Written Answers
Wednesday 12 March 2014
Aviation: General Aviation Unit
Question
Asked by Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the objectives of the General Aviation Unit, due to be in operation from April 2014.[HL5737]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The CAA is setting up a new General Aviation Unit which will be fully operational from April 2014. This will be a specialist unit, dedicated to proportionate and effective regulation which supports and encourages the growth of a vibrant UK General Aviation sector. The CAA is currently developing the new Unit’s programme of work.
Aviation: Safety
Question
Asked by Lord Stevens of Kirkwhelpington
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much of the €600 million research budget provided to the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) by the European Union will be dedicated to furthering research into enhancing general aviation safety. [HL5791]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The SESAR programme and allocation of its budget is managed by the SESAR Joint Undertaking, which is a public/private partnership. The SESAR programme is divided into Work Packages addressing each step of the flight. Therefore, there is not a specific Work Package or budget allocation for General Aviation. All Work Packages take into consideration all stakeholders – including General Aviation.
Benefits
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many, and what proportion, of Jobseeker's Allowance claimants to whom a sanction has been applied in each month since October 2012 had that sanction (1) reconsidered by Jobcentre Plus, and (2) overturned on appeal.[HL5621]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The information as requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Cyclists
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 12 February (WA 152), whether they will contact police forces reminding them of the law regarding cycling on pavements and the consequence of non-enforcement of the law.[HL5722]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Department for Transport has no plans to contact police forces to remind them of the law regarding cycling on pavements. As stated in my previous reply on 12 February (WA152), the enforcement of this offence is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police and we support any action taken by the police to deter and reduce the number of cycling offences.
Dogs: Dangerous Dogs
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they intend to take to reduce the number of deaths by dangerous and illegal dogs in the short and long term.[HL5674]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Government is appalled at any death caused by a dangerous dog. Last year Defra announced measures designed to tackle irresponsible ownership of dogs. The Government is bringing forward as a matter of urgency amendments to the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 which will mean that, as from later this year, the offence of allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control will be extended to all places including inside the dog owner’s home. The amendments will increase the maximum penalty for allowing a dog to be dangerously out of control from 2 years’ imprisonment to 14 years if the dog kills someone and from 2 years’ imprisonment to 5 years if it injures someone. There will also be a separate offence of allowing a dog to attack an assistance dog which will attract a maximum sentence of 3 years’ imprisonment.
We have also ensured that the new measures to deal with anti-social behaviour contained in the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime & Policing Bill include such behaviour where it involves a dog. This will mean that local authorities and police will be able to take early action on acts of low level nuisance, such as a dog running free and it worrying people or other animals. In such cases, the owner, or person temporarily in charge of the dog, could be issued with a Community Protection Notice requiring them to improve the situation or face a penalty. This will help prevent dogs becoming dangerous. These new measures, which will come into effect later this year, will enable authorities to help reduce dangerous dog incidents.
Education: Healthcare
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the costs, benefits and return on investment of healthcare professional education. [HL5646]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Historically the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) has collated and published information on the total and annuitised costs of education and training for different healthcare professional groups. Their most recent publication can be found on their website at:
In summer 2014 the Department will be carrying out the first ever complete collection of education and training costs, for the financial year 2013-14. These costs will inform changes to the tariff for placements in the future. We will publish an analysis of the costs later in the year.
Ultimately the benefits and return on investment of healthcare professional education is the recruitment and retention of the right mix and number of staff in the National Health Service.
Health Education England (HEE) has been established to provide national leadership on planning and developing the healthcare and public health workforce. One of its roles is to allocate and account for NHS education and training resources and the outcomes achieved. HEE is responsible for a budget of £4.9 billion for education and training.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of transparency in the funding of health care professional educational programmes in universities and local education and training boards.[HL5647]
Earl Howe: Health Education England (HEE) has been established to provide national leadership on planning and developing the healthcare and public health workforce. One of its roles is to allocate and account for National Health Service education and training resources and the outcomes achieved. HEE is responsible for a budget of £4.9 billion for education and training.
One of HEE's objectives is to demonstrate robust public accountability to ensure that its budget is spent on education, training and development of the workforce, that it is managed effectively, and to demonstrate improvements in value for money.
HEE is also responsible for ensuring that all local education and training boards (LETBs) receive an equitable share of the funding provided for education and training, in the form of a transparent long-term allocations policy.
The Benchmark Price (BMP) is used to pay universities for tuition costs for certain non-medical courses. HEE is planning to publish the BMP for 2014-15 on their website once it is finalised.
As part of the Government's transparency agenda, all payments by HEE and its LETBs over £25,000 are published monthly on HEE's website, which includes payments to universities that HEE fund.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the cost of educating doctors in the United Kingdom; and whether they have made similar assessments of the costs in China and the United States.[HL5648]
Earl Howe: Historically the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) has collated and published information on the total and annuitised costs of education and training for different healthcare professional groups. Their most recent publication can be found on their website at:
In summer 2014 the Department will be carrying out the first ever complete collection of education and training costs, for the financial year 2013-14. These costs will inform changes to the tariff for placements in the future. We will publish an analysis of the costs later in the year.
The Department has not made an assessment of the costs of educating doctors in China or the United States.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the amount of money given to each university and local education and training board in 2013-14 for the funding of health care professional educational programmes.[HL5649]
Earl Howe: The Department provided an allocation to Health Education England (HEE) for 2013-14 of £4.9 billion.
HEE has published the 2013-14 annual budget for each of its local education and training boards (LETB) in the HEE board papers throughout 2013. The published LETB budgets fund health care professional education programmes and some non-professional training.
LETB budgets include amounts for universities, but these are not published specifically.
The Benchmark Price (BMP) is used to pay universities for tuition costs for certain non-medical courses. HEE is planning to publish the BMP for 2014-15 on its website once it is finalised.
As part of the Government's transparency agenda, all payments by HEE and its LETBs over £25,000 are published monthly on HEE's website, which includes payments to universities that HEE fund.
Education: National Pupil Database
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 28 January (WA 209–10), whether any action is taken as the result of pupil tracking; and, if so, what those actions are.[HL5756]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The National Pupil Database forms a significant part of the Department for Education’s education evidence base, and supports a number of key priorities around school accountability and school self-improvement.
The Department uses this longitudinal data to formulate and monitor policy; for school accountability, e.g. School Performance Tables; and to target funding, e.g. Deprivation Pupil Premium is based on eligibility for free school meals at any time in the previous six years.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 28 January (WA 209–10), which departments, agencies, bodies or persons have access to data relating to the progress and characteristics of individual pupils.[HL5757]
Lord Nash: The National Pupil Database (NPD) is a centrally-held longitudinal database linking pupil/student characteristics to attainment information at individual level for all children in maintained schools in England. It also holds individual pupil-level attainment data for pupils in non-maintained and independent schools and pupil records can also be linked to further education college and higher education data.
Legislation allows the Department for Education to share individual pupil data from the NPD with named bodies and third parties named in Section 537A of the Education (Individual Pupil Information) (Prescribed Persons) (England) Regulations 2009 (Amended). This includes schools, local authorities, other Government departments and agencies. These regulations also allow the Department to disclose individual pupil data, subject to the Data Protection Act 1998, to named bodies and persons who, for the purpose of promoting the education or well-being of children in England are:
• Conducting research or analysis;• Producing statistics; or• Providing information, advice or guidance.
Access is subject to requestors complying with terms and conditions imposed under contractual arrangements and a rigorous request approval process.
Employment: Mental Health
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking as part of the reformed benefits scheme to improve access to work for people with a mental illness.[HL5626]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): We are committed to helping more people with mental health problems to work and are working across Government to increase their employment prospects. For example: Jobcentre Plus delivers back to work support to claimants
through a flexible model that is personalised and thus recognises the specific support each individual needs.
The Work Programme also offers tailored employment support to disabled people and people with other health conditions.
We are also piloting a range of different options for supporting ESA claimants who have longer-term health conditions. In addition we are taking forward and testing recommendations from the recently published report Psychological Wellbeing and Work: Improving service provision and outcomes.
Access to Work offers a Mental Health Support Service to support individuals with a mental health condition who are absent from work or finding work difficult.
Work Choice provides tailored support to help disabled people who face the most complex barriers to employment.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is being done to raise awareness of mental health in the workplace in the light of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report “Mental Health and Work: United Kingdom”.[HL5627]
Lord Freud: Last summer the Prime Minister launched our Disability Confident campaign for employers; to support them to recruit, retain and develop more disabled people. As part of this campaign, the Government is running a series of regional events for employers. Following these events, we are hoping that MPs will run local events in their constituencies.
Our Disability and Health Employment Strategy includes proposals to improve support for employers and people with health conditions, including those with mental health conditions. Within this, DWP will be creating a new ‘One Stop Shop’ for employers, to help them employ more disabled people and people with health conditions.
A wide range of material produced by Government is available to employers for supporting and promoting positive health and wellbeing in the workplace. Much of this can be accessed via the HSE and GOV.UK websites.
The HSE is also supporting the forthcoming European campaign on addressing stress in the workplace.
We have taken steps to raise awareness of the Access to Work scheme amongst under-represented groups having undertaken a 12 month targeted marketing campaign.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is being done to address the income poverty risk of those with mental illness, in the light of its description by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in its report “Mental Health and Work: United Kingdom” as higher in the United Kingdom than in any other OECD country. [HL5628]
Lord Freud: We are committed to improving employment outcomes for people with mental health issues by supporting them to return to and stay in work when they are ready to do so.
Our commitment is further underlined by a number of recent publications which explore how employment rates for disabled people and people with health conditions can be further improved.
Food: Flour Fortification
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 February (WA 187), whether the views of those who object to folic acid fortification of flour will be sought; and whether they will consider, as an alternative, making it mandatory for both folic acid fortified and non-fortified flour and flour products to be available at all retail outlets.[HL5726]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): If the Government decided to proceed with mandatory fortification of flour with folic acid then views, including of those who object to the policy, would be sought through public consultation. Consumer choice would be one of the issues considered in reaching a final decision.
Freedom of Information Act 2000 and Environmental Information Regulations 2004
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether (1) the Freedom of Information Act 2000, and (2) the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, apply to each of the Overseas Territories.[HL5761]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): : (1) The Freedom of Information Act 2000 covers any recorded information that is held by a public authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and by UK-wide public authorities based in Scotland. The Act does not apply to the public authorities of British Overseas Territories.
(2)The Environmental Information Regulations 2004 implement European Council Directive 2003/4/EC on public access to environmental information and cover any recorded environmental information held by public authorities in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and by UK-wide public authorities based in Scotland. The Regulations do not apply to the public authorities of British Overseas Territories. Gibraltar, as part of the EU, has implemented the directive through the Freedom of Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2005.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what recent discussions they have held with the government of Israel concerning the future of Gaza; and whether they have any plans to take action to avert the impact on living conditions in the Gaza Strip of environmental pollution.[HL5777]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Our Ambassador to Tel Aviv most recently raised our concerns over Gaza with the Israeli National Security Advisor on 13 February. As well as our diplomatic efforts, the UK is providing practical assistance to the people of Gaza. 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.
Genetic Modification
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 12 November 2013 (WA 113–4) and by Earl Howe on 6 February (WA 76–7) and 26 February (WA 263–4), whether they consider that homologous recombination with a transgene constitutes the artificial modification of a gene; whether they consider that altering the coding sequence of genetic material in an egg or embryo alters “the biological characteristics in some way” of a cell or organism; whether eggs or embryos in which particular genes were replaced by transgenes differing in sequence only by some synonymous codon substitutions would be considered as “permitted” eggs or embryos according to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (as amended); and what implications for the regulation of genetic modification arise from the absence of objective criteria that would allow such instances to be recognised definitively.[HL5651]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Homologous recombination is a natural process usually occurring during certain cell division that takes place in male and female germ cells. It can also be a process deliberately targeted artificially to introduce a transgene, which is the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another. We are advised that homologous recombination with a transgene could constitute the artificial modification of a gene but this would depend on a number of variable factors, including the nature of the transgene, the precise methodology used and the type of change in sequence that was introduced.
Whether altering the coding sequence of genetic material in an egg or embryo changes the biological characteristics in some way would, again, depend on a number of variable factors. Some changes, such as a sequence that conferred susceptibility or resistance to a disease, would affect the biological characteristics but many others would not.
As the noble Lord is aware, section 3ZA of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990, as amended, determines that no egg or embryo may be considered “permitted” and, therefore, suitable to be used in treatment, if its nuclear or mitochondria! DNA has been altered. The only exception to this being a process designed to prevent the transmission of serious mitochondrial diseases that is permitted by regulations.
The Government has developed a working definition of "genetic modification", in the context of mitochondrial donation. This was set out in my Written Answer of 4 March 2014 (Official Report, column WA 304)
Government Departments: Staff
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff are currently employed for more than 50 per cent of their working week to support the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health in her role as Accounting Officer; and what are their job titles.[HL5812]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The number of Departmental staff currently employed for more than 50% of their working week directly supporting the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health in her role as Accounting Officer is four. Their job titles are as follows:-
Deputy Director, Head of Accountability and Regulation;Section Head, Accountability and National Audit;Liaison Manager, National Audit Office & Public Accounts Committee; andAccountability and Regulation Support Officer.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff are currently employed for more than 50 per cent of their working week to support the Permanent Secretary of the Home Office in his role as Accounting Officer; and what are their job titles.[HL5813]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): There are currently 425 full time equivalent staff within the Finance directorate of the Home Office and one member of the Permanent Secretary's private office that support him in discharging his Accounting Officer duties. However, to go into further detail would incur disproportionate costs.
Immigration: Eurostar
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what legislation immigration service officers are allowed to examine and stamp rail tickets issued by Eurostar for inbound journeys.[HL5762]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Border Force officers have the power to examine passengers seeking entry to the UK under paragraph 2(1) of Schedule two to the Immigration Act 1971.
This power was extended to passengers arriving by rail by Article seven and Schedule four to the Channel Tunnel (International Arrangements) Order 1993.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why immigration service officials are still required to stamp Eurostar passenger tickets now that passengers from Brussels to Lille are kept separate at all times.[HL5763]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The introduction of a designated Eurostar coach for domestic train passengers from Brussels is designed to address ticket abuse by intra-Schengen passengers on the Eurostar route between Belgium and the UK.
To assess the effectiveness of the new system in terms of ongoing border security, additional checks, which involve the stamping of passenger tickets, are carried out by Border Force officers on selected trains arriving at St. Pancras International station from Brussels. These additional checks are a proportionate response to the potential threat to border security and are subject to ongoing review.
Israel
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to make grants to high-technology companies in Israel conditional on their not being located within West Bank settlements.[HL5774]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Government does not offer grants to high-technology companies in Israel that are located within West Bank settlements. The guidance to British businesses on the Israel Overseas Business Risk section of the UK Trade and Industry website says that: “there are clear risks related to economic and financial activities in the settlements, and we do not encourage or offer support to such activity.”
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the treatment of children in military custody, in the light of reports by Defence Child International.[HL5776]
Baroness Warsi: We have made representations about the treatment of child detainees to the Israeli authorities on many occasions, including at Foreign Minister, Attorney General, Minister of Justice and National Security Adviser levels. Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv most recently raised the issue with the Israeli Defence Force on 25 February.
Police: Black and Ethnic Minority Officers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many black and minority ethnic police officers are dog handlers in police services in England, Wales and Scotland; and what are their ranks.[HL5742]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The requested data for England and Wales is provided in the following table and relates to 31 March 2013.
Figures for Scotland are a matter for the Devolved Administration.
| Number of black and minority ethnic full-time equivalent1 police officers in the dogs function2, 3 in England and Wales, by rank, as at 31 March 2013 | ||
| England | Wales | |
Source:
Home Office
1. This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been presented to the nearest whole number.
2. Dog handlers including those employed for general policing, drugs and explosive detection duties. Includes officers who are predominantly employed within dogs sections other than dog handlers and those in supporting roles.
3. Officers with multiple responsibilities (or designations) are recorded under their primary role or function.
Prisoners: Disabled Prisoners
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in the light of the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on Holme House prison that staff refused to push prisoners in wheelchairs which made such prisoners dependent on other prisoners and put them at risk of being bullied.[HL5444]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is considering the recommendations made in HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ (HMCIP) report on HMP Holme House published on 31 January 2014. As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report by six months after the date of publication.
As an interim measure HMP Holme House have introduced, following appropriate security vetting, volunteer welfare champions - prisoners who assist other prisoners that need assistance. Such voluntary work will be linked to a prisoner’s assessment within the Incentives and Earned Privileges framework, as evidence of engaging with the prison regime, and of behaviours likely to reduce further reoffending.
I will write to the noble Baroness detailing the response to the recommendations about this matter once the plan has been sent to the Chief Inspector’.
Prisoners: Education
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to improve education in United Kingdom prisons.[HL5759]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): We are taking a number of steps to enhance and build upon the current learning and skills offer to prisoners. We firmly believe that giving offenders the skills and training they need to get and keep jobs on release reduces their likelihood of re-offending.
In England prison learning and skills is funded by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills and co-commissioned by the National Offenders Management Service and the Skills Funding Agency. The service is known as the Offender Learning and Skills Service (OLASS). New prison education contracts for learning and skills for adult offenders in prisons in England were introduced in 2012. These focus on addressing numeracy and literacy early in prisoners’ sentences, with a requirement to assess learning needs and address any identified literacy or numeracy need. As prisoners reach the end of their sentence, the focus shifts to vocational skills and careers advice. Prison governors work closely with their learning providers under the OLASS arrangements in determining the local curriculum in order to give prisoners the best preparation for employment on release.
Work is under way to introduce, this summer, mandatory education assessment by the OLASS provider for all newly-received prisoners. This will ensure that all offenders, not just those that go on to learning, receive a learning assessment (focused around English and maths, but also covering learning difficulties and disabilities). The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) and its partners are also working towards implementing better data sharing arrangements between prisons and service providers so that more is known about previous assessment, progress and achievement, as well as current needs.
Intensive maths and English courses have also been piloted in prisons, based on the Army’s model, particularly to address the needs of prisoners serving short sentences. Prison Governors and OLASS providers are working together to deliver such courses where appropriate.
For prisons in Wales, the Director of NOMS in Wales has responsibility for commissioning the learning and skills services from 1 April 2014 through funding provided by the Welsh Government. These services are delivered by the prisons and address the identified needs of their population to meet the skill requirements of prospective employers. Each prison completes an annual learning and skills needs analysis to help inform their delivery. Performance and quality is linked to the Welsh Government’s devolved requirements in the community to provide an integrated approach to support prisoner resettlement and employability. The Welsh Government undertakes regular robust scrutiny of the quality and outcomes of the learning and skills provision it funds with NOMS in Wales. Improvements and developments for provision in prisons are agreed with the Welsh Government.
Prison and education arrangements are devolved matters in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Responsibility for these issues lies with the respective devolved administrations.
Prisons: Cleanliness
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in the light of the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on Holme House prison which noted that cells were dirty, some cells “stank”, and prisoners struggled to get cleaning materials and clean clothes and bedding.[HL5443]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): Holme House has re-introduced work for prisoners to repaint cells as they become vacant to ensure that they remain in good condition. A cell inventory check has been introduced in addition to the regular Accommodation Fabric Checks already in place. This ensures that every cell is thoroughly checked to ensure it contains the right equipment, and that the equipment is in a decent workable condition.
Under the new core day regime a daily domestic period is provided for prisoners who wish to clean their cells. Cleanliness of cells is reviewed on an ongoing basis by Prison officers. Prisoners are challenged where necessary and this is linked to the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme. A review of the prisoner kit exchange has taken place. The new system includes improved recording systems to ensure that prisoners receive the right amount of clean kit each week. A weekly check has also been introduced to ensure all spare kit is taken to the laundry each week for washing.
Railways: Delays
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost to the United Kingdom economy of train delays between London and Hastings.[HL5781]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Department for Transport has not made an estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom economy of train delays between London and Hastings.
Railways: Electrification
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they still expect the electric railway services between Manchester and Liverpool to start in December. [HL5847]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Whilst this is subject to a successful conclusion to the negotiations currently taking place with Northern Rail Ltd, we do expect a phased introduction of electrically powered passenger rolling stock between Manchester and Liverpool to begin from the December 2014 timetable.
Railways: Flooding
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage an investigation by Network Rail of the flood-related faults on the London to Hastings line; and what work they expect will be done to reduce the risk of damage in the future.[HL5783]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The scope and duration of the works to repair the London to Hastings line is a matter for Network Rail. As the independent safety and economic regulator for Britain's railways, it is the Office of Rail Regulation’s (ORR) responsibility to ensure that Network Rail manages the network efficiently and in a way that meets the needs of its users
As part of ORR’s periodic review of Network Rail’s funding and outputs for the next control period (2014-19), ORR have placed a greater emphasis on Network Rail’s asset management and understanding of asset conditions and the company’s plans to address resilience.
ORR has asked Network Rail to develop a climate change and weather resilience plan for all routes by the end of September 2014, beginning with the Western Route.
Network Rail are on track to complete this by the imposed deadline.
Railways: Infrastructure
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to extend the rail network.[HL5765]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government is committed to building High Speed 2 (HS2) which will be the largest infrastructure project in Europe to expand the rail network in the UK. The Government also works extensively with Local Authorities, Passenger Transport Executives & others to consider options to extend the current rail network.
The Chancellor’s 2011 Autumn Statement announced Government’s plans to fund, with local contributions, the Oxford-Bedford and Aylesbury Town to Calvert sections of East-West rail. The scheme meets existing transport needs, and stimulates strong economic growth in high value areas.
Railways: Repairs
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the remaining time before the rail track between Battle and Robertsbridge is repaired.[HL5782]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Network Rail who own and maintain Britain’s rail infrastructure, have advised that further ground movement means that more work is needed to complete the track repair between Battle and Robertsbridge; as yet, they have given no firm estimate for the reopening of this line.
Railways: Replacement Buses
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the number of rail season ticket holders who have taken rail replacement buses at some point in their journey between Hastings and London in 2014.[HL5780]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): We have made no such estimation.
Railways: Refunds
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to rail companies about refunding season ticket holders whose service has been disrupted by recent extreme weather. [HL5779]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): No representations have been made. This is a matter for the individual Train Operating Companies to address in line with the arrangements set out in their Passenger’s Charters and in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.
Railways: Trans-Pennine Express
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what involvement they have had in discussions relating to the transfer of trains from Trans-Pennine Express services to the Chiltern franchise; which bodies initiated and sanctioned that transfer; when it will take place; what class of trains will be transferred; and what is their assessment of the effects of such a transfer on Trans-Pennine Express services including the extent of overcrowding.[HL5844]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what involvement they have had in discussions relating to the transfer of trains from the Northern franchise to Trans-Pennine Express services.[HL5846]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The lease between the rolling stock supplier and Trans-Pennine Express for 9 Class 170 trains expires in April 2015 from when Chiltern Railways have obtained a new lease agreement. Rolling Stock in this country is a commercial market and the Department for Transport cannot unreasonably withhold its consent for such lease agreements and, as such, gave its agreement when the new lease was signed in February 2014. A number of options are being considered by the Department for Transport and the rail industry to ensure the continued provision of appropriate levels of service to passengers. No decisions on these options have yet been taken.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are proposals to transfer carriages from the Northern franchise to Trans-Pennine Express services; if so, how many carriages would be involved in such a transfer; when it would happen; and what effect it would have on Northern franchise services including the extent of overcrowding and the opening date for the new service between Manchester and East Lancashire via the Todmorden curve.[HL5845]
Baroness Kramer: The Department for Transport considers that the market is best placed to make decisions about rolling stock provision. Following a commercial agreement between the lessor of the trains and another train operator, 9 Class 170 vehicles will move away from the Trans-Pennine Express franchise when the lease for them expires in April 2015. To ensure the continued provision of appropriate levels of service for passengers on Trans-Pennine, a number of options are being explored. At present, no decisions have yet been taken.
Roads: Potholes and Weather Damage
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that potholes and other road damage, resulting from the extreme winter weather, are repaired as soon as is practicable and affordable.[HL5632]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government is allocating over £3.4 billion from 2011 to 2015 to local highway authorities for highway maintenance which can be used to fix damaged roads, including potholes. The 2013 Spending Round announcement committed the Government to providing just under £6 billion to local highway authorities for highway maintenance over the six year period from 2015/16 to 2020/21.
Local authorities are also able to use revenue funding, allocated by the Department for Communities and Local Government through the Revenue Support Grant, for maintaining their local highways.
The Department for Transport also announced on 9 March that it was making available a further £140 million for local authorities in England to help repair damage to the local road network from the severe wet winter the country has encountered. This funding is in addition to £33.5 million we announced previously as part of the transport contribution to the Severe Weather Recovery Scheme.
Sudan
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what negotiations they have had with the government of Sudan regarding relief for Sudan’s foreign debt; and when the next scheduled meeting to discuss Sudan’s foreign debt is due to take place.[HL5494]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Discussions on the treatment of sovereign debt take place within the multilateral framework of the Paris Club. There have been no recent negotiations between the Paris Club and the government of Sudan.
A further meeting of the Sudan Technical Working Group on External Debt is expected to take place in the margins of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in April.
Toll Crossings
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Kramer on 27 February (WS 117), what tax concessions or exemptions exist on each of the 11 bridges and ferries named; and what legislation permits those concessions or exemptions.[HL5800]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): These tolled crossings are mainly privately run and operated and are not regulated by the Department, except where they wish to raise their toll charges. The Department for Transport does not hold records on what tax concessions or exemptions exist on each of the 11 bridges and ferries.
Transport: Buses
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 27 February (WA 276), what proportion of the bus trips made in 2012–13 were with concessionary passes.[HL5751]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Department for Transport publishes statistics which show that in 2012/13 there were 4,598 million bus passenger journeys in England, of which 1,016 million were journeys made with a concessionary bus pass. The concessionary journeys are 22 per cent of the total. They are for both the statutory off-peak bus travel concession and any discretionary travel concessions for older and disabled people which are offered by local authorities.
Passenger journey data by year and by area of England are published in Table BUS0103 at the following link -
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/annual-bus-statistics-2012-13
Concessionary travel journey data are published in Table BUS0821 at the following link –
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/bus08-concessionary-travel#table-bus0821
Transport: Trolleybus
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the proposed re-introduction of the trolleybus in Leeds.[HL5727]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Following detailed assessment of the Leeds New Generation Transport (trolleybus) scheme, in July 2012 Ministers agreed to grant Provisional Approval to the scheme and agreed to provide a maximum funding contribution of £173.5m towards the estimated total cost. Funding will only be made available to the scheme’s promoter, Metro (West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive), if the scheme successfully passes through all the statutory procedures and remains value for money. The public inquiry into the scheme’s statutory orders is scheduled to start on 29 April.
Turkey
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effect on Anglo-Turkish communications of legislation that enables the Turkish Telecommunications Authority to block websites without court approval.[HL5575]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We support the European Commission in encouraging the Turkish government to ensure that any new internet legislation is implemented in line with EU standards and does not infringe on the right to freedom of expression.
The Minister for Europe, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Aylesbury (Mr Lidington), discussed internet legislation with the Turkish Minister for Justice in Ankara on 25 February.
We and our EU partners will continue to underline the importance of freedom of expression and other fundamental freedoms as part of our broader dialogue with the Turkish government.
Young Offenders: Custody
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to address the number of people aged 18 to 24 who die in custody.[HL5292]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to the Lord’s Oral Question on 6 February 2014 (Official report Col 36), announcing that the Government will be establishing an Independent Review into the self-inflicted deaths of 18-24 year olds in prison custody. The review will report by Spring 2015.