Written Answers
Wednesday 24 April 2013
Burma
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the religious freedom of Muslims in Burma.[HL6708]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We were extremely concerned by the violence against Muslims in Burma, which began in Meiktila on 20 March. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend the member for North East Bedfordshire, (Mr Burt), issued a statement on behalf of the Government on 21 March, calling on all parties for an immediate end to the violence and urging the Government to take all necessary action to protect civilians and to work with communities to tackle hostility.
Our ambassador in Rangoon visited Meiktila on 25 March to see the situation there for himself. There have been no further reported attacks since the end of March, and we cautiously welcome the relative calm, though tensions remain.
During recent meetings with Aung Min, Minister for the Burmese President’s office on the 15 and 16 April, the Foreign Secretary, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I raised our concerns about the recent violence in Central Burma; the need for urgent co-ordination of humanitarian aid to Rakhine state; and for a long term solution to the Rohingya’s citizenship which guarantees their human rights.
We welcomed the statement by President Thein Sein, pledging to ensure that the security forces protect all communities in Burma, and emphasising the importance of dialogue and integration between the different faiths there. We also welcomed the statement by the Sittagu Sayadaw on behalf of the Buddhist community, condemning violence and calling for peace. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the security of minority ethnic groups in Burma.[HL6709]
Baroness Warsi: We are concerned by reported human rights violations committed in Burma’s ethnic areas. We note the recent report by UN Special Rapporteur, Tomas Quintana, to the UN Human Rights Council in March, where he highlighted concerns over human rights abuses in Burma’s ethnic areas, and the plight of the Rohingya community in Rakhine State.
The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) visited Rakhine State in December
2012, being the only EU Minister to have done so, and raised the importance of ensuring security for all communities there. We regularly lobby the Burmese Government to sign the international covenant on civil and political rights, which would codify a guarantee for all ethnic peoples to civil and political rights in the country.
During recent meetings with the Aung Min, Minister for the Burmese President’s office on the 15 and 16 April, the Foreign Secretary, my right honourable Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), and I raised our concerns about the recent violence in Central Burma; the need for urgent co-ordination of humanitarian aid to Rakhine state; and for a long-term solution to the Rohingya’s citizenship that guarantees their human rights.
The EU-sponsored Resolution at the UN Human Rights Council in March 2013 also called on the Burmese Government to sign the international covenant on civil and political rights.
Government Departments: e-mail
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Information Commissioner’s guidance relating to private e-mail accounts has been applied at the Cabinet Office; and, if so, whether they will publish their policy on the use of private e-mail for public business.[HL5011]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The Information Commissioner’s guidance relating to information held in private e-mail accounts applies to the Cabinet Office. General guidance on e-mailing official information is set out in the departmental staff handbook.
The Cabinet Office will publish shortly guidance on FOI and the handling of private e-mails. I will arrange for the noble Lord to be sent a copy.
Government Departments: Ministerial Engagements
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what engagements were undertaken by Department for Culture, Media and Sport ministers between January and March 2013 in the English regions of (1) the north-west, (2) Yorkshire and Humber, and (3) the north-east.[HL6699]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport visited Yorkshire on 28 January and the Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries visited the north-west on the 17 January and 7 March.
The details of the meetings that took place on these visits will be published on the departmental website, in accordance with Cabinet Office guidelines: http://www.transparency.culture.gov.uk/category/foi-releases/.
Health: Chlamydia
Question
Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of the National Chlamydia Screening Programme in the last year for which figures are available; and what is their assessment of the value of such screening as compared to screening only those young people recently treated for chlamydia.[HL6679]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The department does not collect data on the cost of chlamydia screening. The advice we have received from Public Health England (PHE) is that in 2009 the Health Protection Agency (now PHE) conducted a costing review of chlamydia screening, which estimated that a cost of £33 per screening episode was achievable. The review calculated that total cost of screening 35% of the 15 to 24 year-old population at the estimated cost of £33 per screen would be £76 million per year.
In 2011-12, 1.96 million screening tests were conducted, an estimated 29% of young adults, and 144,000 diagnoses of chlamydia infection were made. Using the figure of £33 per test this equates to an annual cost of £65 million. However, this figure may be an overestimate as since 2009 efficiencies should have resulted from changes to the way the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) is commissioned and delivered, with integration of chlamydia screening and its co-ordination into local sexual and primary care health services.
The comparative value of screening only those young adults recently treated for chlamydia has not been assessed, as this approach would miss most asymptomatic infections. The aim of the NCSP is to control chlamydia through early detection and treatment of asymptomatic infections in young adults. The majority of infections detected through the programme are in young adults who have not had a previous diagnosis. Therefore restricting screening to those previously diagnosed would have a limited effect on the onward transmission of chlamydia and on the harmful consequences of chlamydia infection. The opportunity to deliver wider sexual health behavioural interventions would also be limited if screening was restricted to those previously diagnosed.
Healthcare: Migrants
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what access economically inactive migrants have to health and social care; and whether they have any plans for reform in that area.[HL6690]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Economically inactive migrants can access National Health Service healthcare but can expect to be charged for NHS hospital treatment unless they are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom or exempt from charges under regulations. If chargeable,
they will have to pay the full amount prior to treatment unless their need is urgent or immediate, in which case payment may take place afterwards. The department has concluded the initial phase of a major review of charging visitors and migrants for NHS care. We will consult on proposals for change shortly.
For social care, it is for each local authority to determine if they have a duty to provide social care to an individual, taking account of all circumstances and the relevant facts. There are currently no plans to make any changes in this area.
Housing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the basis of the statistic attributed to 10 Downing Street in the Guardian on 25 March that “the number of non-United Kingdom residents in social housing had risen from 6.5% in 2007 to more than 9% in 2011”; and, for that statistic, (1) what is the definition of “non-UK residents”, and (2) what geographical area is encompassed.[HL6507]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): As outlined in the answer of 6 November 2012 (Official Report, Commons, col. 543W) this statistic relates to lettings made to tenants new to social housing and comes from published data on general needs social lettings made by private registered providers (housing associations) and local authority landlords in England, broken down by the nationality of the household reference person. These data are published in the department’s live table 754, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-lettings-tables-2011-to-2012.
The table is based on lettings information reported through the continuous recording of lettings (CORE) system and local authority returns.
The nationality of the household reference person is considered non-United Kingdom if the nationality collected for them on CORE is anything other than UK national resident in UK or UK national returning from residence overseas. Households where this question was not answered or was refused are excluded.
These statistics only include general needs social lettings made in England.
As outlined in the answer of 29 January 2013 (Official Report, Commons, col. 700W) the actual number may differ due to under-reporting of tenant nationality by some councils.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many immigrant households without previous residential status in the United Kingdom were allocated social housing in each of the past five years within (1) two years, and (2) five years, of entering the country; and how many of those allocations were in each local authority area.[HL6511]
Baroness Hanham: This information is not collected centrally.
Notwithstanding, I would observe that, in 2010-11, one in six existing social housing tenants in London were not British or Irish nationals and, across England in 2011-12, almost one in 10 social lettings made to tenants new to social housing were to non-United Kingdom nationals. This is why the Government intend to strengthen the rules on taxpayer-subsidised social housing and give greater priority to local people and members of the Armed Forces.
Local Authorities: Funding
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the proportion of local authority funding allocated to trading standards services in each of the past three years.[HL6120]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Formula grant is an un-hypothecated block grant. This means that authorities are free to spend it on any service. For this reason, and due to the method of calculating formula grant, it is not possible to identify how much funding the Government have provided for any particular service.
Net current expenditure on trading standards for the last three years for which data are held, as reported to the department, was:
2009-10 = £182.274 million;2010-11 = £171.843 million; and2011-12 = £150.841 million.
Every bit of the public sector needs to do its bit to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration, including local government, which accounts for a quarter of all public spending.
Councils should be delivering sensible savings, which help protect front-line services, such as more joint working, sharing of staff and back office services, improved procurement, better property management and estate rationalisation, and the other savings outlined in our recent publication, 50 Ways to Save.
North Korea
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of political and security developments in North Korea.[HL6705]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We are monitoring the situation in North Korea and are in close contact with allies and partners. North Korea’s long-term interests will not be served by threatening the international community and increasing regional tensions. We call on the Government in Pyongyang to take credible steps towards denuclearisation and to respond to international calls for dialogue.
United Nations Security Resolution 2094 makes clear that the UN Security Council would take further significant measures in the event of another North Korean launch or nuclear test. We assess that the human rights situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is one of the worst, if not the worst, in the world. The North Korean Government’s continued the development of nuclear weapons, and ballistic missile technology shows that the regime continues to prioritise military spending over the welfare of its people.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last met North Korea’s ambassador to the United Kingdom; who met him; and what matters were discussed.[HL6707]
Baroness Warsi: The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), last met North Korea’s ambassador to the UK on 13 February in order to express in the strongest terms the UK’s condemnation of the North Korean nuclear test the previous day. Since then, there have been meetings with the ambassador at senior official level, most recently on 21 March and 17 April. At the meeting on 17 April, officials handed over a copy of the G8 Foreign Ministers’ statement and urged North Korea to respond positively to the offers of engagement made by the US and South Korea. We also underlined the need for North Korea to refrain from its recent aggressive, provocative rhetoric.
Romanians: Arrests
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Romanians have been arrested since that country’s accession to the European Union on 1 January 2007 in (1) London, and (2) England; and what percentage of the number of Romanians residing in each area those figures represent.[HL6720]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The requested information cannot be provided as the Home Office does not collect data on the nationality of persons arrested. Police forces in England and Wales are only required to submit aggregate arrests data to the Home Office broken down by: offence grouping (e.g. violence against the person); gender; ethnicity (visual appearance and self-defined); age grouping (e.g. 10-17 years).
Rwanda
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Foreign Secretary achieved all of his objectives on his recent visit to Rwanda.[HL6665]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited Rwanda, as part of a wider trip to central Africa, from 25-27 March. He visited Kigali on 26 March where he had a successful meeting with President Kagame. They discussed the need for a lasting solution to the conflict in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, the terrible damage being caused in the region by the use of sexual violence as a weapon in conflict, and covered a number of bilateral issues.
Schools: Free Schools
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contributions they have made, or plan to make, to (1) the capital costs, and (2) the annual running costs, of each of the existing or proposed free schools in Newcastle upon Tyne.[HL6670]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): There are no existing free schools in Newcastle upon Tyne.
Two free schools are proposed to open in Newcastle-upon-Tyne in September 2013: Discovery Newcastle and West Newcastle Academy. Capital costs for them have yet to be finalised. The Secretary of State has not yet signed funding agreements for these free schools and it is not possible to provide planned running cost figures until he has. Free schools running costs are funded on an equivalent basis to other state-funded schools in the same local authority area. Details of contributions to both capital costs and annual running costs for 2013-14 will be published by the Department for Education on its website when they have been finalised later in the year.
Schools: Teachers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to ensure that school teachers already in post possess, or acquire, the requisite competence in lexicology, semantic structures, and grammar to teach the English language as the subject is prescribed in the national curriculum; and, if so, what are those plans.[HL6302]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The Government believe that schools are best placed to decide which teaching resources and professional development meet their needs to ensure successful implementation of the new curriculum, and to secure these accordingly.
We therefore expect schools to identify their priorities for action, building on current areas of strength, and to identify appropriate sources of support. To assist with this we are working with subject experts, publishers,
educational suppliers and others to identify what support for schools is already in place and any gaps that need to be filled, and how that might be done. The needs of serving teachers with regard to knowledge about grammar and age-appropriate pedagogy are being considered as part of this work.
Syria
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consult the UNHCR, UNICEF and the Egyptian National Council for Women’s Rights to ascertain (1) how many Syrian refugees there are in Egypt, including women and children, (2) whether young female refugees are being subjected to forced marriages, and (3) what relief and resettlement assistance can be provided for Syrian refugees in Egypt.[HL6680]
Baroness Northover: The UK regularly consults with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to obtain information regarding the plight of Syrian refugees, including women and children, who have been displaced into Egypt and to discuss the performance of the UN in delivering support to those in need. Latest information from UNHCR shows that there are 37,361 registered Syrian refugees in Egypt (as of 17 April). Of this number, 49.2% of refugees are female. Around 22% of all registered Syrian refugees in Egypt are aged under 18 years.
We recognise that refugee women are particularly vulnerable in Egypt. Our embassy lobbies for the recognition of refugee rights under international law in Egypt, including those of women. UNHCR has been monitoring the issue of early and forced marriage, but have not to date had any substantial evidence of widespread cases or practices. The Ministry of Justice has indicated that there have been 170 registered marriages between Syrian women and Egyptian men so far. UNHCR continues to follow up on any potential information it receives.
Syrian refugees in Egypt are provided with food vouchers, education, comprehensive healthcare services, including primary care, support for chronic illnesses, and sexual and reproductive health services, along with direct financial assistance. Additionally, the UNHCR is implementing community outreach programmes in Egypt to assist the integration of Syrian refugees in Egypt.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Sudanese refugees in Syria are being targeted by both sides in the conflict.[HL6702]
Baroness Northover: We are concerned by the reports that Sudanese refugees in Syria have been targeted by both sides in the conflict and are facing violence including sexual violence. We are providing the United Nations Refugee Agency with up to £128 million of un-earmarked core funding over the period 2011-15 to support their work in protecting refugees worldwide, including particularly vulnerable groups.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed reports that Sudanese refugees living around Damascus have been killed, attacked and raped.[HL6703]
Baroness Northover: We are concerned by the reports of murder, rape and violent attacks against Sudanese refugees living around Damascus. We are providing the United Nations Refugee Agency with up to £128 million of un-earmarked core funding over the period 2011-15 to support their work in protecting refugees worldwide, including particularly vulnerable groups.
Protecting the victims of rape and sexual violence is an important part of the UK response to the crisis, and we have already provided funding to support clinical care and counselling for refugees who have been victims of trauma and sexual assault.
Trading Standards
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the outturn spending on trading standards services per head of population as an average for (1) England, and (2) Wales, in (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, and (c) 2011-12.[HL6168]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Estimated net current expenditure on trading standards per head in England for the past three years for which data are held, was:
| Trading Standards Expenditure in England | ||
| Year | Total £m | Estimated £ per head |
Each of the devolved Administrations has responsibility for local government bodies in their respective areas. As a result, the Department for Communities and Local Government holds no information on trading standards expenditure in Wales.
Every bit of the public sector needs to do its bit to tackle the deficit left by the last Administration, including local government, which accounts for a quarter of all public spending.
Councils should be delivering sensible savings that help to protect front-line services, such as more joint working, the sharing of staff and back office services, improved procurement, better property management and estate rationalisation, and the other savings outlined in our recent publication, 50 Ways to Save.
Turkey
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the prosecution in Turkey of the writer Pinar Selek; and what representations they
have made, or will make, to the Government of Turkey about that prosecution.[HL6712]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government are aware of the case of Pinar Selek.
It is not usual government practice to intervene in the judicial processes of another sovereign country, but we expect Turkey to uphold legal and judicial standards that are in line with international standards. Our embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor the situation closely.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the prosecution in Turkey of the composer Fazil Say for religious defamation; and what representations they have made, or will make, to the Government of Turkey about that prosecution. [HL6713]
Baroness Warsi: The Government are aware of the prosecution of Fazil Say under Section 216 of the Turkish Penal Code.
Freedom of expression is fundamental to a democratic society and key to the realisation of many other human rights. In line with international obligations, it may only be restricted when provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others or to protect national security, public order, or public health or morals.
We expect Turkey to uphold legal and judicial standards that are in line with its international commitments. Our embassy in Ankara will continue to monitor the situation closely.
UK Residents: Dual Citizenships
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of United Kingdom citizens resident abroad are estimated to be dual citizens of the United Kingdom and another state.[HL6773]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of United Kingdom citizens resident within the United Kingdom are estimated to be dual citizens of the United Kingdom and another state.[HL6774]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): No statistical information is available showing whether UK citizens hold another citizenship.
Waste Management
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which local authorities have (1) bid for, and (2) been awarded, grant payments as part of the weekly collection support scheme.[HL5963]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): One hundred and eighteen local authorities entered a total of 130 bids for funding from the weekly collection support scheme. Eighty-two (82) have been awarded and accepted grant payments.
They are: Allerdale; Barking and Dagenham; Barnet; Barrow; Bath and North East Somerset; Bedford; Bexley; Birmingham; Blaby; Bournemouth; Bradford; Brent Brentwood; Brighton and Hove; Camden; Canterbury; Colchester; Cornwall; Coventry; Crawley; Cumbria; Dartford; Dudley; Ealing; East Cambridgeshire; Eastbourne; Enfield; Gravesham; Great Yarmouth; Greenwich; Hackney; Haringey; Harlow; Havering; Hillingdon; Horsham; Hounslow; Islington; Lambeth; Leicester; Lewes; Lewisham; Luton; Malvern Hills; Manchester; Medway; Merton; Middlesborough; Milton Keynes; New Forest; North East Lincolnshire; North Hertfordshire; North Tyneside; Northamptonshire Waste Partnership; Nottingham; Oadby and Wigston; Plymouth; Poole; Portsmouth; Reading; Redbridge; Ribble Valley; Rochford; Sandwell; Sefton; Sheffield; Solihull; South Holland; Southampton; Southend-on-Sea; Spelthorne; Stockton-on-Tees; Stoke-on-Trent; Sunderland; Sutton; Tendring; Thanet; Waltham Forest; Wandsworth; Watford; Windsor and Maidenhead; and Wolverhampton.
A list of successful bidders to the scheme with details of the bids can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/15038/Weekly_Collection_Support_Scheme_-_successful bids.xls.
Unsuccessful local authorities entered their bids in confidence and have reasonable expectation of
confidentiality. The Department for Communities and Local Government is not naming those local authorities that entered unsuccessful bids.
World Heritage Sites: Liverpool
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have (1) made to, and (2) received from, the World Heritage Committee with regard to Liverpool’s (a) World Heritage status, and (b) inclusion on the List of World Heritage in Danger. [HL6356]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Her Majesty’s Government have made and received a number of representations to and from the World Heritage Committee in relation to Liverpool World Heritage property’s World Heritage status, including:
the state of conservation reports in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012;reports of monitoring missions, anddecisions of various committee meetings since the site’s inscription in 2004.
Her Majesty’s Government also engaged with the World Heritage Committee in preparing for the 36th World Heritage Committee, where the decision was taken to place Liverpool on the List of World Heritage in Danger, hosting the preceding monitoring mission in 2011 and producing a subsequent state of conservation report (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/liverpool-state-of-conservation-report-2013).