There is no specific complaint type for staff to select if an interpreter speaks the wrong language. The tribunal will specify the language required and the booking will be offered only to interpreters who have the appropriate qualifications to allow them to interpret in that language. Occasionally, staff may not be given the correct information on the dialect spoken by the individual and a hearing may have to be adjourned. These instances are rare and are not recorded separately for statistical purposes.
Iraq: Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ ability to determine the status of the residents in Camp Liberty and Camp Ashraf with a view to readmission to the United Kingdom; what reasons they have been given for any delay in that process; what assessment they have made of the viability of moving residents safely to another country; and how that compares to the current safety of the residents of those camps.[HL281]
Lord Newby: We understand that the UN High Commissioner for Refugees is making progress on determining the status of residents at Camp Liberty. Up to 52 cases could then be considered, on an exceptional basis, for possible readmission to the UK as refugees. We cannot judge the outcome or duration of this process. We have not made an assessment on the viability of moving residents safely to another country, but call on the Government of Iraq to ensure the current safety of residents at Camp Liberty. We welcome the recent announcement of the resettlement of 14 residents to Albania.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel about the reopening of Shaheda Street in Hebron to all peaceful users.[HL385]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): Our officials at our embassy in Tel Aviv have raised our wider concerns regarding Hebron and access with the Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT). We continue to call on Israel to ease such restrictions on access, working closely with EU partners and the Office of the Quartet Representative. Through our embassy in Tel Aviv, we have lobbied the appropriate authorities on the issue of movement and access relating to the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Israel and Palestine
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the legality of trading with settlements in the Occupied Territories.[HL235]
Lord Newby: As the noble Baroness will know, I am not able to comment on legal advice to Ministers. The issue of settlement produce is a subject of active discussion with the European Commission and our EU partners. We continue to work together to take forward the commitment made by EU Foreign Ministers at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 10 December 2012 to fully and effectively implement existing EU legislation and the bilateral arrangements applicable to settlement products.
This ongoing work includes measures to ensure that settlement produce does not enter the EU duty-free, under the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and steps to ensure that EU-wide guidelines are issued to make sure that settlement products are not incorrectly labelled as Israeli produce, in violation of EU consumer protection regulations. As part of this, in April the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), wrote to relevant UK ministries and enforcement bodies underlining the importance of correctly applying the law with respect to the labelling of products originating beyond Israel’s pre-1967 borders. The Foreign Secretary, together with like-minded EU member states, has also written to the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton, to welcome her commitment to work with fellow EU Commissioners to prepare EU-wide guidelines on the labelling of settlement produce. There are, however, currently no plans for EU or domestic legislation to ban the import of settlement products.
It is the Government’s long-standing view that settlements are illegal under international law. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and regularly raise our profound concerns about Israel’s settlement policy. We will continue to press the Israeli Government to cease all settlement activity.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Palestine’s membership and use of the International Criminal Court on any future Israeli aggression.[HL236]
Lord Newby: As the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made clear in a Statement on 28 November (Official Report, col. 227), our country is a strong supporter of international justice and the International Criminal Court (ICC). We are committed to seeing international law respected everywhere, including in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
We believe that Israel has legal obligations as an occupying power with respect to the Occupied Palestinian Territories under applicable international law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention. We have a regular dialogue with the Government of Israel about the implementation of those obligations and raise our serious concerns regarding issues of Israeli settlements, demolitions of Palestinian property and the severe restrictions on movement and access to and from Gaza.
We would ultimately like to see a Palestinian state represented throughout all the organs of the UN. However, we judge that if the Palestinians were to build on the recent UN General Assembly resolution by pursuing ICC jurisdiction over the Occupied Territories at this stage, it could make a return to negotiations impossible. This is extremely important given that we see 2013 as a crucial year for the Middle East peace process if progress is to be made before the window for a two-state solution closes completely.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Government of Israel following reports of Israeli authorities cutting off the water supply of 10 villages north-west of Jerusalem on 1 April.[HL239]
Lord Newby: We are looking into these specific reports. The UK regularly raises issues of water in the Occupied Palestinian Territories with the Israeli authorities, including stressing the urgent need for Israel to take immediate and practical measures to improve the current unacceptable situation and ensure fair distribution of water in the West Bank.
Legal Aid
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether under their proposed residence test as described in the transforming legal aid consultation child victims of trafficking will be able to access civil legal aid if they have entered the country on false passports under the influence of traffickers.[HL285]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether under their proposed residence test as described in the transforming legal aid consultation child victims of trafficking will be able to access civil legal aid if they have been in the country for less than 12 months.[HL286]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The consultation paper Transforming Legal Aid: Delivering a More Credible and Efficient System contains proposals aimed at reducing the cost of legal aid and boosting public confidence in the system, including through targeting limited public funds at those who have a
strong connection to the UK. Under our proposals, applicants for civil legal aid would have to satisfy a residence test in order to be eligible for civil legal aid.
We are currently consulting on this proposal and we are keen to hear views on the potential impacts of our proposed approach before we reach our final decision.
Lithuania
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 25 February (WA 246), whether they will review conditions in Lukiskes prison, Lithuania.[HL261]
Lord Newby: The Government have no plans at this time to review conditions in Lukiskes prison, Lithuania. The Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture conducted a visit there in November 2012 and we await the publication of its report.
Luxembourg Compromise
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Newby on 10 April (WA 316), whether they will now answer the question with regard to the Luxembourg Compromise. [HL287]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given by Lord Newby on 10 April (WA 316). The Government have always led the case for a competitive and stable UK financial services sector, and the prosperity of the City is in the interests of the UK and the EU. The Government will use the relevant negotiating and legal framework to protect the interests of the UK financial services sector.
Migrant Domestic Workers
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention Concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers.[HL389]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): This Government do not intend to ratify the International Labour Organisation Convention concerning Decent Work for Domestic Workers. A copy of convention 189 and recommendation 201 on decent work for domestic workers was laid in Parliament on 27 April 2012
as command paper 8338. The explanatory memorandum laid alongside this command paper sets out the UK position on this matter.
While we are in favour of the principles behind the convention, provisions within it would require the extension of criminal health and safety law in the UK to private households employing domestic workers. This is neither proportionate nor practical.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they treat foreign domestic workers forced to work excessive hours for less than the minimum wage, or not paid in cash, as persons trafficked by deception.[HL461]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Low wages and poor working conditions alone are unlikely to equate to human trafficking. However, each case is considered on its individual merits.
An adult is considered to be trafficked when they are coerced or deceived into a situation where they are exploited. Exploitation in a trafficking for forced labour context is assessed against internationally accepted criteria and requires the work to be exacted under the menace of any penalty and performed against the will of the person concerned.
Migration Advisory Committee
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 28 January (WA292-3), what categories of doctors are currently on the Migration Advisory Committee’s shortage occupation list for whom visas can be issued; and whether, in the light of the relative number of United Kingdom-based and foreign-based doctors registering over the last three years, they will take steps to increase the numbers of students being enrolled and trained in United Kingdom medical schools.[HL210]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The new shortage occupation list was effective from April 6. The list includes consultants within the following specialities:
emergency medicine;haematology; and old-age psychiatry.
In addition, non-consultant, non-training, medical staff posts are also included in the following specialities:
anaesthetics;general medicine specialities delivering acute care services: intensive care medicine, general internal medicine (acute), and emergency medicine (including specialist doctors working in accident and emergency);rehabilitation medicine; andpsychiatry.
The Health and Education National Strategic Exchange (commissioned by the Department and the Higher Education Funding Council for England) undertook a review of medical and dental student intakes in 2012. This was informed by a dynamic model of workforce supply and demand supplied by the Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI). The CfWI analysis indicated a likely oversupply in the medical workforce in the future, with the possible consequence of unemployed doctors.
The Health and Education National Strategic Exchange recommended a 2% reduction in the numbers entering medical schools and also recommended that a further review be undertaken to inform 2015 intakes. These recommendations were accepted by Ministers. The further review will take place in 2014 and be led by Health Education England.
Any changes made to medical school student intakes take a long time to feed through to the number of doctors in practice. For example, any changes made this year would not have an impact on the consultant workforce until 2021.
Overseas Conflict: Sexual Violence
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the timetable for implementing Article 7 of the G8 Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict during and beyond the United Kingdom’s presidency of the G8.[HL357]
Lord Newby: We were pleased to secure strong language in the G8 declaration on the important role of women human rights defenders in tackling sexual violence in conflict.
In support of this, at the launch of the declaration, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced new Foreign and Commonwealth Office funding of £5 million over three years to support grassroots and human rights projects working on sexual violence.
We are determined to implement and build on the G8 declaration as quickly as possible and work is already underway on this. We are developing an implementation plan and timetable for commitments in the declaration and beyond in consultation with other government departments, the UN and non-governmental organisations. This includes identifying roles for G8 partners with a view to the review of the declaration under the German G8 presidency in 2015. We will draw on existing EU guidelines and country-level working groups, which have been specifically developed to protect human rights defenders, throughout the planning and implementation process.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what programmes and resources they will deploy to implement their commitment under Article 7 of the G8 Declaration on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict to support and protect women under human rights defenders. [HL356]
Lord Newby: We were pleased to secure strong language in the G8 declaration on the important role of women human rights defenders in tackling sexual violence in conflict.
In support of this, at the launch of the declaration, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), announced new Foreign and Commonwealth Office funding of £5 million over three years to support grassroots and human rights projects working on sexual violence.
We are determined to implement and build on the G8 declaration as quickly as possible and work is already underway on this. We are developing an implementation plan and timetable for commitments in the declaration and beyond in consultation with other government departments, the UN and non-governmental organisations. This includes identifying roles for G8 partners with a view to the review of the declaration under the German G8 presidency in 2015. We will draw on existing EU guidelines and country-level working groups, which have been specifically developed to protect human rights defenders, throughout the planning and implementation process.
Passports
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many passports were issued by their embassy in Dublin in each of the past 10 years.[HL448]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued the following quantity of passports from the Dublin embassy over the past 10 years:
Data Source: OPMU - FCO
| Dublin | |
In January 2014 Her Majesty’s Passport Office will take over responsibility for processing applications that are currently dealt with by the embassy in Dublin.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many passports were issued by the Passport Office in Belfast in each of the past 10 years.[HL449]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Her Majesty’s Passport Office in Belfast has issued the following quantity of passports over the past 10 years:
| Issuing Office | |
| Year | Belfast |
Prisoners: Treatment and Rehabilitation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prisoners and young offenders were transferred in 2012 to establishments unable to offer the treatment or rehabilitative courses for which they had been recommended; and what proportion of the total numbers transferred that represents.[HL162]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): This information is not held centrally in any single department within the National Offender Management Service. An attempt to collate the range of information necessary would require cross-examination of thousands of individual sentence plans at establishment level about which programmes are commissioned for local delivery, nationally held information about the reasons for the transfer of named individuals between prisons and consideration of waiting lists in receiving establishments. This information could only be determined at disproportionate cost.
Public Sector: Pay
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether total public sector pay is rising at a faster rate than total private sector pay; and if so, why.[HL216]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given on 25 April 2013 (Official Report, col. col. WA461).
School Standards and Framework Act 1998
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether section 60 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 is consistent with European Union Council Directive 2000/78/EC
of 27 November 2000 which established a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation; whether they have been in communication with the European Union on the matter; and whether they plan to amend that Act.[HL260]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The European Commission recently invited the Government to submit observations on the compatibility of Section 60 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 and the European Union Council Directive 2000/78/EC. The Government consider that Section 60 of the School Standards and Framework Act is compatible with the directive. As a consequence, there are no plans to amend the School Standards and Framework Act.
Smoking
Questions
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to encourage providers and commissioners of smoking cessation services to monitor and improve (1) 4-week, (2) 12-week, and (3) 52-week quit rates.[HL176]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure providers of smoking cessation services adhere to existing National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance.[HL177]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Public Health England will continue to publish the Local Stop Smoking Service Delivery and Monitoring Guidance. The next review of this is due for publication by the end of 2013. This guidance is developed in partnership with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and other expert organisations and sets the standard for delivery expected of all stop-smoking services, which include the monitoring and delivery of outcomes at four, 12 and 52 weeks.
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to introduce outcome measures on (1) smoking status, and (2) smoking cessation. [HL179]
Earl Howe: Outcome measures on smoking status are set within, Improving Outcomes and Supporting Transparency: APublic Health Outcomes Framework for England 2013-2016. These are:
indicator 2.3: smoking status at time of delivery;indicator 2.9: smoking prevalence—15 year olds (Placeholder); andindicator 2.14: smoking prevalence—adults (over 18s).
A range of outcome measures for smoking cessation are available to commissioners of these services, such as: success at four weeks, 12 weeks and beyond; percentage of four-week outcomes that are biometrically validated with a carbon monoxide reading; and level of engagement
with those populations where smoking prevalence is particularly high. We are not considering adding to these outcomes at this stage.
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of smoking cessation in the delivery of improved patient outcomes for long-term conditions and mortality rates.[HL180]
Earl Howe: The Government commissioned the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to deliver public health guidance PH15: Identifying and Supporting People Most at Risk of Dying Prematurely. This guidance concludes that, “helping people to stop smoking [is one] of the most widely used interventions to prevent cancer and cardiovascular disease. [It has] been shown to be effective and cost-effective generally—and [has] considerable potential to reduce premature mortality rates among people who are disadvantaged”.
Sri Lanka
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made regarding the human rights situation in Sri Lanka.[HL454]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government have ongoing human rights concerns about Sri Lanka, including on freedom of opinion and expression, and judicial independence. We are concerned about attacks on and intimidation of journalists, legal professionals, human rights defenders and others. Sri Lanka is listed as a country of concern in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights Report for 2012, a copy of which is available online at http://www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk, and from the House Libraries.
We also have serious concerns about the lack of demonstrable progress on post-conflict reconciliation, accountability and political settlement. We have consistently called for an independent, thorough and credible investigation into allegations of violations and abuses of international humanitarian and human rights law by both sides in the military conflict.
In light of our concerns, the UK co-sponsored the Sri Lanka resolution passed in the Human Rights Council on 21 March, and we welcome its adoption with the support of a majority of Council members. We consistently urge the Sri Lankan Government to implement the recommendations contained in the resolution and comply with their obligations under international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether progress has been made in improving human rights in Sri Lanka.[HL455]
Baroness Warsi: Sri Lanka was listed as a country of concern in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights Report for 2012, a copy of which is available online at http://www.hrdreport.fco.gov.uk, and from the House Libraries. Unfortunately, many of the issues raised in that report, including freedom of opinion and expression, and judicial independence, continue to be a source of concern.
During his visit to Sri Lanka earlier this year, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my honourable friend, the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt), discussed our human rights concerns with the Sri Lankan Government, and urged the full implementation of the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission and wider measures on accountability. Some progress has been made; for example, on the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the reintegration of former combatants. But both during the visit and since, we have been clear that much more work is needed to deliver reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
We were particularly disappointed at Sri Lanka’s decision to reject a large number of recommendations at the Human Rights Council during its Universal Periodic Review in November 2012. These included one of the UK’s recommendations to “ensure a climate in which all citizens are able to freely express their opinions and beliefs, without fear of reprisal or retribution”.
We will continue to use all opportunities to raise human rights concerns with the Sri Lankan Government, including at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November.
Sukhranjan Bali
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the Government of India to encourage them to grant Sukhranjan Bali temporary protection in that country to enable him to make a full witness statement in the trial of Delwar Hossain Sayedee in Bangladesh.[HL383]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Government have no plans to raise the issue of Sukhranjan Bali with the Indian Government. Our high commission in Dhaka has previously raised the alleged abduction of Mr Bali with the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs and urged it to investigate. I have made clear to the Government of Bangladesh Britain’s support for the principle of war crimes trials, but that these must meet international standards. We will continue to monitor developments closely.
Talent Strategies
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the latest Talent Strategy for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which is referred to in the department’s 2011-12 annual report and accounts.[HL293]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie): The department’s strategy and supporting plans for talent are available on its intranet site, which is accessible to its entire staff. The department has no plans to publish it further.
Taxation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Deighton on 22 April (WA 353-4), what action is taken if a self-employed person who has failed to submit a tax return on time fails to pay the resulting penalties; and whether they have considered introducing a rule that such individuals who fail to make a return have that status terminated and the related benefits ended.[HL98]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): Where self-assessment (SA) returns remain outstanding after the due date (31 January), a regime of penalties commences. Late-filing penalties are charged at an initial £100. If the return is still outstanding after three months, daily penalties of £10 per day are charged for up to 90 days. At six months late, a tax geared penalty of 5% of the liability shown on the return, or a minimum of £300, is charged, whichever is greater. At 12 months, a tax-geared penalty of 5% of the liability shown on the return, or a minimum of £300, is charged, whichever is greater.
These penalties will be pursued by a variety of interventions used either singularly or in combination through letters, telephone calls and text messages. The interventions may be undertaken within HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and/or by an external debt collection agency. If the penalties remain unpaid, further interventions can be made by HMRC, including calling at the customer’s home or court action to secure the completed SA return and payment of the penalties.
The Government are not currently considering a rule to terminate an individual’s employment status and end-related benefits. An individual’s employment status is defined by the terms and conditions under which they are engaged. The Government believe that an individual’s true economic activity should determine their status for tax and national insurance purposes and that the regime outlined above is sufficient to ensure self-employed individuals make the appropriate returns.
Teachers: Misconduct
Questions
Asked by Lord Knight of Weymouth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role the National College for Teaching and Leadership has in relation to upholding professional teaching standards; what action it can take in cases of professional misconduct by teachers in (1) secondary schools, (2) academies established before 2010, (3) academies established after 2010, and (4) further education colleges, in relation to the education they provide for people aged 14–18.[HL374]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash): The National College for Teaching and Leadership supports the quality and status of the teaching profession by ensuring that in cases of serious professional misconduct, teachers can be barred from teaching.
The regulatory regime applies to all teachers and instructors in maintained schools, non-maintained special schools, academies, sixth form colleges, independent schools and relevant youth accommodation and children’s homes in England.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership has no jurisdiction for further education colleges.
Asked by Lord Knight of Weymouth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what access (1) further education colleges, and (2) sixth form colleges, have to the misconduct records held by the National College for Teaching and Leadership relating to individuals seeking employment.[HL375]
Lord Nash: Further education colleges and sixth form colleges have the same access to teachers’ misconduct records as maintained and independent schools.
The National College for Teaching and Leadership provides a range of services that enable teachers’ records to be checked prior to employment, including the Employer Access Online service and a telephone helpline.
The outcomes of NCTL professional conduct panels, along with the details of forthcoming hearings, are publicly available on the departmental website.
Transport and Utility Industries
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have studied foreign company ownership of participants in the United Kingdom utility and transport industries; whether any of the owners are nationalised in their home territory; and what are the implications of such ownership for the customers of those services.[HL275]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): The UK is open for business and we welcome foreign investment into the UK. This enhances competition and improves services to customers. Companies in the utilities and transport sectors have a range of ownership structures, including being nationalised in their country of origin. The key is the level of service that they provide UK consumers, and, depending on the sector, this is ensured by competition and/or robust regulation.
UK Border Agency
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the practical implications of abolishing the UK Border Agency.[HL342]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Following the announcement of the changes to the UK Border Agency announced by the Home Secretary on 26 March, the agency has been replaced with two new operational commands within the Home Office. UK Visas and Immigration will be a high-volume service that makes high-quality decisions about who comes here, with a culture of customer satisfaction for business travellers and visitors who want to come here legally. Immigration Enforcement will have law enforcement at its heart and get tough on those who break our immigration laws.
New interim directors-general for these commands have been appointed. They will sit on the new strategic oversight board chaired by the Permanent Secretary, which will ensure transparency and accountability within the system.
UK Trade
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what specific commitments and additional commitments have been given by the United Kingdom since 1994 under the General Agreement on Trade in Services in relation to health and associated services, including their dates, current applicability, terms, limitations, conditions, undertakings, implementation time frames, qualifications, standards and licensing matters, along with any modifications and withdrawals that have been made, set out by mode of supply and all relevant sectoral classifications; whether they intend to modify or withdraw any such existing commitments and, if so, which ones; and what compensatory adjustments the United Kingdom or the European Union have agreed to as a result of any modifications or withdrawals.[HL364]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what agreements, including investment treaties and partnership agreements but excluding the General Agreement on Trade in Services, (1) have been entered into, and (2) are currently being negotiated, by or on behalf of the United Kingdom with another country or other countries which contain or could contain provisions relating to trade, market access, national treatment, progressive liberalisation, investment or economic partnership in respect of health and associated services; what are those provisions; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of each of those agreements which have been entered into, and the latest drafts of those agreements that are currently being negotiated. [HL365]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how (1) the proposed Economic and Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada, and (2) the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership Agreement between the European Union with the United States, would modify or extend (a) the applicability of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), and (b) the commitments of the United Kingdom under GATS in respect of health and associated services.[HL366]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): The UK’s specific commitments on trade in health services are set out in the EU schedule of commitments to the GATS. This is a publicly available document and can be accessed at www.wto.org. The UK has not added to its commitments on trade in health services under the GATS since the GATS entered into force. We have not withdrawn any GATS commitments on trade in health services and we have no current intention to do so.
In principle, all EU-level trade agreements covering trade in services will include commitments on trade in health services. For the UK, these commitments are generally quite similar to those contained in the GATS although there are some variations between agreements.
Examples of agreements in force include the EU-Chile FTA, the EU-Mexico FTA, the EU-CARIFORUM Economic Partnership Agreement and the EU-Korea FTA. All EU trade agreements in force are publicly available documents and can be accessed at the Commission website at http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/agreements/. We cannot deposit the latest drafts of agreements under negotiation. These are not publicly available documents.
In principle, investment in the provision of health services is also protected through the UK’s existing network of investment promotion and protection agreements (which are also publicly available and can be found via http:// webarchive.national archives.gov.uk/20130104161243 /http://www.fto.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents /treaties/treaty-texts/ippas-investment-promotion/) and will also be protected under the investment protection provisions in EU-level agreements currently being negotiated.
Neither the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) nor the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) will impact directly on the UK’s commitments under the GATS. In the CETA, the UK has sought to limit its commitments in trade in health services to a level similar to that available under the CATS. The negotiations on the TTIP have not yet begun.
Visas
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many entry visas excluding tourist visas were issued in 2012 to non-European Union nationals for family, study work and intra-company transfer, and in what categories; and how many (1) migrants from European Union countries, (2) illegal immigrants, and (3) asylum seekers they estimate to have entered the United Kingdom in 2012, and what was the estimated total figure for inward entry, excluding tourists and visitors.[HL208]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The available information for entry clearance visas excluding tourist visas, providing totals and data for family, work, study, and by detailed category, is given in the table below. Please note some individuals issued visas in 2012 may not have entered the UK (or entered the UK in 2013).
Some non-European Economic Area (EEA) nationals (known as non-visa nationals) may be admitted to the UK for periods up to six months without requiring a visa. Further details are available at the web page: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/general-info/non-visa-nationals/.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that 157,000 citizens from the European Union (EU) (excluding British) migrated to the UK in the year ending June 2012, similar to the estimate of 175,000 in the year ending June 2011. The data are given in the table below. The data uses the UN definition of a long- term international migrant being someone who moves from their country of previous residence for a period of at least a year.
Information is not available on the number of illegal immigrants entering the UK.
There were 27,486 asylum applicants in 2012 of which 23,901 asylum applications were made in-country. The data are given in the table below. Information as to how many of the 23,901 also entered the UK in 2012 is not available. Figures on how many of the 27,486 asylum applicants were issued with entry clearance visas in 2012 are also not available.
The ONS estimated that 515,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year ending June 2012, which is significantly lower than the 589,000 who migrated in the year to June 2011. The data are given in the table below. The data uses the United Nations (UN) definition of a long-term international migrant being someone who moves from their country of previous residence for a period of at least a year.
| Entry clearance visas issued by category, including dependants | ||
| Entry clearance visas issued by detailed category | |||
| Type | Type of applicant | 2011 | 2012 |
: not available
Source Immigration Statistics, October to December 2012 table be.04
| Asylum applications (including dependants) | ||
| 2011 | 2012 | |
Notes
It is not possible to quantify how many of the 23,901 who applied once in the country in 2012 also arrived in 2012.
It is not possible to quantify how many asylum applicants were issued with entry clearance visas.
Source Immigration Statistics, October to December 2012 table as.02
| Long-Term International Migration Rolling annual data to year ending June 2012 | ||
| Thousands | ||
| Inflow | ||
| YE Jun 11 | YE Jun 12 | |
Notes
YE = Year Ending
1 European Union estimates are for the EU1 5 (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden) up to 2003, the EU25 (the EU15 and the EU8 groupings plus Malta and Cyprus) from 2004 - 2006, and for the EU27 (the EU25 plus Bulgaria and Romania) from 2007. Estimates are also shown separately for the EU1 5 and the EU8 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, formerly known collectively as the A8). British citizens are excluded from all groupings and are shown separately.
2 Excludes British and other European Union citizens as defined in footnote 1.
Source
Office for National Statistics (ONS), Migration Statistics Quarterly Report February 2013, Table 1
The latest Home Office immigration statistics on entry clearance visas and asylum applications are published in the release Immigration Statistics October-December 2012, which is available from the Library of the House and on the department's website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2012/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2012.
The latest ONS statistics on long-term immigration are published in the release Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, February 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the ONS website at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/february-2013/msqr-febl 3.html#tab-Migration-Statistics-Quarterly-Report--February-2013.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether under the terms of the Immigration Rules Israeli citizens who have settled illegally in Occupied Palestinian Territories are deemed to require different visa requirements for entry to the United Kingdom from those in place for other Israeli citizens.[HL302]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: Israeli citizens who hold a valid passport and are visiting the United Kingdom for less than six months do not, irrespective of where they live, require a visa before coming to the UK.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 10 April (WA 341), whether they maintain a record of how many immigrants are sponsored annually by each of the current sponsoring employers registered under tiers 2 and 5 of the points-based system; and whether there is any statutory reason why such a record cannot be published.[HL451]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The number of migrants sponsored by each of the registered sponsoring employers for tiers 2 and 5 is recorded on the sponsorship management system. There is no statutory reason why such a record cannot be published. However, the costs associated with quality-assuring this volume of data prior to publication would be disproportionate.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 10 April (WA 341), what assessment they have made of why the number of applications from within the United Kingdom for extensions of stay for work using certificates of sponsorship from employers increased from 18,065 in 2011 to 28,212 in 2012; and what assessment they have made of the impact of applications from within and outside the United Kingdom for entry clearance visas for work using such certificates in 2012 on their policy of reducing migration by the end of the Parliament. [HL452]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The rise in extensions of stay is likely to be due in part to the reduction of the maximum grant of initial leave for skilled workers from five years to three years at the end of 2008. This will have resulted in an increase in extension applications in 2012, as the 2009 cohort applied to extend their stay. Some displacement from closed tier 1 routes was also anticipated.
The Government do not expect the increase in extensions to affect our target of reducing net migration. We continue to monitor the volume of entry clearance and extension applications, and net migration continues to fall. We have also tightened the requirements to be satisfied before a migrant on a work visa may settle in the UK at the end of a five-year period.
The latest Home Office immigration statistics are published in the release Immigration Statistics January-March 2013, which is available from the Library of the House and on the department’s website at: https://www. gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series-statistics-quarterly-release.
Waterways and Canals
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the value of recreational use of canals and navigable rivers to the United Kingdom economy. [HL347]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): The Government do not have an estimate for the value of recreational use of canals and navigable rivers to the economy. However, the impact assessment produced in February 2012 as part of the work to create the Canal & River Trust gave a conservative estimate for the recreational value of the waterways to users of £300 million per annum. This includes informal waterway recreational activity only and does not include leisure-related spending, such as on food and drink, boating or accommodation, that is associated with recreational use of the waterways.
World Trade Organisation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to support the trade facilitation deal, and duty-free, quota-free access for Least Developed Countries at the World Trade Organisation's Ministerial Conference in December.[HL354]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint): The UK is committed to the multilateral trading system and strongly supports agreement at the WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference in December on a deal that has trade facilitation at its core and includes progress on agriculture and on issues of relevance to the least developed countries (LDCs). The EU already offers full duty-free quota-free access to the exports of least developed countries as part of the Everything But Arms tranche of its Generalised System of Preferences.