had a significant impact on the trafficking of drugs and firearms.
SOCA has also recently launched a comprehensive strategy to counter the threat posed by maritime trafficking of cocaine, principally by yacht. A partnership is
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA288
The Royal Navy's Atlantic Patrol Task (North) (APT(N]) also carries out an important drugs interdiction role. APT(N) is currently "Fort Rosalie", a Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) vessel, whose primary role is to provide disaster response support for the Overseas Territories. RFA "Fort Rosalie" is providing the Government's presence in the region and strengthening bonds with our allies as well as acting as a deterrent to drug smugglers. In recent years the Royal Navy has made several successful drugs seizures worth millions of pounds, has disrupted others and has prevented them from reaching the UK.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they monitor the performance of the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC); and to what extent the EHRC has achieved its remit of promoting and monitoring human rights and protecting, enforcing and promoting equality.[HL15086]
Baroness Verma: Ministers and officials have regular discussions with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) about its performance. My officials receive monthly performance reports, and hold formal quarterly performance review meetings to assess EHRC's performance against its business plan.
The EHRC has carried out some important work that has deepened our knowledge and understanding of equality and human rights. But, as we said in March 2011 when we published our consultation on reform of the EHRC, the sheer breadth of the EHRC's remit, combined with errors made in the process of setting it up, have contributed to the underperformance of the EHRC. That is why we set out our plans to reform the EHRC to focus it on its core functions, and we will respond to the consultation on reform of the EHRC shortly.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the latest proposed restructuring plans for the Equality and Human Rights Commission will result in a workforce that reflects the diverse protected characteristics of the general population.[HL15087]
Baroness Verma: This is an operational matter for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).
In planning and implementing its restructuring, the EHRC is legally required to consider equality matters.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA289
European Stability Mechanism
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they propose to seek parliamentary support for the establishment of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM); and whether the United Kingdom will provide financial or other support for the ESM.[HL14823]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) will be established on an intergovernmental basis between the 17 euro area countries. The UK will neither participate in, nor contribute to, the mechanism.
It is in Britain's interests that we have a strong and stable euro area. More than 40 per cent of our exports are to the euro area. We want the euro to be a success and so we support the euro area's intention to put in place a permanent mechanism to deal with sovereign debt crises.
Treaty change has been proposed to provide that euro area member states may set up the ESM. Although the provisions in the relevant article do not apply to the UK, any changes to the EU treaties must be ratified by the UK and all other EU member states before they can enter into force. This treaty change will be approved under the provisions of the EU Act 2011.
In line with the provisions of that Act, the Foreign Secretary laid a Statement before Parliament on 13 October 2011 setting out that, in his opinion, this EU treaty change decision does not fall within Section 4 of the EU Act and so no referendum is required. An Act of Parliament will be introduced to ratify the treaty change decision as soon as practicable.
Firearms
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 19 January (WA 148), why they do not collect information on deaths and injuries by firearms identified as re-exported; and whether they will bring forward proposals to collect it.[HL15076]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): It is not clear how such statistics could be compiled: either those treating injured persons would need to have prior knowledge that the injuries were sustained by re-exported goods originating in the UK, before categorising the injuries inflicted and reporting them to us; or those using re-exported weapons would have to report to us the number of persons killed or injured by those weapons. The difficulties of either approach appear to be insurmountable. Therefore the Government do not intend to bring forward proposals to attempt to collect such information.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA290
Firearms: Licensing
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many firearms or shotgun certificates in England and Wales were revoked in each year from 1992 up until the last year for which records are available. [HL15009]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The information requested is provided in the table.
The next publication containing data for 2010-11 is scheduled to be published in March 2012.
| Table A: Number of firearm and shotgun certificate revocations in England and Wales, 1992 to 2009-10 | ||
| Numbers | ||
| Firearm certificates | Shotgun certificates | |
1 From 2007-08 data are extracted from the National Firearms Licensing Management System (NFLMS). Prior to this year, figures were supplied direct to the Home Office from police forces.
Gibraltar
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government to which court the claims by Spain over British waters around Gibraltar have been referred; and what progress has been made.[HL14991]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 July 2011 made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) on the site of community importance (SCI) case (Official Report, col. 79WS-80WS).
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA291
The original legal case was launched by the UK in the European General Court on 4 March 2010. This challenged the European Commission's listing of a site of community importance proposed by Spain, which overlapped British Gibraltar Territorial Waters and wholly encompassed an already existent SCI proposed by the UK. On 24 May 2011 the European General Court ruled the UK's case inadmissible on technical grounds. The UK has appealed against this. Once the written proceedings on our appeal on admissibility are completed, the Court will decide whether to hold an oral hearing to allow the parties to express their views on the admissibility issue before moving to judgment. We do not have any indication from the court as yet on the likely future timing in this case.
Government Departments: Bonuses
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each of the past five years for which figures are available and according to civil service band, how many people were eligible for performance and special bonuses in (1) the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and (2) each of its (a) agencies, and (b) non-Departmental Public Bodies; how many people received each type of bonus; what the average payment was for each type of bonus; and what the maximum payment was for each type of bonus.[HL14850]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): BIS was formed through a Machinery of Government change that occurred in June 2009. The department was created by merging the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS).
The information below has been drawn from various data sources and provides details for both the former departments that were merged to create BIS. We do not hold information prior to 2008 due to the merger as detailed above, to breakdown this information by grade would entail disproportionate costs.
| Financial Year | No of Performance Related payments | Average Payment | Maximum Payment | In Year Reward | Average Payment | Maximum Payment |
1 This is not the final figure, some awards are outstanding
For the performance-related payments, the number of recipients is the same as the number of people eligible as eligibility depends on meeting agreed performance standards.
For in-year rewards, there are different eligibility criteria due to varying terms and conditions. To obtain this information would entail disproportionate costs.
To provide information on BIS's agencies and NDPBs would entail disproportionate costs.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA292
Government Departments: Print Costs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to publishing the design and print costs on the covers of all Government documents.[HL14946]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Government are not considering publishing the design and print costs on the covers of all government documents.
Departments are required to seek the most cost-effective means of design and publication for all documents. Each government department is now responsible for publishing details of all departmental expenditure over £25,000 on the department's website.
Government Departments: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many civil servants employed by the Department of Energy and Climate Change and each of its agencies were (1) prosecuted, and (2) convicted of a criminal offence, and how many were as a result (a) suspended, and (b) dismissed, from their post in each of the past five years, broken down by age, sex and directorate.[HL15051]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): The Department of Energy and Climate Change was established as a result of machinery of government changes in October 2008. In the period since then there have been no incidents of any of the departments' staff being prosecuted or convicted of a criminal offence.
Iraq
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British or European Union citizens working in Iraq have been detained in recent months by the Government of Iraq; if so, how many; and whether they will make representations to the Government of Iraq on the matter.[HL14918]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are aware of the detention of five British nationals who had been working in Iraq in the last six months. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is not able to comment on the number of European Union citizens who may have been detained by the Government of Iraq as we do not hold such data.
When a British national is detained overseas our role is one of welfare. If appropriate, and with the permission of the person concerned, we will consider approaching the local authorities if a British national is not treated in line with internationally accepted standards. We cannot get a detainee out of prison as
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA293
Israel and Palestine
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have received reports of recent attacks by Israeli forces on Yattma, towns north of Hebron, Beit Ummar, Maghazi refugee camp, and Deir al-Balah; and whether they will take action in consequence. [HL14839]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The two Palestinian villages the noble Lord refers to are centres of weekly protests against the construction of the security barrier and the expansion of settlements. On 7 January, dozens of Palestinian civilians and international and Israeli human rights activists organised a demonstration in Beit Ummar in protest against the planned expansion of Karmi Tsur settlement. As they moved towards agricultural land close to the settlement, Israeli soldiers fired rubber bullets, tear gas canisters and sound bombs. As a result, a number of demonstrators suffered from tear gas inhalation.
On 11 January, Israeli forces raided the eastern side of Maghazi Refugee Camp and Deir al-Balah in Gaza. Witnesses have informed officials at our consulate general in Jerusalem that Israeli special forces raided the Maghazi refugee camp and that explosions were heard there. Israeli army bulldozers were also seen in the eastern side of Deir al-Bala. There were no reports of injuries.
Our officials in the British consulate general in Jerusalem will continue to closely monitor events in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. We continue to call on all parties to respect their responsibilities under international humanitarian law and for Israel to respect its obligations as the occupying power.
Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions have taken place with, and what representations have been made by, the insurance industry in relation to the proposals in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill concerning after-the-event insurance in respect of (1) clinical negligence claims, and (2) other claims.[HL14830]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 18 January 2012 (Official Report, col. WA 135).
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA294
Questions for Written Answer
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 18 January (WA 133), why it is not the practice of the Cabinet Office to apologise for very late answers to written questions.[HL14977]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Cabinet Office makes every effort to answer Written Questions within 10 working days. We regret that this is not always possible and endeavour to give a full response as soon as is practicable.
Railways: High Speed 2
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have considered or developed plans for a spur line from the proposed HS2 route to Wales or the west country.[HL15064]
Earl Attlee: The Government's proposed high-speed rail network is set out in the recent publication, High Speed Rail: Investing in Britain's Future-Decisions and Next Steps. Possible future extensions to the Government's proposed network will be considered on their merit in future.
Republic of Ireland: Healthcare Costs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 10 January (WA 42-3), why, pending the publication of the new scheme after it has been finalised, they will not now publish the details of the agreement which has been reached with the Republic of Ireland on a healthcare costs registration scheme; and why the reduction of 1.13 per cent year on year in the number of pensioners that the United Kingdom is liable for until 2014 was based on the trend analysis of previous years rather than on their survey result that 59.84 per cent of United Kingdom state pensioners resident in the Republic were also entitled to a qualifying pension there.[HL14993]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Government will publish the United Kingdom's revised bilateral arrangements with Ireland as soon as full details have been finalised and agreed by both parties.
The decision to implement a reduction of 1.13 per cent year on year in line with the trend analysis does take account of the survey results, as UK liability is falling, over a three-year period, from a figure of around 40 per cent reaching a figure of around 35 per cent in 2013. From 2014, the results of the new registration scheme will apply.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA295
Schools: EU History
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they will take to ensure that teaching about the European Union in United Kingdom schools is balanced.[HL15008]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The Government expect all teaching about political issues to be balanced and there are legal safeguards to ensure this. Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996 require school governing bodies, head teachers and local authorities to forbid the promotion of partisan political views and to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that, where political or controversial issues are brought to pupils' attention, they are offered a balanced presentation of opposing views.
Within these safeguards, teachers are free to use the resources they consider most appropriate to design and deliver a curriculum that suits their pupils' needs.
Sudan
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of religious persecution, including raids on church premises and abductions of clergy, in the Republic of Sudan and of whether such persecution is increasing; and whether they have raised the issue with that country's government. [HL15024]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We have not received reports indicating that religious persecution is increasing. Officials from our embassy in Khartoum meet regularly with representatives of faith-based groups, and advocates for the protection of minority rights as part of the constitutional review debate ongoing in Sudan. We remain concerned about this issue, and will continue to monitor the situation.
Sudan and South Sudan
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of claims that the Government of Sudan has been arming militia groups in an attempt to destabilise South Sudan.[HL15025]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We remain concerned that both Sudan and South Sudan are supporting proxy forces in each other's territory. We continue to urge both sides to refrain from this as it jeopardises ongoing negotiations on outstanding issues such as oil, the border and citizenship. The issue has been raised by our embassies in both countries.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA296
Syria
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information they have on the alleged targeting, kidnapping and killing of Christians in Syria since anti-government protests began.[HL14979]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are aware of media reports of Christians being targeted, but are not aware that they have been specifically singled out from the many people in Syria who have been subject to human rights abuses. Since the protests started in Syria in March 2011, the Syrian regime has responded with violence and repression. The United Nations has reported systematic human rights abuses. We make clear in our contacts with the Syrian regime our deep concerns about ongoing human rights abuses in Syria and the need for the regime to stop the violence against civilians.
As the resolution adopted by the Arab League on 22 January shows, the Assad regime continues to demonstrate its failure to protect the rights, freedoms and interest of Syrians. We believe President Assad's actions include a deliberate attempt to ferment sectarian tensions across Syria. The regime's actions continue to undermine the stability and security of Syria and therefore endanger all of Syria's citizens, including religious minorities. We believe that President Assad has lost legitimacy and should step aside.
We are encouraging Syrian opposition groups to reach out to minority communities, including Christians, and to maintain a clear commitment to a peaceful and non-sectarian approach. They should reassure all Syrians that they are working towards a Syrian state which is democratic, inclusive, representative and respectful of its ethnic and religious minorities and which adheres to international human rights conventions.
Asked by Lord Janner of Braunstone
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Arab League regarding its observation mission in Syria.[HL15056]
Lord Howell of Guildford: The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt), discussed the Arab League's observer mission with the Arab League Secretary General, Nabil Al Araby, on 30 December 2011 and 21 January. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State reiterated the Government's support for the efforts of the Arab League to resolve the crisis in Syria and to bring an end to the violence. Our ambassador to Egypt and Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials regularly hold discussions with the Arab League on the situation in Syria. Most recently our ambassador met Mr Al Araby on 24 January to discuss the observer mission.
The Syrian regime has shown no intention of implementing the Arab League Plan it signed on 2 November 2011. Instead it has continued its brutal
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA297
We have made clear since August 2011 that President Assad has lost legitimacy and should step aside to allow the Syrian people to realise their aspirations for greater freedom, dignity and a more open political system.
Taxation: Self-Assessment
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many letters reminding people to submit their self-assessment tax return have been sent to people who have already done so, in the current financial year; and at what cost to public funds.[HL14796]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The information requested is only available at disproportionate cost.
Turkey
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will respond to the statement made to international public opinion on 13 January by the Peace and Democracy Party of Turkey; and whether they have made representations to the Government of Turkey about arrests of politicians, mayors, lawyers and journalists since April 2009.[HL15033]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The Government are not planning to respond directly to the statement of the Peace and Democracy Party of Turkey on 13 January.
Along with our European Union (EU) partners, we continue to express concern over the arrest and pre-trial detention of journalists and others. We note that the Turkish Government are currently introducing judicial reforms to address some of the issues connected to pre-trial detention. We strongly urge the Turkish Government to pursue a comprehensive reform strategy that fulfils their Council of Europe and Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) commitments on human rights and freedom of expression.
The Minister for Europe, my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) raised the issue of the arrests of journalists in Turkey in his meeting with Egemen Bagis, Minister for European Affairs and Chief Negotiator, on 31 March 2011. Our embassy in Ankara regularly raises issues relating to freedom of expression in the context of wider discussions on human rights and we work closely with other EU member states in addressing human rights issues in Turkey.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA298
UK Honours
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 18 January (WA 140), whether a check has been made of whether the numbers and percentages of honours awarded to professors in the honours lists are available publicly; and, if they are not, whether they will now answer the original question. [HL14978]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested concerning the number of honours recipients at knighthood and CBE levels described as holding the title of professor is in the public domain, and can be found in the London Gazette at www.london-gazette.co.uk.
The percentage of recipients meeting the criteria in each honours list is as follows.
| Knighthoods and Damehoods | |||
| Honours List | Recipients at that level | Recipients described as professor | Percentage of recipients at that level |
| CBE | |||
| Honours List | Recipients at that level | Recipients described as professor | Percentage of recipients at that level |
NY indicates a list published at New Year. BD indicates a list published on the occasion of the Sovereign's Official Birthday.
30 Jan 2012 : Column WA300
This Answer relates to the Prime Minister's List, for which the Honours and Appointments Secretariat is responsible. It does not include military honours awarded on the Defence Services List or those listed on the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List.
Included in these data is any honours recipient who was entitled professor at the time of publication of the relevant list and who asked to be listed by the title. It does not include any recipient who may have been entitled to the use of the title professor but who chose not to be listed using it. Nor do these numbers include anyone who may previously or subsequently have been known by the title professor.
Included in the numbers listed for knighthoods are also damehoods, as the equivalent honour for female recipients at that level.
Visas
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 11 January (WA 104), and given that 275,000 visas were issued to students from India and Pakistan between 2007 and 2011 while the total estimated number of citizens of India and Pakistan who left the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2010 was 80,000, what was the net figure for students who migrated permanently to the United Kingdom.[HL14997]
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 January 2012.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics. I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 11 January (WA 104), and given that 275,000 visas were issued to students from India and Pakistan between 2007 and 2011 while the total estimated number of citizens of India and Pakistan who left the United Kingdom between 2006 and 2010 was 80,000, what was the net figure for students who migrated permanently to the United Kingdom (HL 14997).
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) produces estimates of long-term international migration which are based on the UN definition of a migrant, that is, someone who changes their country of usual residence for a period of at least a year.
ONS does not currently collect specific information on the net migration of people who have been studying in the United Kingdom. This is primarily because the International Passenger Survey (IPS) does not capture an emigrant's original reason for migrating to the UK. From January 2012, additional questions have been added to the IPS so that an emigrant's original reason for immigrating is captured. This information will enable net flows by original reason for migrating to be produced.
| Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |