Responsibility for QIPP has passed to NHS England. NHS organisations, which are responsible for the health and wellbeing of their staff, continue to be supported by NHS Employers through a programme of work monitored under its contract with the department. This programme includes: the identification, production, promotion and mobilisation of good practice; supporting 60 trusts to develop improvement plans for reducing sickness absence and improving staff health and wellbeing (now extended to another 45 trusts); developing performance in parts of the NHS with particular challenges (eg ambulance services, mental health trusts) and supporting the development of occupational health services.
NHS: Tenders
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the competitive tender of NHS services within Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS trust.[HL6601]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The contractual arrangement of services is a matter for local National Health Service organisations.
NHS England advises that commissioners are negotiating contracts with healthcare providers for some audiology services through the Any Qualified Provider scheme.
NHS: Underspends
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the use of the estimated underspends in the National Health Service in 2012-13, shown in table 4.22 on page 131 of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s report, Economic and Fiscal Outlook, published on 20 March; and whether those underspends will be used to assist local authorities in 2013-14 with difficulties in relation to adult social care.[HL6419]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The underspend of £2.2 billion for the National Health Service in the Office for Budget Responsibility’s report is a forecast. The final position for 2012-13 will be published in the Department of Health’s annual report and account later in the summer.
The department has committed to make available to NHS organisations its underspends to use in future years to help deliver high quality, sustainable health services for patients. It will be for these organisations locally to decide how to use these underspends in future years.
The NHS will provide funding to local authorities of £859 million in 2013-14 to support adult social care services that also have a health benefit.
Northern Ireland Executive: Meetings
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 19 March (WA 143), on how many occasions, and on what dates, they met the leaders of each of the political parties within the Northern Ireland Executive, or their representatives, in the past 12 months. [HL6425]
Lord Newby: We do not disclose details of ministerial meetings with political representatives.
The Secretary of State and Minister of State for Northern Ireland meet regularly with the leaders and/or representatives of the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive. These meetings occur in a variety of formats such as arranged meetings/telephone calls, at events, functions or visits. Not all of these meetings are scheduled and would therefore not he recorded.
Ministers will continue to consider any meetings requested by party leaders and or their representatives.
Payday Loans
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Popat on 12 March (Official Report, col. 135), in what circumstances it would be appropriate for the Financial Conduct Authority to cap the interest rates demanded by payday lenders. [HL6460]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Financial Services Act 2012 gives the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) the power to make rules to cap the cost and duration of credit agreements, once it takes on responsibility for consumer credit regulation in April 2014. The FCA may make rules under this power where it considers it necessary or expedient to advance one or more of the FCA’s operational objectives. The FCA’s operational objectives are: securing an appropriate degree of protection for consumers; protecting and enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system; and promoting effective competition in the interests of consumers in financial services markets.
Personal Social Services: Expenditure
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the expenditure, at constant prices, of the Department of Health on personal social services, from 1996–97 to their forecast for 2012–13; and what was the percentage change each year from the previous year.[HL6436]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Data on local authority expenditure on personal social services for adults are collected and published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC).
The most up-to-date information is found in the publication Personal Social Services: Expenditure and Unit Costs—England 2011-12 and its supporting documentation, which is available on the HSCIC website: www.ic.nhs.uk/searchcatalogue?productid=10667& topics=1%2fSocial+care%2fSocial+care+expenditure& sort=Relevance&size=10&page=1#top.
Police and Crime
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the various strata of policing and crime oversight; and at what level parliamentarians should seek to make representations on issues of discipline or delivery of justice within a reasonable timescale.[HL6626]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Police and crime commissioners (PCCs) are established in law in England and Wales within the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. As a result, the public accountability for the delivery and performance of the police service is placed into the hands of the PCC on behalf of their electorate. The PCC draws on their mandate to set and shape the strategic objectives of their force area in consultation with the chief constable. The PCC is accountable to the electorate; the chief constable is accountable to their PCC. A police and crime panel within each force area is empowered to maintain a regular check and balance on the performance of the PCC in that context.
The Home Secretary remains ultimately accountable to Parliament and charged with ensuring the maintenance of the Queen’s peace within all force areas, safeguarding the public and protecting our national borders and security. The Home Secretary has reserved powers and legislative tools that enable intervention and direction if it is determined by the Home Secretary that such action is necessary in order to prevent or mitigate risk to the public or national security.
Police: College of Policing
Questions
Asked by Baroness Harris of Richmond
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the process for considering applications for the appointment of members of the Board of the College of Policing.[HL6480]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government where and when the vacancies for the Board of the College of Policing were advertised; and what assessment they have made of the skills needed to discharge the role. [HL6481]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The composition of the board of the College of Policing was developed with following regular dialogue with senior policing partners. It was arrived at to ensure an appropriate balance of skills and experience, combining operational policing expertise and academic and broader external perspectives to represent the public interest.
The Home Secretary, as sole member (owner) of the company that forms the College of Policing, appoints directors to the board.
The role of non-executive chair was advertised in the national press in late July 2012, with support from an executive search agency. The role of chief executive was advertised in Police Professional and the Association of Chief Police Officers intranet in September 2012. For each role a selection panel shortlisted and interviewed candidates against a person specification. The Home Secretary and the Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice interviewed those candidates considered by the panel to have met the required standard, before the Home Secretary made her selection.
The other roles on the board were not advertised. A range of policing experts were nominated by the relevant policing bodies, against the criteria set out for the role. In addition to these nominations, the Home Secretary identified three individuals whom she felt had the relevant skills and experience to provide an external independent perspective and invited them to become directors on the board of the college.
Most of the nominations have now been received and the process for the member to confirm and appoint nominees is underway.
Post Office: Closures
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of planned post office closures, whether they have plans to protect the pay and jobs of post office staff.[HL6471]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): There is no programme of post office closures. The Government have committed to maintaining a post office network of at least 11,500 branches and continue to require Post Office Ltd to meet the strict access criteria that see, for example, 99% of the national population living within three miles of a post office outlet. At the end of December 2012, there were 11,784 branches that were open and trading. Of these, 373 are Crown post office branches, which are directly operated by Post Office Ltd and its employees. The Crown network of 373 branches is heavily loss making (losing £46 million in 2011-12) and this is not sustainable. It is important that Post Office Ltd eradicates these losses by March 2015. In meeting this policy requirement, Post Office Ltd is looking for franchise partners to continue post office services in 70 locations. This is not a closure programme and post office services will be retained in all cases and all changes are subject to
public consultation. Furthermore, Post Office Ltd will be putting significant investment into the remaining Crown network.
Contractual matters between Post Office Ltd and its employees are a matter for the senior management of Post Office Ltd, its employees, and the trade unions which represent them. The Government, as shareholder, play no role in these matters. However, I understand that Post Office Ltd has made a pay offer worth £3,400 to every Crown office employee over the next three years, subject to the Crown network meeting the revenue targets that will see it break even by March 2015.
Prisons: Meat
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether meat from animals slaughtered in New Zealand is served to inmates in HM prisons.[HL6371]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Meat from animals slaughtered in New Zealand has been supplied to the National Offender Management Service since the start of the new catering contract in October 2012.
Prisons: Strip Searches
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord McNally on 18 March 2013 (WA 126), why the routine strip-searching of women in prisons was ended in 2009.[HL6387]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): Routine full searches (previously known as strip searches) of women prisoners were ended in 2008 following a review of the National Offender Management Service policy on full searching of women. This review was conducted in light of the Gender Equality Duty introduced in 2007 and Baroness Corston’s 2007 report Review of Women with Vulnerabilities in the Criminal Justice System. The report identified the complex physical, psychological and social needs of women prisoners and made 43 recommendations, one of which was to reduce the number of full searches of women prisoners. The decision to accept this recommendation was influenced by the ease with which women prisoners can conceal illicit items internally, thereby making full searches for this group of prisoners far less effective.
Public Health
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, with regard to the implications of the NHS Mandate, what assessment they have made of any national variations in how organised new public health systems are as they start to take on their new public health responsibilities.[HL6578]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): From 1 April 2013, responsibility for most public health provision has moved to local government, which will take the lead for improving health, co-ordinating efforts to protect health and ensuring health services promote health.
Local government led a stock-take of local authority preparedness in October 2012, followed by a further progress report in January this year. Since October it was clear that there has been significant progress at national and local level to achieve a successful and safe transfer of public health to local government and this has continued. The department and the new public health delivery agency, Public Health England, have put in place arrangements to provide continuity for transition into the new system with capability to respond to any outstanding issues.
The National Health Service has agreed to exercise certain public health functions on behalf of the Secretary of State where national delivery and integration with the primary care system will ensure better delivery. These include national screening and immunisation programmes, children’s public health services and those for people in custody, and sexual assault referrals.
Quangos
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many of the quangos listed in October 2010 for complete abolition or for the transfer of functions to another body they have decided to retain; which bodies they have decided to retain; and what percentage of the total announced for abolition at that time such bodies represent.[HL6520]
Lord Newby: This Government have carried out the biggest reform of public bodies in a generation. We acted swiftly to close down unnecessary public bodies and ensure that those that remain are fit to deliver public services efficiently and effectively.
Of the list which in October 2010 were announced for abolition, or to have their functions transferred, departments have since decided to retain 2% or six bodies:
Youth Justice Board for England and Wales;Chief Coroner of England and Wales/Office of the Chief Coroner;UK Sport and Sport England, which will not merge but will undergo a joint review in 2014-15; andHuman Tissue Authority and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, which are now subject to a joint independent review.
To date, we have reduced the total number of public bodies by 230, with 145 being abolished altogether and 150 being merged into fewer than 70 bodies.
Railways: Franchises
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, when evaluating the bids received for the franchise for the East Coast Main Line, they will compare those with the financial performance of the existing operator to ensure that the taxpayer receives the best value. [HL6615]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: As with all franchise competitions, the Department for Transport will use base data, including financials, from the incumbent operator in the development of tools that inform its evaluation of the competition. The full evaluation criteria will be published as part of the invitation to tender.
Railways: Rolling Stock
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Earl Attlee on 26 March, what steps they will take to enable sufficient new rolling stock to be available when the new franchising contracts are let, in the light of the decision “to negotiate further new services and more capacity in all new franchising contracts”.[HL6556]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: Rolling stock deployment is a matter for the train operators with the Government’s role primarily focused on ensuring that this represents value for money when the taxpayer’s interest is involved.
It is therefore for franchise bidders to determine the rolling stock requirements for routes within the franchise area and to work with the rolling stock owning groups to make decisions on investment in both new and existing rolling stock.
The Department for Transport is currently investing in rolling stock for the Thameslink and Inter City Express programmes. These procurements will significantly increase the national fleet size, enabling the department’s investment strategy requirements to be met.
Railways: Stations
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the progress of Network Rail’s plans to build a new ticket office, waiting room and associated lavatory facilities at Templecombe Station, Somerset.[HL6575]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The delivery of this scheme is the responsibility of the operator, Stagecoach South West Trains.
However, we can confirm that the planned package of work for Templecombe station is indeed to provide a new waiting room, ticket office and public lavatory, and we have been advised that the works will begin in June this year and will take approximately 12 weeks to complete.
Roads: A14
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish detailed plans for the bypass to the south of Huntingdon, between the area near Trinity Foot and the A1 at both ends tying in with the existing A14, as announced in the Department for Transport’s statement on “Innovative new proposals for A14 corridor” published on 18 July 2012; and when they intend to begin public consultation on those plans.[HL6537]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish detailed plans for tolling 20 miles of the “enhanced A14” as announced in the Department for Transport’s statement on “Innovative new proposals for A14 corridor” published on 18 July 2012; and when they intend to begin public consultation on those plans.[HL6538]
Lord Newby: The Highways Agency is engaging key stakeholders and planning consultation in line with the programme to submit a development consent order application by summer 2014. We have said previously that construction work on the scheme could start in 2018, subject to the completion of statutory processes, and we are looking at opportunities to bring forward an earlier start date.
Schools: Managing Medicines
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect their guidance Managing Medicines in Schools and Early Years Settings will next be updated. [HL6145]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The guidance is currently undergoing a review and it has not yet been determined when it will be available for distribution.
Schools: Pupil Premium
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that local authorities deliver pupil premium funding to pupils attending (1) non-maintained special schools, and (2) independent schools specially organised to make special educational provision for students with special educational needs.[HL6279]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The pupil premium is allocated for pupils who are currently eligible or who have been eligible in the past six years for free school meals, children who have been continuously looked after for at least six months, and children whose parents are serving in the Armed Forces.
In the financial year 2012-13, the pupil premium was allocated at a rate of £623 per pupil and the service child premium was allocated at a rate of £250 per pupil. The pupil premium will increase to £900 per pupil and the service child premium will increase to £300 per pupil in the 2013-14 financial year.
Pupil premium grant is allocated to each local authority in respect of eligible pupils in maintained special schools, pupil referral units (PRUs) and alternative provision (ie attending schools not maintained by the authority for which the authority is paying full tuition fees, plus all pupils educated otherwise than in schools under arrangements made by the authority).
Pupil premium grant in respect of pupils in these settings can be allocated to the setting where the child is being educated or held by the local authority to spend specifically on additional education support to raise the pupil’s standard of attainment.
Search and Rescue Helicopter Service
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many, and what type of, helicopters will be based in Northern Ireland when Bristow Group assumes responsibility for search and rescue services in the United Kingdom. [HL6555]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The recent announcement on the future of search and rescue helicopters will not change the situation in Northern Ireland. There will continue not to be a base in Northern Ireland. Bases will be strategically situated near areas of high SAR incident rates to ensure comprehensive coverage of the UK search and rescue region.
There is a reciprocal working arrangement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland for search and rescue helicopter coverage.
Smoking
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address the reported rise in the number of children between the ages of 11 and 15 who smoke.[HL6469]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Government take seriously the need to reduce the take-up of smoking by young people and to help those that do smoke to stop. The Government’s comprehensive, evidence-based strategy to reduce tobacco use in England over the years until
2015 is set out in
Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England
, published in March 2011.
One of three national ambitions in the tobacco control plan, to be achieved by 2015, is to focus on reducing smoking prevalence among children and young people. The plan sets out a range of initiatives to achieve this ambition which apply at national level across England. Tobacco sales from vending machines stopped on 1 October 2011, so removing an easily accessible and often unsupervised source of under-age sales of cigarettes. Since 6 April 2012, permanent, eye-catching displays of tobacco products, which evidence shows can promote smoking by young people, came to an end in supermarkets and other large stores, and will stop in all other shops in April 2015. In addition, a number of national marketing campaigns have targeted behaviour around smoking, such as the effect on children of second-hand smoke from smoking in homes and cars.
Syria
Questions
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 7 February concerning military action in Syria (WA 92), whether providing arms to the insurgency would be subject to a debate in either the House of Commons or the House of Lords.[HL6334]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government recognise the crucial role that Parliament plays in scrutinising government decisions. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), has demonstrated the Government's commitment to keeping Parliament informed by delivering eight Oral Statements to the House of Commons on our Syria policy since the uprising began.
We will consult Parliament appropriately about future developments in our policy, including explaining as necessary the legal basis for any actions taken. We will act in accordance with international and domestic law in respect of any action the Government take.
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the comments by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, on 27 February that victory for rebels in the Syrian war could spark sectarian violence in Iraq and Lebanon.[HL6380]
Baroness Warsi: We are concerned that the crisis in Syria presents a risk of regional spillover, which is one of the reasons why we want to see an end to the conflict as soon as possible. The violence has already impacted on neighbouring countries, most recently through an aerial attack by the Syrian regime on Lebanon earlier this month, which we strongly condemned. We
are working with our partners in the region and in the international community to increase our efforts to bring an end to the violence in Syria and reduce the risks to the region.
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the letter sent on 21 March by the Foreign Secretary and the French Foreign Minister to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Ashton of Upholland, arguing that supplying weapons to the Syrian rebels would bring the Assad regime to the negotiating table, their policy that negotiations would not take place until President Bashar al Assad had left office has now changed.[HL6493]
Lord Newby: The UK’s policy on Syria remains clear—an end to the violence and a political transition to a more democratic Syria. Our position on President Assad remains unchanged—he has lost legitimacy and should step aside in the interests of the Syrian people. We want to see a negotiated political settlement that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people. But the regime is unlikely to engage meaningfully in negotiations in the absence of significant pressure. That is why we have stepped up our assistance to the opposition and why we are considering whether there should be further changes to the EU arms embargo. We have taken no decision at present to send arms to anyone in Syria.
Taxation: Alcohol
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimates HM Revenue and Customs has made of any (1) increase in revenue from, and (2) fall in consumption of, (a) beer and cider, (b) wines, and (c) spirits, in each of the years 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17, resulting from an increase in taxation of each of those products respectively of (i) 10%, (ii) 20%, and (iii) 30%, over and above existing planned increases. [HL6383]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): An indication of the effect on revenue and consumption of a 1% increase in duty in 2014-15 on all alcoholic drinks is presented below, taken from HMRC’s published ready reckoners.
| 2014-15 | 2015-16 | 2016-17 | |
Consumption impact: Quantities Product (000 hectolitre)
The effect of a 1% increase in duties cannot be used directly to derive the effects of a 10%, 20% or 30% increase. However, a proportional estimate is still a broadly reasonable assumption over this level of duty change.
Increased duties are passed through as higher retail prices. Higher duties are thus estimated to reduce alcohol consumption.
Taxation: Inheritance Tax
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 21 March (HL6091), what the value of small gift exemption for inheritance tax of £250 per year per donee would be in 2013 if it had been uprated for inflation as measured by Retail Prices Index from 1980, when it was first introduced under the predecessor tax, estate duty and capital transfer tax.[HL6449]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 21 March (HL6091), whether the specific guidance on recording gifts gives details of when hospitality should be included in the value of the small gift exemption of £250 for Inheritance Tax.[HL6450]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): If the £250 annual limit had been uprated from 1980 in line with the retail prices index it would currently stand at £1,010.
The HMRC website guidance on keeping records for inheritance tax purposes does not give details of when hospitality should be included as part of the small gifts exemption. The treatment of hospitality will depend on the facts and circumstances of each case.
Taxation: Tobacco and Alcohol
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much revenue was raised from duties on (1) tobacco products, and (2) alcoholic drinks, over the past five years for which information is available; and what proportion of the NHS budget for those years each of those figures represents.[HL6500]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The following table presents the revenue raised from duties on tobacco and alcohol products over the past five years, for which information is available.
| Financial Year | Alcohol Duty Revenue (£m) | Tobacco Duty Revenue (£m) |
All taxes received by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are paid into the Consolidated Fund, the Government's current account. As such, all taxes, including alcohol and tobacco duty are paid into this fund and are not earmarked or hypothecated for any particular purpose or spending programme.
The revenue figures set out here are each equivalent to approximately 9-10% of NHS spending for the relevant year (based on the February 2013 National Statistics Public Expenditure Outturn).
Telecommunications: Contracts
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any restrictions have been placed on the granting of contracts to Huawei Corporation and its associates where the contracts were judged to have high national security consequences.[HL6285]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): As with a number of other vendors, the Government have arrangements with Huawei covering the use of its products within the UK. Through Huawei's Cyber Security Evaluation Centre, CESG (Communications- Electronics Security Group), the UK's National Technical Authority (NTA), works with Huawei to ensure that Huawei equipment deployed to UK telecommunications networks meet UK security standards. It is part of CESG’s role as the NTA to work with telecoms vendors operating within the UK market.
Trading Standards
Questions
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to promote joint operations between local police forces and trading standards teams to tackle failings in trading standards services.[HL6122]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many scheduled trading standards inspections there were in England and Wales in (1) 2009–10, (2) 2010–11, and (3) 2011–12.[HL6124]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of trainee or student trading standards officer posts available in England and Wales in (1) 2009–10, (2) 2010–11, and (3) 2011–12. [HL6125]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills does not hold this information. Officials in
the department have been advised that the information requested is not held by either the Department for Communities and Local Government or the Home Office, with any information being held at a local level. Local government is responsible for monitoring local trading standards activity, including the number of inspections. It is also responsible for determining the number of trainee and student trading standards officer posts it makes available. Where there are failings in trading standards services, it is for local government to determine what action to take, including strategic partnerships with local police forces.
As part of the drive to make local government more transparent and accountable to local people, the Department for Communities and Local Government has asked all local councils and fire and rescue authorities in England to publish spending information over £500 online and has provided guidance. Guidance has also been provided on reporting performance and is available at
https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-local-councils-more-transparent-and-accountable-to-local-people
United Arab Emirates
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of the United Arab Emirates concerning the location and the state of health of Mr Ahmed Ghaith al-Suweidi and his family, following his arrest in 2012.[HL6312]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We understand Mr Ahmed Ghaith al-Suweidi was arrested in March 2012. He has recently appeared in court as one of the 94 detainees being tried on national security grounds.
As the Prime Minister, my right honourable friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), said when he visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in November 2012, no issue is off limits in our relationship. Where we have human rights concerns we make these clear to the Emirati authorities as part of our broader strategic engagement. We have raised with the UAE at ministerial level the importance we attach to observing international human rights standards and will continue to do so. We have also specifically raised the issue of the detainees with the UAE authorities.
Universal Credit
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many claimants in Tower Hamlets they expect to be migrated to universal credit between October 2013 and March 2014.[HL6297]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Claims to universal credit start in our Pathfinder from 29 April 2013. Pathfinder will focus on new single unemployed people, with or without rented housing costs, and will replace means-tested jobseeker’s allowance for this group of claimants. If these claimants then move into work, they will be eligible to claim universal credit, not working tax credit.
Universal credit will then progressively roll out in a managed way across the country from October 2013. This will ultimately include all claims from people both in and out of work, with everyone, including people in Tower Hamlets, eventually claiming the new benefit by 2017.
Visas
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 14 March (WA 94), whether they will review the decision not to charge an annual fee to employers sponsoring migrant labour under tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system; and whether the current income from sponsor licences covers the cost of maintaining the register, monitoring its operation and sponsor compliance.[HL6340]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): There are no annual fees for sponsors under tiers 2 and 5 because the sponsor licence is paid for at application, and the licence is valid for four years. Sponsors are also required to pay separately for every certificate of sponsorship they issue under tiers 2 and 5.
We review fees annually and there are no current plans to change the payment structure or process for sponsor licensing under tiers 2 and 5.
Income from sponsor licences partially covers the cost of providing the sponsorship regime, with the remainder made up from fees for certificates of sponsorship and other fees income.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 14 March (WA 94) whether they will publish annually the number of immigrants sponsored by each of the sponsoring employers registered under tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system; whether such figures are maintained and available on application; and what were the numbers so sponsored overall in the last three years.[HL6341]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: There are currently no plans to publish data relating to individual sponsoring employers. However, quarterly statistics are kept under review, taking into account the needs of users and burdens on suppliers and producers, in line with the
Code of Practice for Official Statistics. There was a total of 26,179 employers on the tier 2 and tier 5 register on 2 January 2013.
The numbers of certificates of sponsorship used to support an entry clearance or extension of stay application for the last three years are shown in the table below.
| Applications from outside the UK for entry clearance visas for work, using certificates of sponsorship from employers | |||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
| Applications from within the UK for extensions of stay for work using certificates of sponsorship from employers | |||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Note: individuals may be counted more than once e.g. if they are sponsored for an entry clearance visa and subsequently sponsored for an extension, or if they are sponsored on more than one occasion
Source: Immigration Statistics October to December 2012 tables cs.02 and cs.03
Youth Enterprise Schemes
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the research carried out by the Royal Society of Arts suggesting that youth enterprise schemes are poorly conceived and endorse outdated approaches to business.[HL6472]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): The Government welcome the research. We must, however, acknowledge the fact that the sample size was very small (c.30). It is too early to draw any major conclusions from this report. BIS is working with the Royal Society of Arts on the next phase of this research to build on our understanding of how youth enterprise schemes are perceived.