Written Answers
Tuesday 8 January 2013
Abortion
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 October (WA 1), what is the legal basis on which the duty to provide abortion services for women living in Northern Ireland has been delegated to primary care trusts; whether primary care trusts are able to discharge that duty for all such women patients or only specified categories of women patients; and, if so, for what categories.[HL4097]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Secretary of State has a duty under Section 3 of the National Health Service Act 2006 to provide a variety of secondary care services to such extent as he considers necessary to meet all reasonable requirements. This duty is delegated to primary care trusts (PCTs) in Regulation 3(2) of, and Part 2 of Schedule 1 to, the National Health Service (Functions of strategic health authorities and primary care trusts and administration arrangements) (England) Regulations 2002 (“the Regulations”).
Regulation 3(7) of the regulations sets out who a PCT is responsible for exercising functions (including the Section 3 duty) in respect of. Under Regulation 3(7), there are two sets of limited circumstances in which PCTs would be able to exercise their delegated functions to provide abortion services to women resident in Northern Ireland. The first is set out in Regulation 3(7)(a)(iii), which provides that a PCT shall exercise its delegated functions in so far as those functions consist of the provision (or securing the provision) of certain services to “qualifying patients” resident in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland who are present in its area and do not fall under the responsibility of another PCT. This essentially covers persons resident in the above countries with serious mental illness who are present in a PCT’s area. The second is set out in Regulation 3(7)(b)(i), which provides that a PCT must exercise its delegated functions in so far as those functions consist of the provision (or securing the provision) of accident and emergency services for the benefit of all persons resident in its area.
A PCT’s functions under Regulation 3(7)(a)(iii) will clearly be exercisable only in respect of the limited number of women who fall within that provision. A PCT’s functions under Regulation 3(7)(b)(i) will be exercisable in respect of any person present in the PCT’s area.
There is no absolute right for a patient to receive particular treatment under the NHS. A PCT has delegated powers to provide abortion services to a woman who is ordinarily resident in Northern Ireland but present in
the PCT’s area in so far as that provision falls within Regulation 3(7)(a)(iii) or (b)(i) and is considered by the PCT to be necessary to meet all reasonable requirements. The PCT can take into account all relevant factors in deciding what is necessary to meet all reasonable requirements. Each PCT, in exercising the delegated duty in relation to abortion services, will make its own judgment whether to provide treatment to a woman resident in Northern Ireland, based on the circumstances of each case.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 17 December (WA 268), whether they will collect data on the sex of unborn babies aborted after 10 weeks gestation; and why they do not collect that data already. [HL4256]
Earl Howe: Work is in progress to monitor gender ratios at birth following a recent report by the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly. While the overall United Kingdom birth ratio is within normal limits, analysis of birth data for the calendar years from 2007 to 2011 has found the gender ratios at birth vary by mothers’ country of birth. For the majority of groups, this variation is the result of small numbers of births and does not persist between years.
However, for a very small number of countries of birth there are indications that birth ratios may differ from the UK as a whole and potentially fall outside of the range considered possible without intervention. However, it is possible that this is also the product of natural variation. Monitoring of this issue will continue.
Identifying the gender of aborted foetuses over 10 weeks’ gestation raises ethical and clinical issues. We have no plans to introduce such a practice.
Adoption
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many newborn babies were available for adoption during the past 12 months for which figures are available. [HL4259]
Baroness Garden of Frognal: Information on the number of newborn babies available for adoption is not collected by the department. Information is collected on the number of looked-after children for whom the decision has been made by the local authority that it would be in the child’s best interests to be placed for adoption. The number of looked-after children aged under 1 at 31 March 2012 and with such an adoption decision in place was 3,670. A further 50 children aged under 1 at 31 March 2012 were placed for adoption with the consent of parents or guardians.
Of the 3,670 looked-after children with an adoption decision in place, 560 had also become the subject of a placement order in the year ending 31 March 2012.
Afghanistan
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they are having with the Government of Afghanistan regarding the protection that is currently given to United Kingdom-managed or United Kingdom-supported official aid and development programmes by British or NATO and International Security Assistance Force armed forces which are due to be withdrawn after 2014.[HL4356]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any UK-supported Afghan aid projects in the voluntary sector currently receive protection from British or NATO and International Security Assistance Force Armed Forces; and what provision has been made for their future protection after 2014.[HL4357]
Baroness Northover: One UK-supported development programme is protected by International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops. The FCO-funded infrastructure project “Route 611” is scheduled for completion before ISAF forces redeploy at the end of 2014 whereupon ownership will transfer to the Afghan Government. The UK Government are in regular contact with the Afghan Government, in Helmand and Kabul, to ensure that adequate funding is provided for future operation and maintenance of all current UK development projects transferring to Afghan ownership.
Agriculture: Soil Management
Questions
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they contributed to the World Soil Day on 5 December organised by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the subsequent 3-day technical workshop on Sustainable Soil Management; and whether anyone from the United Kingdom took part.[HL4107]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): The Government did not take any specific action to contribute to World Soil Day 2012. Nevertheless, the Government continue to raise awareness and knowledge of soils issues through, for example, close working with farming stakeholders and research councils.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) technical workshop on sustainable soil management was attended by the President of the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS). Defra is continuing to liaise with the BSSS on the development of the Global Soils Partnership, which is being taken forward under the auspices of the FAO.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their definition of a healthy soil; and whether they intend to develop that definition further for the purposes of the common agricultural policy reform.[HL4108]
Lord De Mauley: There is presently no agreed definition of a healthy soil and we do not intend to develop one for the purposes of common agricultural policy reform. However, research has been carried out to define quantitatively the properties of soils that support different ecosystem services and we are continuing to fund further research in this area. The Government’s vision for soils is set out in the Natural Environment White Paper 2011, The Natural Choice. This states that by 2030 we want all of England’s soils to be managed sustainably and degradation threats tackled successfully in order to safeguard their ability to provide essential ecosystem services and functions for future generations.
Airports: Gatwick and Heathrow
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Institute of Directors’ report into airport expansion at Gatwick and Heathrow. [HL4305]
Earl Attlee: The Government’s position on expansion at Heathrow and Gatwick airports remains unchanged and as set out in our coalition agreement.
We have, however, appointed Sir Howard Davies to chair an independent commission to identify and recommend to Government options for maintaining the UK’s status as a leading global aviation hub.
I would encourage the Institute of Directors to submit any relevant evidence on such matters to the Airports Commission.
Airports: Security
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what regulatory system applies in respect of security for passengers at airports; and what are the risks which any such system is intended to mitigate.[HL4299]
Earl Attlee: The European Union has competence in the field of aviation security. Accordingly, UK airports are subject to European regulations that set common rules for safeguarding civil aviation.
In addition, the UK has a number of requirements in place over and above those common rules (known as more stringent measures); these are regulated under powers contained in the Aviation Security Act 1982.
The regime is designed to mitigate the risk of acts of unlawful interference with civil aviation, primarily arising from the terrorist threat.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they determine the adequacy of security arrangements at foreign airports; and on what risks their determination is based.[HL4300]
Earl Attlee: Internationally, civil aviation is overseen by ICAO (the International Civil Aviation Organisation), a specialist body of the UN. Under the ICAO treaty the responsibility for aviation security lies with host states. In order to validate this, ICAO carries out a programme to audit aviation security in each state. The results of these audits are confidential to the state and ICAO.
The Department for Transport maintains a small network of overseas liaison officers who work with states in Africa, the Middle East and Asia to share UK experience and improve aviation security. Their views, along with information from other sources and advice from the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, enable the department to establish a view of risk and consequently to provide appropriate advice to UK air carriers on security measures at the foreign airports that they operate to.
Armed Forces: Afghanistan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many projects currently supported by the Ministry of Defence in Afghanistan will qualify or be proposed for funding from the Department for International Development after 2014; and whether new defence projects such as the officers’ academy will qualify for Department for International Development funding.[HL4358]
Baroness Northover: There are no plans to transfer existing Ministry of Defence (MoD) projects to the Department for International Development ownership. MoD funding arrangements for the Officer Academy are still to be confirmed but we expect these to be discussed as part of next year’s Comprehensive Spending Review.
Arms Trade Treaty
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Wakefield
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend to build international support for the draft text of an arms trade treaty following negotiations at the United Nations in July 2012.[HL3952]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK played a leading role in securing a resolution at the UN 1st Committee last month. The resolution calls for the convening of a diplomatic conference from 18-28 March 2013 to finalise work on the treaty. An overwhelming majority of states (157) voted for the resolution, including the US, China and India, with only 18 countries abstaining and none voting against.
We have begun to discuss the draft text from the July conference with stakeholders in the non-governmental organisations community, industry and key allies. With a clear set of priorities established, we will then work intensively to build the necessary consensus around them in advance of the March conference.
Arts: Funding
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of central funding for the arts in the financial years 2011–12 and 2012–13 was (1) for capital programmes, and (2) for revenue support.[HL3892]
Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is unable to provide details of potential funding provided for the arts across all of government, as this information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. However, the funding DCMS provided to Arts Council England (ACE) in the financial years 2011-12 and 2012-13 can be found in the following table.
| Capital Programmes and % of total funding | Revenue Support and % of total funding | Total | |
These figures exclude funding from the Department for Education for cultural education programmes, museums capital and revenue funding and restructuring costs in 2012-13. Revenue support includes administration costs.
In addition to the funding provided to ACE, DCMS provided the following funding to support the arts.
| Capital Programmes and % of total funding | Revenue Support and % of total funding | Total | |
Asylum Seekers
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum applications had been outstanding for more than 12 months in each year from 2008 to 2011; and how many have currently been outstanding for more than 12 months.[HL4131]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The numbers of asylum applications made between 2008 and 2011 that had been outstanding for more than 12 months before an initial decision, by year, are shown in the attached table. The applications referred to in the data are not necessarily still outstanding.
Notes: Information on the length of time cases have been outstanding has to be derived from existing data on the systems as follows:
1. The asylum applications made 2008 to 7 May 2011 by main applicants outstanding for more than 12 months have been derived from data published as National Statistics in Table as.06. They have been derived by taking the number of applicants who applied that year and then checking whether they had an initial decision within 365 days of their application. If they did not have an initial decision at this point, we considered their application as outstanding. The 2011 data relate only to applications between January and 7 May 2011 as the previously published data were extracted from CID on 7 May 2012, so applications after this point would all have been outstanding for less than a year.
Data from 2011 onwards are provisional figures.
Source: Table as.06 (extracted 7 May 2012) - Immigration Statistics July - September 2012
These figures are a subset of published data on the outcome analysis of asylum applications, based on the year of application in the release “Immigration Statistics, July to September 2012”, which is available from the Library of the House and from the Home Office science website at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/science-research-statistics/research-statistics/immigration-asylum-research/immigration-q3-2012/
The number of asylum applications currently outstanding for more than 12 months is 2,135. This figure is a subset of published data in the above publication and has been derived by looking at asylum claims that were pending an initial decision on the 30th September 2012, as published in Table as.01.q, and calculating for how many the application date was prior to 30th September 2011.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what methods they are using to improve the quality of first decisions in asylum applications by women.[HL4236]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The UK Border Agency is committed to improving the management of asylum claims from women and this includes improving the quality of decisions in these cases. In October 2010 the agency published revised guidance to decision-makers on gender-based claims and, recently, the agency has implemented a programme of mandatory training on gender issues to those decision-makers.
Both guidance and training were developed in conjunction with corporate partners, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Asylum Aid. The agency has also carried out a thematic review of decisions in gender-based cases and is using the outcomes from the review to plan further
improvements, working with corporate partners to do this. In addition, the agency has embarked on a major review of the way in which information and advice is provided to asylum applicants throughout the process. This includes specifically looking at the journey of women through the process.
The agency continues to measure quality by auditing 10% of first-instance asylum decisions but it is in the process of developing its “next generation” quality framework, which will broaden the scope of what is measured to ensure compliance across the system.
Bank of England
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce a nominal gross domestic product target for the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England.[HL4168]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Chancellor set the Monetary Policy Committee its remit, at Budget 2012, to target inflation of 2%, as measured by the 12-month increase in the consumer prices index. The Government have no plans to change the inflation targeting framework.
Banking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether retail deposits with a bank within the proposed regulatory ring-fence will continue to be subject to a maximum limit on claims under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.[HL4084]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Financial Services Compensation Scheme will continue to provide protection for up to £85,000 per depositor, per authorised institution.
The level of protection is set out in the EU Deposit Guarantee Schemes Directive, which sets a maximum harmonised limit of €100,000. In line with this, the UK limit is £85,000.
Banking: European Central Bank
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact on the United Kingdom banking industry of the establishment of a new supervisory role for the European Central Bank over large banks in the eurozone.[HL4170]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Prime Minister’s Statement to the House of Commons on 17 December 20121 on the outcome of the December European Council and the Government’s
Explanatory Memorandum on European Union Documents No. 13682/12, 13683/12 and 12854/12, on the Commission’s proposal for a Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM), set out the following key points: the current allocation of competencies between home and host supervisor and the member state of the banking group would not change;in terms of its regulatory impact, the new supervisory structure may result in additional costs for entities which have operations in participating member states—such as complying with additional requests for information from the European Central Bank (ECB), as well as relevant national competent authorities. However, these costs are anticipated to be small, relative to the benefits to be derived from the establishment of the SSM, in terms of strengthened supervision within the eurozone; andin terms of its financial impact, credit institution subsidiaries of UK firms established in participating member states would fund the new supervisory function of the ECB through payment of a levy. At least some of the cost could be offset by a reduction in the levy charged to finance national regulators.
1 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121217/debtext/121217-0001.htm#1212174000003
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether United Kingdom banks will be free to opt to be regulated by the European Central Bank (ECB) rather than the Bank of England or its Prudential Regulatory Authority; and whether they have considered the implications for the competitiveness of United Kingdom banks if the ECB sets lower requirements for capital and liquidity.[HL4260]
Lord Newby: United Kingdom banks will not be free to opt to be regulated by the European Central Bank (ECB) rather than the Bank of England or its Prudential Regulatory Authority. The Government have taken into consideration the implications for the competitiveness of the United Kingdom banks and will keep the position under review.
Banks: Iceland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much has been repaid to the United Kingdom by or in respect of each of the failed Icelandic banks; how much is still owed by each bank; and what steps they are taking to ensure repayment.[HL4253]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government expect full recovery of the amount that Iceland is liable for, regarding failed banks. Information on payments in respect of Icelandic banks can be found in Sections 30, 31 and 33 of the Treasury annual reports and accounts 2011-121.
During 2011-12, the administrator for Icesave paid out dividends to HM Treasury and the FSCS of £1.3 billion. Of this, £0.4 billion was used by the
Financial Service Compensation Scheme to repay part of the loan with HM Treasury, £0.7 billion was allocated to the Depositors’ and Investors’ Guarantee Fund share of the loan and the remaining £0.2 billion was used to reimburse HM Treasury for its statutory debt payments for deposit balances in excess of £50,000.
Negotiations with Iceland over the terms of a loan agreement in respect of the compensation paid to UK depositors of Icesave, the UK branch of Landsbanki hf, are ongoing. Progress is currently suspended pending the outcome of proceedings by the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Surveillance Authority against Iceland in the EFTA Court in respect of Iceland’s alleged failure to meet its legal obligations to UK and Dutch depositors under the EU deposit guarantee directive.
1 www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/hmt_annual_report_2012.pdf
Banks: Lending
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what rate of interest is paid by banks for funds under the funding for loans scheme; and to what extent interest rate reductions have been passed on to consumers through lower interest rates.[HL4093]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The amount that banks participating in the Funding for Lending Scheme can borrow from the Bank of England and the fee they pay for it are linked to their lending performance to UK households and businesses. Banks that maintain or increase their net lending pay a fee of 0.25% per year. Banks that decrease lending pay an additional 0.25% for each percentage point reduction in net lending, up to a maximum of 1.5%, in the case where lending falls by more than 5%.
It is still too early to judge the impact of the scheme on lending rates. However, mortgage rates quoted by banks have reduced by up to 0.4 percentage points since June 2012.
Benefits
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Department for Work and Pensions benefit centres handle appeals against decisions to place recipients of the employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group, and related matters; and, in each case, (1) how many appeals are outstanding, and (2) how long they expect to take to deal with the current backlog.[HL4125]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): There are currently 39 centres handling employment and support allowance appeals within the network of benefit centres.
The work position is managed across the network and therefore the individual position of benefit centres can be misleading as the work can be moved to sites with more capacity.
Additional resource has recently been moved into the benefit centre network to assist with the high volumes of appeals that have been received and it is currently expected that work volumes outstanding will return to normal levels by the end of July 2013 on a national basis.
This position is constantly being reviewed with an aim to reducing the outstanding work at the earliest opportunity.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children under 16 live in households with working and non-working parents respectively who will be affected by the proposed 1% cap in benefit increases. [HL4167]
Lord Freud: Assessments of impacts will accompany the uprating order for 2013 and the forthcoming uprating Bill.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Sassoon on 17 December (WA 270), why the information on the European Union nationality of recipients of child benefits is not available; how they assess and record a claimant’s status as ordinarily resident and having a right to reside in the United Kingdom; and whether such details can be accumulated and extrapolated. [HL4298]
Lord Deighton: Nationality is not a condition of entitlement to child benefit, so it is not recorded or retained in the relevant computer system.
The factors which HMRC take into account when it assesses whether a claimant is ordinarily resident and has a right to reside in the United Kingdom are summarised in public guidance which is published on the departmental website1.
The criteria for being ordinarily resident in the UK to receive child benefit are to:
have the main home in the UK;have chosen to live and settle here; andonly go abroad for short periods, for example, on holiday.
The criteria for having the right to reside in the UK to receive child benefit are for a person to be:
More detailed information about ordinary residence and the right to reside is contained in the HMRC Child Benefit Technical Manual, which is also published on HMRC’s website2.
However, details of ordinary residence and the right to reside in individual cases are not retained in a format that can be accumulated and extrapolated.
1 http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/who-qualifies/ new-arrivals-uk.htm
2 http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/cbtmanual/CBTM10020.htm and http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/cbtmanual/CBTM10070.htm
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the average time taken to process applications for disability living allowance; whether there is a target time within which those applications should be processed; and, if so, what proportion of applications meet that target.[HL4323]
Lord Freud: The latest Average Actual Clearance Time for processing DLA claims is 28.4 days at November year to date (April to November 2012). However, there is no set target for this measure.
When reporting clearance times, the department uses a timeband measure of 79% of claims cleared in 40 days. Against this target we are currently reporting 79.3% in the month for November and 76.8% year to date (April to November 2012).
Burma
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Burma regarding the allegations of rape of women by Burmese military forces in Rohingya.[HL4147]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We have received many reports of human rights abuses in Rakhine State since the outbreak of violence in June, including reports that allege the involvement of government security forces in the rape of Rohingya women and girls.
During his recent visit to Burma, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised our concerns with the Burmese Foreign Minister, U Wunna Maung Lwin, and requested support for the Foreign Secretary’s preventing sexual violence initiative. During his visit to Rakhine State, Mr Swire met local government officials and delivered strong messages on human rights including on ensuring that those accused of human rights abuses are held to account.
The publication of the report by the investigative commission that was set up to probe the causes of the violence in Rakhine State has been delayed so that the commission can incorporate its findings on the violence of late October. It will be important for investigations into alleged atrocities, including rape, to be transparent and thorough, ensuring that those who have committed crimes are held to account for their actions.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Bangladesh regarding provision of assistance to Rohingyan refugees.[HL4148]
Baroness Warsi: The Government raise regularly the issue of Rohingya refugees and the importance of continuing humanitarian aid with the Government of Bangladesh. Our high commissioner in Dhaka raised the issue on 11 November with senior interlocutors in the Bangladesh Government and wrote on the issue to the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s office on 15 August. Officials from our high commission have previously visited the camps for displaced Rohingyas. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised this issue during a meeting with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, on 28 July and the then Secretary of State for the Department for International Development (DfID), my right honourable friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr Mitchell), raised it in a meeting with the Prime Minister on 12 August. I also discussed our concerns with Dipu Moni, the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh, earlier this month.
We have also raised the issue of Rohingya refugees with the Government of Bangladesh as part of a recent EU demarche. DfID continues to provide core contributions to the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department and UN agencies that directly support the Rohingya community. In October DfID allocated £2 million in humanitarian funding to communities affected by the unrest in Rakhine.
We also continue to seek every opportunity to raise our concerns about the treatment of the Rohingya directly with the Burmese Government not only in Burma but also in international fora such as the UN in New York, the EU and at the recent Asia-Europe summit in Laos.
The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), visited Burma from 12-15 December. In meetings with the Burmese Government, both at national and local level, he pressed for increased humanitarian aid access to all communities in need, for those responsible for the violence to be brought to account, and for a long-term solution to the issues affecting the Rohingya. He visited Rakhine State to see for himself the situation on the ground, speaking to victims of the violence in three camps for internally displaced people and to local political and religious leaders.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the most recent violence in Arakan State in Burma.[HL4149]
Baroness Warsi: The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), visited Burma,
including Rakhine State, between 12 and 15 December. He was able to see conditions in five camps and settlements for internally displaced persons in Rakhine, including camps at Myebon and Pauktaw.
Our assessment is that the violence in Rakhine State has been driven primarily by decades-long inter-communal tensions between communities in western Burma. The estimate from the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs on 12 December was that 115,000 people have been displaced by violence during 2012; 36,000 of these from the incidents in October. An unverified number of people have been killed, with official figures from the Burmese Government in the region of 80 people, but it is not possible to confirm numbers precisely. The majority of killed and displaced were from the Rohingya community, though the Rakhine community has also been affected. Efforts to establish dialogue between community leaders have so far met with little success.
In meetings with the Burmese Government, both at national and local level, Hugo Swire pressed for increased humanitarian aid access to all communities in need, for those responsible for the violence to be brought to account, including where security forces had been implicated, and for a long-term solution to the issues affecting the Rohingya to include consideration of the issue of citizenship.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Burma regarding the ongoing violence in Rakhine/Arakan State.[HL4180]
Baroness Warsi: From 12 to 15 December the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), visited Burma. In meetings with the Burmese Government, both at a national level and in Rakhine State itself, he pressed for increased humanitarian aid access to all communities in need, for those responsible for the violence to be brought to account, including where security forces had been implicated, and for a long-term solution to the issues affecting the Rohingya to include consideration of the issue of citizenship.
The UK remains one of the most vocal members of the international community on the issues in Rakhine State. We continue to seek every opportunity to raise our concerns directly with the Burmese Government not only in Burma—including during the visits of the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Prime Minister, my right honourable friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), earlier this year—but also through international fora such as the UN in New York, the EU and at the Asia-Europe summit in Laos.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for an International Peace Mission to Burma.[HL4181]
Baroness Warsi: The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), visited Rakhine on 14 and 15 December, where he met communities affected by the violence and urged the Burmese authorities to ensure both security and humanitarian access across Rakhine State. The Burmese Government have, to date, allowed 19 separate visits by independent observers from foreign Governments and international organisations to visit the areas affected by the violence. Officials from our embassy, including our ambassador, led the first independent diplomatic mission to Rakhine State in early October, and visited again in early November.
Given the levels of international access to the area, and the Burmese Government’s establishment of an investigative commission to look into the events in Rakhine State, the British Government will await the Commission’s recommendations, and will work with the Burmese authorities accordingly. We judge that to call for an International Peace Mission at this time would pre-empt the Burmese Government’s own commission.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for the establishment of a United Nations Commission of Enquiry in Burma to consider the ongoing violence in Rakhine/Arakan State; and whether they have taken steps to promote the establishment of such a body.[HL4182]
Baroness Warsi: During his recent visit to Rakhine State the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), discussed in detail the drivers of the recent violence in Rakhine State with the Burmese authorities and leaders of affected Rohingya and Rakhine communities. In the course of his visit the Minister welcomed the formation of an independent investigative commission by the Burmese Government into the causes of the violence. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), also made clear that, for the commission to be credible, it needed to involve a consultative process with all the affected communities, including the Rohingya, and that any investigations into alleged atrocities should be transparent and thorough, ensuring that those who have committed crimes are held to account for their actions. We are awaiting the initial findings of the Commission’s report, due in March 2013.
In a statement on 17 November, the UN Secretary General welcomed the positive steps made by President Thein Sein, including the Burmese Government’s intention to ensure that the perpetrators of violence are held to account. UN Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, Baroness Amos, has recently returned from a visit to Rakhine State. The UN has not made the case for a commission of inquiry at this time. The UN is planning a roundtable discussion in Burma in early 2013, in order to address the issues in Rakhine State and the plight of the Rohingya community specifically. The UK will continue take an active role in this discussion and any further UN initiatives.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian needs of those displaced by conflict in Kachin State, Burma. [HL4333]
Baroness Northover: I refer the noble Baroness to the Answer that my honourable friend the Minister of State, Alan Duncan, gave to the honourable Member for Walsall South (Valerie Vaz) on 22 November (Official Report, col. 607W). Negotiations between the Burmese Government and Kachin representatives for full international access to areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Army have continued since then, but remain difficult.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Burma about the cessation of conflict in Kachin State and ensuring humanitarian access to all internally displaced people.[HL4334]
Baroness Warsi: The Government are concerned by the ongoing conflict between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the Burmese military. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), visited Burma from 12 to 15 December 2012. He raised the UK’s concerns with the Burmese Minister of Defence, Lt General Wai Lwin, and Minister Aung Min, the lead government negotiator for the peace process. Mr Swire urged the Burmese Government to push for a ceasefire and begin constructive dialogue with the KIA. He also pressed the Burmese Government to ensure humanitarian access to all conflict-affected populations in Kachin State.
The Department for International Development has allocated £3.5 million to support humanitarian needs in Kachin, helping to meet the needs of internally displaced people, primarily in border camps not controlled by the Government. The aid will help meet their food security, shelter, water, sanitation, health and bedding needs.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider funding established local non-governmental organisations to provide aid to areas in Shan, Kachin, and Rakhine states in Burma which international non-governmental organisations cannot reach due to government restrictions. [HL4335]
Baroness Northover: The Department for International Development (DfID) selects delivery partners on a case-by-case basis according to whom we judge is best able to deliver what is required. The additional support for Kachin, agreed this month by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State, will be implemented by an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), Trocaire, working closely with a local organisation, Karuna Myanmar Social Services (KMSS). In Rakhine
State, DfID’s humanitarian assistance will be delivered by a consortium of international NGOs, but we will continue to monitor the situation, in case opportunities to work with local NGOs arise. DfID also supports the Shan Women’s Action Network who work in Thailand to support the needs of people displaced by conflict in Shan State.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Question
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what approach they have taken to help local councils tackle the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning when using Warm Homes Healthy People funding.[HL4080]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Cold Weather Plan for England 2012, published on 26 October 2012, recognises that carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a potential killer and urges individuals to consider fitting an audible CO alarm that is EN 50291-compliant, but that fitting an alarm should not replace regular maintenance of appliances.
The Warm Homes Healthy People 2012 fund supports the Cold Weather Plan, and local authorities were invited to submit innovative proposals to make homes warmer and reduce levels of death and morbidity. Installation of CO monitors is in line with the aims of the Cold Weather Plan in helping to protect vulnerable people during the coming winter.
Information on the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in vulnerable households by local authorities has not been routinely collected as part of the Warm Homes Healthy People £20 million funding for 2012-13. However, an analysis of the successful proposals shows that at least 14 local authority proposals (covering 16 local authorities) have included the installation of carbon monoxide detectors as part of their projects. We know that there were some other local authorities that included CO monitors as an element of their wider proposals.
The department has also awarded national grants to the value of £1.5 million to Age UK and the Foundations Independent Living Trust to complement the work carried out by local authorities.
As part of the Age UK proposals, local and national handyperson services will check if households have a working carbon monoxide detector and, where needed, will install a new one, with the aim of a rollout of the installation of free CO detectors nationwide.
Children: Data Sharing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Hill of Oareford on 23 July (WA 92–3), what was the outcome of the working group dealing with information regarding children; and what action they plan to take in response.[HL4331]
Baroness Garden of Frognal: The work of the information-sharing group is now complete. The focus of the work has been on information sharing between early years practitioners (for example, staff in children’s centres or nurseries) and health professionals. The group’s discussions and scrutiny covered the use of both information sharing of population data (such as new birth data) and individual data about a particular child or their family.
We expect the final report of the group, entitled “Information sharing in the Foundation Years”, to be submitted to Ministers at both the Department for Education and the Department of Health shortly.
Dentistry: Dental Hygienists
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take on patients’ access to dental hygienists following the recommendations of the Office of Fair Trading report on dentistry published in May 2012.[HL4210]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Access to dental care professionals (DCPs), including dental hygienists, is a matter for the General Dental Council (GDC). Following the publication of the Office of Fair Treading report on dentistry, the GDC has initiated a review of direct access to DCPs. The review is expected to report in early 2013.
Drones
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of frequent drone flights on the civilian populations of parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and in particular on children. [HL4235]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK operates remotely piloted aircraft systems in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan. The rules of engagement are the same as those for manned aircraft. Drone strikes against terrorist targets in Pakistan are a matter for the states involved. We expect all states concerned to act in accordance with international law and take all feasible precautions to avoid civilian casualties when conducting military operations.
Drugs
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the remarks on 13 December by the Deputy Prime Minister regarding drugs policy, whether they have any plans to amend their existing policy on illegal drugs.[HL4230]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): We are confident our ambitious approach to tackling drugs is the right one. Drug usage remains at one of the lowest level since records began and people going into treatment today are far more likely to free themselves from dependency than ever before.
But we are not complacent. We are continually looking at new ways of reducing demand, restricting supply and promoting recovery. We will be considering the recommendations from the Home Affairs Select Committee’s Drug Inquiry report and will respond in due course.
Drugs: Orphan Medicines
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what safeguards are in place to ensure that interim National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) appraisal processes for orphan medicines are appropriate, while NICE develops its permanent appraisal process for such medicines.[HL4268]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is working closely with stakeholders to prepare to take on its new responsibilities for assessing highly specialised technologies for people with rare conditions from 1 April 2013.
As an independent organisation, it will be for NICE to ensure that it has appropriate procedures in place.
Economy
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of monetary policy on economic demand.[HL4218]
Lord Deighton: The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) macroeconomic policy tools, including bank rate and quantitative easing (QE), via the asset purchase facility (APE), are designed to affect the economy as a whole in order to meet the 2% inflation target over the medium term.
The Bank of England has estimated that the first round of QE, between March 2009 and January 2010, raised spending and activity in the UK economy. Analysis set out in the Bank’s December 2012 Quarterly Bulletin finds that the impact of the second round of asset purchases between October 2011 and May 2012 looks to have been similar to the first round in terms of its proportionate effect on broad money and the wider economy.
The MPC stated, in the minutes of its meeting in November 2012, that “demand and output would have been significantly weaker” in the absence of asset purchases.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed the impact on finance costs for them and for business of the United Kingdom losing its AAA credit rating.[HL4220]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government’s actions, taken to reduce the deficit and rebuild the economy, have secured stability and positioned the UK as a relative safe haven. Interest rates are near historic lows, benefiting families, businesses and the tax payer. Returning the UK to sustainable, balanced economic growth is the Government’s overriding priority.
Economy: Cost of Living
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to reduce the cost of living.[HL4362]
Lord Newby: The Government continue to take steps to support households.
The personal allowance will increase further to £9,440 in April 2013 to support hard-working individuals. This cash increase of £1,335 in 2013-14 is the largest ever. The 3p fuel duty increase planned for January 2013 has been cancelled. The Government have also announced a third council tax freeze.
Education: English Language
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to improve English language teaching for immigrants.[HL4229]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: Where English language training is publicly funded through further education colleges and training providers, they are responsible for the quality of their provision. They are held to account for the quality of teaching and the outcomes of this provision by the Skills Funding Agency and Ofsted. Government and Ofsted have placed a new emphasis on the importance of the quality of teaching, learning and assessment in further education and skills provision. When provision is identified as inadequate, there are now clear intervention procedures. The Government fund through partner agencies quality improvement support for the sector, which includes support to improve the quality of English provision for adults.
Elections: Devolved Administrations
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps the Cabinet Office is taking to co-operate with the devolved Administrations in (1) Wales, (2) Scotland, and (3) Northern Ireland, to ensure that the maximum number of young people qualify to vote in each of those nations.[HL4272]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Government, politicians, political parties, electoral administrators and others in society all have a role to play in encouraging people to register to vote.
The Government are committed to doing all they can to maximise registration, including among young people, and are looking to make it as easy and convenient as possible for people to register to vote as well as move to IER. This includes looking at the work done in Northern Ireland to get young people registered. We are also piloting different approaches across the country to encourage young people to register to vote.
To maximise levels of voter registration among young people, the Government are piloting different approaches to encourage them to register to vote. This includes: holding 20 events in schools, running participatory sessions to inform attainers about the reasons to register to vote and encourage them to do so; making available an online registration event toolkit aimed at teachers and community leaders so that they can deliver their own events targeted at young people; and commissioning digital work so that young people who register can share this fact on Facebook, encouraging other young people in their social networks also to register. We are also running data-mining pilots which intend to assess whether data matching with data from other government departments and bodies such as the Student Loans Company can assist in getting more young people on to the register.
Elections: Voting Age
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will monitor the experience in lowering of the voting age to 16 in the Scottish referendum with a view to informing future decisions about lowering the voting age throughout the rest of the country.[HL4274]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The UK and Scottish Governments have agreed that the power to legislate for a referendum on Scotland’s independence should be devolved to the Scottish Parliament. As a result it will be for the Scottish Parliament to determine the franchise of the referendum—just as it is responsible for determining the franchise for any other referendum or election within its devolved competence.
However, this sets no precedent for the franchise for the UK Parliament, Scottish Parliament or local authorities, which remain the responsibility of the UK Government and Parliament.
There is no consensus within government for lowering the voting age to 16 and we therefore have no current plans to do so.
Embryology
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 7 February 2011 (WA 12) regarding the number of cycles in which a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) was reported as the reason for abandoning a cycle of licensed treatment, what consideration the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has given to the impact of (1) financial payment structures, (2) lack of appropriate cycle monitoring, and (3) competition due to the HFEA’s publication of clinic success rates, on the incidence of OHSS and the under-reporting of complications. [HL4152]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what data directly held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) the HFEA base their assertion that the single biggest risk of fertility treatment is multiple pregnancy; whether it is directly informed by data from the Confidential Enquiry into Maternal and Child Health; what data is held by the HFEA regarding the frequency of late miscarriage, high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in mothers; what efforts were made by the HFEA to ensure that any additional data relating to the risks associated with multiple pregnancy were made available to them; what other risks of fertility treatment are known to the HFEA; and what data is held by the HFEA regarding the frequency and severity of any other such risks.[HL4153]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Public Health, Anne Milton, on 19 June (Official Report, cols. 941–942W) regarding the activity of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) in monitoring research on the safety of treatment techniques, the Written Statement by Earl Howe on 24 November 2010 (WS 101–2) and the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 9 July (WA 202–3), why the HFEA has not made an assessment of the figures described in the journal Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183–7). [HL4154]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it reviewed its policies regarding egg, sperm and embryo donation in 2011, including donor compensation and benefits in kind, details of which can be found on the HFEA website at: www.hfea.gov.uk/5605.html.
The HFEA has also advised that it has limited powers around ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) and does not collect data about the overall incidence of OHSS or produce requirements around monitoring of patients. Clinics are, however, asked to
report treatment cycles to the HFEA where a cycle has been abandoned due to there being a risk of the patient developing OHSS. Severe cases of OHSS are treated as incidents and the HFEA expects an incident report from a clinic whenever a clinic is made aware of a severe case of OHSS. The HFEA also asks to see a clinic’s OHSS management protocols before a licence renewal inspection.
The success rates that the HFEA publishes are designed to give patients information to enable them to decide on the best clinic for them, taking into account a number of factors including success rates.
The HFEA has advised that its statement that the single biggest risk of fertility treatment is multiple pregnancy was based on the outcome of a series of discussions the Expert Group on Multiple Births after In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) had between the autumn of 2005 and October 2006. The HFEA set up an independent expert group in response to rising concerns about the incidence of multiple births after IVF/ICSI (intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection). The group reviewed the available international and national data on multiple births after IVF/ICSI, health and psychosocial outcomes for twins and their families, and the experience with single embryo transfer gathered in some European countries. It made recommendations to the HFEA and other organisations that have a role to play in reducing the high incidence of multiple births after IVF. The work to reduce multiple births has been a collaborative effort with other professional organisations.
Data held by the HFEA regarding the frequency of late miscarriage, following IVF/ICSI, are set out in the following tables:
| Year | Incidence of miscarriages | Rate of miscarriages against all pregnancies % |
| A count of the number of outcomes that listed both a live birth and a miscarriage. These are included in the previous totals. | |||||
| Year | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
Note: These data concern cases where more than one gestational sac was reported, so reflects instances of a multiple pregnancy where both a miscarriage and a live birth occurred.
The HFEA does not hold data on high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in mothers. Other risks of fertility treatment are set out on the HFEA’s website at: www.hfea.gov.uk/fertility-treatment-risks.html.
These risks, along with the risk of multiple births, are considered through the HFEA’s regulatory regime. The data that the HFEA holds on such risks vary depending on the particular risk.
With regard to the information in Human Fertility, the HFEA has advised that it has nothing to add to the Answer I gave the noble Lord on 9 July 2012 (Official Report, cols. WA 202-3).
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) held discussions with Susan Bewley, Lin Foo and Peter Braude regarding concerns raised in their editorial for the British Medical Journal in January 2011; whether actions were proposed by the HFEA in response, and if so, what; and when any such discussions or actions took place.[HL4174]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that the authority’s horizon-scanning process is an early warning system that identifies new scientific and clinical developments that may impact on the field of assisted reproduction or embryo research. Horizon scanning allows the HFEA to consider the legal, ethical and scientific implications of any new technique that scientists or clinicians may wish to use in HFEA-licensed research or treatment. Research and developments are presented to the HFEA’s Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee (SCAAC) in order for it to provide recommendations. The HFEA has also advised that Bewley et al (2011) was included in its summary of follow-up research for SCAAC. This can be found on the HFEA’s website at: www.hfea.gov.uk/7089.html.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 20 July 2011 (WA 305–6), how many cybrid embryos have been generated with eggs from non-human species in total according to records held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA); and how many other classes of “admixed human” embryos have been generated.[HL4175]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 20 July 2011 (WA 306) and by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 7 November 2002 (WA 145), whether they now collect data on how many human embryos have been (1) created, (2) frozen, (3) destroyed, (4) implanted, and (5) experimented upon, since the passage of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990; if so, what are those figures; and, if not, whether they will instruct the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority to refine their collection of data so that it provides full disclosure under each of those categories.[HL4176]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has no further information to add to that provided in the Answer I gave the noble Lord about human admixed embryos on 20 July 2011 (Official Report, cols. WA 305-6).
The HFEA has also advised that the data it holds in relation to human embryos that have been created, frozen, destroyed and implanted are set out in the following table. It does not hold data in relation to embryos experimented upon.
The HFEA has an obligation to collect information as required by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. It is for the authority itself to determine what further information it considers appropriate to collect.
Source: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority
Energy: Biofuels
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the value of adding a recycled biofuels category to the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation to recognise the position of biofuels made from locally sourced waste products.[HL4306]
Earl Attlee: The Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation already provides additional support to biofuels made from waste by awarding two renewable transport fuel certificates for each litre supplied. We are committed to reviewing the double-counting system in 2013.
Energy: Green Deal
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will extend the Green Deal and reduction of value added tax to include voltage optimisation.[HL4114]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Government have recently commissioned the independent Scientific Integrity Group to review evidence from industry and other sources on the efficacy of voltage optimisation as an energy efficiency measure. The views from this expert group will help with an assessment of the benefits of this technology and its potential for its inclusion within the standard assessment procedure and, in turn, the Green Deal.
There are currently no plans to introduce a reduced rate of VAT for voltage optimisation.
Energy: Prices
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government by how much energy prices have risen for the average family in the United Kingdom since 2010, (1) as an absolute amount and (2) as a percentage; and how much of that amount and percentage is due to environmental taxes.[HL4247]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: DECC publishes data on gas and electricity prices in its Quarterly Energy Prices publication in tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3. Based on the latest available data from this, over the period 2010 to 2012, average gas (Great Britain) and standard electricity (UK) retail prices for the residential sector increased by:
0.77p/kWh and 1.83p/kWh respectively (in current prices);
21% and 14% respectively (in current prices); and
15% and 9% respectively (in real terms).
These changes are based on an assumed, fixed consumption of 18.000kWh per year for gas and 3.300kWh per year for electricity. They therefore do not take into account year-to-year differences in weather and improvements in energy efficiency, both of which help determine energy consumption.
The only environmental tax (based on the definition used by HM Treasury1) that had an impact on residential energy prices over this period is the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) which adds a cost per unit of carbon emitted from electricity generation. The impact of the EU ETS on retail electricity prices is estimated to have fallen over the period, consistent with the fall in the price of EU allowances, and therefore is not estimated to have contributed to the rise in retail electricity prices since 2010. The majority of the rise in residential energy prices has been driven by rises in wholesale energy costs as a result of increases in fossil fuel prices on international markets and rising network costs as ageing infrastructure has been replaced.
1 Available online at http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/press_60_12.htm
Energy: Smart Meters
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will happen to data stored in utility smart meters at the end of 13 months; and to whom that data will belong. [HL4294]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: Smart metering equipment has the capability to store a minimum of' the past 15 months of half hourly consumption data on a rolling basis: once the meter’s data storage is full, the
oldest data will be overwritten with newer data. As the oldest data are overwritten, they will effectively be deleted and therefore not owned by anyone.
A recently published consultation on implementing the provisions of the energy efficiency directive has proposed the option that smart meters actually store a minimum of 24 months of data.
EU: Banking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact on United Kingdom banking and bank regulation of fewer than five European Union member states remaining outside the banking union; and what measures exist to prevent mandatory supervision of United Kingdom banks by the European Banking Authority in that circumstance. [HL4217]
Lord Deighton: I refer to Lord Sassoon’s Answer of 21 December 2012 (HL4170), which set out the Prime Minister’s Statement to the House of Commons on 17 December 20121 regarding the outcome of the December European Council and the Commission’s proposal for a single supervisory mechanism.
There are no proposals to confer responsibility for supervising banks on the European Banking Authority.
1 http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa.cm201213/cmhansrd/cm121217/debtext/121217-0001.htm#1212174000003
EU: Competence
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 14 December (WA 262), what estimate they have made of the cost involved in the use of existing resources to compile the review of European Union competences. [HL4308]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): There has been no central estimation of the overall cost. Each department is responsible for allocating its own resources to meet its priorities, including delivering the reports on which it leads or to which it has an interest in contributing.
EU: Justice and Home Affairs Powers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have not implemented the European Supervision Order set out in Council Framework Decision 2009/829/JHA. [HL4265]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Under the terms of the Lisbon treaty, the Government are required to decide by 31 May 2014 whether we opt out of, or remain bound by, all those EU police and criminal justice measures adopted prior to the entry into force of the treaty, which includes this
measure. As my right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced in the other place on 15 October 2012 (
Official Report
, col. 35), which I informed this House about through a Statement on the same day, this wider decision is still being considered and any implementation of this measure will await the outcome of that process.
EU: Prisoner Voting
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consulted the Governments of (1) Armenia, (2) Andorra, (3) Bulgaria, (4) Estonia, (5) Georgia, (6) Hungary, (7) Liechtenstein, and (8) Russia, about how to address the issue of prisoner voting with the European Court of Human Rights.[HL4251]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The Government have not consulted these countries. We are aware of the different approaches to prisoner voting in these and other states, and these various approaches have formed part of the Government’s wider consideration of this issue.
EU: Trade Agreements
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint on 14 December (WA 263), given that Singapore does not impose tariffs on imports, what benefits to British exporters the forthcoming European Union-Singapore fair trade agreement will bring.[HL4314]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): Following the recent conclusion of negotiations, work is ongoing to assess the outcome. However, we do not yet have a full picture of what has been agreed (since the negotiations are conducted by the Commission on behalf of the member states) and the full benefits to UK business will only become clear when we see the full deal. What we do know is that there will be new opportunities for British businesses to bid for public procurement contracts in Singapore. The FTA grants EU bidders significantly more guaranteed opportunities in public tenders compared to any other country, including for the first time in many utilities sectors in which the EU has many leading suppliers.
We also expect to see new opportunities in the services sector, where we expect Singapore to extend its market access commitments, to agree new regulatory disciplines in certain service sectors and to offer parity with other major trading partners in most service sectors, thus offering a more level playing field for UK suppliers.
Additionally, Singapore has agreed to tackle technical barriers in key sectors such as cars, pharmaceuticals, electronics and renewable energy equipment. These rules will make it easier for goods produced and tested to European standards to be sold in Singapore without technical changes or additional testing.
The FTA also includes a high level of intellectual property rights protection. This will, for example, offer better remuneration rights for certain creative activities.
European Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve (1) the number of applications, and (2) the success rate, of British citizens competing for positions in the European Commission.[HL4346]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government have taken steps to improve both the number of applications and the success rates of British citizens applying to the EU institutions, where UK experience and insight can add real value.
This Government relaunched the European Fast Stream (EFS) in 2009 and included significant communications activity, led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), aimed at better publicising and improving the attractiveness of careers with the EU institutions to both graduates and professionals. This has resulted in a 30% increase in British applicants to the main EU graduate recruitment.
The EFS prepares UK civil servants for the entry exams to the EU institutions, and includes tuition in relevant languages. The EFS also serves to create a cadre of EU expertise within the UK Civil Service. The UK’s Permanent Representation to the EU (UK Rep) provides support for UK applicants, both inside and outside of the UK Civil Service, who are applying for posts within the institutions.
The FCO is also engaged with the European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) to encourage a greater number of UK applicants and improve the success rate among those applying for positions in the European Commission. Next year we will have the results of the 2012 graduate recruitment and a clearer picture of our success rate.
This is a very long-term project. The UK still remains under-represented at the European Commission —representing only 4.7% of total staff according to the latest figures, while the UK accounts for 12.4% of the EU population. We continue to monitor and promote various career options, including opportunities for permanent and temporary staff, and seconded UK civil servants.
Falklands War Veterans
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Earl Howe on 17 December (Official Report, col. 1339), whether veterans whose hearing was damaged during the Falklands War are receiving priority treatment from the National Health Service. [HL4290]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): All veterans are entitled to priority treatment, subject to the clinical needs of others, for conditions relating to their time in service.
When referring a veteran to secondary care for a condition that (in their clinical opinion) may be related to military service, general practitioners (GPs) are asked to make this clear in their referral—as long as the patient is happy with this. Secondary care clinicians are asked to prioritise all veterans (for conditions that they judge likely to be related to military service) over other patients with the same level of clinical need. Veterans are not given priority over patients with more urgent clinical needs.
The importance of priority treatment for veterans, and how it should be applied, has been outlined to the National Health Service through a number of letters sent out over recent years from the department. These include correspondence sent from the chief executive of the NHS in 2007 to all senior management of the NHS, which was then reiterated by the Chief Medical Officer in a letter to all GPs in 2010. The earlier letter made a particular point of highlighting the needs of veterans with service-related noise-induced hearing loss. The priority treatment requirement has also been emphasised in past NHS Operating Framework documents.
The department has ensured that senior managers and clinicians within the NHS are kept informed of the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces community, with a series of leaflets and correspondence being sent over recent years that clearly outline the guidelines in place around the treatment of service personnel, veterans and their families. Most recently, the department collaborated with the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) to create an e-learning package aimed at raising GPs’ awareness of the needs of veterans, including priority treatment and the relevant health services available to them. This package is available for GPs to access through the RCGP’s website.
Finance: Isle of Man and Channel Islands
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the steps taken by (1) the Isle of Man, (2) Jersey, and (3) Guernsey, to stop those islands and institutions operating from them from being used to support (a) money-laundering, (b) terrorist finance, and (c) tax evasion; and whether those islands have responded positively to all requests made of them by the Government in that connection. [HL4221]
Lord Deighton: The anti-money-laundering and counterterrorist financing regimes of the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey (the Crown Dependencies) have been evaluated against the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards by the International Monetary Fund within the past four years, with all three territories achieving favourable assessments.
In 2012, the UK facilitated the entry of the Crown Dependencies into MONEYVAL (which conducts self-assessment and mutual assessment exercises of the anti-money-laundering measures in place in Council of Europe member states, which are not members of the FATF)1. These dependencies are, therefore, now considered part of the global network of FATF regional bodies.
The Government are fully committed to tackling offshore tax evasion. On 7 December 2012, the Government announced that they would be entering into an agreement with the Isle of Man to move to automatic information exchange. They also confirmed that they are in discussions with the other Crown Dependencies, Jersey and Guernsey, about enhanced information exchange as part of their common commitment to combat tax evasion. The reviews of the Crown Dependencies carried out by the Global Forum show that they meet international standards on tax transparency.
1 http://www.fatf-gafi.org/pages/moneyval.html
Financial Services Authority
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will review the period that must elapse before senior regulators from the Financial Services Authority can join businesses which they have been responsible for regulating, or where they have regulated direct competitors of a prospective employer; and what current guidance is in effect.[HL4364]
Lord Newby: This matter is for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which is independent from government control. It has, therefore, been passed on to the FSA, which will reply directly by letter. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.
Fire and Rescue Service
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what resources they will make available to Sir Ken Knight to undertake his review of fire and rescue services. [HL4354]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): In undertaking his review, Sir Ken Knight will be supported by civil servants from the Department for Communities and Local Government.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assess the level of protection offered by fire and rescue services.[HL4355]
Baroness Hanham: All fire and rescue authorities in England are required by the Fire and Rescue National Framework to have in place and maintain an integrated risk management plan, which identifies local need and sets out plans to tackle effectively both existing and
potential risks to communities. The integrated risk management plan, which is subject to consultation with the local community, enables each fire and rescue authority to tailor the allocation of its resources to local circumstances—evaluating where risk is greatest and determining its policies and standards for prevention and intervention accordingly.
Food: Climate Change
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effect of climate change on small-scale farming in the developing world and its implications for world food supply.[HL4205]
Baroness Northover: Smallholder farmers are particularly vulnerable to climate change. They often inhabit marginal landscapes such as hillsides, arid lands and floodplains. They rely directly on climate-affected natural resources for their livelihoods. They have fewer assets to rely on, are less able to diversify their incomes and are more reliant on growing food staples that may be most adversely affected by climate change such as maize, rice and wheat.
Climate modelling predictions are uncertain about future food production, given that some regions are likely to benefit while others are likely to be adversely affected and all projections are subject to significant uncertainty. Higher temperatures and changes in rainfall are predicted to reduce global harvests by 7% by 2050, and in some part of the world by as much as 20% by 2030.
Forced Marriage
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider holding a wider consultation with women’s groups about their proposed forced marriage legislation.[HL4178]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): A public consultation on whether we should make forced marriage a criminal offence was held between December 2011 and March 2012. We received responses from a number of women’s groups, which set out their views on whether forced marriage should become a criminal offence. We are currently developing the legislation, which will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered upgrading the forced marriage protection order to a criminal offence as an alternative to introducing new legislation.[HL4179]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The Government intend to make the breach of a forced marriage protection order a criminal offence. This is in addition to a new offence of forcing a person
to marry against that person's will. We will bring forward legislation on both measures as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Gambia
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will propose that the Gambia be added to the list of countries under the scrutiny of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.[HL4201]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We regularly raise our concerns about human rights, good governance and democracy with the Gambian Government, and will continue to work with and through international partners and institutions, including the Commonwealth, to improve standards.
However, the UK has no current plans to propose that the Gambia is added to the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) agenda.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to legislate to remove the Gambia from the list of safe countries in Section 94(4) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002. [HL4202]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): There are no current plans to remove the Gambia from the list of countries designated under Section 94(4) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to update the Country of Origin Information Report on the Gambia.[HL4203]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The UK Border Agency plans to publish an update of its Country of Origin Information report on the Gambia in the first half of 2013.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of the Gambia about the closure of independent newspapers and a radio station, the expulsion of a BBC journalist, and other attacks on freedom of expression in that country.[HL4204]
Baroness Warsi: Freedom of expression is an ongoing concern in the Gambia. The sudden closures of Taranga FM Radio Station in August and of the Daily News and the Standard newspapers in September are worrying developments. Our high commissioner in Banjul raised the respective closures with the Foreign Minister. However,
we understand that the BBC correspondent was not expelled but following intervention by the high commission was granted a 48-hour visa which was not subsequently renewed.
Support for freedom of expression and the protection of journalists is included in the EU human rights strategy for the Gambia. Our high commissioner in Banjul regularly raises human rights issues with the Gambian Government—when specific incidents occur and twice-yearly through formal discussions under Article 8 of the EU/ACP Cotonou agreement. The next discussions are due to be held in January.
Gaza
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost to United Kingdom public funds of the United Kingdom contribution to reconstruction in Gaza following Operation Pillar of Cloud.[HL4186]
Baroness Northover: The Minister of State for International Development, the right honourable Alan Duncan MP, recently announced on his visit to Gaza that the UK will provide £1.25 million to the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross in protecting civilians and providing emergency services in Gaza and the West Bank. This will include helping at least 85,000 people inside Gaza who have been injured, had their homes destroyed or were otherwise affected by the recent conflict. The funding will provide temporary shelter and medical assistance, as well as help with rebuilding homes and delivering fuel to keep generators running.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about their treatment of Gazan fishermen. [HL4189]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK regularly makes representations at both ministerial and official level to the Israeli authorities on the urgent need to ease restrictions on Gaza, including fishing limits.
In this regard, we welcome the newly introduced six nautical mile fishing limit. We have urged Israel to ease this restriction further, in line with the limit of 20 nautical miles stipulated in the Oslo accords.
Gibraltar
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Warsi on 10 December (WS 98), whether the assertion that “we will continue to take whatever action we consider necessary to protect British sovereignty and the interest of Gibraltar and its people” includes the use of military force. [HL4313]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Royal Navy challenges all unlawful incursions into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by Spanish state vessels by issuing appropriate warnings to the vessels concerned. The military therefore already has an important role in upholding the UK’s sovereignty over those waters.
We will continue to uphold our sovereignty against unlawful incursions with a range of proportionate naval, police and diplomatic responses.
Government Departments: Budgets
Question
Asked by Baroness Sharp of Guildford
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in relation to Table 2.2 and the statement about schools in paragraph 1.32 of the Autumn Statement 2012 (Cm 8480), which areas of the Department for Education budget will be reduced and by how much between 2013–14 and 2014–15.[HL4198]
Baroness Garden of Frognal: The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement applied a percentage reduction to the department’s unprotected resource budget (RDEL) over the next two years. The reduction will be 1% (£153 million) in 2013-14 and 2% (£306 million) in 2014-15.
The department will be working out the exact detail of how it meets these reductions over the coming months as it goes through its annual business planning process to set budgets for the next year.
Front-line funding for schools will continue to be protected in line with the policy set out at Spending Review 2010. In addition the Government are providing an extra £1 billion of capital funding to build new free schools and academies and expand existing good schools in those areas with the most pressure on pupil places.
Government Departments: Legislation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance in the preparation of Private Members’ Bills was provided by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in (1) the 2010-12 Session, and (2) this Session.[HL3961]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Core Defra officials provided some assistance in the preparation of the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill introduced this Session, which has completed its passage through the House of Commons and is currently awaiting Lords Committee stage. This included discussing the role of the Environment Agency in the regime for registering scrap metal dealers proposed under the Bill, advising on the potential interface with environmental legislation and reviewing and commenting on draft instructions to Parliamentary Counsel.
Government Departments: Publications
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many copies of (1) Who’s Who, (2) Dod’s Parliamentary Companion, (3) Dod’s Guide to the General Election 2010, and (4) Whitaker’s Almanac, were purchased by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, broken down by directorate in each of the past two years for which figures are available. [HL4001]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many copies of (1) Who’s Who, (2) Dod’s Parliamentary Companion, (3) Dod’s Guide to the General Election 2010, and (4) Whitaker’s Almanack, were purchased by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for use by Ministers in that department in each of the past two years for which figures are available.[HL4055]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Core Defra has purchased the following numbers of hard copies of each publication since April 2010. A breakdown by year cannot be provided.
Who’s Who
—one copy;
Dod’s Parliamentary Companion
—seven copies; and
Whitaker’s Almanac
k
—one copy.
Of these, five copies of Dod’s Parliamentary Companion were purchased directly by Minister’s Private Offices.
Dod’s Guide to the General Election was published only in 2010 and provided free alongside purchased copies of Dod’s Parliamentary Companion.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they issue guidance about the use of acronyms and jargon in Government publications.[HL4094]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Cabinet Office does not provide such guidance, nor do we keep records of whether other departments or agencies do so.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make it their policy to publish as an annex to the annual report produced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) a list of all publications published by Defra in the preceding year.[HL4120]
Lord De Mauley: HM Treasury’s Financial Reporting Manual sets out requirements for the format and content of the department’s annual report and accounts. There is no requirement and therefore no plan to include a list of publications. This information is however publicly available on the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/.
Government Departments: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 14 March (WA 73), when they now expect the findings of the review of Promoting Equality, Valuing Diversity—A Strategy for the Civil Service 2008–13 to be made public.[HL4053]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: A date has not yet been set but publication will follow that of the Civil Service’s Capabilities Plan.
Government: Ministerial Guidance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint continues to advise the Chancellor of Exchequer on banking matters. [HL4219]
Lord Deighton: Treasury Ministers liaise closely with counterparts in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills on various banking and business matters.
Guernsey Financial Services Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to pursue the Guernsey Financial Services Commission to make good losses suffered by UK investors in the CF Arch Cru Funds; what is their assessment of the level of investor protection provided by the Commission in comparison to that available in the United Kingdom; and whether they will place restrictions on the marketing in the United Kingdom of banking and financial services by firms and individuals based in Guernsey on the basis of that assessment.[HL4006]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is responsible for the regulation of financial services firms under the powers in the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) 2000. HM Treasury sets the legal framework for the regulation of financial services.
The CF Arch Cru matter is complex, involving a number of entities, some regulated by the FSA and some regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC). UK investors have suffered considerable losses through their holdings of two UK open-ended investment companies, the CF Arch Cru funds. These funds were invested in certain Guernsey-domiciled companies (the Guernsey cells), listed on the Channel Islands Stock Exchange. These were closed-ended schemes authorised by the GFSC and were not authorised or recognised collective investment schemes in the UK.
The UK Government have no power to pursue Guernsey for redress. However, the FSA is working with the Guernsey authorities regarding these matters.
In addition to assisting the FSA, the GFSC is conducting its own investigations relating to those entities within its regulatory scope.
Under Section 270(5) of FSMA 2000 and Statutory Instrument 2003/1181, the FSA provided HM Treasury with an assessment of the authorisation and supervision of collective investment schemes in Guernsey. A comparison of protections will depend on specific protections available to investors and will vary according to the nature of the investment.
Collective investment schemes which fall outside the designated criteria are restricted in their promotion to UK investors, including under Section 238 of FSMA 2000. The Guernsey cells were subject to such restrictions as they were not authorised or recognised by the FSA.
Gypsies and Travellers
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to ensure that wherever reference is made to the ethnicity of patients throughout the NHS, the 2011 Census ethnic group classification, which includes “Gypsy or Irish Traveller”, is used. [HL4018]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): In order to support consistency with other data systems within the National Health Service, ethnicity data for NHS patients are currently collected utilising the 2001 codes. The department, in collaboration with other bodies, will shortly produce guidance that advises on the codes for data collection, including those for ethnicity. The guidance will initially recommend that organisations continue to use the 2001 codes; however this will be revisited biannually with decisions to change this advice based upon the breadth of utilisation of the new coding system.
NHS organisations can choose to use either the 2001 or the 2011 categories. If they use the 2011 categories, they will need to re-aggregate anyone coming under the “Gypsy and Irish Traveller” heading into “Other” in order to make national comparisons. Additional codes can be included as appropriate at a local level to reflect the demographic make-up of the local population. This allows local monitoring to take place in a way that supports service planning, decision-making, and key processes such as the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the health needs of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are covered in NHS Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, Health and Well-being Strategies and the agendas of Health and Well-being Boards.[HL4019]
Earl Howe: Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) and Joint Health and Well-being Strategies (JHWSs) are local strategic planning processes, undertaken through
health and well-being boards. They will be the means by which the current and future health and well-being needs of the local population will be determined, and this will then be used to plan local services on the basis of the identified needs. JSNAs must therefore be inclusive of the health and care needs of the whole local population, including Gypsy and Traveller and Roma communities. It would not be appropriate for the department to highlight any care group or area of need over another as this would risk undermining the purpose of JSNAs and JHWSs as being an objective, comprehensive and—most importantly—a locally owned process of developing evidence-based priorities for commissioning. As public authorities, health and well-being boards will need to comply with public sector equality duties, not just in how they engage the local community in the development of JSNAs and JHWSs but also in considering the needs of groups with protected characteristics.
We are addressing the health needs of those people most vulnerable to poor health through the Inclusion Health programme, and the early focus of Inclusion Health includes Gypsies and Travellers. A number of representative bodies are working with us to support the National Inclusion Health Board and its working groups, which will work with the National Health Service, local government and others to identify what more must be done to include the needs of vulnerable groups in the commissioning of health and care services. We are supporting health and well-being boards to better understand the needs of vulnerable groups within their JSNAs and JHWSs; and Gypsy and Traveller bodies have contributed to supportive material we are producing.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 16 July (WA 14), whether they are now in a position to publish information on the number and proportion relative to population of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller prisoners; and, if not, when this will be available. [HL4307]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): We are currently not in a position to be able to publish information on the number and proportion of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller prisoners relative to the population.
As mentioned previously in a Written Answer on 16 July (WA 14), following the addition of the new census 2011 ethnicity categories into the prison IT system, prisoners received into custody can now declare themselves as Gypsy or Irish Traveller. However, it is unlikely that existing prisoners (those already in custody prior to the new category being introduced) will have been given the opportunity to revise their previously stated ethnicity.
Current data on the number of Gypsy or Irish Traveller prisoners are therefore likely to be an undercount of the true number of prisoners who would identify themselves as Gypsy or Irish Traveller. We are committed to moving all prisoners from the 2001 census codes to the 2011 codes; however, this will take some time. We will shortly (by April 2013 under current plans) be
issuing guidance to all prisons on how to conduct a one-off exercise to move existing prisoners on to the new codes.
We will monitor the use of the new code and publish the figures once the coverage and data quality are deemed sufficient to provide meaningful and accurate statistics. We currently have no estimate of when the data will be deemed fit for publication.
Health: Accident and Emergency Departments
Questions
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of constraints on NHS spending, how they will ensure patients in accident and emergency departments are treated promptly.[HL4044]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The accident and emergency (A&E) waiting time standard states that 95% of patients should be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of their arrival in the A&E department. This standard is included in the NHS Operating Framework for 2012-13. Furthermore, eight clinical quality indicators for A&E were introduced in April 2011 which measure other clinically important aspects of time.
It is for local National Health Service trusts to ensure that there are strategies and procedures in place to cope with unexpected periods of increased pressure.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received concerning proposals to close the accident and emergency department at Lewisham Hospital.[HL4304]
Earl Howe: The trust special administrator appointed to South London Healthcare NHS Trust published his draft report on 29 October. This included a proposal for the accident and emergency department at Lewisham hospital to become a 24/7 urgent care service. The consultation on the draft report closed on 13 December. The trust special administrator is now considering the responses to the consultation as he prepares the final report. The trust special administrator must provide to the Secretary of State a final report stating the action the administrator recommends by 7 January. The Secretary of State will decide what action to take in relation to the trust by 1 February.
The right honourable Dame Joan Ruddock DBE MP has asked two Written Questions in Parliament about accident and emergency services in London, following the publication of the trust special administrator’s draft report. The right honourable Andy Burnham MP wrote to the Secretary of State on 9 December about the trust special administrator’s work and draft recommendations. A search of the department’s ministerial correspondence database has identified 50 items of correspondence about the proposals to close the accident and emergency department at Lewisham Hospital. This figure represents correspondence
received by the department’s Ministerial Correspondence Unit only. In addition, this issue was debated in the House of Commons on 28 November and 20 December.
Ministers have had no meetings with outside parties about the proposal for the accident and emergency department at Lewisham hospital to become a 24/7 urgent care service.
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they have spent on the refurbishment of the accident and emergency department at Lewisham Hospital since 2005.[HL4352]
Earl Howe: This information is not held centrally. The following table shows the amounts in loans provided by the department to Lewisham Healthcare NHS Trust during the three most recent financial years to fund the development of the integrated Urgent Care Centre at the University Hospital, Lewisham.
| Date of loan | Amount of loan |