Written Answers
Monday 11 February 2013
Amazon Rainforest
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Ecuador about the impact of oil exploration in the Amazonian rainforest on the environment and on the indigenous ancestral rights of the Sani Isia Kichwa.[HL4967]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We understand that Petroamazonas, the Ecuadorean state-owned oil company, have been given permission to exploit certain areas of the Amazonian rainforest.
The UK supports the highest environmental and regulatory standards for the extraction of petrochemicals, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. The UK encourages Ecuador, as it does all countries, to adhere to these standards. The final decision though is for the Government of Ecuador.
Armed Forces: Aircraft
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what agreements they have put in place with the Government of the United States for consultations on the costs and scope of future upgrades within the Joint Strike Fighter (F-35) programme.[HL5075]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The UK and the US have an agreement in place known as the Production Sustainment and Follow-on Development (PSFD) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This document governs how follow-on development (future upgrades) will work, including scope and cost-sharing arrangements across the international partnership.
The upgrade strategy for the aircraft is to field capability and sustainability improvements every two years. The scope of capability upgrades is agreed jointly by the international partnership. The PSFD MoU provides for full UK visibility of costs, and to this effect the UK has personnel embedded within the JSF programme office to analyse the associated information.
Armed Forces: Common Missile Compartment
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what agreements (1) they have put in place, or (2) they are currently negotiating, with the Government of the United States for consultations on the costs and scope of future upgrades within the Common Missile Compartment programme.[HL5076]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): The design for the successor submarine’s common missile compartment (CMC) is being delivered under the 1963 Polaris Sales Agreement (PSA), as amended for Trident in 1982. This is a long-standing agreement that has underpinned US support to the UK’s strategic weapon system programme for almost 50 years, and is expected to continue to do so in the future.
Armed Forces: Future Commitments
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 29 November 2012 (WA 71) concerning parliamentary debates in both Houses before committing British troops to military action, what progress has been made in the formalising of the convention regarding the role of Parliament.[HL5039]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: This Government have stated that they will observe the existing convention that before UK troops are committed to conflict, the House of Commons should have the opportunity to debate the matter, except where there was an emergency and such action would not be appropriate. The Government continue to consider options for formalisation.
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Minsk Group the proposed opening of Khojaly Airport in Nagorno-Karabakh; and, if so, what assessment they have made as to the impact of such a proposal on the process between Armenia and Azerbaijan.[HL5081]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government are in touch with the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chairs on a regular basis about issues related to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. We welcomed the fact that at their meeting in Paris on 28 January, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs had the opportunity to discuss the issue of flights from the airport in Nagorno-Karabakh with the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan. The co-chairs recalled their statement of 13 July 2012, which noted that they had received renewed assurances from the sides that they will reject any threat or use of force against civil aircraft; reaffirmed that the operation of the airport in Nagorno-Karabakh cannot be used to support any claim of a change in the status of Nagorno-Karabakh; and urged the sides to act in accordance with international law and consistent with current practice for flights over their territory. The Government
support the position of the co-chairs and continue to call on all sides to resolve this issue through diplomatic steps and to refrain from politicising it.
Bahrain
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Bahrain on the implementation of the recommendation of the Bassiouni International Commission of Inquiry to void sentences imposed on protest leaders after trials imposed by military courts.[HL5180]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): In paragraph 1720 of the report of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, the commission made the general observation and recommendation that all convictions and sentences rendered by the national security courts, where fundamental principles of a fair trial including prompt and full access to legal counsel and inadmissibility of coerced testimony were not respected, be subjected to full review in the ordinary courts.
Since the commission made this recommendation in November 2011, there have been a number of retrials resulting in many convictions being overturned and sentences reduced. We welcome this. There have, however, been other cases were sentences have been upheld despite there being reports that the individuals sentences were abused in detention, denied access to legal counsel and were coerced into confessing.
We will continue to lobby the Bahraini Government to ensure they take the necessary steps to ensure fair and impartial justice is guaranteed for its citizens.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Bahrain about the sentence passed on Nabeel Rajab, President of then Bahrain Center for Human Rights, for expression of anti-government views. [HL5181]
Baroness Warsi: We are aware of the sentencing of Nabeel Rajab for comments made on social networking websites and for the incitement of illegal rallies.
On 11 December, the Bahrain High Criminal Appeals Court reduced two of three sentences against Mr Rajab from 12 months to six months; he still has the option to further appeal the verdicts in the Cassation Court. Mr Rajab was also cleared of insulting a government body on social media.
As we said at the time of the initial sentencing in August, we were concerned at the length of sentence handed down and therefore welcome this reduction.
The right of individuals to peaceful protest and freedom of expression is a fundamental part of any modern democracy and must be respected. But we also expect activists to ensure their rhetoric does not incite violence, and that they themselves refrain from partaking in violence or other illegal acts.
We will continue to make clear to the Government of Bahrain that the human and civil rights of peaceful opposition figures must be respected and we have urged the Bahraini Government to act proportionally in all cases.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Bahrain about the sentence passed on Mrs Siddiqa al-Basri on charges of insulting a police officer. [HL5182]
Baroness Warsi: We are aware of the case of Ms Siddiqa Al Basri. We welcome that her case was reheard in a civilian court, as recommended by the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, and that her sentence has subsequently been reduced from two years to six months.
We have not made specific representations to the Government of Bahrain about this case but we continue to urge them to ensure that due process is carefully and transparently followed in all cases.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Bahrain about the sentence passed on Mohamed Al-Jazeeri for participating in an illegal gathering, and about the use of excessive force at that gathering. [HL5184]
Baroness Warsi: We are not aware of the case that the noble Lord refers to, but we are concerned by any allegations of the use of excessive force by the Bahraini security forces against those that are legitimately and peacefully demonstrating.
The UK condemns violent acts by any sides. We continue to call on all sides to denounce violence, to exercise restraint, and to peacefully follow the rule of law in all circumstances.
Balance of Payments
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the balance of payments between each United Kingdom region and the European Union.[HL5125]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): The balance of payments is a national measure, summarising the transactions of a country with the rest of the world. Therefore it is available only for the UK as a whole.
In 2011 the UK ran a current account deficit of £46.1 billion with the EU27.
Data showing the current account balance between the UK and a range of EU and non-EU countries are available from table 9.2 at the link below: http://www. ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/bop/united-kingdom-balance-of-payments/2012/bod-the-pink-book-2012.pdf.
Source: ONS Pink Book 2012
Banking: Bonuses
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what engagements they have had with Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland regarding the payment of discretionary bonuses to executives; what instructions or guidance they have given the two banks on this matter; and whether they have reviewed proposed bonuses for individual senior directors.[HL5043]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Government have been clear that the banks must act responsibly in setting bonuses and continue to take robust action to tackle unacceptable remuneration.
The Government's investments in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) are managed by UK Financial Investments (UKFI) on an arm’s-length and commercial basis.
UKFI is engaging with the remuneration committees of both banks in line with its objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer. No decisions on bonuses have yet been taken at either RBS or LBG.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they will employ in determining whether to support shareholder votes on remuneration policy at Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland. [HL5046]
Lord Deighton The Government have been clear that the banks must act responsibly in setting bonuses and continue to take robust action to tackle unacceptable remuneration.
The Government’s investments in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) are managed on their behalf by UK Financial Investments (UKFI) on an arm’s-length and commercial basis.
UKFI is engaging with the remuneration committees of both banks in line with its objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer. No decisions on bonuses have yet been taken at either RBS or LBG.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK Financial Investments has given written instructions or guidance on bonus decisions to the boards of banks in which Her Majesty's Government have a significant shareholding; and whether they will publish such communications.[HL5174]
Lord Deighton: The Government have been clear that all banks must act responsibly in setting bonuses and continue to take robust action to tackle unacceptable remuneration.
The Government's investments in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) are managed by UK Financial Investments (UKFI) on an arm’s-length and commercial basis.
UKFI is engaging with the remuneration committees of both banks in line with UKFI’s objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
Final decisions on RBS and LBG bonuses will be announced alongside their annual results.
Begging
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current strategy for dealing with individuals charged with begging; and what is their position with regard to repeat offenders.[HL5267]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Breaches of the criminal law are an operational matter for the police. Breaches of by-laws are an operational matter for individual authorities.
In relation to rough sleeping and begging, it is important that rough sleepers are helped into services so they do not stay on the streets. Giving money to beggars does not help them and the money is frequently spent on hard drugs. Many beggars claim to be homeless when in fact they have accommodation.
We are investing £470 million in homelessness prevention over four years (2011-12 to 2014-15). This includes £34 million to the Greater London Authority to tackle rough sleeping across the capital and £20 million Homelessness Transition Fund to support the national rollout of No Second Night Out and protect vital front line services.
Almost all local authorities have agreed to adopt the No Second Night Out approach by the end of 2013. The latest bi-monthly data for Nov-Dec 2012 from CHAIN (Combined Homeless and Information Network), which covers London and contains detailed information on London’s rough sleepers, shows that London No Second Night Out helped ensure that 79% of new rough sleepers spent just a single night on London streets.
We have also supported the voluntary sector to deliver a new service StreetLink—a national hotline (0300 500 0914) and website that enables the public to ensure that rough sleepers are found quickly and connected to local services. Since its launch in December, over 9,600 members of the public contacted StreetLink of which around 2,800 rough sleeping referrals were made to local authorities to investigate.
Civil Service: Job-share
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to adopt a policy of job sharing of appropriate civil service vacancies to provide employment opportunities for both the long-term unemployed and for young people who have never been employed; and whether they have had any discussions regarding the merits of such job sharing with trade unions.[HL5057]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Civil Service supports programmes for internships and apprentices, and can exercise an exemption to fair and open competition to allow for short-term appointments of individuals who are eligible for support under government programmes designed to assist the long-term unemployed.
As an employer committed to flexible working, Civil Service jobs can be made available on a job-sharing basis when this is an appropriate option for business needs.
Communication: Electronic Devices
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to support those who may face exclusion as a result of the increase of paperless methods of communication.[HL5145]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Government's approach is digital-by-default; not by compulsion. The cross-government approach to assisted digital includes plans for assisted digital services, which will ensure that no one will be excluded. It is available at http://www. publications.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/digital/assisted/.
Cybercrime
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to co-operate with other governments to counter cyber crime.[HL5220]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Ministers and officials from the Home Office and other government departments have meetings with a wide range of other Governments as part of the process of policy development and delivery.
The Government have opted in to the EU directive on attacks on information systems, and we have expressed our support for the EU cybercrime centre at Europol, which we believe will help improve the effectiveness of EU cross-border police work against cyber criminals. We have worked closely with the Council of Europe to promote the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime globally, and are pleased to see an increase in the number of countries outside the EU ratifying the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.
We plan to continue our delivery of practical support in the form of capacity building to other countries. Improving other countries’ cybercrime responses will help fight international criminal networks and reduce both the direct and indirect the threat to the UK from international organised cyber criminals.
Drugs
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to involve patient organisations in the development of their plans for value-based pricing for NHS drug procurement.[HL5132]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received from patient organisations about value-based pricing for NHS drug procurement since the start of their negotiations with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in 2012; and what response they have made to those representations.[HL5133]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): We consulted on our proposals for A New Value-Based Approach to the Pricing of Branded Medicines from December 2010 to March 2011. As part of this process, a number of patient organisations contributed their views and these were reflected in the Government’s response to the consultation, published in July 2011.
Following the start of negotiations with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry in 2012, we have received representations from a number of patient organisations, including Cancer 52 and Genetic Alliance UK, and the Specialised Healthcare Alliance. We held a series of engagement events during 2012 with a wide range of participants including patient organisations. We will continue to engage with patient organisations and other stakeholders so that the interests of all National Health Service patients will be taken into account when finalising the new medicines pricing arrangements.
Economy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the comments by Olivier Blanchard, chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, that the United Kingdom should slow the pace of planned spending cuts.[HL4964]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Government inherited an exceptional fiscal challenge, with the largest deficit since the Second World War and unsustainable public spending. The state was borrowing £1 in every £4 that it spent. Since 2010, the Government’s medium-term consolidation plans have restored fiscal credibility, allowing monetary policy activism and the automatic stabilisers to support the economy.
It is necessary for the UK to maintain a credible path of deficit reduction, maintain market confidence in the UK and lay the foundations for a stronger, more balanced economy in the future.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comments by the Deputy Prime Minister in The House Magazine on 24 January about Government capital expenditure, what is their assessment of the impact on economic activity of reductions in capital expenditure since May 2010.[HL4965]
Lord Deighton: The Government have increased capital spending plans—at the spending review in 2010, at Autumn Statement 2011 and, most recently, at Autumn Statement 2012. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) assesses that this has had a
positive effect on economic output, as set out in its latest
Economic and Fiscal Outlook
, published on 5 December 2012. Further information about how the OBR assesses the economic impact of fiscal decisions is set out in its forecast evaluation report
1.
1http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.independentgov.uk/23690-0BR-Web-Only.pdf
Education: A-levels
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of reforms of educational qualifications, what steps they will take to ensure that A-levels in the arts and engineering are not undervalued.[HL4990]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The Government want A-level students to follow a broad academic programme post 16 that prepares them for degree-level study and keeps open as many university course options as possible. For this reason, university involvement in the design of future A-levels will first focus on the facilitating subjects. The facilitating subjects are those subjects that are most often required by universities. Other A-level subjects, such as music, art and engineering, can also provide suitable preparation for entry to university and employment. It remains for schools and colleges to decide which A-levels to offer and for students to decide what courses to take.
Elections
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to make any changes to the closed list system for electing the United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament.[HL5193]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: A range of views have been expressed about the merits of the closed list voting system which is used to elect Members of the European Parliament in Great Britain. The Government have no plans to change the closed list voting system for the next scheduled European Parliamentary elections in 2014, though the issue may well be subject to further consideration by a future Parliament.
Embryology
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 28 January (WA 268), whether they have examined the peer-reviewed scientific literature for instances in which technical challenges associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer were overcome on the basis of insights gained from pronuclear transfer; if not, what was the basis for the Written Answer by Lord Marland on 5 December 2012 (WA 158–9); and if so, whether they will provide a specific reference to an instance in peer-reviewed literature.[HL5059]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): In responding to the previous Question the department sought advice from medical researchers through the Medical Research Council (MRC). The technical challenges referred to in the response to the previous Question relate to those found by researchers at the University of Newcastle and the MRC-funded project. The advice provided to the department is that researchers in Newcastle have overcome challenges associated with somatic cell nuclear transfer on the basis of insights gained from pronuclear transfer and vice versa. A detailed account cannot be provided by the researcher as this might compromise future publication.
Neither the department nor the MRC has made any assessment of the scientific literature on this issue.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 28 January (WA 269), whether the pronuclei are themselves nuclei if they each contain nuclear DNA within its own unique membrane; whether a zygote is an embryo as defined in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008; and whether a pronucleus is therefore a particular type of embryonic nucleus. [HL5060]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Section 1 of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, states that references to an embryo include an egg that is in the process of fertilisation or is undergoing any other process capable of resulting in an embryo. Therefore, a zygote is considered an embryo for the purposes of the Act.
As regards the noble Lord's question on pronuclei, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has nothing further to add to the previous response on this issue.
Energy: Electricity Generation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their forecast of the date by which electricity generation in the United Kingdom will be totally decarbonised. [HL5219]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma): All of our assessments to date suggest that early decarbonisation of the electricity sector is a key step to ensuring that we meet our legally binding 2050 carbon target cost effectively, and the Government set out in the Carbon Plan in December 2011 our view on what this might mean in practice.
Significant progress has already been made to decarbonise the electricity sector and we are taking further steps to ensure this continues. For example, we are introducing far-reaching reforms of the electricity market to secure future investment in low carbon electricity.
In addition, this Government recently laid amendments to the Energy Bill which will enable a legally binding decarbonisation target for the electricity sector to be set in 2016.
Energy: Nuclear Reactors
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they anticipate the new EDF nuclear reactor in Somerset will commence operations.[HL5218]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma): The Nuclear National Policy Statement sets out the Government's view on the need for new nuclear power stations to be developed before the end of 2025. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State is currently considering a recommendation from the Planning Inspectorate on the application for development consent for a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C, on which he will make the final decision. Under the propriety guidance intended to ensure that those dealing with development consent applications act and are seen to act fairly and even-handedly, the department is not able to express views on the merits of the application.
EU: Emissions
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to European countries whose carbon dioxide and other pollutant emission levels are increasing through the expanded use of coal burning power stations.[HL5209]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma): The Government are committed to push for the EU to demonstrate leadership in tackling international climate change, including by supporting an increase in the EU emission reduction target to 30% by 2020.
We are also pressing for urgent action to strengthen the EU Emissions Trading System in order to achieve a higher and more stable carbon price that will drive further investment in carbon abatement and low carbon technology, including for power generation.
EU: Membership
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they regard as the main non-economic advantages of membership of the European Union.[HL4981]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): Membership of the EU brings many non-economic advantages. We have more influence in international affairs because we are a powerful player in the EU. Membership acts as a significant multiplier for our foreign policy—whether implementing sanctions against Iran or Syria, or promoting democracy in Burma. It helps us promote our values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law beyond the EU’s borders, projecting security and prosperity through both enlargement and a stable neighbourhood. It provides many advantages to the British people, who can live, work, study and retire anywhere in the EU.
EU: Statistics
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union requires the collection or compilation of statistics at a regional level in England.[HL5143]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Greaves, dated February 2013.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking whether the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union requires the collection or compilation of statistics at a regional level in England (HL5143).
I attach a table, created by Eurostat, showing the European Union requirement for regional statistics and the associated legal base (correct as at February 2010).
The table refers to data provision at various NUTS levels. Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS) is a hierarchical classification of spatial units used for statistical production across the European Union. There are 12 NUTS level 1 areas in the UK, made up of the nine areas previously covered by the Government Office Regions, together with Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. NUTS levels 2 and 3 represent a further breakdown, with 37 and 139 areas in the UK respectively.
The tables will be stored in the Library of the House.
|
Some tables expected end 2010: Water resources. Wastewater treatment. Solid waste |
Exports
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the level of exports by medium-sized companies, and whether such companies should take greater steps to promote exports.[HL5221]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): Exporting forms a key strand of the Government's plans to return the economy to sustainable and balanced growth. The Government have set out a very clear ambition for the UK's trade and investment performance, and have set targets of more than doubling our exports to £l trillion and getting another 100,000 companies exporting by 2020.
To meet these targets we will need to see a real step change in the number of companies who export from around 31% to over 40%. The Government are therefore seeking a major transformation in the export performance of the UK.
UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is the government department that helps UK-based companies succeed in the global economy and assists overseas companies to bring their high-quality investment to the UK. Latest available figures, for financial year 2011-12, show that UKTI trade services helped 25,400 UK-based companies improve their overseas business performance. UKTI support helped these companies generate over £30 billion of additional sales and to create or safeguard over 100,000 jobs.
Nearly 90% of UKTI's trade customers are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs); around two-thirds have fewer than 50 employees.
UKTI is committed to doubling to 50,000 the number of businesses it supports by 2015, and has developed a range of new services and activity to help achieve this, many of which are specifically targeted at SMEs.
New trade initiatives include: the introduction of the Open to Export service that provides a one-stop online resource for exporters where UK companies can get bespoke answers to their business needs by asking the export community; the mid-size business programme which aims to attract these businesses to UKTI services in order to help generate significant growth in this high-value sector; the Headstart scheme which aims to help UK SMEs into SE Asian markets (initially Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia) with practical on-the-ground assistance such as access to the expertise and contacts of those with experience of the local issues; and the setting up of a Venture Capital Unit which is looking to help UK fast-growth and innovative technology and life sciences companies to access venture capital funding.
UKTI is also piloting a scheme to harness British business groups and Chambers of Commerce overseas to help them develop their networks and capabilities. The £8 million pilot in 20 high growth and emerging markets is initially focusing on: Brazil, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, UAE and Vietnam.
In addition, UKTI is working with trade associations in order jointly to provide more effective and efficient practical support to UK companies. The initiative includes a UKTI Trade Challenge Partner programme which recognises those organisations that support their membership with excellent communications about export opportunities, the support and services available and that focus on more effective joint planning and delivery arrangements for trade shows, events and missions.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation in the latest British Chambers of Commerce Trade Confidence Index that more action is needed in areas such as trade finance promotion and insurance.[HL5322]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): In 2011, UK Export Finance widened its business domain and launched a number of new products to support exports sold on short terms of payment. These products are aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that are unable to get support from the private market. To date, the new products have supported export contracts of over £500 million.
UK Export Finance has recruited 12 regional export finance advisers based throughout the UK whose role is to advise and assist exporters access trade finance and credit insurance, including its new short term products where support is not available from commercial sources.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Israel’s use of drones in Gaza on civilians, and in particular, children. [HL5135]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We are aware of reports of the use of drones by the Israeli authorities but have not made an assessment of their use. We have consistently urged Israel to meet its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Gibraltar
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have had any discussions with the Government of Spain about the participation of football teams from Gibraltar in UEFA-sponsored competitions. [HL5083]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We have had no recent discussions with the Government of Spain on this subject.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Government of Spain has indicated it will withdraw from the 2006 Cordoba agreement; whether the Government of Spain has taken steps to exclude Gibraltar from future European Union aviation measures; and whether the Government of Spain opposed flights between Madrid and Gibraltar. [HL5084]
Baroness Warsi: Under the 2006 Cordoba agreement, Spain agreed to stop seeking the suspension of Gibraltar airport from any new EU aviation measure not yet adopted. In recent months, Spanish officials have informed their UK counterparts that Spain no longer wishes to recognise this commitment and will seek the exclusion of Gibraltar airport from new EU measures currently under negotiation.
The Government recognise the importance of ensuring that Gibraltar is included in all EU aviation legislation. We will continue to do all we can to hold Spain to its commitments under the Cordoba agreement, working closely with the Government of Gibraltar.
Under the Cordoba agreement, Spain agreed to end its prohibition on the operation of air services to Spain from Gibraltar. The current Spanish Government have not informed us of their position on this issue. A number of companies have operated flights between Madrid and Gibraltar since 2006 but these were withdrawn for commercial reasons. As with all other aspects of the Cordoba agreement, we will do all we can to hold Spain to the commitments that were agreed in 2006.
Government Departments: Catering Facilities
Questions
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of the subsidy for catering facilities in the Whitehall offices of the Department of Health. [HL4979]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Other than the costs associated with premises and equipment, the catering facilities in the department’s Whitehall buildings are not subsidised.
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of the subsidy for catering facilities in the Whitehall offices of the Department for International Development.[HL4980]
Baroness Northover: There is no such subsidy.
Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost of the subsidy for catering facilities in the Whitehall offices of the Department for Education. [HL5015]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The Department for Education does not subsidise the catering services within its Whitehall offices, nor its wider estate.
Government Departments: Statistics
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department for Communities and Local Government collect or compile statistics at any intermediate level between local authority and a national level; and, if so, what those levels are.[HL5142]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The department’s statistics are collected and published at the appropriate administrative level. This includes local authority district, unitary, shire, metropolitan and county councils, London boroughs, waste authorities, national parks, transport authorities, pension authorities, primary care trusts, fire authorities and police authorities. Data are also aggregated to higher administrative units such as the Greater London Authority.
The department's statistics can be seen at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government/about/statistics.
As outlined in the Written Ministerial Statement of 18 September 2012 (Official Report, col. 31 WS) my department no longer publishes statistics at a regional level. We are planning to publish, where appropriate, statistics for local enterprise partnerships and upper-tier local authorities, complementing existing statistics by local authority.
Health: Accident and Emergency Departments
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there will be any reduction in the number of staff working in the Accident and Emergency and Maternity Units at Lewisham Hospital; and whether there are any specific professions to which reductions will apply. [HL5148]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there will be any reduction in staff numbers in the children’s Accident and Emergency Unit at Lewisham Hospital. [HL5149]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): On 31 January, the Secretary of State announced his decision about the future of South London Healthcare NHS Trust and its services. A notice of that decision is available at: www.dh.gov.uk/health/2013/01/s1ht-decision/.
The service changes set out by the Secretary of State, planned from late 2015 onwards, are likely to impact on staffing requirements at the hospitals in south-east London. It is anticipated that a number of staff at Lewisham Hospital will need to be redeployed at other south-east London hospitals and will therefore remain within the National Health Service. The exact number and professions that will be impacted has not been quantified at this time and will form part of the implementation planning.
A programme board will oversee implementation of the Secretary of State's decision, including monitoring the allocation of transitional funding to cover costs such as double running of staff to ensure a safe transition while services transfer, and staff training and development. Everything should be done to support staff to secure future employment and reduce the number of redundancies.
Health: Contraception
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the impact of cuts to contraceptive services on the number of abortions in the United Kingdom.[HL5114]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Health Service is currently required to provide comprehensive, open access contraception services and free supplies of contraception for everyone. From 1 April, local authorities will commission
community contraceptive services outside the general practitioner contract, and they will face a similar requirement with regard to contraception.
Statistics for 2011-12 show that 1.3 million women attended NHS community contraception clinics, an increase of 9% on the previous year, which indicates that these services continue to be available to women, and valued by them.
In 2011 there were 189,931 abortions carried out on residents of England and Wales, representing a small 0.2% increase. However, 36% of women undergoing abortion in 2011 had had one or more previous abortions. This percentage has been steadily rising year on year since 2001, when it was 31%. This could indicate that some women’s needs for contraception are not being met. We will address this issue when we set out our detailed plans for sexual health, which we intend to publish shortly.
Health: Diabetes
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of (1) adults, and (2) children, with diabetes types 1 and 2 are getting their recommended annual tests. [HL5018]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The information available is not complete: recent investment in data collection and encouragement to participate in clinical audit will take time to have effect on published figures.
The following table represents data from both the National Diabetes Audit for Adults (NDA) and the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) for 2010-11. It is not possible to provide full percentages for adults and children separately. The NDA collects information on approximately 85% of all patients registered in England as having diabetes; the NPDA collects information on 70% of children and young people (under the age of 24) with diabetes.
1People registered with diabetes receiving all key care processes.
2For patients under 12 years of age, “all care processes” is defined as HbA1c only as the other care processes are not recommended in the NICE guidelines for this age group.
3The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) does not monitor delivery of a smoking review. Where children and young people are receiving care under adult services, they will be included in the National Diabetes Audit for Adults (NDA) audit which monitors delivery of all nine care processes.
Health: Obesity
Question
Asked by Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that obese and overweight patients receive expert advice on weight loss and weight management as early as possible.[HL5108]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Government have published Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England which sets out our approach to tackling obesity in the new public health and NHS systems. The call to action sets out the importance of both preventing and helping people who are already overweight manage their weight. General practitioners, along with other clinicians, can play a key role in making every contact count by raising the issue of obesity and providing advice or referral to appropriate services.
Primary care trusts are responsible for commissioning healthcare services to meet the needs of their population including services for those who are concerned about their weight. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to implement guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) on the “Prevention, identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in adults and children” and, where appropriate, implement their local obesity care pathway to ensure that patients receive the support they need to manage their weight.
From 1 April, this commissioning responsibility will move to local authorities.
The NICE guidance is available at: www.nice.org.uk/CG43.
A copy of the call to action has already been placed in the Library.
Health: Ophthalmology
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Accident and Emergency attendances were recorded for patients with a primary diagnosis of wet age-related macular degeneration in each of the past five years. [HL5086]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): It is not possible to identify the number of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances due to wet age-related macular degeneration because of the coding used.
A&E attendances over the past five years where the primary diagnosis was “ophthalmological conditions” are set out in the following table.
| Number of A&E attendances, A&E primary diagnosis “2 character description field” of “Ophthalmological conditions” | |
| Year | A&E Attendances |
Notes:
The Health and Social Care Information Centre, Hospital Episode Statistics for England, Accident and Emergency (A&E) statistics.
Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector.
Homelessness
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to help cities to provide housing for the homeless.[HL5342]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): This Government have invested £470 million over four years (2011-12-2014-15) through local authorities and voluntary organisations to help prevent homelessness. This includes a £5 million boost to the Homelessness Change Programme (bringing the total investment to £42.5 million) to deliver improved hostel provision and provide over 1,500 new and improved bed spaces as well as £20 million to help ensure single homeless people get access to good housing advice.
From 9 November, local authorities have new powers under the Localism Act to use good-quality private rented sector accommodation to end the main homelessness duty. Families will no longer need to be placed in temporary accommodation while they wait for social housing to become available.
We are investing around £19.5 billion of public and private money to deliver up to 170,000 new affordable homes by 2014-15 and we are making available up to £10 billion of loan guarantees to encourage more investors into the private rented sector for the delivery of both new market rented housing and affordable housing. We are also making available a further £300 million grant to help deliver up to 15,000 new affordable homes and bring 5,000 empty homes back into use.
Housing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are considering the introduction of mandatory registers of house letting agents; and, if so, whether they would be kept at local authority or national level. [HL5163]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The Government have no plans to introduce a mandatory register of residential letting agents.
People living in private rented homes should be treated fairly and honestly, but we want to avoid excessive red tape that would push up the cost of rents and reduce choice for tenants. That is why we have strongly backed industry-led schemes such as SafeAgent, which allows landlords and tenants to identify trusted agents, and to vote with their feet when looking to let or rent a property.
Letting agents are already subject to consumer protection legislation, and any tenants who have suffered from poor practice should report the problem to the local trading standards officer at their local authority.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to exempt (1) Broad Rental Market Areas, or (2) local authority areas, from the 1% limit on uprating local housing allowance in 2014–15 and 2015–16.[HL5246]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): As part of the decision to generally limit increases in local housing allowance to 1% in 2014-15 and 2015-16, the Government have set aside £140 million over two years to help people most affected by these new limits.
Our intention is that this funding will be used to increase the local housing allowance rates in areas where rent increases are causing a shortage of affordable accommodation.
This funding is not available until 2014-15 and further information will be made available later this year.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what source of information about market rents the Department for Work and Pensions will use to determine those areas which will be exempt from the 1% limit on uprating local housing allowance in 2014–15 and 2015–16.[HL5247]
Lord Freud: When we determine the areas to be exempt from the 1% uprating cap on local housing allowance in 2014-15 and 2015-16, we will consider the best and most timely evidence on market rents. This will include annual market data collected by the rent officer services.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 30 October 2012 (WA 120), what assessment they have made of the accuracy of the figures given by One Housing Group as reflecting the views of residents on the Barkantine, Kingsbridge, Samuda and St John's estates in relation to the proposed closure of Island Homes.[HL5249]
Baroness Hanham: The decision on whether to give consent to a merger between private registered providers of social housing is a matter for the Homes and Communities Agency. It considers the level and quality
of consultation with tenants as part of its decision-making process. On the evidence available to it in the case of the merger of Island Homes with One Housing Group it was satisfied that tenants had been given opportunities to have their say.
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many households in Brighton and Hove they estimate will be affected by their proposals to address under-occupancy of social housing.[HL5260]
Lord Freud: The information is not available at a local authority level.
Regional impacts are available in the impact assessment at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr20l1-ia.pdf.
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the sufficiency of the discretionary housing provision budget to support households with a disabled member affected by measures to address under-occupancy of social housing. [HL5261]
Lord Freud: Not all social sector households with a disabled member and in receipt of housing benefit will be affected by the under-occupancy measure.
A further £90 million is being added to the discretionary housing payment fund from April this year, which will increase the overall funding to £155 million for the year. This includes £30 million to help specific groups affected by the under-occupancy measure, of which £25 million is to assist disabled people who are in properties where a significant adaptation has been made to cater for their individual needs.
The under-occupancy measure itself will be monitored and evaluated over the next two years. The initial report will be available in 2014. The final report will be published in late 2015.
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effects on families with a disabled child of having to relocate from an adapted property containing a spare room.[HL5263]
Lord Freud: The information requested is not available.
An additional £30 million has been added to the discretionary housing fund to help those who are impacted, of which £25 million is specifically to assist households with a disabled member who are in properties where a significant adaptation has been made to cater for their individual needs.
The under-occupancy measure itself will be monitored and evaluated over the next two years. The initial report will be available in 2014. The final report will be published in late 2015.
Israel
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Government of Israel concerning that government's co-operation with the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR). [HL5136]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK has been in regular contact with the Government of Israel regarding Israel’s co-operation with the UN Human Rights Council, with particular reference to Israel’s non-co-operation with the universal periodic review. This contact has taken place in London, Geneva and in Israel.
The UK values the universality of the universal periodic review, which ensures all UN member states have their human rights records considered—on an equal footing—by the Human Rights Council. We therefore regret Israel’s decision not to participate, but note it has asked for its review to be postponed. We support the efforts of the President of the Human Rights Council to encourage Israel to re-engage, and we urge Israel to do so.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning its proposal to extend the separation wall around the planned Israeli settlement zone E1.[HL5137]
Baroness Warsi: Our embassy in Tel Aviv have raised strong concerns with the Office of the Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Territories over the potential routing of the separation barrier away from the green line. We will continue to press these points with the Israeli authorities.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have had with the Government of Israel concerning digging and construction work at the Ma'man Allah cemetery in Jerusalem.[HL5138]
Baroness Warsi: We raise our concerns on Jerusalem with Israel on a regular basis bilaterally and with our EU partners. East Jerusalem is regarded as occupied territory under international law. We do not recognise Israel’s annexation of East Jerusalem.
We continue to support international calls for restraint and the avoidance of provocative actions in and around Jerusalem. Jerusalem holds particular significance for many groups around the globe, especially the three Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
We are also in discussion with religious leaders and other Governments over finding ways to protect the holy sites of Jerusalem and elsewhere in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Judiciary: Local Authorities
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to encourage (1) courts, and (2) the wider criminal justice system, to liaise with local authorities.[HL4865]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Courts engage with representatives from the police and police authority, the local council, and the fire, health and probation services in their role as responsible authorities on community safety partnerships. These authorities work together to develop and implement strategies to protect their local communities from crime and to help people feel safe. They also work out local approaches to deal with issues including anti-social behaviour, drug or alcohol misuse and re-offending working with others who have a key role, including community groups.
There is already a strong relationship between local authorities and the criminal justice system through the youth offending teams (YOTs). Local authorities manage the YOTs in their integral role as part of the youth justice system with statutory responsibility for the delivery of youth justice services. HMCTS and the Youth Justice Board actively encourage the further development of these links between courts, the wider criminal justice system and YOTs.
Justice: Magistracy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote the diversity of the lay magistracy.[HL4862]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The Lord Chancellor appoints magistrates on the advice of local advisory committees which are made up of magistrates and non-magistrates.
Advisory committees advertise in a wide range of places and encourage applications from all sections of the local community. Advisory committees also receive mandatory induction training which emphasises the need to respect the fact that magistrates will come form all parts of society, including different socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds. They are trained to tailor their interviewing skills to the individual candidate before them.
There are currently 24,003 serving magistrates in England and Wales, 84% of whom are aged 50 or over. The average age of serving magistrates is 58.
The table below provides a breakdown of the diversity profiles for serving magistrates as at 23 January 2013.
| Black and Minority Ethnic | Male | Female | Under 40 | 40-49 | 50-59 | 60-70 | Declared Disability |
Libya
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 29 January (WA 314), with whom in the United Kingdom they are involved in discussions concerning legacy issues for Libya.[HL5146]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government discusses legacy issues arising from the actions of the Gaddafi regime with a range of organisations, groups and individuals in the UK, including UK police forces in relation to open UK criminal investigations, primarily on the investigations on Lockerbie and the murder of Woman Police Constable Yvonne Fletcher; and representatives of a number of private groups and campaigns who are seeking redress for victims of Gaddafi-sponsored Irish Republican Army terrorism in the UK. The Government are happy to discuss these issues with any other parties who have an interest in, or have been affected by, legacy issues arising from the Gaddafi regime.
Mali
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which of the nations in the European Union have defence forces in Mali; and which other European Union member states have now pledged to send defence forces into Mali.[HL5082]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): In addition to UK logistical and intelligence-sharing support, we understand that French and Malian forces have so far received logistical assistance in Mali from Denmark and Belgium.
Planning for the EU Training Mission to Mali is currently ongoing, and negotiations are underway between EU member states to finalise what they will contribute.
Medicines Act 1968
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to publish the terms of reference of the review of the application of the Medicines Act 1968, to be conducted by Ken Jarold CBE.[HL5195]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Mr Ken Jarrold has been appointed to chair the programme board for the work, led by the United Kingdom chief pharmaceutical officers, on rebalancing medicines legislation and pharmacy regulation. This work will be closely linked to the review of sanctions and penalties, including the reform of Section 64 of the Medicines Act 1968, which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is leading.
We are currently in discussion with Mr Jarrold and expect to publish the terms of reference for the board in due course.
National Audit Office
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many permanent staff are currently employed by the National Audit Office, and how those staff are distributed between the offices in London and Newcastle. [HL4969]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): This is not a matter for the Treasury as the National Audit Office (NAO) is an independent parliamentary body.
The NAO’s 2012 annual report states that it has 857 full time staff. However, no figures are available for individual office numbers.
National Insurance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Freud on 30 January (WA 335), whether they will extrapolate and accumulate the requested information on the top 20 countries whose nationals applied for national insurance numbers last year, the number in each case, the total overall, and the total number of national insurance numbers issued to foreign nationals in each of the past 10 years. [HL5204]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): I reiterate that the available statistics are at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?paqe=tabtool. I understand that the support staff in the House of Lords Library are able to assist the noble Lord in extracting the information he requires.
NHS: Contractors
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 January (WA 175), why they do not hold information centrally about NHS contracts; whether they have any plans to do so in the future; and how they ensure an acceptable level of service is provided by NHS contractors nationally in the absence of such information.[HL5061]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 21 January (WA 175), whether they will contact Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust to obtain the information requested.[HL5062]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department does not generally hold information centrally about National Health Service contracts because it is local NHS bodies themselves,
such as NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts, which are the procuring authorities and are accountable and responsible for decisions concerning the performance of the contract and the contractor.
As previously stated, information on this contract is not held centrally. We would advise the noble Lord to contact Brighton and Sussex University Hospital NHS Trust for further information.
NHS: Nurses
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) first-level, and (2) second-level, registered nurses employed by the National Health Service are currently working in each region in England.[HL5027]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): First level nurses were previously known as registered nurses and second level nurses as enrolled nurses. The Nursing and Midwifery Council no longer approves programmes for entry to second level nursing and training at this level ceased in 1992. This level remains open only for those nurses in the United Kingdom who are already qualified and working at that level, and also for European Nurses who may access it through their right to freedom of movement.
The numbers of first level and second level qualified nurses employed by the National Health Service in each strategic health authority in England at 30 September 2011 are shown in the following table.
Notes:
Qualified nursing, midwifery & health visiting staff also includes nurse consultants, modern matrons, community matrons, managers, registered sick-childrens' nurses, registered midwives, health visitors, district nurses 1st level, district nurses 2nd level, and qualified school nurses which are not separately identified on this table. Figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
"Other 1st level" and "other 2nd level" include staff coded as community psychiatric nurses (CPN) and community learning disabilities nurses (CLDN) with a specific recordable community qualification.
Data Quality:
The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses.
Source:
Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.
North Korea
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to other governments at the United Nations Human Rights Council in March about establishing a Commission of Inquiry into crimes against humanity and violations of human rights in North Korea.[HL4958]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government are currently in discussions with EU partners about prospects for a new investigative mechanism on human rights in North Korea being introduced during the Human Rights Council in March. If a proposal is agreed with EU partners, we will make broader representations in the UN during the Human Rights Council.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of North Korean citizens resorting to cannibalism due to famine conditions. [HL5129]
Baroness Warsi: Several British newspapers reported last month that thousands of people starved to death and some people resorted to cannibalism in South Hwanghae Province in North Korea in the first half of 2012. The international community in Pyongyang, including agencies operating in the province, has not seen any evidence to verify these reports. Our embassy in Pyongyang has also spoken to the North Korean Government who denied reports of cannibalism and mass starvation.
While North Korea still faces food shortages, a World Food Programme food security assessment in September/October last year indicated that food production had increased, and a UN Children’s Fund nutrition survey undertaken in 10 provinces in September/October indicated that levels of acute malnutrition had declined slightly. While obtaining reliable data for North Korea
is particularly difficult, the current information that we have does not suggest there is widespread famine in North Korea.
We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Office of Rail Regulation
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) how many staff were employed by the Office of Rail Regulation, and at what cost, in 2010–11 and 2011–12, and (2) how many staff have been budgeted for, at what cost, in 2012–13.[HL5212]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) how much has been paid to consultants engaged by the Office of Rail Regulation in 2010–11 and 2011–12, and (2) how much has been budgeted for 2012–13. [HL5213]
Earl Attlee: The information is set out in the table below:
| ORR | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | ||
|
Includes all costs (pension contributions, NICs, non-consolidated pay) | |||||
Notes:
* ORR Resource accounts
** ORR Business Plan
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's recent finding that public spending in the United Kingdom as a percentage of gross domestic product was 49% in 2012; and whether they will alter their fiscal strategy in the light of those figures.[HL4960]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The UK bases its fiscal policy on the aggregates forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). In the OBR’s Autumn Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published alongside the Autumn Statement, public spending in 2012-13 was 43.1%, down from 45.2% in 2011-12. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s data on government spending are based on an alternative definition and are not comparable.
The Government’s medium-term consolidation plans have restored fiscal credibility, allowing monetary policy activism and the automatic stabilisers to support the economy. The balance of risks in the UK argues strongly in favour of maintaining a credible path of deficit reduction.
Pensions
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of quantitative easing on company contributions to final salary pension schemes since March 2009; and what is their estimate of the effects on tax revenue of any change in those contributions.[HL5052]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee's (MPC) policy tools, including bank rate and quantitative easing (QE), are macroeconomic tools designed to affect the economy as a whole, in order to meet the 2% inflation target over the medium term.
The Bank of England’s paper The Distributional Effects of Asset Purchases published on 23 August 2012 notes that:
“The main factor affecting the valuation of defined benefit pension schemes and defined contribution pension pots over the past five years has been the fall in equity prices relative to gilt prices. That fall in the relative price of equities was not caused by QE, and stemmed in large part from the reluctance of investors to
hold risky assets, such as equities, given the deterioration in the economic outlook, almost certainly as a result of the financial crisis”.
“Without the Bank's asset purchases...[there] would have [been a] significant detrimental impact on savers and pensioners along with every other group in society”.
The Government keep tax receipts under review, as well as all aspects of the tax system.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 18 May 2011 (WA 351), whether they will collate for publication in the Official Report total employee contributions and accruing superannuation liability employer contributions for the civil service pension scheme in the past three years from the relevant Cabinet Office civil superannuation resource accounting reports.[HL5254]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: I have nothing to add to the Answer given by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 18 May 2011.
Employee and employer contributions are set out clearly in note 9 of the annual Cabinet Office: Civil Superannuation Resource Accounts.
Planning
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Strategic Housing Market Assessments: Practice Guidance, Version 2, of August 2007, is the most up-to-date guide to such assessments in every respect; and, if not, what other considerations should be taken into account by local planning authorities when carrying out such assessments.[HL5158]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which planning practice guidance documents are still relevant, and what is the timetable for their replacement following the current consultation on the report of the Review of Planning Practice Guidance led by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor.[HL5159]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Current underpinning practice guidance, including the Strategic Housing Market Assessment Practice Guidance August 2007, remains in place pending the outcome of the review being led by Lord Taylor of Goss Moor and can still be used where relevant to the National Planning Policy Framework.
The current consultation on the review’s recommendations closes on 15 February 2013. The Government will respond fully in due course to both the review’s report, including the review’s recommendations on timing, and the consultation.
Prisoners: Sentences
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prisoners in England are currently serving a life sentence with a whole life tariff.[HL5089]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): As at 31 December 2012 there were 43 prisoners serving a life sentence with a whole life tariff in prison establishments in England.
The total number of whole life prisoners is published each quarter in the Ministry of Justice’s Offender Management Statistics Quarterly Bulletin. The publication is available free of charge via the following weblink: http://www.justice.gov.uk/statistics/prisons-and -probation/oms-quarterly
These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.
Railways: Heathrow Airport
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact the decision to progress HS2 phase two while delaying a decision on the HS2 Heathrow spur until after 2015 will have on the effective integration of the United Kingdom's airports and rail networks. [HL5251]
Earl Attlee: The Government are keen to make progress with the project to deliver high speed rail in the UK and are looking to speed up the timetable wherever possible. From 2026, when phase one opens, rail passengers into Heathrow would start to benefit from significantly faster journey times. This will mark a major improvement in rail access to Heathrow compared with today. Passengers from the Midlands and north will be able to access the Heathrow Express service from Old Oak Common station, which will provide an 11 minute connection into the airport. Rail journeys from the Midlands and the north will be as much as 50% quicker, involve fewer changes and it will no longer be necessary to travel via central London. This demonstrates the Government’s continued support of the principle of integrating HS2 with our country’s airports.
However, in September 2012, the Government launched an independent Airports Commission to identify and recommend options for maintaining the country’s global hub status. The Airports Commission will take into account the surface access implications of any options for increasing the UK’s airport capacity. The Government have therefore paused work on a dedicated spur to Heathrow until the Commission recommendations have been considered.
Retail: Gift Vouchers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce legislation to require retailers issuing gift vouchers to back those vouchers by a bank guarantee or hold the proceeds in a dedicated escrow account.[HL4961]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): We have no plans to introduce legislation in
this area. The regulatory framework in respect of prepayments generally, which includes gift vouchers, has been re-assessed over the years. Some forms of ring-fencing of funds or insurance arrangement are options but can impose significant costs on businesses and therefore raise prices for all consumers.
The Government will continue to encourage sectors to self-regulate. Several industry sectors have concluded that the gains from increased consumer confidence outweigh these costs and have gone ahead with sector schemes on this basis. I warmly welcome the Co-op’s announcement on 28 January that it has launched its trust fund, in respect of its Christmas saving schemes. Its decision to establish a trust to give its customers even greater protection is just the sort of business initiative that will increase consumer confidence in this form of saving.
Schools: Careers Advice
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to improve career advice for pupils leaving school.[HL4899]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): A new duty requiring schools to secure independent careers guidance for pupils in years 9-11 came into force in September 2012. Guidance secured under the duty must be provided in an impartial manner and include information on the full range of 16-18 education or training options, including apprenticeships.
To ensure more young people can access the support they need at key transition points, the Government recently announced an extension of the careers duty to years 8-13 from September 2013. Colleges will also be required to secure guidance for their 16-18 year-old students.
The Department for Education has published statutory guidance and a practical guide to help schools carry out their new responsibilities. An Ofsted thematic review of careers guidance, reporting this summer, will assess progress, highlight good practice and inform future improvements in the quality of careers provision.
Schools: National Curriculum
Question
Asked by Lord Black of Brentwood
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about the coverage of animal welfare issues, in particular regarding domestic pets, in the national curriculum.[HL4909]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): We have received a number of representations on this issue, including from the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare. We published draft programmes of study for all national curriculum subjects for consultation on Thursday 7 February, and the draft primary science national curriculum includes content on the basic needs of animals, how to take care of animals and the need to return them safely after study.
The national curriculum forms only part of the wider school curriculum and it is open to individual schools to teach additional content about animal welfare should they wish to do so. However, we are clear that the national curriculum should focus on essential knowledge in key subjects and should not attempt to specify the wide range of issues that can and should be discussed in schools.
Schools: Toilets and Washing Facilities
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012, how they will encourage schools to provide suitable toilets and washing facilities and promote best practice in this area.[HL4994]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the School Premises (England) Regulations 2012, what guidance will be given to schools on how to provide suitable toilet and washing facilities; and what incentives will be offered to schools to make improvements.[HL4995]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to monitor the standard of school toilets and washing facilities.[HL4996]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The Government introduced revised school premises regulations in October 2012 that are less prescriptive than previous legislation and allow schools more flexibility in how they use their premises. In relation to toilets and washing facilities, we have stated that provision must be suitable and have removed the overly prescriptive approach of the previous regulations which stated the number of fittings that need to be provided in relation to the ages and numbers of pupils. We believe that in this area and others we must trust professionals to a far greater extent than has been the case in the past.
To enable schools to understand what the changes to the regulations actually mean to them and to promote best practice in this area, the department published non-statutory advice for local authorities, school leaders and governing bodies on 31 October 2012.
While the department does provide funding to local authorities and schools each year to fund building maintenance, there are no incentives available which are specifically aimed at the provision of toilets and washing facilities.