Written Answers
Wednesday 10 July 2013
Agriculture: Genetically and Non-genetically Modified Food
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the breakdown of spending by (1) the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and (2) the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, in each of (a) genetically modified (GM) crops; (b) non-GM agricultural biotechnology; (c) marker-assisted selection; (d) home-grown protein sources for livestock; (e) agroecology; and (f) organic farming, in the past five years.[HL1247]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley): Over the last five years Defra has spent an average of £29m per annum on food and farming research out of a total of £400m spent by government, including research councils. However, it is not possible to provide a breakdown as requested. Agricultural biotechnology, marker-assisted selection and agroecology may all play a part in a variety of the research projects we undertake relating to farming systems.
The breakdown of the spending by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is as follows:
a) genetically modified (GM) crops
| Annual Spend £M | |||||
| 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
1 research involving the use or the production of a GM crop, usually to enable enhanced agricultural traits (e.g. stress-tolerance or disease resistance in wheat).
2 crop research involving the use or the production of a GM crop to further biological understanding of the plant (e.g. genetically modifying a protein to understand its function in the plant).
b) non-GM agricultural biotechnology
No breakdown figure available for non-GM agricultural biotechnology.
Overall spend in agri-technology sector, based on spend on crop science, farmed animal health and welfare, and agricultural systems.
| Annual Spend (£M) | ||||
| 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
Estimated figure for crops only.
| Annual Spend £M | |||||
| 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
1 An estimated figure calculated as 22% of the total crop science spend and based on analysis figures from 2007/08 and 2008/09. Note there is significant effort in marker assisted breeding in crops and livestock undertaken at BBSRC strategically funded institutes so estimated figures above are likely to be underestimated.
d) home-grown protein sources for livestock
No figures available. However, please note the BBSRC has provided funding to the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, Aberystwyth University in support of research on ryegrass and clover as feedstocks.
Figure for agricultural systems1 which includes agroecology but no further breakdown available.
| Annual Spend (EM) | ||||
| 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | |
1 Studies of agricultural landscapes and systems (including mathematical modelling) and effects of agriculture on ecosystems and the environment; soil science; interactions of crop farming practices with the environment (e.g. pollution of water supplies, effects on biodiversity); impacts of climatic and other environmental factors on agricultural systems (e.g. effects on productivity and pest and disease management; impact on biodiversity, soils and the aquatic environment, when set in an agricultural context; breeding of crops and livestock to circumvent negative effects of climate change; relevant factors include temperature, gases, water (drought and flooding), wind, sunlight and salinity.
Estimated as approximately 1% of agri-technology spend (see response to part b), based on analysis data from 2006/07.
Please note that spend figures for 2012/13 are currently being processed and therefore unavailable.
Asylum Seekers
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 13 June (WA 255), what is their rationale for allowing asylum seekers to apply only for jobs which appear on the shortage occupation list.[HL1405]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): Allowing asylum seekers to apply only for jobs which appear on the shortage occupation list ensures that asylum seekers do not have any enhanced employment access over legitimate economic migrants applying to enter the UK under Tier 2 (skilled workers). As such, it avoids any incentive for economic migrants to make
unmeritorious asylum claims to gain better access to employment. On 7 June 2013 the Government’s policy on permission to work for asylum seekers was upheld in the High Court.
Banking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take steps to transfer responsibility for decisions on leverage ratios for banks from ministers to regulators.[HL1205]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The question asked refers to one of the recommendations included in the final report of the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards published on 19 June 2013. The Government publicly replied to the report on 8 July 20131.
On the specific recommendation on the leverage ratio, the Government has reiterated its earlier commitment that the Financial Policy Committee will be given the power of direction to vary through time the baseline leverage requirement for deposit takers and investment firms, subject to it never being below the requirement determined by Basel III. That power should be granted once the baseline requirement is implemented.
1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the- governments-response-to-the-parliamentary-commission- on-banking-standards
BBC: Licence Fee
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much and what percentage of the television licence fee is not allocated to the BBC; and how much of the fee goes towards (1) S4/C, and (2) the BBC World Service.[HL1151]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The BBC is funded by the licence fee and a dividend from BBC Worldwide. The amount of licence fee funding which goes towards S4C (as of April this year) is detailed in the following table.
| Year | From BBC (£) |
BBC World Service’s broadcasting costs are met by a separate Parliamentary grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Benefits
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact on (1) rent arrears, (2) child poverty, and (3) personal debt, of the proposed extension to seven days of the period before people who lose their jobs can obtain benefits. [HL1289]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): No such assessments have been made. The increase of waiting days to seven will have a single effect at the start of a person’s entitlement when final wages will often be available.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many households, broken down by local authority, are currently in receipt of benefits totalling more than £500 per week, but are exempt from the Household Benefit Cap on the basis of their entitlement to Disability Living Allowance.[HL1371]
Lord Freud: A Local Authority breakdown of the number of households currently in receipt of benefits totalling more than £500 per week, but are exempt from the Household Benefit cap on the basis of their entitlement to Disability Living Allowance (DLA), will be placed in the library.
Please note DLA claimants are exempt from the benefit cap. From the data available in May 2013, we estimate an additional 47,000 households would potentially be brought into scope of the benefit cap if this exemption did not apply and by virtue of other benefits being claimed. This estimate references those whose only reason for exemption from the cap is that either the HB claimant, their partner or a dependent child in their household receives DLA. Please note that it includes those in the scope of both the £500 and £350 benefit cap limits.
Please note that household numbers are rounded to the nearest 100. Areas with fewer than 100 households affected are denoted by “..”, as additional disclosure control has been applied to these areas.
The benefit cap is being applied through a phased implementation which commenced on 15 April 2013 in Bromley, Croydon, Enfield and Haringey. National implementation of the benefit cap commences 15th July and by the end of September 2013 all appropriate households will have been capped.
Estimates assume that the situation of these households will go unchanged, and they will not take any steps to either work enough hours to qualify for Working Tax Credit, renegotiate their rent in situ, or find alternative accommodation.
The Department has made extensive contacts with households who are likely to be affected by the cap and we are offering advice and support through Jobcentre Plus, including, where appropriate, early access to the Work Programme before the cap is introduced.
Broadcasting: Religion
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Channel 4’s decision to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer every day during the month of Ramadan, and of the effect this may have on community relations in the United Kingdom. [HL1312]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): Programming decisions are ultimately a matter for Channel 4 and its regulator. I would observe that Channel 4 has a long history of alternative programming.
Freedom of worship is an important British liberty, and we should show respect to all faiths, especially during their festivals. Religious practices of many faiths are featured in the media from time to time, and there is a long tradition of religious tolerance in this country.
Child Poverty
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children are defined under the Child Poverty Act 2010 as living in poverty in (1) Derby, and (2) the East Midlands.[HL1313]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): This information is not available for all the areas requested.
The Child Poverty Act 2010 sets four income-based UK-wide targets to be met by 2020. The targets are based on the proportion of children living in households with relative low income, combined low income and material deprivation, absolute low income and persistent poverty (all before housing costs have been taken into account). Estimates of these are published in the National Statistics Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series. HBAI uses household income adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) for household size and composition, to provide a proxy for standard of living.
Information for Derby is not available as the sample size of this survey is not sufficient to provide robust estimates for each of the four measures. Persistent poverty figures for the East Midlands are also not available.
Three-year averages are used to report statistics by region and country, as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. The latest figures for relative and absolute low income for East Midlands covering the last three years (2009/10-2011/12) can be found in the latest 2011/12 HBAI publication, available at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201112
Relevant figures can be found in Table 4.17ts (on page 136) for the latest relative low income estimates for the East Midlands, and similar figures for absolute low income estimates can be found in Table 4.23ts (on page 142).
The items used to measure material deprivation have changed since 2010/11, this has meant that the current combined low income and material deprivation time series is limited to two years’ worth of data. As such three year averages by region and country for this measure are not available for 2009/10-2011/12. The latest combined low income and material deprivation
figures available are for 2008/09-2010/11 found in the earlier 2010/11 HBAI publication, available at the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201011
Relevant figures for the East Midlands under the combined low income and material deprivation measure covering 2008/09-2010/11 can be found in table 4.6db (on page 115).
We want to develop better measures of child poverty which include, but go beyond income to provide a more accurate picture of the reality of child poverty. Our consultation on how best to measure child poverty closed on 15 February. A large volume of responses was received and all of these are being read and we will publish a response as soon as we can.
Debt
Question
Asked by The Earl of Caithness
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Wallace of Tankerness on 26 June (HL Deb, col 797), what are the “general principles of international law” relating to the allocation of national debt to which the minister referred. [HL1224]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness): There are a number of key legal issues that would underpin the formation of any independent Scottish state. The most important of these is the principle of continuity: that is, that the remainder of the UK would be the continuing state and an independent Scotland would be a new state. The first paper in the Government’s ‘Scotland Analysis’ programme deals with this issue in detail.
The question of the allocation of national debt would be informed by the principle of equity and international practice. On that basis, a new state would be expected to take its ‘equitable share’ of any national debt as accepted by the Scottish Government Finance Secretary in his evidence to the Lords Economic Affairs Committee.
Economy
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of research by Friedrich Sneider and Colin Williams of the Institute of Economic Affairs on the value of the United Kingdom’s shadow economy; and what measures they are taking to address that issue and improve public finances. [HL1181]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Office for National Statistics (ONS) works with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to estimate the amount of hidden activity in the UK economy.
The ONS adjust their estimate of the size of the economy to account for unrecorded transactions involving small businesses and sole traders, based on HMRC’s assessment of lost revenue.
HMRC also publish an annual estimation of the tax gap, which, in 2010-11, was estimated to be £32 billion, equivalent to 6.7 per cent of tax liabilities.
The Government is investing in HMRC to tackle tax avoidance and evasion and to reduce losses from fraud, error and debt — this includes almost £1 billion over this Spending Review period, to bring in an additional £9 billion a year in tax revenue by 2014-15. The June 2013 Spending Round announced that HMRC’s compliance yield target will be increased from £23.5 billion in 2014-15 to £24.5 billion in 2015-16.
Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations 2013
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the environmental cost of implementing the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1403), including their impact on amenity and tourism.[HL1231]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: As reflected in the impact assessment, the Government estimated that the installation of more overhead lines could affect the visual amenity of people living close by or visitors to the affected area.
The extent of this effect will depend on the extra use that is made of the measure by operators. Based on the data that operators have made available, we have estimated that over 5 years there could be a 10% increase in overhead lines; an increase of 325 km per annum.
The impact assessment made clear that an economic estimate of any adverse effects on tourism had not been made. Some respondents to the public consultation expressed concern about the potential loss of tourism revenue. However, this possibility should be offset against the likely direct benefits to tourism. VisitEngland, for example, supported the proposal, highlighting the economic importance of access to broadband in developing and sustaining tourism-related businesses, particularly in remote areas.
Energy: Electricity Supplies
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the costs currently incurred by registered electricians wishing to isolate the electricity supplies of individual dwellings; and how that impacts on the predicted cost savings associated with the Building Regulations review.[HL1279]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): The Department for Communities and Local Government has made no estimate of the costs currently incurred by registered electricians wishing to isolate the electricity supplies of individual dwellings; nor how that impacts on the predicted cost savings associated with the Building Regulations review. Building Regulations do not restrict access to electrical isolators.
Food: Labelling
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce a non-genetically-modified-fed labelling scheme for meat and dairy products in the United Kingdom, as was supported by Food Standards Agency research on United Kingdom consumers. [HL1250]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Government has no plans to introduce such a scheme. The European Commission has been reviewing the need for a harmonised European Union wide framework for labelling claims that foods have been produced without genetically modified (GM) technology and without GM animal feed. We await their report.
Government Departments: Correspondence
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what targets the Department of Health has set itself for the time taken to answer correspondence; whether there are different targets, formal or informal, for answering correspondence from members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords; and how it has performed against any such targets in the last 12 months for which data is available.[HL1361]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The Department’s formal target for answering correspondence from members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords is to reply to 90% of correspondence within 18 working days. No informal target exists.
Between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2013, the Department responded to 96% of hon. Members’ and Noble Lords’ correspondence within 18 working days.
Health: Cardiology
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence plans to develop a quality standard on sudden cardiac arrest.[HL1283]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has not currently been asked to develop a quality standard on sudden cardiac arrest. NHS England is now responsible for commissioning quality standards relating to NHS services from NICE. We understand from NHS England that it currently has no plans to commission a quality standard on sudden cardiac arrest but that it is carrying out a prioritisation process for further quality standards to be referred in early 2014.
Health: Doctors
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase the supply of suitably qualified doctors for appointment to posts in emergency medicine across the country.[HL1309]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): Health Education England (HEE) has been created to ensure the National Health Service has the right staff with the right skills, values and behaviours in the right place at the right time in the right numbers. This includes working to deliver new generations of skilled staff to areas where there is established need, as well as working to support employers in encouraging existing staff to work in these areas. This includes our accident and emergency (A&E) departments. The taskforce looking into the issue of A&E staffing is due to report in the summer 2013 and HEE will work with colleagues across the NHS and in education to deliver the actions it recommends.
Health: Drugs Pricing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 June (WA 93), how they intend to select which cancer drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will be assessed under value-based pricing. [HL1365]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 June (WA 93), how many cancer drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will be assessed under value-based pricing.[HL1366]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 June (WA 93), whether cancer drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence which were selected to undergo a value-based pricing assessment will be subject to a different process to new medicines. [HL1367]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 June (WA 93), what arrangements they intend to put in place to secure patients’ ongoing access during value-based pricing assessments for drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.[HL1368]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): As set out in my previous Answer of 24 June 2013, Official Report column WA93, value-based pricing will focus primarily on new medicines. Negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry are ongoing and the scope of the new arrangements, including the medicines to be covered, are matters for these negotiations.
We expect that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will apply a single value assessment process to all medicines assessed under value-based pricing.
In the context of developing the new pricing arrangements, we are exploring ways in which patients can continue to benefit from innovative cancer drugs at a cost that represents value to the National Health Service.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 June (WA 93), what assessment they have made of the length of time an evaluation under value-based pricing will take for cancer drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.[HL1369]
Earl Howe: We expect that the timescale for the value assessment process that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will apply to drugs under value-based pricing will be broadly similar to that for NICE’s existing single technology appraisal process. Details of the existing process are available on NICE’s website at:
www.nice.org.uk/media/913/06/Guide_to_the_ STA-proof_6-26-10-09.pdf
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 June (WA 93), why they do not envisage that all cancer drugs previously considered but not recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will be assessed under value-based pricing. [HL1370]
Earl Howe: The vast majority of branded medicines already on the market before 2014 will be covered by the successor arrangements to the current Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. This is in line with the proposals set out in the consultation, A new value-based approach to the pricing of branded medicines, which ran from December 2010 to March 2011, and the Government’s response, published in July 2011. We are, however, still considering the possibility of a small number of existing drugs being assessed under value-based pricing on a case-by-case basis.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will continue to keep its published guidance under review in order to take account of the latest available evidence.
Health: Human Papilloma Virus
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many doses of Gardasil human papilloma virus vaccine have been administered since it was introduced to the United Kingdom.[HL1332]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): It is estimated that 730,000 doses of Gardasil vaccine have been administered in England, Wales and Northern Ireland as part of the national Human papillomavirus (HPV) immunisation programme since September 2012.
The requested information for Scotland is not currently available. Statistics on the HPV Immunisation programme in Scotland for the 2012-13 academic year are planned for publication on 24 September 2013.
Published statistics for 2011-12 academic year show that around 75,000 doses of Cervarix vaccine had been administered in Scotland. Gardasil replaced Cervarix in September 2012 as the vaccine used in the national immunisation programme. Uptake rates in Scotland have been relatively consistent since the introduction of the HPV immunisation programme in September 2008.
Therefore, based on the assumption that uptake in 2012-13 remains at a similar level to 2011-12, it can be estimated a similar number of Gardasil vaccines have been administered in Scotland since September 2012.
Health: Palliative Care
Question
Asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Sutton and Merton Clinical Commissioning Groups as to the viability of the continuing provision of palliative care by St Raphael’s Hospice to the population of both those London Boroughs in the event of the sale of St Anthony’s Hospital, which currently provides services to the Hospice free of charge, to a commercial concern. [HL1347]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): This is a local commissioning issue and a matter for Sutton & Merton Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). The Government has not had any discussions with the CCGs about this issue.
Homeless People
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Evidence review of the costs of homelessness published in August 2012 by the Department for Communities and Local Government which stated that there were significant gaps in the evidence of the costs to government of providing support and services to homeless people, what progress they have made in collecting evidence of the number of homeless people interacting with government services. [HL1322]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): My Department is supporting the Mayor of London to deliver a Social Impact Bond delivering targeted support to a specific group of rough sleepers. The project evaluation will use data from different sources, including administrative data, to improve our understanding of what costs are associated with service use for this group and the extent to which the additional support provided by this intervention reduces these costs. Additionally, Homeless Link recently published “What’s it worth” — new guidance to help the homelessness sector demonstrate value for money and understand the costs associated with the use of public services by homeless people.
Housing Benefit
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will issue new guidance to local authorities on the use of housing benefit to support homeless people in emergency overnight shelter accommodation. [HL844]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Guidance to local authorities on the administration of the Housing Benefit regulations is already available. There are no plans to amend it in this respect.
A recent court judgement (OR -v- Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Isle of Anglesey CC [2013] UKUT 065) has prompted questions about the eligibility of people using night shelters for housing benefit. I would like to assure the noble Lord that there has been no change in the law. Housing Benefit rules have not been changed over the basic principle of entitlement.
The court case was about the facts of one individual case, on whether the claimant was occupying a night shelter as his dwelling in accordance with the legislation. The Government believes that housing benefit can continue to be paid to users of shelters so long as the person’s circumstances meet the housing benefit rules. It is for local authorities to make decisions after considering all the relevant facts.
Information to clarify this point has been made available to local authorities and voluntary sector providers and a copy of the note has been placed in the Library of the House.
The Government recognises the important contribution that night shelters can make to reducing rough sleeping and the associated costs to society. We have invested £470 million over four years (2011/12-2014/15) to help local authorities and the voluntary sector prevent and tackle homelessness, including rough sleeping in England and a £5 million boost to the Homelessness Change Programme (bringing the total investment to £42.5 million).
Housing: Private Rented Sector
Questions
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the public consultation on redress schemes for letting and management agency work will take place. [HL1264]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Hanham): Requiring all letting and managing agents to belong to an approved redress scheme will give tenants an effective way to address complaints and drive up standards in the private rented sector. We are keen to make rapid progress in putting schemes in place, and will be engaging widely with landlord bodies, tenant groups and the lettings industry over the summer. There is no need for consultation on the principle of such redress schemes, as the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 has already set out the statutory basis.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the practice of some landlords and tenants in letting or subletting part of a privately owned domestic property by means of a licence in circumstances where they do not also live on the premises; and whether they are considering proposals to control such activity.[HL1301]
Baroness Hanham: No such assessment has been made and we are not considering proposals to control the practice of letting or sub-letting by licence by a landlord or tenant who does not live in the privately owned property.
A tenancy gives the person to whom it is granted an estate in land whereas a licence confers only a personal permission on the person to whom it is granted. The key factor for identifying whether someone has been granted a tenancy or a licence is whether he/she has been granted exclusive possession of the property (although there are other factors). Common examples of where an occupier is likely to have a licence rather than a tenancy are holiday lets/hotels and cases where the occupier lodges in the landlords own home.
Internet: Broadband
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will fulfil the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) State Aid requirement to publish information for suppliers wishing to access the new subsidised broadband infrastructure, including information on the location of the new infrastructure, the supplier footprint and the wholesale access products offered over it; and how they will ensure that the last ten per cent of premises not expected to be reached by the BDUK procurements are able to make plans for their own provision by having information in a consistent, accessible format and at a high level of detail. [HL1029]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The text of the UK’s State aid approval has been published on the DCMS website together with information which provides guidance to local authorities and the devolved administrations and other stakeholders on the general and specific wholesale network access requirements that will apply to suppliers in direct and indirect receipt of State aid. BT Openreach has also recently published details of changes to its Physical Infrastructure Access (PIA) portfolio as a result of the State aid decision and this is available to all communications providers. Information relating to the location of new infrastructure will be made available at various stages throughout the implementation period following initial survey, detailed planning and installation works. Broadband Delivery UK has further provided guidance to local authorities on how to provide information for communities on coverage of superfast broadband provided by the local broadband projects with the aim of assisting communities to determine whether to take forward their own local community broadband projects.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what evidence further to that outlined in the impact assessment they can provide to show overall economic benefit from the provisions in the Electronic Communications Code (Conditions and Restrictions) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI 2013/1403); and what is calculated to be the impact of those Regulations on the deployment of broadband infrastructure.[HL1230]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The impact assessment identified the direct and specific monetised benefits for operators by reducing their costs. The overall economic benefit will only become clear as operators begin to deploy fixed broadband infrastructure, taking advantage of these measures. Their purpose is to enable economic growth by removing regulatory barriers. As well as reducing costs to operators it is expected that they will provide certainty about planning decisions, thus speeding up investment in superfast broadband infrastructure. This, in turn, should support greater rural connectivity for households and businesses which is an essential part of the foundation in building a dynamic and diverse range of economic benefits.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed the economic impact on the United Kingdom of the implications of sanctions on Israel; and, if so, with what result.[HL1000]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We have not made an assessment of the economic impact on the UK, as the UK does not believe that imposing sanctions on Israel would be a constructive step.
We do not agree with many of Israel’s actions with respect to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and do not hesitate to express strong views whenever we feel it necessary. At the same time, we enjoy a close and productive relationship with Israel which enables us to express our views at senior levels very frankly. It is our assessment that imposing sanctions on Israel would lessen this influence, not increase it, and would not promote the urgent progress towards a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which we want to see.
Kazakhstan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the expectations and outcomes of the recent visit by the Prime Minister to Kazakhstan.[HL1256]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): I refer the noble Lord to the Statement of 2 July, given by the Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), and repeated by my noble Friend, the right Hon. the Lord Hill of Oareford, Official Report, column 1080, which included details of the Prime Minister’s recent visit to Kazakhstan.
The overall aim of this first ever visit by a serving British Prime Minister to Kazakhstan was to secure a step-change in our bilateral relationship and make the UK a partner of choice for the Kazakhs. The Prime Minister held wide ranging talks on global, regional and bilateral issues, and witnessed the signature of business deals totalling more than £700 million. He signed a Strategic Partnership, covering a range of issues from education and cultural links to human rights and co-operation on judicial reform which will help guide the relationship in the future.
Mobile Phones: Licences
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to varying the terms and conditions of third generation mobile phone licences.[HL1109]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Ofcom is responsible for the variation of the terms and conditions of third generation mobile phone licences. Next week they will be publishing a statement setting out their decision on the liberalisation of these licences.
NHS PropCo
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 5 March (WA 398-9), which NHS properties in Lancashire have been transferred to NHS PropCo.[HL1388]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): A table, detailing properties transferred to NHS Property Services Ltd (NHS PS) on 1 April 2013 has been placed in the Library.
The properties are those which are contained within the NHS PS local area team, which mirrors the local area team boundaries used by NHS England, although these may not match the exact geographical boundaries of the county.
NHS: Migrant Access and Charges
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 3 July (WS 78), what is the evidence of “public concern that the current rules regulating non-European Economic Area migrant access to publicly funded healthcare services are both overly generous, particularly when compared with wider international practice”.[HL1404]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): The concern is evident in many quarters, including the support received by my Hon Friend the Member for Crawley (Henry Smith MP) in the Other Place in tabling the NHS Audit Requirements (Foreign Nationals) Bill in September 2012, the results of the survey of GPs published in Pulse Magazine in January this year which showed that 52 per cent of respondents felt that provision of free NHS care for migrants was too generous, the articles published by the NHS consultant Professor Meirion Thomas in the Spectator earlier this year criticising the current rules, and the BBC Panorama programme broadcast in October which highlighted the significant difficulties the NHS has in interpreting and applying the rules. The majority of those who responded to the Home Office’s previous consultation which preceded the October 2011 Immigration Rules change on refusing immigration applications made by persons with significant unpaid debts to the NHS supported the measure.
In England, entitlement to free NHS hospital treatment is based on being lawfully and properly settled in the UK for the time being, meaning that a temporary
resident can qualify straight away, whilst primary care is free to all. A Department of Health review of the overseas visitors charging policy in 2012 reported that in many other countries temporary migrants buy into the state healthcare system, whilst students and short-term visitors may be required to pay for healthcare. The Department of Health and the Home Office are now consulting on proposals to change the rules and procedures for charging visitors and migrants for NHS care. The Department of Health has commissioned independent research to understand the scale of the issue, which will inform decisions taken after the consultation responses have been considered.
Northern Ireland Executive
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 1 July (WA 192-3), whether they will now answer the question as to whether they have received any request from the Northern Ireland Executive for the devolution of any fiscal powers, and, if so, which powers. [HL1345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson): The Northern Ireland Executive has sought the devolution of powers relating to rates of Corporation Tax. The Government has not received any requests from the Executive for devolution of any other fiscal powers since Air Passenger Duty for certain categories of flight was devolved at their request. However, the package agreed on 14 June, Building a Prosperous and United Community, sets out a process whereby the devolution of further fiscal powers can be considered and recommendations put to UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive Ministers by Autumn 2014.
Pakistan
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government (1) what information they have, and (2) what representations they will make to the government of Pakistan, about a reported attack on 3 June in a village near Pattoki in which three Christian women were publicly beaten and humiliated.[HL1397]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The British Government strongly condemns all instances of violence, particularly when based on a person’s faith, ethnicity or gender. Ministers and officials regularly urge the Government of Pakistan to ensure the fundamental rights of all its citizens are respected. We closely monitor the human rights situation in Pakistan and are aware of media reports of this latest attack. We issue quarterly report updates to the human rights situation in Pakistan. The next is due to be issued in mid-July.
Pensions
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will assess the impact on the public finances of encouraging more citizens entitled to claim the basic state pension to emigrate (1) to countries where the pension is uprated annually, and (2) to countries where the pension is frozen at the time of emigration.[HL1180]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The decision to retire abroad is a personal one and the Government does not actively encourage people to do this. The Government has no plans to make an assessment of the impact on the public finances of individuals retiring abroad.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many current and future pensioners respectively are involved in the transfer of the Polestar Pension Scheme to the Pension Protection Fund (PPF); what annual extra expenditure its transfer to the PPF will involve; and what reductions have been made in pensions to Polestar members.[HL1395]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): At the time the scheme went into a Pension Protection Fund (PPF) assessment period there were 7,776 members in the scheme, of whom 4,206 were pensioners and 3,570 were deferred members.
The scheme valuation conducted for entry to the PPF showed the scheme had £362 million in assets and £672 million worth of liabilities. The shortfall between assets and liabilities will have to be made up by the PPF itself.
The PPF does not offer the same level of benefit as would have been provided under the scheme pension promise. The PPF is a compensation scheme, whose aim is to pay a meaningful level of compensation to members.
In general, the PPF pays the 100 per cent level of pension compensation to those who have reached their scheme’s normal pension age at the start of a PPF assessment period, and the 90 per cent level of pension compensation for those below their scheme’s normal pension age, subject to the compensation cap. The precise amount of compensation expenditure the PPF will incur will depend on the individual pension rights accrued by members of the Polestar scheme and unknowable factors such as individual longevity.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many pension schemes have paid the Pension Protection Fund administration levy in each of the last five years.[HL1396]
Lord Freud: The number of schemes that have paid the Pension Protection Fund administration levy over the past 5 years (2008 to 2012) are:
| Levy Charge Year | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
Personal Independence Payment
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what requirement they have placed on Atos Healthcare to ensure that assessment centres for Personal Independence Payment have wheelchair access; and what inspections they intend to make to ensure that arrangements do not breach the Equality Act 2010.[HL1257]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments undertaken by Atos will take place in existing healthcare centres and at claimants’ homes. All assessment sites must comply with the Equality Act 2010 and have suitable ground floor accommodation available. Atos is contractually obliged to deliver this requirement. DWP is visiting a sample of these centres and in addition, we are seeking feedback from claimants and the companions they are encouraged to bring to their assessment.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many centres owned by the Department for Work and Pensions will be used to assess applicants for Personal Independence Payment; how many have wheelchair access; how many are without on-site parking; how many are either not served by a bus service or close to a train station; what assessment they have made of the walking times and distances from public transport to centre locations; and what advice they will give to applicants unable to gain entrance or arrive easily at such premises.[HL1258]
Lord Freud: DWP-owned premises will not be used to assess PIP claimants. As part of the specification for the PIP assessment service, the two providers – Atos and Capita – must provide sufficient suitable accommodation for face-to-face consultations. All sites must be compliant with the Equality Act 2010 with suitable ground floor accommodation available. The providers are required to ensure the needs of PIP claimants are met, including proximity to public transport routes and access to suitable parking. Claimants’ appointment letters will clearly identify where their consultation will take place, including directions from their home, and they will be given the opportunity to change their appointment if necessary.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Freud on 24 June (HL Deb, col 598), how many providers of Personal Independence Payment assessments will operate under the contract won by Atos for London and the south of England; and how that figure compares to the number originally indicated in the tender document.[HL1259]
Lord Freud: In their tender for the PIP assessment service in Lot 3 (London and Southern England) Atos indicated they would deliver face-to-face consultations in partnership with up to 17 organisations from the NHS, private hospitals and national physiotherapy networks. On 18 February 2013 Atos published its full list of supply chain partners. In the Lot 3 area there are 8 - Bedford Hospital, Croydon Health Services, King’s College Hospital and University College London Hospitals NHS Trusts along with the private sector physiotherapy organisations IPRS Limited, Physioworld, The Injury Care Clinics and The Treatment Network.
Romania
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 1 July (WA 172), whether the United Kingdom Embassy in Bucharest has undertaken any further involvement in the twinning arrangement between the authorities in Rotherham and Craiova in South West Romania; and, if so, what information has been shared on Roma (1) social inclusion, (2) early years education, (3) health, (4) social housing and (5) employment. [HL1317]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): Our Embassy in Bucharest facilitated an exchange between Dolj county, of which Craiova is the capital city, and Rotherham Council. This was to allow them to share ideas on how to improve the conditions for the Roma populations in both communities. The Embassy funded two-way field visits in January and March this year for local councillors and experts from each area to meet and share best practice.
On social inclusion, the idea of community champions to act as a conduit for information and advice for the Roma community was discussed.
On education and health, representatives from Rotherham explained how Rotherham schools had introduced free breakfast and lunch for children of the poorest families. Information was also exchanged on the key role schools play in i) encouraging employment opportunities by holding classes on vocational training for parents and ii) facilitating workshops for community workers to provide advice on issues such as family health and housing opportunities. These initiatives, and others, were important in supporting the Roma communities in both countries.
The Government supports this initiative and looks forward to seeing further cooperation between the authorities of both countries to help support Roma communities.
Syria
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what reports they have received about the death of Fr Fran?ois Mourad following a raid on a Franciscan monastery in Ghassanieh in Syria.[HL1260]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): We are saddened by reports that Father Francois Mourad was murdered at a convent in Al Ghassaniyeh in Syria. The UK utterly condemns such a callous and brutal act. There are millions of Syrians who want a peaceful and democratic future. Such a barbaric act does not represent the principle and actions of the Syrian opposition. That is why we continue to support the Syrian National Coalition who are fully committed to a political solution and guarantee the rights of all Syria’s communities.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take steps to secure a ceasefire in Syria, in advance of a second Geneva conference.[HL1334]
Baroness Warsi: The UK remains supportive of any action that seeks to end the violence and achieve a political solution in Syria, however our priority remains advancing a political transition that ends the conflict, allows refugees to return to their homes, and prevents further radicalisation in Syria. We will do all we can to ensure the Geneva II conference delivers that outcome.
Asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which members or associates of the ruling Syrian al-Assad family and regime are currently in the United Kingdom. [HL1378]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): President Al-Assad’s wife and her parents are British Citizens. We are aware of two other members of the Al-Assad family in this country, however we have a legal obligation not to disclose their identities in line with Data Protection legislation.
The Government is committed to ensuring the UK does not become a refuge for suspected perpetrators of international crimes. To this end immigration action will be considered where there is sufficient evidence that an individual’s character, conduct or associations would justify doing so. This includes action against those suspected of involvement in international crimes or who represent a threat to national security.
Terrorism
Question
Asked by Lord Pearson of Rannoch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the breakdown since 2001 of the sponsorship of terrorist incidents in the United Kingdom excluding Northern Ireland, by (1) Islamists, and (2) others.[HL1311]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): We do not publish a breakdown of terrorist incidents in Great Britain. The Home Office Statistical Bulletin, published annually and every quarter, sets out the number of arrests, charges and convictions for terrorism related offences.
Unemployment: English Lessons
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance (1) were offered free English lessons in 2012 and the first six months of 2013, and (2) refused free English lessons in 2012 and the first six months of 2103.[HL1290]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Information on the numbers of people claiming Jobseekers’ Allowance that were (1) offered and (2) refused free English lessons is not available. This is because the recorded data on training for claimants does not distinguish between individual qualifications by subject.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provisions they intend to make for people with special educational needs under their proposed requirements for people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance to learn English. [HL1291]
Lord Freud: The Department for Work and Pensions will ensure this policy includes safeguards to ensure those with special educational needs, a group covered by protected characteristic status in legislation, are not disadvantaged.
Universal Credit
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the recent announcement on the Spending Round 2013, which elements of Universal Credit will be subject to the seven-day wait before a claimant becomes eligible for financial support.[HL1320]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The waiting period will be applied to the whole Universal Credit award but will only be introduced for claimants who we expect to work and who have full work-related requirements.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the recent announcement on the Spending Round 2013, whether the seven-day wait for benefit entitlement will be included in, or additional to, the one-month wait for Universal Credit claimants between making a claim and receiving their first payment.[HL1321]
Lord Freud: The details of how the waiting period will interact with a claimant’s date of claim and assessment periods will be announced in due course.
Visas
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of visa bonds on (1) relations between the United Kingdom and the affected “high risk” countries, and (2) the travel costs of United Kingdom citizens visiting those countries.[HL1403]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach): We plan to introduce a small scale pilot scheme later this year to test the impact of requiring financial bonds from selected visit visa applicants as a means of deterring non-compliance by those who overstay their visa.
The details of the scheme are still being finalised, including the locations for the pilot and nationalities in scope, and will be announced in due course.