Written Answers
Monday 28 May 2012
Airports: Holding Facilities
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the improvements to accommodation by the UK Border Agency in 2011 referred to in paragraph 1.2 of the report of the Independent Monitoring Board on the non-residual short-term holding facilities at London Heathrow Airport for the year February 2011 to January 2012; what has happened to date to deliver those improvements; and what is the timetable for delivering all the improvements promised. [HL329]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The recommendations referred to in paragraph 1.2 of the recently published report of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) on the non-residential short-term holding facilities at Heathrow Airport asked for the following accommodation improvements to be implemented at the facilities:
upgrade to the facilities in the terminal 5 holding room;refurbishment of the holding room in terminal 3;a shower for the holding room in terminal 1 and lighting which can be dimmed; andan upgrade to the holding rooms in terminal 4 to include a shower and a family room.
The provision of facilities at ports of entry is to be provided by the port operator, BAA. The UK Border Agency has worked closely with BAA since the last IMB report to try and progress accommodation improvements.
There are a number of constraints to implementing the board’s recommendations. This includes the availability of space, significant infrastructure changes and cost. However, one recommendation has been taken forward and lighting which can be dimmed has been installed in terminal 1.
Some improvements will take time to implement due to the need for structural changes to the accommodation. UK Border Agency officials are now working very closely with BAA to establish how the outstanding improvements can be made and to agree a timetable.
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how their analysis of threats necessitates aircraft carriers in the 2020s but no such provision in the interim period.[HL302]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has conducted a number of investigations into the threats that the country faces in the short, medium, and long term. The MoD believes that the decision to delay regeneration of Britain’s carrier strike capability is manageable in the short term, and Libya showed that we could in the short term make alternative arrangements for overseas basing, but we are not prepared to accept further delays beyond the timetable set out in the strategic defence and security review, with flying from the “Queen Elizabeth”-class Carrier to begin in 2018.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the early retirement of the Sea Harriers from service in the Navy.[HL304]
Lord Astor of Hever: The Sea Harrier was withdrawn from service in 2006 and this decision cannot now be reviewed.
Aviation: Flying Restrictions
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will issue guidance to county councils and local authorities to ease flying restrictions at airfields during the run-up to, and during, the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games.[HL357]
Earl Attlee: There are no plans to provide guidance to county councils or local authorities in respect of easing flying restrictions at airfields in the run-up to, and during, the forthcoming London 2012 Games.
Bank of England
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the decision by the Bank of England to cut its United Kingdom growth estimate from 1.2% to 0.8%.[HL236]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Monetary Policy Committee publishes economic forecasts in the Bank of England’s quarterly inflation reports.
As the May 2012 inflation report notes, “The single biggest threat to the [UK] recovery stems from the challenges within the euro area”.
The outlook for growth in the May report has been revised since February. As explained in the report, in the near term this reflects “the impacts of a higher near-term outlook for inflation on real incomes and the higher level of sterling on net trade. Further out in the forecast period the profile is lower due to a slower
pickup in productivity growth and the implications that this is likely to have for household and business spending”.
The Governor of the Bank of England made clear at the inflation report press conference on 16 May that “the big picture remains one in which the economy gradually recovers”.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 26 March (WA 198–9), whether they had the authority to instruct the Court of the Bank of England to commission an independent report on the failures of the Bank in advance of and during the early stages of the global banking crisis.[HL289]
Lord Sassoon: The decision to commission such a report is a matter for the Court of the Bank of England. The Government are pleased that the court has this week announced the commission of three independent reviews into areas of the Bank’s performance and current capabilities and look forward to seeing the outcome of this work.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the comments by the Governor of the Bank of England on 15 February at the Bank of England inflation report press conference that “when the time comes for us to reduce the size of the (Bank’s) balance sheet we’ll find that a whole lot easier than we did when expanding it”.[HL293]
Lord Sassoon: The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has operational responsibility for monetary policy. The MPC makes decisions on its policy tools, including quantitative easing (QE), or the stock of asset purchases financed by the issuance of central bank reserves, in order to meet the 2% inflation target in the medium term. It is for the MPC to decide the timing and pace of an exit from QE through the sale of assets, based on its assessment of the balance of risks to the inflation target in the medium term.
Banks: Green Investment Bank
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the Green Investment Bank to be able to raise funds from the private sector.[HL290]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) will receive borrowing powers from April 2015, subject to public sector net debt falling as a proportion of the Gross domestic product (GDP). It will be central to the operation of the GIB from its inception that it will co-invest alongside private capital, mobilising funds from the private sector to finance green infrastructure projects in the UK.
Banks: Iceland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what amounts have been repaid by the administrators of each of the failed Icelandic banks to date; how much is outstanding from each bank; what is the overall total, and how each debt is to be retrieved; and what the charges of each of those administrators have been to date.[HL308]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): Details of the loans to Icelandic banks as at 31 March 2011, including repayments and interest received, can be found in Sections 33, 34 and 36 of the Treasury annual reports and accounts 2010-11. Figures as at 31 March 2012 will be published in the Treasury annual reports and accounts 2011-12.
Bounty-Pitcairn Conference
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will be sending representatives to the Second International Bounty-Pitcairn Conference in Los Angeles in August 2012.[HL268]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We have no plans to send a representative to the conference.
Care Services: Elderly People
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the letter to the Prime Minister of 8 May from committees and campaign groups on the state of care for the elderly.[HL255]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We know that urgent reform of the care and support system is needed to provide people with more choice and control, and to reduce the insecurity that they and their families face.
We will shortly be publishing the care and support White Paper, and progress report on funding, which will transform care and support. The Government have also committed to publishing a draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny in the second Session and we plan to do this shortly.
Care Services: Funding
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will bring forward proposals to implement the Dilnot commission recommendations on funding long-term care; and, if so, when.[HL258]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Coalition programme set out the Government’s clear commitment to reforming the system of social care to provide much more control to individuals and their carers, and to ease the cost burden that they and their families face. This commitment to reform is why we acted quickly to set up the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, which published its report in July 2011.
The Government welcomed the report as a valuable contribution to the debate on social care reform, but funding is not the only thing that needs to change in the social care system. We want a package of reforms that goes much wider, addresses the key failures of the current system, and ensures that people get the best possible social care.
As we seek to get the country’s finances under control, it is more important than ever that we fully scrutinise all policies to make sure that every pound is spent in the best possible way. This is why we have been working hard since the commission reported to determine the best approach to the future of social care in this country. In particular, we held a series of engagement events in which we worked closely with stakeholders from across the social care sector to identify the top priorities for reform and establish the trade-offs between them. The results of this engagement are published online and will inform our thinking as we make these important policy decisions. We will shortly publish a White Paper on social care and a progress report on funding reform.
Cayman Islands
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the comments in a statement by Premier McKeeva Bush of the Cayman Islands that the United Kingdom-appointed Governor has done “nothing of substance” to help the country; that he has “stealthily and insidiously undermined” Government efforts to “get our economy off the ground and get jobs for people”; and that “He’s done nothing for three years to help us but to throw cold water on whatever we were trying to do”. [HL327]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): I have noted the Premier of the Cayman Islands' comments in the media attacking the Governor and the Government and suggesting that there is a conspiracy to undermine the Cayman Islands, and can assure the noble Lord that there is no truth whatsoever in those suggestions. As the Governor said in his statement on 3 May:
“the UK Government’s vision for the Cayman Islands was set out clearly during the visit by the Minister for the Overseas Territories, Henry Bellingham (from 18-21 April 2012): a vision of a flourishing and vibrant economy, whose public finances are well managed and whose adherence to internationally recognised standards of governance enhances its reputation as a good place to live, work and do business”.
The Governor shares that vision and that commitment, and he has our full support.
Charities: Medical Research
Questions
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what agreement they have reached with medical research charities over the financing of excess treatment costs.[HL316]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role the medical charity sector will have in drawing up guidelines with the Department of Health to ensure that all NHS Trusts apply the same criteria when allocating costs linked to research infrastructures.[HL317]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): On 4 May 2012, the department and the Association of Medical Research Charities announced the publication of new guidelines for attributing the cost of health and social care research and development. The department continues to work with medical research charities on implementation of the guidance by the research community.
Under the current system, the patient care costs (sometimes referred to as treatment costs) for patients who are taking part in research funded by Government and research charity partner organisations are funded through normal arrangements for commissioning patient care. The Government have made a commitment that clinical commissioning groups and the NHS Commissioning Board will ensure that these costs continue to be met through these arrangements.
Disabled People: Employment
Question
Asked by Baroness Turner of Camden
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many disabled employees will be made redundant as a result of the decision to close 36 Remploy factories; and what plans the Government have for the future of those employees.[HL159]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): There are 1,752 Remploy employees at risk of redundancy. This includes 1,518 disabled people working in the 36 Remploy factory sites (25 in England, seven in Wales and four in Scotland), identified as non-viable and proposed for closure and associated sites, as well as the modernisation group of employees.
Remploy began collective consultation with employee representatives on 19 March 2012. As part of collective consultation, the Remploy Board will consider all proposals to avoid compulsory redundancy. The collective consultation process is also covering ways of mitigating the consequences of redundancy dismissals, including redundancy payments and the comprehensive personal package of support which would be made available to any Remploy employee who is, in the event, made redundant.
To help the transition from sheltered segregated employment into mainstream employment, we are committed to providing a comprehensive support package
for all disabled members of Remploy staff affected by the government announcement on 7 March. This offer will be for individualised support for up to 18 months and we have set aside £8 million to support this work. The support package is designed to be flexible and will be tailored to meet each individual’s specific needs through the development of a personalised action plan. This will be managed with the support of a personal case worker who will make best use of skills and experience from partner agencies and organisations both nationally and locally.
The support package will include access to work-related opportunities available from Remploy and Jobcentre Plus employer networks and we will also be working with other employers, including local employers, and the Employers Forum on Disability to look to offer targeted work opportunities to help affected staff find new employment. The support package will also include a personal budget to provide additional support that is not available elsewhere to help people who may have difficulties with the transition to mainstream employment.
The support package includes making £1.5 million available for the Community Support Fund. This fund will support individuals to become involved in their local communities as well as providing support for those who wish to make the move from sheltered to mainstream employment. Local disabled people’s user-led organisations and voluntary sector organisations will be able to apply for modest amounts of funding to take forward a variety of projects or activities to support disabled people in areas affected by the Sayce announcement.
Drugs: Thalidomide
Question
Asked by Lord Morris of Manchester
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what further support they intend to provide for victims of thalidomide, following the conclusion of the pilot three-year grant in April 2012.[HL381]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Thalidomide grant is a three-year pilot, running from April 2010 until March 2013, to explore how the health needs of Thalidomide survivors can best be met in the longer term and how such a scheme might be applied to other small groups of geographically dispersed patients with specialised needs.
Officials met with members of the National Advisory Council (NAC) to the Thalidomide Trust in June 2010, to discuss their evaluation of the first year. The Government expect to receive the evaluation of the second year of the pilot study shortly, and will look to meet with the NAC to discuss that report. We will consider the future of the grant further into the pilot.
Elections: Overseas Electors
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many overseas electors resident in Canada are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency.[HL213]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many overseas electors resident in Australia are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency.[HL214]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many overseas electors resident in New Zealand are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency.[HL215]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many overseas electors resident in South Africa are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency.[HL216]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many overseas electors resident in Jamaica are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency.[HL217]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many overseas electors resident in Trinidad and Tobago are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency.[HL218]
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 Jones of Cheltenham, dated May 2012.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your questions on overseas electors:
how many overseas electors resident in Canada are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency. (HL213)how many overseas electors resident in Australia are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency. (HL214)how many overseas electors resident in New Zealand are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency. (HL215)how many overseas electors resident in South Africa are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency. (HL216)how many overseas electors resident in Jamaica are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections. by United Kingdom constituency. (HL217)how many overseas electors resident in Trinidad and Tobago are entitled to vote in United Kingdom general elections, by United Kingdom constituency. (HL218)
ONS does not hold the information requested. ONS collates and publishes data on the number of overseas electors registered to vote in UK general elections but no information is collected on which country overseas electors are resident in.
Elections: Police and Crime Commissioners
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will give further consideration to the issue of election addresses in the police and crime commissioner
elections, given studies reported during the London mayoral campaign suggesting a low rate of use of the most popular search engine to seek information on candidates.[HL148]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Government are not expecting the public to use a search engine to find information on the police and crime commissioner candidates. We are instead offering a multichannel approach whereby the public can go directly to a specific website for information on candidates or can request information in a paper booklet if they wish.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that encouraging online searches will provide sufficient information to voters to decide who to vote for in the police and crime commissioner elections; and what representations they have received from the Local Government Association and the Electoral Commission on this matter.[HL149]
Lord Henley: The Government considered a number of representations from a range of partners in making their decision. We will offer a multichannel approach whereby the public can go directly to a specific website for information on candidates or can request information in a paper booklet if they wish.
Employment: Temporary Workers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 26 March (WA 224), (1) whether allowances paid to United Kingdom workers by way of an HM Revenue and Customs dispensation agreement are considered as contributing towards national minimum wage (NMW) pay; (2) whether allowances paid to workers on secondment to the United Kingdom by way of such an agreement are considered as so contributing; (3) whether allowances paid to United Kingdom workers by way of an HM Revenue and Customs dispensation agreement for Section 338 expenses are considered as contributing towards NMW pay; and (4) whether allowances paid to seconded workers in the United Kingdom under such a dispensation agreement are considered as so contributing. [HL248]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Where a worker qualifies for the national minimum wage (NMW), the same rules, including the rules for expenses and allowances, apply regardless of the nationality of the worker. There are no separate rules for allowances paid by way of HM Revenue and Customs dispensation agreements. Any money payments paid by the employer to a worker in respect of travelling expenses that are allowed as deductions from earnings under Section 338 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 do not count towards NMW pay.
Energy: Shale Gas
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have received about the potential for producing gas from shale in Middle Eastern and North African countries that have small or no oil resources; and whether they will share any such information with the governments concerned.[HL369]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Marland): The Government have not made their own assessment of these matters. We are aware of the assessments of global shale gas resources produced by:
US Energy Information Administration www.eia.gov/analysis/studies/worldshalegas/;
and the International Energy Agency in Are We Entering aGolden Age of Gas? www.iea.org/weo/docs/ weo2011/WEO2011_GoldenAgeofGasReport.pdf.
These reports are in the public domain and are therefore available to Governments in the Middle East and North Africa.
EU: Treaties
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the measures subject to the United Kingdom’s opt-out under Protocol 19 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; which of those the United Kingdom has agreed to amend or opt-in to; which they do not intend to opt-in to; and what they expect to be the position on 1 June 2014.[HL299]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): Under Protocol 36 to the Treaties of the European Union, the UK has a block opt-out in the field of Justice and Home Affairs (the 2014 decision). Protocol 19 to the Treaties of the European Union relates to the application of the Schengen Acquis. The list of all measures subject to the 2014 decision, including measures which form part of the Schengen Acquis, was annexed to a letter to Lord Roper, the then chair of the Lords European Union Committee. The letter to Lord Roper and the annex will be placed in the House Library. The letter can also be viewed using the following link: www. parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/european-scrutiny/Ministerialpercent20 Correspondencepercent202010-12.pdf.
Measures will cease to be within scope of the 2014 decision if they are repealed and replaced, or amended, by measures brought forward under the Lisbon Treaty. So far, the UK has chosen to participate in the following measures which will potentially affect measures subject to the 2014 decision:
initiative of the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Estonia, the Kingdom of Spain, the Republic of Austria, the Republic of Slovenia and the Kingdom of Sweden for a directive
of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the European Investigation Order in criminal matters;proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings, and protecting victims, repealing Framework Decision 2002/629/JHA;directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation of children and child pornography, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2004/68/JHA;agreement between the European Union and Australia on the processing and transfer of passenger name record (PNR) data by air carriers to the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service;proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on attacks against information systems, repealing Council Framework Decision 2005/222/JHA;proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime;agreement between the European Union and the United States for the transfer and use of passenger name record (PNR) data to prevent and combat terrorism and other serious transnational crime;proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by competent authorities for the purposes of prevention, investigation, detection or prosecution of criminal offences or the execution of criminal penalties, and the free movement of such data. (Schengen opt-out under protocol 19).
Given that the Government cannot say with certainty what proposals the Commission will bring forward, it is not possible to say what the position will be in 2014.
Finance: Gilts
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish their estimate of the interest they expect to receive during the fiscal year 2012–13 on the gilt-edged securities acquired under the Asset Purchase Scheme and quantitative easing; and how much interest they expect to pay on the same gilt-edged securities.[HL292]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Asset Purchase Facility (APE) is a subsidiary of the Bank of England. To ensure that the APE is operated in an open and transparent manner, the Bank publishes a quarterly report on the transactions as part of the facility and an annual report which contains the financial statement of the facility. These can be found on the Bank of England’s website: www.bankofengland.co.uk/markets/Pages/apf/default.aspx.
The APE has purchased £325 billion of gilts to date, details of which, including coupon rates and maturities of the specific gilts held, are also available on the bank’s website. Details on individual gilts in issue can be found on the Debt Management Office’s website: www.dmo.gov.uk/index.aspx? page=Gilts/Gilts_In_Issue.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much by way of current shortfalls the Financial Services Compensation Scheme has to levy on the financial services industry, and whether any such levy has yet been announced or commenced.[HL310]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): This is a matter for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. This question has been passed on to the FSCS, which will reply to you directly by letter. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.
Firearms: Licensing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what monitoring or supervision is conducted by the Home Office of how police forces handle firearms certificates. [HL251]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Home Office does not conduct any monitoring or supervision on how police forces handle firearms certificates because that is a matter for the chief officer in each police force area.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they will take to assist in protecting Gazan fishermen who comply with the three-mile zone restriction imposed by Israel from being arrested, detained or shot at; and what representations they are making to Israel about compensation for fishermen who lose boats and equipment.[HL242]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK regularly makes representations at both ministerial and official level to the Government of Israel on the urgent need to ease restrictions on Gaza. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right honourable friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt), discussed these issues during visits to the region in December 2011 and January 2012.
Alongside our European Union partners, we have urged Israel to extend the fishing zone from 3 to 20 nautical miles, as stipulated in the Oslo Accords.
While the UK is not in a position to take specific action to prevent fishermen from being arrested, detained or shot at, or to ensure that losses are compensated, as part of our engagement with the Israeli authorities we frequently emphasise the impact restrictions have had on industry in Gaza.
Health: Cardiology
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to develop a commissioning support pack for atrial fibrillation.[HL323]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of excess deaths from atrial fibrillation.[HL326]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): In 2011, the National Health Service Improvement Heart Team launched a commissioning support document Anticoagulation in Atrial Fibrillation. Dissemination of this document is ongoing. The document can be found at: www.improvement.nhs.uk/heart/HeartImprovementHome/AtrialFibrillation/AtrialFibrillationAnticoagulation/tabid/129/Default.aspx.
No assessment has been made of the number of excess deaths from atrial fibrillation. However, we do know that around 12,500 strokes per year may be directly attributable to atrial fibrillation and therefore there may be scope to reduce this number with the recognition and optimal treatment of atrial fibrillation.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence quality standard on atrial fibrillation is expected to be published.[HL324]
Earl Howe: We asked the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to develop a quality standard on atrial fibrillation in March 2012 as part of a library of approximately 170 National Health Service Quality Standards. NICE has not yet published a timescale for the development of this quality standard. A full list of quality standards, including information on those currently in development and those already published can be found on NICE’s website: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/qualitystandards/qualitystandards.jsp.
Health: Clinical Senates
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when clinical senates will be established.[HL351]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): There are likely to be 14 to 16 clinical senates established in the new health system, reflecting major patient flows through the system. They will cover the whole of England and will help clinical commissioning groups, health and well-being boards and the NHS Commissioning Board to make the best decisions about healthcare for the populations they represent by providing strategic advice and leadership. Clinical senates will be operational from April 2013.
Health: General Practitioners
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of general practitioners due to retire in the next five years.[HL257]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department does not hold the data in the format requested. The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) was established in 2010 as a new national body aimed to act as the authoritative voice on workforce intelligence. Included within its remit, CfWI undertakes analysis and provides evidence to the department and the system on workforce supply and demand issues to support workforce planning and education and training decisions.
Health: Healthcare Assistants
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the costs of assured voluntary registration of healthcare assistants.[HL373]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The costs of assured voluntary registration for healthcare support workers will depend on a number of factors including the number of people on the register, the approach taken to registration and the standards of training required for entry to the register. The costs, which will fall on individual registrants, will be considered as part of the development of a voluntary register. We would expect that the costs of registration are kept at a level that ensures that the register can run effectively without deterring individuals from joining it.
Health: In-vitro Diagnostic Tests
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to enhance the current regulations defined by European Union Directive 98/79 to ensure proactive verification and certification of medical devices; and what data they possess for the performance characteristics and limitations of the ELISA and Western blot serology tests, including the test to be used at the Porton Down laboratory that is required from the manufacturers in accordance with Annex III of Directive 98/79.[HL142]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Directive 98/79/EU is currently the subject of a revision by the European Commission, with proposals expected to be adopted in September 2012. This proposal is not expected fundamentally to alter the current regulatory system functions, whereby notified bodies are responsible for ensuring that in-vitro diagnostic devices are in conformity with the requirements of the directive.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has a mainly post-market and enforcement role under Directive 98/79/EC and does not routinely collect data used by the manufacturer to demonstrate that the claimed performance characteristics of any diagnostic test can be achieved before it is Conformité Européenne (CE) marked and placed on the market. Any such information obtained in the investigation of post-market incidents and compliance issues reported to MHRA is required to be kept confidential between them and the manufacturer concerned, subject to any obligations that member states’ competent authorities have to disseminate warnings and to provide information under criminal law.
The primary diagnostic and confirmatory tests for Lyme disease used by the Health Protection Agency are commercial assays that are CE marked and Food and Drug Administration approved, and supporting data for these approvals are held by the manufacturer and by the relevant regulatory agencies in Europe and the United Kingdom. Testing by the agency’s Porton Down and Southampton laboratories has shown that the sensitivity and specificity of these tests meet the manufacturers’ specifications.
Health: Lyme Disease
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, with reference to the “new test” to be used by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Lyme Unit at Porton Down for Lyme borreliosis, what data they hold for the sensitivity and specificity of the test kits for the local genospecies of Borrelia in England and Wales; what testing has been carried out by the HPA or other body to confirm the sensitivity and specificity of the test kits for the local genospecies in England and Wales; and, if testing was carried out, what were the sensitivity and specificity results.[HL141]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the transfer of the Lyme Reference Laboratory to the Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory at Porton Down is expected to be complete and whether the Health Protection Agency will include Lyme on its list of Reference Services published on its website. [HL143]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The full service for Lyme disease will be transferred from the Health Protection Agency’s (HPA) Southampton laboratory to the agency’s Rare and Imported Pathogens Laboratory (RIPL) (formerly Special Pathogens Reference Unit) from 1 June 2012.
The primary diagnostic test used is a commercial immunoassay system (ELISA) that has been used at the Health Protection Agency’s Southampton laboratory for several years and which is used widely internationally. This assay is Conformité Européenne (CE) marked (which means that the manufacturer confirms that the product complies with the requirements of applicable European Commission directives) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, and the supporting data for this approval are held by the manufacturer and by the relevant regulatory agencies in Europe and the United Kingdom. The confirmatory tests used are commercial western blot tests covering all three Borrelia species associated with disease; this test is also CE marked and FDA approved with supporting data held by the manufacturer and regulatory agencies. Testing by the HPA’s Porton Down and Southampton laboratories has shown that the sensitivity and specificity of these tests meet the manufacturers’ specifications. The Lyme Disease Action Group has been informed of the test systems used by RIPL. Result reports are issued with advice on interpretation of the results and the caveats around negative results.
Lyme disease is already on the list of reference services published on the HPA website.
www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/Laboratories AndReferenceFacilities/
www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb& HPAwebStandard/HPAweb_C/1232698015016
www.hpa.org.uk/ProductsServices/InfectiousDiseases/MicrobiologyServices/SpecialistMicrobiologyNetwork/PublicHealthLabsSouth East/).
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 12 December 2011 (WA 213), whether they will ensure that both the National Health Service and the Health Protection Agency communicate scientific fact-based evidence for significant failures in both early and late stage Lyme disease tests to all United Kingdom clinicians. [HL378]
Earl Howe: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) Lyme diagnostic service, currently transferring to HPA Microbiology Services at Porton Down, advises clinicians of the limitations of tests for Lyme disease through comments issued with reported results, clinical case
advice, and information on the publicly accessible HPA website. In addition, the HPA is reviewing and strengthening the national Lyme specialist function to provide advice and diagnostic support to clinicians.
Health: Musculoskeletal Conditions
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to develop a national outcomes strategy for musculoskeletal conditions in England.[HL226]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We have concluded that it would not be appropriate this year to initiate the development of a national outcomes strategy that seeks to cover issues relating to the prevention, management and social care support given to those with musculoskeletal conditions. Instead, officials working with the National Health Service leadership team have engaged in discussions with professional organisations and patient groups with a particular interest in NHS performance towards these patient groups. The joint intention is to establish a strategic partnership to decide the measures needed to ensure that patient outcomes can be improved and to ensure that these measures are taken. Proposals under discussion will be put in due course to the NHS Commissioning Board for endorsement.
Health: Pharmacies
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that the contribution of community pharmacy is recognised by Clinical Commissioning Groups. [HL354]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): As commissioners, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) will need to have strong relationships with a range of health partners to provide them with access to information, advice and knowledge to help them make the best possible commissioning decisions. They will be under a statutory duty to seek advice in commissioning services from a broad range of professionals, which can include community pharmacists. They will also be able to access advice from clinical senates and the pharmacy local professional network of the NHS Commissioning Board. The NHS Commissioning Board will also be responsible for issuing guidance to commissioning groups (to which they must have regard) on their duty to obtain appropriate professional advice, for example in relation to working with multidisciplinary clinical networks and senates.
Health: Research
Questions
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that priorities for health-related research reflect the priorities of patients. [HL319]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department’s National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) encourages patients and the public to be actively involved in all NIHR-funded health and social care research, including setting research priorities. The NIHR funds INVOLVE which promotes active public participation in National Health Service, public health and social care research to improve the way that research is prioritised, commissioned, undertaken, communicated and used.
All the NIHR’s research programmes actively engage patients and the public in all stages of research. For example, any person or group can make a suggestion for research to the NIHR Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme by completing an online suggestion form. Panels of independent experts decide which of the many suggestions received by the HTA programme should be commissioned as research. This decision-making process involves clarifying research questions that are most likely to fill the main gaps in knowledge for the NHS. Six HTA advisory panels are responsible for this work, and members include service user representatives.
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to exercise the duties to promote research contained in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.[HL320]
Earl Howe: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 places a duty on the Secretary of State to promote research on matters relevant to the health service. The Secretary of State currently supports research through two main routes and will continue to do so in the future. The first main route is through the National Institute for Health Research which provides the research evidence to underpin decisions about health by clinicians, managers and patients in the National Health Service. The second main route is through the NHS, which supports and enables research funded by Government, research charity partner organisations, and industry.
The Act places a duty on the NHS Commissioning Board such that, in the exercise of its functions, it must promote research on matters relevant to the health service. This duty will take effect from April 2013. The NHS Commissioning Board Authority is currently developing a research strategy setting out its intentions for how the board will exercise this duty.
The Act creates a duty for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) to promote research, in line with the duty on the NHS Commissioning Board. The NHS Commissioning Board Authority is leading on authorisation of CCGs and, in April 2012, published clinical commissioning group authorisation: draft guide for applicants. As set out in this document, to meet the threshold for authorisation CCGs will be required to provide a statement certifying that systems and processes are in place to ensure that the CCG complies with its statutory duties and other requirements, including the commitment to promoting patients’ recruitment to and participation in research.
Houses of Lords: Peerages
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Conwy
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many peers were created during the premiership of each of the last three Prime Ministers, including the present incumbent; and, in each case, how many of those were appointed to serve as (1) Conservative, (2) Labour, (3) Liberal Democrat, and (4) crossbench, members of the House of Lords.[HL176]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: I refer my right honourable friend to the table below:
| Party | Tony Blair | Gordon Brown | David Cameron |
Housing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding from the Spending Review settlement for 2011–15 the Homes and Communities Agency has made available to (1) Barratt Developments Plc, (2) Bellway Plc, (3) Berkeley Homes Group, (4) Bovis Homes Group Plc, (5) Crest Nicholson Operations Ltd, (6) Galliford Try Plc, (7) Persimmon Ltd, (8) Redrow Regeneration Ltd, (9) Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd, and (10) Telford Homes Plc.[HL345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The Homes and Communities Agency through their Affordable Homes Programme and existing commitments under the National Affordable Housing Programme and Kickstart has made allocations available to the following developers as set out in the table below.
| Total (£m) | |
The above developers will also be key partners in a number of Homes and Communities Agency projects in relation to the land and property programme but, due to the nature of the programme forecasts, allocations cannot be made against individual partners.
Immigration
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, of the 207 individuals accused of torture, genocide or crimes against humanity on which the UK Border Agency recommended “adverse immigration action” between June 2010 and December 2011, how many are from Sri Lanka.[HL277]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): Thirty-eight were Sri Lankans. The adverse recommendations were as a result of the applicant not satisfying the British citizenship character test or where exclusion from the Refugee Convention was justified because there were serious reasons for considering that the applicant had committed a war crime or crime against humanity.
Immigration: Children
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children were detained for immigration purposes in the United Kingdom in (1) 2008, (2) 2009, (3) 2010, and (4) 2011.[HL364]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The requested information is available only from 2009 when publication of these data began. 1,119 children entered detention in 2009, 436 in 2010 and 99 in 2011. Figures on people entering detention relate to those solely detained under Immigration Act powers in immigration removal centres, short-term holding facilities and pre-departure accommodation, and exclude those recorded as entering police cells, Prison Service establishments and short-term holding rooms at ports and airports (for less than 24 hours), those recorded as detained under both criminal and immigration powers and their dependants.
The Home Office releases statistics on detention, solely under Immigration Act powers on a quarterly basis within Immigration Statistics, which are available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office’s Science, Research and Statistics website at: homeoffice.gov. uk/science-research/research-statistics/.
Imports and Exports
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Office for National Statistics Monthly Review of External Trade Statistics, April 2011 edition, table G2 (top 30 export and import commodities in 2010), what was, for each of the 30 imports commodity categories and in relation to imports from countries outside the European Union, the value of gross customs duties collected by HM Revenue and Customs on those imports.[HL297]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs is unable to provide the gross customs duty figure against the commodities listed within the Office of National Statistics table G2, as the information is not held by the department in the requested format.
International Labour Organisation: Domestic Work
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will respond to Convention 189 and recommendation 201 from the International Labour Conference on decent work for domestic workers; and, if so, when. [HL203]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): A copy of Convention 189 and Recommendation 201 on decent work for domestic workers was laid in Parliament on 27 April 2012 as Command Paper 8338. The explanatory memorandum laid alongside this Command Paper sets out the UK position on this matter.
Iran
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will implement European Union sanctions on Iranian oil shipping in July.[HL278]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK is pursuing a dual-track policy of engagement with and pressure on Iran over the nuclear issue. International sanctions have brought Iran back to the negotiating table in recent weeks and the UK remains committed to increasing the pressure on Iran until it negotiates seriously. The European Union embargo on Iranian oil imports is expected to come into full effect on 1 July. The related ban on protection and indemnity insurance for ships carrying Iranian oil is subject to a European Union review and we are in discussions with EU partners about this.
Israel
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to hold discussions with the Government of Israel concerning the case for prisoners who require medical attention to be visited by an independent physician who is not employed by the Israeli Prison Service.[HL240]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK is continuing to monitor closely the situation with regard to Palestinian detainees and prisoners in Israeli prisons. We have held regular discussions with the Israeli authorities on
the need to treat detainees in accordance with international law, including access to the medical care required by the state of their health. We have raised our concerns, including in early May with the Israeli Foreign Minister, Vice-Prime Minister and National Security Adviser and with the Israeli Ambassador in London. There is no legal requirement for these detainees to be treated by independent physicians. However, we are in close touch with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the non-governmental organisation Physicians for Human Rights, which are active in lobbying for appropriate access by medical professionals.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they accept the validity of the law under which Israel has declared the settlement outposts of Bruchin, Rechelim and Sansana to be legal; and, if so, what are the implications for the peace process of the acceptance of this law by the international community.[HL243]
Lord Howell of Guildford: The outposts of Bruchin, Rechelim and Sansana were authorised by the decision of a sub-committee of the Israeli cabinet on 23 April 2012. We have consistently made clear that Israel should be removing, not legalising, illegal outposts, in line with its Roadmap commitments. On 24 April the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), released a statement strongly condemning the Israeli Government’s decision to legalise these three outposts in the West Bank. The Foreign Secretary made clear that this decision set a dangerous precedent for future outposts and risked sending the message that Israel was not serious about its commitment to the two-state solution. He called on Israel to rescind this decision.
The Foreign Secretary most recently raised concerns about Israel’s settlement policy during the visit in May 2012 of the Israeli National Security Adviser. Our ambassador to Tel Aviv has also raised our concerns about the issue of legalising outposts with senior Israeli officials, including draft legislation on authorising the compulsory purchase of private land for settlement building that is currently pending before the Knesset.
We have regular discussions with European partners on the issues of Israeli settlements and outposts in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. On 14 May the European Union Foreign Affairs Council issued conclusions that expressed concern at Israel’s settlement policy and decisions regarding the status of certain outposts.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the economic viability of a Palestinian state within Areas A and B of the West Bank. [HL244]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The key economic constraints on the West Bank are Israeli restrictions on the movement of Palestinian people and goods
internally and externally and on access to natural resources. These restrictions have meant that the Occupied Palestinian Territories are dependent on foreign aid to prevent a humanitarian crisis and to allow the Palestinian Authority to deliver basic services. The West Bank has recently experienced an increase in economic growth due to a slight lifting of the restrictions in 2010 and 2011 and high aid flows. However, this is from a very low base line. The Department for International Development provides technical and financial assistance to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in order to promote economic growth in the West Bank and Gaza. The UK will provide £349 million in support of Palestinian development between 2011 and 2015.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to help Palestinians remain in their homes and on their land within Area C of the West Bank.[HL245]
Lord Howell of Guildford: We are concerned about demolitions of Palestinian property in Area C of the West Bank. We are urging Israel to desist from such demolitions, which we consider to be contrary to Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law and harmful to the peace process, as well as causing unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians.
The European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council, in conclusions agreed on 14 May, called on Israel to meet its obligations regarding the living conditions of the Palestinian population in Area C, including by halting the forced transfer of population and the demolition of Palestinian housing and infrastructure, ensuring access to water and addressing humanitarian needs. In addition, the UK continues to support Palestinians facing demolition or eviction through our funding of the Norwegian Refugee Council legal aid programme which helps individuals to challenge these decisions in the Israeli legal system.
Justice: Youth Courts
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the responses to the consultation on youth court locations in Lancashire.[HL183]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The response to the consultation was published on 16 May 2012. All the organisations/persons that were sent the original consultation paper together with any additional respondents were notified by e-mail, which included the response to the responses paper as an attachment, where an e-mail address was available. Otherwise hard copies were sent out by second-class post. It was also published on the internet that day.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many responses were received to the consultation on proposals to close the youth court in Chorley; and how many responses were (1) in favour, and (2) against, the proposal.[HL184]
Lord McNally: The full detail is contained within the response to a consultation paper that was published on 16 May 2012. In total 60 individual responses were received. Of those 16 were in favour, 43 against and one did not indicate either agreement or opposition. It should be noted that members of several organisations contributed to a response from their organisation but also contributed responses in a personal capacity. The employees of one company submitted individual responses rather than a collective response from the company. When an adjustment is made for the latter aspect, the following outcome is shown: if each person or organisation were to be treated as having the opportunity to comment only once then 20 respondents would oppose the proposals, as compared to 16 who supported them with one respondent not specifying support or opposition.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a decision has been taken on the future of the Chorley youth court.[HL185]
Lord McNally: A decision was taken by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service, through the North West Region’s Delivery Board, following approval by the Lancashire Cluster’s Senior Management Team, to accept the proposals contained in the consultation paper in full, and this outcome was published on the 16 May 2012. It should be noted that this decision does not involve the closure of any court buildings. Following implementation, the venues dealing with youth court matters will be reduced from 11 to six. Chorley Magistrates’ Court is one of these venues, with effect from 1 July 2012, where youth court matters will be no longer dealt with.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will outline the alternative arrangements to be made in the event of the closure of Chorley youth court; and what assessment they have made as to the impact this would have on local justice.[HL186]
Lord McNally: So far as the youth court business that is currently dealt with in Chorley Magistrates’ Court is concerned, youths will be bailed or summoned to appear at Preston Magistrates’ Court. Youths who are detained in police custody pending appearance before the youth court will be brought before Preston Youth Court too on each weekday apart from Thursday, when they will be brought before the Ormskirk Youth Court. On Saturdays and bank holidays the existing arrangements for such youths to be brought before Preston Magistrates’ Court will continue. Currently, Chorley Magistrates’ Court is closed to all other business on one day each week to accommodate the youth business because that building is not suitable for dealing with youth and adult business simultaneously because of the impracticability of segregation. The Preston Youth Court is a separate self-contained and purpose built facility, which enables both adult and youth business to he heard at the same time in discrete parts of the building, as necessary and appropriate. There are currently four separate youth panels in the Central
and South West Lancashire business district. The Chorley Youth Panel is one of these. In line with changes that have already taken place in the other two business districts in Lancashire, discussions are ongoing with a view to a merger of the four separate panels to form one combined youth panel, with membership from all the current youth court panels. In this way the principles of local justice will remain intact and the administration of justice in the Central and South West Lancashire business district will be best served by a more efficient and effective use of the existing resources.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether cases currently heard at Chorley youth court will be transferred to Ormskirk if Chorley youth court is closed.[HL187]
Lord McNally: Youths who are currently bailed or summoned to appear before the court sitting in Chorley will instead be bailed or summoned to appear in the Preston Youth Court. Within Lancashire there is a flexible approach to listing cases and, subject to consultation with the parties to proceedings, some of the cases appearing before Preston Youth Court may be adjourned to Ormskirk Youth Court to be dealt with, particularly if that court can accommodate any trial more expeditiously. See also the response to the previous PQ with regard to youths, who are brought before the youth court from police custody.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the business case for the closure of Chorley youth court.[HL188]
Lord McNally: There are no plans to close any court buildings at Chorley Magistrates’ Court. The rationale behind the decision to move youth court business away from Chorley Magistrates’ Court, in common with similar proposed movements of work in other areas of Lancashire, is contained within the consultation paper and the aim is to rationalise the provision of youth courts throughout the whole of Lancashire, as part of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service’s obligation to improve operational efficiency and achieve financial savings in service delivery, while maintaining a good service to all those who use the youth courts in Lancashire. The facilities at Preston Magistrates’ Court are better suited to dealing with youth business and, unlike the facilities available at Chorley Magistrates’ Court, the full range of youth business can be listed. The youth courts’ workload nationally continues to decrease and Lancashire is no exception. During the period 1 January 2012 and 31 March 2012 the Chorley Youth Court sat on 12 days and there were 20 court sessions. The sessions were for a total of 56:30 hours, which equates to an average session length of less than 2½ hours. When compared to the sessions held in Preston and the available capacity at Preston Magistrates’ Court, the business from Chorley can be easily absorbed into the current court sitting schedule there. This will result in a total of 50 sitting days per annum being saved at Chorley Magistrates’
Court alone, thereby freeing up resources for both the Crown Prosecution Service and HMCTS. On Tuesday each week, following implementation, the Chorley magistrates’ courthouse may be closed for court business with a reduction in the attendant costs. In this way, the available resources will be utilised more efficiently and effectively and should better match the workload demand. Further details are contained within the response to the consultation and the consultation paper that preceded it.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made all the responses to the consultation exercise on the future of Chorley Youth Court available to the North West Regional Delivery Board of HM Court Services.[HL219]
Lord McNally: All the responses to the consultation exercise on the consultation in relation to the future of Chorley Youth Court were available to the North West Regional Delivery Board of HMCTS, as they had been similarly available earlier to the Lancashire Cluster’s Senior Management Team.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the functions and composition of the North West Regional Delivery Board of HM Court Services; and how many lay members sit on the board.[HL220]
Lord McNally: The purpose of the North West (NW) Regional Delivery Board is to monitor operational performance and formulate strategy and business plans for the region. The board comprises:
NW Delivery Director;NW Head of Crime;NW Head of Civil, Family and Tribunals;NW Head of Regional Support Unit;NW Head of Finance;NW Estates Manager;NW Human Resources Business Partner;NW Lean Lead;I x Justices' Clerk (Regional Legal Adviser Resource Committee) representative); and 6 x Cluster Managers (Greater Manchester Civil. Family and Tribunals; Cheshire Merseyside Civil, Family and Tribunals; Greater Manchester Crime; Cheshire Merseyside Crime; Lancashire: Cumbria).
There are no lay members on the board.
Local Authorities
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 30 April (WA 410–1), by what means local councillors will be able to hold the executive to account in authorities run by elected mayors given that (1) the membership of the cabinet does not consist of a majority of elected councillors, and (2) the membership of mayoral advisory panels includes unelected appointees. [HL196]
Baroness Hanham: Section 9C of the Local Government Act 2000 provides that the mayor and cabinet executive form of governance may consist of an elected mayor and two or more councillors of the authority appointed by the elected mayor. Members of the executive can be drawn only from existing councillors on the council and cannot be non-elected individuals.
All principal councils operating mayor and cabinet-executive governance arrangements are required under the Local Government Act 2000 to have at least one overview and scrutiny committee. Overview and scrutiny committees consist of non-executive members of the council and have powers allowing them to review or scrutinise executive decisions and make recommendations to the local authority or executive on how matters might be improved. Moreover, on certain matters, it is open to the full council to amend or reject a proposal from the mayor; for example, the full council can by a two thirds majority reject or amend the mayor’s proposed budget.
Mayors
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of holding the mayoral referendums in English cities on 3 May; and what assessment they have made of the outcome.[HL145]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The referendums were an example of genuine localism— local people deciding how they want their city to be governed. Over 1 million people took part in the referendums; almost 429,000 wanted their city to be run by a mayor, the majority view in Bristol. The councils concerned are now establishing the costs of the referendums and will be submitting their claims for government funding.
NHS Information Strategy
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the NHS Information Strategy.[HL411]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): I refer the noble Lord to my Written Statement on 21 May (Official Report, col. WS 47). Copies of the strategy are available in the Library.
NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why contracts for the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement are being let on a block basis, with no element of risk share in the event of greater than expected demand.[HL253]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement is largely funded by a grant in aid allocation from the department. This allocation is made up of:
admin/programme revenue/grant in aid limit for resources, this includes funding to cover payment of provisions; cash limit for revenue cash drawdown;ring fenced depreciation and impairment limit;annually managed expenditure limit;capital resource limit; andcapital cash limit.
In 2011-12 the final revenue resource limit and cash limit was £52,794,000. This was used to deliver the requirements of the agreed business plan (published on the NHS Institute website) for the NHS Institute, and the priority programmes contained within. On occasion, for example with some of the training and development programmes, National Health Service organisations provide a contribution to the funding of the programme through a co-payment.
Whenever NHS organisations require additional work outside of this funding agreement, these will be charged for on a full cost recovery basis. For example during 2010-11, £9.8 million was invoiced to customers for additional services provided under a range of agreements. Details of grant in aid allocations and services invoiced to customers are contained within the annual report and accounts for the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement (published on the NHS Institute website).
NHS: Clinical Commissioning Groups
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role the Commissioning Outcomes Framework will play in the performance management of clinical commissioning groups.[HL414]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The NHS Commissioning Board will translate the NHS Outcomes Framework into a set of measures in the Commissioning Outcomes Framework to provide clear, comparative data on the quality of services commissioned for local populations and the outcomes achieved for patients. This will help clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) drive local improvements in quality and outcomes for patients. It will enable the NHS Commissioning Board to hold CCGs to account for improving quality and outcomes and reducing inequalities. In addition it will ensure clear, publicly available information on the quality of healthcare services commissioned by CCGs.
NHS: Complaints
Question
Asked by Lord Harris of Haringey
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 May (HL 15), what is the anticipated cost of the commissioning
process through local authorities in 2012–13 for the Independent Complaints Advisory Service, compared to the total cost of the service.[HL371]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The costs of commissioning independent advocacy will fall to individual local authorities and will be dependent on the procurement model used. It is not possible to estimate these costs.
NHS: Primary Care Trusts
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to change the weighting formula of primary care trust allocations.[HL356]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The final round of primary care trust allocations was made on 14 December 2011 for 2012-13. For 2013-14 the NHS Commissioning Board will be responsible for the allocation of resources to clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and the department will make a ring-fenced public health grant to local authorities for their new public health responsibilities. The Secretary of State has asked the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), an independent expert committee, to develop formulae for the allocation of resources to both CCGs and local authorities. ACRA’s recommendations will be published in due course.
NHS: Quality Standards
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that the recommendations in the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence Patient experience in adult NHS services quality standard are implemented.[HL374]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Under the Health and Social Care Act (2012), on commencement of the relevant provisions in the Act from April 2013 the Secretary of State and NHS Commissioning Board, in discharging their duties to improve the quality of health services, “must have regard to the quality standards prepared by NICE”. Although these standards set out aspirational but achievable care and are not targets, the care system should also have regard to them in planning and delivering services as part of a general duty to secure continuous improvement in quality.
NHS: Salaries
Question
Asked by Lord Harris of Haringey
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 May (HL 15), how many chairmen of foundation trusts
are paid more than the proposed salary of the chairman of HealthWatch England.[HL370]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department does not hold this information. National Health Service foundation trusts (FTs) are free to set their own rates of remuneration for their chairs. The department does not keep information on the remuneration of FT chairs. However, according to the Incomes Data Service NHS Boardroom pay report 2012, the minimum remuneration of an FT chair was £22,500, the maximum £72,500 and the average £44,643.
The department is currently recruiting the chair of Healthwatch England. The time commitment for the role is approximately two to three days per week with remuneration of £35,000-£40,000 per annum. The Secretary of State will determine the length of the appointment, which will be for up to a maximum of four years.
Overseas Aid
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what amounts and types of aid they provide to governments that criminalise consensual same-sex relationships. [HL210]
Baroness Northover: The UK Government advocate strongly for the repeal of laws that criminalise homosexuality or discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Concerns about the treatment or status of lesbian gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) people are raised at the highest levels by Ministers and senior officials.
Since 2010 DfID has focused its bilateral aid programme in 28 countries. Consensual same-sex relationships are criminalised in some way in 20 of those countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burma Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The nature of those laws and the extent to which they are enforced varies considerably.
Detailed figures on DfID’s bilateral aid programme in these countries can be found in Statistics for International Development at www.dfid.gov.uk. UK aid is provided in several ways, including funds to non-governmental organisations, UN agencies, and regional bodies. DfID provides direct financial assistance to Governments in only a small number of countries.
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what amounts and types of aid they provide to governments that retain the use of the death penalty.[HL212]
Baroness Northover: Global abolition of the death penalty continues to be UK government policy. DfID works closely with the FCO to deliver the FCO’s Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty, published in October 2011.
Since 2010 DfID has focused its bilateral aid programme in 28 countries. Of those, the death penalty is legal and remains in use in 13 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic), Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Authority, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe. There are a further nine countries to which DfID provides aid where the death penalty exists legally but has de facto been banned. These are: Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Zambia.
Detailed figures on DfID’s bilateral aid programme in these countries can be found in Statistics for International Development at www.dfid.gov.uk. UK aid is provided in several ways, including funds to non-governmental organisations, UN agencies and regional bodies. DfID provides direct financial assistance to Governments in only a small number of countries.
Passports
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for passports were processed by passport personal interview offices in (1) 2010, and (2) 2011. [HL362]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many passport applications processed by passport personal interview offices were rejected in (1) 2010, (2) 2011. [HL363]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Identity and Passport Service processed a total of 5,367,259 passports in 2010 and 5,259,835 in 2011. Identity authentication interviews take place in Customer Service Office locations across the UK.
Figures for the number of interviews conducted and for the number of passports rejected as a direct result of identity authentication interviews are given in the table below. In addition to the instances of confirmed fraud, applications have also been withdrawn when customers are advised that an interview must be completed before a passport can be issued.
| Interviews | Applications rejected | Applications withdrawn | |
PAVA Spray and CS
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the recommendations of the Himsworth Committee on the publication of medical and scientific information about the potential ill effects of using chemical agents in civil circumstances have been implemented. [HL169]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Henley on 15 March (WA 113), what potential ill effects of the use of pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA) spray in civil circumstances were identified in the testing and medical assessment process; and whether such assessments have been published.[HL170]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Himsworth recommendations have been implemented.
The statements on the use of pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA) (and CS) by the Committees on the Toxicity, Mutagenicity and Carcinogenicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment are contained in the Home Office report by the Police Scientific Development Branch (now the Centre for Applied Science and Technology) entitled Comparison of CS and PAVA: Operational and Toxicological Aspects (Pub No 88/04). This can be downloaded from: webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100413151441/http://scienceandresearch. homeoffice.gov.uk/hosdb/publications/police-weaponry/Compairson_CS_and_PAVAe8f5.html? view=Standard&pubID=385487
A series of independent toxicological assessments relating to the use of PAVA as an incapacitant spray have been published by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT).
The first was published in 2002: cot.food.gov.uk/cotstatements/cotstatementsyrs/cotstatements2002/pavastatement
Third in 2007: cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/pava200705.pdf.
A fourth statement, published by COT in 2006, examined the combined use of CS and PAVA: cot.food.gov.uk/pdfs/cotstatementcspava0604.pdf.
All COT statements are publicly available.
Pensions
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of United Kingdom state pensioners who had been residing in countries where the United Kingdom state pension is frozen and who, in each year since 2005, returned to the United Kingdom to resume permanent residence. [HL265]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): There are insufficient data to provide an estimate.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what long-term projections have been made of the number of United Kingdom residents who are forecast to choose to reside overseas permanently on their retirement. [HL266]
Lord Freud: It is projected that in 2050-51 the UK state pension will be paid to 1.6 million people living overseas.
Source: DWP projections
Notes:
1. Projections are based on autumn 2011 long-term projections, realigned to Budget 2012 medium-term forecasts. These are published at: research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/ltp1p_notes.pdf.
2. Projections assume that once people have moved abroad, they do not come back to the UK.
3. Figures relate to all people living overseas who are projected to be receiving a UK basic state pension in 2050-51. Not all of these people are UK nationals, and not all of them will have moved to live overseas when they reached state pension age.
4. Figures exclude deferrers.
5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100,000.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what would be the cost of uprating the United Kingdom state pension in each of the countries affected by the frozen pension regulations where, in year 1, the uprating was restricted to persons over 90 years of age; in year 2 to persons over 85; in year 3 to persons over 80; in year 4 to persons over 75; in year 5 to persons over 70; and in year 6 to all others in receipt of a United Kingdom state pension.[HL267]
Lord Freud: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on the cost of uprating the United Kingdom state pension for all the countries affected by the frozen pension regulations in 2012-13 by age group is in the table below.
The estimates in the table represent the increased expenditure that would result if individuals with frozen-rate state pensions were to be paid in 2012-13 at rates reflecting what their entitlements would be, had their rates of state pension never been frozen. The estimates do not include the increased expenditure that would result were arrears to be paid, reflecting increases in individuals’ state pension entitlement in previous years that were not awarded due to freezing regulations.
Estimates are for the 2012-13 tax year only. Costs would be expected to increase in subsequent years.
| Estimated costs in 2012-13 of unfreezing the frozen state pensions of all recipients by age group in 2012-13 | |
| Age at 31 March 2011 | Cost in 2012-13 tax year (in 2012-13 price terms) |
Source: DWP estimates based on 5% sample administrative data for 31 March 2011.
1. Figures are in £ million per annum in 2012-13 price terms.
2. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £1 million.
3. State pension here includes basic state pension, graduated retirement benefit, state earnings related pension scheme, and state second pension. It includes inherited amounts, and additional amounts received due to individuals having deferred claiming their state pension.
Pitcairn Island
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the current financial situation in Pitcairn Island; and what steps they intend to take to help resolve the difficulties.[HL269]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The UK has provided bilateral aid to Pitcairn since 2002. In 2010-11 this aid amounted to £2,447,000. The Government are working with the Territory in trying to boost revenue through small business development and by increasing tourism.
Police and Crime Commissioners
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether officials carried out the planned engagement events in the first quarter of 2012 in England and Wales to encourage awareness and interest in the election of police and crime commissioners; and if so, when and where those events were held.[HL131]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): Home Office officials delivered a series of 17 events for key partners between January and March 2012. The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice attended a number of these events. The events were designed to bring together the range of local professionals who will need to work with police and crime commissioners, with the aim of aiding discussions and preparations for their arrival. Below are the dates, locations and police forces covered at each event:
24 January— Lancaster, Cumbria and Lancashire Police Force areas;25 January—Crewe, Merseyside, Cheshire, and Staffordshire Police Force areas;31 January—Birmingham, West Mercia and West Midlands Police Force areas;1 February—Leicester, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, and Northamptonshire Police Force areas;2 February—Derby, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire Police Force areas;7 February—Portsmouth, Hampshire and Surrey Police Force areas;8 February—Reading, Thames Valley Police Force area;9 February—London, Kent and Sussex Police Force areas;21 February—Ipswich, Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk Police Force areas;22 February—Cambridge, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire Police Force areas;23 February—Leeds, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, and Humberside Police Force areas;
28 February—Exeter, Devon and Cornwall and Avon and Somerset Police Force areas;29 February—Swindon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire Police Force areas;1 March—Cardiff, South Wales, Gwent, and Dyfed Powys Police Force areas;6 March—Newcastle, Northumbria, Cleveland, and Durham Police Force areas;7 March—Manchester, Greater Manchester Police Force area; and8 March—Llandudno, North Wales Police Force area.
Prisoners: Transsexuals
Question
Asked by Baroness Gould of Potternewton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision is made for transsexuals in prison with respect to access to specialist healthcare for gender dysphoria. [HL189]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Prisoners who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria are provided with the same quality of care (including counselling, pre-operative and post-operative care and access to hormone treatment) that they would receive from the NHS if they had not been sent to prison.
Prisons: Substance Misuse
Question
Asked by Lord Patel of Bradford
To ask Her Majesty’s Government within which prisons substance misuse services are being re-commissioned in line with the Patel report; and, of those, which are providing both clinical substance misuse treatment and psychosocial interventions services; and which are only providing psychosocial interventions services.[HL230]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Substance misuse services in all prisons in England are being recommissioned to provide recovery-oriented drug treatment services in line with the 2010 Government Drug Strategy and the 2010 Patel report. Detail on this activity is provided in a report published by the National Health Service’s National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse entitled, Prisons Commissioning Status SummaryApril 2012. A copy has been placed in the Library.
Scrap Metal Theft
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address the problem of scrap metal theft beyond the provisions included in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012.[HL448]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Government are delivering a comprehensive package of measures to tackle metal theft. In addition to the provisions in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012, we are enhancing enforcement activity through a National Metal Theft Taskforce and Operation Tornado, a joint collaboration between law enforcement and the scrap metal industry; and developing innovative design solutions that both improve the traceability of stolen metal and act as a stronger deterrent for thieves and unscrupulous scrap metal dealers. The Home Office is also in discussion with other government departments regarding possible changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 1964.
Security Industry
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have oversight of the appointment of private security firms by police authorities.[HL222]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have published criteria for selection of private security firms for use by police authorities, and if so, what those criteria are.[HL223]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether employees of private security firms working under contract for police authorities have powers similar to those of a police constable.[HL224]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): Decisions to engage private sector providers are taken by chief constables and approved by police authorities or, from November, elected police and crime commissioners. Chief constables retain operational control and accountability. There is no intention to allow private companies to carry out police activities that require warranted powers, except to the extent that this is already permitted for detention and escort officers by legislation passed in the Police Reform Act 2002.
South Sudan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the global pooled fund for South Sudan will be devoted to maternal health and family planning. [HL259]
Baroness Northover: The Health Pooled Fund will be the UK’s primary mechanism for supporting basic healthcare in South Sudan from 2013. It will provide almost half the population of South Sudan with access to health services, with a particular focus on maternal and child health. It will help to increase the use of, and access to, comprehensive antenatal care, ensuring that more women are helped by skilled birth attendants during delivery, improving access to emergency obstetric services and increasing the use and awareness of family
planning. As the fund is not separated out into vertical components, we cannot accurately assign a proportion of the funding to maternal health and family planning.
However, the fund will provide around 22,000 women with access to four antenatal care visits, ensure that around 22,000 women receive preventive treatment against malaria and assist almost 11,000 people to start a new method of family planning. The pooled fund will have contributions from the Australian Agency for International Development, the Canadian International Development Agency, the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency and the EU. DfID will act as lead donor.
Sudan and South Sudan
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what diplomatic measures they are taking with the governments of Sudan and South Sudan, with the African Union and in the United Nations to draw attention to the number of refugees in South Sudan and to find an early political solution to the border conflict. [HL194]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We have made clear at ministerial and official level to both Sudan and South Sudan that they must restart negotiations and fully comply with the African Union roadmap and United Nations Security Resolution 2046, to bring about a peaceful settlement to internal and cross-border conflicts. We continue to raise the humanitarian impact of these conflicts, including the increasing number of refugees, and make clear to both Governments their responsibility to protect all civilians. We continue to work with our international partners, including the African Union and UN, to ensure an effective response to the growing humanitarian need in South Sudan.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Government of China concerning the continuing hostilities between Sudan and South Sudan.[HL260]
Lord Howell of Guildford: We continue to discuss Sudan and South Sudan with the Government of China, and welcome their continued efforts to support the African Union mediation between the two countries. Officials at our embassies in Khartoum, Juba and Beijing regularly meet Chinese officials to discuss both countries. The Secretary of State for International Development, my right honourable friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), discussed Sudan and South Sudan during a meeting with China’s special envoy for Africa in February, and again with the Chinese ambassador in London in May. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for International Development, my honourable friend the Member for Eddisbury (Mr O’Brien), met the Chinese Ambassador to Sudan during his visit in
February this year. The newly appointed UK Special Representative for Sudan is seeking an early opportunity to meet his Chinese counterpart.
Sudan: Darfur
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the United Nations personnel deployed as part of the African Union and United Nations Hybrid operation in Darfur; what review is being carried out of its mandate; and what discussions they have initiated in the United Nations Security Council about the nature of peacekeeping in Africa.[HL205]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): Given the difficult conditions under which it operates, we assess the African Union/United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur’s (UNAMID) overall effectiveness to date as satisfactory. However, as acknowledged by a recent report by the United Nations Secretary-General, it has not always been sufficiently proactive in dealing with security threats and could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. The recent UN review of uniformed personnel was both timely and welcome, usefully highlighting the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlining a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources. We will consider these recommendations and how else UNAMID might be reconfigured to better support the ongoing peace process and newly created Darfur Regional Authority ahead of mandate renewal in July. UK officials will shortly be carrying out an assessment mission to Sudan to inform our approach. In order to promote more effective peacekeeping, the UK has initiated regular dialogue within the council on cross-cutting challenges. Most recently, under the UK’s presidency of the Security Council in March 2012, the council discussed the relationship between peacekeeping and peace-building. Such discussions are particularly relevant to the nature of peacekeeping in Africa.
Syria, Egypt and Lebanon
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent treatment of Christians and other minority groups in (1) Syria, (2) Egypt, and (3) Lebanon.[HL376]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): In Syria, the regime’s actions continue to undermine the stability and security of the country and therefore endanger all Syria’s citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities. We call on all sides to refrain from violence. We are calling for a political solution to the crisis in Syria that corresponds to the wishes of the Syrian people, including
the Christian minority. In our contacts with the opposition, including meetings held with my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) in Tunis and Istanbul, we encourage the opposition to reach out and engage with all minority communities, including Christians, and to maintain a clear commitment to a peaceful and non-sectarian approach.
Ministers have regularly raised our concerns with the Egyptian authorities about the dangers of extremism and sectarianism in Egypt. We continue to press the authorities to promote religious tolerance, revisit policies which discriminate against anyone on the basis of their religion, and enshrine respect for human rights in the constitution, including guarantees for minority rights.
In Lebanon, the rights of Christians are enshrined in their national pact and constitution. Our officials in Beirut are in regular contact with leaders of the Christian community and continue to monitor religious and sectarian relations in the country. We continue to urge the authorities to create the conditions for pluralist and non-sectarian politics and to establish policies that prevent discrimination against anyone on the basis of their religion.
Transport: Eyesight Tests
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how and when they expect to implement European Commission Directives 2009/113/EC and 2006/126/EC regarding eyesight requirements for licensing group 1 and group 2 drivers.[HL288]
Earl Attlee: Changes have already been implemented to ensure that GB meets the minimum European standards for eyesight. Domestic legislation, scheduled for introduction this summer, will introduce the remaining changes.
Transport: Tram Trains
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Earl Attlee on 17 May (WS 44–6), whether there is any scope for introducing the tram trains earlier than 2015 and reducing the time allowed for evaluation, in the light of the successful demonstration of the concept in Germany. [HL365]
Earl Attlee: Tram Train has been successful in Germany and other countries and the Sheffield pilot draws on best practice from these examples. However, the vehicles will need to be compliant with the different railway operating systems and standards that are found in the UK. The date for introduction to passenger service also reflects the construction timescales for the
vehicles and the implementation of changes to Network Rail and Supertram infrastructure. We are keen that the pilot should begin as soon as it practically and safely can.
Unemployment: Under 25s
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the answer by Lord Freud on 14 May (Official Report, col. 132), how the figure of 719,000 people who are unemployed and not students, was calculated, and what was the age range of people included in this figure.[HL235]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The figure relates to those aged 16-24. It comes from the Labour Force Survey, run and published by the Office for National Statistics, and is based on the replies respondents give to questions about their education and labour market status. To be unemployed, individuals need to have looked for work in the past four weeks and be ready to take up work in the next two weeks, or be waiting to start a job they have already found. Figures are published monthly and are an average for a three-month period. The latest figure, published on 16 May and covering January to March 2012, is 707,000.
Zimbabwe
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the Government of South Africa about the case for upholding agreed Commonwealth values by investigating and prosecuting Zimbabweans suspected of involvement in torture whenever such persons enter their jurisdiction. [HL252]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We recognise South Africa’s important role as the Southern African Development Community’s lead in the Zimbabwe facilitation process and President Zuma’s ongoing personal commitment to the process. Our officials remain in close contact with South African authorities on matters in Zimbabwe, and support their encouragement of all Zimbabwean parties to respect the human rights of the population. We are aware of the recent South African court case that ruled that Zimbabwean officials who are accused of involvement in crimes against humanity in Zimbabwe should be investigated, and support the principle that perpetrators of human rights violations should be held to account for their actions. We continue to work with the Commonwealth Secretariat and all member states to ensure that the Commonwealth core values are upheld.