Written Answers
Tuesday 19 March 2013
Airports Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider amending the terms of reference of the Airports Commission to include consideration of air–rail intermodality, surface access, modal shift from road to rail, and modal shift from air to rail. [HL6212]
Earl Attlee: As part of its work the Government expects the Airports Commission to fully examine all the surface access needs of any potential development that it recommends. The Government have no plans to amend the Airports Commission’s terms of reference.
Armed Forces: Unmanned Aircraft
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 11 December 2012 (WA 211), with which international partners they operate unmanned aircraft systems; how many training and trials events for such systems have been undertaken in the last 12 months; and what were the location of any such training and trials events in United Kingdom airspace.[HL5869]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): In support of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the United Kingdom operates the Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) in Afghanistan in co-operation with the United States Air Force. Reaper is the only UK RPAS that is operated with an international partner. Royal Air Force pilots undertake their Reaper conversion training in the United States. No Reaper training or trials events have taken place in the UK.
Asylum Seekers
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to improve access to legal representation for asylum seekers whose (1) applications and (2) appeals have been refused.[HL6078]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Asylum cases will continue to qualify for legal aid funding when the reforms to legal aid in the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 are implemented from April this year. This includes legal aid for appeals to the First-tier Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and the higher courts.
The Legal Services Commission (LSC) is in the process of finalising the award of new legal aid contracts for asylum work. These contracts will start on 1 April. There was significant demand for the available work with organisations bidding for more than three times the advertised work across England and Wales. The process of verifying successful tenders and entering into contracts is still ongoing but the LSC anticipates that there will continue to be good access to asylum advice funded by legal aid from April.
Bank of England
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they or the Bank of England have taken legal advice on the Bank of England’s compliance with the legal requirements set under Section 11 of the Bank of England Act 1998.[HL5957]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): Section 11 of the Bank of England Act 1998 states that the objectives of the Bank of England are to maintain price stability and, subject to that, to support the economic policy of the Government.
Section 12 of the Act deals with the specifications of matters relevant to the objectives. As required under Section 12, at Budget 2012, the Chancellor set the remit for the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The remit specifies price stability as an inflation rate of 2% measured by the 12-month increase in the consumer prices index, which is the operational target of the MPC.
The MPC sets monetary policy in order to meet the 2% inflation target in the medium term. Legal advice has not been sought, as the remit recognises that on occasions the actual inflation rate will depart from its target as a result of shocks and disturbances. The remit states: “Attempts to keep inflation at the inflation target in these circumstances may cause undesirable volatility in output”.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when was the last time HM Treasury, under Section 12 of the Bank of England Act 1998, wrote to the Bank of England specifying (1) what price stability should be taken to consist of, and (2) what the economic policy of Her Majesty’s Government is to be taken to be; and what was in the letter.[HL5977]
Lord Deighton: The Bank of England Act 1998 states that the objectives of the Bank of England are to maintain price stability and, subject to that, to support the economic policy of the Government. Section 12 of the Act requires the Chancellor to specify what price stability is taken to consist of and the Government’s economic policy objectives at least once in every period of 12 months beginning on the anniversary of the day the Act came into force.
The Chancellor specified these objectives in a letter to the Governor of the Bank of England, with a remit for the MPC, on 21 March 2012, alongside Budget
2012
1. The Chancellor specified price stability as an inflation rate of 2% measured by the 12-month increase in the consumer prices index (CPI), which is the operational target for monetary policy. The Chancellor confirmed that the Government’s economic policy objective is to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth that is more evenly shared across the country and between industries.
The remit states further: “The framework takes into account that any economy at some point can suffer from external events or temporary difficulties, often beyond its control. The framework is based on the recognition that actual inflation rate will on occasions depart from its target as a result of shocks and disturbances. Attempts to keep inflation at the inflation target in these circumstances may cause undesirable volatility in output”.
A copy of the remit and the Chancellor’s letter to the governor can be found in the Library of the House.
1 http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/open_letter_from_ chx_to_boe_ 21032012.pdf
Banking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK Financial Investments reviewed and approved in principle the sale of branches by Lloyds Banking Group to the Co-operative Bank.[HL5955]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The execution of the Verde divestment, the name given to the divestment programme of retail and commercial assets of Lloyds Banking Group, is a commercial matter for the bank, subject to adherence to the terms of the state aid agreement.
UK Financial Investments works closely with Lloyds to assure itself of the bank’s approach to strategy and to hold management rigorously to account for performance. Within this framework, operational management decisions are for the banks themselves without interference from shareholders.
Banking: Bonuses
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the reasons for the approach adopted by HM Treasury to the approval of bonuses to bankers employed by Lloyds Banking Group and the Royal Bank of Scotland; and to what extent they reviewed and approved individual bonuses at each bank.[HL5954]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Government have been clear that the banks must act responsibly in setting bonuses and continues to take robust action to tackle unacceptable remuneration.
However, the Government’s investments in the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) are managed on their behalf by UK Financial Investments (UKFI) at an arm’s-length and commercial basis.
UKFI engages with the remuneration committees of both banks in line with UKFI’s objective of protecting and creating value for the taxpayer.
Benefits
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people in receipt of disability living allowance (DLA) have, as one of their primary or secondary disabling health conditions limiting work ability, alcohol abuse or chronic alcoholism; how many, and what percentage, of those in that category came off DLA into work in the last year; whether they can retain the extra benefit for care and mobility if they decline to be treated for their addiction; and, if so, why.[HL6155]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The information requested regarding disability living allowance (DLA) recipients is not available in the format asked for. The department only collects data on drug and alcohol abuse as one main disabling condition. This information can be found at: http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php? page=tabtool
Guidance for users is available at: http://research .dwp. gov.uk/asd/asd1/tabtools/guidance.pdf
DLA provides a contribution towards the extra costs of disability and is paid in and out of work. The department, therefore, does not need to collate data relating to employment status or ability to work
Entitlement to DLA is not based on having a specific health condition, but depends on what help the person needs with personal care as a result of their disability and/or the extent of their mobility difficulties. DLA continues to be paid while the entitlement conditions are met; whether a person seeks treatment or not for their condition is not a prerequisite to entitlement.
Children: Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will ratify the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.[HL6134]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The UK signed the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in May 2008. Officials are leading the work to establish the steps that would be required to ratify and implement the convention. Ratification is not a straightforward
process and this work needs to be further progressed before any further decisions can be made, including in relation to timescales.
Drugs
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) how many illicit drug addicts they estimate to be in the United Kingdom, and what proportion of them are receiving treatment; and (2) how many long-term prescribed drug addicts there are in the United Kingdom, and what proportion of those are receiving treatment. [HL5995]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): According to the 2011-12 Crime Survey for England and Wales (formerly the British Crime Survey), 2,916,000 people had taken an illicit drug in England and Wales in the previous 12 months. That measures usage and therefore does not mean they are addicts. There were 197,110 people recorded as being in drug treatment in England in 2011-12 according to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS).
Assessing dependence on prescription drugs and its severity can only be done using local data on a case-by-case basis taking account of duration and impact of use, the condition for which the medicines were prescribed and whether withdrawal symptoms become apparent when the dose is decreased. This can only be done by individual prescribers and their patients. NDTMS records 4,048 people as being in specialist treatment for dependence on prescription-only medicines or over-the-counter medicines, but does not record those who are being supported to withdraw by primary care services.
Energy: Nuclear Power Stations
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how their policy for constructing nuclear power stations is related to United Kingdom and international programmes to reduce nuclear waste stockpiles. [HL6216]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma): The European Union has adopted a new directive on the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, which requires member states to have plans in place to safely manage their radioactive waste and spent fuel from generation to disposal.
The UK Government’s policy for the long-term, safe and secure management of higher-activity radioactive waste is to place it in a geological disposal facility (GDF). Until a GDF is implemented, we will continue to make use of safe, secure and environmentally acceptable interim storage arrangements. The Government have set out arrangements to ensure that the operators of
new nuclear power stations will pay their full share of the costs of decommissioning and disposal by making secure financial provisions for their liabilities from the outset.
EU: Alternative Investment Funds
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they were consulted by European Union authorities on the technical details of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive; if so, how; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that directive on United Kingdom interests.[HL5953]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The EU Commission’s development of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (AIFMD) delegated regulation was informed by advice from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), to which the Financial Services Authority contributed. The Commission consulted member states through an expert working group and written responses.
The Government are comfortable with much of the regulation, which is very broad-ranging. The measures should allow AIFMD to be implemented successfully. There are a number of areas in which the draft regulation diverges from ESMA advice and where the Government believe they have the potential to impose some unnecessary costs and restrict flexibility for the industry to best meet investors’ needs. The Government consider it is important that industry now has certainty over operational details ahead of the directive’s implementation in July 2013. The Government’s fuller assessment is set out in their Explanatory Memorandum, which is in the Library of the House.
Food: Botanicals
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether in their response to the European Commission’s Discussion Paper on Health Claims on Botanicals Used in Foods, they supported Option 1, to retain the status quo, or Option 2, to review the legislation; and when the European Commission is expected to come forward with proposals for the future legislative treatment of botanicals in foods.[HL6092]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The United Kingdom’s response to the European Commission’s Discussion Paper on Health Claims on Botanicals Used in Foods reflected the range of very different views and strong arguments for and against each option, which were received from government departments, industry representatives and consumer groups. As a result, further consideration of this issue and discussion of possible alternative legislation covering claims about botanicals in foods, including food supplements, is warranted. However, the Government did not commit to either option, at this stage.
Food: Hygiene Inspectors
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of advisory and educational visits made by local authority food standards inspectors to food businesses in (1) 2009–10, (2) 2010–11, and (3) 2011–12.[HL6121]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Advice and education visits may be carried out by local authorities to advise food business operators either on food hygiene (covering subjects related to safety of food and its fitness for human consumption) or on food standards (including advice on presentation, labelling and composition).
The following table, based on local authority returns to the Food Standards Agency, shows the number of advice and education visits delivered as a part of local authority activities across the United Kingdom since 2009-10 for both food hygiene and food standards.
| Advice and Education visits | |||
| Year | Food Hygiene | Food Standards | Total |
Food: Labelling
Question
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider requiring improved labelling for all foods so as to indicate country and place of origin. [HL5851]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Requirements for origin labelling have been incorporated into the food information to consumers regulation (EU No 1169/2011). The UK supported extending compulsory origin labelling to all fresh meat and a review of extending origin labelling for other foods. We have requested that the European Commission’s report looking into the costs and benefits of mandatory origin labelling is brought forward so that an informed, proportionate decision can be taken. We also supported the requirement for origin information to be given where failure to indicate this might mislead the consumer as to the true country of origin or place of provenance of the food.
Health: Cardiology
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent research findings suggesting that the National Health Service could
save money and lives if patients were checked to see if they had scarring of the heart before decisions are made on whether to implant a defibrillator. [HL6029]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The decision about whether to implant a defibrillator into a patient is a clinical one, taking into account all the available evidence, including any advice from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence.
Health: Diabetes
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the success of recent Israeli-developed therapies for the treatment of diabetes. [HL6101]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department is aware of the contribution made by Israeli clinicians and scientists in the field of diabetes research.
In particular, the department is aware of the work on the artificial pancreas being developed at the Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Tel Aviv, the clinical trial being conducted by Andromeda Biotech using the synthetic peptide DiaPep277 as an alternative to insulin treatment in type 1 diabetes and of the developmental work in the transplantation of insulin-producing pancreatic cells in individuals with type 1 diabetes being undertaken at Ben-Gurion University by Professor Smadar Cohen.
It will be for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to decide if the findings from these research projects are adopted into national guidelines.
Herbal Medicines
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to fulfil their commitment, undertaken by the then Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, on 16 February 2011 (Official Report, col. 84WS), to establish a statutory register for practitioners supplying unlicensed herbal medicines.[HL6195]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The legislation around this policy is complex and there are a number of issues that have arisen which we need to work through. We appreciate that the delay in going out to consult on this matter is causing concern; however, it is important that any new legislation is proportionate and fit for purpose. The department intends to make an announcement on the progress of this policy shortly.
Housing Benefit
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, for each local authority for the last three financial years, what were the total amounts of unused discretionary housing payment funding returned to the Government. [HL6019]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The total amount of unused discretionary housing payments in the last three financial years for each local authority is as below.
There was less demand for DHPs in 2011-12 than originally envisaged; therefore, the department agreed that local authorities could carry over unused funding from 2011-12 to 2012-13 to help a greater number of claimants.
| Total amounts of unused discretionary housing payments | |||
| 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | |
Source: Unused amounts calculated by comparing government contribution and amounts claimed by local authorities.