Written Answers
Monday 4 November 2013
Afghanistan: Interpreters
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many locally employed interpreters and translators who have worked with British armed forces in Afghanistan have (1) been offered, and (2) accepted, the Government's offer of assistance and resettlement.[HL2845]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The briefing of the Government’s ex gratia options to eligible Ministry of Defence locally employed civilians (LECs) started on 25 October 2013. There are no numbers currently available regarding how many individuals have been offered or accepted the Government’s offer of assistance or relocation to the UK. The process of making offers to those eligible will continue into 2014 and beyond as the UK drawdown in Afghanistan continues and eligible LECs are made redundant.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their assistance and resettlement package for locally employed interpreters and translators who have worked with British armed forces in Afghanistan is subject to any legal challenge; and, if so, when they expect it to be resolved.[HL2847]
Lord Astor of Hever: The Government has been put on notice of legal challenges from a small number of Afghan nationals including a number of former locally engaged civilians. The timing of the resolution of these claims is primarily a matter for the court.
Alcohol
Questions
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Public Health Responsibility Deal Alcohol Network’s pledge to label over 80 per cent of products on shelves with clear unit content, NHS guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant (1) has been achieved, or (2) will be achieved by the stated deadline of December 2013; and how it will be evaluated.[HL2774]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Portman Group will commission an independent audit of on-shelf labelling when the pledge completes after the end of 2013, under terms agreed with the Department.
Indications from data compiled by the Portman Group in early 2012 suggest that compliance with the voluntary labelling agreement was over 60% at that time.
To date, 93 companies have signed up to the pledge to have over 80% of products on shelf (by December 2013) having labels with clear unit content, National Health Service guidelines and a warning about drinking when pregnant.
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 Communities and Local Government.[HL2778]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): Nothing.
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 Culture, Media and Sport. [HL2779]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): Expenditure on alcohol is not recorded separately in the Department’s finance system.
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 Foreign and Commonwealth Office.[HL2807]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): This information is not held centrally and is available only at disproportionate cost. Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure on alcohol is determined by business requirements. Expenditure on business hospitality is kept under rigorous scrutiny in accordance with the principles of Managing Public Money and the Treasury Handbook on Regularity, Propriety and Value for Money.
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 Government Equalities Office.[HL2808]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Expenditure on alcohol is not recorded separately in the Department’s finance system.
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 of Health.[HL2978]
Earl Howe: A sum of £275.60 was spent on alcohol during 2012-13 by the Department.
Armed Forces: Living Accommodation
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what improvement to the facilities for families have been made at RAF Valley in the financial years 2012–13 and 2013–14.[HL2908]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The following improvements have been made to the facilities for families at RAF Valley.
From the Catering Retail and Leisure Contract, the on-site SPAR shop, The Dragon Bowl and Hawkings Bar were refurbished and a new History Room Cafe was established during Autumn 2012. Public money has also funded a new-build physical recreation and training centre, which is open to families and was opened in February 2013.
From non-public funds a new children’s play area was opened in early 2013 outside the Mums and Tots facility.
A non-public grant has also been awarded to build a watersports facility next to the RAF Valley beach car park, to provide toilet, shower and equipment storage facilities for families using the beach. This should be completed by the end of Financial Year 2013-14.
Arms Export
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint on 19 October (WA 115–6), how much they contributed to arms export subsidies in each of the last ten years, and to date in 2013.[HL3012]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint) (Con): I refer the Noble Lord to the answer I gave him on 22 October (Official Report, col. WA 146).
Banking: Lending
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they believe loan to value ratios or loan to income ratios to be the more reliable indicator of systemic instability in the residential mortgage market; and what stress assumptions lenders in the Help to Buy Scheme have been asked to use about future interest rates.[HL2781]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government has established the independent Financial Policy Committee to monitor the stability of the financial system as a whole with a
view to ensuring that emerging risks and vulnerabilities are identified and effectively addressed. This includes monitoring developments in the housing market.
The FPC’s power of Direction over sectoral capital requirements can be applied to three broad sectors including residential mortgages. The interim FPC published a draft policy statement in January 2013 in which it set out a number of core indicators that the Committee will monitor to help guide its use of sectoral capital requirements. The draft policy statement can be found on the Bank’s website: http://www.bankofengland.co.uk/financialstability/Pages/fpc/coreindicators.aspx
The Government has put in place requirements to ensure responsible lending under the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme. In their affordability assessment lenders must conduct an affordability stress-test against future interest-rate rises.
Banks: Chinese Banks
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their policy to allow Chinese banks to operate through restricted branches in the United Kingdom is specific to that country or applies to all overseas banks. [HL2783]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of regulation of Chinese banks; on what basis that determination was reached; and whether the Prudential Regulatory Authority was consulted and is in agreement with that assessment.[HL2784]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Prudential regulation is solely a matter for the independent Prudential Regulation Authority. The Government has no power to intervene in the PRA’s regulatory policies or practices.
The decision to consider applications by Chinese banks to establish wholesale branches was taken by the PRA alone, consistent with its broader policy on the regulation of non-European Economic Area banks.
Prudential regulation is a matter solely for the independent Prudential Regulation Authority. The PRA’s policy on the regulation of non-EEA banks applies to all non-EEA banks with operations in the UK and is not specific to China.
Banks: Co-operative Bank
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they were consulted by Co-operative Wholesale Services and Co-operative Financial Services on the payment of dividends by those firms in 2012 and 2013 at a time when their subsidiary Co-operative Bank was under instructions to increase core tier one capital. [HL2780]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): This is a matter for the firm and its regulators; the Government has no role in this area and was not consulted in this particular case.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis Lord Newby stated “the Co-op Bank ….was originally owned by the Co-operative Group but is no longer” on 15 October (HL Deb, col 521); and when the Co-operative Group’s ownership of the Co-op Bank ceased.[HL2795]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that a company which is wholly owned by a mutual organisation can be regarded as not itself a mutual organisation; and, if so, what characteristics determine mutual status.[HL2796]
Lord Deighton: My Noble Friend, Lord Newby, has written to the Noble Lord, Lord Eatwell, to provide further information on a number of points that were raised during the second day of debate on the Financial Services (Banking Reform) Bill in Lords Committee, including a clarification on the point raised by the Noble Lady. A copy of the letter will be laid in the library of both Houses.
The Co-operative Bank is a company limited by shares, and is not itself a mutual. However, the Noble Lord’s letter clarifies that, at present, the Co-op Bank is wholly owned by the Co-operative Group, whose holding company is an Industrial and Provident Society - it is for this reason that it is sometimes referred to as a mutually-owned bank.
Care: Continuing Care
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many decisions on continuing care entitlements have been reviewed for each of the last five years for which information is available; how many of those decisions have been overturned on review; and what is the additional cost of review decisions for each of the financial years concerned.[HL2906]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department does not collect information on the numbers of NHS Continuing Healthcare decisions which have been reviewed, how many decisions have been overturned or the cost of review decisions.
Climate Change
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 8 November 2012 (WA 224–5), whether the statistical model they used is the same as the statistical model used
by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its Fifth Assessment Report, chapter entitled “Observations: Atmosphere and Surface”.[HL2932]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 8 November 2012 (WA 224–5), whether the statistical model they used is the same as the statistical model used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in its Fifth Assessment Report (Working Group 1 Summary for Policymakers) to infer that “globally averaged combined land and ocean surface temperature data as calculated by a linear trend, show a warming of 0.85 [0.65 to 1.06] degrees Celsius, over the period 1880–2012”.[HL2933]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The written answer I gave to the noble Lord on 8 November 2012 (Official Report, col. WA 224–5) noted the calculation of the increase in globally averaged near surface temperature using a simple statistical model. This simple model is used to provide an estimate of temperature increase over a long period of the instrumental record, for which there was good data coverage, in both the Summary for Policymakers and the chapter entitled “Observations: Atmosphere and Surface” of the Working Group I contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The IPCC also reported temperature change from a single longer record using another approach. Both approaches provide a similar estimate of the warming over the period of the instrumental record.
Education: Cultural Education
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have implemented the objective set out in the Schools White Paper and elaborated on in Darren Henley’s report Cultural Education in England that every child should have access to a wide range of high quality cultural experiences; and how the delivery of that objective is being monitored.[HL2968]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Department for Education has made much progress in ensuring that children are provided with a rich menu of high-quality cultural experiences since Darren Henley’s report on Cultural Education in England was published in February 2012.
In response to his report, the Department announced £15 million across 2012–2015 for a portfolio of cultural education programmes designed to strengthen access to and take-up of cultural education opportunities. These include a Museums and Schools programme, a Heritage Schools programme, a new National Youth Dance Company, funding for expansion of the Sorrell Foundation’s National Arts and Design Saturday Clubs, and a new Film Academy for 16-19 year olds. These programmes are being delivered by Arts Council England (ACE), the British Film Institute and English Heritage.
This summary of funded arts programmes is not exhaustive and does not include our actions in response to Darren Henley’s review of Music Education in England. On 5 July 2013 we published ‘Cultural Education’ which sets out our ambitions for cultural education in England and provides a more detailed overview of the programmes and opportunities open to schools and teachers to give all children access to a high-quality cultural education.
Progress on music and cultural education, including delivery of funded programmes, is overseen by a Ministerial Board, jointly chaired by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Childcare and the Parliamentary-Under Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries. From this autumn, Darren Henley will also act as co-chair. The Board meets on a termly basis and has representation from our delivery partners, subject specialists and head teachers.
Education: Participation Age
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to monitor the implementation of the raising of the participation age in education or training to 17 from September 2013; and what action will be taken against young people who drop out.[HL2950]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Local authorities are responsible for promoting the effective participation of 16- and 17-year-olds in education or training and identifying those who are not participating. Education and training providers are required to notify local authorities if young people drop out of learning so that they can be supported in finding a suitable place.
The Department for Education publishes information on its website that shows what proportion of 16 and 17 year olds are participating. The Department also publishes Destination Measures that show what proportion of young people progress to a sustained education, training or employment destination in the year after completing compulsory education.
We want to encourage young people to participate because of the benefits it will bring. The Education and Skills Act 2008 includes enforcement provisions for those young people who do not participate, but we have chosen not to commence them at this stage. We think most young people will participate because they know that it gives them the best chance to get the skills and qualifications that universities and employers are looking for. We will keep this under review.
Energy: Cold Weather
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to ensure continuing financial investment in improving the energy efficiency of older people’s
homes; and what steps they are taking to increase awareness of the health risks caused by cold weather and how to stay warm indoors.[HL2989]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The Government is committed to supporting older and vulnerable people keep warm and we have a strong package of policies which are already delivering assistance to those in need. These include the Energy Company Obligation and the Warm Home Discount. ECO is expected to provide efficient boilers and insulation measures to some 230,000 low income and vulnerable households, including pensioner households, each year. This year, 2 million households will get help under the Warm Home Discount — including an automatic electricity bill discount of £135 for well over 1 million of the poorest pensioners.
The Government has also provided £900,000 to fund the creation of the ‘Big Energy Saving Network’ which will focus on helping consumers understand tariffs and switching options as well as how they could benefit from energy efficiency programmes available to them.
As we approach winter, my officials are seeking opportunities to maximise the use of the Energy Saving Advice Service (ESAS—contact number 0300 123 1234), which provides a referral service for ECO Affordable Warmth. Plans are already in place to promote it through existing correspondence to qualifying benefit recipients from the Department for Work and Pensions, and DECC’s communications to pensioners receiving the Warm Home Discount Core Group.
The Department of Health’s Cold Weather Plan, setting out a series of clear actions to minimise the health impact of severe winter weather on the elderly and vulnerable, was published on October 25. The supporting Keep Warm Keep Well campaign will be launched shortly.
Last winter, £2.15 billion of Winter Fuel Payments were made to 12.5 million pensioners, providing very valuable support at a time of year when it is most needed.
Cold Weather Payments are also made to the elderly and vulnerable during periods of very cold weather.
Energy: Prices
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the causes of the rise in energy prices; and what steps they intend to take to assist those, including small businesses, who cannot afford the rise in prices.[HL2922]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): Between 2010 and 2012, wholesale energy costs are estimated to have contributed at least 60% of the increase in household energy bills. The contribution coming from network and policy costs will also start to increase.
We are helping 2 million vulnerable households with their bills through the Warm Home Discount scheme, in addition to Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments. 230,000 low income and vulnerable households will be warmer this year by getting energy efficiency measures installed under the Energy Company Obligation and the Green Deal and Smart Meters policies will also help households waste less energy and cut their bills We are providing legislative backing to Ofgem’s Retail Market Reforms which will ensure that consumers are on the cheapest tariff their supplier offers which meets their preferences as well as providing clearer and more transparent information to help consumers switch suppliers.
It is important that we do what we can to help small businesses to keep their energy bills down. DECC and the Office of the Prime Minister set up a SME Working Group to work with industry, SME representatives and consumer groups to encourage action and address any barriers to ensure a fairer deal for small businesses.
Finance: Payday Loans
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether proposed actions to control the activities of payday lenders can be applied to firms based in the European Union or European Economic Area but lending in the United Kingdom.[HL2782]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Lenders based elsewhere in the European Economic Area (EEA) operating in the UK do not need to be licensed by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) nor will they need to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) from April 2014. Such firms can operate electronically in the UK under the E-Commerce Directive, or passport in under certain financial services single market directives.
While these firms are not subject to UK regulation, they must still comply with a range of relevant European Directives, in particular the Consumer Credit Directive, which cover all lenders in the EU. There are a number of requirements in the Consumer Credit Directive which provide protections for borrowers, including requirements on lenders to assess creditworthiness and restrictions on advertising. Where the UK regulator has concerns about an EEA-based lender’s compliance with Directive requirements, it can pursue this with the relevant regulator in the country where the firm is established, through established concordats and procedures.
Food: Aspartame
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the results of the Hull Pilot Study on aspartame to be published; what is the cause of the delay; and what has been the cumulative cost to date.[HL2865]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The study work has been completed. However, the contractor has experienced delays in preparing and submitting the final report. The Food Standards Agency continues to press the contractor to submit the study for peer reviewed publication as soon as possible.
There has been no increase to the costs of this study since the information previously provided. The cost for the initial plan was £150,728; metabolomic profiling, to determine any effects on plasma and urinary metabolite profile, was added at an additional cost of £136,995.
To make the study more robust the number of self-diagnosed aspartame-sensitive participants was increased from 50 to 75, with the same increase in matched controls; the increase in participants and additional metabolomic analysis increased the cost by a further £173,664; and the cost for the additional clinical chemistry analysis of the samples in order to put any findings from the metabolomic profiling in context was £70,000.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of recent closures of tunnels to the Gaza Strip on the importation of construction materials; and what plans there are to re-house those displaced as a result of the blockade.[HL2926]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in mid October 100 to 150 tonnes of building materials were entering Gaza per day via the tunnels compared to a daily average of more than 7,500 tonnes in June 2013. The combination of tunnel closures and restrictions on construction materials passing through legitimate border crossings has led to shortages of construction materials, and increases in prices and unemployment in the construction sector. No assessment has been made of any plans to re-house those displaced as a result of the restrictions.
Government Departments: Expenditure
Question
Asked by Lord Davies of Stamford
To ask Her Majesty’s Government for which items of expenditure budget allocations were made by the Ministry of Defence for the 2011–12 financial year but were not in fact incurred in that year by that Department.[HL2621]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The breakdown of the Department’s underspend in Financial Year 2011-12 can be found in the Statement of Parliamentary
Supply on pages 108 and 109 of the Ministry of Defence’s 2011-12 Annual Report and Accounts (HC 62), laid before the House on 6 December 2012. This publication is also available online at: http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet /AboutDefence/Corporate Publications/AnnualReports/ MODAnnualReports1112
The breakdown of the Department’s underspend in Financial Year 2012-13 can be found on page 50 of the Ministry of Defence’s 2012-13 Annual Report and Accounts (HC 38), laid before the House on 16 July 2013. This publication is also available online at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mod-annual-report-and-accounts-201213.
Government Departments: Performance Targets
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Home Office presenting officers are required to meet performance targets in securing the dismissal of immigration and asylum appeals.[HL2613]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Like all Home Office staff, Presenting Officers are subject to performance assessment; part of that assessment includes their individual success rate in defending the Home Office decisions in appeals before the First Tier of the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal. The expectation is that they succeed in upholding 70 percent of asylum decisions and 60 percent in all other cases that they present.
This is one aspect of a balanced performance measurement process which also includes regular court observation and their compliance with guidance and professional standards.
As part of our objective to be a consistently competent, high performing organisation that delivers excellent customer service, we attach great importance to ensuring that, so far as possible, only appropriate cases are pursued through the courts, and that our Presenting Officers are fully equipped with the required tools, skills and knowledge to provide a professional service.
Government Departments: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff at the grade of Higher Executive Officer left the Asylum Casework Directorate in the Home Office after they were told that their jobs were at risk of restructuring, redeployment or redundancy; and whether they will consult the Public and Commercial Services Union on staff morale and the effectiveness of decision-making in asylum cases.[HL2345]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Asylum Casework Directorate (ACD) is conducting an ongoing change programme, looking at both staffing levels and operations processes. It would not be appropriate to provide details of staffing numbers until this is complete.
ACD has and will continue to fully engage with the Public and Commercial Services Union and other Home Office trade unions, throughout the change programme.
Grangemouth Refinery
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the shutdown of the Grangemouth plant; and what progress has been made in finding a new buyer.[HL2925]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): On Friday 25 October, Ineos announced that it would reopen the petrochemicals plant at Grangemouth and restart the refinery. The Government welcomes the fact that an agreement was reached at Grangemouth, which is important to the local, Scottish and UK economy.
Fuel supplies continue to be delivered as usual while the refinery is reopening.
Health: Drugs
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take following the withdrawal of the drug Chlortalidone from the United Kingdom market.[HL3001]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what alternative drugs to Chlortalidone can be made available to NHS patients.[HL3002]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what obligation is placed on companies supplying drugs to the National Health Service to give due notice of the withdrawal of a drug from the United Kingdom market.[HL3003]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Chlortalidone tablets, marketed as Hygroton, have not been withdrawn from the United Kingdom market, but they are currently out of stock due to the closure of the UK manufacturing site. The Department is aware of the difficulty and is in discussion with the company. The manufacturer, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, is experiencing difficulty in identifying an alternative manufacturing site capable of producing the medicine to the required standards. As a result, the company is currently not in a position to confirm a date for resupply. Alternative medicines are available and which medicine is appropriate will depend on the condition to be treated. This is a matter for discussion between a doctor and their patient.
Under the medicines legislation the holder of a UK marketing authorisation must notify the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency if a medicine is to be withdrawn from the UK market. A notification must be given two months before the date at which the product is to be withdrawn from the market unless it is not reasonably practicable to do so. Companies are also advised to give advanced warning of medicines discontinuations under joint Departmental and pharmaceutical industry guidance, Ensuring Best Practice in the Notification of Product Discontinuations: www.gov.uk/government/publications/notification-of-product-discontinuations-pharmaceuticals
A copy has been placed in the Library.
Health: Mitochondrial Disease
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 29 August (WA 359), whether “mitochondria replacement” involves replacing each entire mitochondrion or just its DNA; which scientists currently think that the entity to be thus replaced plays a role only in energy production in the cell but not also in regulation of programmed cell death during apoptosis; and what consideration has been given to the impact of mitochondrial DNA mutations on apoptosis in the light of findings reported in the International Journal of Cancer (Volume 125, Issue 12, pages 2829–35). [HL2878]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Mitochondrial donation techniques involve placing the nucleus from an egg or embryo with unhealthy mitochondria into an egg or embryo free of a mitochondrial disorder. The transfer of the nucleus does not involve modification of the mitochondria.
The expert group co-ordinated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) did consider the role of mitochondria, stating that mitochondria are energy producing organelles. The HFEA has advised that the expert group did not consider the study referred to by the noble Lord but, in its 2011 report, the expert group also stated that mitochondria have other important roles in cellular physiology, notably in programmed cell death (apoptosis) and steroid synthesis but these depend on genes encoded entirely within the nucleus. The report can be found on the HFEA’s website at: www.hfea.gov.uk/6372.html
Health: Ophthalmology
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the effect on eye health of ready-made reading glasses bought on the High Street.[HL3049]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We have made no such assessment.
Ready-made reading glasses sold in the high street are medical devices which should be CE marked. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has responsibility to investigate reports of problems with the safety and quality of these CE medical devices. Any concerns regarding adverse incidents with medical devices, including reading glasses, should be directed to them.
Health: Polio
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of wild poliovirus cases reported in 2013 to date and in the comparable period of 2012, broken down in each case by country; and what assistance they are providing to each of those countries for their polio eradication campaigns.[HL2889]
Baroness Northover (LD): At the Abu Dhabi Vaccine Summit in April 2013 the UK pledged up to £300m over six years from 2013 in support of the eradication of polio. In July 2013 the UK provided an additional £10m in response to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s (GPEI) appeal for financial assistance to counter the May 2013 polio outbreak in the Horn of Africa. GPEI allocates the annual UK contribution according to areas where the need is greatest.
The table sets out the reported cases of wild poliovirus on a comparative basis for the January to October period in 2012 and 2013.
| Wild polio virus confirmed cases | ||
| Period: 1 Jan – 22 Oct1 | 2012 | 2013 |
Data source: WHO
Health: Private Hospitals
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they collate performance data for private hospitals; and, if so, why performance data for private hospitals is not published on the Choose and Book website. [HL3037]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Where private hospitals provide care commissioned by the English National Health Service, they are expected to submit performance data such as waiting times in the same way as NHS providers. The only performance data displayed on the Choose and Book system are the Referral to Treatment (RH) consultant-led waiting times statistics. Choose and Book shows the same RTT data for private hospitals as it does for NHS organisations; where data is not shown it is because the number of patients treated in the reporting period was below the threshold needed to demonstrate meaningful information.
Health: Typhoid
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider there to be adequate supplies of typhoid vaccine in the United Kingdom; and, if not, what they consider to be the reasons for the shortage and when they expect supplies to return to an adequate level.[HL2763]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Typhoid vaccination is not part of a national routine immunisation programme. The vaccine is purchased by both National Health Service and private practices and clinics directly from the vaccine manufacturers.
We are aware that there are issues relating to manufacture and supply which are continuing to impact on the availability of typhoid vaccine, although orders are currently being taken by two of the three manufacturers.
Iran
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Iran regarding the release of prisoners held primarily because of their religion; and when was their latest conversation on that subject.[HL2959]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): On 23 October, the UK made a statement in the UN General Assembly supporting the recommendation of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Iran, Dr Shaheed, that Iran should release all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience, including religious prisoners. Prior to that on 14 May, the former Minister, my Hon. Friend the Member for North East Bedfordshire (Mr Burt) issued a statement calling on Iran to stop the repression of any group on the grounds of their religion or belief. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Right Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised human rights in Iran with
the Iranian Foreign Minister during their meeting in the margins of the UN General Assembly on 23 September.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the risk of violent protest restarting throughout the West Bank; and what action they will take to support the right to non-violent protest.[HL2928]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Whilst we have been concerned by the number of violent incidents in the West Bank in recent weeks, which have resulted in several deaths and injuries on both sides, Israeli and Palestinian officials believe that these incidents were isolated and uncoordinated. We continue to assess the risk of wide scale violent protest resuming in the West Bank to be low.
The British Government recognises the Palestinians’ legitimate right to protest non-violently against the occupation. We will continue to make clear to Israel our longstanding concerns about the manner in which the Israeli Defence Force polices non-violent protests, including use of live ammunition.
Lebanon
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to the government of Lebanon concerning the access of Palestinian residents of Lebanon to higher education, certain professions and the ownership of property.[HL2910]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We regularly discuss the situation and rights of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon with the Government of Lebanon.
The British Embassy in Beirut has continuous dialogue with the Lebanese Palestinian Dialogue Commitee (LPDC), an interministerial government body mandated to implement the government’s policies toward Palestinian refugees. The LPDC’s mandate includes tackling socio-economic and legal issues related to the Palestinian refugees, such as better access to public higher education facilities and the professions from which they are excluded, as well as issues relating to property ownership. In his recent contacts with Lebanese ministers the British Ambassador has urged them to adopt the LPDC’s new proposal for a unified national policy for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon in order to make further progress on these issues.
Local Authorities: Staff
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made representations to or had discussions with Liverpool City Council and Lancashire County Council in relation to payments made to Mr David McElhinney in connection with his work with Liverpool Direct and One Connect during the past two years.[HL2592]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The Government has just received correspondence from the Mayor of Liverpool on this issue and will respond in due course.
The Minister for Local Government (Brandon Lewis), made it clear in his comments to the Liverpool Post and Echo in September that the public have a right to know how councils are spending taxpayers’ money and that tackling senior pay bills is a common sense way for councils to make sensible savings.
More broadly, Ministers are reviewing what further steps can be taken to increase transparency of local authority owned or led companies to protect taxpayers’ interests and enhance local accountability.
Mobile Phones: Roaming Fees
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Kroes proposals on roaming fees in Europe.[HL2794]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): The Government has undertaken a detailed review of all the proposals in the Telecoms Single Market Regulation, including those which further address roaming; an Explanatory Memorandum was submitted to Parliament on 9 October 2013, Additionally, we have also stated that we agree with the express aim of the current Roaming Regulation to reduce ultimately the difference between roaming and domestic charges to zero. We are concerned that the full effect and success of that recent Regulation remains untested.
The Government has recently announced that it believes that roaming charges have no place in a true single market, in line with the recently published Telecoms Consumer Action Plan and our preference would be for an eventual phasing out of all roaming charges under the current legislative framework. To this end, the Government aims to work with other Member States, the European Parliament and the Commission to achieve a convergence of prices within the current legislative framework.
NHS: Health Tourism
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they reached the estimate of £2 billion in relation to the costs of health tourism; and whether those estimated costs could be attributed to any other factor. [HL2859]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The independent report on overseas visitors’ and migrants’ use of the National Health Service estimates that there is a cost of between £70 million and £300 million attributable solely to so-called health tourists—people who deliberately travel to England to get free NHS treatment that they are not entitled to. The report estimates the total cost of overseas visitors and temporary migrants accessing NHS services, including, amongst others, health tourists and those who are entitled to free NHS care, to be between £1.9 billion and £2 billion.
Northern Ireland: Block Grants
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there will be any financial implications for Northern Ireland under the block grant according to whether the Northern Ireland Assembly decides whether to implement various aspects of welfare reform. [HL2734]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Northern Ireland has incurred any reduction in the block grant as a result of its decision not to implement the under-occupancy charge proposals that currently apply in the rest of the United Kingdom.[HL2735]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Discussions on welfare reform are still ongoing between HM Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. There have been no reductions in the block grant for any element of the welfare reform package.
However, if the Northern Ireland Executive’s actions lead to increased costs for the Exchequer then HM Government will of course consider block grant reductions.
Pakistan
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Pakistan concerning the difficulties faced by Hindus wishing to be legally married.[HL2960]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): I am seriously concerned about reports of discrimination against women and religious minorities in Pakistan. It is the responsibility of the Government of Pakistan to ensure it guarantees
the rights of all its citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. We raise the issue of religious freedom on a regular basis at a senior level with the authorities in Pakistan and press for greater protection of all citizens’ rights. I have raised these issues with the Pakistani Prime Minister and other Ministers during my recent visit to Pakistan in October and during the UN General Assembly in September.
Palestine
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what framework of accountability is in place for the Palestinian Authority’s use of European Union funds.[HL2929]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The EU uses the PEGASE mechanism for channelling funds to the Palestinian Authority and to ensure an extensive and robust process of control, verification and auditing. PEGASE safeguards include checks of individual beneficiaries against international sanctions lists, use of the Palestinian Authority Single Treasury Account and sub-accounts to target funding to particular projects or beneficiaries, and regular checks by PEGASE auditors, such as certification of invoices prior to payment being released.
Railways: High Speed 2
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the estimated cost of the HS2 project has risen from £34.2 billion to £42.6 billion; and how they intend to ensure that HS2 remains completed under budget.[HL2990]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Spending Round 2013, announced in June, provided a long term funding envelope for the project which includes additional scope and reflects increased design maturity. It also includes a prudent level of contingency.
We will continue to bear down on costs and manage them to secure maximum value for money for the taxpayer. We have therefore set a ‘target price’ for delivering Phase 1 of £17.16 billion.
There will be additional financial controls placed on the delivery of HS2, to ensure that no spending above the target price for Phase 1 can take place without the explicit agreement of the Department for Transport, working with HM Treasury.
Russia
Questions
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are taking steps to secure the release of British citizens, including a journalist, detained in prison in Murmansk after their arrest aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise.[HL2827]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The noble Baroness will be aware of the Adjournment Debate in the other place on the arrests of Greenpeace activists by the Russian Federation, held on 23 October. Mr Kieron Bryan, a journalist, is one of six British nationals who were on board the Greenpeace vessel “Arctic Sunrise” who have been detained by the Russian authorities. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) discussed their detention with Russia’s Foreign Minister on 25 September, and subsequently wrote to him on 6 October. The Foreign Secretary continues to follow the case very closely. Senior Foreign and Commonwealth officials also raised this case with the Russian Ambassador to the UK on 26 September. The British Embassy have followed up with the Russian authorities on 2 October when the British Ambassador in Moscow raised the detentions with Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov and most recently with Deputy Foreign Minister Titov on 22 Oct. The Russian authorities are fully aware of our concerns, and we continue to monitor the case closely. We will continue to provide full consular assistance to the six British nationals. Consular staff are also in regular contact with the families of the British nationals detained, including Mr Bryan’s.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making representations to the government of Russia about economic sanctions placed on neighbour states; and if so, in what terms.[HL2893]
Baroness Warsi: The Government has been expressing concerns to Russia about the economic sanctions it has placed on countries in its near neighbourhood and will continue to do so.
Our Ambassador in Moscow raised the matter with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin during a recent meeting in Moscow. Other senior officials have also raised this issue in London and Moscow, including during meetings with the Russian Ambassador to London.
The EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule, summarised our shared concerns clearly in his public statement that “any threats from Russia linked to the possible signing of agreements with the European Union are unacceptable”.
Saudi Arabia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Saudi Arabia regarding the report by the Institute for Human Rights in Saudi Arabia alleging the deaths and imprisonment of Shi'a protestors in the eastern province of that country.[HL2931]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We share the noble Lord’s concerns about the unrest in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Recent anecdotal evidence suggests that the level of unrest has dropped considerably, although there are still occasional demonstrations. We will continue to monitor developments. We regularly express our concerns on human rights to the Saudi authorities and these have been made clear in statements at the United Nations and in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Annual Report on Human Rights.
Schools: Selection
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the advantages and disadvantages of school selection based on children’s home postcodes; and whether they plan to take steps to assist households unable to afford housing in areas with the best schools.[HL2991]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Department for Education collects pupils’ home postcodes as part of the School Census. This identifies the percentage of pupils attending a school outside their home local authority area (in 2013 this was 3.6% of all primary school pupils and 8.6% of all secondary school pupils) and the distance travelled from home to school, but does not allow for an assessment of school selection or parental preference. The Department currently only collects the latter at local authority level in relation to secondary schools, but from April 2014, the Department will for the first time also collect pupil level parental preference data, for both primary and secondary schools.
Home to school distance is one of a number of options that local authorities and schools may choose for prioritising the admission of children when a school is oversubscribed. Academies and Free Schools also have the freedom to prioritise children attracting the pupil premium in their admissions arrangements. Adopting this admissions priority encourages the parents of disadvantaged children to express a preference for schools that they might not otherwise have considered.