Written Answers
Monday 30 June 2014
Affordable Housing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define affordable housing in terms of (1) maximum proportion of after-tax income of those on average earnings needed to pay rent, and (2) multiple of gross income needed to buy a house.[HL406]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): We do not define affordable housing in those terms. The Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (sections 68 – 70) defines social housing as low cost rental accommodation and low cost home ownership accommodation. In the Act, a low cost rent is simply defined as below the market rate. Low cost home ownership is defined by its availability for occupation on a shared ownership or equity percentage basis. This provides flexibility to support a range of people with different housing needs through our affordable housing programmes.
For planning purposes, the definition set out in the National Planning Policy Framework is as follows:
“Social rented, affordable rented and intermediate housing, provided to eligible households whose needs are not met by the market. Eligibility is determined with regard to local incomes and local house prices. Affordable housing should include provisions to remain at an affordable price for future eligible households or for the subsidy to be recycled for alternative affordable housing provision.
Social rented housing is owned by local authorities and private registered providers (as defined in section 80 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008), for which guideline target rents are determined through the national rent regime. It may also be owned by other persons and provided under equivalent rental arrangements to the above, as agreed with the local authority or with the Homes and Communities Agency.
Affordable rented housing is let by local authorities or private registered providers of social housing to households who are eligible for social rented housing. Affordable Rent is subject to rent controls that require a rent of no more than 80% of the local market rent (including service charges, where applicable).
Intermediate housing is homes for sale and rent provided at a cost above social rent, but below market levels subject to the criteria in the Affordable Housing definition above. These can include shared equity (shared ownership and equity loans), other low cost homes for sale and intermediate rent, but not affordable rented housing.
Homes that do not meet the above definition of affordable housing, such as “low cost market” housing, may not be considered as affordable housing for planning purposes.”
Aggregates
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the marine aggregate industry. [HL459]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The UK Marine Policy Statement (MPS) is the framework for preparing Marine Plans and taking decisions affecting the marine environment. The MPS sets out the policy objectives for key activities taking place in the marine environment. This includes an assessment of marine aggregate resources, potential impacts from extraction activities and issues for consideration by decision-makers. Within English waters marine aggregate extraction activities are regulated by the Marine Management Organisation.
Government, regulators, The Crown Estate and the British Marine Aggregate Producers Association (BMAPA) have collaborated on an extensive programme of research (over £25 million in ten years) into understanding and minimising the environmental impacts of aggregates dredging. Following the completion of that programme BMAPA and The Crown Estate recently commissioned and published Aggregate Dredging and the Marine Environment – an overview of recent research and current industry practice. The report is available on The Crown Estate website at www.the crownestate.co.uk
The marine aggregate industry has and continues to engage constructively with Government and regulators in developing marine plans and licensing policy and Marine Conservation Zones.
Alcoholic Drinks and Drugs
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to prevent alcohol and drug abuse in the United Kingdom.[HL418]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Coalition Government’s approach to preventing drug and alcohol abuse in the UK is captured in the 2010 Drug Strategy and the 2012 Alcohol Strategy.
The Drug Strategy 'Reducing demand, restricting supply, building recovery: supporting people to live a drug-free life’ balances three key themes: reducing the demand for drugs, restricting the supply of drugs, and supporting individuals to recover from dependence. We continue to do all we can to prevent people from using drugs in the first place and intervene early with those who start to develop problems. For example, we are taking action to break intergenerational paths to drug misuse by supporting the UK’s most troubled families and supporting practitioners working with young people through the production of an on-line Alcohol and Drug Education and Prevention Information Service.
We are confident that our strategic approach is producing good results. Drug use has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1996, and people going into treatment today are more likely to free themselves from dependency than ever before.
The Alcohol Strategy proposed a range of measures to radically reshape the approach to alcohol and reduce excessive drinking and tackle the crime and health harms associated with it. We have provided more powers for local areas to restrict opening and closing times, control the density of licensed premises, and charge a late night levy to support policing. In May we introduced a ban on the worst cases of very cheap and harmful alcohol sales and are taking forward a wide range of action to tackle alcohol-related crime and disorder. This includes working with 20 Local Alcohol Action Areas to cut alcohol-related crime and disorder, and reduce the damage caused to people’s health. Underpinning this work is the goal of promoting diverse and vibrant night-time economies that do not centre on drinking alcohol.
Through the Responsibility Deal, the alcohol industry has adopted a core commitment to ‘foster a culture of responsible drinking which will help people to drink within guidelines’. This includes a pledge to give consumers a wider choice of lower strength products and take one billion units out of the market by 2015. From April 2013, the NHS Healthcheck included an alcohol risk assessment for adults aged 40-75 year olds, with an assessment every five years. The Chief Medical Officer (Dame Sally Davies) is also reviewing the alcohol guidelines for adults.
Autism
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many adults with autism in England currently receive support because they have been identified by a local authority as being at risk of abuse or neglect.[HL420]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): This information is not kept centrally.
BRIC Countries
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the value of trade between the United Kingdom and (1) Brazil, (2) Russia, (3) India, and (4) China.[HL634]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) (Con): According to the latest UK Economic Accounts, UK trade of goods and services in 2013 with the BRIC countries were as follows:
| UK Exports | UK Imports | Total Trade | |
| £ million | £ million | £ million | |
Source
:UK Economic Accounts Q1 2014
CDC
Question
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the desirability of investments made by the CDC Group in the construction of shopping centres and gated communities.[HL432]
Baroness Northover (LD): I refer the noble lady to the answer I gave on 19 June 2014 (Official Report, column WA90) to the noble Lord Steel.
“In 2013, CDC’s 1,300 investee companies directly employed over a million people, and created more than 68,000 net new jobs.
Individual investments are fully decided by CDC and the Government has put in place strict rules which require commitments to deliver jobs, economic development and poverty alleviation in developing countries.”
Channel Tunnel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to transfer responsibility for economic regulation and railway safety within the Channel Tunnel from the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission to the United Kingdom and French rail regulators; if so, by what date; and, if not, why not.[HL630]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The British and French Governments will move economic regulation of the Tunnel from the Channel Tunnel Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) to the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) and its French equivalent, and put in place a charging framework by 31 March 2015. We are working with the French Government and anticipate that those commitments will be resolved by March next year. There are no plans to transfer railway safety from IGC.
Closed Material Procedures
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in how many cases since the passage of the Justice and Security Act 2013 applications have been made for closed material procedures to be employed; and how many have been successful.[HL347]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): In accordance with section 12 of the Justice and Security Act 2013, the Government will lay before Parliament, in the course of 2014, a report on the use of the closed material procedure under section 6 of that Act. This will include the numbers of applications made and whether such applications have been granted.
Coastal Areas: Flood Control
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of how much sand and gravel is used each year to protect the United Kingdom coastline.[HL458]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Environment Agency holds this information locally and it would be disproportionately costly to collate the records to answer this question accurately in the time allowed.
Developing Countries: Health Services
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government with whom they have had discussions about including Millennium Development Goal 5b in the World Health Organisation's draft health goal for the post-2015 framework.[HL382]
Baroness Northover (LD): The UK Government has had discussions with a broad range of interested parties about the importance of including universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in the post-2015 framework, recognising the unfinished business of MDG5b on universal access to reproductive health. These parties include other national governments, international organisations and NGOs.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to advocate the inclusion of Millennium Development Goal 5b in the World Health Organisation's draft health goal for the post-2015 framework.[HL383]
Baroness Northover: As we have already made clear, the UK supports a target to ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health for all. Language on this is included in the most recent draft goals and targets list released by the co-chairs of the Open Working Group (OWG) on 2 June.
The final targets in the post-2015 development framework will however be subject to international negotiations in the United Nations, in which the UK will play an active role.
Diabetes
Question
Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to review NHS England's progress in implementing the Action for Diabetes plan.[HL400]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Action for Diabetes sets out the broad vision and direction for how NHS England will support improvements in outcomes for people with and at risk of diabetes in the coming years, as a direct commissioner of services and supporting clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in their commissioning role.
Outcomes for people with diabetes will continue to be measured through the NHS Outcomes Framework and the CCG Outcomes Indicator Set, which are both updated and published annually. Outcomes for people with diabetes will also be assessed through the National Diabetes Audit, which includes the core audit, the national inpatient diabetes audit, the national diabetes pregnancy audit, the national patient experience of diabetes services survey and the national diabetes foot audit. The latter of these is due to be launched this summer.
Driving: Licensing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the time taken to issue new licences to diabetics who are required annually to renew their class C1 driving licences and undertake a medical examination; and whether they have any plans to expedite the process for such drivers to renew their licences.[HL512]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): No formal assessment has been made on the impact of the time taken to issue a category C1 (small lorries) licence to drivers with diabetes.
However, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has been working with key stakeholders and has recently reviewed the application process for all vocational drivers with insulin treated diabetes. As a result, a pilot exercise is currently being carried out where certain aspects of the application process have been streamlined.
Further opportunities to speed up the application process will be explored following the conclusion of the pilot exercise.
Egypt
Question
Asked by Lord Stone of Blackheath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of Egypt's latest parliamentary election laws.[HL470]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The new parliamentary law, passed by interim President Adly Mansour, includes many changes to the structure of the Egyptian parliament. The law increases the number of parliamentary seats to 567, with 420 seats being elected by single member constituencies and 120 elected through party lists.
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised the parliamentary elections and the need for political inclusiveness with former Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on 14 May. On 3 June, the Foreign Secretary issued a statement urging Egypt’s leaders to ensure that the transition leads towards accountable and democratic governance, underpinned by strong and accountable institutions.
Energy Supply
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to ensure resilience of energy supply for the United Kingdom and its citizens.[HL549]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The Government conducts regular assessments to identify risks to energy supply including through the National Risk Assessment and National Security Risk Assessment processes. Government works closely with the supply industry and other stakeholders to ensure there are appropriate mitigation measures in place to strengthen resilience and to protect against risks where it is possible and value for money to do so. For example, supplies of power, gas and fuel across the country were robust to the major flooding earlier this year (though power supplies to flooded properties must be disconnected for safety reasons).
Further, in the event of a situation which threatened to disrupt energy supplies to customers, Government and industry have robust plans in place to manage and respond to such events, which are exercised on a regular basis.
Energy: Prices
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 16 June (WA 23) on energy prices, how they reconcile the Department of Energy and Climate Change's estimate in paragraph 4.3, page 28 of its February consultation on the plans for the offtaker of last resort that “Backstop PPAs [will be] available to generators from early 2016” with the statement made to Parliament on 4 November 2013 at Report stage of the Energy Act 2013 that they intended “a scheme to be in place by the time the first CfDs are signed” in late 2014 (HL Deb, col 25); and whether concerns have been raised by independent generators about the distinction between having “a high degree of clarity about the arrangements for OLR” and “a scheme being in place”.[HL466]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): We are on track to introduce enabling regulations to have the OLR mechanism in place ahead of the first CfD allocation in Autumn 2014. This will include a final version of the Backstop Power Purchase Agreement (BPPA) contract terms that generators will be entitled to. Generators will therefore have a high degree of clarity about the arrangements well in advance of the first auctions. We are shortly publishing a draft version of the BPPA contract terms this week to give generators further clarity on the terms they can expect.
Whilst the OLR will be in place, generators will not be able to access a Backstop PPA contract immediately, with BPPA contracts being available from April 2016 at the very latest. In light of the time taken to commission projects and the likelihood that a PPA falls away and cannot be replaced, the period between the legislation being in place and the first BPPA contract being available is unlikely to have significant impacts in practice. This process has been tested with stakeholders, including the Offtaker of Last Resort Advisory Group, and we continue to work with Ofgem to bring forward the date when the first BPPA contracts can be awarded.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 16 June (WA 24) on energy prices, in the light of the change in language used by the European Commission between its draft and final state aid guidance to reduce the distinction between “mature” and “immature”, and “established” and “less established” technologies, what steps they will take to ensure that the current proposals (1) to introduce auctioning of Contracts for Difference (CfDs) for only one particular group of technologies in October 2014, and (2) to create an enduring regime which allocates CfDs in different ways to different groups of technologies beyond 2017, will not run contrary to the new guidelines, introduced after the commencement of their consultation process.[HL469]
Baroness Verma: The EU ‘Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy 2014-2020’, which were adopted in principle on 9 April 2014, set out a requirement to introduce technology neutral competition for renewable technologies, including a transitional phase, with a number of derogations. In May 2014 the Government confirmed proposals to move straight to competition for more established technologies. For less established technologies, if there is insufficient budget in a CfD allocation round to satisfy all bids, a competitive auction will apply. We believe our proposals are consistent with the guidelines.
Entry Clearances: Palestinians
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what investigations they intend to make into the UK Border Agency’s refusal of an entry visa to Nabil Al-Raee, Artistic Director of Jenin Freedom Theatre.[HL430]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Due to its obligations under the Data Protection Act, the Home Office is unable to comment on individual cases.
European Union
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Freud on 18 June (WS 91), whether the proposals made by the Council of Ministers on 19 June will result in steps towards ever-closer union.[HL544]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): The Council of Ministers meeting on 19 June on Employment and Social Policy covered ongoing discussions on a number of dossiers which may feed into wider Council negotiations.
Expert Evidence
Questions
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the allegations made regarding expert witnesses in the BBC Panorama programme Justice for Sale, broadcast on 9 June, they intend to revise the rules regarding the use of expert witnesses in criminal trials.[HL413]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): There is no place in the justice system for corrupt expert witnesses. Those who are found guilty can face prosecution for perjury, or for perverting the course of justice which carries the maximum penalty of a life sentence.
Following the Government’s response to the Law Commission’s report into Expert Evidence, the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee was asked to make changes to the Rules which will clarify the duties of expert witnesses and remind the parties, and the courts, of the vital importance of distinguishing between those conclusions that expert evidence can support, and those which it cannot. The Committee has agreed to do so and I expect these new Rules to come into force in October.
Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the allegations made regarding expert witnesses in the BBC Panorama programme Justice for Sale, broadcast on 9 June, they will review and publish a list of the occasions on which the expert witnesses identified in that programme gave evidence under oath in criminal trials since June 2010.[HL414]
Lord Faulks: Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service does not record which experts are called to give evidence in trials, and this information is therefore not available.
Forests
Question
Asked by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what effect they consider that the provisions contained within clause 21 of the Infrastructure Bill will have on the policy stated in their response to recommendation 27 of the Independent Panel on Forestry’s Final Report.[HL377]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): There has been some uninformed and misleading speculation on this issue, as I am happy to make clear that the Infrastructure Bill’s provisions will have no impact on the Public Forest Estate. This point was also made by my noble Friend, Baroness Kramer, during Second Reading on 18 June 2014, Official Report, Column 899.
Clause 21 of the Infrastructure Bill is completely unconnected to the Government’s stated policy to establish a new public body to hold the Public Forest Estate.
The Government has no intention of transferring land from the new body to the Homes and Communities Agency, as the Public Forest Estate is currently in use and not declared surplus. As such, the powers will not be used in relation to this body and will therefore have no effect on it.
Instead, Clause 21 simply enables surplus land to transfer directly from named public bodies directly to the Homes and Communities Agency, rather than being transferred into the ownership of a Whitehall department first, saving unnecessary bureaucracy. The underlying policy intention is to make it easier for surplus and redundant brownfield land to be sold and help build more homes.
The Clause 21 arrangements will only apply to public bodies included on a list set out in secondary legislation. I can confirm that this list will not include the new body to hold the Public Forest Estate.
Free Schools
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Nash on 14 May (HL Deb, col 1863), that governors are responsible for improving failing free schools, in what ways they will ensure that governors receive adequate support to do so from the Department for Education.[HL566]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The National College for Teaching and Leadership provides a package of support for Governors, which includes National Leaders of Governance, a development programme for chairs
and workshops for governors. These are capacity building interventions to improve governance, including in free schools.
The Governors’ Handbook sets out clear expectations for governors, particularly in relation to their core strategic functions.
Fuels: Tax Evasion
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to address cross-border smuggling of diesel fuel between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.[HL412]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): A range of measures are in place to detect and deter cross border smuggling of diesel between the Republic and Ireland and Northern Ireland. These include investigative work on either side of the border, for example checking of documentation, and acting on intelligence received. This is augmented by close cooperation and information sharing by the HMRC, the Irish Revenue Commissioners and other relevant agencies.
Additionally, HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.
Government Departments: Fines
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Newby on 17 June (HL Deb, col 788), by what authority HM Treasury imposes fines on other departments; for what reasons such fines may be imposed; what the effect of such fines are on the Government’s overall resources; and whether any disciplinary action is taken against officials found to be responsible for incurring such fines.[HL436]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Treasury is responsible for ensuring there is proper accountability to Parliament for the use of public money. It is responsible for setting the ground rules for the administration of public money and is accountable to Parliament for doing so.
The guidelines for managing public expenditure have been set out in a number of documents published by the Treasury, including Managing Public Money[1], the Consolidated Budgeting Guidance[2] and Improving Spending Control[3]. They set out the circumstances where the Treasury may impose fines or penalties on departments. In all cases, the Treasury retains the right to apply whatever penalties are appropriate to incentivise good financial management and value for money.
Fines imposed on departments have had a minimal impact on the Government’s overall resources.
Accounting Officers are responsible for ensuring that their departments meet specific standards, as set out in Managing Public Money. The Chief Secretary will write to the Secretaries of State and the Head of the Civil Service where he is concerned that Accounting Officers may fall short in fulfilling their responsibilities for managing public money. Should an Accounting Officer fall short of the standards required he or she may have their designation as Accounting Officer withdrawn, which may lead to termination of employment.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-public-money
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consolidated-budgeting -guidance
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-spending- control
Highways Agency
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria with respect to good design they intend to establish in their new plans for the Highway Agency.[HL354]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): It is government policy that our major road improvements should follow good design principles. For example, in “Action for Roads” we made it clear that any improvements to the network must be made in a way that supports the nation’s overall quality of life. This means that our strategy for roads, and detail requirements will need to:
Be designed to minimise environmental impacts and, where possible, tackle existing problems.Build on existing cooperation with organisations like Natural England to find the best solutions to environmental challenges.Continue to work in a planning framework which protects the wider environment.
We are establishing the first Roads Investment Strategy, which includes a performance specification for the new strategic highways company. This will aim to ensure that the company’s design and delivery activities align with the overall goals that government has for the Strategic Road Network (SRN). Good design, including how the SRN interfaces with built environments and impacts on quality of life, will need to be an important element of both the process and the implementation.
Housing: Construction
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many households have been formed and how many housing units have been built in England in each of the last 10 years.[HL362]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): Annual statistics on house building completions by tenure in England are published in the Department’s live tables 209 (financial year) and 244 (calendar year), which are available at the following link.
http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building
Estimates of numbers of households in 2001 and 2011 are published in the Department’s live table 401, which is available at the following link.
http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-household-projections
Annual statistics on net housing supply in England, which as well as house building include change of use and conversions, are published in the Department’s live table 120 (financial year) which is available at the following link.
http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-net-supply-of-housing
Immunity Certificates
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in how many cases since the passage of the Justice and Security Act 2013 the public interest immunity procedure has been invoked; and how much compensation has been paid as a result.[HL348]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): The Public Interest Immunity procedure may be used in a wide variety of court proceedings and as such no central record exists of its application.
Invalid Vehicles
Question
Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to ensure greater take-up of insurance cover by mobility scooter users, and to encourage more training in the use of scooters.[HL531]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government has issued guidance for users of mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs which recommends that they take out insurance cover and undertake formal training. The guidance is available at online at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-on-the-road-some-guidance-for-users
Iran
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest estimate of the effect of sanctions on Iran on exports from (1) the United Kingdom, and (2) the European Union.[HL393]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): A significant set of EU, UN and US sanctions have been imposed on Iran because of its nuclear programme. UK exports to Iran fell to £79 million in 2013, down from £100 million in 2012, and £180 million in 2011. EU exports to Iran have also fallen, totalling €5.4 billion in 2013. This is down from €7.4 billion in 2012, and €10.5 billion in 2011.
Israel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made or will make to the government of Israel concerning prisoners and detainees now on hunger strike; and whether they will ask for a review process for the release of those held under administrative orders.[HL423]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Officials in our Consulate General in Jerusalem have monitored the cases of Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike and have been in regular contact with the Prisoners Affairs Ministry in the Palestinian Authority and relevant non-governmental organisations. Officials raised our concerns over prisoners with the Israeli National Security Council on 17 June. We have previously lobbied the Israeli authorities to ensure that the rights of those on hunger strike to receive medical care of their choice and family visits be respected, and encouraged all sides to reach a solution that prevents loss of life.
Medals
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 24 June (WA 146), whether they will now answer the question as originally put.[HL659]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): All military and civilian gallantry awards may be awarded posthumously; honours made in the Orders of Knighthood may not be awarded posthumously.
Middle East
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning recent reports of violence in Al-Jalazoun refugee camp, and the launch of air strikes against Gaza. [HL425]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The violence in the Al-Jalazoun refugee camp was raised in a recent discussion between officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Israeli National Security Council. The Government has called on all parties to respect in full the November 2012 Gaza ceasefire.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the prospect of a third intifada; and what discussions they have had with the government of Israel concerning the possibility.[HL426]
Baroness Warsi: The Government has not made any assessment of the prospect of a third intifada.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to create trust between Israelis and Palestinians; what United Kingdom and European Union funds are earmarked for that purpose; and what discussions they have had with relevant British non-governmental organisations about trust-building.[HL492]
Baroness Warsi: The British Government recognises the importance of building trust between Israelis and Palestinians, and supports a number of initiatives aimed at that purpose. Fostering co-existence is a key objective of our £4 million conflict pool, which is available in Israel and the Occupied Territories. The UK also supports projects through the EU, such as through the EU Partnership for Peace programme, which aims to build trust and understanding in the region in order to create the conditions for peace. The Government remains engaged with a range of non-governmental organisations in order to take forward peace-building initiatives, including those focused on building trust.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they intend to have with institutions of the European Union regarding the uses of European Union expenditure in Israel and Palestine during the last 25 years.[HL494]
Baroness Warsi: The Government engages with EU institutions through the relevant management committees to approve all EU expenditure in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs), and seeks to ensure that EU expenditure is targeted where it is most needed in order to maximise impact. There are currently no
plans to engage in a review of the past 25 years of EU spending in the region, but past spending is reviewed in the yearly Court of Auditors Report, and the UK works closely with EU institutions to monitor the uses of EU expenditure in Israel and the OPTs.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the relevance of the Arab League Peace Initiative to the stability of the Middle East. [HL495]
Baroness Warsi: We assess that the Arab Peace Initiative, through its offer of the normalisation of relations between Arab states and Israel in the event of a comprehensive peace agreement, is highly relevant to the stability of the Middle East. During the 3rd EU-Arab League Summit in Athens on 11 June the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Mr Robertson), reaffirmed our support for the Arab Peace Initiative as an important signal of the benefits a comprehensive peace deal would bring for the entire region.
National Insurance Contributions
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much is raised annually from National Insurance contributions.[HL486]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Information on monthly and annual receipts of National Insurance contributions is published in table HM Revenue and Customs Receipts on the GOV.UK website.
A link to the most recent publication is given below.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/321069/20140610_Maymonthlyreceipts.pdf
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they make public how National Insurance contributions are distributed and to which expenditure; and, if so, how National Insurance contributions are dispersed. [HL487]
Lord Deighton:The destination of National Insurance contributions (NICs) is set out in Section 162 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and Section 142 of the Social Security (Northern Ireland) Administration Act 1992. NICs are paid into the National Insurance Funds (NIF) after deducting the appropriate NHS allocation. Contributory benefits are paid out of the Funds and the amounts are published in the National Insurance Fund Accounts[1].
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-insurance-fund-accounts
NHS: Finance
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether and how they plan to respond to the British Medical Association's vote on 23 June to resist NHS cuts.[HL596]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): National health service funding in England has not been cut – over the last four years the NHS has received annual real terms growth. Funding is £12.7 billion higher in cash terms in 2014-15 than in 2010-11. The NHS is on track to make up to £20 billion efficiency savings this parliament to reinvest into frontline care and we are confident that it will continue to make the efficiency improvements necessary to meet rising demand.
North Korea
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to seek a United Nations Security Council Resolution on the human rights situation in North Korea, following the findings of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry; and if so, whether they will sponsor such a Resolution if it appears to face resistance from Russia or China.[HL372]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK believes strongly that there should be no impunity for serious international crimes, such as those which the Commission of Inquiry found are being committed in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). We played an active role in ensuring a strong DPRK resolution at the March UN Human Rights Council, including a call for the UN General Assembly to submit the report of the Commission of Inquiry to the UN Security Council for its consideration and appropriate action. In April we and other Security Council members took part in a public “Arria” briefing by the Commission. This was the first time the Security Council had considered DPRK human rights in this way. We also raised the need for a continued focus on human rights during a UN Security Council Sanctions Committee meeting in May.
On June 18 the Minister of State, my Rt Hon Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), visited Geneva, where he took part in an Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in the DPRK, Mr Mazuki Darusman. Mr Swire also raised the importance of DPRK human rights with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon and stressed the importance of UN action. The next step will be to ensure there is an appropriate focus on DPRK human rights at this autumn’s UN General Assembly (UNGA) session and that there is a strong DPRK resolution, strongly supported, in the UNGA Third Committee.
We will keep the prospect of a UNSC Resolution under review.
Occupied Territories
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have informed businesses operating in Israel and Palestine of their revised guidance on overseas business risk discouraging trade in illegal settlements.[HL429]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK Trade and Investment-Foreign and Commonwealth Office Overseas Business Risk website is the forum through which HMG raises awareness of the key security and political risks which British businesses may face when operating abroad. Whenever asked by British businesses about settlements, we set out the UK’s clear position on the illegality of Israeli settlements under international law, and share with them our advice as set out in the online guidance. The approach we take to disseminating the voluntary guidance with respect to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is the same as that we take with respect to any of the other countries covered by the website.
Palestinians
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will seek to re-activate the provisions concerning Gaza of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access.[HL422]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Government continues to press the parties to make progress in Gaza, including provisions contained in the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access. In particular, we continue to press Israel to ease movement and access restrictions for goods and people.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what, if any, contribution the United Kingdom could make towards discovery of the group responsible for the three kidnapped Israeli settler teenagers; and what discussions they have held with the Israeli Prime Minister concerning his analysis of the situation.[HL427]
Baroness Warsi: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right honourable Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister on 17 June about this issue. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Faversham and Mid Kent (Mr Robertson), discussed the issue at length with both sides during his recent visit to the region on 17-19 June. We have offered practical support.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they will give to the new unity government in Palestine; and what action they plan to take to support the stabilisation of the West Bank and Gaza.[HL428]
Baroness Warsi: The British Government welcomed the announcement on the formation of a new interim technocratic government for the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPTs). Through Department for International Development funding of £130 million for 2011-15, the UK supports the Palestinian Authority (PA) in building and maintaining the institutions needed for a future Palestinian state. Support to the PA is vital for maintaining stability on the ground through continued service delivery for Palestinians and security co-operation with Israel. We have made clear that our continued support will rest on the new government’s ability to live up to its commitments to the principle of non-violence and acceptance of all previous agreements and obligations, including Israel’s legitimate right to exist. In addition, through the tri-departmental Conflict Pool, the UK supports peace and stability by funding projects in Israel and the OPTs with a budget of £4 million for 2014-15.
Passports
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to ensure that there is no excessive delay in issuing passports.[HL200]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): As My Rt. Hon. Friend the Home Secretary explained in the House on 12 June, we have agreed a range of measures to deal with the current high levels of demand for passports. I refer the noble Lord to the answer given on 12 June 2014, Official Report, columns 693 and 694.
Police Community Support Officers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Community Support Officers there are nationally, and how they are distributed across police forces. [HL576]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The figures provided show the number of full-time equivalent police community support officers in each police force area, English region and Wales, as at 30 September 2013.
Figures as at 31 March 2014 are due to be published on 17 July 2014.
| Number of full-time equivalent Police community support officers (PCSOs) by police force area, English region and Wales, as at 30 September 20131 | |
| Police force area, English region and Wales | PCSOs |
The figures are presented to the nearest whole number. Due to rounding, there may appear to be small discrepancies between the totals and the sums of the constituent items.
Prerogative of Mercy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements are in place for a person who was granted a royal pardon between 1987 and 1997 to resist a subsequent prosecution for the crime for which that person has been pardoned in the event of new evidence emerging and the lack of knowledge by the prosecuting authorities of the existence of such a pardon given the absence of records of such pardons having been granted.[HL288]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Following a search of the records held by the Northern Ireland Office, no evidence has been found to indicate that between 1987 and 1997, the RPM was used to do anything other than to remit (i.e. shorten) the sentences of individuals who had already been convicted of offences. It is therefore the release from custody that demonstrates the exercise of the RPM.
Private Investigators
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will bring forward the necessary regulations to license private investigation, as announced by the Home Secretary in 2013.[HL589]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what arrangements they plan to put in place to ensure that private investigation businesses are properly regulated and held to account.[HL590]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 20 January (HL Deb, col 523), what progress has been made on licensing for the private security industry.[HL591]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): We expect the regulations to license the activity of private investigations to come into force in 2015.
We also expect the introduction of the statutory licensing of private security businesses to come into force in 2015, followed thereafter by private investigation businesses. We are continuing to work with the Security Industry Authority and industry on both regulations.
Railways: China
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what parts of the rail industry and contracts are included in the co-operation agreement between the United Kingdom and China announced on 18 June; and whether Chinese companies will be given any priorities in the award of contracts.[HL514]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The co-operation agreement (Memorandum of Understanding) between the United Kingdom and China signed on 18 June is designed to promote mutual commercial co-operation and business-to-business collaboration in the field of rail transport where this is deemed to be mutually beneficial.
The agreement contains no contracts and reinforces the concept of a fair and level playing field in line with international and domestic law concerning the transparency of public procurement and the supply of products or services.
The United Kingdom remains open to international investment and welcomes suitably qualified companies from other countries, including China, to participate in our rail market. Companies from China, or any other country, will not receive any priority in the award of contracts and the expanding railway market in China represents a significant opportunity for the United Kingdom to export its wealth of experience and expertise in this area.
River Thames: Freight
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential for greater use of Thames to move freight.[HL461]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Transport for London has assessed the potential use of the Thames and other waterways in their London Freight Plan. The Port of London Authority (PLA), the Mayor of London / Greater London Authority (GLA), Transport for London (TfL) and their partners in the public and private sectors have been working to encourage greater use of the Thames for the movement of freight, including that associated with infrastructure products in central London such as Crossrail, the Tideway Tunnel and Blackfriars Station.
The Department for Transport’s Mode Shift Revenue Support Scheme provides grants to assist companies with the costs associated with running inland water freight transport instead of road, where inland waterway is more expensive. Grant support is being provided for a freight service on the Thames between Denton and Silvertown.
Schools: Construction
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of new primary and secondary schools were built in academic years 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, and so far in 2013–14.[HL563]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Local authorities are responsible for ensuring there are sufficient places available within
an area. We have allocated over £5 billion of funding to local authorities in this parliament, leading to the creation of 260,000 new school places by May 2013, with many more in the pipeline.
We do not hold a central record of all new schools built by local authorities to provide these places since 2010.
We do, however, hold information on the number of new schools funded through the government's Free School programme, University Technical Colleges and Studio Schools and through other centrally managed programmes:
| Year | Primary | Secondary | All through | Special Educational Needs/ Alternative Provision |
In addition to the expenditure on new schools, we continue to invest in our existing school estate to renew buildings in poor condition.
Schools: Libraries
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that every school has a library.[HL547]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): We strongly support school libraries and are aware of the important role they play in improving literacy and encouraging young people to read for pleasure. In line with our approach to giving schools in England greater freedom, we believe that it should be for headteachers to decide how to provide a library service for their pupils. Many headteachers recognise the role libraries can play in improving young people’s literacy and ensure that suitable library facilities are provided.
Self-employed
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many self-employed workers were registered with HM Revenue and Customs at the end of each financial year since 2010–11.[HL488]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Estimates for the number of individuals with self employment sources are published in HMRC’s National Statistics Table 3.10[1]. These estimates are based on the Survey of Personal Incomes for which 2011-12 is the latest available year.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/income-of-individuals -with-self-employment-sources-2010-to-2011
Shipping: Training
Question
Asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made as to whether the present level of United Kingdom seafarer training is sufficient to prevent long-term shortages of seafarers.[HL599]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The maritime sector is vitally important to the UK economy and the Government is keen for talented individuals, trained to the highest standards, to continue to enter the industry. The Government produces and publishes National Statistics on the number of UK certificated seafarers and ratings currently estimated to be active at sea and on the number of sea cadets in training. The Department for Transport carefully monitors these statistics each year (or when updates are available).
It is evident that there is a decline in seafarer numbers and this was a key subject of discussion at a recent Maritime round table which included Ministers and representatives from industry and the Unions. To address this decline, the Support for Maritime Training programme (SMarT) budget was increased by 25% to £15m in September 2013. The SMarT budget supports the cost of training for both ratings and cadets.
The Government also has a number of other policies in place to address the decline including:
Maritime apprenticeships, where the maritime sector is playing a key role in helping shape the future of apprenticeships through a ratings trailblazer which was announced in March 2014.The UK’s tonnage tax regime has a mandatory training link where currently one trainee officer is trained each year for every 15 officer posts in a company or group’s fleet. This training link will pilot an extension to allow three ratings to be trained in place of one trainee officer.
Social Services: Human Rights
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will make available to Parliament their assessment of the impact of the stronger regulatory powers available to the Care Quality Commission since 2008 on the provision of more human-rights compatible care to all service users, including the evidence on which that assessment is based, as recommended by the Joint Committee on Human Rights in its report Legislative Scrutiny: Care Bill (11th Report, Session 2013–14, HL Paper 121).[HL498]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and
adult social care providers in England. Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (2008 Act) all providers of regulated activities have to register with the CQC and meet a set of requirements of safety and quality. As the CQC is a public authority it has a legal obligation in relation to protecting, respecting and fulfilling people’s rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 (1998 Act).
If a provider fails to meet these requirements the CQC has a wide range of enforcement powers that it can use to protect patients and service users from the risk of poor care.
The CQC has advised that it has taken the following published enforcement action during the financial year 2013-14.
- The CQC undertook two urgent cancellations of providers’ registration;- The CQC undertook 53 cancellations of providers’ registration;- The CQC imposed a condition on a provider on 45 occasions;- The CQC varied a provider’s condition of registration on 13 occasions;- The CQC undertook an urgent variation of a provider’s conditions of registration on 13 occasions;- The CQC imposed 1,269 warning notices on providers and 18,408 compliance actions on providers; and- The CQC issued over 500 fixed penalty notices.
The CQC monitors and inspects health and social care providers under regulations which stipulate that providers must deliver care and treatment to people with due regard to their age, sex, religion, sexual orientation, race, cultural and linguistic background and disability (Regulation 17).
Where services do not meet standards for Regulation 17, the CQC sets compliance actions and monitors whether providers have taken action to meet the standard. If they have not, the CQC may take enforcement action. Between 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2013, the CQC found 48 services did not comply with Regulation 17, leading to enforcement action. This enforcement action is set out in the following table.
| Enforcement action around Regulation 17 in 2012-13 | |
|
Mental health hospitals/hospitals for people with a learning disability | |
The CQC’s consultation ‘A New Start’, in June 2013 on how it regulates, inspects and rates services included a section on how Human Rights would be protected by changes to its regulatory model. To accompany the consultation, the CQC produced a draft document entitled, ‘Equality and Human Rights Duties Impact Analysis (decision making and policies)’, to give more detail about the impact of the proposed changes on equality and human rights and how they would promote equality and human rights for people who use health and social care services.
The CQC also consulted on its approach to human rights as part of a broader consultation on changes to regulation of care services. The CQC explained its proposed strategy for delivering on its commitment to promote equality, diversity and human rights in its regulatory work; to provide detail about what the strategy will mean in practice; and to receive feedback from important stakeholders.
The CQC held the consultation between 9 April 2014 and 4 June 2014. The CQC will respond to the results of the consultation in September 2014.
The consultation can be found at the following web link:
www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/20140406_our_ human_rights_approach_public_consultation_final.pdf
In January 2014 the CQC published ‘Equality Counts’, a report providing information about equality in its workforce and for people who are affected by its regulatory policies and practices. The CQC will use the information in this report to drive its work in promoting equality and human rights, both in its regulatory functions and as an employer. The CQC will continue to develop its new approach to ensure equality in different types of health and social care services.
UK Border Force
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many serving members of the UK Border Force were suspended from duty in 2012 and 2013; and for what reasons.[HL610]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The requested information cannot not be released as the number is fewer than five.