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2 Feb 2012 : Column WA341
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA341
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA341
Thursday 2 February 2012
Alan Turing
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consider granting a posthumous pardon to Alan Turing.[HL14988]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The question of granting a posthumous pardon to Mr Turing was considered by the previous Government in 2009.
As a result of the previous campaign, the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown issued an unequivocal posthumous apology to Mr Turing on behalf of the Government, describing his treatment as "horrifying" and "utterly unfair". Mr Brown said the country owed him a huge debt. This apology was also shown at the end of the Channel 4 documentary celebrating Mr Turing's life and achievements which was broadcast on 21 November 2011.
A posthumous pardon was not considered appropriate as Alan Turing was properly convicted of what at the time was a criminal offence. He would have known that his offence was against the law and that he would be prosecuted.
It is tragic that Alan Turing was convicted of an offence which now seems both cruel and absurd-particularly poignant given his outstanding contribution to the war effort. However, the law at the time required a prosecution and, as such, long-standing policy has been to accept that such convictions took place and, rather than trying to alter the historical context and to put right what cannot be put right, ensure instead that we never again return to those times.
Environment: Community Growing Spaces
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made on the commitment in their response to the Making Space for Nature review that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Communities and Local Government would work together to increase the provision of growing spaces for community groups and individuals who want to grow their own food. [HL15155]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Government activity is focused on reducing barriers to people growing their own food. The Department
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA342
Food: Nutrition
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they issue standards and guidelines regarding the nutritional value of meals served to (1) patients in hospital, (2) prisoners, (3) staff in government departments, (4) schoolchildren, and (5) students eating at colleges of further or higher education.[HL15157]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Government have issued guidance and mandatory standards, all of which encourage provision of healthier choices for children and adults in a range of settings. In the case of schools there is specific legislation which requires the provision of healthy, nutritionally balanced food.
Government Buying Standards for Food and Catering Services (GBSF), launched in June 2011, covers nutrition and sustainability aspects of food provision. GBSF is mandatory for central government departments and their agencies, including prisons. The wider public sector, which includes schools and further education colleges, is encouraged to adopt GBSF.
To support government departments required to meet GBSF the department has published practical guidance to help caterers provide food that meets the nutritional needs of adults working in or in the care of the public sector.
Within the National Health Service, there are binding standards for good hydration and nutrition as part of a hospital's registration with the regulator. The Care Quality Commission assesses trusts against this requirement and has tough enforcement powers in cases where the proper standards are not being met. NHS organisations are also encouraged to adopt GBSF through the 2011-12 NHS operating framework.
School food regulations (2007) require primary and secondary schools to meet a combination of food-based and nutrient-based standards and the School Food Trust provides support and advice to schools and the Government on school food issues.
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA343
Forests
Questions
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what definition of ancient woodland they use; and how many other categories of woodland there are.[HL15158]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The definition of ancient woodland used for the Ancient Woodland Inventory, maintained by Natural England, is "woodland that has been in continuous existence since at least 1600AD".
The National Forest Inventory, carried out by the Forestry Commission, uses 10 categories of woodland. These are: conifer; broad-leaved; mixed (predominantly conifer); mixed (predominantly broad-leaved); coppice; coppice with standards; shrub; young trees; felled and; ground prepared for planting.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have plans to apply biodiversity offsetting policies to ancient woodlands; and what advice they have received about the length of time needed to recreate the habitat provided by ancient woodlands. [HL15159]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Biodiversity offsetting will be piloted in six areas from April 2012. We advise that if participating local authorities decide to go ahead with development on habitats that are very rare,
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA344
Government Departments: Bonuses
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government, for each of the last 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) HM Treasury, 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. [HL14855]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): Bonus payments are an integral part of the reward package for all staff and are made in two circumstances: performance bonuses linked to performance in the previous appraisal year and special bonuses paid to recognise specific contribution to pieces of work during the year.
It should be noted that bonuses paid in one year reflect performance in the previous year. So, for example, the bonuses paid in 2010-11 would have been in respect of performance in 2009-10.
The information requested is set out in the tables below.
- 1. The APA was formed in December 2009 and therefore first year when staff were employed who were eligible for bonus was 2009-10.
- 2. Average bonus and maximum bonus not disclosed (N/D) where number of staff is less than 5 due to data protection for individuals.
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | |
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 HM Revenue and Customs; 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. [HL14856]
Lord Sassoon: Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs operates two bonus arrangements:
performance awards tied to the annual performance for delegated grades (AA-Grade 6) and senior civil servants; and a recognition bonus scheme for delegated grades which recognises exceptional in-year performance. This scheme is not open to members of the SCS.| Non Consolidated Performance Awards paid 2007-08 relating to 2006-07 performance | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA349
| Recognition Bonuses paid in 2008-09 | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Non Consolidated Performance Awards paid 2008-09 relating to 2007-08 performance | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Recognition Bonuses paid in 2008-09 | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Non Consolidated Performance Awards paid 2009-10 relating to 2008-09 performance | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Recognition Bonuses paid in 2009-10 | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Non Consolidated Performance Awards paid 2010-11relating to 2009-10 performance | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Recognition Bonuses paid in 2010-11 | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
| Non Consolidated Performance Awards paid 2011-12 relating to 2010-11 performance | |||||
| Grade | Numbers Eligible | Number Receiving a Bonus | Total Bonus paid | Average Value | Maximum Value |
Government Departments: Consultants
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total expenditure of the Department for Education on external consultants for each of the past three financial years.[HL15239]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): The Department for Education's expenditure on external consultants for each of the past three financial years was as follows:
£59.0 million in financial year 2008-09;
£57.4 million in financial year 2009-10; and
£19.8 million in financial year 2010-11.
House of Lords: Cross-Bench Peers
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 18 January (WA 133), whether they will now answer the question regarding whether they were aware on 25 October 2011, when Question for Written Answer HL 12784 was tabled, of the identity of the person or persons who authorise the number of Cross-Bench Peers to be appointed by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.[HL15004]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Yes. The Government were aware; the delay in answering HL 12784 was due to an administrative oversight.
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA352
National Insurance
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 10 January (WA 58), why non-European Union workers are permitted to have a 52-week exclusion from national insurance employer and employee contributions when the cost of the concession is not known.[HL14994]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): I refer to the answer of 22 March 2011 (Official Report, col. WA154). The Government agree with the assessment of the Office of Tax Simplification in that exempting certain non-resident individuals who are sent to the UK by their overseas employer from paying and reporting UK national insurance is a simplification for both the individual and the employer. Abolishing it would make the tax system more complex. This is especially true if the individual is in the UK for a very short time.
NHS Commissioning Board
Question
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans there are for the NHS Commissioning Board to publish good-practice guidelines to ensure clinical commissioning groups fulfil their new duty to obtain appropriate advice to aid cancer healthcare commissioning.[HL15120]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Given the importance of tackling cancer to the health and well-being of the people of England, the NHS Commissioning Board will have a clear responsibility for supporting the commissioning system to meet the needs of cancer patients; this will include supporting commissioners to draw on appropriate advice.
The NHS Commissioning Board will, subject to Parliament, be established by October 2012. Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will, subject to Parliament, be established in April 2013. The NHS Commissioning Board Authority has been set up in order to prepare for the establishment and operation of the NHS Commissioning Board. The authority is not currently undertaking work on specific good practice guidelines, as this would be a matter for the board itself. We would, however, expect the board to publish such guidelines as it thinks necessary to support the improvement of health outcomes, the discharge of its functions, and other objectives set out in the Secretary of State's mandate to the board.
Sir David Nicholson (chief executive of the NHS Commissioning Board Authority and chief executive-designate of the NHS Commissioning Board) has stated in Developing Clinical Commissioning Groups: Towards Authorisation that "clinical commissioning groups will need the full range of skills and clinical
2 Feb 2012 : Column WA353
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