Written Answers
Monday 20 January 2014
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current policy in respect of permitting or non-permitting genetically modified organisms in United Kingdom farming.[HL4491]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Decisions on whether or not to permit the commercial planting of genetically modified (GM) crops are taken at European Union (EU) level. We support the responsible use of this technology and believe there should be fair market access for products which have passed a robust, science-based risk assessment. The Government supports farmers having access to developments in new technology and being able to choose whether or not to adopt them.
Agriculture: Health and Safety
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve the health and safety record on farms in England and Wales.[HL4564]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): HSE are taking a number of steps to improve the health and safety on farms in England and Wales.
HSE recognises agriculture as a priority industry due to the continuing high rate of fatalities. In May 2008 the HSE Board agreed to a refreshed programme of work to bring about measurable and sustainable changes to the industry’s health and safety performance.
The programme includes a range of approaches including the delivery of free Safety and Health Awareness Days for farmers. These events are a proven, trusted and well received mechanism for promoting awareness and understanding of the risks and control measures in the industry.
Following HSE engagement key industry stakeholders have set up a number of industry led safety partnerships such as the Farm Safety Partnership, the On Farm Charter (Wales) and the Forestry Industry Safety Accord. These partnerships provide a vehicle for the industry to take responsibility for the industry’s poor performance and provide leadership in tackling it and challenging traditional attitudes to risk in the industry. HSE provides legal and technical support and health and safety guidance to these groups and facilitates the sharing of good practice and lessons learned from previous initiatives.
Additionally HSE has introduced a number of other measures to improve health and safety performance on farms, including:
• Work to improve the design of plant and machinery and to improve the information provided through the supply chain to users.• An initiative to ensure that health and safety is embedded in land-based training syllabi in future.• A programme of targeted inspection in the fresh produce growing and processing sectors.• Commissioning research to inform future policy and work on emerging issues such as the influence of gypsum in animal slurry systems on the generation of hydrogen sulphide (slurry gas). • A comprehensive review and revision of all its agriculture guidance to ensure health and safety advice and guidance is disseminated to the industry effectively, in particular to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
Burma
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guarantees have been received from the government of Burma that ethnic Rohingya will be allowed to register as Rohingya in the 2014 census in Burma.[HL4446]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): British officials hold regular discussions with Burmese officials, members of the Rohingya and other ethnic community leaders about the upcoming census. Our Ambassador most recently raised it with local authorities and communities during his visit to Rakhine State in December 2013.
We understand that the census form will contain a blank space where people can self-identify their ethnicity, such as Rohingya. This is being discussed between the government and members of the Rohingya community.
The British Government is providing significant funding support to the census in 2014 because it will be a vital source of data to inform better government service delivery, help the government manage public finances more transparently, and underpin private investment and job creation. We, with other donors, have been lobbying the Burmese government and the UN to manage the political risks and ethnic tensions that could be associated with the census to ensure as complete and credible a process as possible.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the government of Burma has responded to requests to change the 1982 citizenship law to allow the Rohingya to have citizenship in Burma.[HL4447]
Baroness Warsi: The Burmese government view is that over 90% of the Rohingya will be eligible for citizenship under the existing 1982 law. We continue to lobby the government on the need to address the lack of citizenship for Rohingya to ensure their fundamental human rights are fully respected in Burma. The situation
in Rakhine State and the rights of the Rohingya community were at the heart of discussions between my Rt Hon. Friend the Prime Minister and President Thein Sein during his visit to the UK in July 2013. We note the government’s commitment to initiate a process to find a long term solution on the issue.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that Burma is complying with its agreement with the United Nations to stop recruiting child soldiers.[HL4448]
Baroness Warsi: We welcome the Burmese government’s commitment to end the recruitment of child soldiers since signing an Action Plan with the UN in 2012. This agreement is a critical instrument to prevent and end recruitment and use of children in the Burmese Army. We welcome the progress that has been made, which has seen the release of over 600 child soldiers and a nationwide public awareness campaign.
But we are clear that more needs to be done. Access to military units and non-state armed groups continues to be restricted, release of child soldiers has been limited, and while recruitment of children has slowed, it has not ceased entirely. We call on the Burmese government to address these issues, and to agree to an extension of the Action Plan to ensure this practice is eradicated. We will continue to raise this issue with the Burmese government at every appropriate opportunity.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which United Kingdom companies have received advice and support from the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business.[HL4449]
Baroness Warsi: The British Government is supporting the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business in line with our wider policy of championing responsible business practices in Burma.
We actively encourage all British companies visiting Burma to engage with the Myanmar Centre for Responsible Business. We can confirm that British companies in the oil and gas, garments, food and consumer goods, financial services and professional services sectors have done so to date.
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they are having with the Burmese authorities on the case for regularising the status of the Rohingya people before the planned census in 2014.[HL4453]
Baroness Warsi: British officials hold regular discussions with Burmese officials, members of the Rohingya and other ethnic community leaders about the upcoming census and issues surrounding citizenship. The Ambassador most recently raised both issues with local authorities and communities during his visit to Rakhine State in December 2013. Discussions are also ongoing directly between the government and members of the Rohingya community.
Together with the UN, EU, US, Australia, France and Japan, British Ministers and officials continue to lobby key Burmese Ministers with responsibility for Rakhine State on the full range of our concerns there, including the need to resolve the citizenship status of the Rohingya community.
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are supporting the We Women Foundation in Burma.[HL4454]
Baroness Warsi: We do not provide support to the We Women Foundation in Burma. However, we are currently funding a women’s empowerment project through the British Council and Action Aid to boost the representation of women in public life in Burma. We have also funded technical support over the last two years to the Ministry of Social Welfare to fulfil the Burmese government’s obligations under the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, to which Burma is a signatory.
Civil Service
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what evaluation they have undertaken of the effectiveness of Civil Service Learning since its inception in raising standards in the Civil Service.[HL3970]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The learning provided by Civil Service Learning (CSL) is routinely evaluated and the Government is determined to drive up the standards of skills in the Civil Service. See, for example, the Capabilities Plan.
CSL courses are assessed against the 3 Levels in the Kirkpatrick model: Level 1 assesses learners’ initial reaction, Level 2 whether learning has taken place, and Level 3 the change in performance. Since October 2011, 1.1 million civil servants have participated in CSL programmes. Of these, 485,000 have completed a Level 1 evaluation questionnaire. Responses to these questionnaires reveal that 97% of learners confirm that the programmes they have participated in have met the published objectives. 320,000 have completed a Level 2 questionnaire with 96% of learners confirming that their skills and knowledge have increased as a result. From October 2012, a further 11,000 line managers completed a Level 3 questionnaire with 81% confirming they have seen an improvement in their staff’s performance as a direct result of completing a CSL programme.
Elderly People: Disability Living Allowance
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants in England and Wales in receipt of DLA for five or more years had their award adjusted downward or removed following assessment by Atos Healthcare
since it took over medical examinations; and how many were subsequently returned to the original award (1) following representation, and (2) on appeal.[HL4593]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants in Northern Ireland in receipt of DLA for five or more years had their award adjusted downward or removed following assessment by Atos Healthcare since it took over medical examinations; and how many were subsequently returned to the original award (1) following representation, and (2) on appeal.[HL4594]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Disability Living Allowance recipients in Northern Ireland have had their award adjusted upward to a higher component following assessment by Atos Healthcare since it took over medical examinations.[HL4595]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): We do not hold the information requested. DLA assessments are largely based on the information provided by claimants when they apply for the benefit. DLA Decision Makers can also seek further evidence from a wide range of sources including the claimant’s GP or hospital consultant. Medical examinations are not usually necessary but if the Decision Maker considers that they still have insufficient evidence to make a decision they are able to seek additional advice from Health Care Professionals working for Atos.
Matters of social security in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Elections: Electoral Register
Question
Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom citizens currently resident in each of the other member states of the European Union are currently included on the United Kingdom electoral register.[HL4592]
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 Oakeshott, dated January 2014.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your question asking Her Majesty’s Government, how many United Kingdom citizens currently resident in each of the other member states of the European Union are currently included on the United Kingdom electoral register. (HL4592).
ONS does not hold the information requested. Overseas electors include UK citizens currently resident overseas, including other member states of the European Union. ONS collates and publishes data on the number
of electors (including overseas) registered to vote in UK general elections. However, no information is collected on the current country of residence of overseas electors.
UK electoral statistics for 1 December 2012 were published on 28 February 2013 and are available on the ONS website at:
http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2012/stb---2012-electoral-statistics.html
Elections: Republic of Ireland
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the proposal from the Irish Constitutional Convention to allow electors in Northern Ireland to vote in future Irish Presidential elections; and when any such discussions took place.[HL4478]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Government has not raised with the Irish government the proposal from the Irish Convention on the Constitution to permit Irish citizens resident outside the Republic of Ireland to vote in Irish presidential elections.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the consistency with the guarantees given on the constitutional future of Northern Ireland contained in the Belfast Agreement of making provision for electors in Northern Ireland to participate in Irish Presidential elections.[HL4479]
Baroness Randerson: The Irish Convention on the Constitution has recommended that Irish citizens resident outside the Republic of Ireland be permitted to vote in presidential elections. Many countries, including the United Kingdom, permit citizens resident outside the state to participate in elections in some circumstances. Such a change would in no way affect the constitutional status of Northern Ireland within the UK; a status to which this Government remains strongly committed in accordance with the consent principle set out in the Belfast Agreement.
EU: Roma Integration
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to implement the European Council Recommendation of 9–10 December 2013 on Roma integration strategies.[HL4429]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The EU Member States agreed a Council Recommendation on effective Roma integration measures at the Employment, Social Policy, Health and
Consumer Affairs Council on 9-10 December. In the UK, we will continue to advance Roma integration through our wider social inclusion policies.
Flooding: Insurance
Questions
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to conduct an assessment of the impact on the insurance of property of the recent flooding; and, if so, whether they will publish details of that assessment.[HL4513]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Evidence-based policy is important to this Government. We have already undertaken monitoring with regard to the availability and cost of household flood insurance for properties located in high flood risk areas in preparation for the industry backed solution to the availability of flood insurance (known as Flood Re), so there are no plans to conduct a specific assessment of the impact on insurance of property affected by the recent flooding.
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have held discussions with insurance companies regarding the impact of the recent flooding on the insurability of property; and, if so, whether they will publish details of those discussions.[HL4514]
Lord De Mauley: No discussions have taken place with insurance companies regarding the impact of the recent flooding on the insurability of property.
On 27 June 2013, a headline agreement was announced between Government and the Association of British Insurers on the future of flood insurance which would enable people living in high-risk areas to have access to affordable flood insurance in the future.
The proposed approach, known as Flood Re, will protect those at risk of flooding by effectively limiting the amount that high risk households would need to pay on the flood insurance element of their premiums and excesses.
In the meantime, Insurers have agreed to continue to abide by their commitments under the 2008 Statement of Principles until the Water Bill has passed through Parliament and Flood Re is set up.
Food Aid
Question
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what date they received the evidence review on the landscape of food aid provision and access in the United Kingdom commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.[HL4348]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Work is still ongoing to finalise the report through the necessary review and assurance processes. When the final report of the evidence review is received it will be published on the Government’s website.
Government Departments: Administrative Costs and Salaries
Questions
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Attorney General’s Office for the last year for which figures are available.[HL4310]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): The Attorney General’s Office has two ministers—the Attorney General and the Solicitor General. The two ministers share a private office of four staff. Due to the size of the office administrative costs are not broken down by team or function, and so the information requested is not held in this form. The staffing costs for the shared private office are held, and these were £217,295 in 2012-13. This does not consist solely of staff salaries.
The total administrative costs of the AGO are set out in the Treasury Solicitor’s Department's annual report and accounts, the most recent of which was published on 1 May 2013.
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Cabinet Office for the last year for which figures are available.[HL4311]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): At present, there are four Cabinet Office Ministers who attend Cabinet. Across the private offices of the Cabinet Office Ministers (the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Minister for Government Policy, Minister of State (Cities and Constitution), Minister for Civil Society, and the three Minsters without Portfolio), there are the following officials employed as at 31 August 2013:
| Number | |
Departmental costs are published each year in the Annual Report and Accounts. Copies of these documents for the years since 2009 are available on the Cabinet Office website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office/series/cabinet-office-annual-reports-and-accounts
As part of the transparency agenda, my Department publishes an organogram and structure charts twice each year. These contain information on staff salaries. Versions of the Departmental organogram from March 2011 may be viewed at http://data.gov.uk/organogram/cabinet-office . The most recent structure charts may be viewed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications /cabinet-office-staff-and-salary-data-as-at-30-september-2013
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Department of Health for the last year for which figures are available.[HL4367]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The following table shows the year end outturn figures for the administration budget for each Ministerial private office in 2012-13. Ministerial salaries are not paid from these budgets.
| Office Name | 2012-13 outturn |
Notes:
*The outturn figures for these offices cannot be attributed to particular Ministers due to Ministerial reshuffles in September 2012 where portfolios and titles were changed.
For context, the total costs for 2012-13 are 16% less than in 2009-10.
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Home Office for the last year for which figures are available.[HL4368]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Information on the administrative cost of the private offices of each Minister in the Home Office is not held centrally. Information on salaries of staff employed in private offices can be found on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-structure-and-salaries-2013.
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Northern Ireland Office for the last year for which figures are available.[HL4524]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Northern Ireland Office for the 2012-13 financial year are as follows:
Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the administrative costs, including salaries, of the private offices of each Minister in the Department for Transport for the last year for which figures are available.[HL4526]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The private office costs of each Minister for 2012-13 is given below:
| 2012-13 | |
Government Departments: Concordats
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 9 January (WA 318), what were the dates of the reviews of each of the concordats made between Whitehall government departments and the Welsh Government.[HL4512]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Welsh Government has published its concordats with UK Government departments on its website at:
http://wales.gov.uk/about/organisationexplained/intergovernmental/concordats/?lang=en
This includes information on when the documents were last reviewed.
Government Departments: Management Information Reports
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 17 December 2013 relating to the Department for Transport (WA 182–3), whether any performance data are collated on a daily or weekly basis for Ministers or the Permanent Secretary; and, if so, what.[HL4530]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 17 December 2013 relating to the Department for Transport (WA 182–3), what key performance indicators are used to review progress against the overall performance targets and objectives of the Department.[HL4531]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Department-wide performance reports are produced on a monthly basis. On a weekly basis, Business Plan objectives are reported by exception to the Executive Committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary.
The department has adopted the following input and impact indicators, listed by coalition priority, as set out in our Business plan. Input indicators show the cost to the government of delivering certain products and services. Impact indicators show the performance or output of public services. These indicators aim to provide useful information to enable transport users and the wider public to make informed choices, and to make up their own minds about how the department and transport service operators are running.
The Department for Transport input and impact indicators are available on gov.uk here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/input-and-impact-indicators
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 17 December 2013 relating to the Wales Office (WA 183), whether any performance data are collated on a daily or weekly basis for Ministers or the Permanent Secretary; and, if so, what.[HL4532]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Management information reports, including indicators of performance against financial and other targets are collated on a monthly basis for the Wales Office Director and the Senior Management Team. Regular updates on the Department’s performance are provided to Ministers by the Wales Office Director.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 17 December 2013 relating to the Wales Office (WA 183), what key performance indicators are used to review progress against the overall performance targets and objectives of the Department.[HL4533]
Baroness Randerson: The objectives and key activities of the Wales Office are set out in the Wales Office Business Plan. Wales Office Ministers and Senior Officials review progress against the Plan on a regular basis. Other Departmental performance indicators include responding to public correspondence, answering Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information Requests within set timeframes, and the current and future projected financial position of the Department.
The Department summarises its performance against its objectives and activities in the Departmental Annual Report and Accounts.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 18 December 2013 relating to the Department of Health (WA 212), whether any performance data are collated on a daily or weekly basis for Ministers or the Permanent Secretary; and, if so, what.[HL4587]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 18 December 2013 relating to the Department of Health (WA 212), what key performance indicators are used to review progress against the overall performance targets and objectives of the Department.[HL4588]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department's Business Plan sets out the indicators against which progress is measured, which enables the public to assess the impact of our policies and programmes. A summary of the indicator data is published each quarter on the Government website at:
www.gov.uk/government/collections/input-and-impact-indicators
The indicators are selected from the three Outcomes Frameworks covering adult social care, public health and the National Health Service. Department-wide performance reports are produced on a quarterly basis, drawing on the outcomes indicators. Individual areas of the Department submit additional information as and when required for Ministers and senior officials.
Government Departments: Ministerial Responsibilities
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the current responsibilities of each minister in the Department for Transport.[HL4599]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The current responsibilities of Ministers in the Department for Transport are as follows:
- Overall responsibility for the policies of the Department for Transport, including Transport Security.
- HS2 - Phase 2 - Rail funding and future capacity policy - Rail Investment Strategy (RIS) - Statement of Funds Available (SOFA)
- Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) - Station policy - International - Cities and urban renewal (including Growth agenda and Heseltine Review) - Localism and devolution - Local connectivity - Smart ticketing - Buses and taxis - Light rail and trams- Future transport (including ULEV) - Natural environment (including biofuels) - Accessibility and equalities
- Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
- Strategic roads and Highways Agency
- Local roads - including maintenance
- Rail Delivery Group (RDG) Reform
- International Vehicle Standards
Government: Ministerial Responsibilities
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, published by the Cabinet Office in December 2013, shows telephone numbers for Ministers in HM Treasury and the Cabinet Office which are unobtainable; and whether they will make those numbers obtainable or issue a revised list with valid numbers.[HL4450]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): In January the telephone numbers, as found on the List of Ministerial Responsibilities, for both Cabinet Office and HM Treasury Ministers were checked by Cabinet Office and found to be in operation.
Health: Nursing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking alongside the Nursing and Midwifery Council to ensure effective regulation and maintenance of high nursing standards.[HL4428]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the independent regulator for nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom. The Department has committed to simplify and modernise the legislation governing professional regulators, including the NMC. In addition, the Department and NHS England have jointly developed and are implementing Compassion in Practice, the national strategy for nursing, midwifery and care staff. Ministers also have regular discussions with the NMC about a variety of subjects, including effective regulation and nursing standards.
It is the NMC’s responsibility to set and promote standards of education and practice, maintain a register of those who meet these standards, and take action when a registrant’s fitness to practise is called into question. Registered nurses and midwives are expected to follow the NMC Code: Standards of conduct, performance, and ethics for nurses and midwives, which the NMC reviews and updates as appropriate.
Housing Benefit
Questions
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been affected by the anomaly in the regulations concerning the under-occupancy charge; and on what assumptions that figure is based.[HL4668]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The Department does not hold all the detailed information needed to make a precise estimate of the numbers affected. On the information currently available, we estimate the numbers affected are likely to be fewer than 5,000.
It is for local authorities to administer housing benefit. In due course they may have a clearer picture as to the numbers affected.
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will compensate any claimant wrongly charged the under-occupancy charge for any interest they may have paid on debts incurred as a consequence.[HL4669]
Lord Freud: As local authorities administer Housing Benefit on behalf of the Department, it is for them to consider any requests for compensation. Every local authority operates a procedure for residents to complain if they believe they have been adversely affected by maladministration.
Procedures vary between authorities; claimants have recourse to the Local Government Ombudsman where they remain dissatisfied with the final outcome of their complaint.
Iran
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Iran’s neighbouring countries were included in the talks leading up to the interim agreement negotiated by the P5+1 group; and, if so, why Pakistan and Turkey were not included in the P5+1 negotiations.[HL4499]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Countries in the region, like Pakistan and Turkey, take a close interest in developments concerning Iran’s nuclear programme, and we engage with them on this issue. There is however no mechanism for including regional countries formally in the process.
Isa Muazu
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 4 December (HL Deb, col 237) that in the attempted removal of Mr Isa Muazu on 29 November, “it is not the first time that an aircraft has been chartered” for such a purpose, what criteria they use in such cases; whether those criteria were applied in the case of Mr Muazu; and on how many occasions they have chartered flights for the removal of (1) individuals, (2) groups of up to five individuals, (3) groups of up to ten individuals, and (4) groups of over ten individuals, in each of the last ten years and to date in 2013.[HL3945]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Charter flights are considered in the following situations:
• For individuals whose risk or behavioural history precludes their travel by scheduled flight.• For individuals whose health precludes their travel by scheduled flight.• On routes where scheduled flight options are either unavailable or more costly than a charter service.
In Mr Muaza’s case, scheduled flight options were unavailable. Consideration was also given to the most practical way of monitoring his health on board and also to the most accessible way for him to travel.
The information requested is attached and displayed by financial year.
| 1 Returnee | 1-5 Returnees | 6-10 Returnees | 10+ Returnees | |
The figures provided are sourced from a Home Office management information system which is not quality assured under National Statistics protocols and is subject to change due to internal data quality checking. Figures provided from this source do not constitute part of National Statistics and should be treated as provisional.
NHS: Prescription Charges
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact annually on public finances of raising the age of exemption for NHS prescription charges from the current age 60 to 65.[HL4480]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact annually on public finances of raising the age exemption for NHS prescription charges from the current age 60 to 66 and to each additional year thereafter.[HL4481]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact annually on public finances of limiting the current age exemption on NHS prescription charges to those on pension credit.[HL4482]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the impact annually on public finances of limiting the age exemption on NHS prescription charges to those on pension credit, and increasing the qualifying age for exemption from 60 to 65.[HL4483]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We have no recent, robust estimates of the impact of raising the age exemption to 66 and later years.
The most recent Departmental estimate of the cost of providing free prescriptions to those aged 60-64 indicated an annual cost of around £0.3 billion, using the current prescription charges. However, this figure may differ from the actual revenue raised should age exemptions be removed due to behavioural effects around prescription payment, such as the take-up of Prescription Prepayment Certificates, and possible entitlement to other exemptions.
In terms of pension credit, the net revenue raised in the case that pension credit is used as a qualifier for free prescriptions for those aged 60 and over is estimated to be in the region of £1.5 billion. An estimate for
increasing the qualifying age from 60 to 65 and using pension credit as a qualifier for those aged 65 and over is around £1.6 billion. These estimates are based on current prescription levels and prescription charges for 2013-14. Pension credit figures are based on the number of people who actually claim pension credits, rather than those who are eligible but are not claiming.
Northern Ireland: Flags and Parades
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether government ministers or officials from the Republic of Ireland are to be involved in a decision about flags and parades within Northern Ireland.[HL4547]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Northern Ireland Executive Parties are continuing their discussions on these issues following the end of the Haass talks, and the Government is supporting efforts to try and resolve the outstanding differences between them. Under current arrangements Ministers and officials from the Republic of Ireland are not directly participating in decisions about flags and parades in Northern Ireland.
Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the impact on public expenditure of an increase in the state pension age by (1) one year, (2) two years, (3) three years, (4) four years, and (5) five years.[HL4380]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The impact on public expenditure of an increase in the State Pension age will depend upon a number of factors including the year that the increase occurs and the method of transition from the old to the new State Pension age.
Recent estimates made by the Department for Work and Pensions of the public expenditure impacts of increasing the State Pension age to 67, are set out in the impact assessment “Long term State Pension sustainability: increasing the State Pension age to 67”, DWP, November 2013.
(Available from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pensions-bill-impact-assessments-october-2013)
The impact assessment estimates that bringing forward the increase to State Pension age 67 by eight years will reduce expenditure by a net £73.5bn in 2013-14 price terms. Table 2 shows that the peak impact of this one year rise in the State Pension age is between £8bn and £10bn per annum. Table 3 shows that there will be additional tax and National Insurance receipts of just over £1bn per annum, due to people working for longer.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Autumn Statement that the entire package of measures and announcements on the State Pension age made by this Government will save the taxpayer around £500bn in reduced benefit expenditure over the next 50 years, in 2013-14 price terms. This figure includes the action we have taken to speed up the equalisation of State Pension age and the rises to State Pension age to 66, 67 and 68, as well as announcing indicative timing for the State Pension age to increase to 69.
Planning
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to introduce a right of appeal against planning permission granted for an application that contains, or is based on, out-of-date, incorrect or incomplete information.[HL4415]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): It is the role of the local planning authority to validate a planning application and ensure it contains the necessary supporting information to make a decision on the application. Councils may deem a planning application invalid if it does not.
If there are concerns about the information used to reach a decision on a planning application, it is open to anyone to raise the matter or make a complaint to the local planning authority. The authority has powers to modify or cancel planning permission if evidence emerges, after planning permission is granted, that raises doubts about how the decision was reached. If the matter remains unresolved following a complaint to the local planning authority, the Local Government Ombudsman may be able to investigate and, if necessary, recommend that the local planning authority takes action that may be open to them in each case. It is also possible for the lawfulness of a planning decision to be challenged in the courts by seeking judicial review.
Railways: Arriva Trains Wales
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to reorganise those services operated by Arriva Trains Wales that cross the borders between England and Wales; and what assessment they have made of any benefits that might accrue.[HL4612]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government have no current plans to re-organise those services operated by Arriva Trains Wales that cross the borders between England and Wales.
However, we are in discussion with the Welsh Government and Arriva Trains Wales regarding plans to deliver limited additional capacity on selected cross-border services from December 2014.
Railways: Rolling Stock
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, given that the majority of the trains planned to be used on the newly electrified services in the Northern franchise will be trains previously used in other areas of the United Kingdom, what plans there are for refurbishing them to up-to-date standards.[HL4611]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Any rolling stock that is transferred for use by the Northern franchise will meet all current statutory and legislative requirements.
The law requires all trains to be accessible to disabled people by 2020 and there are already plans for carrying out this work on many of Northern’s existing diesel and electric fleets
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to provide modern rolling stock to the Northern franchise after electrification.[HL4613]
Baroness Kramer: The completion of the first phase of the electrification falls within the Direct Award period (April 2014 to February 2016). Northern has submitted a proposal to operate these routes using electrified rolling stock. This proposal is currently being reviewed by the Department. As part of the refranchising (February 2016), it is expected that bidders will put forward proposals for the type of rolling stock they want to operate.
Schools: Admissions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many secondary schools use a selective admissions process in (1) England, and (2) Wales; and what proportion of that number are (a) maintained schools, (b) academies, (c) free schools, and (d) faith schools.[HL4474]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): There are currently 163 state-funded secondary schools in England with a fully academically selective admissions process.
Of those, 28 are local authority maintained grammar schools (17%) and 135 are selective academies (83%) which were previously local authority maintained grammar schools. There are no selective free schools.
20 of these selective schools (12%) have recorded a religious character on the EduBase system, the Department for Education’s register of educational establishments in England.
The Department is not responsible for education in Wales.
Schools: Ofsted Report
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, with reference to the 2012–13 Ofsted Report on schools, what action they are taking to rectify “the long tail of underperformance of white children from low-income backgrounds” (page 24).[HL4330]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): We want to ensure that all children and young people, whatever their background, receive a high quality education and good qualifications. These are the foundation for future success in work and in life. We know that increasing poor children’s attainment can break the inter-generational cycle of poverty, and our education reforms are focused on both raising attainment for all and closing gaps between disadvantaged pupils and their peers.
School results show pupils from low-income families perform less well than all other pupils at key stage 2 and key stage 4, including white pupils. This is why we introduced the pupil premium in April 2011. This gives schools extra funding to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils, and thereby improve social mobility in the longer term.
We have given school leaders greater autonomy to drive improvement in their schools; around half of the 174 free schools are located in the 30% most deprived communities. In addition we are reforming the accountability system so that schools are held to account for both the achievement and progress of all their pupils. The new national curriculum and reform to GCSEs will also make sure that all pupils are taught the essential knowledge that matches expectations in the highest performing jurisdictions.
Schools: Pupil Premium
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many grammar school pupils were eligible for Pupil Premium funding at the end of each year since 2010, and to date in 2013.[HL4475]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The pupil premium was introduced in April 2011. In the financial year 2011-12, 3,013 pupils in state funded selective schools in England attracted a pupil premium of £488 per pupil, based on their eligibility for Free School Meals (FSM) as recorded in the January 2011 school census. Pupils in independent selective schools do not attract pupil premium funding.
In the financial year 2012-13, eligibility for the pupil premium was extended to include pupils previously eligible for FSM. The number of pupils in state funded selective schools attracting the pupil premium increased to 6,184 pupils, based on their FSM eligibility as recorded in the January 2012 school census and in the six years prior to this census. Each eligible pupil attracted £623.
In the financial year 2013-14, 7,353 pupils in state funded selective schools in England attracted the pupil premium, based on their eligibility for FSM as recorded in the January 2013 school census and the six years prior to this census. Each pupil attracted £900.
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what aid, if any, they have provided to the inhabitants of St Vincent and the Grenadines following recent floods in that country; and whether they have any plans to send additional aid.[HL4316]
Baroness Northover (LD): In response to the devastation caused by the severe rains in the Eastern Caribbean, DfID has provided vital humanitarian assistance to St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucia, the islands most affected.
The UK has provided £228,000 to help meet the immediate health, water and sanitation needs of the affected populations and to reduce the likelihood of water borne diseases.
DfID is continuing to monitor the situation.
Syria
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many British citizens have travelled to Syria to fight against the al-Assad regime since 2011; and whether they will face consequences on their return to the United Kingdom for having done so.[HL4500]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We believe that the number of UK-linked individuals who have travelled to Syria since the beginning of the uprising is in the low hundreds.
The Government will take all necessary steps to protect the British public. Intelligence agencies and police are working to identify and disrupt potential threats. UK nationals of concern seeking to travel from the UK can have their passports removed or withdrawn. Citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and the Secretary of State for the Home Department, the Rt Hon Member for Maidenhead (Theresa May), will remove British citizenship from individuals where she feels it is conducive to the public good to do so.
Taxation: Marriage Tax Allowance
Question
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact universal credit will have on the new marriage tax allowance.[HL4351]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The transferable tax allowance for married couples is a progressive tax measure, with two thirds of the benefits going to families in the lower half of the income distribution.
No one will lose out from the interactions of the transferable tax allowance for married couples and Universal Credit.
Married couples who benefit from the marriage tax allowance and claim Universal Credit will be better off overall.
Universal Credit
Questions
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how universal credit advisers will consider the need for personal budgeting support in cases of domestic violence or financial abuse; and whether they will receive specialist training.[HL4557]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how universal credit advisers considering the need for personal budgeting support will be expected to detect domestic violence or financial abuse where these are not declared; and whether they will receive specialist training.[HL4558]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The current Personal Budgeting Support process initiates a conversation with the claimant(s) to gather facts relevant to deciding how best to support their claim to Universal Credit. The Department is dependent on the claimant(s) disclosing issues relevant to the household which would remove the appropriateness of paying the standard monthly payment (e.g. domestic violence and/or financial abuse). Once information of this nature is received, either at the claim stage or once the claim is in payment, it is passed to specialist advisors who will progress the matter accordingly.
DWP staff in the live service sites have received appropriate training to manage the alternative payment arrangement once the need has been identified and a split payment agreed.
We are working with relevant third sector organisations to ensure our design best meets the needs of claimants in these situations.
Waste Management: Recycling
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they collect statistics relating to recycling broken down by local authority; and, if so, what levels of recycling are achieved in each London Borough and the City of London.[HL4515]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Defra collects data from local authorities on waste generation and management through the WasteDataFlow reporting system. The table below
shows the household waste recycling rates achieved in each London authority between April 2012 and March 2013. These recycling rates include household waste that is recycled, composted or prepared for reuse, deducting any material that is rejected at collection or rejected at the gate by processors.
| Authority | Household recycling, composting and reuse 2012/13 (thousand tonnes) | Household recycling rate |
Source:
WasteDataFlow