11 Mar 2013 : Column WA1

Written Answers

Monday 11 March 2013

Airports: Gatwick and Heathrow

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether passport or identity checks are made at Heathrow and Gatwick airports when passengers with tickets and boarding passes go through security; and, if not, why not. [HL5928]

Earl Attlee: The Department for Transport sets the screening requirements and the standards that must be applied to ensure that those entering airside areas of airports are not carrying or concealing a prohibited article.

There is no current government requirement for passport or identity checks to be made when passengers go through airport security. To enter the airside of an airport, passengers must prove their intention to fly on a service from the UK. There is a variety of methods to achieve this and boarding cards are among those acceptable. Indeed airport operators have the legal right to refuse a passenger entry if, in their opinion, the presented documentation is invalid or inappropriate.

A passenger’s identity does not determine or have an impact on the screening process that they undergo at security. Rather, the focus is on the screening of all passengers and everything they carry into the critical part of the airport to ensure that no prohibited articles are introduced, regardless of who they are. However, airlines will check passenger identity at other stages in the airport process, for example, at check-in.

Anguilla

Question

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any issues are negatively affecting the relationship of the United Kingdom with the Government of Anguilla; and, if so, what are those issues.[HL5802]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Chief Minister of Anguilla, Hubert Hughes, has been critical of the Government and the Governor, in particular over what he regards as historical injustices, but we continue to have a strong relationship with the Government of Anguilla. Anguilla is facing economic and fiscal challenges and the Government are working with the Government of Anguilla to help strengthen good governance, financial management and economic planning, in line with our strategy set out in the 2012 White Paper on the Overseas Territories.

When the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mr Simmonds),

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA2

met Mr Hughes during a visit to Anguilla in October 2012, and at the joint ministerial council in December 2012, he reiterated the Government’s desire to work in partnership with him and his government to increase economic growth and private investment in the territory. The Government will continue to look at ways to support Anguilla. We have, for example, recently agreed to provide significant funding to help create a vocational training centre at the community college in Anguilla.

Asset Transfer Unit

Question

Asked by Lord Greaves

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Asset Transfer Unit; what is its purpose and relationship to the Government; how it is funded; and on how many occasions in each year since its formation it has provided advice and support to schemes for the transfer of assets from the public sector to community bodies.[HL5771]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): From 2008 to 2012 the Government grant funded Locality to manage the Asset Transfer Unit to promote best practice across England and provide independent advice and expertise on matters relating to asset transfer to community ownership and management. The unit also managed the Advancing Assets for Communities demonstration programme (which completed in March 2011) which has supported the development of local asset transfer strategies, policies and procedures aimed at communities taking over local authority assets, by providing tailored support to 92 local authority/community partnerships. An independent evaluation in 2011 found that the unit supported 30 asset transfer projects each year. In total the grant funding amounted to £3,849,577.

In April 2012 Locality was part of the consortium that won the contract to manage all three of the Community Rights support programmes, Community Ownership and Management of Assets, Right to Challenge and Right to Build. It has now established the My Community Rights service which also deals with community asset transfer queries.

Asylum Seekers

Questions

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the report by Maternity Action and the Refugee Council When Maternity Doesn’t Matter: Dispersing Pregnant Women Seeking Asylum, they will review the UK Border Agency’s policies on the treatment of pregnant women seeking asylum, and in particular those who have high-risk pregnancies because of serious health conditions having fled torture, sexual violence or female genital mutilation in their own countries.[HL5908]

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To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will implement the recommendations for the UK Border Agency and the Department of Health made in the report by Maternity Action and the Refugee Council When Maternity Doesn’t Matter: Dispersing Pregnant Women Seeking Asylum; and, if so, when. [HL5909]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The UK Border Agency’s policies relating to pregnant asylum seekers were revised in August 2012, following widespread consultation. The report by the Refugee Council and Maternity Action drew conclusions from a limited sample of cases that were dealt with before those revised policies came into effect.

The policies are none the less kept under continuous review and the recommendations of the report are being considered by the UK Border Agency and the Department of Health. Some of the recommendations are covered by work that is already ongoing.

Bangladesh

Question

Asked by Lord Hussain

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the human rights situation in Bangladesh, in the light of recent reports of fatal shootings of demonstrators by Bangladeshi police; and whether they have made representations to the Government of that country encouraging them to exercise restraint.[HL5983]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government are very concerned about the ongoing violent protests in Bangladesh. We have called for restraint both publicly and privately with the Bangladesh Government. Our high commissioner in Dhaka, Robert Gibson, met with the Bangladesh Government, including the Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, this week to raise our concerns. He also released a statement on 3 March expressing sadness over the violence and the deaths that have taken place across Bangladesh recently.

All citizens have a right to hold their Government to account, including through legitimate and peaceful protests. But violence and vandalism have no place in legitimate protests. The economic and social cost of strikes and other forms of disruption is damaging to individuals, business, and the nation. As I said when I visited Bangladesh in February, I hope that parties can resolve their differences through dialogue and discussion and that citizens are able to freely raise their concerns or grievances through peaceful means, without fear of retaliation or attack.

Banking

Questions

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what factors will determine the timing and method by which they will sell or distribute taxpayer-owned shares in Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland.[HL5778]

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The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): UK Financial Investments (UKFI) continue to be responsible for managing the Government’s investments in Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) on an arm’s-length and commercial basis; and for developing and executing a strategy for disposing of the investments in an orderly and active way.

As shareholder, UKFI has a clear mandate which is focussed on protecting and creating value for the taxpayer, paying due regard to financial stability and competition. It will continue to look at the full range of alternatives for disposing of the investments.

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they or the Financial Services Authority will publish the criteria that will determine the limits to be set on pay for hedge fund and private equity managers under the European Union alternative investment fund management directive; and what is their assessment of the impact of those limits on those sectors of the United Kingdom economy.[HL5779]

Lord Deighton: This is a matter for the Financial Services Authority (FSA), whose day-to-day operations are independent from government control and influence. This question has been passed on to the FSA, which will reply directly by letter. A copy of the response will be placed in the Library of the House.

Banking: Bonuses

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom can opt out of those aspects of the European Union’s capital requirements directive IV proposal relating to the payment of bonuses to bank executives; and, if so, whether they will be exercising that opt-out, or taking any other action in connection with those provisions.[HL5681]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): European directives must be transposed into national legislation by EU member states. The capital requirements directive IV will apply to all EU member states and remains under discussion. The UK does not hold an opt out on the proposed capital requirements directive IV.

Benefits

Question

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Ripon and Leeds

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for uprating the level of the benefit cap in future years to take account of changes in average take-home pay.[HL5706]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Legislation requires that the level of the benefit cap should be determined by reference to the estimated net average earnings of

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working households in Great Britain. It also requires the Secretary of State to review its level each year to see if it remains set at an appropriate figure in relation to estimated average earnings. Following this annual review the Secretary of State can, if he considers it appropriate, increase or decrease the level or retain the existing figure.

Any changes to the level of the cap have to be made the annual uprating order, so they will be announced following the Autumn Statement.

Burma

Questions

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the situation in Burma.[HL5766]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We acknowledge the encouraging reforms in Burma over the past 18 months. In particular, the significant releases of political prisoners; credible by-elections; initial ceasefire agreements signed between the Government and 10 of 11 major armed groups; and steps towards increasing humanitarian access to conflict areas. UK policy has evolved in line with this progress. We are engaging with the government and all parties to support the reform process and Burma’s transition to democracy.

However, we also recognise that many challenges remain: several hundred political prisoners are still in jail; Kachin state remains the scene of armed conflict between the Government and armed ethnic groups and the most serious human rights violations; UN agencies continue to struggle to gain unhindered humanitarian access; and the Rohingya continue to be denied citizenship and basic rights.

In order to help Burma address these challenges, we will continue to be a constructive, supportive and critical partner, committed to supporting reform moves under the President and Aung San Suu Kyi.

Asked by Lord Hollick

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Burma regarding the democratic legitimacy of the constitution, given that the military have the ability to veto constitutional reform.[HL5841]

Baroness Warsi: The Government support constitutional reform in Burma and are working with key Burmese institutions involved in the reform process including the Burmese military. The recent appointment of a defence attaché to our embassy in Rangoon will provide an important channel for engagement with the Burmese military.

During his visit to Burma in December 2012, the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised with Burmese ministers the prospects for Burma's transition towards democracy and offered support as Burma seeks to reform its laws

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA6

and processes. He repeated this offer of support to members of the Burmese parliament including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Asked by Lord Hollick

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to the Government of Burma regarding reviewing and redrafting legislation; on which laws they have provided assistance; and with which Burmese government ministries they are working on each of these laws.[HL5842]

Baroness Warsi: UK assistance to Burma in relation to reviewing and drafting laws has been principally to Burma’s Parliament and civil society, rather than directly to the Burmese Government. In December 2012, the UK hosted a visit by the Burmese Bills Committee to Parliament, and the UK has arranged visits of advisers to Burma who have discussed with Burmese Members of Parliament the foreign investment law and the central bank law.

The UK, through the British Council, is also assisting the parliamentary committee in Burma to draft the new higher education law. In addition, again through the British Council, we have supported a civil society consultation process on forest and land laws.

Asked by Lord Hollick

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the European Union has conducted an assessment of the benchmarks for suspending sanctions against Burma; and, if so, whether they will take steps to ensure that that assessment will be made public.[HL5843]

Baroness Warsi: On 23 April 2012, EU Foreign Ministers agreed to suspend all EU sanctions on Burma for one year, apart from the arms embargo and restrictions on the supply of equipment which could be used for international repression. This was in recognition of the significant progress made by the Burmese Government against the EU’s benchmarks as set out in council conclusions of January 2012. This included the release of a significant number of political prisoners, the signing of ceasefires with ten of eleven major armed ethnic groups and the largely free and fair conduct of parliamentary by-elections on 1 April 2012.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council will meet on 22 April. Foreign Ministers from EU member states will consider whether to lift, suspend or reimpose sanctions on Burma at this time. The decision will be guided by the Foreign Ministers' collective views on the Burmese Government's efforts to make further progress against them. If unanimity cannot be reached, sanctions will fall away in their entirety. The nature of these discussions will be reflected in EU Foreign Affairs council conclusions, which will be made public.

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Question

Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many deaths have been recorded due to carbon monoxide poisoning in the past year; and what steps they are taking to reduce the number of such deaths.[HL5744]

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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): There were 36 recorded deaths from accidental carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in England, Wales and Scotland in 2011 (the latest year available).

The Government take gas safety and awareness of CO issues very seriously and provide information for the public on Government websites and in a number of publications. There is also a cross-government group on gas safety and CO awareness which helps to co-ordinate activity. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides a freephone Gas Safety Advice Line.

HSE and Gas Safe Register advise consumers to always use a Gas Safe-registered engineer for all gas work in their home, and to ensure that any gas appliances are regularly serviced and maintained. Gas Safe Register also runs awareness raising promotions and media campaigns, including the annual gas safety week.

The Department for Communities and Local Government require the installation of a CO alarm when a new or replacement solid fuel appliance is installed under the obligations set out in the building regulations.

The Department of Health and the Health Protection Agency have promoted messages on the dangers of CO, to the general public and the medical community, as part of their public health work.

The Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) price control review has resulted in licensed gas distribution network operators introducing proposals to raise awareness and reduce the risks of CO in their business plans from April 2013.

Chagos Islands

Questions

Asked by Baroness Whitaker

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Foreign Secretary’s undertaking on 20 December 2012 to “be as positive as possible in our engagement with Chagossian groups”, and the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights on 20 December 2012, whether they will make provision for the individual fishing rights of the Chagossians and of Mauritius in the British Indian Ocean Territory marine protected area.[HL5752]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We have no plans to alter the “no-take” status of the British Indian Ocean Territory, marine protected area. This is, of course, subject to the outcome of current ongoing domestic litigation and international arbitral proceedings.

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the visa requirements for foreign nationals, other than members of the United States armed forces, wishing to enter the Chagos Islands.[HL5801]

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Baroness Warsi: There is no visa regime controlling entry to British Indian Ocean Territory. Immigration rules are set out in the British Indian Ocean Territory (Immigration) Order 2004.

Child Poverty Act 2010

Questions

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Leicester

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to amend the Child Poverty Act 2010 following the results of the consultation on a new measure of child poverty.[HL5714]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The Government have no plans to amend the Child Poverty Act. The recent consultation process is designed to enable us to find additional measures of child poverty that capture the full reality of poverty in the United Kingdom.

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Leicester

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will continue to report on the child poverty measures contained in the Child Poverty Act 2010 following the results of the consultation on a new measure of child poverty.[HL5715]

Lord Freud: The Government have no plans to amend the Child Poverty Act, and will continue to publish the annual Households Below Average Income statistics that measure progress against the targets. The recent consultation process is designed to enable us to find additional measures of child poverty that capture the full reality of poverty in the United Kingdom.

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Leicester

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they remain committed to the specific targets set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010.[HL5716]

Lord Freud: The Government remain committed to eradicating child poverty and to the Child Poverty Act. The recent consultation process is designed to enable us to find additional measures of child poverty that capture the full reality of poverty in the United Kingdom.

Civil Service: Staff

Question

Asked by Lord Dobbs

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the annual turnover of civil servants in each of the past five years in (1) HM Treasury, (2) the Department for Transport, (3) the Department of Health, and (4) the civil service as a whole.[HL5978]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

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Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Dobbs, dated March 2013.

As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking HM Government what was the annual turnover of Civil Servants in each of

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA10

the last five years in (1) HM Treasury, (2) the Department for Transport, (3) the Department of Health and (4) the Civil Service as a whole. {HL5978}

Civil Service employment figures are published annually by the Office for National Statistics, with a survey reference date of 31 March. The attached tables provide the data that you have requested for the last five years.

Civil Service entrants and leavers for Department of Health, HM Treasury, Department of Transport and Total Civil Service1 2
2008 32009201020112012
EntrantsLeaversEntrantsLeaversEntrantsLeaversEntrantsLeaversEntrantsLeavers
TotalTotalTotalTotalTotalTotalTotalTotalTotalTotal

HM Treasury

HM Treasury

110

150

250

140

280

110

80

130

0

120

Asset Protection Agency 5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

..

10

Office for Budget Responsibility 5

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

0

0

Health

Department of Health (excl agencies)

170

210

40

150

90

180

60

180

30

350

Food Standards Agency 5

40

60

70

80

30

60

40

260

-

-

Meat Hygiene Service 5

..

150

20

260

10

130

-

-

-

-

Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

110

70

120

60

120

30

20

70

60

100

National Healthcare Purchasing and Supplies 5

20

20

40

20

10

80

-

-

-

-

NHS Business Services Authority (Civil Service only) 5

..

10

0

10

0

10

0

10

-

-

Transport

Department for Transport (excl agencies)4

100

110

140

..

110

150

40

330

30

210

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

230

510

610

740

330

370

210

220

190

270

Driving Standards Agency

190

70

190

180

120

160

50

150

140

160

Government Car and Despatch Agency

40

30

40

20

30

50

0

70

..

40

Highways Agency

380

340

320

280

420

150

70

270

10

160

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

90

110

130

170

120

100

40

120

60

80

Office of Rail Regulation

30

10

20

30

30

40

10

30

10

30

Vehicle Certification Agency

30

10

20

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

Vehicle and Operator Services Agency

190

190

310

140

70

250

10

210

30

110

Total Civil Service

23,480

41,050

41,560

39,010

39,010

39,170

13,400

38,210

12,570

46,110

Source:

Annual Civil Service Employment Survey

1 Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, and numbers less than five are represented by “..”

2. Reference date for this survey is 31 March.

3. Data for 2008 shows permanent employees only whereas 2009-12 shows all employees.

4 Includes Government Office for the Regions employees for 2008-11.

5.All organisations not in existence are represented by “-”

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Developing Countries: Food

Question

Asked by Lord Teverson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to focusing their aid programmes on the transportation and storage of food in developing countries, and on waste minimisation along the supply chain.[HL5712]

Baroness Northover: The Department for International Development (DfID) supports several programmes for the transportation and storage of food in developing countries. For example, DfID supports work at the CGIAR international agricultural research system, on post-harvest storage to help African and South Asian farmers to protect their crops and incomes. DfID also supports the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund which backs innovative agri-business ideas along the whole agricultural value chain.

Under the AgResults programme—launched by the PM and G20 leaders in June 2012—a pilot project works with farmers in Kenya to improve crop storage.

Diego Garcia

Question

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how often they used or permitted the use of Diego Garcia for rendition flights in 2012, if at all.[HL5702]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK did not use, nor did it permit the use of, Diego Garcia for rendition flights in 2012.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Questions

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to consolidating the Driver and Vehicle Agency at its office in Coleraine, rather than in Swansea.[HL5884]

Earl Attlee: Consolidation of the delivery of vehicle services at the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Coleraine has been examined, along with other options for the future delivery of vehicle registration and licensing services in Northern Ireland. This has been considered as part of the analysis of the optimum delivery of enhanced vehicle services to motorists in Northern Ireland. No final decisions have yet been made.

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with local residents about the possible closure of the Driver and Vehicle Agency office in Coleraine.[HL5885]

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Earl Attlee: No discussions have been held with local residents in Coleraine. Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency officials have worked closely with their counterparts in Northern Ireland to analyse options for delivering enhanced vehicle services to Northern Ireland motorists. No final decisions have yet been made.

Economy

Question

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to restore the AAA credit rating for the United Kingdom.[HL5804]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The UK credit rating is an important benchmark for any country, but it is not the only benchmark. Returning the UK to sustainable, balanced economic growth is the Government's overriding priority. The actions taken to reduce the deficit and rebuild the economy have secured stability, with interest rates near historic lows, benefiting families, businesses and the tax payer.

Embryology

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 11 February (WA 100), whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has ever been able to define the term “pronucleus”; if so, when the HFEA clarified whether pronuclei are themselves nuclei of a particular kind or not, and what was the source of that definition; and if not, how the HFEA advises on public policy on the matter in the absence of a definition.[HL5734]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that it has defined the term “pronuclei” in its recent work on mitochondria replacement. A technical definition can be found in the glossary of the Scientific Report on the authority's website at: www.hfea.gov.uk by searching “mitochondria review final report”.

A more expansive definition for a lay audience can be found in the glossary on the authority's mitochondria replacement consultation website at: http://mitochondria. hfea.gov.uk and by looking under “further information” and “glossary”.

Employment: 16-18 Year-olds

Question

Asked by Baroness Sharp of Guildford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people in England aged 16 to 17 were (1) in employment with employer-funded training, (2) in employment on other education and training, and (3) in employment without training, according to the most recent figures available; and how many in each category were working, rather than training, in employment for more than 20 hours a week.[HL5910]

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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): Data on the number of young people participating in education, training and employment are published in a Department for Education (DfE) Statistical First Release (SFR) entitled Participation in Education, Training and Employment by 16-18 Year Olds in England.

The table below shows the requested information for end 2011.

CategoryNumber of 16-17 year-oldsProportion of 16-17 year- olds

In employment with employer-funded training

31,800

2.4%

In employment on other education and training

12,700

1.0%

In employment without training

31,500

2.4%

The department does not collect information on the number of hours worked so cannot provide the number of these working for more than 20 hours a week.

Employment: Pensioners

Question

Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the estimated numbers of (1) women, and (2) men, of pensionable age currently in (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment; and what estimate they have made of the net effect on public funds of abolishing the national insurance exemption for people of pensionable age.[HL5814]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): I refer to the reply to Lord Warner of 11 August 201 1 (Official Report, col. 436). The Government have previously estimated that around £500 million would be raised if individuals over state pension age were required to pay national insurance contributions on employment and self-employment income. This figure included an estimated behavioural adjustment to reflect possible changes in labour supply for this age group.

The requested information on employment among individuals of pensionable age is shown in the following table.

Full and part-time employment of individuals above the state pension age1, by sex, in the United Kingdom, October-December 2012 (thousands).

Part-time employmentFull-time employment

Men

245

347

Women

224

571

Source

: Office for National Statistics, Labour Force Survey

1

. Men aged 65 and over. Women aged 61 and three or four months and over.

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Energy: Prices

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will investigate possible manipulation of Brent crude oil prices by financial speculators.[HL5678]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Government continues to monitor relevant research on the role of financial market activity on commodity markets and prices and will keep this under review. HM Treasury has not seen evidence of the manipulation of Brent crude prices by financial speculators.

Eritrea

Questions

Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2023 (2011) calling for an end to the tax imposed by Eritrea on the Eritrean Diaspora.[HL5787]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK supported UN Security Council Resolution 2023 which condemned Eritrea’s use of the diaspora tax to destabilise the Horn of Africa region and decided that Eritrea should cease using illicit means to collect the tax. We are aware of allegations over the use of harassment to collect revenue from members of the Eritrean diaspora in the UK.

On 20 December 2012, Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials raised these concerns with the Eritrean ambassador and reminded him of UN SCR 2023.

Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to comply with the provisions of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2023 (2011) on sanctions against Eritrea.[HL5788]

Baroness Warsi: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), HM Treasury (HMT) and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have shared responsibility for enforcing the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2023.

BIS will not grant an export licence to Eritrea unless it is consistent with the terms of the embargo. HMRC uses a risk based and intelligence-led approach to enforce the embargo and identify any illicit shipments destined for Eritrea. HMT has responsibility for the asset freeze and has drawn up Eritrea asset-freezing regulations. Although no individuals or entities are currently subject to an asset freeze, regulations would automatically apply in respect of any persons designated in future. UKBA has responsibility for enforcing travel bans and the Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) Order 2000 is in place to implement this. No individuals or entities are currently designated under the travel ban and the restrictive measures will apply in respect of any persons designated in future after an amendment order is issued.

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Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action is being taken by the United Kingdom, including with Commonwealth and European Union partners, to ensure compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 2023 (2011) on sanctions against Eritrea.[HL5789]

Baroness Warsi: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), HM Treasury (HMT) and the UK Border Agency (UKBA) have shared responsibility for enforcing the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2023.

BIS will not grant an export licence to Eritrea unless it is consistent with the terms of the embargo. HMRC uses a risk based and intelligence-led approach to enforce the embargo and identify any illicit shipments destined for Eritrea. HMT has responsibility for the asset freeze and have drawn up Eritrea asset-freezing regulations. Although no individuals or entities are currently subject to an asset freeze, regulations would automatically apply in respect of any persons designated in future. UKBA has responsibility for enforcing travel bans and the Immigration (Designation of Travel Bans) Order 2000 is in place to implement this. No individuals or entities are currently designated under the travel ban and the restrictive measures will apply in respect of any persons designated in future after an amendment order is issued.

UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2023 reiterates the provisions set out in UNSCR 1907. Compliance with UNSCR 1907 by all EU Member States is ensured through EU Council Regulations which implement UN sanctions transposed where necessary into national law. On 26 July 2010, the EU adopted Council Regulation No 667/2010, which implements in EU law the measures in UNSCR 1907 relating to the arms embargo and the freezing of funds and economic resources of persons designated by the Somalia and Eritrea Sanctions Committee.

Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the purpose of the forthcoming visit to the United Kingdom of Yeman Gebreab, Head of Political Affairs and adviser to President Afewerki of Eritrea.[HL5790]

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of reports that the Eritrean presidential adviser will be visiting the UK in March. His visit is not sponsored by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office so we are unable to comment on the purpose of the visit.

EU: UK Membership

Questions

Asked by Lord Vinson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have received on the possibility of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, but remaining a member of

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA16

the European Economic Area as an independent signatory to the 1994 Agreement on the European Economic Area.[HL5776]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government have neither sought nor received advice on this matter. The UK’s national interest is best served as a member of a reformed EU that is competitive, flexible, and democratically accountable.

Asked by Lord Vinson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultations they have had about the potential tariff rates applicable to the United Kingdom for trade with the European Union were the United Kingdom to exit the European Union without an interim agreement.[HL5854]

Baroness Warsi: The Government have not entered into consultations on this matter. The UK’s national interest is best served as a member of a reformed EU that is competitive, flexible, and democratically accountable.

Asked by Lord Vinson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultations they have had about whether the United Kingdom would continue to enjoy the free trade agreements negotiated as part of the European Union if it left that union; and what, if any, conclusions they have reached.[HL5855]

Baroness Warsi: The Government have not entered into consultations on this matter. The UK’s national interest is best served as a member of a reformed EU that is competitive, flexible, and democratically accountable. This includes encouraging the EU to conclude free trade agreements with Canada and India, and to launch negotiations in the coming months with the US and Japan. This would tackle the remaining barriers to almost half the world’s trade flow.

Euro

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that central clearing platforms can continue to clear euro-denominated transactions in the United Kingdom.[HL5782]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Government have lodged legal challenges at the General Court of the European Union in relation to the European Central Bank’s location policy, which requires that major euro clearing business should be based in the euro area. In addition, the Government successfully secured text in the EU regulation on over-the-counter derivatives, central counterparties and trade repositories (EMIR), which states that, “no member state or group of member states should be discriminated against, directly or indirectly, as a venue for clearing services”.

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA17

Finance: Investment

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what forecast they have made of the level of net public investment in 2015-16 as a percentage of gross domestic product; and what was the level in each of the previous 20 years. [HL5781]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Independent Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) set out forecasts for public sector net investment as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) in Table 4.32 of the December Economic and Fiscal Outlook1, set out below. Hard copies of this document are available in the library of the House and can be purchased from the Houses of Parliament Shop.

Historical data is set out in the Public Sector Finances databank, available on the Treasury website2. Public sector net investment as a percentage of GDP from 1967-68 can be found on tab B2: Government Expenditure is set out in Annex A below.

1

http://cdn.budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk/December-2012-Economic-and-fiscal-outlook23423423.pdf

2

http://www.hrn-treasurygov.uk/psf_statistics.httn

Financial Services Authority

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they or the Financial Services Authority are considering requiring standardised assumptions for the calculation of Value at Risk when used to compute bank capital requirements.[HL5679]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Financial Services Authority (FSA) is playing a leading role in an ongoing international project to investigate and assess the methods used to calculate banks’ capital requirements. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s (BCBS) recent Report on Regulatory Consistency of Risk-weighted Assets for Market Risk1 sets out the thinking on market risk. A further paper on credit risk is expected later in the year. Requiring standardised assumptions is one of a range of approaches being considered by the regulatory sector to calculate value at risk for banks’ capital requirements.

The FSA is planning to continue fully participating in this project, including the forthcoming BCBS report on the banking book.

1

http://www.bis.org/publ/bcbs240.pdf

Fire and Rescue Service

Question

Asked by Lord Greaves

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will put forward proposals during this Parliament that would allow Fire and Rescue Authorities to tender out fire and rescue services to private sector bodies.[HL5772]

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA18

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): I refer the noble Lord, to the Answer my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Brandon Lewis) gave to my honourable friend, the Member of Congleton (Fiona Bruce) on 5 March 2013 (Official Report, col. 931W).

Food: Waste

Question

Asked by Lord Teverson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the recommendations of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ report Global Food: Waste Not, Want Not; and whether they have had any dialogue with the institution since the publication of that report.[HL5711]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): We are grateful for the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ contribution to the debate on food waste and agree that too much food is wasted. The 2011 Review of Waste Policy in England set out the Government’s commitment to tackle food waste, focusing on waste prevention. The Institution invited me to a dinner in early February but unfortunately due to other diary commitments I was unable to attend.

I refer the noble Lord to the oral question I answered in the House on 17 January this year (Official Report, House of Lords, col. 788).

Government Departments: Telephone Calls

Question

Asked by Lord Christopher

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 5 February (Official Report, col. 130), what are the reasons for the variations in the number of telephone calls made to HM Revenue and Customs between 89,000 and 3.2 million per day; whether any research has been undertaken to establish the nature of, the reason for, and the staff grade level, of those calls; and, if so, what was the result.[HL5748]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has designated peaks throughout the year and call volumes fluctuate in line with business deadlines. The department analyses the reasons for contact and deploys advisers to answer calls to match projected demand portfolios.

HMRC has not undertaken a specific research study on this subject.

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA19

Government: Contracts

Questions

Asked by Lord Greaves

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they give to (1) government departments, and (2) other agencies, carrying out tasks on their behalf, in relation to the use of gagging clauses in contracts with charities, voluntary organisations and other bodies.[HL5738]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they give any regard, when allocating contracts and other funding to charities, voluntary bodies and other organisations, to their record, practices or policies in commenting on government policies and in lobbying government and legislators.[HL5739]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Government contracts are awarded on the basis of value for money in accordance with the fundamental principles of equal treatment and non-discrimination, transparency and proportionality.

Whether or not a bidder is a lobbying or pressure group would not of itself be a consideration in awarding a contract, although where improper attempts to influence the award constitute grave professional misconduct this would lead to exclusion.

It is for individual contracting authorities to determine what confidentiality clauses are appropriate according to the product or services to be delivered, taking into account the Government’s commitment to transparency, and relevant legislation.

Government: Expenditure

Question

Asked by Lord Avebury

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the relative merits of reducing government expenditure and increasing taxation.[HL5806]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): Research from international bodies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the International Monetary Fund have found that consolidations achieved primarily through reductions in expenditure are more likely to be successful than those focused on increases in taxation. The Government’s fiscal strategy is consistent with this research. Seventy-nine per cent of the total consolidation in 2015-16 will be delivered by lower spending.

Government: Ministerial Visits

Questions

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which representatives of media organisations accompanied the Prime Minister on his recent visit to India. [HL5803]

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA20

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford): The media organisations were as follows:

ITN; Channel 4 News; Daily Express; Sky News; Daily Telegraph; ITN; BBC News; Daily Mirror; the Sun; Thomson Reuters; Financial Times; Press Association; Daily Mail; Bloomberg; the Guardian; the Times; the Independent.

A list of the business delegation for this visit will be placed in the Library of the House.

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the names of all those representing United Kingdom businesses who accompanied the Prime Minister on his recent visit to India.[HL5904]

The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint):

CompanyRepresentative

Aecom

Jason Prior

Alice Powell Racing

Alice Powell

Arup

Terry Hill

Association of Colleges

John Mountford

Association of Corporate Treasurers

Colin Tyler

Atkins

Professor Dr Uwe Krueger

BAE Systems

Dick Olver

Balfour Beatty

Ian Tyler

Benoy

Graham Cartledge CBE

Bluewater Bio

Xan Morgan

Bournville College

Norman Cave

BP

Bob Dudley

BP

Dr. Angela Strank

Brit Health Care

Dr. Rajnish Mohindroo

British Council

Martin Davidson CMG

British Museum

Neil MacGregor

BT India Pvt.

Sudhir Narang

Cobham

David Johnston

Cobra Beer Partnership

Lord Karan Bilimoria CBE, DL

Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

John Cridland CBE

Conversor

Jeremy Brassington

CTC Aviation Group

Captain Robert Clarke

De La Rue

Tim Cobbold

Debenhams

John Scott

Debenhams

Francis McAuley

Deloitte

Vassi Naidoo

Diageo

Paul Walsh

Diageo

Ian Wright

DLA Piper

Tony Angel

DMC Healthcare

Anil Gupta

DMC Healthcare

Ravi Gupta

EADS UK

Robin Southwell

East End Foods

Paul Deep Wouhra

East End Foods

Tony Deep Wouhra

Financial Services Authority

John Griffith-Jones

Flitabout

Nigel Lang

Griffon Hoverworks

Michael Coveney

Hildebrand Technology

Joshua Cooper

Hip Impact Protection

The Hon. William Beckett

HSBC

Robin Phillips

Infosys

B G Srivinas

Innovative Physics

Natalie Harper

InterContinental Hotels Group

Jan Smits

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA21

Investis

Helen James

Invotec Group

Tim Tatton

J&H Sales

Ranjit S Baxi

JCB

Philip Bouverat

John McAslan & Partners

Hiro Aso

Joseph Rhodes

Mark Ridgway OBE DL

KPMG

Simon Collins

Lloyd's

John Nelson

London Chamber of Commerce & Industry

Subhash Thakrar

London School of Economics & Political Science

Professor Craig Calhoun

London Stock Exchange

Alexander Justham

London Underground

David Waboso

Marshall of Cambridge (Holdings)

Robert Marshall

MBDA

Steve Wadey

Mitras Automotive (UK)

David Montague

Monsoon

Peter Simon

Mott MacDonald

Keith Howells

Muntons

Tim Stonehouse

New College Nottingham

Amarjit Basi

OCS Group

Peter Armitage

Oxford Business Group

Andrew Jeffreys

Pathfinder Health India

Dr Niti Pall

Pi Capital

David Giampaolo

Polaris Financial Technology

Bikash Mathur

Premier League

Richard Scudamore

Project Orange Architects & Interiors

James Soane

Red Gate Software

Dr Simon Galbraith

Red Gate Software

Nick Wood

Rolls-Royce

John Rishton

Roy Newey

Roy Newey

Serco

Chris Hyman

Serco

Seraj Taiyeb

Solent India Business Network & Dutton Gregory Solicitors LLP

Amarjit Singh

Standard Chartered

Peter Sands

Standard Life

David Nish

Steps Drama

Robbie Swales

Strongfield Technologies

Surinder (Max) Mongia

Sybarite Architects

Torquil McIntosh

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) UK

Phiroz Vandrevala

Technology Strategy Board

Phil Smith

Thales UK

Victor Chavez

Thames Bridge Capital

Michael Queen

The Blackstone Group

Jitesh Gadhia

The British Library

Roly Keating

The City UK

Gerry Grimstone

The Clinical Trial Company Ltd

Ewan Campbell

The Open University

Professor Martin Bean

TPP

Frank Hester

Trans Data Management

Geoff Vaughan

Triumph Motorcycles

Stephen Sargent

UK Export Finance

David Havelock

UK Higher Education International Unit

Dr Joanna Newman

UKIBC

Patricia Hewitt

Ultra Electronics Holdings

Rakesh Sharma

Ultra Global PRT

Fraser Brown

Ultra Global PRT

Nigel Clarke

University of Cambridge

Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz

University of Cardiff

Professor Colin Riordan

University of Exeter

Professor Sir Steve Smith

University of Southampton

Professor Don Nutbeam

Univesity of Warwick

Professor Nigel Thrift

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA22

Veetee Foods

Manmohan (Moni) Chander Varma

Virgin Atlantic

Maria Sebastian

Wadaro

David Dews

Wellcome Trust

Sir Mark Walport

West Nottinghamshire College

Asha Khemka OBE

Health: Genetic Screening

Question

Asked by Lord Turnberg

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Screening Committee will include screening for Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease and familial dysautonomia in their recommendations.[HL5919]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

The UK NSC is currently considering the available evidence for screening the UK Ashkenazi Jewish population for the risk of Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease and familial dysautonomia against its criteria. Ministers expect to receive a recommendation from the UK NSC later this year.

Health: Immunodeficiency Screening

Question

Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to introduce new techniques and innovations for severe combined immunodeficiency screening.[HL5860]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The United Kingdom National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. Using research evidence, pilot programmes and economic evaluation, it assesses the evidence for programmes against a set of internationally recognised criteria.

The UK NSC is currently considering the available evidence for newborn screening for severe combined immunodeficiency against its criteria. A public consultation on the screening review has just closed and ministers expect to receive a recommendation from the UK NSC shortly.

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA23

Health: Pain Management

Question

Asked by Lord Dykes

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will launch a publicity campaign to inform the public of the consequences of excessive use of painkillers for trivial ailments.[HL5882]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Adequate pain relief is an important part of the treatment and support needed for many people with pain, especially chronic pain. Information about the benefits and risks of commonly used painkillers—and of alternative, non-pharmaceutical approaches to managing pain—is freely available from sources aimed at the general public, including NHS Choices, Patient.co.uk, and the patient information leaflets on individual medicines issued with all prescription medicines. General practitioners and pharmacists will be aware of the particular risks associated with prolonged use of painkillers for headaches and can advise patients as necessary.

Health: Private Healthcare

Question

Asked by Lord Rana

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have made of deeming private health insurance contributions a tax-deductible expense, to encourage those with the means to do so to utilise private healthcare and so ease pressure on the National Health Service.[HL5692]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Government have no plans to introduce a tax relief for the cost of Private Medical Insurance.

Higher Education: Grants

Question

Asked by Lord Smith of Clifton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the cost to HM Treasury of full maintenance grants to full-time higher education students in England with gross household income of (1) above, and (2) below, £16,190 per annum.[HL5785]

Baroness Garden of Frognal: The cost of maintenance grants in 2011-12 was published in November 2012 by the Student Loans Company (SLC) in its Statistical First Release. The cost of full maintenance grants was £1,111 million in that academic year at: http://www.slc. co.uk/media/525907/slcsfr052012.pdf.

Using an extract of individual level SLC data we estimate that 25% of those receiving a full grant have gross household income above £16,190 and 75% have gross household income below £16,190.

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA24

These numbers should be treated as an estimate as the extract is produced before the end of the academic year and is not entirely consistent with the finalised data presented in the Statistical First Release. We estimate the costs for the two groups below by applying these percentages to the overall cost of the full maintenance grant (rounded to the nearest £100 million):

(1) £300 million for those with gross household income above £16,190.(2) £800 million for those with gross household income below £16,190.

Higher Education: Transport

Question

Asked by Lord Knight of Weymouth

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what statutory duties are placed on local authorities in relation to transport for students aged 16 to 24 with a learning difficulty or disability who are in education or training; and whether there are plans to amend those duties.[HL5755]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): Legislation requires local authorities to publish a post-16 transport policy statement each year. The statement should set out the arrangements that the authority considers necessary to enable young people to attend post-16 education. The statement should include the specific arrangements for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities aged up to 25.

There are no plans to amend those duties. However, under provisions in the Children and Families Bill, local authorities would have to include information about arrangements for transport to and from post-16 education and training as part of their local offer to children and young people with special educational needs.

Horses

Question

Asked by Baroness Byford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, when a horse is slaughtered in the United Kingdom, the relevant passport must be returned to a central authority.[HL5850]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Passports for horses slaughtered in an abattoir are invalidated on site under the supervision of the Food Standards Agency and returned to the Passport Issuing Organisation (PIO). Passports for horses which die in other circumstances must be returned to the PIO within 30 days of the animal’s death, and failure to do so is an offence. PIOs are required to invalidate such passports, which are then permitted to be returned to owners.

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA25

House of Lords: Chamber

Questions

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask the Chairman of Committees whether he will consider removing the Judges’ Woolsacks in order to reorganise the seating in the Chamber to accommodate the rising number of Members. [HL5727]

To ask the Chairman of Committees what measures he will implement to accommodate further new Members within the Chamber.[HL5840]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Sewel): I will consider the proposal regarding the Judges’ Woolsacks and intend to put the suggestion before the Administration and Works Committee for further consideration.

With regard to additional measures, I have had no other suggestions from Members for ways in which to accommodate more Members in the Chamber, but if Members write to me with any other proposals then I would be willing to consider them. I also refer the noble Lord to the Written Statement by my predecessor, Lord Brabazon of Tara, on 27 October 2010 (WS 103), which referred to the decision of the Administration and Works Committee in 2010 to make some seats available for Members below Bar. These seats are now frequently used by Members who do not wish to speak in debate.

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask the Chairman of Committees what plans there are to improve the acoustics of the area below the Bar of the Chamber occupied by members of the House.[HL5839]

The Chairman of Committees: There are no immediate plans to carry out any work affecting the acoustics below Bar. The Parliamentary Estates Directorate is currently conducting a feasibility study to assess whether to update the sound system in the Chamber. If the sound system is replaced then more modern microphones and loudspeakers may help to improve the sound for Members below Bar. However, this work is purely at a scoping stage at the moment, and it is not likely that any work will be undertaken in the near future.

House of Lords: Leave of Absence

Question

Asked by Lord Ashcroft

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 14 February (WA 176), whether the two Lords referred to as a consequence of taking leave of absence as described are now exempt from Section 41 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.[HL5700]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My Written Answer of 14 February 2012 (Official Report, col. WA 176) refers to the voluntary retirement scheme. Members of the

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA26

House of Lords who take voluntary retirement or leave of absence are not exempt from Section 41 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010.

House of Lords: Members

Question

Asked by Lord Dykes

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider appointing a very limited number of new Peers reflecting individual talents and backgrounds rather than party political nominees.[HL5878]

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Hill of Oareford): The House of Lords Appointments Commission receives nominations for non-party-political life Peers and recommends individuals for membership, based on merit and their ability to make a significant contribution to the work of the House.

The commission has been asked by the Prime Minister to consider nominees who would broaden the expertise and experience of the House and reflect the diversity of the people of the United Kingdom. The commission must ensure that the individuals it recommends are independent, have integrity and are committed to the highest standards of public life.

Houses of Parliament: Members

Question

Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest average comparative costs, including pension entitlement, office and education allowances, and reduced tax rates, of (1) Members of the House of Lords, (2) Members of the House of Commons, and (3) Members of the European Parliament.[HL5844]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Government do not collect information on comparative costs for Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords or Members of the European Parliament.

The website of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (www.parliamentarystandards. org.uk) holds the information in respect of costs for MPs, while the European Parliament website (www.europarl.europa.eu) holds the same for MEPs.

The latest information in relation to the costs of members of the Lords are published in the House of Lords Resource Accounts, 2011-12, http://www. publications. parliament.uk/pa/ld/ldresource/35/35.pdf.

Immigration: Romanians

Question

Asked by Lord Davies of Stamford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Romanian citizens they estimate are currently (1) in the United Kingdom, (2) in England and Wales, and (3) in the Metropolitan Police Area.[HL5965]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA27

Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Davies, dated March 2012.

As director-general for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to respond to your Parliamentary Question to ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Romanian citizens they estimate are currently (1) in the United Kingdom, (2) in England and Wales, and (3) in the Metropolitan Police Area [HL5965].

The Office for National Statistics collects data on residents of the UK from the Annual Population Survey (APS), which is the Labour Force Survey (LFS) plus various sample boosts. It is a household survey and so does not include people living in most types of communal establishment.

Table 1 below shows APS estimates of Romanian citizens residing in the UK, England and Wales, and the Metropolitan Police Area. The latest estimates available are for the 12 month period of January to December 2011.

Table 1: Romanian Nationals by Selected UK Area, 2011
Thousands
EstimateC1

United Kingdom

93

13

England & Wales

89

13

Metropolitan Police Area

48

11

CI = 95 % Confidence Interval, which is a measure of the uncertainty associated with making inferences from a sample.

Inflation

Question

Asked by Lord Myners

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the impact of sterling devaluation on the rate of inflation.[HL5683]

The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts and will publish a new forecast alongside the Budget on 20 March 2013. The forecast for inflation will reflect the OBR’s assessment of the impact of any sterling depreciation.

Iran

Question

Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about executions in Iran; whether they consider United Nations reports on the matter relevant and up to date; and what steps they have taken through the United Nations to highlight and ameliorate the situation.[HL5720]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The UK and EU partners

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA28

constantly monitor executions in Iran. In 2012, we received reports of over 350 executions, although the true figure is undoubtedly higher. We frequently condemn Iran's use of the death penalty, most recently on 18 January on our “UK for Iranians” website, regarding death sentences for five members of the Ahwazi Arab minority. Both the UN Secretary-General and the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran have reported to the UN General Assembly on executions in Iran. The Special Rapporteur will report again to the Human Rights Council in March. The UK supports these reports, and we have co-sponsored the UN General Assembly’s resolution on Iran, which highlighted Iran’s excessive use of the death penalty.

Israel

Questions

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning the establishment of an independent inquiry into the death in custody of Arafat Jaradat.[HL5913]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We have called on the Israeli authorities to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances of the death on 23 February of Mr Arafat Jaradat while in Israeli detention, including the allegations of mistreatment.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel concerning the detention of Mahmoud Mefleh in Ofer prison since December.[HL5917]

Baroness Warsi: We have not raised this specific case but continue to press the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law, including in their policies on the detention and treatment of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel and Palestine

Question

Asked by Lord Dykes

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will next raise with the Government of Israel the matter of Palestinian detainees being held in Israeli prisons, sometimes without due process, for many years.[HL5879]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We have long-standing concerns about Israel’s extensive use of administrative detention and the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. We repeatedly

11 Mar 2013 : Column WA29

raise these concerns with the Israeli authorities, calling on them to comply with their obligations under international law.

Kenya

Questions

Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of claims by Kenyan Chief Justice Willy Mutunga that he has received threats related to the candidacy of Uhuru Kenyatta in that country’s forthcoming presidential elections, whether they will make representations to the Government of Kenya to encourage it to take urgent and effective measures to protect the chief justice and other members of the judiciary of Kenya against interference with judicial independence and impartiality by threats, harassment, coercion or otherwise.[HL5717]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We are urging the Government of Kenya at all levels to do all it can to respect the independence of the Kenyan judiciary, which is crucial to peaceful and credible elections on 4 March, including by putting in place adequate security measures for the chief justice.

Asked by Lord Patten

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 25 February (WA 244), what is their assessment of the position and security of Christians in the other Kenyan regions.[HL6039]

Baroness Warsi: Over the past year there has been a rise in attacks against churches as well as other places of worship across Kenya, including in Nairobi, Mombasa, Mandera and Wajir. We assess that these attacks are linked to Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia and are the actions of a minority seeking to undermine interfaith relations.

Local Authorities: Assets

Question

Asked by Lord Greaves

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many assets of community value have been nominated for registration in each appropriate local authority; and in each case how many of those nominations were unsuccessful.[HL5770]