Asylum detainees: People detained solely under Immigration Act powers who are recorded as having sought asylum at some stage and may under record due to instances of detainees claiming asylum after the data extract date.

Israel and Palestine

Questions

Asked by Lord Warner

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent decision by the Israeli Defence Minister and security services to declare the Council for European Palestinian Relations “an illicit organisation” under Israel's Security Regulations; and whether they have had any discussions with Israeli government representatives about the decision. [HL4333]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are aware of Israel's decision to declare the Council for European Palestinian Relations an “illicit organisation”. We are currently seeking further information from the Israeli Authorities on the reasons for, and legal consequences of, the decision. We will then consider the implications, including for British parliamentarians. We have not yet had discussions on this issue with other European governments. The Government will continue its engagement with parliamentarians.

Asked by Lord Warner

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will assess the implications for the safety of United Kingdom and other European Union parliamentarians wishing to visit Gaza or the West Bank through Israel of previous travel to those places under the auspices of the Council for European Palestinian Relations, now declared “an illicit organisation”. [HL4334]

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of Israel's decision to declare the Council for European Palestinian Relations an “illicit organisation”. We are currently seeking further information from the Israeli Authorities on the reasons for, and legal consequences of, the decision. We will then consider the implications, including for British parliamentarians. We have not yet had discussions on this issue with other European governments. The Government will continue its engagement with parliamentarians.

Asked by Lord Warner

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they will have with other European Union governments about the implications for parliamentarians visiting Gaza or the West Bank through Israel of the decision

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by the Israeli Defence Minister and Security Services to declare the Council for European Palestinian Relations “an illicit organisation”.[HL4335]

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of Israel's decision to declare the Council for European Palestinian Relations an “illicit organisation”. We are currently seeking further information from the Israeli Authorities on the reasons for, and legal consequences of, the decision. We will then consider the implications, including for British parliamentarians. We have not yet had discussions on this issue with other European governments. The Government will continue its engagement with parliamentarians.

Asked by Lord Warner

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ministers will continue to meet United Kingdom parliamentarians to discuss their reports on the conditions of the Palestinian people living in Gaza or the West Bank if those reports derive from visits assisted by the Council for European Palestinian Relations.[HL4336]

Baroness Warsi: We are aware of Israel's decision to declare the Council for European Palestinian Relations an “illicit organisation”. We are currently seeking further information from the Israeli Authorities on the reasons for, and legal consequences of, the decision. We will then consider the implications, including for British parliamentarians. We have not yet had discussions on this issue with other European governments. The Government will continue its engagement with parliamentarians.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have been held regarding extending the deadline for the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks due to end in April.[HL4467]

Baroness Warsi: The Government is fully focused on the current US led Israeli-Palestinian final status negotiations and will do all it can to support and advance these efforts. We welcome President Abbas and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s commitment to negotiating for 9 months, and will continue to encourage them and the US to take the bold decisions needed to achieve peace.

NHS: Clinical Commissioning Groups

Question

Asked by Baroness Manzoor

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what key performance indicators will be used by NHS England in evaluating whether Clinical Commissioning Groups are reducing variations and inequalities in health. [HL4424]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England has set forward a programme of assurance and development that underpins NHS England's approach as a system leader, commissioner and as an employer, to reduce

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inequalities and comply with the statutory health inequalities duties as set out in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The Clinical Commissioning Group Assurance Framework is central to a systematic approach to tackle health inequalities and to ensure compliance with the health inequalities duties. It supports clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in delivering improved outcomes within financial resources, supported by clear and credible plans which are in line with national requirements to reduce health inequalities and improve outcomes.

NHS England is committed to expanding and improving the data available to measure health inequalities.

NHS England's Commissioning Assembly has established a Reducing Health Inequalities Working Group to support both CCGs and NHS England in the execution of their legal duties in regard to health inequalities through the provision and promotion of methodologies, data and tools to tackle health inequalities.

NHS: Hospital Admissions and Outpatient Appointments

Question

Asked by Lord Bichard

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they hold information on what proportion of (1) outpatient attendances, (2) hospital admissions as an inpatient, and (3) hospital admissions as a day case, involve those on means-tested benefits.[HL4484]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The information requested is not available as the benefit status of patients is not identified in national activity data collections.

NHS: Intensive Care

Questions

Asked by Lord Davies of Stamford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many patients over the age of 70 were admitted to National Health Service intensive care beds in the last 12-month period for which figures are available.[HL4338]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Figures specifically for intensive care beds are not available. The following table provides information concerning the number of patients1 recorded as having had one or more stays in an adult critical care unit2 who were aged 70 or over between April 2011 to March 2012.

April 2011 to March 2012

Number of recorded adult critical care periods

238,248

Number of distinct patients

188,711

for which age at start of hospital episode recorded

187,694

of which patients aged 70 or over

74,262

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Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics / Critical Care Minimum Dataset, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Notes:

1. Number of distinct patients identified as being 70 or over at the start of any episode of hospital inpatient care which finished in 2011-12 and which was associated with one or more periods of care in an adult critical care unit.

2. Figures provided for adult critical care periods are for periods of care in wards identified as adult intensive care or adult high dependency units, notwithstanding that some of the patients treated in those units will have been babies or children; incomplete data for neonatal and paediatric critical care units are collected separately and are not included here.

Asked by Lord Davies of Stamford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many patients died in National Health Service intensive care beds in the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.[HL4339]

Earl Howe: Figures specifically for intensive care beds are not available. The following table provides information concerning the number of patients1 recorded as having died during a period of care in an adult critical care unit2 between April 2011 and March 2012.

April 2011 to March 2012

Number of recorded adult critical care periods

238,248

Number of distinct patients

188,711

patients for which data was recorded on method of discharge from critical care

139,781

of which, recorded as having died in critical care unit

15,029

Source:

Hospital Episode Statistics / Critical Care Minimum Dataset, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Notes

:

1. Number of patients treated in adult critical care units in association with any episode of hospital inpatient care which finished in 2011-12 and for which the patient was recorded as having died in the critical care unit. Because method of discharge from critical care unit was available for only 139,781 patients out of 188,711, this figure is likely to be an undercount of the true figure, although the extent of the undercount is not known.

2. Figures provided for adult critical care periods are for periods of care in wards identified as adult intensive care or adult high dependency units, notwithstanding that some of the patients treated in those units will have been babies or children; incomplete data for neonatal and paediatric critical care units are collected separately and are not included here.

Overseas Missions

Questions

Asked by Lord Wakeham

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of heads of United Kingdom overseas missions have proficiency in the local language.[HL4391]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): There are 100 Heads of Mission posts overseas where language skills are a requirement. Two posts are currently vacant. Of the

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remaining 98 positions, 91% have some proficiency in the local language. Proficiency indicates that an officer is at least at ‘Confidence’ level (this equates to GCSE-level), whether or not they have passed an exam. 45 (46%) Heads of Mission have reached their final exam attainment level for the position either to Operational (which equates to degree level) or Extensive level (which equates to masters level) and a further 44 (45%) are formally training towards their relevant attainment level. 9 (9%) have no recorded level of proficiency in the local language. This data is correct as at the end of December 2013 and will change as Heads of Mission rotate in and out of post.

Asked by Lord Wakeham

To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what percentage of the countries in which the United Kingdom has overseas missions is English the local language.[HL4392]

Baroness Warsi: The United Kingdom has a total of 253 overseas posts. This number includes countries where we have multiple posts such as Brussels. Of the 253 posts, 57 (22.5%) have English only as the official language; 13 (5.5%) have English as one of several official languages; 183 (72%) have a language other than English as the official language.

Passports

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many current and former Sudanese ministers and senior government advisers are holders of British passports; and whether British passports are currently held by (1) Jalal Yousif Aldegair, (2) Dr Qutbi Almahdi, (3) Dr Mustafa Osman Ismael, (4) Ibrahim Ganddur, (5) Ghaza Salha Eldin, (6) Aljaza Mohammed Aljaza, (7) Mansour Alhageeb, (8) Amina Hassan Omer, (9) Samani Wasail, (10) Zubair Bashir Taha, (11) Eltigani Sisi, and (12) Alfatih Aerwa.[HL4381]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Her Majesty's Passport Office does not hold information in the format requested and would not disclose whether it held information about an individual.

Prisoners: Visitors

Question

Asked by Lord Ramsbotham

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what instructions are given to prison governors regarding prisoners' access to visitors from the National Association of Prison Visitors.[HL4387]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): Official Prison Visitors (OPVs) are appointed locally by Governors and Directors of contracted out prisons. It is open to OPVs to join the National Association of Official

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Prison Visitors, which is an independent organisation that promotes, maintains and supports Official Prison Visiting.

Prison Service Instruction 16/2011 ‘Providing Visits and Services to Visitors’ sets out that prisons must provide clear instructions to OPVs on the times at which visits may take place and on any special care necessary in the case of particular prisoners. It is for Governors and Directors of contracted out prisons to decide on the most appropriate location within the prison for visits from OPVs to take place, having regard to the safety of the visitor and the good order of the establishment.

Roads: Speed Limits

Questions

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many London Boroughs have borough-wide 20 miles per hour zones on roads under their responsibility. [HL4402]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the roads for which each London Borough and the City of London are responsible have been designated 20 miles per hour zones.[HL4403]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers London Boroughs have to designate a 20 miles per hour speed limit on all the roads for which they are responsible.[HL4404]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers the Mayor of London has in respect of speed limits across the capital.[HL4405]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Her Majesty's Government does not hold information of the number of London Boroughs that have borough-wide 20 mph zones.

The Department recently issued revised guidance aimed mainly at local traffic authorities who are responsible for setting speed limits on local roads. It has also been designed to help explain to everyone why and how local speed limits are determined. This circular has been revised following full public consultation in summer 2012.

Traffic authorities set local speed limits in situations where local needs and conditions suggest a speed limit which is lower than the national speed limit. Traffic authorities have the flexibility to set local speed limits that are appropriate for the individual road, reflecting local needs and taking account of local considerations. Further details can be found online at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/setting-local-speed-limits.

Transport for London can set speed limits on the roads that they are responsible for.

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are differences in the powers available to London Boroughs and the City of London compared to

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other local authorities with responsibilities for highways in England to set speed limits of 20 miles per hour for the roads for which they are responsible. [HL4488]

Baroness Kramer: There are no differences in the powers available to London Boroughs and the City of London compared to other local authorities with responsibilities for highways in England to set speed limits of 20 miles per hour for the roads for which they are responsible. In our Strategic Framework for Road Safety, published on 11 May 2011, the Department for Transport undertook to provide local authorities with an economic tool to help them assess the full costs and benefits of any proposed scheme. This tool became available in the January 2013.

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many local authorities outside London have set speed limits of 20 miles per hour for all the roads for which they are responsible.[HL4489]

Baroness Kramer: This information is not held by Her Majesty's Government.

Security: G4S

Question

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to terminate their contracts with G4S, if that company is found by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to be acting in Israel in contravention of government guidelines.[HL4463]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): It would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of any investigation by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Visas

Question

Asked by Lord Steel of Aikwood

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why Mr Lekae Samuel, headmaster of Meisori Primary School in Kenya, was refused an entry visa last year; and when they will respond to the letter on that subject sent by Lord Steel of Aikwood to Mr Mark Harper, Minister of State for Immigration, on 30 October 2013.[HL4407]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Minister replied to the Rt Hon and Noble Lord on 10 January. Due to its obligations under the Data Protection Act, the Home Office is unable to comment on an individual case without written consent from the applicant.