Written Answers
Thursday 31 October 2013
Alcohol
Questions
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total amount spent on alcohol during 2012–13 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.[HL2776]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): During 2012-2013 the Departmental expenditure on alcohol with the Department’s catering services contractor Baxter Storey was £4,502.75.
The Department for Business (BIS) runs a very busy conference centre which regularly hosts events to promote UK plc to various trade delegations and stakeholders. Events where alcohol is served are modestly catered and every effort is taken to keep costs to a minimum.
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the total amount spent on alcohol during 2012–13 by the Ministry of Defence.[HL2803]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Ministry of Defence does not hold financial information in a form that allows us to identify expenditure on alcohol separately. This information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.
The provision of alcoholic refreshments at public expense is authorised only in exceptional circumstances and must be modest and appropriate in nature.
Bovine Tuberculosis
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord De Mauley on 21 October (WA 118), whether they have made representations to the European Commission to reduce the 10 years needed to test a legal and validated cattle bovine tuberculosis vaccine.[HL2909]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): EU Commissioner Tonio Borg wrote to the Secretary of State on 14 January 2013 setting out the substantial scientific evidence that will be needed before any decision can be taken on lifting the current EU ban on cattle vaccination. Work to gather that evidence is under way and we will move it forward as quickly as we can. My right hon friend the Secretary of State and I will continue to keep this under review
and take every opportunity to discuss this important issue with the Commissioner as and when the need arises.
Census
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of their review of the handling of census data, they will ensure that all census data will continue to be available at the lowest Output Area level.[HL2785]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS, to Lord Teverson, dated October 2013.
As Director General of the Office for National Statistics I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking Her Majesty’s Government whether in the light of the review of the handling of census data we shall ensure that all census data will continue to be available at the lowest Output Area level (HL2785).
The Office for National Statistics is currently engaged in a major programme of work, the Beyond 2011 Programme, to assess approaches for meeting future requirements for population and small area socio-demographic statistics. We launched a public consultation on 23rd September to ask for comments on the approaches currently being considered:
• a census, once a decade, like that conducted in 2011, but primarily online; • a census based on administrative data and large annual compulsory surveys.
Our consultation documents can be accessed from the attached link (http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/about-ons/who-ons-are/programmes-and-projects/beyond-2011/beyond-2011-consultation/index.html) and you will see that special attention has been given to the need for, and importance of, understanding users’ requirements, most notably those relating to detailed statistics at Output Area level. It is too soon to say what the outcome of this consultation will be.
The Office for National Statistics is in the process of arranging a presentation on the issues for Members of Parliament during the consultation. I do hope that you might be able to attend this event and thus contribute to engagement on this important matter. I shall confirm the date with you in due course.
Companies: Entrepreneurship
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what efforts, apart from the “Future Fifty”, are being made to encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom, particularly in response to the digital revolution.[HL2792]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Government is committed to making the UK the best place to start a business. We have made it easier to start a business by providing finance and business advice, through initiatives such as Start-Up Loans and the New Enterprise Allowance, which helps unemployed people start their own businesses.
We are actively promoting a culture of entrepreneurship by lending our support to events such as Global Entrepreneurship Week—the world's largest campaign to promote entrepreneurship—and enterprise education in schools, colleges and universities. The experience of enterprise through education helps give young people the knowledge and awareness of what it means to run a business.
For example the Premier League Enterprise Academy enables Premier League football clubs to foster enterprise amongst young people mainly in deprived areas by helping them to learn about different aspects of running a football club. In Higher and Further Education, the National Association of College and University Entrepreneurs is working to develop and drive forward student enterprise societies.
The Government is also helping new and existing businesses to take advantage of the opportunities the internet delivers. As part of the Government’s Information Economy strategy, the Information Economy Council will work with the UK Tech Cluster Alliance and other UK tech clusters to facilitate connections and identify common barriers to growth. We are also providing practical help to businesses to help provide them with the skills to transact and export online. This includes an industry-led programme to provide businesses with the digital skills to transact online and UKTI support to help businesses export online.
Companies: Future Fifty
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how companies are evaluated for consideration to be part of the “Future Fifty”; and what efforts are made to attract more applications from across the country.[HL2791]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): Companies meeting the criteria for the Future Fifty programme applied through an on-line application form accessed through the website: www.futurefifty.com. Selection was then undertaken by an advisory panel of 13 industry experts, investors, advisors and successful entrepreneurs, resulting in a cohort of 25 companies in the first wave. Selection was based on a combination of quantitative and qualitative criteria. Quantitative measurements focused on financial metrics such as revenue, revenue growth, and profitability. Qualitative metrics included an assessment of the company, its products, market environment, competitive position, and strength of the leadership team as well as an assessment of further opportunity and scalability.
The Future Fifty programme is designed to provide tailored support to high-growth companies across the UK and a second wave of applications was launched on 17 October for the remaining 25 places. The programme has been publicised across the UK, with coverage in the national, local and specialist press, as well as a number of organisations using newsletters to raise awareness. In addition, the Tech Cluster Alliance, comprising representatives from 13 clusters across the UK, has been asked to raise awareness amongst companies in their areas.
Driving: Breathalyser
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to review the breathalyser limit. [HL2947]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): There are no plans to review the prescribed alcohol limit for driving. The Department for Transport has concluded that improving enforcement is likely to have the greatest impact on reducing drink driving, and will therefore be the most effective use of scarce resources, rather than lowering the prescribed alcohol limit.
The Department is also introducing changes to drink driving enforcement as part of the draft Deregulation Bill, which should be introduced into Parliament later this year.
Elections: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what circumstances it will be possible for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland to retain the name of an elector on the electoral register if that person has not returned a canvass form.[HL2885]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Under Regulation 3 of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2013, the name of a person who has not returned a canvass form, or has not provided all the information required by the form, may be retained on the electoral register providing two further conditions are met.
The first condition is that the registration officer is satisfied that it is likely that the person remains resident at the address at which they are registered and that other required information remains accurate.
The second condition is that in the 12 months prior to the conclusion of the canvass:
a) The person registered to vote; orb) Information received by the Chief Electoral Officer as part of the continuous registration process (for example, through data matching with
other public bodies) indicated that they remained resident at their address and that the information held in relation to them is accurate; or c) Inquiries made by the Chief Electoral Officer indicated that they remained resident at their address and that the information held in relation to them is accurate; ord) The person confirmed orally or in writing that they remain resident at their address and that the information held in relation to them is accurate; or e) The Chief Electoral Officer received some other information which indicated that the person remained resident at their address and that the information held in relation to them is accurate.
Energy: Prices
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact on the price of energy to British consumers were targets for reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2030 established by statute.[HL2934]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The Government has made no assessment of the impact of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2030. The Climate Change Act 2008 requires that UK territorial emissions are reduced by 80 per cent on 1990 levels by 2050. The costs and benefits of meeting this were set out in the accompanying Impact Assessment.
The Prices and Bills Impact Report, published in March 2013, provides the estimated impact of current and firmly planned policies on energy prices and bills to 2030 and is available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/172923/130326_-_Price_and_Bill_Impacts_Report_Final.pdf
Higher Education: Undergraduates
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many undergraduates embarking upon a first degree left university without completing their studies over the last five years, and what percentage the figure represents, broken down by gender.[HL2767]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes information on non-continuation rates and projected outcomes for undergraduate entrants as part of the Performance Indicators for Higher Education (HE) in the UK.
Projected outcomes of entrants consider full-time first degree starters to HE courses and uses a projected model to see what proportion are likely to: obtain a degree; obtain another qualification; transfer to another Higher Education Institution; or neither obtain an award nor transfer after a period of time. These rates are not readily available by gender and can only be provided at a disproportionate cost.
Non-continuation rates consider entrants to full-time first degree courses and reflect their position the year after they have entered HE to see if they returned to HE the following year. The table shows these non-continuation rates by gender since 2006/07.
Figures for students starting courses in the 2011/12 academic year will become available from HESA in March 2013.
Non-continuation following year of entry: UK domiciled full-time first degree entrants
UK Higher Education Institutions, Academic years: 2006/07 to 2010/11
| 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | |||||||
|
| |||||||||||
|
|
|
|
In this table 0, 1, 2 are rounded to 0. All other numbers are rounded up or down to the nearest multiple of 5.
Percentages are not subject to rounding.
* includes unknown gender.
For more information on how the data has been produced, see http://www.hesa.ac.uk/pis/defs
Homosexuality
Question
]Asked by Baroness Scotland of Asthal
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what instances they consider the criminalisation of same sex conduct to be persecutory harm.[HL2554]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally) (LD): Consensual same sex sexual conduct is lawful in the United Kingdom provided both participants are aged 16 or over, and are not closely related. The question of persecutory harm does not therefore apply to conduct in the UK. In respect of criminalisation of such acts in other jurisdictions, whether or not such criminalisation would amount to persecutory harm would depend on the nature and consequences of such criminalisation in each individual case.
Iran
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about the number of nuclear scientists engaged on the Iranian nuclear programme (1) before, and (2) since, the election of President Rouhani. [HL2758]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are not in a position to assess whether the number of nuclear scientists has changed. But there is no evidence in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Director General’s latest report (dated 28 August) to suggest a decrease in activity. Iran has continued to develop its programme, including heavy water related projects, and to enrich uranium.
Israel
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 10 October (WA 47), and in the light of the first progress report from UNICEF (14 October 2013) on the treatment of children in Israeli military detention, what representations have they made to the Government of Israel about the conformity of such practice with international standards.[HL2770]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Ministers at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and our Ambassador to Tel Aviv, have spoken and written to both the Israeli Justice Minister and the Israeli Attorney General to make representations on the treatment of Palestinian child detainees and the need for Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. Most recently, our ambassador in Tel Aviv wrote again to the Israeli Justice Minister, Tzipi Livni, on 14 October and Embassy officials discussed the issue with the Israeli Ministry of Justice on 16 September.
I can assure the Most Reverend and Noble Lord Bishop that we will continue to press for further progress on this important subject.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel about the application of the European Union Guidelines published in July 2013 concerning Israeli entities and activities in the Occupied Territories of the Golan, West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza. [HL2786]
Baroness Warsi: The EU guidelines on the eligibility of Israeli entities and their activities in the territories occupied by Israel since June 1967 for grants, prizes and financial instruments, apply to EU programmes and will be implemented by the European Commission. We welcome the approach that the EU has taken to work closely with the Israeli authorities on implementation of the Guidelines. As this is a matter for the European Commission we do not intend to make representations to the Government of Israel.
Justice: Cautions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their plans to ban the use of cautions for indictable-only offences, the possession of an offensive weapon, supplying Class A drugs and sexual offences against children, will apply to children under the age of 18.[HL2841]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The Justice Secretary, Home Secretary, and Attorney General launched a review of simple cautions earlier this year. A Written Ministerial Statement was laid on 15 April which set out the terms of reference; that it would examine the way in which simple cautions are currently used, and consider the need for any changes to policy or practice to ensure that there is transparency, accountability and public confidence in the use of simple cautions as a disposal.
On 30 September the Justice Secretary announced tough plans to stop the use of cautions for indictable only offences and certain serious either way offences involving possession of a knife, offensive weapon or firearm in a public place, offences involving child sex abuse or child pornography, and supplying Class A drugs. In future only in exceptional circumstances and where a senior police officer, as well as the CPS for the indictable only cases has agreed can a simple caution be administered. This balances the need for professional discretion to deal with the most difficult and complex cases in the most appropriate manner, and the need for increased public confidence in the simple caution as a disposal. These changes only apply to the adult simple caution regime.
Kenya
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1) British-born people, or (2) British-based immigrants, are (a) under investigation, or (b) in custody, in relation to the Westgate shopping mall attack in Nairobi.[HL2761]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi): The Kenyan authorities are conducting the ongoing investigation into the attack on the Westgate shopping mall. We are therefore unable to comment on details of the case, including potential suspects. We are not aware of any British nationals in custody in relation to the Westgate attack.
National Minimum Wage
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 22 October (WA 145–6), what steps they are taking to enforce the national minimum wage; how
many complaints from apprentices HM Revenue and Customs investigated in the last six months for which records are available; and with what result. [HL2896]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Government is absolutely clear that everyone who is entitled to the minimum wage should receive it. This includes apprentices.
The Government takes the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) very seriously and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) review every complaint that is referred to them, investigating the complaint and, in addition, carrying out targeted enforcement where they identify a high risk of non-payment of NMW. If HMRC investigates an employer that is breaking NMW law the employer will have to pay back the arrears owed to workers, face a financial penalty and be publicly named and shamed under the NMW Naming scheme.
Due to our concern about the level of employer non-compliance with the NMW rules for apprentices, we are ensuring that complaints from apprentices are being prioritised by HMRC. We are also stepping up our communication activity to increase the level of awareness of the minimum wage rules across the board, including apprentices. We want to help employers avoid falling foul of minimum wage rules unwittingly, and ensure that individuals are well-informed about their minimum wage eligibility.
In England, from 1 October, Matthew Hancock, the Skills Minister, is writing to each new apprentice on a Government-funded Apprenticeship, setting out what they can expect from their Apprenticeship—this includes information on NMW entitlement.
From October, we have also ensured that information on the NMW rules is included in the information packs that National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) issues to prospective Apprenticeship employers.
Finally, we have also improved guidance on gov.uk, to ensure we have clear, comprehensive and consistent information on the minimum wage rules, including on apprenticeships.
Prior to July 2013, HMRC did not hold the requested information in this format. HMRC began to identify and prioritise complaints from those employment sectors, including apprenticeships, where there is the highest perceived risk of underpayment of National Minimum Wage from that date.
The following table shows the number of complaints, cases under investigation and results relating to apprentices since July 2013-Sept 2013.
NHS: Drugs
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the NHS of drug price rises since May 2010.[HL2920]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The following tables 1 and 2 provide a quarterly breakdown of cost in both primary and secondary care from the period quarter 2 (Q2) of 2010 to Q2 for 2013. For primary care the cost per item is also shown, which decreased from £9.65 in Q2 2010 to £8.40 in Q2 2013. For secondary care, equivalent cost per item figures are not available.
Sources:
Primary Care Prescribing Analysis and Cost Tool (PACT) system and Hospital ePACT.
Note:
1Includes prescriptions written in hospitals and dispensed in the community
| Table 2 - Secondary care 1, 2 - cost of drugs dispensed in hospitals in England - Q2 2010 to Q2 2013 (£ millions) | |
| Period | Cost |
Source:
IMS HEALTH: Hospital Pharmacy Audit Provided by Health and Social Care Information Centre
Notes:
1Some medicines delivered to patients in their homes through homecare providers are not captured within the data.
2Cost per item figures are not available for hospital activity.
NHS: Energy Costs
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the NHS of energy price rises since May 2010.[HL2918]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The information is not available in the precise format requested.
The Department holds information on the total annual cost of energy consumed by National Health Service organisations. The information relates to the cost of all energy supplies including gas and electricity but does not identify the cost of each separately and is shown in the following table:
| Total Energy Cost | |
| £ million | |
The information has been supplied by the NHS and has not been amended centrally. The accuracy and completeness of the information is the responsibility of the provider organisation.
NHS: Fraud
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much the National Health Service has lost as a result of fraud by (1) staff, (2) patients, and (3) providers of goods and services, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.[HL2905]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The information is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
NHS Protect, the unit that leads work to tackle crime in the National Health Service in England, has carried out occasional statistical exercises measuring losses to fraud. The following table shows the results of such exercises from published reports since 2007-08.
Figures from published loss measurement exercises since 2007-08
| Year data selected | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 |
NHS: Goods and Services
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the NHS of price rises in goods and services since May 2010.[HL2919]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Health Service Cost Index (HSCI) measures the change in prices of non-pay expenditure in the Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) sector. The annual changes in the HSCI since 2010-11 are shown in the following table.
| Year | Annual Change in HSCI |
Notes
1. Figures rounded to one decimal place.
2. The Department has not made estimates for price changes to goods and services in the NHS as a whole due to the availability of primary care data.
NHS: Sites and Buildings
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, where a hospital proposes to dispose of land or property with a view to reinvesting the capital receipts in improved hospital buildings and facilities, what conditions are placed on the transaction with regard to (1) the hospital’s discretion over the use of any receipts, (2) the timetable of the process, (3) any requirement for planning permission, and (4) any other relevant conditions affecting the process.[HL2868]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): A National Health Service trust is entitled to retain and re-invest land sale proceeds of up to £5 million from a disposal transaction. The trust is able to manage its own capital investment up to this level.
Where the property transaction and the capital investment exceeds its delegated limits, an NHS trust has to seek the approval of the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA). The TDA publication Capital Regime and Investment Business Case Approvals Guidance for NHS Trusts, sets the rules in respect of trusts disposing of land over their delegated limits. A trust has to make a case for the retention of sale proceeds which the TDA would need to approve. This would be given in the trust’s business case which should detail all aspects of the project. The TDA would review the case within its strategic, patient quality and services, commercial, economic and financial context. Any conditions that are set will depend on the circumstances of each case.
Irrespective of the value of the disposal transaction, the trust is expected to follow the general guidance on the disposal of surplus NHS land and buildings given in the Department’s publication Health Building Note 00-08: Estatecode.
A copy of each of the above publications has been placed in the Library.
NHS foundation trusts have greater freedom to dispose and reinvest capital receipts to improve their healthcare facilities. They are not subject to delegated limits but are subject to regulation by Monitor.
Asked by Lord Brabazon of Tara
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 22 October (WA 162), why the site of the Putney Hospital remained undeveloped between the closure of the hospital in 1999 and its sale to Wandsworth Borough Council in 2012; and whether they received any other offers for the site other than from Wandsworth Borough Council.[HL2901]
Earl Howe: The Putney Hospital site was the responsibility of Wandsworth Primary Care Trust (PCT) prior to its purchase by Wandsworth Borough Council in 2012.
We are advised that in 2008 the PCT submitted a proposal to NHS London for developing the site into a primary care centre. However, following concerns raised by NHS London about value for money, the PCT reassessed the proposal and declared the site surplus in 2010.
We understand that although the site was not placed on the open market, the PCT did receive a number of unsolicited offers. Having taken advice from the District Valuer, the PCT concluded that selling the whole site to Wandsworth Borough Council would achieve best value.
Prisoners: Education and Qualifications
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) NVQs, (2) GCSEs, (3) A Levels, (4) undergraduate degrees, (5) postgraduate degrees, and (6) teaching qualifications, were awarded to prisoners detained by Her Majesty’s Prison Service in each of the last ten years, and to date in 2013.[HL2752]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): Table 1 attached shows the number of NVQ, GCSE, A Level and teaching qualification achievements by offender learners in England. Final data are shown for 2010/11 and 2011/12 and provisional data are shown for the 2012/13 academic year. These are the latest data available. Data for previous years are not available on a comparable basis.
Complete data are not available on undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Table 2 attached shows undergraduate and postgraduate degrees awarded to England Prisoners by the Open University. Data are shown for the 2002/03 to 2011/12 academic years. These are the latest data available.
| Table 1: Offender Learning NVQ, GCSE, A Level and Teaching Qualification Achievements (Aims), 2010/11 to 2012/13 (provisional) | |||
| Achievements | 2010/11 | 2011/12 | 2012/13 (provisional) |
Source:
Individualised learner Record
Notes:
1. Teaching defined as 'Teaching and Lecturing' part of 'Education and Training' with 'Teach' in the subject.
2. Figure rounded to the nearest 10; all aims rounded to the nearest 100; "-" indicates a value of less than 5.
3. Offender learners are defined as offenders aged 18 or over that participated in Skills Funding Agency funded learning while in the prison system. These offenders were funded via the Offenders' Learning and Skills Service (OLASS) budget.
4. Numbers are a count of the number of aims that have occurred at any point during the year. Where a learner has multiple aims, these will be counted separately.
5. Further information on Offender Learning is available here:
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/FA56D899-CCCA-4D1A-A9DB-8B2A78DF4AC2/0/January2013_OLASS_Aims_SSA.xls
http://www.thedataservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/11E30F3F-C15D-4C8B-9064-710454EEC3F5/0/January2013_OLASS_Participation_Achievement.xls
| Table 2: Open University Undergraduate and Postgraduate Degrees, England Prisoners, 2002/03 to 2011/12 | ||||||||||
| Awards | 2002/03 | 2003/04 | 2004/05 | 2005/06 | 2006/07 | 2007/08 | 2008/09 | 2009/10 | 2010/11 | 2011/12 |
Source:
Open University
Notes:
1. England prisoners who have been awarded a degree relating to the academic year.
2. Figure rounded to the nearest 10. "-" indicated a value of less than 5
3. Exams are yet to be taken for 2012/13 academic year studies.
Railways: Compensation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether financial compensation is paid to Train Operating Companies in respect of free and reduced-price travel facilities on trains.[HL2823]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Free and reduced-price travel facilities on trains may be offered by train operators to their staff as part of their employment package. Specific financial compensation is not paid by the Department for Transport to offset any notional cost or revenue loss to train operators.
Free or reduced-price fares may be offered to the public as part of a train operator’s normal marketing activities, but this would be done on the basis of commercial judgement and would not be compensated for.
Railways: High Speed 2
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish a list of changes to the alignment of the proposed route for Phase 1 of HS2 made by HS2 Limited since the decision to proceed with HS2 was announced in January 2012.[HL2836]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Any significant changes made to the proposed route between January 2012 and Summer 2013 were consulted on this summer in the design refinement consultation. The full list of changes that have been introduced to the proposed route since the summer 2013 consultation will be described in the Phase One Environmental Statement and hybrid Bill documents, which will be deposited to Parliament later this year.
Roads: Road Safety
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures they are taking to reduce road accidents.[HL2946]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Great Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world. However, the Government is not complacent and is taking a variety of measures to further improve our record. These include:
- Continuing to run THINK! road safety campaigns, for example a motorcycle campaign in spring to remind drivers to look out for bikers, a new drink driving summer campaign and most recently a cycle safety campaign in five major cities. - Promoting road safety enforcement by introducing a new fixed penalty offence for careless driving, which will allow officers to spend more time enforcing road traffic law and increasing the fixed penalty notice fines for offences such as using a mobile phone whilst driving.
- Tackling cycle safety by providing the single largest injection of cash for cycling, which with local contributions amounts to £148 million and launching a cycling taskforce for London to help reduce the number of accidents involving HGVs and cyclists.- Taking action on drink and drug driving by creating a new offence of driving with a specified controlled drug in the body above a specified limit and closing the “statutory option” loophole in drink drive enforcement to make the job of dealing with drink drivers faster and less bureaucratic when it comes to bringing offenders to justice.
Finally, we plan to issue a Green Paper later this year in which we will be considering several options to ensure that newly qualified drivers are properly prepared and drive safely.
Royal Charter
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the present guidelines for a Minister meeting petitioners or their representatives to discuss items in a Royal Charter which is under consideration by a Privy Council sub-committee of which that Minister is a member.[HL2705]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): There are no formal guidelines.
Royal Mail: Shares
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they propose to ask any of the banks involved in advising on the flotation price of Royal Mail for a repayment of fees if the share price remains significantly above the offer price over the medium term.[HL2762]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): The Government has taken an aggressive approach to fees. The underwriters will share a maximum fee of 1.2% of the institutional proceeds. This includes a success-based and discretionary element of 0.3%. This compares with 2.5% for the previous Government’s flotation of QinetiQ. We will take a decision on the discretionary element in the coming weeks and will consider factors including initial proceeds and share price performance since the Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Russia
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Russia about the cases of Vladimir Akimenkov, Artiom Saviolov and Mikhail Kosenko.[HL2787]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Senior officials raised concerns about the Bolotnaya protestors during the most recent UK-Russia Human Rights Dialogue in May this year. We have also raised the case through the EU, including at the 2013 EU-Russia Human Rights consultations. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) and the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) regularly raise concerns about human rights and the rule of law with their Russian counterparts. We will continue to follow developments in the Bolotnaya cases closely.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Russia about the investigation of the deaths of journalists and others, including Anna Politkovskaya, Natalia Estemirova, Khadzhimurad Kamalov and Akhmednabi Akhmednabiev.[HL2788]
Baroness Warsi: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington) and senior officials have raised concerns about the deaths of journalists, including Anna Politkivskaya and Natalia Estemirova, with the government of Russia. We will continue to raise human rights in Russia, including freedom of expression and the protection of human rights defenders, both bilaterally and with our EU partners. We also fund a number of projects that help develop Russian civil society, including a project that aims to improve journalists’ safety and security in the North Caucasus.
Schools: Academies and Free Schools
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advantages they have identified in excluding academies and free schools from the obligation to teach the national curriculum; and what disadvantages they recognise. [HL2944]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Academies benefit from a range of freedoms and flexibilities that give them more power to make their own decisions in a range of areas. Academy head teachers are able to use the freedoms this status brings to innovate and provide the best education for their pupils.
While academies and free schools do not have to follow the National Curriculum, they are required to teach a broad and balanced curriculum. This must include English, maths and science. Academies must also make provision for the teaching of Religious
Education. This allows them to have the maximum possible freedom to personalise learning for all their pupils, including the most able pupils and those needing additional support. This freedom dates from the start of the academy programme and is supported by the success of academies in improving standards.
Schools: Free Schools
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many free schools there are in England; and how many of those are affiliated to a particular faith, broken down by faith.[HL2706]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): There are 174 open free schools in England. 142 of these are mainstream free schools which are able to designate. Of the 142, 37 are affiliated to a particular faith. 26% of mainstream free schools are faith schools–lower than the 34% of all state schools which are faith schools. The table below outlines the number of free schools from each faith.
| Number of Faith Designated Free Schools | Faith |
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to reduce the number of unqualified teachers teaching and training to teach in free schools. [HL2751]
Lord Nash: The Department for Education does not set prescriptive requirements in relation to the qualifications of teaching staff in free schools. As in the best independent schools, free schools have the freedom to employ talented people with a real passion for their subject and the skills and experience to communicate that passion effectively. In approving free schools, we ensure that proposers provide robust plans for how they intend to guarantee the highest quality of teaching in their schools. Once open, free schools are subject to the same scrutiny from Ofsted as maintained schools.
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent concern about the Al-Madinah free school, what plans they have to provide a framework in which free schools should operate that reflects the expectations of parents and the Department for Education.[HL2800]
Lord Nash: The Department has already put in place such a framework, through the rigorous approval process for free school applications, the contractual funding agreement between the school and the Secretary of State for Education, the legislative requirements placed on academies and free schools through the Independent School Standards and, as for all schools, Ofsted inspections. Together, they provide the necessary checks and balances to ensure that free schools meet the high standards expected of them. Where those standards are not met, the framework enables us to take swift and decisive action.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advantages they have identified in releasing free schools from the obligation to employ only teachers with a professional pedagogical qualification; and what disadvantages they recognise.[HL2945]
Lord Nash: The policy gives free schools the freedom to employ the most talented people, regardless of their qualifications. This is the same freedom enjoyed by independent schools. We want the dynamism that characterises the best independent schools to help drive up standards in the state sector.
Small and Medium-sized Businesses: Late Payments
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress is being made on their proposal to introduce legislation to curb late payments; and how it will benefit small and medium-sized businesses.[HL2858]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): We have recently transposed the EU Directive on Late Payment into UK Law. This came into effect on 16 March this year.
The Directive is largely based on existing UK Late Payment Legislation and businesses benefit from:
• Right to charge interest and administration costs for late payment• mandatory 30 day payment terms for transactions with public authorities • maximum 60 day payment terms between businesses, unless they agree otherwise and it is not grossly unfair
We have also announced a consultation on tackling late payment this year where we hope to get thoughts and ideas from businesses on what they think needs to happen to change business culture and reduce late payment.
If the conclusion is that further legislation will be effective and proportionate, then we will consider taking this forward.
Terrorism
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) British-born people, and (2) British-based immigrants, are known to be (a) in overseas prisons, and (b) in prison in the UK, awaiting trial or having been convicted of extreme Islamist terrorist involvement. [HL2760]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are aware of twelve British Nationals who are currently being detained overseas on terrorism charges, and are providing consular assistance to them. We do not hold information on whether these charges relate specifically to Islamist terrorism. The British Government does not record the data in the way requested for British-based migrants in British prisons, and does not maintain records of British-based migrants who are currently detained in overseas prisons on terrorism related charges.
Vietnam
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the condition and welfare of the writers Nguyen Xuan Nghia and Nguyen Van Hai, presently imprisoned in Vietnam.[HL2674]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Our Embassy in Hanoi has been following closely the case of blogger Nguyen Van Hai. In August following reports of Mr Nguyen Van Hai’s hunger strike, the UK raised its concerns about both his welfare and his imprisonment directly with the Vietnamese government. We continue to raise freedom of expression and human rights with the Vietnamese authorities. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire) discussed freedom of expression with Vice Foreign Minister Son at the UK-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue earlier this month.
At the EU-Vietnam human rights dialogue in September the EU, representing Member States including the UK, raised concerns about Nguyen Van Hai’s health, his prison conditions and the fact that individuals should not be imprisoned for expressing peaceful political opinions. While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) declined the EU’s request to visit him, they assured the EU Delegation of Mr Hai’s health and we have no concerns for his welfare at this time.
According to reports, we understand that novelist Nguyen Xuan Nghia was in the cell next to Hai. We also have no concerns for his welfare at this time.
Young Offender Institutions: Education and Training
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many and what percentage of inmates of young offender institutions were enrolled in (1) GCSE, and (2) NVQ, courses in each of the past 10 years.[HL2617]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many and what percentage of inmates of young offender institutions achieved passes in (1) GCSE, and (2) NVQ, courses in each of the past 10 years.[HL2618]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The Government intends to transform youth custody, through better equipping young offenders in custody with the skills, qualifications and self-discipline they need to lead purposeful and law abiding lives on release. Young people already have access to a range of courses and qualifications, including foundation courses, vocational courses and GCSEs, according to their learning experience and needs identified in custody.
In respect of under-18 Young Offender Institutions, the Education Funding Agency (EFA) collects information relating to the number of enrolments on education courses. Table 1 below shows the number of learners in each of the last two academic years for both GCSE and NVQ courses.
| Table 1: Number of learners enrolled in GCSE and NVQ courses in publicly run under-18 YOIs | ||
| Qualification Type | Number of learners 2010/11 academic year | Number of learners 2011/12 academic year |
Data is available from 2005/06 (when the predecessor organisation to the EFA assumed responsibility for education and training in under-18 Young Offender Institutions), but there is a disproportionate cost in analysing data which precedes 2010/11.
Table 2 below shows the total number of academic and vocational qualifications or other relevant certificates gained by young people in under-18 YOIs in each year. These data have been collected by the Youth Justice Board (YJB). It is not possible to break these data down by qualification type. These data do not relate to individual young people and it is possible that an individual young person has achieved more then one certificate within the establishment, so it is not possible to provide the percentage of the under-18 YOI population who had achieved passes in GCSE and NVQs.
The YJB did not collect data on certificates achieved in under-18s YOIs prior to January 2010. Data collection stopped for public under-18s YOIs in September 2012.
| Table 2: The total number of academic and vocational qualifications and other relevant certificates gained by young people in under-18 YOIs | |||
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
Notes:
(1) The table above gives the total number of nationally recognised accredited academic and vocational qualifications and other relevant certificates gained by young people in each year at under-18 YOIs.
(2) Data have been captured for all under-18 YOIs since January 2010. Collection of these data was stopped in September 2012 for public under-18's YOIs but continued for the two privately run under-18 YOIs (Parc and Ashfield) therefore data for 2012 is not comparable to previous years.
(3) Due to the decommissioning of Ashfield in April 2012 data is now only collected from Parc under-18 YOI.
Young Offenders: Family Contact
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many secure training centres and young offender institutions prohibit children from hugging their parents and other family members during visits.[HL2488]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): The Government recognises the importance of young people maintaining outside contacts and meaningful family ties to support their rehabilitation. Young people, in all secure training centres and young offender institutions, are permitted to have reasonable physical contact with their visitors, subject to any relevant security considerations and public protection measures that may be in place.