Overseas Aid
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will assess the effectiveness of the deployment of promised bilateral and international grants and loans for the purpose of revitalising the economics of the Middle East and North Africa, with a view to reducing youth unemployment.[HL5403]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Reducing unemployment, including youth employment, in states supported by the Arab Partnership is an important aim of our policy. The Arab Partnership (AP) is subject to robust evaluation procedures. This includes the Department for International Development (DfID) led Arab Partnership Economic Facility contributions to the International Financial Institutions (World Bank. International Monetary Fund, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development et cetera), which have as their aim “Sustainable Economic Growth (including Youth employability)”.
A joint Foreign and Commonwealth Office-DfID working group will manage and commission an evaluation of the AP, which will be independent and transparent, in line with DfID’s policy on evaluation of UK official development assistance. The evaluation will begin in
2013 and run until the programme ends in 2015; an interim report will be published on the AP and DfID websites by the end of 2013.
In addition, a number of the programmes under the DfID-led AP Economic Facility in support of economic reform and job creation in the region will also be subject to independent evaluation, as set out in the individual project business cases, published on the DfID website.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have taken steps to ensure that Department for International Development-supported programmes in India do not support forced hysterectomies. [HL5419]
Baroness Northover: There is some evidence that poor women in India are misled to undergo hysterectomy by doctors in the largely unregulated private sector. UK aid supported health programmes are helping state Governments to regulate private healthcare providers and give health advice to poor women so that coercion in health services is less likely to happen.
Parliament Square
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect Section 143(1) of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 to be enforced in respect of the remaining encampment in Parliament Square.[HL5337]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The relevant provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act were brought into force on 19 December 2011. The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has used the powers under Section 143 of the PRSR Act 2011 to remove encampments from Parliament Square.
The management of Parliament Square, including operational decisions to keep the square clear of encampments, is a matter for the Metropolitan Police, Westminster City Council and the Greater London Authority.
Patient Advisory and Liaison Service
Question
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total allocation of resource to the Patient Advisory and Liaison Service in each of the years 2010-11 and 2011-12; and what is the total budget allocation for local Healthwatch organisations in the years 2013-14 and 2014-15.[HL5444]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): On the Patient Advice and Liaison Services (PALS), the current cash allocation for is not identified separately within the National Health Service budget because it is seen as an integral part of overall NHS running costs.
In April 2002, £10 million was added to the NHS baseline budget to reflect the activity of PALS. Since then this sum has been adjusted annually in line with the overall NHS budget allocation.
On Healthwatch, we have made £43.5 million available nationally in 2013-14 for local authorities to fund local Healthwatch. Provisionally, we expect to allocate the same amount in 2014-15.
Of this, £30.2 million of local Healthwatch funding will be made available nationally through the Local Government Finance Settlement. It is for local authorities to choose how best to spend money allocated in this way.
The remaining £13.3 million will form a part of the new Local Reform and Community Voices Grant. This grant covers a number of funding streams, including local Healthwatch. This grant is not ring-fenced, so again it will be for local authorities to decide how best to spend their grants.
Planning
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local planning authorities have had core strategies rejected at examination, or subjected to major amendment; and for what reasons.[HL5162]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The tables below set out the information on Core Strategies produced by local planning authorities that have been found unsound, or have been withdrawn in advance of a potential finding of unsoundness since 2004.
Prior to the Localism Act 2011, local councils were required to submit their draft plan for public examination by an independent inspector, appointed by the Secretary of State. Following the examination, the inspector produced a report which could modify the plan which a local authority had to accept before it can formally adopt the plan. These changes felt imposed and undemocratic.
In the Localism Act, we removed the inspectors’ powers to impose changes. Inspectors now report to the local authority and identify conflicts between the Local Plan and national policy and regulatory process. However, they are only able to recommend modifications to overcome these issues if they are asked to do so by the council itself. Councils are now able to suggest their own modifications for assessment by the inspector during the examination, as well as making minor non-material changes themselves. The council is then free to choose to accept the inspector's modifications and adopt the plan, or resubmit a new plan. This approach is aimed at encouraging a more collaborative process as the examination of a plan proceeds.
The Localism Act provisions came into effect on 15 January 2012. The third table below lists where plans have been subject to such modifications.
| Unsound Core Strategies | |
|
None—subject to Councils in table 3 accepting “main modifications” on adoption | |
| Withdrawn Core Strategies | |
| Core Strategies subject to “Main Modifications” | |
Police and Crime Commissioners
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have received about the selection process carried out for the appointment of the Deputy and Assistant Crime Commissioners in South Wales; and whether they intend to intervene in the process.[HL5639]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Ministers and the Home Office have no role in the appointment of deputy police and crime commissioners (PCC) or other PCC staff and no powers to intervene. It is for the PCC to select their team and justify their decisions to the communities they serve.
Post-2015 Millennium Development Goals
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their priorities for the United Nations General Assembly’s open working group on sustainable development goals.[HL5343]
Baroness Northover: The UK welcomes the recent establishment of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. The Government are working through all channels to promote a single, integrated post-2015 development agenda to succeed the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The agenda should build on the successes of the MDGs and retain the focus on ending poverty), doing so through sustainable development. It should be updated to reflect the changes in the world since the MDGs were agreed, and promote the prerequisites for people to escape poverty (the absence of conflict, effective institutions, the rule of law, transparency and accountability, an enabling environment for economic growth) and sustainable use of natural resources.
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the negotiations for a successor framework to the post-Millennium Development Goals and the negotiations for Sustainable Development Goals result in one set of goals with sustainability as an integral component. [HL5344]
Baroness Northover: As co-chair of the High-Level Panel on the Post-2015 development framework, the Prime Minister has been clear about the need for a single set of goals. The co-chair paper tabled in Monrovia supported this. The Government are also working closely with EU partners to promote a single framework that focuses on poverty eradication and sees sustainable development as the means by which we achieve it. The Secretary of State, the right honourable Justine Greening MP, attended the Monrovia meeting on 31 January and the Informal EU Development Ministers meeting in Dublin, 11-12 February where she set out the government position about the need for development of a single framework.
Prisoners: Care System
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) prisoners, and (2) persons under the supervision of the probation service, experience a period in local authority care.[HL5459]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): (1) Data on the number of prisoners who have experienced a period in local authority care are not routinely collected. The information could be obtained only by asking each prison to conduct a manual search of their records and then to collate this information at a disproportionate cost.
A survey of prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in 2005 and 2006 found that 24% of prisoners reported that they had been in care at some point during their childhood. This includes both long and short-term periods in care (MOJ Research Series 4/12).
(2) Data on the number of people under the supervision of the probation service who have experienced a period in local authority care are not routinely collected. The information could be obtained only by asking each probation trust to conduct a manual search of their records and then to collate this information at a disproportionate cost.
The Offender Management Community Cohort Study (OMCCS) includes information on whether offenders on community orders had lived with foster parents or in an institution before the age of 17. Results from this study are planned for publication during 2013.
Prisons: Food
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there have been any cases of the serving of halal meat to Christians, Sikhs or Jews in HM Prisons.[HL5276]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): A prison menu will include meals deemed suitable for all main religions and cultures. To assist prisoners make an informed choice, meals are categorised into suitability groups such as vegetarian, halal and vegan, and this suitability is identified on published menus. Prisoners are free to make their own choice when selecting meals. No records are kept of the number of meals selected by type against known religious or cultural preferences.
Public Bodies
Question
Asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which public bodies are included in the Civil Service headcount. [HL5470]
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 Baroness Smith, dated February 2013.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking which public bodies are included in the civil service headcount. (HL5470)
Official estimates of civil service employment are produced quarterly as part of the Public Sector Employment release and annually in the Civil Service Statistics release.
Annex A contains the list of public bodies included in the civil service headcount in the Quarter 3 Public Sector Employment release, published in December
2012: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pse/public-sector-employment/q3-2012/stb-pse-2012q3.html. The public bodies are grouped by the sponsoring department in the annex.
The table will be stored in the Library of the House.
|
Scotland Office (incl. Office of the Advocate General for Scotland) |
[1] Public bodies are grouped according to the sponsoring department, which is highlighted in bold. Where a department does not have any agencies the name will be repeated—for example, Estyn.
Public Health: Responsibility Deal
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the Public Health Responsibility Deal partners are signatories to the (1) out-of-home calorie labelling pledge, (2) salt reduction pledge, (3) artificial trans fats removal pledge, (4) calorie reduction pledge, (5) salt catering pledge and (6) fruit and vegetables pledge; and of those signatory organisations, how many are fast-food operatives.[HL5451]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Partner organisations currently signed up to the respective Public Health Responsibility Deal Food Network pledges are as follows:
out-of-home calorie labelling—46 signatories, includes all seven fast-food companies;salt reduction—77 signatories, includes two fast-food companies;artificial trans fats removal—11 signatories, includes no fast-food companies;there is a further pledge for companies that do not to use artificial trans fats, which has 84 signatories, including all seven fast-food companies;calorie reduction—31 signatories, includes one fast-food company;
salt catering: training and kitchen practice—eight signatories, includes one fast-food company;salt catering: reformulation of products as purchased by the customer—seven signatories, includes three fast-food companies;salt catering: procurement—five signatories, includes one fast-food company; andfruit and vegetables—23 signatories, includes one fast-food company.
The definition of fast food companies is based on those used in analysis of the food service sector. The seven companies are: Burger King; Domino’s Pizza; KFC; Pizza Hut; Pret à Manger; McDonald’s; and Subway.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the consequences, if any, for signatories of the Public Health Responsibility Deal calorie reduction pledge who fail (1) to report on their progress, and (2) to reduce the calorie content of their produce.[HL5452]
Earl Howe: A condition of signing up to the responsibility deal and its pledges is that businesses will report annually on progress against their delivery plans for each of the pledges they are signed up to. Partner delivery plans and annual updates for all Public Health Responsibility Deal pledges are published on the responsibility deal website. This enables transparency of reporting progress against plan. If a business failed to deliver on its pledge then the reasons should be given in the annual update. If a business were no longer able to deliver its pledge, we would expect the business to withdraw from it. Annual updates for 2012-13 are due to be published on the responsibility deal website in summer 2013.
The Government look to the largest number of companies to make credible commitments against responsibility deal pledges.
Railways: European Rail Traffic Management System
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the anticipated timetable for the implementation of the European Rail Traffic Management System in the United Kingdom; and what progress has been made so far.[HL5422]
Earl Attlee: The first major routes to be deployed with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS) will be Great Western Main Line (2017) and East Coast Main Line (2018), followed by Midland Main Line (2021-22) and West Coast Main Line in the late 2020s
It should be noted that new trains, such as the new Thameslink and Intercity Express trains, will be delivered fitted with ERTMS equipment. The Thameslink core section will be fitted with ERTMS and is expected to be operating under ERTMS control in early 2017.
Railways: Eurostar
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what legislative powers the UK Border Agency has to check Eurostar passengers’ tickets.[HL5388]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Border force officers have the power to examine passengers seeking entry to the UK under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971. This power was extended to passengers arriving by rail by Article 7 and Schedule 4 to the Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) Order 1993.
Railways: High Speed
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to comply with European Union Directive 96/48/EC on the noise limits for trans-European high-speed rail systems.[HL5424]
Earl Attlee: HS2 Ltd is developing the new railway in compliance with the European technical specifications for interoperability, which includes the noise specification. Management of noise limits must consider the railway as a complete system within the wider environment. As such, the mitigation of noise is achieved both through measures on the trains themselves and through further measures on the wider railway infrastructure and beyond. HS2 Ltd is developing noise mitigation measures for the new railway which will ensure that compliance is achieved with the noise specification.
Railways: High Speed 2
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research they have undertaken on the impact on HS2’s forecast passenger numbers should Heathrow be downgraded as a result of the findings of the Independent Airports Commission, and another airport take its place as the United Kingdom’s hub airport.[HL5421]
Earl Attlee: The Independent Airports Commission will consider all representations and proposals submitted. The ongoing debate on the UK’s status as a hub for global aviation has generated a wide range of options that need to be properly evidenced and assessed. It would not therefore be appropriate to speculate about the implications of a hypothetical situation such as the one proposed. At an appropriate point in the future, the Government will consider any recommendations generated by the commission’s work.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have requested that the European Rail Agency review the compatibility of the proposed high speeds of HS2 with the technical specifications for interoperability under European Union Directive 96/48/EC on the interoperability of trans-European high-speed rail systems.[HL5423]
Earl Attlee: HS2 Ltd is developing the new railway in compliance with the European technical specifications for interoperability. This includes continued review of and engagement in the emerging revisions of the specifications.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what analysis they have carried out on the compatibility of their choice for the route of HS2 with the principles in the 2008 Costs Handbook published by the European Commission on ensuring the adequate measurement of the environmental and other external impacts of transport infrastructure projects.[HL5425]
Earl Attlee: In appraising the environmental and other external impacts of transport infrastructure projects during the option selection process, the Department for Transport (DfT) follows its own transport appraisal guidance WebTAG in place of the 2008 European Commission costs handbook. Details of the WebTAG approach can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/webtag/
WebTAG contains guidance on how option generation and scheme sifting should be conducted and sets out the range of environmental impacts that are to be evaluated. The WebTAG approach has been and will continue to be applied as necessary during the ongoing process of refining the HS2 scheme design.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have undertaken any assessment of the likely cost of extending HS2 to Scotland.[HL5426]
Earl Attlee: No assessment has yet been made of the costs of a high-speed line going further north to Scotland. The Department for Transport has started work to understand how best to boost capacity and cut journey times so that Scotland can gain the most benefit from a high-speed Britain.
Railways: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to restructure the railways of Northern Ireland to comply with Article 59 of Directive 2012/34/EU on the recast of the first Railway Package.[HL5389]
Earl Attlee: Transport is a devolved matter so the responsibility for ensuring Northern Ireland’s compliance with European directives lies with the Northern Ireland Assembly. I understand that Northern Ireland will be
considering the structure of its railway industry as part of its process for the transposition of directive 2012/34/EU.
Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of regulation by the Care Quality Commission of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital.[HL5345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department monitors the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) financial and operational performance and risks at both a general and strategic level through regular formal accountability meetings. The department does not assess the CQC’s inspection or monitoring of specific health and adult social care providers.
The CQC is responsible for assessing and ensuring the quality of its inspection and monitoring of specific providers on a day-to-day basis. The CQC publishes reports following its inspections on its website. The CQC’s annual accounts and annual report are laid before Parliament and it is publicly accountable through parliamentary scrutiny, including Select Committees.
NHS Buckinghamshire does not commission any service from this hospital. The CQC has provided the following information about the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital which comprises two locations, the Marguerite Centre Care Home with Nursing and the International Spinal Injuries and Rehabilitation Centre. The CQC received notification that the service at both sites was to close in September 2012. A visit on 24 January 2013 confirmed that the service is not currently operating.
The CQC inspected the Marguerite Centre Care Home with Nursing on 3 November 2011. The service was found to be compliant but with some improvements required. The CQC inspected the International Spinal Injuries and Rehabilitation Centre on 10 November 2011. The service was found to be compliant but with some improvements required. The CQC does not carry information on inspections conducted before this period.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will encourage NHS organisations in Buckinghamshire to provide opportunities for employment for staff of the Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital made redundant due to the financial difficulties at that hospital.[HL5346HL5346]
Earl Howe: The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital is a privately owned rehabilitation centre. Local healthcare organisations, with their knowledge of the patients they serve, are best placed to decide how many doctors, nurses and other health professionals they need for their patients.
Schools: Academies
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the number and status of brokers working in the academies programme, and how many are working in each region; whether they are employed or working as consultants; whether they are being paid wholly or partly by results; and what is the total cost of employing them in the current financial year. [HL5618]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): We currently have a total of 37 brokers working in the academies programme. Of these 28 are school brokers and nine are sponsor development advisers. They are allocated as follows, with some brokers working across more than one region:
The brokers are contractors from whom we procure educational expertise and advice.
The brokers are paid a daily rate and not by results.
We obviously do not yet have a total figure for employing brokers for the whole of this financial year.
In the previous financial year (2011-12) the total cost was £2,829,582.59.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the terms of reference and remit of brokers in the academies programme.[HL5619]
Lord Nash: School brokers and sponsor development advisers are contracted to the department to provide education advice services. Schedule 1 of the contracts sets out the services to be supplied, and a copy of both types of contract has been placed in the House Libraries.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria are used to decide which schools to approach directly through brokers or other Department for Education officials to suggest that they should convert to academies.[HL5621]
Lord Nash: Department officials examine two sets of criteria when considering schools for sponsored academy solutions: the school’s performance over time and the results of Ofsted inspections. From these, officials determine which schools they should approach and work with, in order to deliver sustained improvement to that school via a sponsored academy solution.
Schools: Asbestos
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what system is in place proactively to inspect the standards of asbestos management in (1) local authority schools, and (2) non-local authority schools, in (a) Wales, (b) Scotland, and (c) England.[HL5499]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The Department for Education does not hold information on the management of schools in Wales and Scotland, as this is a matter for the devolved Administrations.
The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcement of health and safety legislation in schools across Great Britain. The HSE delivers this role within the framework for health and safety set by the Government in Good Health and Safety, Good for Everyone.
The HSE has advised that since 2007 it has undertaken three initiatives to sample how schools and local authorities manage asbestos in schools; these inspections involved schools in England, Wales and Scotland. The HSE has no plans to proactively inspect the standards of asbestos management in local authority administered schools, but is planning to inspect a sample of 150 schools that are outside of local authority control. These inspections will take place in 2013-14 and the schools that will be inspected have not yet been selected. The HSE will publish the findings of these inspections to raise awareness of the requirements to manage asbestos in all schools.
There are legal duties for the management of asbestos under the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. The department published guidance on the management of asbestos for schools in England in October 2012; this guidance is intended to raise awareness among head teachers, governors and other duty-holders to help them to fulfil their responsibilities to manage asbestos effectively in line with the regulations.
Schools: National Curriculum
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to maintain modules on Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole in the Schools National Curriculum.[HL5152]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): We published draft programmes of study for all National Curriculum subjects for consultation on Thursday, 7 February. The draft programme of study for history includes both Florence Nightingale and Mary Seacole. The consultation will end on 16 April.
Subject to parliamentary approval, we plan to make the final programmes of study available to schools this autumn so that they can prepare for first teaching from September 2014. More information about our proposals and the consultation is available at: www. education.gov.uk/nationalcurriculum.
Schools: Teachers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what incentives they offer to individuals who, having already achieved qualified teacher status, wish to re-enter the profession after pursuing other career paths.[HL5241]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The Teaching Agency offers support to qualified teachers seeking to re-enter the profession through specialist advisers at the Teaching Line and through resources made available on its website. According to the latest available data, around 23,000 people re-entered teaching in the maintained sector in 2009-10 or entered it for the first time having initially pursued a different career.
Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of (1) how much capital has been invested in United Kingdom small and medium-sized enterprises, and (2) how many jobs have been created, by venture capital trusts since their introduction in 1997.[HL5324]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): Between 1995-96 and 2011-12, £4.7 billion was raised by venture capital trusts. At least 70% of all funds raised by venture capital trusts are invested in small and medium-sized enterprises.
HM Revenue and Customs publish National Statistics on the amounts of funds raised by venture capital trusts for each year between 1995-96 and 2011-121. The following table sets out the number of trusts and amount of funds raised since 1995-6.
| Venture Capital Trusts 2 | ||||
| Number of trusts and amount of funds raised | ||||
| Year | Funds raised 3 | VCTs raising funds in the year 4 | VCTs managing funds 5 | Rate of income tax relief 6 |
There are no data available for the number of jobs that have been created by venture capital trusts.
1 http://www.hmrc.gov.uk.statistics-vct/table8-6.pdf
2 The data sources are outside the managerial control of HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and therefore we cannot ensure their completeness and quality, hence, this table falls outside the scope of National Statistics.
3 The amount of funds raised by VCTs raising funds in each tax year, rounded to the nearest £5 million.
4 The number of VCTs raising funds in each tax year, consisting of both new VCTs raising funds for the first time and existing ones raising further funds.
5 The number of VCTs in existence in each tax year.
6 The rate of investors’ income tax relief in each tax year capital gains tax deferral relief was available until 5 April 2004.
** The totals are not given to avoid duplication of number of VCTs as VCTs can raise funds in multiple tax-years.
Smoking: Electronic Cigarettes
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have a policy on electronic cigarettes; and whether there are any current proposals for legislation on electronic cigarettes at United Kingdom or European Union level.[HL5656]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): There are a number of products on the market which claim to contain nicotine, such as electronic cigarettes, which are widely available but are not licensed medicines. Currently, any nicotine-containing product (NCP) which claims or implies that it can treat nicotine addiction is considered to be a medicinal product. This approach has allowed NCPs which do not make such claims to be used and sold without the safeguards built into the regulation of medicinal products.
In March 2011, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) published the outcome of a public consultation on whether to bring all NCPs within the medicines licensing regime. The response to consultation highlighted the need for further information to inform a decision. The MHRA is currently bringing to a conclusion a period of scientific and market research with a view to a final decision on the application of medicines regulation in spring 2013.
On 20 December 2012, the European Commission (EC) published a draft revised tobacco products directive with specific provisions for NCPs. The EC proposal is that products containing nicotine above a certain level or concentration may be placed on the market only if they have been authorised as medicinal products on
the basis of their quality, safety and efficacy in accordance with medicines legislation. Products containing a lower level or concentration of nicotine could continue to be sold as consumer products but would be required to carry a prominent health warning (“This product contains nicotine and can damage your health”) on the front and back of the packaging.
The United Kingdom Government’s position on the proposals will be informed by scientific and market research being co-ordinated by the MHRA.
Social Care: Funding
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to adjust the Northern Ireland block grant in relation to social care funding after the freezing until 2019 of the United Kingdom inheritance tax level at £325,000; and whether an enhanced block grant will depend on the Northern Ireland Executive introducing a cap on the cost of social care similar to that in the rest of the United Kingdom.[HL5603]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): Social care is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly, so the reforms announced will apply only in England. The Northern Ireland Assembly will receive Barnett consequentials from any changes in UK departmental budgets in the normal way.
Somalia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to invite Somaliland to the international conference to be co-hosted by the United Kingdom and Somalia on 7 May.[HL5298]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We and the Government of Somalia are currently in the planning stage of the conference. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has encouraged the Somaliland President to attend.
Surveillance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what complaints have been made to the United Kingdom National Contact Point regarding alleged breaches by the United Kingdom company Gamma International of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises, in relation to the sale of surveillance software to Bahrain.[HL5394]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): A complaint was received by the UK national contact point (NCP) for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on 1 February 2013. The NCP does not comment on ongoing assessments. Under the NCP’s published process, an initial assessment of whether the issues raised merit further examination is made within three months of receiving a complaint. The UK NCP publishes its assessments on its webpage at: https://www.gov.uk/uk-national-contact-point-for-the-organisation-for-economic-co-operation-and-development-oecd-guidelines-for-multinational-enterprises
Syria
Question
Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their most recent figure for the number of refugees from Syria currently based in (1) Jordan, (2) Lebanon, (3) Turkey, (4) Iraq, and (5) North Africa; and what is their estimate of the number of displaced persons within Syria.[HL5561]
Baroness Northover: As of 19 February, the total number of Syrian refugees registered or awaiting registration was over 862,000, including (1) 271,000 in Jordan, (2) 289,000 in Lebanon, (3) 182,000 in Turkey, (4) 92,000 in Iraq and (5) over 25,000 in north Africa including 18,000 in Egypt. The UN estimated that refugee numbers would reach 1.1 million by mid-2013, but on the current trajectory this figure will probably be reached much sooner. The latest UN estimates indicate that there are over 2 million displaced persons within Syria itself.
Taxation: Inheritance Tax
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of any European Union discussions on draft proposals to legislate on inheritance tax. [HL5271]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The European Union has not made any proposals to legislate on inheritance tax, an area which remains a member state competence. If any EU legislative proposals were to be put forward, they would be subject to parliamentary scrutiny in the usual manner.
The Commission’s most recent publications on inheritance tax covered the topic of how member states can work together to relieve double taxation. The documents can be accessed through the Commission’s website1. The related Explanatory Memorandum and correspondence are available in the Library of the House.
1 http://ec.europa.euitaxation customs/taxation/personal tax/inheritance/index en.htm
Terrorism
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of a recent report by the Bulgarian authorities which concluded that Hezbollah was responsible for the terrorist attack in Burgas in 2012, they will encourage the European Union to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation.[HL5332]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The official Bulgarian investigation into the Burgas bus bombing on 18 July 2012 has implicated individuals from Hezbollah's military wing. This is an assessment that the UK shares. The EU must now collectively decide how to respond. Based on our national proscription, we believe there is a strong case for EU designation of the military wing of Hezbollah as a terrorist organisation. We are actively discussing this with our EU partners.
Thailand
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the European Commissioner regarding the cut in European Union aid to the Border Consortium in Thailand.[HL5588]
Baroness Northover: DfID officials regularly discuss funding to the Thai/Burma border, including assistance to the Thailand Border Consortium (TBC), with the European Union and other donors. The most recent discussions were held at the Donor and Humanitarian Agencies Working Group on 5 February in Bangkok, when all donors discussed their future funding plans for TBC. DfID noted our recent increase in support to TBC. The European Commission Humanitarian Office confirmed that it was cutting basic food and shelter rations to TBC, but increasing support to livelihoods and preparation for return inside the camps.
Thames Tideway Tunnel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the dates of (1) the data used, and (2) the conclusions, of the cost-benefit calculations on which the decision to build the Thames Tideway Tunnel was made. [HL5391]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Defra published a regulatory impact assessment on sewage collection and treatment for London in March 2007 and a Costs and Benefits of the Thames Tunnel document in November 2011 (as an annexe to a strategic and economic case for the Thames Tideway
Tunnel). Both documents listed the sources of their data. Defra also published in February 2012 a list of the evidence associated with the case for the tunnel (with the relevant dates of publication), entitled the
T
hames Tunnel Evidence Assessmen
t.
Uganda
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following Norway’s recent recovery of 4.2 million dollars in misused aid funds from Uganda, in co-operation with the Office of the Auditor General of Uganda, the Department for International Development has received any similar reimbursement of aid funds from Uganda, or from any other country.[HL5611]
Baroness Northover: DfID is undertaking a forensic audit of the Office of the Ugandan Prime Minister to determine whether any UK aid has been misused. Once the results are available we will be taking appropriate action to recover any funds deemed to have been misappropriated. It is our expectation that any misused funds will be promptly repaid.
UN: Ruggie Principles
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will be defining the United Nations Ruggie principles and how to apply them to forthcoming trade missions, in particular the mission in February to Guatemala on mining, energy and infrastructure.[HL5439]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government have been working on a UK strategy on business and human rights—based on the UN guiding principles on business and human rights—and hopes to launch this soon. The strategy will express clearly the Government’s expectation that British companies will show respect for human rights in their operations. We shall place great importance on communicating this message to companies, including those going on trade missions overseas and including the mission travelling shortly to Guatemala, and shall alert business people to the human rights situations relevant to the countries in which they do, or hope to do, business.
Violence Against Women
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they adopt the United Nations’ definition of violence against women and girls, which includes prostitution and human trafficking.[HL5630]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The UK joined consensus on the 1993 UN Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women (UN General Assembly resolution 48/104), and thereby agreed the UN definition of violence against women. This definition includes forced prostitution and human trafficking.
Visas
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any response to the British Council's press statement on 12 December expressing concerns about the Home Secretary's announcement that the UK Border Agency will conduct more than 100,000 interviews of prospective students in countries that are deemed to be high-risk for visa abuse.[HL4487]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The Government have not responded to the British Council’s press statement of 12 December.
Waste Management: Brofiscin Quarry
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the “appropriate persons” for the remediation of Brofiscin Quarry have been determined.[HL5455]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Remediation of the Brofiscin Quarry site was completed last year. The Environment Agency is currently in an advanced stage of negotiation with three organisations for the recovery of costs by way of a voluntary contribution. While the organisations remain those that the Environment Agency considers to be liable for the contamination at Brofiscin, to date they cannot be formally determined as the “Appropriate Persons” in accordance with the contaminated land regime if the Environment Agency is to resolve these matters by way of negotiated agreement.
Water Management: Urban Waste Water
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House copies of all notes of meetings, correspondence and other
communications they have had with the European Commission following the judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-301/10 dated 18 October 2012, on urban waste water treatment in accordance with the Aarhus Convention of 1998; and how they plan to facilitate the related requirement for “public participation in environmental decision-making” on environmental issues relating to that judgment. [HL5390]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Our obligations under the Aarhus convention with respect to access to information are subject to the requirements of the EU Environmental Information Directive (2003/4/EC), transposed nationally by the Environmental Information Regulations 2004. These regulations provide that environmental information held by public authorities, including Defra, may be the subject of a request to make it publicly available, subject to certain exemptions. In line with these exemptions we do not intend to publish any communications with the European Commission regarding compliance with the judgment of the Court in Case C-301/10 as we believe that disclosure would adversely affect the current discussions and our relations with the European Commission.
With regard to public participation duties under the Aarhus convention, these are covered by EU legislation, including the Public Participation Directive (2003/35/EC), the Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive (2011/92/EU), transposed nationally by legislation on planning, environmental impact assessments and environmental permitting. Applications or proposals may engage public consultation duties under this legislation. We do not believe that there are currently any environmental issues relating to the Court judgment which engage these duties, over and above issues on which previous consultations have taken place.
Wildlife: Illegal Trade
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decisions of the governments of Botswana and Zambia to outlaw trophy hunting. [HL5383]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): The UK Government have noted with interest the decisions by the Governments of Botswana and Zambia to prohibit trophy hunting but have made no specific assessment of their potential impact.