Written Answers
Monday 10 March 2014
Apprenticeships
Questions
Asked by Baroness Sharp of Guildford
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, from data for the latest year available, how many construction apprentices in England aged (1) 16–17, (2) 18, and (3) 19 and over, were publically funded.[HL5555]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, from data for the latest year available, how many young adults aged between 19 and 24 participated in apprenticeships in England.[HL5556]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): Information on the number of learners participating on an Apprenticeship by age is published in Table 5 of the Statistical First Release: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/275988/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-release.pdf
Table 1 shows the number of government-funded Apprentices participating in the Construction, Planning and Built Environment SSA by Age for the 2012/13 academic year.
| Table 1: Apprenticeship Participation in the ‘Construction Planning and the Built Environment’ SSA by Age 2012/13. | |
| Construction Planning and the Built Environment SSA | 2012/13 |
Source
: Individualised Learner Record
Notes
1. Age is based on age at the start of the academic year.
2. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 and may not sum to the total due to rounding.
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what success there has been in fitting inland waterways training within their apprenticeship framework; and what is the level of uptake by young people.[HL5565]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: An Apprenticeship is a job with an accompanying skills development programme. There are currently over 170 Apprenticeship frameworks available representing over 1500 job roles. There is no specific inland waterways Apprenticeship. The range of activities on the inland waterways is however covered by a variety of job roles many of which have associated Apprenticeship frameworks.
Within this wider group of Apprenticeship frameworks there are three that include aspects more closely aligned with the broader role undertaken by the inland waterways. These are the Water Industry, Environmental Conservation and Maritime Occupations Apprenticeships.
Apprenticeship starts by framework are published in a supplementary table to the Statistical First Release (SFR):
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277099/apprenticeship-starts-by-sector-framework.xls. A breakdown of frameworks by age will be made available here in due course:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/learner-participation-outcomes-and-level-of-highest-qualification-held
Bank of England
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered plans to amend the name of the Bank of England to include reference to the Bank’s position in respect of the whole of the United Kingdom.[HL5525]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Bank of England's name carries a longevity that pre-dates the formation of the United Kingdom itself, having been founded in 1694 as “the Governor and Company of the Bank of England”. Under the current state of the union the Bank acts as central bank for the entirety of the United Kingdom, including the role of underwriting both Scottish and Northern Irish banknotes.
The Bank of England carries a great degree of prestige as a global brand and there have never been any official considerations to amend the name. Furthermore, there are no plans for HM Government to consider changing the name in the near future.
Bees
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what impact they predict recent wet weather will have on the population of wild bees and other pollinators. [HL5660]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): We have not made a formal assessment of the impact of the recent wet weather on pollinator populations. There are likely to have been some localised impacts, for example on bumblebee queens, many of which hibernate on or below ground. Impacts could be greater if the wet conditions were to extend into the spring, although other factors such as the extent and condition of flower-rich habitats are thought to be more important in determining long-term trends in pollinator numbers.
We are currently developing a National Pollinator Strategy. This will include commitments to safeguarding pollinator populations and to designing a national monitoring scheme that will allow us to better track changes in pollinator populations, year on year.
Bloody Sunday
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to send letters of immunity from prosecution to members of the United Kingdom armed forces involved in the “Bloody Sunday” incident.[HL5754]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Any potential prosecutions relating to the events on Bloody Sunday are a matter for the police and the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions to consider.
Building Stability Overseas Strategy
Questions
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will evaluate the success of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy.[HL5510]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the process and timetable for review of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy will be.[HL5511]
Baroness Northover (LD): The Building Stability Overseas Strategy (BSOS), agreed in 2011, continues to be implemented by DFID, FCO and MOD in fragile and conflict-affected states. BSOS provides the overarching strategy for the tri-departmental Conflict Pool, and is informing the design of the new Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund, which will be established in the financial year 2015/16. BSOS will continue to be monitored through quarterly and annual reports on the implementation of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). The Prime Minister presents an annual statement to Parliament on implementing the SDSR, which includes our work on building stability overseas.
Central African Republic
Question
Asked by The Archbishop of Canterbury
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support the stabilisation of the conflict in the Central African Republic, particularly in ensuring that sectarian violence does not develop into inter-religious conflict.[HL5637]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are greatly concerned by the situation on the ground in the Central African Republic (CAR). The UK provided £15 million to the humanitarian appeal and a further £2million to the African Union to cover some of the African-led International Support Mission to CAR (MISCA)’s operation. We will continue to review our contribution in light of events. The UK provided logistical support to the French mission at the request of the French government, in the form of three flights to carry French equipment to CAR. We have also worked closely with France to ensure that the EU provided funding support to MISCA.
Our immediate focus is supporting the UN Security Council-mandated MISCA force alongside the French deployment to increase security and humanitarian access.
To further support these stabilisation efforts, the European Council agreed in February to establish a military operation in CAR to achieve a secure environment in the Bangui area. Operational planning continues, and UK is providing a military officer to assist with this. The UK supported a request for the UN Security Council to keep the situation under regular review, including what more can be done to strengthen existing efforts given the severity and urgency of the situation. We will quickly and carefully consider the UN Secretary General report, which will make recommendations for whether they believe the conditions exist for a successful deployment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation.
Military efforts alone cannot bring about long-term stability in CAR. We welcome the work done by religious organisations and non-governmental organisations to diffuse the tensions, as well as the efforts of the transitional government towards a strong and sustainable constitutional government. We will continue to work with the EU and UN in support.
Civil Servants: Relocation
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their policy on the relocation of civil servants from London and the South-East of England to other regions of the country.[HL5482]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many civil servants have been transferred from London and the South-East of England to other regions of the country since May 2010.[HL5483]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many civil servants have been transferred from London and the South-East of England to the West Midlands since May 2010.[HL5484]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Relocation of Government staff outside of London and the South East continues to be considered, among other options, to deliver the savings set out at the Spending Review and increase the efficiency of the Government’s estate. Reducing and rationalising the estate could result in relocations, although there is no centrally driven relocation target to this effect. Workforce planning is primarily the responsibility of each individual Department to determine.
Commonwealth: Offenders in Custody
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Commonwealth has minimum standards for the treatment of persons in custody; whether it endorses similar United Nations standards; and what proposals exist or are planned for ensuring compliance. [HL5615]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Commonwealth has not adopted minimum standards for the treatment of people in custody. Nor has it formally endorsed similar United Nations standards.
However, the Commonwealth has undertaken work in this area. In recent years both Commonwealth Law Ministers Meetings and Meetings of Law Ministers and Attorneys-General of Small Commonwealth Jurisdictions have considered related issues such as promoting alternative sentencing and the overcrowding in prisons and the excessive use of pre-trial detention in some Commonwealth countries.
The Commonwealth has also taken forward recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review on improving standards of detention facilities by introducing human rights training for prison officials.
Conflict Pool
Question
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to evaluate the expenditure from the Conflict Pool between 2010 and 2015.[HL5512]
Baroness Northover (LD): A review of the Conflict Pool’s programme results and impact over the current Spending Review period (2011-2015) will be undertaken at the end of this period in 2015.
Progress against the Conflict Pool’s results are monitored on an ongoing basis and lessons learned will inform the development of the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund from 2015.
Conflict, Stability and Security Fund
Question
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the process and timetable for establishing the new Conflict, Stability and Security Fund will be.[HL5513]
Baroness Northover (LD): The Conflict, Stability and Security Fund will be established at the start of Financial Year 2015/16. The Cabinet Office is coordinating work across National Security Council departments to put new governance arrangements in place in time for the Fund’s launch in April 2015.
Council Tax
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, of the (1) local authorities, (2) Police and Crime Commissioners, and (3) fire and rescue authorities, that plan to (a) freeze, and (b) reduce, their basic council tax charge in (i) 2014–15, and (ii) 2015–16, which will, and which will not, be receiving a grant in lieu of doing so.[HL5676]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): Every local authority, Police and Crime Commissioner or fire and rescue authority which decides to freeze or reduce their Band D council tax in either of the financial years 2014-15 or 2015-16 will receive a council tax freeze grant in respect of those financial years. Those which set increases in their Band D will not receive the grant.
Defence: Expenditure
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the projected out-turn for defence expenditure in the current financial year; what proportion of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product that figure represents; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous five years.[HL5449]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): As set out in the Department's 2013-14 Supplementary Estimate, defence expenditure is projected to outturn at approximately £33,560 million.
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) estimate gross domestic product (GDP) for this financial year to be £1,642,000 million. The proportion of projected outturn to GDP for this financial year is 2%.
Out-turn defence expenditure excludes the cost of military operations and is not the basis upon which the official NATO figure of defence spending as a proportion of GDP is calculated. For comparison, UK defence spending under the NATO definition is expected to be approximately 2.4% this year.
For the previous five financial years (FY) the proportion of outturn to GDP has been:
| FY | GDP Proportion | Defence Outturn £ million | GDP £ million |
Outturn is recorded as the sum of Resource DEL plus Capital DEL minus Depreciation and Impairments.
Defence outturn figures are published at the following link:
http://www.dasa.mod.uk/publications/finance-and-economics/departmental-resources/2013/2013.pdf
Previous year GDP figures are published at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/269878/GDP_Deflators _Qtrly_National_Accounts_December_2013_update.xls
Education: Public Examinations
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which faith schools have reached an agreement with Ofqual on redactions to questions in science examinations on grounds of religious sensitivity; whether they will place details of any such redactions in the Library of the House; and whether they intend to refer to the Children’s Commissioner the question of whether such redactions will have negative impacts on the pupils concerned.[HL5528]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): This is a matter for Ofqual the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Executive, Glenys Stacey to write directly to the noble Lord. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House of Lords Library.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Children’s Commissioner regarding the right of pupils to see all questions in any public examination they are taking.[HL5529]
Lord Nash: Neither Ofqual, the independent exams regulator, nor the Department for Education, have made any representations to the Children’s Commissioner on the right of pupils to see all questions in public examinations.
Education: Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers if any the Secretary of State for Education has in regard to the curriculum taught in primary and secondary schools in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.[HL5606]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Secretary of State for Education has powers only in relation to the curriculum that applies to schools in England. Education policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is a matter for the devolved administrations.
Electoral Registration
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, of the £108 million allocated in the 2010 Spending Review to cover the costs of introducing individual electoral registration, how much was spent in (1) 2010–11, (2) 2011–12, and (3) 2012–13; and how much is planned to be spent in (1) 2013–14, and (2) 2014–15.[HL4953]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The spend to date and budgeted amounts are in the table below. The budget for the transition to Individual Electoral Registration (IER) was set in 2010, based on robust cost projections and included optimism bias in line with best practice. Careful management of budgets, combined with an agile approach to the development of the IT supporting the move to IER has helped to ensure that, to date, the programme has come in under budget.
The budget for IER has supported three rounds of pilots since 2011 and a complete national test of the IT that will support the automatic confirmation of at least 78% of current electors. It has enabled the allocation of resources to Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and partner organisations (£4.2m in the current financial year) to improve the completeness and accuracy of the Electoral Register.
| 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 | 2014-15 |
| Actual: | Actual: | Budget: | Budget: |
For financial year 2015/16, £148 million has been set aside for the costs of Individual Electoral Registration, the General Election and the 2015/16 Boundary Commission; specific budgets for each of these areas are yet to be allocated.
Energy: Green Deal
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who is liable for the fuel arrears accrued by a previous householder in a property with a Green Deal plan; and what arrangements are made for collection of those arrears, including when the previous householder cannot be found.[HL5662]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The presence of a Green Deal plan at a property does not affect the collection of fuel arrears by fuel suppliers. Liability for fuel arrears (including unpaid Green Deal instalments) will remain with the person who was responsible for paying for that fuel at the time the arrears were accrued. Difficulty in tracing that previous bill payer does not affect their liability for arrears. Arrangements for the collection of those arrears will depend on the individual fuel supplier.
Energy: Plutonium
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will state how much of the 140 tonnes of civil separated plutonium that will be held by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in the United Kingdom on completion of reprocessing operations is owned by Japanese organisations; what income is being received from those organisations for storage of
that plutonium; and what discussions they have had with the Japanese owners about the possible future use of their plutonium in United Kingdom reactors.[HL5692]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The latest published figures show that in the UK there is about 24 tonnes of plutonium belonging to foreign bodies, most of which is Japanese. These latest figures can be found at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/nuclear/safeguards/civilplut12.htm.
The income figures relating to storage of plutonium is commercially sensitive information. In relation to discussions about possible future use of Japanese plutonium, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and its subsidiary International Nuclear Services regularly have dialogue with the plutonium owners in relation to their management plans.
Ethiopia
Questions
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what involvement the Department for International Development has had with the villagisation process of the people of Lower Omo in Ethiopia.[HL5582]
Baroness Northover (LD): Our aid to the Ethiopian government is only used to provide healthcare, schooling, clean water and other services. The UK has never funded the Government of Ethiopia's Commune Development or other resettlement programmes (such as villagisation in South Omo).
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Department for International Development's aid programme to Ethiopia, what assessment they have made of the conclusion of the African Commission on Human and People's Rights that the villagisation process of the people of Lower Omo is in breach of the African Charter on Human Rights; and when was the last time a Department for International Development official visited Lower Omo to investigate the villagisation process. [HL5583]
Baroness Northover: The UK Government looks forward to hearing the outcome of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights assessment of the villagisation process in South Omo.
DFID has visited the South Omo area three times to look at the use of international good practice on resettlement, most recently in July 2013.
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Department for International Development's aid programme to Ethiopia, what is their assessment
of the villagisation process of the people of Lower Omo in Ethiopia in respect of its adherence to the Department's document "Good Practice Guidelines and Principles Regarding Resettlement".[HL5584]
Baroness Northover: A multi-donor mission, including DFID, visited South Omo in July 2013. A summary of the findings and recommendations of this and other multi-donor visits to monitor the commune development programme will be made available on the Donor Assistance Group website in due course: http://www.dagethiopia.org/.
EU: JHA Opt-in Decisions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to present the European Justice and Home Affairs opt-ins for approval by the House of Lords individually, measure by measure, or in a consolidated form.[HL5531]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): As I stated to the House on 23 January 2014, Official Report, column 846, the Government remains committed “to holding another vote on the final package of measures that we will apply to rejoin.... It is important that Parliament is given the opportunity to scrutinise this matter fully”.
Gaza
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are plans for the emergency evacuation of Gaza if the humanitarian situation there worsens.[HL5486]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Government has no plans for the emergency evacuation of Gaza. We remain concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza and continue to press Israel to ease its restrictions on movement of goods and people. The Department for International Development (DFID) supports the Palestinian Authority and the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) to provide basic services, such as education and health, to the people of Gaza. DFID also funds the UN Access Coordination Unit to facilitate the transfer of vital humanitarian assistance, including medical equipment and supplies.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East was prevented by Hamas from taking advantage of Israeli expertise and equipment in building a water desalination plant in Gaza. [HL5560]
Baroness Northover (LD): The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East reports that it has no knowledge of any offer from the Israeli government to provide technical expertise or equipment to build a water desalination plant in Gaza. The UK Government is concerned about the availability of fresh drinking water for Palestinians in Gaza. According to the UN, over 90% of the water from the Gaza aquifer is unsafe for human consumption without treatment, and the coastal aquifer is set to become too polluted for use by 2016.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Northover on 11 February (WA 120), what assessment they have made of the remarks of the head of the World Health Organisation in Jerusalem that the shortages of medicines are due to the conflict between the two Palestinian health ministers.[HL5561]
Baroness Northover: The shortage of medicine in Gaza is a serious issue. Shortages of medicine have largely been due to restrictions on movements of goods into Gaza. Reduced access between Egypt and Gaza, with the closure of illegal tunnels in the south of Gaza, has also had a serious effect on the availability of medicine. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, medical supplies donated by international actors, which had previously been transferred directly through the Rafah Crossing, are no longer entering via this route.
Health: Cancer
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has recommended that ipilimumab is not to be used as a first-line treatment for skin cancer on the National Health Service except in clinical trials.[HL5752]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is an independent body and is responsible for the development of its guidance. NICE has not yet published its final guidance on the use of ipilimumab (Yervoy) for previously untreated unresectable stage III or IV malignant melanoma. Details of NICE’s draft guidance for consultation for this appraisal are at:
http://guidance.nice.org.uk/TAG/209.
Stakeholders have until 18 March to comment on NICE’s draft recommendations.
Health: Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what key performance indicators are used (1) to measure the quality of juvenile idiopathic arthritis services, and (2) to measure progress against the overall performance of those indicators.[HL5596]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England has advised that the Paediatric Medicine Clinical Reference Group (CRG) is currently developing a paediatric rheumatology quality dashboard which they anticipate will go live from 1 April 2014. This focuses on outcomes for children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Homeless Families
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the space standards set out in section 326 of the Housing Act 1985 apply to homeless households placed in bed and breakfast accommodation, including self-contained annexes.[HL5623]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The space standards set out in section 326 of the Housing Act 1985 may apply to bed and breakfast accommodation and any self-contained annexes where they can be considered to be separate dwellings. Those that are not will be covered by the overcrowding provisions governing Houses in Multiple Occupation set out in the Housing Act 2004. Paragraphs 17.16 -17.23 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance set out in detail the way these two sets of provisions work together to deal with overcrowding.
In addition, section 210(1) of the Housing Act 1996 requires local housing authorities to have regard to the space standards and other overcrowding provisions contained in Part 10 of the Housing Act 1985 as well as provisions governing overcrowding in Houses of Multiple Occupation in the Housing Act 2004 (the “2004 Act”) when assessing the suitability of accommodation provided under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996. Annex 17 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance, to which local housing authorities must have regard, sets out detailed minimum standards which should be followed when deciding whether bed and breakfast accommodation is suitable for an applicant for the purposes of Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, in the very limited circumstances where an authority may use such accommodation for this purpose.
The Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order 2003 makes clear that bed and breakfast accommodation provided under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996 should only be used to house homeless households with children in an emergency, and then for no longer than six weeks.
The Government is determined to tackle the unlawful use of bed and breakfast accommodation and has made available £2 million in 2013/14 to support local authorities to develop innovative and sustainable solutions to the problems which drive its use. Recent reports indicate that this approach is starting to take effect, with local authorities in receipt of funding significantly reducing the number of families with children in bed and breakfast accommodation.
We are also committed to helping other authorities by drawing on the lessons learned from the funding which will be shared with other local authorities.
Homelessness
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Hanham on 27 March 2013 (WA 247) on homelessness, which Minister authorised the payment of the £72,000 grant to the London Borough of Newham under the powers set out in section 31(1) of the Local Government Act 2003.[HL5625]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The Department provided grant funding of £20 million to 47 local authorities for preventing homelessness in 2011-2012.
This funding was paid to local authorities in the form of a Section 31 grant. The Homelessness Revenue Grant Determination 2011-12 (31/1974) was authorised by the then Minister for State for Housing and Local Government (the rt Hon Member for Welwyn Hatfield) and signed by a senior official according to normal practice.
Notwithstanding, I would refer the noble Lady to the answer of 13 February 2013, Official Report, Column WA165, noting that Ministers were not involved in the commissioning of local services linked to that grant.
Housing: Eviction
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have discussed plans to make the eviction of tenants of private landlords easier; and, if so, with whom. [HL5656]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): Just as the Government is taking action against the small minority of rogue landlords, so it is right that measures can be taken against the small minority of rogue tenants, who disrupt the lives of their neighbours through anti-social behaviour or who seriously breach their tenancy agreements.
The cross-party Communities and Local Government Select Committee report on the Private Rented Sector recommended that: “the Government convene a working party from all parts of the industry, to examine proposals to speed up the process of evicting during a tenancy tenants who do not pay rent promptly or fail to meet other contractual obligations. The ability to secure eviction more quickly for non-payment of rent will encourage landlords to make properties available on longer tenancies” (HC 50, July 2013, para 97).
Indeed, Shelter’s evidence to the Committee recommended that the Government should investigate “ways of increasing confidence in court processes and landlords’ ability to use possession grounds to end the tenancies of tenants who breach their contract” (ibid., para 95).
Consequently, we have set up a working group to look at what can be done to protect landlords and tenants alike and ensure a fair eviction process in the private rented sector. This is part of wider efforts to increase the availability of longer tenancies. The working group is made up of organisations representing landlords and tenants, as well as other property professionals.
Human Trafficking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many meetings the Chief Social Worker has attended since her appointment in 2013 to discuss social work responses to child trafficking.[HL5551]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Isabelle Trowler, the Chief Social Worker for Children and Families, has met the Children and Families Across Borders charity which identifies and protects children who have been separated from family members as a consequence of trafficking, abduction, migration, divorce, conflict and asylum. She has also spoken to over 1500 social workers since being in post about the vital role they play in protecting all vulnerable children, including those who have been or are at risk of being trafficked or of sexual exploitation.
India: Golden Temple, Amritsar
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they would support an independent international inquiry into relations between the government of India and the Sikh community in India following the operation at the Golden Temple in 1984.[HL5507]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Relations between the government of India and the Sikh Community in India are a matter for the Indian authorities. The purpose of the Cabinet Secretary's recent investigation and report into Indian operation at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar in 1984 was to establish the extent of UK Government involvement in the Indian government’s plans for military operations, not the operation itself, or the actions of the Indian government.
Iran
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the reported $195 million deal for arms sales by Iran to Iraq will have any impact on their assessment of President Rouhani's role in respect of stability in the Middle East.[HL5670]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are concerned by reports of a possible $195 million purchase of arms by Iraq from Iran, and have raised the issue with the Government of Iraq. Importing arms from Iran would be in direct breach of UN Security Council Resolution 1747.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the recent military action against worshippers at the Al Aqsa Mosque.[HL5489]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Government’s understanding of the situation concerning Al Aqsa Mosque is that Israel has not taken military action but that Israeli security forces accompany Israeli groups to Temple Mount/Haram Al Sharif which has led to confrontations with protestors. We regularly urge the Israeli authorities to comply with their obligations under international law as an occupying power in East Jerusalem, including with regard to the protection of holy sites. We have also made clear that, given the particular sensitivities, provocative actions in the holy sites of Jerusalem pose a risk to the peace process and must be avoided.
Justice: On-the-Run Individuals
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters have been issued to “on the run” persons to confirm that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging.[HL5683]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether ministerial approval was required in each case before a letter was issued to an “on the run” persons to confirm that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging.[HL5684]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the dates on which letters were issued to “on the run” persons to confirm that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging; and how many were issued on each date.[HL5685]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to issue further letters to “on the run” persons to confirm that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging.[HL5686]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters have been issued to “on the run” persons who are deemed to come from (1) a loyalist, and (2) a republican, background to confirm that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging. [HL5687]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Records indicate that between 2000 and 2012 around 200 individuals were subject to the scheme. Of these approximately three-quarters were informed by letter that they were not sought for arrest, questioning or charge by police.
On 27th February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme relating to so-called “on-the-runs” established by the previous Government. This will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they informed the Northern Ireland Executive that they had issued letters to “on the run” persons to confirm that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging.[HL5688]
Baroness Randerson: To my knowledge, this Government did not inform the First Minister or the Justice Minister about the administrative scheme relating to so-called “on-the-runs” until after the judgment in the Downey case.
On 27th February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme established by the previous Government. This will include a factual check of all letters issued. I expect the report to be provided to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many persons, who were deemed to be “on the run” and were issued with letters confirming that they were not wanted for arrest, questioning or charging, have been charged with terrorist offences subsequent to receipt of such letters.[HL5796]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the legal basis for the involvement of the Northern Ireland Office in the administrative scheme which saw letters issued to “on the run” persons subsequent to the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly in April 2010. [HL5799]
Baroness Randerson: On 27th February, the Prime Minister announced that a judge would be appointed to undertake an independent review to provide a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for dealing with so called “on-the-runs” established by the previous Government. This will include a factual check of all letters issued. The report should be provided to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.
NHS: General Practitioners
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Norwich
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that there are adequate numbers of general practitioners (GPs) available for primary care needs in England over the next five years in the light of the age profile of current practising GPs, their increasing role as commissioners, and the impact of the introduction of revalidation for all doctors.[HL5532]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department set up Health Education England (HEE) to deliver a better health and healthcare workforce for England. HEE is responsible for ensuring a secure workforce supply for the future balancing need against demand, taking into account factors such as the age profile of the existing workforce, the impact of technology, and new drugs. For the medical workforce, revalidation should not create an additional burden for doctors as medical appraisals have been mandatory for National Health Service doctors since 2000.
In relation to general practitioners (GPs), the Department has recognised the need to increase the GP workforce and has included in the HEE mandate a requirement that “progress should be made in each year of the mandate towards ensuring that 50% of medical students become GPs”. There will be a further update in the refreshed HEE mandate later in spring 2014.
The Department commissioned a GP Taskforce for England to review what the whole system needs to do to achieve this target. This taskforce is expected to report in the next few weeks. NHS England is also reviewing the future model of provision of primary care “Improving General Practice—a Call to Action”, which includes a work-stream looking at the future composition of the workforce.
Overseas Aid
Questions
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the percentage and amount of total Official Development Assistance spending allocated to the International Climate Fund in each year since 2009.[HL5696]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have considered changing the limit of 10 per cent of total Official Development Assistance spending that can be allocated to the International Climate Fund.[HL5697]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the purposes to which expenditure from the International Climate Fund has been allocated each year since 2009.[HL5698]
Baroness Northover (LD): Baroness Northover (LD): The International Climate Fund (ICF) was established in 2011/12. All ICF spending is Official Development Assistance (ODA). The amount of ICF spending in 2011 and 2012 is shown in the table below.
| Year | UK ODA Total | ICF Total | ICF Percentage |
Figures for 2013 have not yet been published.
The purpose of the ICF is to support international poverty reduction by helping developing countries to adapt to climate change, take up low carbon growth, and tackle deforestation. The ICF will contribute to the delivery of the UK’s 2020 international climate change objectives:
1. Developing countries have adopted low carbon development pathways in line with the trajectory to a 2 degree goal.2. Poor and vulnerable people in developing countries supported to respond effectively to existing climate variability and future impacts of climate change.3. 50% reduction in deforestation achieved in developing countries4. Mobilisation of $100 billion per annum for low carbon, climate resilient development.
The Spending Review 2010 allocated £2.9 billion ODA to the ICF for the period 2011/12 – 2014/15. In 2013, a further £969 million was allocated for the financial year 2015/16.
South Sudan
Question
Asked by The Archbishop of Canterbury
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to assist in the prevention of sexual violence and other war crimes in South Sudan; and what is being done to ensure that perpetrators of violence are not able to act with impunity.[HL5638]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We are deeply concerned by continuing reports of human rights violations and abuses in South Sudan, including the use of sexual violence, which the recent UN interim report suggests are being committed by all sides. Preventing sexual violence is one of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s human rights priorities. Our Embassy in Juba has identified preventing sexual violence as one of its top human rights priorities over the coming year. We are supporting the establishment of women’s peacekeeping teams in Northern Bahr el Ghazal and are considering what support we can provide to other address this issue.
The UK commitment of £6m through the Department for International Development’s Rapid Response Facility will support humanitarian agencies operating in South Sudan, includes a provision for psychological support to those affected by gender-based violence.
More broadly, we welcome the African Union’s announcement to establish the Commission of Inquiry, which should ensure that all human rights allegations are investigated and perpetrators are held accountable. We are urging the Commission of Inquiry to act quickly and deploy an investigation team to collect all the necessary information.
Uganda
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to review the Department for International Development’s relationship with Uganda following President Museveni’s recent signing of the Uganda Anti-Homosexuality Act 2014; and what representations they made to the government of Uganda before, and have made since, the signing of the Act into law.[HL5658]
Baroness Northover (LD): The UK ended Budget Support to the Ugandan Government following concerns about corruption last year. Our development programme continues to support poverty reduction and growth in Uganda. We have consistently raised concerns about the Anti-Homosexuality Bill with the Ugandan Government at the most senior levels. The Minister for Africa most recently raised the issue with the Ugandan Foreign Minister in January 2014, and with the Deputy Foreign Minister in February 2014. We will continue to press the Ugandan Government at the highest levels to defend human rights for all.
UK Trade and Investment
Questions
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how UK Trade & Investment tracks references and enquiries for their services from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland separately.[HL5568]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) (Con): UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) tracks references and enquiries for its services in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland through its customer data management system database.
When customers submit enquiries about exporting through the UKTI website at www.ukti.gov.uk the enquiry is automatically forwarded for action to the appropriate UKTI office in England or the equivalent trade promotion body in Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland.
The devolved administrations of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland provide their own trade and investment services and have their own systems for recording references and enquiries.
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how UK Trade & Investment works with the devolved administrations in the United Kingdom.[HL5569]
Lord Livingston of Parkhead: The devolved administrations and the UK Government have concurrent powers to promote international trade and inward investment.
Support for exports is delivered through a partnership between UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) and the devolved administrations. This means that businesses based in the devolved administrations have access to the significant expertise and global reach of UKTI as well as to the specific focus and services of the devolved administrations’ trade and investment organisations, who deliver the services across their geographic areas.
On inward investment, UKTI has responsibility for promoting the UK as a whole to foreign investors, supported by the devolved administrations who additionally work to promote their own nations. A Memorandum of Understanding sets out the relationship between UKTI and each devolved administration, including the responsibilities for both on co-operative working and information sharing.