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Written Answers

Wednesday 9 July 2014

Andrew Mitchell

Question

Asked by Lord Marlesford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Metropolitan Police Service expect to complete their investigation into the incident at the Downing Street gates on 19 September 2012 involving the Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell and a police officer; and whether the misconduct proceedings in relation to the incident have been completed.[HL823]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): Both the investigation and the misconduct proceedings are complete.

Coastal Areas: Flood Control

Question

Asked by Lord Fearn

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what sea defences have been built in north-west England during the last 10 years, and where.[HL729]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The following is a list of sea defences that have been built in the North West in the last 10 years by the Environment Agency or the local Coast Protection Authority. The list does not include any sea defences built by any third party/private asset owners.

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* Tidal River Defences

There are sea defence capital works currently on site in the following locations -

Knott End Flood Alleviation Scheme, Wyre (completion due in 2014)Rossall Coast Protection Works, Rossall, Fleetwood (completion due in 17/18)Anchorsholme Coast Protection Works, Blackpool (completion due in 15/16)Morecambe Wave Reflection Wall, Morecambe (due on site in September 2014 to 2019)

Cyprus

Question

Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to reports in the Cypriot media that the President of the Republic of Cyprus or his Foreign Minister have rebuked countries whose ambassadors have consulted with the TRNC’s Foreign Minister Ozdil Nami, whether this has included the United Kingdom's High Commissioner; and, if so, whether they have issued or intend to issue any reprimand.[HL756]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): On 1 July 2014, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus circulated, to all accredited diplomatic missions including the British High Commission, a Note Verbale concerning meetings and contacts with the Turkish Cypriot community. We have not issued, and do not intend to issue, any formal response.

We consider it important to maintain a range of contacts across both Cypriot communities, particularly in the context of renewed efforts to reach a comprehensive

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settlement. The UK’s good relations and long-standing contacts with the Turkish Cypriot community are maintained in a way which is consistent with our policy on recognition, and in full support of the goal of reunification.

Deportation: Nigeria

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they deported Ms Afusat Salin back to Nigeria.[HL798]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The general policy of the Home Office is not to disclose personal information about another person. This is because we have obligations under the Data Protection Act and in law generally to protect this information.

The UK has a proud history of granting asylum to those who need our protection and we consider every claim for asylum on its individual merits.

We believe that those with no right to be in the UK should return to their home country and we will help those who wish to leave voluntarily. However, when they refuse to do so we will take steps to enforce their removal at the earliest opportunity.

Driving under Influence: Drugs

Question

Asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the defence of the normal use of prescribed drugs in protecting innocent patients from prosecution for drug driving. [HL613]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government will not be able to make a full assessment of the effectiveness of the statutory medical defence for those patients legitimately taking medication until the new drug driving offence comes into force next year. We have though appointed a research company who will be evaluating the effectiveness of the new offence including the application of the medical defence and will report in 2016.

The Government set out the actions it proposes to take on minimising any inconvenience on patients in the summary of responses to the consultations on its proposed drugs and limits to be specified in regulations on 27 March 2014, which is available at www.gov.uk/government/consultations/drug-driving-proposed-regulations and in the libraries of the House. We do not expect the new drug driving legislation to change for patients from the current position.

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Egypt

Question

Asked by Lord Storey

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 11 February (WA 114), what representations they have made and received regarding the seven-year jail terms given to the three al-Jazeera journalists in Egypt; and whether they will make representations to the government of Egypt as to their release.[HL779]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The British Government is appalled by the sentences given to Egyptian and international journalists in Cairo on 23 June, including to two British Nationals being tried in absentia. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a statement on 23 June expressing his concerns and urging the Egyptian government to demonstrate its commitment to freedom of expression by reviewing this case as a matter of urgency.

The Egyptian Ambassador Ashraf el-Kholy was summoned to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 23 June. FCO Political Director, Simon Gass, told the Egyptian Ambassador that the Government was deeply concerned by the verdicts, along with the procedural shortcomings seen during the trials. Our Ambassador in Egypt raised this issue in Cairo with the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 24 June. We will continue to monitor the situation of these journalists very closely, and raise them with the Egyptian authorities. We look to President Al-Sisi to take steps to implement the rights contained in Egypt’s constitution, in particular freedom of expression and association.

As I stated in my response of 11 February to your parliamentary question regarding the imprisonment of journalists in Egypt, the Government believes a free and robust press is the bedrock of democracy.

EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council

Question

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Baroness Verma on 25 June (WS 118–19) concerning the European Union Energy Council, whether they will publish details of the conclusions on energy prices, competitiveness and vulnerable consumers adopted by ministers without discussion.[HL747]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The conclusions adopted by Ministers at the European Union Energy Council of 13 June are available on the European Commission’s website at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/143198.pdf

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Fracking: Somerset

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when hydraulic fracturing for natural gas begins in the north Somerset coal-field and the Mendip Hills; what safeguards will be enforced to prevent contamination of (1) the Bath hot springs, (2) the Cheddar Gorge caves and underground water-courses, and (3) all other local water supplies; and who will be responsible for such safeguards.[HL693]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): There are no current proposals for hydraulic fracturing operations in the areas of Bath or the Cheddar Gorge.

Planning applications for onshore oil and gas development (including shale gas) must be subject to consultation with the local community and with relevant statutory consultation bodies such as the Environment Agency before the mineral planning authority takes a decision. Any decision must take account of all relevant planning issues. In this context, the National Planning Policy Framework states that, when considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities should give great weight to the asset’s conservation.

The National Policy Framework also advises that any proposed development on land within or outside a Site of Special Scientific Interest, such as Cheddar Gorge, should not normally be permitted if it is likely to have an adverse effect on the Site (either individually or in combination with other developments).

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I can also confirm that there are other regulatory controls which would need to be satisfied if any application for oil and gas development received planning permission. There are administered by the Environment Agency, the HSE and the Department. These controls will ensure that all prospective threats to the environment, or to safety, are effectively controlled. In particular, the Environment Agency will not permit any activity which might pose a threat to groundwater.

General Practitioners

Question

Asked by Lord Mawson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many full-time equivalent general practitioners have been employed by the National Health Service in each of the last five years.[HL637]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): General Practitioners (GPs) are independent contractors who hold contracts with NHS England to provide primary healthcare services for the National Health Service.

The annual National Health Service General and Personal Medical Services workforce census, published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre, shows the numbers of GPs working in the NHS in England at 30 September each year. The numbers of full-time equivalent GPs working in the NHS in England from 2009 to 2013 are shown in the following table. The latest available statistics are as at 30 September 2013 and were published on 25 March 2014.

Notes:

These statistics relate to the contracted positions within English NHS organisations and may include those where the person assigned to the position is temporarily absent, for example on maternity leave.

Full Time Equivalent (FTE) refers to the proportion of each role’s full time contracted hours that the post holder is contracted to work. 1 would indicate they work a full set of hours, 0.5 that they worked half time.

From April 2013 Public Health England was excluded from workforce publications.

Source:

Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services workforce census

Health Services

Question

Asked by The Earl of Courtown

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people treated by the National Health Service were considered to have (1) a serious condition, and (2) a non-serious condition, in the last year for which figures are available.[HL751]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): No nationally agreed definitions of serious and non-serious conditions exist in order to quantify how many people treated by the National Health Service have such conditions.

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Housing: Construction

Question

Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to promote housebuilding.[HL687]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): This Government has delivered over 445,000 new homes since 2010 and housing starts in the past year are up 31 per cent and the highest since 2007. I refer the noble Lord to my comprehensive Written Ministerial Statement of 10 June 2014, Official Report, Col. WS40, which details the measures that this Government is taking to promote housebuilding and increase housing supply across the country.

In addition to these measures, we are creating new dedicated Housing Zones to support housing development on brownfield sites in London and across the country. £200 million investment each from the government and the Mayor of London will create 50,000 new homes in twenty Housing Zones across London, and a further £200 million of government money will create ten Housing Zones outside London.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Question

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the safety of embryos created using the DNA of three individuals.[HL644]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): An expert panel, convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, has conducted three reviews of the safety and efficacy of methods to avoid mitochondrial disease through assisted conception. The reports of the reviews were published in April 2011, March 2013 and, most recently, on 3 June 2014.

All three reviews have found no evidence to suggest any of the techniques evaluated are unsafe. In its most recent report, the expert panel recommended that additional experiments should be completed before the techniques were used in clinical practice. The Government is considering the report and will announce its plans as soon as possible.

Iran

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will support the inclusion of Iran among the Friends of Syria.[HL744]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Friends of Syria are committed to supporting the moderate Syrian opposition who are fighting extremists, and who are in favour of a pluralist and democratic future for Syria. Iran’s substantial military and financial support for Assad and his regime

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runs counter to this objective. The only sustainable solution to the crisis in Syria is to reach a negotiated political transition by mutual consent - this is the core principle contained in the Geneva Communiqué. We believe that Iran can and must play a constructive role in Syria by committing its support for negotiations between the Assad regime and the opposition on a transitional authority for Syria by mutual consent. Iran could also play a constructive role in ensuring humanitarian aid is delivered without hindrance across Syria, as required by UN Security Council resolution 2139. The Friends of Syria are committed to these goals.

Israel

Questions

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will make representations to the government of Israel about military operations in the West Bank, including Areas A and B, following the kidnapping of three young Israelis; and whether they will raise the issues of proportionality and collective punishment in particular as they affect universities and other institutions.[HL743]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have been raising the issue of military operations in the West Bank with the Israeli authorities since the beginning of Operation Brother's Keeper. On 2 July, the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), said that it is important that all security operations are conducted with care so that further escalation is avoided.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution is made by Israel to NATO and NATO exercises.[HL754]

Baroness Warsi: Israel does not contribute troops to any of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)'s overseas operations. Israeli naval vessels have in the past participated in “PASSEX” visit exercises with NATO-flagged vessels, but no longer do so.

As with all partners, Israeli officers are eligible to attend certain NATO training courses on technical subjects, alongside colleagues from their regional Mediterranean Dialogue (MD) neighbours. Small numbers do so each year.

Languages: Qualifications

Question

Asked by The Earl of Courtown

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many students take GCSEs and A-levels in Mandarin Chinese; and whether they plan to increase that number.[HL714]

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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): It is not possible to identify pupils entered for Mandarin Chinese from the Department’s data. However, the Department does hold information on the number of pupils entered for GCSEs and A levels in Chinese which includes Mandarin Chinese and other Chinese subjects.

In 2012/13, 2,346 pupils were entered for GCSE Chinese and 2,665 pupils were entered for A level Chinese. This information is published in the GCSE[1] and A level[2] statistical first releases.

My Rt hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, has pledged to increase the number of people learning Mandarin Chinese in the UK. Offering more young people the chance to learn Mandarin will help in our efforts to encourage mobility between the UK and China, and help ensure the long-term success of our economy and society.

A number of organisations are carrying out activities with schools in support of these aims. The British Council is working with Hanban, the Office of Chinese Language Council International, to increase demand for Mandarin teaching in schools in the UK and to address supply, for example by increasing the provision of Chinese Language Assistants. The Institute of Education Confucius Institute is working with HSBC to promote more teaching of Mandarin in primary schools. The Department is taking a close interest in this work and providing encouragement and support at a high level.

[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcse-and-equivalent-results-in-england-2012-to-2013-revised (Subject time series table)

[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-england-2012-to-2013-revised (Table 2)

Mental Illness: Drugs

Question

Asked by The Earl of Sandwich

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will assess the level of care provided by Public Health England and local charities to help those suffering from addiction to, and withdrawal from, psychiatric drugs; and whether they have estimated the number of those afflicted.[HL646]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Public Health England does not provide care, its role is to support commissioners to better understand and address local drug need. If local addiction charities are commissioned by a local authority, then it is the responsibility of local commissioners to assess the level of care they provide. If they are registered with the Care Quality Commission then they will be expected to meet minimum care standards.

There is no widely accepted definition of ‘psychiatric drugs’. In-depth research commissioned by the Department found that there are no national databases that can give us information on the number of people who are addicted to medicine.

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Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 17 December 2013 (WA 189), what was the text of the Somali nationality law which required in the case of Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed the loss of Somali nationality on his naturalisation as a British citizen.[HL396]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The following is a direct quote from Article 10 of the 1962 Somali nationality law which governed loss of Somali citizenship – Any Somali citizen who:

a) having established his residence abroad, voluntarily acquires foreign country (sic);b) having established his residence abroad, and having acquired, for reasons beyond his will, foreign citizenship or the status as subject of a foreign country, declares to renounce foreign citizenship;c) being abroad and having accepted employment from a foreign Government or voluntarily serving in the armed forces of a foreign country, continues to retain his post, notwithstanding the notice from, the Somali Government that, unless he leaves the employment or the service within a definite period of time, he shall lose Somali citizenship; shall cease to be a Somali citizen.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Question

Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for identifying Class 3 Mobility Scooters, which currently have to display a nil value disc, once the paper Vehicle Access Duty tax disc is abolished from 1 October.[HL661]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The vehicle tax disc is not used to identify Class 3 mobility vehicles. These vehicles are indentified according to their construction, weight and speed and are required to be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. The abolition of the tax disc in October should not affect the current identification of these vehicles.

Obesity

Question

Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce the levels of obesity. [HL677]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We have a well-developed and wide-ranging programme of actions to reduce levels of obesity. These include working with a wide range of partners including Public Health England, NHS England, Government departments including

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the Department for Education and Department for Transport, and industry through the Public Health Responsibility Deal. Key initiatives include Change4Life, the National Child Measurement Programme, NHS Health Checks, Change4Life Sports Clubs, School Sports Funding and the School Food Plan.

Our national ambition for a downward trend in excess weight in adults and children by 2020 requires collective action by Government, businesses, health and care professionals, and individuals. We believe the actions we are taking are delivering results with obesity rates levelling off, but we still have much further to go.

Palestinians

Questions

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have offered any assistance to the government of Israel in finding the three youths who were recently kidnapped.[HL627]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The Government had offered practical support to help find the kidnapped Israeli teenagers. Following discovery of their bodies, the Prime Minister, my right hon Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), expressed his deep sadness at this appalling and inexcusable act of terror.

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to achieve a cross-party consensus in the United Kingdom on the case for recognition of the state of Palestine.[HL799]

Baroness Warsi: We are not taking steps to achieve a cross-party consensus in the United Kingdom on the case for recognition of the state of Palestine.

Parades Commission

Questions

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the process used in the recent appointment of the Chairman and Members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.[HL717]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The recent appointments to the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland were regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. In accordance with the Code of Practice for Ministerial Appointments to Public Bodies, these appointments were made on merit following a fair and open appointments process. All stages of the process were undertaken by a selection panel, which was chaired by a Public Appointments Assessor allocated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, and included an independent member.

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Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government who assessed the qualifications of the applicants to the recently appointed Northern Ireland Parades Commission; and what qualifications were sought for the appointments.[HL718]

Baroness Randerson: The recent appointments to the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland were regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The appointments process was run in accordance with the Commissioner’s Code of Practice. All stages of the process were undertaken by a selection panel that was chaired by a Public Appointments Assessor allocated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The panel also included a senior official from the Northern Ireland Office and independent membership. The panel assessed candidates against the agreed person specification and skills requirements for these positions, details of which are provided below:

Person Specification

Outstanding individuals are sought to become Chair and members of the Parades Commission; people who can command the confidence of all sides of the community in Northern Ireland, act in controversial situations and determine courses of action, and assess the probability of future events and make clear and well informed judgements.

Essential Skills

Candidates for these demanding roles will need to demonstrate:-

The courage and conviction to take difficult but fair decisions in high profile and controversial circumstances;The ability to build productive and respectful relationships with fellow Commissioners, colleagues and the communities which are impacted by the Commission’s decisions; andA reputation for personal integrity, professional conduct and credibility, with an exceptional sense of propriety.

In addition, candidates for the Chair role need to be able to show a strong track record of leadership, and the ability to broker consensus between senior stakeholders and opposing views.

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether presentation and media skills were a requirement for applicants for the post of Chairman of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission; and if not, why not.[HL719]

Baroness Randerson: Presentation and media skills were not part of the agreed person specification and skills requirements for applicants for the post of Chairman of the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland.

All newly appointed members of the Commission were provided with induction training organised by the Commission Secretariat. I understand that the induction training included an element of media training.

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Parkinson’s Disease

Questions

Asked by Lord Walton of Detchant

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group received about the routine use of Duodopa for advanced Parkinson's disease.[HL786]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We understand that the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group considered evidence on the clinical effectiveness and estimated costs of Duodopa. NHS England plans to publish a commissioning policy statement for Duodopa in due course.

Asked by Lord Walton of Detchant

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how individual funding requests relating to the prescription of Duodopa for patients with advanced Parkinsonism are handled in the National Health Service.[HL787]

Earl Howe: In April 2013 NHS England assumed responsibility for commissioning adult specialist neurosciences services, including the majority of services for people with Parkinson’s disease.

Individual funding requests relating to treatments that NHS England is responsible for commissioning are handled in line with NHS England’s individual funding requests standard operating procedure, which is at:

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/cp-04.pdf

Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme

Questions

Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much rebate they have so far received from pharmaceutical companies under the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreement.[HL833]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the rebate they receive from pharmaceutical companies under the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreement will be reallocated as an additional resource to the National Health Service.[HL834]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government to what extent they propose to use the rebate they expect to receive from pharmaceutical companies under the new Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme agreement to invest in innovative new medicines and procedures.[HL835]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department has received £74 million from members of the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) in respect of PPRS payments for the first quarter of the calendar year 2014. The Department intends to publish aggregate information on sales reports and payments made under

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the scheme on a quarterly basis. The first such publication was made on 30 June and can be found on the Government’s website at:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/pprs-quarterly-net-sales-and-payment-information

In respect of England, the anticipated payments in 2014-15 have been passed on to NHS England through the Mandate and as such were included within commissioner allocations.

The Government is committed to improving access to clinically and cost-effective medicines including innovative new medicines. As part of implementing the PPRS, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry are discussing how best to improve access to, and optimise patient outcomes from, these medicines.

Pupil Exclusions

Question

Asked by Lord Quirk

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many secondary school pupils who were (1) permanently excluded, or (2) excluded for one or more fixed periods since 2000, subsequently passed a GCSE in (a) one, (b) two, or (c) three or more subjects. [HL694]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The information requested is only available at disproportionate cost.

All children, regardless of circumstance or setting deserve a good education. We have taken a range of actions to drive up the quality of education for those children who are educated in alternative provision (AP) following an exclusion, including through the introduction of AP academies and AP free schools.

Information on the number of permanent and fixed period exclusions since 2000 is published in the “Permanent and fixed period exclusions from schools in England: 2011 to 2012 academic year” Statistical First Release[1]. Information on fixed period exclusions was collected for the first time in 2003/04. Information for 2012/13 will be published on 31 July 2014.

[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/permanent-and-fixed-period-exclusions-from-schools-in-england-2011-to-2012-academic-year

Road Works

Question

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to improve co-ordination of roadworks between different statutory bodies.[HL794]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Highways Act 1980 places the responsibility for the management of the road network with local highway authorities. The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 places a specific

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duty on the authorities to co-ordinate works on their networks, and on utility companies to co-operate with them in doing that. The Traffic Management Act 2004 imposed a ‘Network Management Duty’ on authorities and enabled them to introduce Permit Schemes which give them powers to more proactively manage and co-ordinate works to minimise disruption for all road users. They also offer discounts on permit fees when utilities work together to minimise impact on road users. More than half of English authorities have now either introduced a permit scheme, or are working towards it, which we welcome.

Officials work closely with representative bodies of both authorities and utilities to encourage increasing co-ordination and co-operation, whilst allowing for essential services to be maintained.

Schools

Question

Asked by Lord Quirk

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of having school children face each other in small groups, rather than facing the teacher, on (1) attentiveness, (2) learning, and (3) behaviour.[HL696]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Department for Education has made no assessment of the impact of children facing, or not facing, the teacher.

The Department believes that teachers should have a plan for pupil seating arrangements in classrooms, rather than leaving it to pupil preference or chance. Where and how pupils are seated will depend entirely on the lesson and its objectives. Teachers are best placed to take these decisions.

Schools: Discipline

Question

Asked by Lord Quirk

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the need for parents to take responsibility for children's behaviour in schools. [HL697]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): It is vital that teachers have the support and respect of parents to manage pupil behaviour so they can teach in an orderly environment. Good schools recognise the importance of engaging parents and have developed their own approaches according to the particular circumstances of the school.

In response to a question about what teachers viewed as the most common factors causing poor behaviour in schools, excluding special educational needs and other medical factors, 72% considered ‘lack of parental support or poor parenting skills’ as the most common factor causing poor behaviour, and ‘parental lack of respect for teachers and authority’ was the second most frequently selected factor.

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We are aware of research, including that based on data from the National Child Development Study, that shows that parental involvement has a positive effect on children’s achievement even when the influence of background factors such as social class and family size have been taken into account.

The 2013 National Foundation for Educational Research (NfER) Teacher Voice Survey, commissioned by the Department for Education, found that 55% of teachers surveyed agreed that parents generally respected a teacher’s authority to discipline pupils.

In March 2014, we published a series of case studies on behaviour and bullying, which include examples of what good schools are doing to engage parents in a spirit of openness and shared responsibility. These case studies contain examples of the work good schools do with parents to encourage participation of hard-to-reach groups and are published online at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/managing-behaviour-and-bullying-in-schools-case-studies

Science: Education

Question

Asked by The Earl of Courtown

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to increase the number of students studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, in particular female students.[HL560]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Recent years have seen record numbers of pupils taking science and mathematics at GCSE and A level, with a rise of more than 30% in the number of students taking separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics between 2010 and 2013. There has also been a 15% rise in the number taking mathematics and physics A level, and a 19% rise in the number taking further mathematics A level over the same period. Girls are now as likely as boys to take separate science GCSEs, but more needs to be done, particularly to address the low numbers of girls taking mathematics and physics A level.

The Government has taken action by: reforming the national curriculum and academic and vocational qualifications, to ensure that they enable young people to acquire the necessary knowledge and understanding to progress to further study and employment; recruiting top graduates into teaching by providing bursaries and scholarships in mathematics and the sciences of up to £25,000; supporting schools through professional development and enrichment programmes, such as the Stimulating Physics Network and the establishment of 32 maths hubs; and through the “Your Life” campaign which will change the perceptions of science and mathematics, with a communications campaign targeting 14-16 year olds being launched from September.

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Shipping: Oil

Question

Asked by Lord Condon

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times since the permitting of ship to ship oil transfers off the coast of Southwold, Suffolk, in 2011, Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors, or other relevant staff, have boarded vessels engaged in ship to ship transfers to carry out a Port State Control Inspection.[HL650]

The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Maritime and Coastguard Agency surveyors, or other relevant staff, have undertaken a total of 38 Port State Control inspections in support of Ship to Ship transfer operations, during the period 1 January 2011 to 27 June 2014.

Sovereignty: Scotland

Question

Asked by Lord Eames

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to encourage the devolved administrations of Wales and Northern Ireland to consider the effect on them of an affirmative vote in the forthcoming referendum on Scottish independence.[HL606]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Government has no such plans. The Government has been clear that it is the Government for all of the United Kingdom including Scotland. It continues to act in the interests of all of the people of the UK, including people in Scotland.

Sri Lanka

Question

Asked by Lord Ahmed

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Bodu Bala Sena “Buddhist Power Force” in Sri Lanka.[HL641]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): In the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s Human Rights and Democracy Report for 2013, we note that non-governmental organisations documented hundreds of attacks against minority religions, including violence, vandalism, and hate speech in Sri Lanka. We also note that statements by nationalist Buddhist groups, including the Bodu Bala Sena, fuelled concern over rising religious tensions.

Our High Commissioner to Colombo has discussed these matters with members of the Government of Sri Lanka. We have encouraged early action to promote peaceful co-existence between all communities, noting the importance of ensuring any acts of violence, intimidation or threats are thoroughly investigated and those responsible brought to justice. Officials from our High Commission in Colombo also met with

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representatives of the Bodu Bala Sena last year in order to discuss the organisation’s activities and religious tensions in Sri Lanka. During the meeting, British officials expressed concern at attacks directed at Muslim and other minority religious communities.

Sugar

Question

Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to reduce sugar intake in children. [HL676]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Helping people consume fewer calories, including sugar, is key to reducing obesity levels in England. Through the Responsibility Deal, 40 companies, including those that produce and retail sugar sweetened beverages and confectionery, are removing sugar under the calorie reduction pledge.

Rules are in place that prohibit the advertising of foods high in sugar in or around children’s television.

The school food standards severely restrict the provision of foods and drinks that are high in sugar in schools.

Syria

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to lead a concerted international effort to help the governments of Jordan and Lebanon and international humanitarian agencies to cope with refugees and displaced people from Syria.[HL691]

Baroness Northover (LD): The UK has committed a total of £600 million for humanitarian assistance in response to the Syria crisis, including £292 million to support refugees in neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Lebanon. The UK helped to launch and mobilise international support for UNICEF’s ‘No Lost Generation’ Initiative and has allocated £50m to provide protection, trauma care and education for children affected by the crisis.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Question

Asked by Lord Eames

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current state of their discussions on possible compensation for victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland where such victimhood can be attributed to explosives or other weapons supplied by regimes outside the United Kingdom.[HL464]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Government recognises the importance of this issue for the many people who suffered at the hands of Qadhafi sponsored

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terrorism. The Prime Minister has asked the National Security Advisor, Sir Kim Darroch, to lead cross Government activity to build a dialogue with the Libyan authorities on reconciliation initiatives. Sir Kim’s efforts are designed to support all of those who have suffered as a result of Qadhafi’s support to terrorism, and are not focused exclusively on any one group of victims. He has been talking to the Libyan Government about how best to take forward these matters given the challenging security and political situation in Libya.

Uganda

Question

Asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the government of the United States to deny certain Ugandan officials entry into the United States following the passage of the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act in February; whether they have plans to introduce similar measures in the United Kingdom; and whether they intend to encourage other European Union countries to enact similar measures.[HL638]

The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK shares the concerns of the US about the Anti-Homosexuality Act in Uganda and notes the US's recent decision to apply existing visa mechanisms, redirect some healthcare support, end support for a community policing project, and cancel a military aviation exercise in response to the passing of the legislation. The UK is working closely with international partners to register its concerns, to seek assurances about the protection of individuals, and to initiate dialogue about improving protection of minority rights.

The UK is engaging closely with civil society groups in Uganda working to support inclusivity, diversity, and tolerance, and to consult with them about the most appropriate next steps.

With our support, EU Heads of Mission in Kampala met the Ugandan government on 28 March to initiate a strengthened political dialogue under Article 8 of the Cotonou Agreement. Discussions are ongoing.

Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre

Questions

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the appropriateness of the current number of female officers employed by Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre.[HL769]

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To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are taking steps to ensure that women in Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre who are on suicide watch are only supervised by female officers; and if so, what steps are being taken.[HL770]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Home Office and its service providers comply with all relevant employment legislation. The service provider for Yarl’s Wood immigration removal centre (IRC), Serco, is required under their contract to employ sufficient female officers to enable appropriate searching and security arrangements for female detainees.

Yarl’s Wood IRC has 52% male detainee custody officers (DCOs) and 48% female DCOs. A new recruitment drive is underway, with a review of how flexible and family friendly hours might be enhanced to attract more women recruits as well as devising recruitment campaigns that target female audiences.

Assessment Care in Detention and Teamwork (ACDT) is the system used for monitoring individuals considered to be at risk of self harm and is operated across the detention estate.

ACDT is a care planning system whereby staff from all areas work together to create a safe and caring environment and provide individual care to detainees.

All incidents of self harm are treated very seriously and every step is taken to prevent incidents of this nature. Staff at all centres are trained to identify those at risk of self harm so that action can be taken to minimise the risk. Notices in various languages are displayed in IRCs setting out that, where there is a concern about a fellow detainee, this should be brought to the attention of a member of staff. Formal risk assessments on initial detention and systems for raising concerns at any subsequent point feed into established self harm procedures in every IRC, which are in turn underpinned by the Home Office Operating Standard on the Prevention of Self-Harm ACDT requires centre managers to appoint trained assessors and named case managers to provide individualised care to detainees based on their particular needs.

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Ms Rashida Manjoo, was not allowed access to Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre during her visit in April.[HL797]

Lord Taylor of Holbeach: I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave on 6 May 2014, Official Report, columns 1400 - 1401.