Written Answers
Wednesday 11 July 2012
Ascension Island
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the status of the United Kingdom’s submission to the United Nations Commission on the limits of the continental shelf with regard to Ascension Island. [HL1247]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): In response to the United Kingdom's submission to the United Nations Commission on the limits of the continental shelf with regard to Ascension Island, it was recommended, in 2010, that the UK was not entitled to establish the outer limits of its continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles. As a consequence, the UK is currently not permitted to extend its continental shelf beyond the 200 nautical mile limit contained in the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea (UNCLOS). We will keep the issue under review.
Burma
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding they have provided in the past year to women's organisations in Kachin State, Burma, which are assisting women who have been raped and sexually assaulted by Burmese Army soldiers.[HL1279]
Baroness Northover: We are deeply concerned about reports of rape having been committed by members of armed forces in Burma.
The Government have consistently called upon all armed actors including the Burmese Army and ethnic militia to protect civilian populations. DfID provides a range of assistance to women in Burma including in health, livelihoods and through our humanitarian programme. This includes the provision of assistance for trauma care in camps in Kachin State through our support to Trocaire which can help in dealing with rape cases.
Democratic Republic of Congo
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what quantity of the Department for International Development’s budget allocated to the Democratic Republic of Congo over the past 12 months is used to support communities and people affected by the activities of the Lord's Resistance Army; and what element of this is used for rehabilitation of victims.[HL1287]
Baroness Northover: 13.5% of UK humanitarian assistance channelled through the UN Pooled Fund in Democratic Republic of Congo reaches those in areas affected by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). This amounts to £4 million over the past 12 months— 12% of our total humanitarian spend in this period.
Carried out by international NGOs, assistance includes medical and psychological rehabilitation of victims of sexual violence, education and psychological care for children affected by the conflict and protection of and assistance to children and adults who have defected or escaped from the LRA. It also includes treatment of malnutrition, access to shelter and safe water and healthcare for those who have fled from attacks. In addition, the UK helps to fund the UN Peacekeeping mission which seeks to protect civilians in areas affected by the LRA. DfID's funding helps to demobilise LRA fighters, and early warning systems which help to protect local people have been put in place.
Dyslexia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the report Dyslexia Still Matters, published in June by Dyslexia Action; and what steps they will be taking to ensure (1) the earliest possible identification of children at risk, (2) the engagement by all schools with best practice, as highlighted in the report's intervention table, and (3) the production of guidance for inspections in relation to effective support and intervention for those with dyslexia. [HL1221]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Hill of Oareford): This is a helpful report that acknowledges the progress that has been made in supporting dyslexic pupils. We must, however, build on these improvements.
We are providing more training and support for teachers, special educational needs co-ordinators and teaching assistants so that dyslexic pupils are identified earlier and get quicker access to the support they need. Government funds have supported 3,200 teachers to take specialist dyslexia training courses approved by the British Dyslexia Association. The national scholarship programme for teachers has a clear focus on supporting teachers to improve and extend their knowledge and expertise when working with pupils with SEN, including in specific impairments, such as dyslexia. The scholarship scheme for teachers has already made awards to around 400 teachers to undertake specialist postgraduate qualifications.
We have recently published on-line advanced level materials for teachers and other professionals to help them to consider the needs of those children currently identified with dyslexia and how best to support them. This builds on a recommendation from Brian Lamb's inquiry into parental confidence in the SEN system (2009).
Of the first 121 designated teaching schools, 95% have been judged as outstanding for the quality of learning and progress of pupils with special educational needs. This will ensure that their expertise in teaching children with SEN and disabilities is shared and built into the training and development of all teachers. We have also awarded grants to the Dyslexia-Specific Learning Difficulty Trust to raise awareness and support parents and schools, including an interventions for literacy website (www.interventionsforliteracy.org.uk) and to Dyslexia Action (with the RNIB) to make more than 1,500 core texts available in digital format for dyslexic pupils or those with visual impairment.
When evaluating the achievement of pupils, Ofsted inspectors must consider how well all pupils have achieved since joining the school and when evaluating the behaviour and safety of pupils at the school, inspectors must consider prejudice-based bullying related to special educational need.
Energy: Nuclear Power
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were their conclusions following their consultation on the long-term management of United Kingdom-owned separated civil plutonium.[HL1367]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: The Government’s response to the consultation on the long-term management of the UK stockpile of civil plutonium was published on 1 December 2011 and is publicly available on the DECC website: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/ consultations/plutonium/plutonium.aspx.
Energy: Smart Meters
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether steps are being taken to allow the sharing of data with third parties at a one-second frequency from day one of the smart meter roll out.[HL1268]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: The Government are clear that consumers should be able to access easily their own smart metering energy consumption data, and share this with third parties, should they choose to do so. Consumers will be able to capture their more detailed energy consumption data—at a frequency dependent on the Home Area Network technology used in the metering equipment, but required to be better than 10 seconds—by connecting an additional device to the Home Area Network. The process for connecting a third party device will be secure and consumer friendly. Requirements on how this process will work will be set out in a consultation document due to be published shortly.
Energy: Wind Farms
Question
Asked by Lord Walton of Detchant
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will oppose plans to develop two wind farms near Belford, Northumberland, in view of the views of local residents and given that the site is located in an area of outstanding natural beauty.[HL1345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Given the Secretary of State's planning responsibilities it would be inappropriate for me to comment on specific proposals. Planning law requires planning applications to be determined in accordance with the development plan for the area, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The policies in the National Planning Policy Framework, including for protecting the natural environment, are material considerations which local planning authorities should take into account.
EU: Public Procurement
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they will make to European Union proposals for a new public procurement directive.[HL1169]
Baroness Verma: The UK's response to the European Commission Green Paper on the modernisation of EU public procurement policy has been published on the Cabinet Office web site: www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/0707UKGPpbResponsefinal% 20(2).pdf.
Our response to the Commission's subsequent proposals is contained in the Explanatory Memorandum to Parliament (reference numbers 18966/11, COM(2011) 896 final, 2011/0438 (COD)).
Extradition
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether an individual can be extradited in relation to an offence allegedly committed in the United Kingdom for which the individual has not been charged in the United Kingdom.[HL1084]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): Yes, subject to the safeguards contained in the Extradition Act 2003 ("the 2003 Act"). A person may only be extradited from the UK in order to be prosecuted in another country if the offence for which s/he is wanted is an extradition offence as defined in the 2003 Act. In certain limited circumstances, an offence committed where the person was located in the UK may constitute an extradition offence.
Government Departments: Apprentices
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total number of staff employed within the private offices of ministers and the permanent secretary at the Department for Communities and Local Government on 1 June; and how many of them were (1) under the age of 21, (2) apprentices under the age of 21, and (3) apprentices over the age of 21.[HL1237]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): On 1 June the Department for Communities and Local Government employed a total of 30 people within the private offices of Ministers and the Permanent Secretary.
In addition, two members of staff from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills were employed in the private office of the Minister for Decentralisation and Cities, reflecting his responsibilities as a joint DCLG/BIS Minister.
Of these, none was under 21, and none was an apprentice.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total number of staff employed within the private offices of ministers and the permanent secretary at the Home Office on 1 June; and how many of them were (1) under the age of 21, (2) apprentices under the age of 21, and (3) apprentices over the age of 21.[HL1318]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): There were 60.89 full-time equivalent paid civil servants employed within Private Office in the Home Office as at 31 May 2012. Of these none was under the age of 21 and none was an apprentice.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many apprentices (1) under the age of 21, and (2) over the age of 21, were employed within the Home Office on 1 June, excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies.[HL1319]
Lord Henley: There were no apprentices employed in the Home Office (excluding agencies and non-departmental public bodies) on 1 June 2012.
Due to the recruitment freeze in the Civil Service, there has been limited opportunity to employ apprentices. The department plans to introduce schemes when the freeze ends and make best use of apprenticeships as suitable opportunities arise. Funding has not been specifically allocated for apprenticeships in 2012-13. The department will however provide the necessary funding for apprentices as suitable opportunities to recruit them arise.
Government Departments: Overseas Offices
Question
Asked by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 21 June (WA 314), in which countries the Department for International Development’s 32 overseas offices are located; in which 21 countries the Department for International Development is co-located with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; in which four countries work is currently under way to co-locate with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; what is the timeframe for this co-location in each case; and, of the remaining seven offices, where they are located and whether the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is also located in that country.[HL1303]
Baroness Northover: The Department for International Development (DfID) now has offices in 31 overseas countries to: manage both our regional programmes and 28 bi-lateral country programmes; support our work with local and global partners; and deliver our commitments on the dependant territories. The Burundi office closed on 30 June 2012. The table below lists the countries where DfID has an office and the status with regards to co-location with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
|
Global Development Partnership Programme (GDPP), based in China | |
Gypsies and Travellers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comments by Baroness Hanham on 29 June (Official Report, col. 477) that there is a training course to enable local councillors “to take a far greater leadership role in the provision of sites” for Gypsies and Travellers, whether they will place full details of this training course in the Library of the House.[HL1323]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): I have placed a copy of the Gypsies and Travellers National Awareness Training Programme in the Library of the House.
This free programme has been devised by the Local Government Association and Planning Advisory Service with direct support from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Human Trafficking
Question
Asked by Lord McColl of Dulwich
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the letter from Lord Henley on 1 February, a copy of which was placed in the Library of the House, what progress they have made in determining the remaining actions needed to implement fully the European directive on human trafficking.[HL1416]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Government are still considering what further steps are needed to implement the directive fully.
Intellectual Property
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve the protection of intellectual property.[HL1401]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are vitally important to the growth of the UK economy; IPRs protect innovation and encourage investment in our industries. In recognition of this the Government have already taken several key steps to improve the protection of intellectual property within the UK and to assist UK companies protecting their ideas abroad. These include reforming the legal framework, tackling infringement on the internet, and educating consumers on the importance of IP.
IP litigation was expensive, slow and complex. This Government have reformed the Patents County Court (PCC) (the court that deals specifically with intellectual property cases). These changes introduced a cap on damages and a limit on legal costs—both measures have reduced the cost and complexity for businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), defending and enforcing their rights. Further reforms to the PCC will introduce a small claims track to further reduce complexity and speed up the litigation process.
The Government have identified infringement of both trade marks and copyright on the internet as a major problem for both our businesses and our consumers. The IP Crime Strategy published in August 2011 sets out our plan for tackling this important issue. Alongside this we will also be pressing ahead with implementation of the Digital Economy Act and its provisions to tackle the problem of file sharing in a measured and transparent way.
The Government continue to support enforcement activity, through their continued co-ordination of the IP Crime Group, which brings together government, industry and enforcement agencies to identify and organise enforcement activity; and, the ongoing work of the Intelligence Hub, a specialist unit set up to work alongside other agencies in tackling IP crime which has so far been involved in over 370 investigations into IP Crime.
More about the Government’s ongoing work to protect IP can be found in the annual IP Crime Report, which will be released in July.
Ministry of Defence: Police
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the reductions in the number of Ministry of Defence police will result in less total officer time being available to investigate actual and suspected cases of fraud in the supply and provision of goods, services and equipment to the Armed Forces; and, if so, what is their estimate of the impact the changes will have on the level and extent of such fraud.[HL1212]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Statement given by my right
honourable friend the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans in the other place on 27 March 2012 (
Official Report
, col. 117WS).
We intend to reprioritise and rationalise the MoD Police Criminal Investigation Department to focus on the crimes that most significantly affect the defence interest to form part of a co-ordinated pan-departmental strategy to combat fraud and other acquisitive crime against defence.
The effect will be to reduce the total officer time available to investigate cases. However, the Ministry of Defence will be establishing an anti-fraud group at senior level and a new counter-fraud and loss team whose effect will be to target fraud investigation and prevention more effectively, and whose objective will be to have a significantly greater effect on defence fraud than the MoD police alone currently do.
Overseas Aid
Questions
Asked by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 21 June (WA 320), since 2011 (1) how many new Department for International Development projects they have decided to have evaluated, (2) what percentage this represents of all new Department for International Development projects since 2011, and (3) what is the percentage breakdown of evaluated and non-evaluated projects by sector and country.[HL1186]
Baroness Northover: The table below shows the number of projects to be evaluated, by divisions within DfID, as recorded on our central management information system on 2 July 2012.
| Evaluation Summary—Breakdown by Division | |
| Division | Evaluations Planned |
|
West Asia, Middle East and North Africa, Conflict and Humanitarian | |
These data have been collected since January 2012, and include pipeline projects (ie projects in preparation which have not yet been formally approved) and projects at their implementation stage, regardless of the date of approval. Therefore the figures above also contain projects approved before January 2012 but for which evaluations are planned.
It is not yet possible to express the number of planned evaluations as a percentage of the total number of projects as there is not always a direct match between projects and evaluations (some evaluations will cover more than one project and others cut across themes, eg climate change). DfID’s Management Board
has requested similar data and we are currently developing the process to extract this from our management information system. Once the process is established, we will be able to produce figures quarterly as well as prepare an annual report (from June 2013) on the scale and coverage of our evaluation programme.
Asked by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money they have disbursed as part of their Arab Partnership; for what percentage of the funds the Department for International Development has been the lead department and what percentage the Foreign and Commonwealth Office; which countries have received funds through the partnership and on what criteria those countries were chosen to receive funds; how much expenditure has been disbursed by sector; how much expenditure is planned each year for the remainder of the announced four years of the partnership; and whether discussions are taking place to continue the partnership thereafter. [HL1298]
Baroness Northover: The £110 million UK Arab Partnership Fund comprises the £70 million DfID-managed Arab Partnership Economic Facility (APEF), supporting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and the £40 million FCO-managed Arab Partnership Participation Fund (APPF), supporting strengthened political, social, and economic participation. The Arab Partnership Fund runs for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15. By the end of March 2012, the APEF had disbursed £4.4 million, and the APPF had disbursed £5.2 million. DfID is the lead department for 63.6% (£70 million) of the funds, and the FCO is the lead department for 36.4% (£40 million) of the funds.
The APEF focuses on countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region undergoing economic transition, with the objective of furthering inclusive and sustainable economic development, enterprise growth and job creation, and effective and accountable institutions. Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan and Morocco have received APEF funds. The APPF targets countries in the MENA region undergoing political transition, with the objective of furthering political participation, public voice, anti-corruption, youth employability, private sector development, and the rule of law. Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Jordan, Algeria, Iraq, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Oman, Libya, and Bahrain have received APPF funds. In addition to country-specific programmes, both APEF and APPF include regional programmes which support multiple MENA countries.
Of the £4.4 million disbursed under APEF to March 2012, £2.2 million has been allocated to inclusive and sustainable economic development, £2.1 million to enterprise growth and job creation, and £0.1 million to effective and accountable institutions. Of the £5.2 million disbursed under APPF to March 2012, £1.7 million has been allocated to political participation, £1.3 million to public voice, £0.5 million to anti-corruption, £0.3 million to youth employability, £0.3 million to private sector development, and £0.8 million to rule of law. DfID has planned £20 million of expenditure under APEF for 2012-13, £25 million for 2013-14, and
£20 million for 2014-15. The FCO has planned £13 million of expenditure under APPF for 2012-13, £13 million for 2013-14, and £9 million for 2014-15.
The current plans for the Arab Partnership run to 2015. DfID and the FCO will consider nearer the time whether it is appropriate and necessary to extend the partnership, depending on political and economic developments.
Unemployment: Under 25s
Question
Asked by Lord Janner of Braunstone
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they are making to tackle unemployment among young people aged 16-24.[HL1046]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The Government are aware of the problems facing young jobseekers in the labour market and have put in place a substantial menu of provision to help them move into work.
Jobcentre Plus personal advisers offer a comprehensive menu of help that includes help with jobsearch and skills provision. Advisers have the flexibility to tailor support to the individual at the most appropriate point in their claim. Get Britain Working measures offer additional support, including work clubs, work experience, new enterprise allowance, enterprise clubs and sector-based work academies.
The Work Programme provides tailored support to those claimants furthest from the labour market. Young claimants are referred to a provider after nine months and those with more challenging barriers to work can be referred at three months. Providers are paid on the results they achieve, and are paid more for supporting the harder to help into work.
The Government recently launched a new Youth Contract, worth around £1 billion, which is designed to prevent a new generation of young people falling into the trap of long-term unemployment.
The Youth Contract will provide nearly half a million new opportunities for young people—including wage incentives, incentives to take on apprentices, and extra work experience places. Extra funding is being made available to support the most vulnerable 16 and 17 year-olds not in education, employment or training into learning, an apprenticeship or a job with training.
Yemen
Question
Asked by Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for International Development has published an operational plan and a one-year update of the plan for Yemen as it has for all its other priority countries; and if not why not.[HL1302]
Baroness Northover: Due to the prolonged political and security crisis in Yemen in 2011, which included uncertainty over the future of the Government of Yemen and the presence of UK staff in Sana'a, it was not possible to finalise and publish our operational plan for Yemen.
The situation has stabilised, with Yemen undergoing a political transition under the Gulf Co-operation Council Initiative. The new Government of Yemen are determining their development priorities and we are now revising and finalising our operational plan in response to these. We plan to publish it on the DfID website later in 2012.