Written Answers
Wednesday 26 March 2014
Armed Forces: Service Complaints
Questions
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Astor of Hever on 13 March (WS 187–9) regarding the creation of a Service Complaints Ombudsman, whether, in accordance with the Cabinet Office's April 2010 guidance in Ombudsman Schemes—Guidance for Departments that “anyone establishing such a scheme should consult with the Cabinet Office”, such consultation was carried out; and, if so, what was the Cabinet Office's advice.[HL6044]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Astor of Hever on 13 March (WS 187–9), whether the new arrangements meet the criteria for the use of the term “ombudsman” set out in the Cabinet Office's April 2010 guidance in Ombudsman Schemes—Guidance for Departments that such schemes should have “independence from those who the ombudsman has the power to investigate; accessibility; effectiveness; fairness; and public accountability”.[HL6045]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): I can confirm that discussions have taken place between Ministry of Defence and Cabinet Office colleagues, and that these will continue as we take forward our proposals for a Service Complaints Ombudsman.
These reforms are designed to promote a complaints system that is fair, effective, efficient and quicker to operate. We judge that the nature and extent of these reforms are such that it is appropriate to rename the Service Complaints Commissioner as an Ombudsman. Detailed work on the proposals we have announced is in hand.
Civil Service: Staff
Question
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether applicants for a position in the senior civil service are required to include their educational history, including secondary school attended, when being considered for appointment.[HL6196]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The majority of roles advertised in the senior civil service require applicants to submit a Curriculum Vitae and supporting statement.
Council Tax
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the figure of £98 million to fund the “new burdens” on local government of individual Council Tax support schemes was calculated.[HL5966]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The New Burdens assessment of £98 million was based on discussions with and evidence from a sample of representative local authorities within the localised council tax support delivery and reference groups. The Department worked closely with these groups during the development of the policy. This funding is provided in respect of the net new burdens costs associated with setting up local council tax support schemes, i.e. scheme design, communication, consultation, appeals and updating IT systems.
An initial £30 million was distributed in April 2012, £33.5 million was distributed to billing authorities in 2013-14 and a further £34.8 million will be distributed in 2014-15.
Localising support for council tax has delivered a 10% saving on forecast council tax benefit expenditure from 2013-14. The saving equates to £414 million in England in 2013-14 excluding new burdens funding and the one year transition grant. These implementation costs were funded by making savings elsewhere so the £414 million represents the saving to central Government.
Spending on council tax benefit doubled under the last Government, costing taxpayers £4 billion a year—equivalent to almost £180 a year per household. Welfare reform is vital to tackle the budget deficit left by the last Administration. Our reforms to localise council tax support now give councils stronger incentives to support local firms, cut fraud, promote local enterprise and get people into work. We are ending the last Administration's 'something for nothing' culture and making work pay.
Economy: Quantitative Easing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions there have been between the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Governor of the Bank of England on the issue of changes in quantitative easing. [HL5976]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The UK's monetary policy framework, set out in the Bank of England Act 1998, gives operational responsibility for monetary policy to the independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The Chancellor of the Exchequer has frequent discussions with the Governor of the Bank of England on a wide range of issues on the UK economy.
Elections: 16 and 17 year-olds
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the recent finding in the Demos report, Introducing Generation Citizen, that 84 per cent of 14-to 17-year-olds intend to vote when they attain the age of 18, how they intend to ensure that such intentions to vote translate into first-time voting behaviour amongst young people; and what steps they are taking to ensure that education establishments are committed to registering all 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. [HL5977]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The new key stage 4 citizenship programme to be taught from September 2014 requires that pupils should be taught about “the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom and actions citizens can take in democratic and electoral processes to influence decisions locally, nationally and beyond.”
The government has also made available £4.2 million funding to all 363 local authorities and valuation joint boards in Great Britain and 5 national organisations. Electoral registration officers have been encouraged to support the delivery of Rock Enrol! in their area, a learning resource which not only provides an opportunity for young people to register to vote, but enables them to discuss the importance of doing so.
EU: Education
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Prime Minister discussed with Chancellor Merkel during her recent visit to the United Kingdom the proposal by the European People’s Party that students should be given a “European Union education”. [HL5929]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Prime Minister did not discuss the proposal by the European People’s Party that students should be given a ‘European Union education’ with Chancellor Merkel during her recent visit.
EU: JHA Opt-in Decisions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 10 March (WA 348), whether they will now answer the question.[HL5934]
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, and repeated in my reply to the noble lord,
Lord Vinson on 10 March (WA 348), the Government remains committed ‘to holding another vote on the final package of measures that we will apply to rejoin'.
Finance: Payday Loans
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice they have received from the Financial Conduct Authority about the contribution that payday lenders make to the economy.[HL6017]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will take over regulation of the consumer credit market on 1 April 2014. The FCA must have regard to the principles of good regulation when discharging its general functions. This includes the requirement for the FCA to consider the desirability of sustainable economic growth in the UK in the medium-to-long-term. However, it is not within the FCA's general functions to advise the Government on these issues.
Flooding
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of public sector costs of the promise made by the Prime Minister in respect of financial assistance for victims of flood damage.[HL5971]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government has established a range of schemes in response to the recent flooding that provide assistance to those affected and support repair and recovery. It is not possible at this stage to estimate the final cost of the response.
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to review the current policy of building on flood plains as a result of the flooding this winter.[HL5990]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): We are already looking to see what lessons can be learned and it is right that attention should be given to how local councils plan for development, where they build and the account they take of advice from the Environment Agency.
In the new planning guidance we launched on 6 March we have made it crystal clear that councils need to consider the strict tests set out in national policy, and where these are not met, new development on flood risk sites should not be allowed. These tests, set out in the National Planning Policy Framework, are designed to protect people and property from flooding and give councils the robust ability to reject unacceptable planning applications.
Councils are expected to avoid inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding by directing development away from areas at highest risk, including floodplains. Where development is necessary, it must be demonstrated that it is safe and will not increase flood risk elsewhere. Councils' Local Plans should shape where development should and should not go, and address the need for associated infrastructure to accompany new development. Flood prevention measures, like robust flood and coastal defences, can make development acceptable where it would otherwise not be. For example, London is at risk of tidal flooding, as evident from the North Sea floods of 1953 which inflicted immense damage on the East End of London. However, since 1983, the Thames Barrier has mitigated that risk.
Moreover, national planning policy is clear that any new buildings that are needed in flood risk areas should be appropriately flood resistant and resilient. Mitigation measures such as land raising, landscaping, raised thresholds and re-arranging the internal uses of buildings, can sometimes also make development acceptable in such areas. We have made clear in our new planning guidance that such measures can be made a requirement of any planning consent by the local authority. The guidance can be found at: http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/.
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have calculated the cost to the economy of the flooding over the winter months; and, if so, what is the cost.[HL5991]
Lord Deighton: The Government has not estimated the economic costs attributable to the recent flooding.
Freedom of Information
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when Lord Wills will receive a response to his email to the Cabinet Office of 6 November 2013 (Cabinet Office reference IR317467) about Freedom of Information requests.[HL5989]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): I apologise for the delay. The noble Lord has received a reply.
Gift Aid
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many charitable attractions received Gift Aid tax refunds in respect of admissions in each of the last three years; and what was the total value of Gift Aid used (1) as additional donations, and (2) for annual passes, over the same period.[HL6152]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): HM Revenue and Customs does not separately collect information about Gift Aid claimed by charitable attractions.
Government Departments: Contracts
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what Ministry of Defence contracts have been won by Capita to date; and whether they have delivered departmental savings and asset realisations.[HL6077]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): A list of contracts the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has awarded to Capita considered open on or after 1 April 2009 to January 2011 is in the table below. 1 April 2009 is the earliest point for which we hold reliable data. Due to their age, some information relating to the older contracts on the list is incomplete.
The list includes contracts let by MOD Trading Funds, but does not include those let by the MOD's Executive Non Departmental Public Bodies, or through third parties such as other Government departments or prime contractors. It also does not include miscellaneous transactions with Capita which do not fall under a contract or contract framework.
Since January 2011, as part of this Government's commitment to increase transparency, central Government Departments have been required to publish information about contracts they award on Contracts Finder: www.contractsfinder.businesslink.gov.uk/
| Start date | End date | Title | Supplier | Current total value |
|
Provision of a managed airwave terminal service for the UK MOD |
Government Departments: Expenditure
Questions
Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the expenditure from the Exchequer per capita in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years.[HL6161]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton): The Country and Regional Analysis (CRA) published in November 2013, provides country level splits of identifiable public expenditure on a total as well as per capita basis over a five-year outturn period from 2008-09 to 2012-13. The answer to the data request is summarised in the table provided below;
| Identifiable public expenditure per capita by country, 2008-09 to 2012-13 | |||||
| £ per head | |||||
| 2008-09 outturn | 2009-10 outturn | 2010-11 outturn | 2011-12 outturn | 2012-13 outturn | |
Asked by Lord Selkirk of Douglas
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the expenditure of the Ministry of Defence on bases in (1) England, (2) Scotland, (3) Wales, and (4) Northern Ireland, in each of the last five years.[HL6166]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Government Departments: Meetings
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many meetings HM Treasury had with the representatives of (1) the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, (2) the Scotch Whisky Association, (3) the British Beer and Pub Association, (4) Diageo, (5) SABMiller, and (6) the Portman Group, between 1 November 2013 and 19 March 2014; and whether they will publish the dates, agendas and minutes of those meetings.[HL6187]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Treasury ministers and officials routinely meet with a wide range of stakeholders as part of the policy development process. Details of ministerial and Permanent Secretary meetings with external organisations are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmt-ministers-meetings-hospitality-gifts-and-overseas-travel
Government Departments: Surveys
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Ministry of Defence and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.[HL6033]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Ministry of Defence conducts a wide range of surveys, including the Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey, the tri-service Families Continuous Attitude Survey, and the 'Your Say' survey for civilian staff.
The Defence Board does not routinely commission surveys but considers information derived from them where pertinent to the effective management of the Department.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Home Office, and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.[HL6210]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Home Office and its agencies use a range of in-house tools and methodologies to evaluate customer and partner feedback on specific products and services. As these are related to small scale specific projects, the results are not reported systematically to the Home Office Board.
Her Majesty’s Passport Office has conducted 3 waves of passport customer satisfaction surveys in the last 12 months. Customer satisfaction is one of the key performance indicators for the agency, and the results are reported to the agency management board and to the Home Office as part of regular performance reports.
UK Visas and Immigration is in the process of developing a wide-ranging and regular customer satisfaction survey. This has been sponsored at UKVI’s Customer Board.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Northern Ireland Office and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.[HL6213]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Northern Ireland Office does not have any agencies nor has it commissioned any surveys in the last 12 months. However, all staff within the Department are encouraged to participate in the annual Staff Engagement Survey that is part of the Civil Service People Survey managed by Cabinet Office. The outputs are reported to the management board and the full survey results are published at:
www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/improving/employee-engagement-in-the-civil-service/people-survey-2013.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what customer, user and satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Scotland Office and the agencies that report to it; which of them have been
reported to the management board in the last 12 months; and which were commissioned by the management board.[HL6214]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): No customer, user or satisfaction surveys were conducted in the last 12 months in the Scotland Office or in the Boundary Commission for Scotland.
Health: Alzheimer’s Disease
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to prevent loneliness, alienation and segregation among those with Alzheimer's disease. [HL6149]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): A key focus of the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia is the creation of dementia friendly communities which are inclusive of of people with dementia and help improve their quality of life. A foundation stage recognition process for dementia friendly communities was launched by Alzheimer's Society in September 2013 and 45 communities have already signed up. The Dementia Friends programme will recruit one million Dementia Friends, people with an awareness of dementia who understand how to help people with the condition, by 2015. In the spring Public Health England will launch a social marketing campaign to make the nation more aware of dementia and help recruit people to the Dementia Friends programme.
Health: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children and young people with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome or myalgic encephalomyelitis who are subject to child protection investigation have been recorded as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 by local authority education and social services departments since the Act came into force. [HL6167]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Department for Education does not hold the data requested.
Hilda Murrell
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to release any papers under the 30-year rule relating to the murder of Hilda Murrell on 21 March 1984 in Shropshire.[HL6088]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Any files held by the Government on the case will be considered for release within the requirements and timescales set out in the Public Records Act.
Human Trafficking
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the findings of the review of the National Referral Mechanism; and how civil society groups are being involved in that review.[HL6121]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): An announcement on the review of the National Referral Mechanism will be made shortly.
Immigration Bill
Question
Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to monitor who is chargeable for NHS care under clause 33 of the Immigration Bill; and what is the expected cost of administering such a system in the National Health Service.[HL5958]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Clause 33 of the Immigration Bill gives provision for the introduction of the health surcharge on individuals subject to immigration control. We anticipate that this surcharge will be introduced for individuals seeking leave to enter or remain on visas of between six months and five years' duration.
The Department is working closely with the Home Office to ensure that information on the individuals who have paid the health surcharge is easily available to providers of National Health Service healthcare. An individual having paid the health surcharge will then generally be entitled to access all NHS services free at the point of delivery as per any United Kingdom or European Economic Area national resident here. Eligibility will be demonstrated by the possession of a biometric residence permit and an automatically-created NHS record, which will identify that the individual has paid the surcharge and therefore is not to be subject to further charges, except where a resident pays charges.
The additional administrative burden on the NHS of identifying those who have paid the surcharge, and thus of verifying their entitlement to healthcare which is free at the point of delivery, should be minimal. The Department is working with the Health and Social Care Information Centre to include new data fields on the NHS Spine that will be populated with an individual's immigration status and surcharge validity automatically.
The Department will be publishing a costed implementation plan for the NHS Cost Recovery Programme soon.
Internet: Child Abuse
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider there to be sufficient resources to tackle online child abuse.[HL6150]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Command of the National Crime Agency (NCA) is the UK’s national law enforcement agency committed to tackling the sexual abuse of children in both the online and offline environments - with the principal aim of identifying, locating and safeguarding children and young people from harm.
Government funding for the CEOP Command of the NCA was £6.381million in 2012/13. The work of the CEOP Command in tackling the proliferation of indecent images of children is of utmost importance and that is why we have protected its budget.
In addition, every officer in the NCA, which has over 4000 people, has a legal duty to safeguard children and promote child welfare. The NCA’s UK and global reach is extensive, with officers stationed in over 40 countries overseas to ensure our international partners are working alongside us to tackle the abuse of children.
Police forces also investigate online child abuse, safeguard the victims and prosecute the perpetrators. The resources allocated to this work in each force is a matter for the Chief Constable and their Police and Crime Commissioner.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Prime Minister’s recent announcement that the United Kingdom Government will provide business opportunities in the West Bank and skills training for women in Gaza, what consideration they have given to assisting those areas in provision of security and access to drinking water.[HL5983]
Baroness Northover (LD): Over 60,000 people in the West Bank and Gaza will have improved security of supply and access to clean water as a result of DFID’s support to the International Committee of the Red Cross, and we also support access to water for agriculture in ‘Area C’ of the West Bank. The UK Government continues to press the Israeli Government on the need to ensure adequate access to water, and we stand behind the Office of the Quartet Representative’s Initiative for the Palestinian Economy, which identifies generating new sources of water as a key step towards sustainable economic growth in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
John Anthony Downey
Question
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the full terms of reference of the judge-led inquiry into the case of John Downey and the on-the-run letters; whether the Prime Minister’s announcement on 27 February that “the judge will have full access to government files and to government officials” indicates that a statutory legal compulsion to appear applies to everyone whom the judge may summon; and whether any such compulsion extends to members of Sinn Fein, the police, the recipients of the letters and others involved who may not be government officials or who may have retired from the service. [HL6073]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Lady Justice Hallett DBE has been appointed to conduct an independent review of the administrative scheme to deal with so-called “on-the-runs” (OTRs).
The terms of reference of the review are:
• to produce a full public account of the operation and extent of the administrative scheme for OTRs;• to determine whether any letters sent through the scheme contained errors; and• to make recommendations as necessary on this or related matters that are drawn to the attention of the inquiry.
The Prime Minister's statement stands for itself. The review will have full access to files held by Government, and government officials who are requested to appear will be expected to do so. I expect the report to be completed by the end of May 2014 for the purpose of its full publication.
Labour Productivity
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of labour productivity per hour worked in the United Kingdom; and what actions they are taking to improve performance.[HL6057]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Viscount Younger of Leckie) (Con): Due to the strong performance of the UK labour market in maintaining relatively high levels of employment, UK labour productivity performance has been relatively weak since 2008. The UK government regularly assesses UK productivity performance. The latest assessment is presented in the Growth Dashboard published in January 2014.
The Government’s approach to raising productivity is to deliver macroeconomic stability, and implement longer term structural change; giving firms and individuals the confidence to invest for the future. The Government’s four ambitions for growth are to create the most
competitive tax system in the G20, make the UK the best place in Europe to start, finance and grow a business, encourage investment and exports, and create a more educated workforce that is the most flexible in Europe. Through industrial strategy, the whole of Government is working in partnership with industry to set the long term direction needed to give businesses the confidence to invest - creating more opportunities, skilled jobs and making the UK more competitive so that British businesses can thrive and compete with rising economies. Industrial strategy has five main strands: technologies, access to finance, skills, procurement and sectors.
Modern Slavery Bill
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what the timeline will be for giving consideration to the forthcoming report of the Joint Committee on the draft Modern Slavery Bill; and what further consultation will take place before the bill is introduced into Parliament. [HL6122]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): We expect the Modern Slavery Bill to be introduced to Parliament early in the fourth session, subject to other Parliamentary business.
We will of course give the Joint Committee’s report full and careful consideration when it is published, and will continue to consult with stakeholders as we consider the Committee’s recommendations prior to introduction of the Bill.
Prisoners: Healthcare
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Earl Howe on 18 March (HL Deb, col 81), what healthcare provision is available for those in United Kingdom prisons; and who is responsible for commissioning those services. [HL6128]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Prisoners are eligible for the same healthcare and treatment as anyone outside of prison. From 1 April 2013, NHS England became responsible for commissioning all health services, with the exception of some emergency care, ambulance services, out of hours and 111 services, for people in prisons in England. The responsibility for commissioning healthcare services for prisoners outside England rests with the relevant devolved administrations.
Schools: Cadet Schemes
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in extending the cadet forces scheme in state secondary schools in (1) 2010–11, (2) 2011– 12, (3) 2012–13, and (4) to date in 2013–14; what quantitative assessment they will make of any improvement in the behaviour of pupils involved with the scheme; and what plans they have to extend the scheme in the future.[HL6173]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): In June 2012 the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister announced the Government’s Cadet Expansion Programme (CEP) to increase the number of state funded schools with their own military cadet force unit. The programme has been allocated £10.85 million by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ministry of Defence (MOD) so that more young people can benefit from the military cadet experience in school. The agreed DfE/MOD target is to establish 100 new units in state schools by the end of the academic year 2015/16. The CEP covers academic years from 2012/13 to 2015/16. At the end of academic year 2012/13, 21 new units had been established. A further 17 have been set up this academic year.
However, recent evidence shows that a military ethos – Service values and Service personnel – make a real difference in schools. Setting up a cadet forces scheme is a long-term way of embedding a military ethos in schools. We are commissioning plans to collect quantitative evidence on the impact of new cadet units.
The Government’s aspiration is that all schools that want a cadet unit should be able to have one by 2020.
United Nations Gateway Protection Programme
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the countries of origin of the refugees accepted by the United Kingdom through the United Nations Gateway Protection Programme in (1) 2012, and (2) 2013. [HL6113]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The countries of origin of refugees resettled through the Gateway Protection Programme are as follows:
2012 – Bhutan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan.
2013 – Bhutan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan.
Visas
Questions
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what visa arrangements are made to allow academics from non-European Union countries who are invited to lecture or take part in research on a short-term basis to enter the United Kingdom; and whether those arrangements apply to their immediate family members.[HL6117]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Academics can use the academic visitor route to carry out unpaid research for up to 12 months provided they are on sabbatical leave from their overseas academic institution. Academics can also speak at conferences provided it is a not for profit venture.
Academics can use the permitted paid engagement visitor route to give paid lectures for up to 1 month. They must be invited by a UK Higher Education Institution or a UK research or arts based organisation.
Family members can apply as general visitors, or child visitors in the case of children under 18 years, to accompany the main visitor to the UK. They would be allowed to stay in the UK for up to 6 months, or 12 months where they are accompanying an academic visitor.
Academics who are employed to carry out paid research in the UK can do so under the Tier 5 Government Authorised Exchange route for up to 24 months. They must be sponsored by a UK Higher Education Institution. Their dependents can stay with them and have the right to work.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications have been received by United Kingdom entry clearance posts for adult dependant settlement
visas from 31 July 2012, to the latest convenient date; and how many such visas were granted over the same period.[HL6119]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach: The information requested on entry clearance applications for adult dependent relative settlement visas is not available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost by the examination of a significant number of individual case records.
The Home Office publishes quarterly statistics on entry clearance visa applications and resolutions (issued, refused, withdrawn and lapsed) by category in table be_01_q (Before Entry tables volume 2) within the ‘Immigration Statistics’ release. A copy of the latest release, ‘Immigration Statistics September – December 2013’ is available from the Library of the House and from:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
Within the table be_01_q , data relating to adult dependent relatives of a British Citizen in the UK or a settled person in the UK are included in the category ‘Family: Other (for immediate settlement)’ but cannot be identified separately.
The Home Office is reviewing the collection of data relating to adult dependent relative settlement visas. Data are being developed and, subject to resolving any data quality/recording issues, it is planned to begin publishing data specifically relating to adult dependent relative settlement visas later this year.
A manual review of the available management information to identify adult dependent relative applications granted in the period from 1 November 2012 to 30 September 2013 indicates that 34 settlement visas were issued in that period to an adult dependent relative under Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules. This information is provisional and subject to change. Corresponding information on applications is not available.