Written Answers
Monday 21 October 2013
Aggregates
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to alter the Aggregates Levy or the current exemptions to it to encourage the use of recycled or secondary aggregates.[HL2365]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The exemptions to the aggregates levy are designed to encourage the use of recycled and secondary by-product aggregates. However, the European Commission recently opened a formal investigation into whether particular exemptions and reliefs amount to state aid. The UK is therefore obliged, under Article 108(3) of the Treaty of the Function of the European Union, to suspend the application of those exemptions and reliefs about which the Commission has raised doubts.
Revenue and Customs Business Brief 31/131 outlines the planned scope and timing of the suspensions, which are due to come into effect from 1 April 2014. The Government continue to believe that the exemptions and reliefs fit within the overarching environmental objective of the levy and that they therefore do not amount to state aid. However, until the Commission reaches a final decision, the exemptions and reliefs under investigation will need to be suspended.
The Government is keen to engage with those who may be affected by these changes and has invited anyone who wants to share their views on the proposed suspensory measures to register their interest by e-mailing aggregateslevy@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk.
1www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/excise-duty/brief3113.htm
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to encourage the use of secondary aggregates to make up for the reduction in permitted reserves of sand and gravel in England.[HL2366]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The National Planning Policy Framework makes clear that minerals planning authorities should plan for the steady and adequate supply of minerals to support sustainable economic growth. Through Local Aggregate Assessments, they are expected to prepare annual assessments of the demand for, and supply of, aggregates in their area. In doing so they need to take account of all supply options, including the level of known resource, the extent of permitted reserves and the contribution of secondary and recycled aggregates. These assessments provide the basis for determining when the mineral planning authority should review its plan to allocate more sand and gravel sites where extraction may take place.
Agriculture: Hill Farm Allowance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made, or intend to make, an analysis of the effect of delayed payments during the last financial year on recipients under the Entry Level Stewardship and the Higher Level Stewardship schemes.[HL2314]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): During the last financial year there have been no serious delays to the payments to Entry Level Stewardship and Higher Level Stewardship agreement holders.
Agreement holders receive two payments each year; an interim payment in the autumn and the final payment in the spring, depending on the monthly start date of the agreement. The EU regulatory deadline for payments is the end of June and Natural England aim to complete payment of the two annual payments by the end of April, well ahead of the regulatory deadline.
Of the claims due for payment in the last financial year, 97% of Entry Level Stewardship and 85% of Higher Level Stewardship claims had been paid by the end of April. Of the remaining claims, around half were awaiting information from customers and the other half were being processed within Natural England. Outstanding payments are made as soon as information requested from agreement holders is received and associated checks can be completed and by the end of June Natural England had paid just over 40,300 (96%) of the 42,000 total claims requiring payment. Only about 300 claims relevant to the last financial year now remain.
For the current financial year, progress with payments is good with over 75% of interim payments due to be made this autumn already having been made and no problems with delays are anticipated.
There are currently no plans to analyse any effects of delayed payments on agreement holders.
Armenia and Azerbaijan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to seek a mandatory United Nations embargo on supplies of arms and military equipment to Armenia and Azerbaijan.[HL2512]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK has no plans to seek a mandatory UN arms embargo on supplies of arms and military equipment to Armenia and Azerbaijan. As a member of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), our focus is on supporting the work of the Minsk Group Co-Chairs to find a political solution to the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. I also refer the noble Lord to the Answer given by Lord Newby on 10 April 2013 on the OSCE arms embargo, Official Report col. WA263.
Arms Export
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arms, including chemical weapons, they have (1) licensed for manufacture, and (2) distributed to the Assad regime in Syria, in each of the last ten years and to date in 2013.[HL2372]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Government do not license the manufacture of military equipment overseas. The manufacture of firearms and other weapons in the UK prohibited under the Firearms Act 1968 is subject to the provisions of that Act. The manufacture of chemical weapons in the UK is illegal under the Chemical Weapons Act 1996.
Any export of firearms and weapons would require an export licence. Exporters must apply to the Export Control Organisation in the Department for Business (BIS) for a licence and each application is rigorously assessed on a case-by-case basis against the Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing Criteria.
I refer the noble Lord to my answer of 18 June 2013 (Official Report, col. WA 30) about military equipment (including arms) where export licences were granted for the ultimate end-use of the Syrian Government over the past 10 years.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the value of United Kingdom arms sales to the government of Bahrain in the last five years. [HL2468]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint) (Con): The estimated value of UK defence export orders to Bahrain between 2008 and 2012 is £21 million.
Arms Trade
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what restrictions are in force on the sale of arms in the United Kingdom; and what financial and logistical support they provide to arms fairs that take place in the United Kingdom.[HL2373]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint) (Con): The sale of section 1 or 2 weapons (firearms and shotguns) can only be made by a Registered Firearms Dealer and is restricted to holders of a firearm certificate. The sale of anything under section 5 (prohibited weapons and ammunition) requires the specific authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
The Home Office does not provide financial support to arms fairs but does give some logistical assistance to the organisers of arms fairs by: (i) providing advice in conjunction with the police on the security measures required at the event; and (ii) processing the delegates’ applications for the Secretary of State’s authorisation under section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 (as amended). UKTI Defence and Security Organisation (DSO) also provides support to the major defence exhibition held in the UK on a biennial basis, Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI). At DSEI costs associated with hosting official overseas delegations invited to attend by the Government were met by the commercial organisers.
UKTI DSO part-funded a UK Capability Showcase which is expected to cost around £86,000, which will be offset mostly by income from industry in support of the showcase, and for other support. No direct costs, other than staff time and related staff travel expenses, are incurred on hosting official delegations. For the other UK exhibitions that UKTO DSO supports, Farnborough International Air Show and Security and Policing, DSO’s assistance is generally limited to staff time and travel expenses incurred on hosting official delegations.
Ascension Island
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 29 July (WA 265), what logistical and practical aspects require consideration regarding using Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island as a staging post or alternative or diversionary landing site for flights to and from St Helena; and what estimate they have made of the costs of implementation.[HL2472]
Baroness Northover (LD): Discussions with the United States Government about the use of Wideawake Airfield are ongoing.
Aviation: Airbus Consortium
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that the United Kingdom’s participation in the Airbus consortium will not be endangered by discussion by Ministers about holding a referendum in 2017 on continued membership of the European Union.[HL2445]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The UK Government work closely with Airbus and the three Governments that hold shares in its parent company—France, Germany and Spain. The UK’s main sources of support for the company are delivered through Research and Development (R&D) funding and repayable launch investment. None of this funding is dependent on the UK’s membership of the EU and is made at the discretion of the UK Government.
The UK also has a place in the Airbus Inter-governmental Committee alongside France, Germany and Spain. This is not an EU body, but an arrangement recognising that the four Governments invest large sums in Airbus and have an interest in maintaining close contacts with the company. The ministerial meetings build upon regular official-level meetings. This activity would not be affected by any decision on the UK’s membership of the EU.
There are two areas where changes in the UK’s engagement with the EU could have some, limited impact. The first is around the UK’s input into the WTO case on subsidies to aircraft manufacturers brought against the EU by the US, and the counter-claim brought by Europe. A UK withdrawal from the EU could have some impact on this case, but the most likely outcome would be that it would continue as now, with the UK co-ordinating its input alongside the EU’s. The second area which may have an impact is in the UK’s ability to participate in cross-European Aerospace research projects. We cannot say now what impact this will have on the UK but it is unlikely to impact significantly on the UK’s relationship with Airbus as the majority of R&D support is currently delivered through individual Governments.
Bahrain
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Bahrain about democracy and the use of torture to suppress dissent.[HL2469]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We regularly raise concerns over human rights with the Government of Bahrain. My right honourable friend the Prime Minister raised political reform with the King of Bahrain in August. We continue to work closely with the Bahraini Government to address allegations of torture and mistreatment.
BBC World Service
Question
Asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Department will be responsible to Parliament for matters relating to the BBC World Service after April 2014; and if responsibility is to be split, how. [HL2626]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): The BBC World Service is currently funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office through Parliamentary Grant-in-Aid. However, from April 2014 funding for the BBC World Service will transfer to the Licence Fee. This decision was announced in the October 2010 Spending Review.
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will retain responsibility for the remittance of Licence Fee funding overall. Decisions about future funding levels for the World Service, under the new
arrangements, will be taken by the BBC Trust. However, the Foreign Secretary will retain his current role in agreeing the BBC World Service’s objectives, priorities and targets. His approval will continue to be required for the opening or closure of any language service.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in developing a vaccine to prevent tuberculosis in cattle.[HL2506]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The basic research work to develop the vaccine and associated test to differentiate vaccinated from infected animals is largely complete. The next major challenge is to undertake field trials to gather evidence on their safety and effectiveness.
Defra has made good progress since Commissioner Borg wrote to the Secretary of State in January setting out the European Commission’s expectations from such field trials:
We have worked closely with all the devolved Administrations and national and international experts to set up robust and evidence-based governance arrangements to manage this substantial project. We have commissioned or already begun research to fill the evidence gaps necessary to apply for an Animal Test Certificate to undertake vaccine field trials.We have launched a procurement call on field trial design and held successful supplier days in London and Cardiff to engage with the market on what is likely to be a large and complex procurement exercise for their delivery.
However, while Commissioner Borg has acknowledged that we have done more than any other country to take this work forward, he confirmed that the use of a legal and validated cattle vaccine is still at least 10 years away. Neither we nor the livestock industry can afford to wait that long and it is for this reason that we must use all the tools currently available to us.
Climate Change
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current assessment of the validity of the Met Office Hadley Centre decadal climate prediction model, the predictions of which, published on 10 August 2007, forecast (1) that over the decade from 2004 the climate would continue to warm; (2) that by 2014 the climate would be 0.3% warmer than in 2004; and (3) that at least half the years from 2009 were predicted to exceed the warmest year currently on record; and what are the reasons for any change in that assessment.[HL2517]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): Experimental decadal forecasts, such as the one published by the Met Office in 2007, are based on the best available understanding of the state of the climate at that time as well as the most likely near-term changes in climate drivers, such as greenhouse gases. While HMG do not conduct assessments of these forecasts, the Met Office continually evaluates its climate models as part of the research process. The Met Office experimental decadal forecast is updated annually taking into account the most recent improvements in modelling and the state of the Earth’s climate.
Since 2004 the climate system has continued to warm, as evidenced, for example, by increasing sea levels, a decrease in summer Arctic sea ice extent and increasing amounts of heat stored in the oceans. Of the three complete years since 2009, 2010 was warmer than the previous warmest year on record (1998).
Commonwealth: Women and Girls
Question
Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what efforts are being made to empower women and girls throughout the Commonwealth.[HL2552]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Charter of the Commonwealth recognises gender equality and women’s empowerment as basic human rights and essential components of human development. Commonwealth Women’s Affairs Ministers reaffirmed the Commonwealth’s commitment to women’s empowerment at their meeting in Dhaka in June.
Ministers recognised that issues such as violence against women and girls remain critical in affecting women’s empowerment and should receive priority attention in the post-2015 development framework. They acknowledged the central role played by the group monitoring the Commonwealth’s Gender Plan of Action in tracking progress on issues such as women’s empowerment in the Commonwealth.
Our ambition is to end all forms of violence against women and girls globally, including in Commonwealth countries. The Government has bilateral aid programmes in 14 Commonwealth countries.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has supported Commonwealth civil society organisations on a number of smaller-scale projects aimed at promoting women’s rights and women’s empowerment. For example, our High Commission in India is supporting women’s Self Help Groups in Andhra Pradesh state which are aimed at empowering women.
The Department for International Development (DFID) has also put girls and women at the heart of development and is committed to working towards the empowerment of girls and women in every country in which it works.
Copyright (Regulation of Relevant Licensing Bodies) Regulations 2014
Question
Asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they carried out in order to determine the need to introduce the proposed Copyright (Regulation of Relevant Licensing Bodies) Regulations 2014; and what account any such assessment took of the principle of reducing regulation.[HL2638]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Government consulted fully on the measures, which derived from the Hargreaves recommendation to introduce regulation for collecting societies. It subsequently published an Impact Assessment which analysed the costs and benefits of the policy. These measures were approved by Parliament and the regulations to implement them are being finalised. Alongside this, the Government is producing an Impact Assessment for the regulations which will consider any new evidence from stakeholders. The regulations take full account of the principles of reducing regulation, and the regulatory framework for collecting societies is designed to be self-regulatory for this reason.
Council Tax
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 29 August (WA 313), what was the £46.5 million underspend in the Transition Fund for local Council Tax Support schemes spent on instead.[HL2434]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Hanham on 17 July 2012 (WS 35), whether Ministers have plans to repeat the transition funding made available to support the implementation of the local council tax reduction schemes.[HL2438]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): I refer Baroness King of Bow to the response provided by Baroness Hanham on 29 August 2013, Official Report, col. WA313.
The transition grant was a voluntary grant for the first year only of the new system of local council tax support. We have been clear from the outset that it was intended to give councils time to transition to the new localised regime and realise greater efficiencies such as cutting the estimated £200 million wasted on council tax benefit fraud and error.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Hanham on 15 October 2012 (WS 163), how the figure of
£200 million claimed to have been paid out unnecessarily in 2011 in Council Tax Benefit in 2011–12 was calculated.[HL2435]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: The Department for Work and Pensions publishes an annual statistical report on fraud and error in the benefit system. The 2011-12 edition, which explains the methodology, can be found online at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/222892/fem_1112.pdf
The estimated figure on council tax benefit fraud and error were based on data gathered for comparable measured benefits. As council tax benefit had many similarities to housing benefit, both in terms of entitlement and its administration, the Department for Work and Pensions based their estimate on the results of measurement of housing benefit, adjusted to account for the greater proportion of pensioners in receipt of council tax benefit.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been issued with court summonses for non-payment of Council Tax for 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 and in the first quarter of 2013–14. [HL2436]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many households in receipt of Council Tax Benefit have been served with court summonses for non-payment of Council Tax.[HL2437]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston: I would observe that according to figures collated by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, 3.0 million summons were issued for unpaid council tax across England in 2009-10; their most recent figures for 2011-12 published in August 2013 show that this figure has fallen slightly.
I also refer the noble Lady to the Written Statement of 18 June 2013, Official Report, House of Lords, col. WS7, which outlines how the coalition Government has tackled unreasonable and aggressive collection practices and which notes how the last Government broke its promises on taking action.
Developing Countries: Food Security
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they assist small farmers and rural communities in the developing world to overcome hunger.[HL2363]
Baroness Northover (LD): The UK Government supports a wide range of programmes aimed at promoting food security and inclusive growth in developing countries. For example, the UK supports the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme which funds government plans and private sector proposals that empower women and improve food security and nutrition. A DfID-funded Adaptation for Smallholder Agricultural Programme
will help 6 million smallholders in 40 countries. The UK is supporting agricultural research to improve poor people’s access to nutritious food, for example through the promotion of Vitamin A-enriched sweet potato in Africa.
Education: Mathematics and English
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will ensure that special care will be taken to enhance teaching skills in (1) mathematics, and (2) English lexicology, before September 2014.[HL2402]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): We recognise that the high expectations set by the new national curriculum will present some challenges for schools. To assist with this, existing opportunities funded by the Government in core subjects are being adapted to reflect the requirements of the new curriculum.
The National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) has a range of support for schools on implementing the new curriculum. Registration is free and we are encouraging as many schools as possible to make use of what is on offer.
For English, the Government’s highest priority is to ensure that children can read and we have extended the match funding scheme of £3,000 for phonics materials until the end of this month; the catalogue of approved phonics resources will continue to be available. An expert subject group is looking at areas of greatest challenge for teachers in the new English programmes of study with a view to our making sure that any gaps in teaching materials are filled in the light of this.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to address the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's criticism of the literacy and numeracy of United Kingdom school leavers.[HL2452]
Lord Nash: The findings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s recent report “OECD Skills Outlook 2013: First Results from the Survey of Adult Skills” underline the urgent need for the Government’s radical reforms to raise standards in education at every age and in particular to improve young people’s literacy and numeracy skills.
These reforms include the new national curriculum, published on 11 September to come into effect from September 2014, which focuses on the basics so that children from a young age have a strong foundation on which to build. We are reforming English and mathematics GCSEs to be taught from September 2015. In addition, all young people without at least a C grade at GCSE must now continue to study English and mathematics beyond 16, and our new Technical Baccalaureate (TechBacc) will combine high-quality occupational qualifications with a rigorous maths core. Those choosing a Traineeship or Apprenticeship will also be expected to have, or be working towards, English and maths GCSE at grade C or above.
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will better support young adults at or below average literacy and numeracy levels in England following the findings of the recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report Skills Outlook 2013.[HL2539]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): We have set high expectations for our young people so they are clear about the importance of studying English and maths alongside their other choices. Our reforms to schools and further education will improve the quality of the teaching workforce, reward the best providers and ensure learners are stretched to achieve the best they can.
Since September 2013, all young people aged 16 to 19 who have not yet achieved a grade C or above in English and maths at GCSE are continuing to study these subjects whether they are at school or college. Where a student might not be ready to study towards a GCSE, he or she can take other qualifications ranging from entry level to level 2 depending on the student’s prior attainment. These interim qualifications include functional skills, English for Speakers of Other Languages or free-standing mathematics as stepping stones to GCSE. Students with complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities are excluded from this requirement where appropriate.
Some young people learn English and maths best within a vocational setting. As a consequence we are ensuring that good-quality English and maths provision are at the heart of traineeships and apprenticeships. All young people undertaking a traineeship will be required to study English and maths, unless they have already achieved Level 2.
All intermediate apprentices will be required to work towards achieving a Level 2 in English and maths from 2014/15.
We fully fund English and maths courses, up to and including GCSE, for adults who lack these skills. There is a wide range of provision to enable adults to learn in the way that suits them, including workplace learning, community learning, traditional college courses and online learning. Unemployed people with poor English and maths are required to train to bring their skills up to the level expected by employers.
We are also taking steps to improve the quality of teaching and learning and in August 2013 we announced a package of support to increase the numbers of specialist teachers of English and maths in the further education sector. Key features include £15 million of initial teacher training bursaries to match those offered in the schools sector; English and maths continuous professional development programmes to upskill existing literacy and numeracy teachers to teach to GCSE level; and dissemination of best practice in the teaching of English and maths and students with special educational needs.
We will continue analysing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development International Survey of Adult Skills and will consider whether further action is necessary.
Education: Sex and Relationship Education
Questions
Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current position with regard to ensuring primary and secondary school pupils receive comprehensive sex education.[HL2614]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Sex and relationship education (SRE) is compulsory in maintained secondary schools. When teaching sex education, it is a statutory requirement for schools (including academies through their funding agreements) to have regard to the Secretary of State’s Sex and Relationship Education Guidance. Schools should use the guidance to build on the content outlined in the national curriculum for science. Primary schools are not required to provide SRE beyond that which is outlined in the national curriculum for science, but many primary schools do so—and they must have regard to the guidance.
Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent current schoolchildren receive education on sexual orientation and the harmful effects of homophobia. [HL2615]
Lord Nash: When teaching about sex and relationships, schools must have regard to the Secretary of State’s Sex and Relationship Education Guidance (2000). This states that schools should teach young people to understand human sexuality, and to respect themselves and others. Teachers should deal honestly and sensitively with sexual orientation, answer appropriate questions and offer support. There should be no direct promotion of any sexual orientation.
All schools must have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying. This includes bullying based on prejudice on the grounds of, for example, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Energy: Coal Fired Power Stations
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of warnings by Ofgem and the National Grid that there is the risk of winter blackouts, they will take steps to ensure that coal fired power stations decommissioned in 2012 are maintained in good working order and available to produce power at relatively short notice.[HL2601]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): DECC, National Grid and Ofgem have been working together to explore options to provide additional safeguards against the increased risk to mid-decade security of electricity supply.
To this end, National Grid is consulting on new system balancing services which, if approved by Ofgem, would enable National Grid to procure additional capacity in the winters of 2014/15 and 2015/16. This would offer opportunities for plant which might otherwise have closed or which is currently mothballed.
Decisions on whether to apply to be part of these services would be for individual plant operators. Only plant which met relevant environmental standards, including the Large Combustion Plant Directive, would be eligible to participate.
Environment: Earthworms
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what research to assess earthworm populations and diversity in different types of soil and under different types of management for cultivation and pest control in England has been funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs between 1997 and 2013.[HL2425]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Defra has funded or contributed funding to eight research projects between 1997 and 2013 that have assessed earthworm populations and diversity; their role under different systems of land management; and the impacts of pesticides. Defra has also contributed funding to the Open Air Laboratory Soil and Earthworm Survey in England, launched in 2012.
Natural England has previously funded the London Natural History Museum to survey earthworms in a number of semi-natural sites across England and Scotland.
A further Natural England project is currently under way with the London Natural History Museum, which is gathering data from external research projects on earthworm distribution.
Natural England also published in 2012 a commissioned report on “Managing Soil Biota to Deliver Ecosystem Services”, which explored management techniques that benefit soil organisms, including earthworms.
Defra carries out research on earthworms as part of a wider programme of research on sustainable land management because of their important role in developing soil structure, water movement, nutrient dynamics, and plant growth. While they are not essential to all healthy soil systems their presence is usually an indicator of healthy soil.
G20
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many trade-restrictive measures have been adopted by the European Union as a result of commitments made at the G20 since 2008.[HL2500]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint) (Con): Information on commitments made at the G20 is in the public
domain. On trade-restricting measures specifically, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) produce regular monitoring reports on performance against the anti-protectionism pledge first agreed in 2008 and most recently extended to 2016 at the St Petersburg Summit in September. The EU and its Member States, including the UK, provide information on trade restrictive and facilitating measures for this report. The latest and all previous reports can be found at the following link:
http://www.oecd.org/daf/inv/investment-policy/g20.htm
Gambia
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of The Gambia’s decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth, and what impact they expect that decision to have on bilateral and multilateral aid to that country.[HL2470]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): It is too soon to say what The Gambia’s withdrawal will mean for the Commonwealth and for The Gambia and its people. We continue to seek clarification.
The UK’s last bilateral development programme closed in 2010-11, though we continue to provide assistance through multilateral organisations, primarily the European Union. Other criteria will likely determine The Gambia’s continuing qualification for development assistance, not withdrawal from the Commonwealth.
Government Departments: Expenditure
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the Departmental Expenditure Limit of the Department of Health for 2013–14; and within that limit how much has been allocated for (1) adult social care, (2) NHS England, (3) Public Health England, (4) the Health Research Authority, (5) Health Education England, (6) the Trust Development Authority, (7) the Care Quality Commission, and (8) Monitor. [HL2440]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The following table summarises the allocations for adult social care, NHS England, Public Health England, the Health Research Authority, Health Education England, the Trust Development Authority, the Care Quality Commission, and Monitor, into the separate Departmental Expenditure Limits (DEL) controls:
| Revenue DEL | Capital DEL | |
| £ million | £ million | |
|
| ||
Notes:
1Adult Social Care—Although the Department of Health has a responsibility for ensuring adequate funding for the adult social care system, most of this funding does not come from Department of Health DEL. Instead, it comes largely from Department for Communities and Local Government grants and locally raised council tax and business rates. Local authorities themselves have ultimate responsibility for decisions on social care expenditure.
Of the remaining Social Care funding within the Department of Health DEL, £42 million relates to Local Reform and Community Voices Grant and £129 million relates to capital funding for the Community Capacity Grant. Additionally, funding is also included within the NHS England allocation.
2NHS England—This allocation includes £859 million for use on social services with a health benefit.
Additional Social Care—In addition to those budgets set out above, a £40 million budget has been allocated for Care and Support White Paper House Fund: Disabled People and Young Adults, which is held centrally.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of NHS England’s share of the 2013–14 Department of Health Departmental Expenditure Limit has been allocated to (1) primary care, (2) community health services, (3) acute hospital specialist services, and (4) mental health services; and on what the remaining part of NHS England's budget will be spent. [HL2441]
Earl Howe: Funding for NHS England is set out in The Mandate: A mandate from the Government to the NHS Commissioning Board: April 2013 to March 2015, a copy of which has been placed in the Library. The following table breaks down the control set in the NHS Mandate:
| £ million | |
NHS England does not allocate their share of the DEL to the level described in the question. However, a distribution of the mandate funding is provided in Annex 1 of NHS England’s business plan, Putting Patients First—The NHS England Business Plan 2013/14 to 2015/16, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.
Hedgehogs
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what projects have been funded by research councils to establish hedgehog population numbers and reasons for changes in those numbers.[HL2428]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Research Councils do not currently directly support research that identifies hedgehog numbers and the reasons for changes in those numbers. However, the following two research projects funded by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) have included hedgehogs to varying degrees:
a.
BUGS (Biodiversity in Urban Gardens in Sheffield)
A research project at the University of Sheffield, funded as part of the NERC research programme URGENT (Urban Regeneration), included an assessment of hedgehog populations.b.
Studentship (PhD)
A NERC funded PhD at the University of Bristol included an assessment of the impact of anticoagulant (rat poison) on hedgehogs
Homosexuality
Question
Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to make the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Commonwealth countries a Foreign and Commonwealth Office priority.[HL2553]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently has six human rights priorities: freedom of expression, especially on the internet; torture prevention; abolition of the death penalty; freedom of religion or belief; women’s rights; and business and human rights. There are currently no plans to change this list of priorities.
Nevertheless, we work actively through our High Commissions to promote tolerance and non-discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Commonwealth. Addressing discriminatory laws, in particular those that criminalise homosexuality, is a priority within this work.
Housing
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider the suggestions made by Raquel Rolnik, the Special Rapporteur of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, following her visit to the United Kingdom, on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living.[HL2349]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): Government Ministers have already expressed concerns about factual inaccuracies in the interim report and press statement.
The final report will be published in March 2014, after which the UK Government will provide an appropriate, formal commentary on its contents.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to enable the building of more social and public housing to meet the needs of those families on housing waiting lists and who are unable to save enough money to meet the 5% deposit requirement to benefit from the Help to Buy initiative.[HL2414]
Baroness Stowell of Beeston More than 150,000 affordable homes have been delivered in England over the last three years.
Our Affordable Homes Programme is on track to deliver 170,000 new affordable homes between 2011 and 2015, with £19.5 billion of public and private funding—half way through, over 84 000 homes have already been delivered.
A further £23 billion will help ensure another 165,000 new affordable homes are started between 2015 and 2018. This will be the fastest annual rate of building for at least 20 years.
Housing: Prices
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they will give to the request by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for action to curb excessive rises in domestic property prices.[HL2348]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The Government has no plans to intervene in housing markets by capping domestic property prices. The Government is supporting the building of new market and affordable homes through a wide range of programmes. Housing starts in the most recent quarter were up by 33% on a year ago and the Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply recently reported that housing construction activity in September increased at the fastest rate for a decade.
Nagorno-Karabakh
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to the provision of communication equipment to the opposing forces in Nagorno-Karabakh, and to the stationing of international monitors along the line of conflict, as a means to prevent the outbreak of fighting. [HL2511]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK would welcome any initiatives which have the support of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs (France, Russia, US), as well as of Armenia and Azerbaijan, which would reduce tensions along the Line of Contact of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This would be in line with the joint appeal to the conflicting parties made by French, Russian and US Presidents in the margins of the G8 Summit in Lough Erne in June 2013, urging them to prepare their people for peace, not war. The OSCE Chairman-in-Office appoints a Special Representative to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Ambassador Andrzej Kasprzyk has been the current Special Representative since 1997 and his mandate includes monitoring the ceasefire on the Line of Contact as well as assisting the creation of conditions for the deployment of an OSCE peace-keeping operation.
National Crime Agency
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in establishing the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland.[HL2378]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Northern Ireland can be designated with customs and immigration powers and are focusing, for example, on serious and organised customs and immigration crime.
The Crime and Courts Act includes order-making powers so that the National Crime Agency arrangements can be fully extended to Northern Ireland with the consent of the Assembly. We believe it is very important this happens as soon as possible. The discussions with the parties continue and the Home Secretary remains willing to consider proposals to bring it about.
NHS: Clinical Services
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes to the procurement of NHS clinical services will result from the new European Union Directive on public procurement.[HL2482]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The European Union Directive on procurement requires member states to introduce a “light-touch regime” for health, social and other services.
Member states are largely free to decide for themselves what rules should be laid down in their light-touch regimes. The Government has already put in place arrangements for the purchasing of clinical services—the NHS Procurement, Patient Choice and Competition Regulations—to drive improved quality and best value. These effectively put in place a light-touch regime for clinical services. Existing EU requirements, for example to publish contract award notices, sit alongside these regulations and this will continue to be the case when the EU Directive is transposed.
NHS: Debt
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money the National Health Service has written off in respect of debts owing to them that were not collected for each of the past five years for which information is available.[HL2529]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Information showing the total value of written off debts, for the past five financial years, is shown in the following table:
| Receivables Written Off | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 |
| £000s | £000s | £000s | £000s | £000s | |
Notes:
Equivalent information for NHS Foundation Trusts is not collected centrally.
Data source: Audited Summarisation Schedules 2008-09 to 2012-13
Under International Financial Reporting Standards, monies owed to an organisation are classed as “receivables”. In the main, a receivable is raised once an invoice is issued for the sale of goods or services. The receivable is cleared once the money owing is paid. If receivables are considered to be irrecoverable then they should be recorded as a “write-off”.
NHS: Sites and Buildings
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the proposed use of the buildings and site of the existing NHS Health Centre in Colne, Lancashire, when the new Health Centre is opened in the New Year. [HL2463]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): It is for the local National Health Service commissioners to decide on whether a property is to be declared surplus to NHS operational requirements, and they have stated that the building will be confirmed as surplus to requirements and will be vacated and disposed of upon completion of the replacement new centre in Colne. When this happens, the building will be listed on the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service website, which allows other public sector bodies to purchase it. Properties will be listed on this website for 40 working days and if no other public sector organisation expresses an interest then they will be marketed locally.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been raised by the National Health Service from the disposal of surplus land and buildings over each of the past five years for which information is available.[HL2528]
Earl Howe: The information requested is not collected centrally.
National Health Service organisations make decisions locally on the identification and disposal of surplus land and buildings based on their operational requirements.
Northern Ireland Parades Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current chairman and members of the Parades Commission in Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for positions on the new Commission due to be appointed in 2014.[HL2379]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The current chairman and members of the Parades Commission are all eligible to apply for the positions on the new five-member Parades Commission which were announced on 4 October 2013.
Overseas Territories: Suicides
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many suicides have taken place in each of the Overseas Territories in each of the last three years; whether they have identified any underlying reasons for those suicides; and whether the rate of suicides in the Overseas Territories (1) is increasing, (2) is decreasing, or (3) remains level.[HL2474]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): This information is not held by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and is
a matter for territory governments. Overseas Territory Leaders will be in London for the second annual meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council with UK Ministers in the week commencing 25 November. This will provide an opportunity for Parliament to engage with territory governments on matters devolved to them through territory Constitutions.
Prisoners: Medical Charges
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government by what authority Serco, which operates HMP Lowdham Grange, charges a prisoner a prerequisite of £200 before he can be seen by a registered medical doctor instructed in relation to legal proceedings; whether prisoners in public sector prisons are charged a similar prerequisite in similar circumstances; and whether any other private sector company operating a prison charges prisoners a similar prerequisite in similar circumstances.[HL2370]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally) (LD): The Ministry of Justice has made inquiries with HMP Lowdham Grange and Serco (the prison operator) have advised that they are not aware of having directly charged a prisoner £200 for the type of circumstance referred to in your question.
NHS England and Private Prison Contractor’s healthcare providers deliver medical treatment and services based on an individual’s clinical needs. Whether a person is held in custody or not, free medical care would be provided under normal circumstances in both Private and Public Prison establishments.
However there are circumstances whereby a prisoner could be charged for medical care in a Public Sector or privately operated prison. These are inter alia:
Where a prisoner wishes to obtain private medical care Where a prisoner wishes to obtain a second opinion to a medical view provided by the doctor/medical staff in the establishmentWhere a prisoner wishes to have access to his/her own medical practitionerWhere a prisoner seeks care/treatment beyond what is provided by the NHS (for example if a prisoner wants spectacles with frames and/or lenses over and above what is offered by the NHS)Where a prisoner wishes to receive reports/assessments over and above what has been requested by a Court in relation to legal proceedingsPrivate medical reports and associated costs for personal injury claimsEscorting costs of a prisoner where a private medical appointment takes place outside the prison Charges for use of a room within the prison, associated escort and administrative costs for personal injury and accident consultations, regarding, for example, an incident that occurred prior to a prisoner’s custodial sentence (e.g. a Road Traffic Accident).
Where prisoners request additional medical services, as explained above, they may incur costs and these costs can vary. The British Medical Association publishes recommended charges for non-NHS work but these
are for guidance purposes only (of course individual doctors are free to determine their own charges). The following link provides more information on these charges and what they relate to:
http://bma.org.uk/practical-support-at-work/pay-fees-allowances/fees/central-government-departments-and-agencies
Prisoners: Restraint
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances prison officers are authorised to use the back hammer restraint technique.[HL2417]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally) (LD): The back hammer restraint is an approved technique for use in NOMS establishments involving holding of the arm behind the back. It is used to ensure the safe relocation within the prison of a violent and non-compliant prisoner in order to minimise the risk of harm to both the prisoner and staff. The technique enables the safe withdrawal of staff from an area such as a cell where the prisoner is threatening staff.
As with any type of force, it must be used only as a last resort and when used must be necessary, reasonable and proportionate to the circumstances of the incident. The techniques used by staff have been specifically developed in order to take account of both the safety of staff applying the techniques and that of the prisoner on whom the techniques are used.
Privy Counsellors
Question
Asked by Lord Williams of Elvel
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who invites Privy Counsellors to attend Privy Council meetings; and by what authority.[HL2603]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Privy Council Office provides the Secretariat to the Privy Council and is responsible for arranging the quorum for each meeting. By custom and convention, only serving government Ministers are invited to attend Privy Council meetings. There are, however, two occasions on which the whole Privy Council is summonsed to attend: on the announcement of a reigning Sovereign’s intention to marry; and to an Accession Council following the death of a Sovereign.
Property: Letting and Management Agencies
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consultation they have held with the letting agents industry over summer 2013 on the implementation of the sections of the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 relating to redress schemes for letting and management agency work.[HL2570]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): A number of roundtable discussions, involving a wide range of landlord bodies, tenant and leaseholder groups and the lettings and management industry were held to develop the policy on mandatory redress for letting and property management agents.
I also refer the noble Baroness to the Written Statement of 16 October 2013, Official Report, cols. WS73-76.
Railways: Accidents and Safety
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the investigation undertaken into the Signal Passed at Danger incident which occurred on the railway at Stafford on 26 April 2012. [HL2642]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): No assessment has been undertaken by the Government. However, the Rail Accident Investigation Branch has carried out an investigation into the incident, and its recommendations are addressed to the Office of Rail Regulation, the independent safety regulator, which will be responding publicly on implementation in due course. We understand that a great deal of work has already been done by the companies involved and the Office of Rail Regulation to prevent a reoccurrence.
Railways: East-west Rail Links
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve east-west rail links between Lancaster, Preston, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle.[HL2561]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government is proposing to invest over £l billion in electrification of lines in the North West, North Trans Pennine Electrification and the Northern Hub programme through to 2019. This will result in faster or more frequent services on many routes including Lancaster and Preston to Manchester, Preston to Liverpool, Liverpool to Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle and Liverpool and Manchester to Sheffield.
The first stage of this work is planned to see new electric trains introduced between Scotland, Lancaster, Preston and Manchester from December 2013, and a new non-stop service between Liverpool and Manchester, running through to Leeds and Newcastle, is planned to commence in May 2014.
Railways: High Speed 2
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in future, when stating the cost of HS2 they will include the cost of provision of motive power units and rolling stock in that single figure.[HL2645]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government is committed to publishing HS2 costs in an accessible format. The latest cost figures, published at the time of the 2013 Spending Round, included a specific provision for rolling stock, which included motive power units. We would expect to publish costs in a similar manner in future.
Railways: Luggage Space
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed the adequacy of luggage space for long journeys on the InterCity Express trains recently ordered from Hitachi for the Great Western and the East Coast Mainline; whether they have any plans to create mock-ups of that provision; and whether they have any plans to undertake passenger consultation. [HL2643]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): A five-car IEP train has a comparable measure of bulk storage (bikes and other large items) and a nine-car has increased capacity when compared to either an InterCity 125 or an InterCity 225. The provision for luggage in the passenger saloon also compares favourably with space for a smaller size bag per person and one large suitcase per three people in first class and one per four people in standard. The total volume of luggage space within a saloon is an increase on the current InterCity 225 interior design.
The luggage provision (both bulk and in the saloon) is included in the mock-up that is in the final stages of getting agreement between Agility Trains and the Department. User review groups, including Passenger Focus, have contributed to the design. These groups also comprised a cross-section of passengers to ensure a fair and representative view was provided. Further reviews by a range of stakeholders will be carried out once the mock-up is completed.
Railways: Rolling Stock
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the suitability of Class 142 Pacer units for medium distance cross-country train services such as Colne to Blackpool and Leeds to Morecambe. [HL2458]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Rolling stock deployment is a matter for the industry. In future, different types of diesel units will become available thanks to the Government’s investment in electrification in northern England. The Government will consult on the next Northern franchise in 2015, and the franchise will begin in 2016.
Royal Mail: Shares
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what safeguards they have included in the terms of sale of shares in the Royal Mail to prevent control in the future by (1) private equity companies, (2) foreign governments or foreign government-owned companies, or (3) corporations based in foreign countries.[HL2459]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): Approximately 33% of the shares sold in the base offer went to members of the public through the retail offer and 10% of the shares have been allocated to UK-based eligible Royal Mail employees for free. When allocating the remainder of the shares the Government favoured long-term investors and as a result Royal Mail has a high-quality share register of shareholders, many of whom are British-based funds.
The Government also continues to hold at least a 30% stake in Royal Mail.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, and if so what, regulatory systems will be in place following the sale of shares in the Royal Mail to control (1) the level of profits taken out of the business, and (2) the level of investment in the business.[HL2460]
Viscount Younger of Leckie: There will be no formal regulatory system to govern how Royal Mail chooses to invest its profits: that is a matter for the Royal Mail board.
In the Prospectus published on 27 September 2013 Royal Mail stated that it will adopt a dividend policy that supports its aim of generating value for shareholders while ensuring that it retains sufficient capital to invest in growing its business.
In addition, Royal Mail is obliged by Ofcom to provide the universal postal service and therefore must have the necessary resources and assets to do so. Ofcom has regulatory powers such as the ability to fine the company for failure to deliver the required services.
Smoking: e-cigarettes
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider e-cigarettes to be an aid to smokers of tobacco to give up the habit; and whether they consider that their sales should be licensed and restricted.[HL2600]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The United Kingdom Government supports a requirement to license nicotine-containing products as medicines through European
Union legislation and will continue to make the case for this position during the further negotiations on the draft Tobacco Products Directive. This is intended to ensure that products are available that meet appropriate standards of safety, quality and efficacy to help users cut down their smoking and to quit, to reduce the harms of smoking to smokers and those around them.
Unlicensed products currently on the market have not been shown to meet standards of safety and efficacy required of medicines regulation. By regulating them as medicinal products, we can provide accurate information to healthcare professionals and the public about their quality and effectiveness. There is insufficient evidence currently to recommend their use. The poor quality of many products on the market mean they are unlikely to work effectively and so help people to cut down and to quit tobacco cigarettes.
Medicines regulation would allow these products to be available on prescription via general practitioners, pharmacists and smoking cessation practitioners, as well as being sold as general sale medicines.
Sri Lanka
Question
Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are plans to implement a recommendation by a United Nations Panel of Experts to independently investigate crimes against humanity committed during the war in Sri Lanka in 2009.[HL2495]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The recommendation made in the Secretary-General’s Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka report of 2011 was for the Sri Lankan government to “commence genuine investigations into ... alleged violations of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by both sides involved in the armed conflict.”
The British Government has publicly welcomed the report and encouraged Sri Lanka to use its response to the UN report and the report’s recommendations to strengthen the process of accountability and support lasting peace and security.
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. We also co-sponsored a March 2013 Human Rights Council resolution “on reconciliation in Sri Lanka” calling upon Sri Lanka “to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law” and have urged the Sri Lankan government to implement it.
St Helena
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote St Helena once the airport on that island is completed.[HL2568]
Baroness Northover (LD): St Helena is promoted by Enterprise St Helena (ESH), an agency of the St Helena Government (SHG) set up in 2012 to attract investment, promote tourism and encourage economic development. The UK Government works closely with SHG and provides funding to ensure that ESH has the right skills and capacity to promote St Helena as a good place in which to work and invest.
St Helena: Airport
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 29 July (WA 269), whether the plans now being developed for the transportation of supplies and passengers domestically among the South Atlantic islands are expected to be completed and the planned work implemented before St Helena airport is operational. [HL2473]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The St. Helena and Ascension Island authorities are exploring plans for the transportation of supplies and passengers (by air and/or by sea) between the islands after the introduction of air access to St Helena. Territory authorities are ensuring suitable arrangements will be in place in time for the withdrawal of the Royal Mail Ship St. Helena service. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office takes a close interest in these matters.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had about the provision of an air link to St Helena; and what assessment they have made of whether they will need to provide a subsidy for such a link.[HL2569]
Baroness Northover (LD): Informal discussions have been held with a number of airlines and charter companies. A company has now been appointed to assist the St Helena Government in contracting air services by the time the airport opens in 2016. It is intended that the services will be provided on a commercial basis.
Sudan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will increase the reliance they place on Radio Dabanga as a source of information to be used in determining their policy on Darfur, in the light of the fact that the United Nations’ Integral Regional Information Networks (IRIN) and their Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) both cite that radio station.[HL2343]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We make use of information from a wide range of sources, including Radio Dabanga and other media reporting, to assess the situation in Darfur as a basis for determining our policy.
The extent to which individual reports are corroborated by other organisations with direct knowledge of the situation on the ground will be one factor in determining the reliance we place in them.
Taxation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will introduce measures to ensure that savers pay tax only on levels of interest above the level of inflation.[HL2358]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government currently has no plans to change how savings income is taxed. However, all aspects of tax policy are kept under review.
Taxation: Avoidance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to examine the reinsurance of liabilities to related parties by United Kingdom insurers from the perspective of tax avoidance and security of claimant rights.[HL2353]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government keeps all taxes under review, and is taking steps to tackle avoidance. The UK is closely involved in OECD work on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. As part of this project to tackle tax avoidance by multi-national enterprises, the OECD will look at the pricing of transactions between related parties.
Teachers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that mechanisms are in place to enhance the skills of teachers in the subject areas in which they feel insecure in teaching the revised curriculum in 2014.[HL2401]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Government recognises that the high expectations set by the new national curriculum will present challenges for some teachers. We are working with subject experts, publishers, educational suppliers and others to identify what support for schools is already in place and identify any gaps that need to be filled and how this might best be done. This work will also support providers in adapting their initial teacher training to take account of the new
curriculum from 2013/2014 onwards. In addition, we have given prominence to national curriculum subjects in our bursaries for teacher training commencing in September 2013.
Now that the final version of the new national curriculum is available, we are using a range of communications channels to make sure that schools are aware of the changes and know where they can access quality support to prepare to introduce them.
Thames Tideway Tunnel
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when, in accordance with paragraph 2.5 of the National Policy Statement for Waste Water, they last reviewed the evidence of need for the Thames Tideway Tunnel and alternatives; and whether that review was based on independent reports published after 2006–07. [HL2367]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Waste Water National Policy Statement approved by Parliament in 2012 reviewed alternatives and established the need for a tunnel. In 2012, Defra also published the Thames Tunnel Evidence Assessment to ensure that due consideration had been given to the full range of evidence available on all the proposed options to address sewage in the Thames, and to provide an assessment of the nature of that evidence. It included, in an annex, a list of the supporting studies and reports.
In 2013 the Environment Agency conducted an assessment of the evidence on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) and the Thames Tideway environmental standards. The assessment, which will be published shortly, concludes that SuDS alone would not be enough to combat the sewage pollution issues facing the Thames and meet the environmental standards for the River Thames established by the Thames Tideway Strategic Study in 2006.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are independent reports which justify the statement in paragraph 2.6.28 of the National Policy Statement for Waste Water that installing Sustainable Drainage Systems in London would be “disproportionally expensive” compared with the Thames Tideway Tunnel; and, if so, what would be the estimated annual increase in water bills for installing such systems.[HL2368]
Lord De Mauley: The cost of implementing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) across London was extrapolated from a study commissioned by Thames Water and led by the Pennine Water Group (University of Sheffield). The study explored the potential for SuDS to reduce Combined Sewer Overflow discharges in the Putney area and on the basis of a cost of £241 million for the Putney area. It concluded that rolling out SuDS across the Beckton and Crossness catchments would cost at least £13 billion (2008 prices) over some 15-20 years
but would not deliver the necessary Tideway improvements. This compares with the current estimate of £4.2 billion (in 2011 prices) over seven years for the Thames Tideway Tunnel. The tunnel will also deliver the required environmental standards.
In 2012 the Sheffield University co-authors of this study published a further independent paper examining the potential for retrofit SuDS in the Thames Tideway catchment areas. This concluded similarly that retrofitting SuDS, while technically possible, was not feasible due to the very high costs and disruption that would likely be involved and that at best such retrofitting would only complement conventional sewerage infrastructure.
As SuDS would not deliver the required outcome, the choice of mechanism for funding and financing large-scale SuDS infrastructure in London was not pursued. If it were funded wholly through sewerage bills, the maximum bill impact would reflect the capital expenditure, and costs of maintenance and replacement.
World Trade Organisation
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that a multilateral agreement on trade facilitation will be agreed at the World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in December; and what commitments the United Kingdom is prepared to make to support the implementation of such an agreement.[HL2502]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint) (Con): The UK is committed to the multilateral trading system and strongly supports an ambitious agreement at the WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference in December on a deal that has trade facilitation at its core. We were a signatory to this year’s G8 Communiqué which stated: “We are committed to strengthening the multilateral trading system and securing a WTO deal in December that cuts bureaucracy to make it easier and faster for goods to cross borders. And we will keep our promises to help developing countries slash barriers to trade that impede growth”; and the G20 leader’s statement: “We call on all WTO members to show the necessary flexibilities in order to bridge existing gaps and deliver positive and balanced results at the WTO’s 9th Ministerial Conference (MC9).”
The European Commission negotiates the deal on behalf of Member States. I will be acting as Vice-Chair at the 9th Ministerial Conference in December, which is a signal of the UK’s commitment, and I will do everything possible to help ensure an ambitious deal is achieved.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom will be supporting a renewed commitment for developed countries to eliminate agricultural subsidies at the World Trade Organisation
Ministerial Conference in December, in the light of the fact that the 2013 deadline proposed at the 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference has passed. [HL2503]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Government recognises the importance of agriculture at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Bali in December. We are working within the EU to seek renewed commitment to the elimination of export subsidies post-Bali and to an overall outcome on agriculture that is effective and maintains the integrity of the WTO rules.
Young Offender Institutions: Restraint
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many complaints have been made by children in young offender institutions to a governor or an Independent Monitoring Board in each of the last five years; and how many of those complaints concerned the use of force.[HL2484]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally) (LD): Data on the number of complaints received by under-18 YOIs from young people and those complaints raised in respect of Restrictive Physical Intervention (RPI) is shown in the table below. Data on the number of complaints in relation to RPI ceased to be collected in September 2012. The IMB do not collate the number and specific details of complaints made either centrally or locally, and such information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
| Year | Total Complaints made to YOI | Complaints raised in respect of RPI |
The proportion of complaints raised in respect of RPI is very low and has come down since 2010.
* Data is only available from October 2009
** Data is only available up to and including August 2013