Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the results of the internal West Midlands police professional standards investigation into complaints that police made up evidence against the Muslim university student Rizwaan Sabir; and whether they are aware of any similar cases. [HL1707]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): This is a matter for West Midlands Police. The Home Office can play no role in police complaints cases beyond that set out in the Police Reform Act 2002.
Police: Stations
Questions
Asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many police stations have closed in each police authority over the past three years.[HL1861]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many police stations have seen a reduction in opening hours in each police authority over the past three years.[HL1862]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): This information is not collected centrally. Decisions about the most effective use of available resources, including the numbers and operating hours of police stations, are a matter for chief constables and police authorities or police and crime commissioners to take locally.
Public Order Act 1986
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date the Home Secretary last met ministerial colleagues to discuss the Government's response to the public consultation on Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which concluded in January 2012.[HL1733]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): Home Office Ministers have regular meetings with ministerial colleagues and others as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy that the removal of the word “insulting” from Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986 would result in an enhancement of the public's freedom of expression.[HL1734]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to give their response to the public consultation on Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which ended in January 2012.[HL1735]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the approximately 2,500 responses to the public consultation on Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, which ended in January 2012, remain to be (1) opened, or (2) read by a Minister.[HL1736]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the delay in the publication of a response to the public consultation on Section 5 of the Public Order Act 1986, they remain committed to freedom of expression.[HL1737]
Lord Henley: The Government are committed to restoring the right to non-violent protest and to protecting individual freedoms. They are also committed to ensuring that the police have the powers they need to maintain public order and protect communities from hate crime.
All responses to the consultation have now been read and Ministers are carefully considering all the issues that have been raised. The Government will publish their response in due course.
Raed Salah
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what legal advice they took before issuing the deportation order for Sheikh Raed Salah.[HL1825]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The Government do not routinely comment on individual exclusion cases but in this instance the Secretary of State can confirm that a notice of intention to deport was issued against Mr Salah. The Secretary of State cannot comment on legal advice received on this case.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Sheikh Raed Salah has been offered or sought compensation for the length of time he was detained on bail in the United Kingdom.[HL1826]
Lord Henley: As a matter of public record Mr Salah did seek, but later withdrew, a claim for compensation for the time he was in immigration detention. He was not paid compensation.
Riots
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish their formal response to After the riots: the final report of the Riots Communities and Victims Panel, published in March 2012.[HL1960]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government made a Written Ministerial Statement on Friday 13 July, which I repeated in this House on the same day (Official Report col. 168). This was in response to the Riots Communities and Victims Panel's final report. The Statement set out the measures that the Government and other agencies put in place to rebuild communities following the riots. It also set out the action that the Government are taking forward to address some of the more entrenched issues highlighted in the panel's report.
Roads: Street Names and Numbers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers they have to require (1) domestic and commercial property occupants or owners to display clearly the street numbers of their premises on front entrances, and (2) local authorities to display clearly the names of streets at or near to the entrances of, and exits from, streets and at junctions with other streets; and where those powers exist, what are the relevant provisions in statute.[HL1408]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Issues around the design and location of street names and premises numbering are a matter for local authorities. Local authorities in England and Wales have powers in relation to this under the following statutes: Public Health Act 1925 (Section 19); the Public Health Act 1875 (Section 160, incorporating Sections 64 and 65 of the Towns Improvement Clauses Act 1847) and the London Building Acts (Amendment) Act 1939.
The Department for Transport publishes guidance for local authorities on this matter in its Circular Roads 3/93 Street Name Plates and the Numbering of Premises. This contains advice on the design and installation of street name plates and reminds local authorities of the continuing need to maintain a good standard of street name plates and property numbering schemes and to improve existing standards where necessary.
A copy of the circular is being placed in the Library of the House.
Secret Intelligence Service
Question
Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reports in the DailyTelegraph of 12 July and Civil Service World that Sir John Sawers has publicly spoken of the role of MI6 contacts in alleged assassinations or cyber-warfare against Iran, whether his remarks were cleared by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.[HL1659]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): It is the policy of successive UK Governments not to comment on matters of intelligence and national security.
Sudan and South Sudan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will propose to the United Nations Secretary-General that the United States, Russia and China should be asked to provide evidence from satellite images to confirm or refute South Sudan’s claim that Sudan has bombed South Sudanese territory.[HL1892]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): The United Nations (UN) Mission in South Sudan investigated the site of the reported bombing on 20 July. Its initial report suggests that a number of bombs were dropped by the Sudanese Air Force within South Sudanese territory. While denying that the attack took place across the border, the Government of Sudan have claimed that their forces attacked fighters from the Sudanese rebel Justice and Equality Movement operating from within South Sudanese territory.
Any cross-border attacks are a violation of the terms of UN Security Council Resolution 2046, as well as the agreements on peaceful resolution of disputes concluded between the two countries. The UN Security Council will take this into account in determining compliance with Resolution 2046.
Terrorism: Detainees
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many alleged terrorist suspects were detained in the last three years; and how many were convicted.[HL1708]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The figures requested are shown in the following table.
| Financial Year | Number of persons detained |
Please note the above figures cover the financial year and include those arrested under S41 of the Terrorism Act 2000. We do not hold more up-to-date figures for 2011/2012; these are due to be published in the annual statistical bulletin in September 2012.
| Figures for those convicted under terrorism legislation | |
| Financial Year | Number of persons convicted |
Thirteen individuals were charged in the year 2010/2011, two were not proceeded against, and 11 were awaiting prosecution which is why no figure has been inserted in table above.
| Figures for those convicted of offences under non-terrorism legislation but where considered terrorism related | |
| Financial Year | Number of persons convicted |
The above figures were taken from the last annual statistical bulletin (Operation of Police Powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and Subsequent Legislation:
Arrests, Outcomes and Stops & Searches
) published 13 October 2011 and covers the period from 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011. A link to this publication is provided below:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/counter-terrorisrn-statistics/hosb1511 /hosbl 511?view=Binary
Universal Credit
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 17 July (WA 48) on universal credit, how they are going to ensure claimants’ documents used to verify information are delivered safely by post, and at whose expense this will be undertaken.[HL1773]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Universal credit will be a predominantly digital service, however there remains a need for physical evidence to be verified and in some circumstances that will be done by post. Our current thinking is to provide claimants with a secure freepost address to send in requested evidence.
Visas
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many student visas were issued for students from overseas in the last 12 months; what was the revenue generated from them; and how that sum compares with the revenue generated in the previous three years. [HL1703]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): The number of student visas granted and the revenue generated through student visa applications over the last four years is as follows:
| PBS Tier 4/Student visas | ||||
| 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
Please note that the income figure for F/Y 2011/12 is based on management information, ahead of formal publication of the UKBA's statement of accounts.
Figures relate to PBS tier 4 student applications and equivalent categories pre-PBS. “Student visit” visas have not been included as income from that endorsement category is not disaggregated from other short-term visitor categories.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been granted visas to enter the United Kingdom to attend the 2012 Olympic Games as (1) participants, (2) media personnel, (3) spectators, and (4) others.[HL1740]
Lord Henley: Where an individual has received accreditation to participate in the Olympics, the requirement for a visa is waived. Up to the end of March 2012, 2,043 visas were issued under the visa endorsement “Visit—Olympic/Paralympic family”. It is not possible to identify from visa statistics those who are visiting the Olympic Games under categories (2), (3) and (4) as this would require the examination of individual records, which would incur disproportionate costs.
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many post-study work visa applications remained undecided at the end of (1) 2009, (2) 2010, (3) 2011, and (4) at present.[HL1849]
Lord Henley: The data requested are not held in a format compatible with National Statistics protocols, or produced as part of the UK Border Agency’s standard reports. However, the UK Border Agency publishes statistics on a quarterly and annual basis that cover granted post-study work visa applications. Published statistics regarding post-study work visa applications can be found in the Library of the House and following this link: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration ql-2012/.
Visas: Fishing Fleets
Question
Asked by Baroness Butler-Sloss
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many transit visas were granted in 2011 to individuals going to work for British-owned fishing fleets. [HL1822]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Henley): We do not routinely collate data on individuals going to work on British-owned fishing fleets. To obtain this information would require the examination of individual records, and incur disproportionate costs.
Answers received between Monday 30 Julyand Monday 6 August 2012
Abortion
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many doctors, nurses, and managers have been referred to (1) the police, (2) the General Medical Council, or (3) the Nursing and Midwifery Council following the Care Quality Commission’s recent individual inspection reports into providers offering abortion services.[HL1901]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department understands that, as a result of the recent Care Quality Commission’s
inspections, a number of health professionals were referred to the police and their professional regulator for investigation because of evidence uncovered.
The health regulators (including the General Medical Council as the regulator for doctors and the Nursing and Midwifery Council as the regulator for nurses and midwives) are statutory bodies and have powers to investigate where complaints are made to them that the fitness to practise of professionals is in question.
As the health regulators are independent bodies, and as investigations are ongoing, the department is unable to comment further at the present time.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the outcomes of investigations by (1) the police, (2) the General Medical Council, and (3) the Nursing and Midwifery Council, following the Care Quality Commission’s recent individual inspection reports into providers offering abortion services.[HL1902]
Earl Howe: The department is aware that relevant police forces, the Nursing and Midwifery Council and the General Medical Council, are pursuing investigations into allegations of pre-signing of abortion HSA1 forms. Investigations are continuing and we still await a decision on whether any prosecutions will be brought.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessments were made of whether abortions took place legally or illegally in the Care Quality Commission’s individual inspection reports into providers offering abortion services; and what plans the Care Quality Commission has to monitor improvements by abortion providers in their compliance with the Abortion Act 1967. [HL1903]
Earl Howe: It is for the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether to prosecute individuals and for the courts to determine whether there has been a breach of the law on abortion. Following its recent inspections, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is working with 14 National Health Service hospitals and has required that all trusts put in place “compliance actions”. These require providers to demonstrably improve their practices to ensure compliance with requirements; all 14 providers have now taken steps to ensure compliance. Officials will work with a number of bodies including the CQC and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists to address the findings from these inspections.
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Military Aviation Authority report of the Fleet Air Arm (Military Aviation Authority—Headquarters Chief of Staff (Aviation and Carriers) Assurance Visit Report) will be made publicly available on the Ministry of Defence website; and what grading the Fleet Air Arm received.[HL1978]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): There are no plans to make the Military Aviation Authority Assurance visit report on Headquarters Chief of Staff (Aviation and Carriers) publicly available. On the evidence of the report, the Director General of the Military Aviation Authority determined a green grading was appropriate, indicating no significant weaknesses.
Armed Forces: Aircrew
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will arrange for medical statistics relating to aircrew serving in the Armed Forces to be made available to the Civil Aviation Authority.[HL2028]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): Currently the Ministry of Defence does not routinely release medical statistics to the Civil Aviation Authority. However, in the interest of promoting flight safety, the MoD and Civil Aviation Authority have regular communication on topics of shared interest, including medical matters. If a specific request were received from the Civil Aviation Authority for medical statistics, then, within the requirements of the Data Protection Act, Human Rights Act and Freedom of Information Act, data would be made available in an anonymous and non-identifiable format.
Atos Healthcare
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in each of the past five years, how many and what proportion of Employment Support Allowance claimants have been found fit for work after assessment by Atos Healthcare assessors; how many and what proportion of those claimants have appealed; and how many and what proportion of appeals have been allowed. [HL1908]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The department regularly publishes official statistics on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). The latest publication was released on 24 July 2012 and can be found on the departmental website here: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/workingage/index.php?page=esa_wca.
Table 1a in the publication gives the outcomes (including fit for work decisions) of all new claims to ESA received since its introduction in October 2008. The table gives this information for all claims received across the whole of Great Britain.
Table 3 in the publication gives the number of appeals against fit for work decisions in Great Britain and their outcomes.
Broadband: 4G Mobile
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what evidence they have concluded that a fee of £50 plus VAT would be sufficient to enable a registered digital installer to install the necessary filter to protect television services against interference from 4G mobile services in homes with signal-boosting amplifiers. [HL1776]
Lord Newby: The figure of £50+VAT for the installation of a filter to a rooftop antenna with a masthead amplifier was arrived at as a result of discussions with representatives of the aerial installer industry.
Broadcasting: Digital Switchover
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the proportion of households in the United Kingdom that will have amplifiers to boost digital television signals following the conclusion of digital switchover; and what is their estimate of what this figure is as a proportion of the total number of households receiving digital television on their main set through the digital terrestrial platform.[HL1777]
Lord Newby: The figure contained in Ofcorn consultation on the number of amplifiers in customer homes was derived from information supplied by the industry. However, the vast majority of this equipment was fitted before digital switchover, when the transmit power of the digital signal was much lower than now. It is not possible to estimate what proportion of this equipment is still in use and what proportion has been removed or disconnected.
Burma
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Burma on the formation of a joint domestic and international board with the involvement of the United Kingdom to investigate the number of political prisoners in Burma.[HL1813]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We continue to press the Burmese Government on a regular basis to release all remaining political prisoners. This issue was raised most recently in a meeting between our ambassador and the Burmese Attorney-General in Naypyidaw on 23 July 2012.
In line with the recommendations of UN Special Representative for Human Rights Quintana, we raised with the Government the possibility of establishing an
independent investigative mechanism to look into remaining cases. We have not made specific representations regarding the make-up of such a body. We continue to meet with local and international human rights groups, civil society organisations and released political prisoners in Burma to discuss this matter.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Burma about allowing recently released political activists to be given passports.[HL1814]
Lord Howell of Guildford: Officials from our embassy have made representations on several occasions to Burmese Government Ministers, most recently on 27 July, about issuing passports for released political prisoners. We will continue to raise this matter until the situation is addressed. The European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Catherine Ashton, also raised the matter with President Thein Sein during her recent visit.
Asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether staff of the Department for International Development have been able to visit Maungdaw in Rhakhine State, Burma.[HL1875]
Baroness Northover: No staff from DfID have been able to visit Maungdaw in Rhakhine State. DfID monitors the situation through its links with the United Nation's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) and through the regular UN OCHA Situation Reports.
Asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many representations the Department for International Development has received in 2012 to date for increased funding for refugees from and displaced persons in Burma.[HL1876]
Baroness Northover: To date, in 2012, DfID has received 15 letters regarding increased funding for refugees and displaced persons in Burma. Most of these refer to Early Day Motion (EDM) 2719 which calls on the Government to increase aid to populations displaced by conflict in Burma. EDM 2719, tabled in 2012, has 66 signatures. DfID has received a number of parliamentary Questions in 2012 relating to funding for refugees from and displaced persons in Burma: two of these ask specifically about increases in funding; details are available in the parliamentary archives. DfID Ministers and staff have met a range of people with a specific interest in our work for refugees from and displaced persons in Burma this year. The question of increased funding is sometimes raised in these meetings, although it is not possible to say exactly in how many of them.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they are providing to women's empowerment projects in Burma; and which specific women's organisations in Burma receive British aid.[HL2038]
Baroness Northover: In Burma, UK aid supports the empowerment of women and girls in all of its programmes and partnerships. Through UK aid in Burma, by 2015, 110,000 women will have more access to financial services, 113,000 more girls will be helped to access and complete primary education, and at least 549,000 women will participate in cash for work activities. DfID's Burma programme provides support to the following women's organisations: the Gender Equality Network, which includes more than 30 women's organisations; the Gender and Development Initiative; and the Shan Women's Action Network.
Children: International Law and Rights
Question
Asked by Lord Stone of Blackheath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what work they have undertaken in the past 10 years to conduct evaluative analyses of law and practice as they affect children in countries or regions around the world by reference to the standards of international law and international children’s rights.[HL1730]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Howell of Guildford): We are fully committed to children’s rights and to improving the situation of children worldwide. Our embassies and high commissions continue to monitor and raise human rights, including children’s rights, in their host countries against those countries’ commitments to international standards. The UK also makes specific human rights recommendations, including on children’s issues, to countries through the United Nations universal periodic review process.
We have also given support and funding to the work of international institutions tasked with improving the situation of children, including the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for children in armed conflict, the Special Rapporteur on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography, and the UN Secretary-General’s study on violence against children.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy report includes a focus on children’s rights and children in armed conflict globally, and on the situation of children in a number of countries of concern including Afghanistan, Burma, Vietnam and Somalia.
Children: Looked-after Children
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the latest year for which data are available, what percentage of looked-after children in each local authority in England attended a school graded (1) outstanding, (2) good, or (3) satisfactory, by Ofsted in their most recent inspection report.[HL1428]
Lord Newby: The percentages of looked after children in each local authority in England that attended a school graded outstanding, good or satisfactory in their most recent inspection report are given below. The figures relate to children who are looked after by local authorities at 31 March 2011, and to Ofsted inspection carried out before that date.
Table LA1: Percentage of looked after children attending schools that have been judged by Ofsted to be outstanding, good, satisfactory or poor1