Written Answers
Tuesday 22 July 2014
Accident and Emergency Departments
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take action to improve accident and emergency unit waiting times, in the light of reported missed targets over the last year.[HL1273]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): National Health Service accident and emergency (A&E) departments are measured against a standard that at least 95% of patients should be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours of arrival. The standard applies to all types of (A&E) departments, including major (A&E) departments, minor injury units, and walk-in centres.
This standard was met in all four quarters and for the whole of 2013-14, with performance at 95.7% for the year. It has been met for the first quarter (April to June) of 2014-15, with performance at 95.1%.
There were 21.8 million attendances at (A&E) departments in 2013-14 compared to 20.5 million in 2009-10, and in the face of rising demand not all patients are receiving care within the standard. NHS England, the NHS Trust Development Authority and Monitor are working with the most challenged providers and commissioners. £400 million has been made available this year to ensure local urgent and emergency care services are sustainable and prepared for winter.
Afghanistan
Questions
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether representations have been made to the government of Afghanistan on the inclusion of women in the official Afghan delegation to the Afghanistan Development Conference to be co-hosted by the United Kingdom in November.[HL1078]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The composition of the official Afghan delegation will be up to the new Afghan Government to decide, once the election process has been concluded and it is in place. However, as a co-host the UK will strongly encourage the new Afghan Government to ensure that its delegation includes women as well as men.
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom Embassy in Kabul will facilitate the issue of visas to Afghan women to travel to the
United Kingdom to take part in the Afghanistan Development Conference to be co-hosted by the United Kingdom in November.[HL1082]
Baroness Warsi: Afghan government delegates to the Afghanistan Development Conference, as well as invited guests of the British Government will have their visa applications facilitated by our Embassy in Kabul. This includes individuals invited to Government sponsored “fringe events”. For other side events not sponsored by the Government, visas will be handled by the UK visa offices in Islamabad and New Delhi. We are liaising with the organisers of these events to ensure that the process is as straightforward as possible.
Aspartame
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many kilograms of aspartame were imported into the United Kingdom in each year from 2000 to 2013 inclusive.[HL1193]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) (Con): Data showing the volume (kilograms) of UK imports of aspartame during 2000-2013 is given in Table 1 below. The figures are sourced from HMRC’s Overseas Trade Statistics database.
| Table 1: UK imports of aspartame (HS code 21069092) | |
| Year | Net mass (kgs) |
Source
: HMRC Overseas Trade Statistics database
Note
:HS 21069092 = Food preparations, n.e.s., not containing milkfats, sucrose, isoglucose starch or glucose or containing, by weight, < 1,5% milkfat, < 5% sucrose or isoglucose, < 5% glucose or < 5% starch“ only.
Aviation: Security
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what they are doing to promote effective security on flights to and from the United Kingdom.[HL975]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Department for Transport has announced that some of the aviation security measures on flights to and from the UK are being stepped up in response to potential threats to aviation from terrorist organisations.
As a result of the changes we are implementing, some passengers may notice additional security measures on some routes—both to and from the UK. Passengers on some routes may also be required to show that electronic devices in their hand luggage can be powered up or face not being allowed to bring the device onto the aircraft. Passengers are therefore advised to make sure electronic devices being carried in their hand luggage are charged before they travel.
The safety and security of the public is a paramount concern and the UK government keeps aviation security under constant review.
Brunei
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the Sultan of Brunei concerning the proposed introduction of a Sharia penal code in that country.[HL929]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): I raised the introduction of a sharia penal code with His Majesty The Sultan, as well as the Crown Prince, Foreign Minister, the Grand Mufti and other senior ministers during my visit to Brunei on 19 April. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised our concerns with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pehin Lim, on 12 June and again with Brunei's High Commissioner to London on 14 July. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice, my hon. Friend the Member for North West Cambridgeshire (Mr Vara) also discussed the introduction of a sharia penal code with the Bruneian Attorney General at the Commonwealth Law Ministers’ meeting on 6 May. The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), raised concerns with his opposite number at a Commonwealth Health Ministers’ meeting on 18 May.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations concerning the proposed Sharia penal code in Brunei.[HL930]
Baroness Warsi: As a close friend of Brunei we have raised our concerns on the implementation of a Sharia penal code in Brunei directly with them and will continue those discussions bilaterally. We have not raised the issue with the Association of South East Asian Nations. I discussed the Sharia code with His Majesty The Sultan, as well as the Crown Prince, Foreign Minister, the Grand Mufti and other senior ministers during my recent visit to Brunei on 19 April,
and more recently with Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pehin Lim, on 9 July. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), also raised the issue in his meeting with Brunei’s High Commissioner to London on 14 July. We urge the authorities in Brunei to consider the impact of the new code very carefully, and specifically ensure implementation is in line with international human rights norms and Brunei’s international obligations. The UK is opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances and in all countries.
Bus Services
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to and received from (1) bus and coach companies, and (2) local authorities on behalf of bus and coach companies, concerning the difficulties of operating bus, coach and travel services in the United Kingdom.[HL1243]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government is in regular communication with a wide range of stakeholders involved in the provision of bus and coach services. As Minister with responsibility for bus policy, I also hold frequent meetings with representatives from local authorities and the passenger transport industry.
For example, on 16 July I chaired the latest bi-annual meeting of the Bus Partnership Forum—whose membership includes a wide spectrum of key partners from the bus and coach industry as well as elected members and officials from local authorities and their constituent bodies.
Charities
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 23 June (WA 113), what guidance they issue to local government and non-governmental organisations regarding making charitable donations.[HL1140]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Cabinet Office has issued no specific guidance on this.
Children: Bereavement Counselling
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of family bereavement on the mental health and well-being of children and young people.[HL1029]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): No assessment has been made of the impact of family bereavement on the mental health and well-being of children and young people. However, we are investing £54 million over the four year period 2011-2015 in the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (CYP IAPT) programme.
CYP IAPT interventions can help children and young people who have been impacted by family bereavement.
The CYP IAPT approved interventions include:
- Cognitive behavioural therapy for emotional disorders such as anxiety and depressive disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder;- parenting training for conduct disorders (3-10 year olds);- systemic Family Practice; and- Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Adolescents.
On 25 March, we launched MindEd, an interactive e-learning programme on children and young people’s mental health that seeks to help any adult working with children and young people. The MindEd e-portal provides a “Loss and Grief” module, aimed at helping children and young people who face loss, such as loss of a parent by death or divorce. MindEd is available at:
Coroners and Justice Act 2009
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Tankerness on 7 July (WA 5), how many of the 53 offences charged under section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 since 2011 were flagged for child abuse.[HL909]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): None of the 53 offences, charged under section 71 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009 since 2011 were flagged for child abuse.
Cycling
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the level of observance of the traffic laws by cyclists.[HL963]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Like all road users, cyclists have a duty to behave in a safe and responsible manner, and this is reflected in the Highway Code’s rules for cyclists which can be found at https://www.gov.uk/rules-for-cyclists-59-to-82. The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police and we support any action taken by the police to deter and reduce the number of cycling offences.
Diego Garcia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether prisoners have been held on Diego Garcia other than by United Kingdom authorities since 2000.[HL1062]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): Since 2000, in accordance with provisions of the 1966 Exchange of Notes, some members of the US Military at Diego Garcia have been confined in accordance with the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice.
EU Enlargement
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the amount of Russian investment in the countries of the Western Balkans which are candidates, or potential candidates, for membership of the European Union.[HL1054]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): It is impossible to provide a definitive assessment of the amount of Russian investment in the Western Balkans. There are varying levels of investment across the region, with a strong emphasis on the energy sector.
Figures from the Serbia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) show that Russia was the seventh largest foreign direct investor in Serbia in the period 2001-13. The majority of that investment is in the energy sector. In 2013 87 per cent of Serbia’s gas needs were supplied by Russia. Gazprom owns 56 per cent of the Serbian oil company Petroleum Industry of Serbia (NIS). It is investing a reported $2.1 billion in the building of South Stream. Other energy companies, such as LUKOIL, are active. There has also been Russian investment in the railway and banking sectors.
In the first nine months of 2013, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) attracted €95 million of Russian investment, which was 46 per cent of total foreign investment. To date the biggest Russian investment in BiH has been in the privatisation and modernisation of the petrol industry in Republika Srpska (RS) and the acquisition of Austria’s Volksbank by Sberbank. Other projects of Russian interest are: a coal mine and thermo-power station complex at Uglejevik; a branch pipeline connection to South Stream (into Serbia), which provides mains gas supply to 47 towns in Republika Srpska; and a hydro power plant at Dabar, with a proposal for two further small hydro plants.
Macedonian industry is dependent on Russian gas and Skopje expects to be included in the South Stream project.
The bilateral relationship between Albania and Russia is modest. Albania does not import oil or gas directly from Russia, although Russian companies are among those looking to invest in the renewal of the Albanian
energy sector. Albanian exports to Russia are minimal—in 2012 they represented only 0.45 per cent of the country’s total exports.
Montenegro’s bilateral trade with Russia is also small. In 2012-13, 43 per cent of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) came from EU countries, with Russian FDI amounting to 14 per cent. However levels of Russian tourism are still substantial, with a 28 per cent share of a sector which represents 30 per cent of the economy.
EU Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 9 July (WA 46) concerning the European Union Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, whether they will replicate the Commission’s webpage or give a summary of it for the benefit of those without internet access.[HL1113]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): A copy of the text of the Council Conclusions on energy prices and costs, protection of vulnerable consumers and competitiveness—as adopted by Ministers at the European Union Energy Council of 13 June and set out on the European Commission’s website—will be placed in the Libraries of the House.
Former Prime Ministers: Allowances
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 3 July (WA 280) concerning the reimbursement of expenses to former Prime Ministers, whether they will reconsider their policy of non-disclosure of their claims in the light of the fact that expenses claimed by MPs and allowances paid to peers are published on a monthly basis.[HL954]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): I have nothing further to add to my previous answers.
Government Departments: Meetings
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether it is their policy to refuse to meet or to veto certain individuals when agreeing to meetings with Members of either House or law-abiding members of the public.[HL1294]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): There is no such policy approach. Holders of Public Office conduct themselves in accordance with the Seven Principles of Public Life.
Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to respond to the Independent Monitoring Board's Annual Report 2013 on Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre and in particular its finding in respect of the provision of appropriate accommodation for those with mental health or behavioural problems.[HL996]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the Independent Monitoring Board’s Annual Report 2013, they have initiated changes at Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre to ensure that detainees claiming to be under 18 are assessed by social services in the community rather than in the centre.[HL997]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Taylor of Holbeach) (Con): The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) for Harmondsworth published its 2013 report on 30 June. An action plan to address the recommendations in the report will be agreed by 11 August. Plans to make changes to the configuration of the healthcare unit to address the provision of appropriate accommodation for those with mental health or behavioural problems are under discussion with the new healthcare provider at Harmondsworth. This is in advance of the transfer of healthcare commissioning to NHS England on 1 September. Individuals who claim to be under the age of 18 following their detention are managed in accordance with Detention Services Order 14/2012 for the care and management of age dispute cases. This sets out the policy and procedures to follow in individual cases where there is a lack of physical or definitive documentary evidence to prove the person is under the age of 18. This also details the circumstances in which release by case owners is appropriate.
Health
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the ranking of the United Kingdom in the Health at a glance 2013: OECD indicators report for (1) infant mortality, (2) numbers of MRI and CT scanners, (3) low birth weight infants, (4) overweight and obesity amongst adults, (5) mortality from cardiovascular disease, (6) mortality from cancer, and (7) life expectancy at 65; and what plans they have to improve the United Kingdom rankings.[HL939]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The 2013 edition of Health at a Glance - OECD Indicators, presents the most recent comparable data on key indicators of health and health systems across the 34 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
member countries. Where possible, it also reports comparable data for Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, the Russian Federation, and South Africa, as key emerging countries.
The ranking of the United Kingdom is as follows:
Infant mortality: UK has the 10
thhighest number of infant deaths, per 1000 live births, OECD countries
1;Numbers of MRI and CT scanners: CT scanners, UK has the 3
rdlowest number of CT scanners per million population amongst OECD countries; MRI units, UK 7
thlowest per million population amongst OECD countries
2;Low birth weight infants: UK has the 14
thhighest number of low birth weights as a percentage of total live births compared with other OECD countries
3;Overweight and obesity amongst adults: UK has the 7
thhighest percentage of population of overweight and obese adults compared with other OECD countries where obesity is physically measured
4;Mortality from cardiovascular disease: UK has the 15
thhighest mortality rate for ischemic heart disease; UK was has the 12
thhighest cerebrovascular mortality rate, compared with other OECD countries
5;Mortality from cancer: UK has the 9
thhighest number of people who die from cancer, per 1000 population compared with other OECD countries
6;Life expectancy at 65: UK was 21
sthighest for female life expectancy above the age of 65; UK was 10
thhighest for male life expectancy above the age of 65 amongst OECD countries
7.
We want people to live better for longer by making sure they have the support, care and treatment they need. Our mandate to the National Health Service sets out the need for collaborative and partnership working between NHS England, Public Health England, national and local government and clinical commissioning groups to help achieve this aim.
Reducing infant mortality is covered in the NHS and Public Health Outcomes Frameworks and the mandate. The Department is working with Sands, the Royal College of Midwives and other key partners to agree standardised information to raise awareness of the risk factors and warning signs for stillbirth.
Mothers and Babies—Reducing Risk through Audits and Confidential Enquiries across the UK has been appointed to continue the national programme of work investigating maternal deaths, stillbirths and infant deaths. They aim to identify what went wrong and why and will make national recommendation on how care can be improved for all mothers and babies.
The Government recognises the importance of starting well through early intervention and prevention and has included “low birth weight of term babies” as an indicator of health improvement in Public Health Outcomes Framework for 2013-16.
Encouraging early access to maternity care ensures women receive the right care at the right time, helping to tackle the negative impact of health inequalities from the start and to begin to improve the health and wellbeing of mother and baby. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence quality standard for antenatal care emphasises the importance of supporting pregnant women to access antenatal care early in pregnancy.
In addition, Start4Life/NHS Information Service for Parents provides parents with advice and information from a trusted source about pregnancy and the first nine months with a baby. The service includes information on how a baby develops, lifestyle advice, including nutrition, exercise and smoking, and how all pregnant women can keep healthy throughout pregnancy and beyond.
Obesity rates in children and adults are levelling off. This stabilisation has been recognised in the OECD Obesity Update published in June 2014. 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 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.
Since 2001, the under 75 mortality rate for coronary heart disease (CHD) has fallen by 46% and by 42% for stroke. The Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy was published in 2013. It sets out key actions for commissioners and providers to help further improve outcomes in CHD, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
For cancer, over £750 million has been committed to deliver the Cancer Outcomes Strategy and save an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15. Since October 2010, the Cancer Drugs Fund has helped over 50,000 cancer patients in England. The National Institute for Health Research investment in cancer research rose from £101 million 2010-11 to £133 million in 2012-13. In 2011, the Government made a commitment to expand radiotherapy capacity by investing over £150 million more over the Spending Review period.
The NHS decides on CT and MRI equipment purchase and service provision at a local level according to local population needs.
Notes
:
1.The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of children under one year of age, expressed per 1,000 live births.
2.For MRI units and CT scanners, the numbers of equipment per million population are reported.
3.Low birth weight is defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the weight of an infant at birth of less than 2,500 grams (5.5 pounds) irrespective of the gestational age of the infant. The number of low weight births is then expressed as a percentage of total live births.
4.Based on the WHO classification (WHO, 2000), adults with a BMI from 25 to 30 are defined as overweight, and those with a BMI of 30 or over as obese. Ranked by percentage of population with BMI 30 or over.
5.Mortality rates are based on numbers of deaths registered in a country in a year divided by the size of the corresponding population. The rates have been directly age-standardised to the 2010 OECD population to remove variations arising from differences in age structures across countries and over time. The source is the WHO Mortality Database. Deaths from ischemic heart disease are classified to ICD-10 codes I20-I25, and cerebrovascular disease to I60-I69.
6.Deaths from all cancers are classified to ICD-10 codes C00-C97.
7.Life expectancy measures how long on average a person of a given age can expect to live, if current death rates do not change.
Hearing Aids
Question
Asked by Baroness Howe of Idlicote
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the case for providing hearing aids free at the point of delivery to people with mild to moderate hearing loss.[HL1204]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Government has not undertaken any assessments of this kind. Local commissioners are responsible for commissioning the provision of hearing aids for mild to moderate hearing loss, based on the needs of their local population. In doing so, they will take into consideration assessments of local need and any relevant clinical guidance, which may include guidance from appropriate national bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Human Trafficking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Tankerness on 7 July (WA 10), how many of the 59 defendants flagged for both human trafficking and child abuse in 2013–14 were prosecuted under (1) the Sexual Offences Act 2003, or (2) the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004.[HL910]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): Of the 59 defendants flagged for both human trafficking and child abuse in 2013-14, all 59 had at least one charge brought under either the Sexual Offences Act 2003, or the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants) Act 2004 or a charge of conspiracy to commit an offence under one of these two acts.
The charges are split as follows:
| Number of Defendants | |
Please note that some of the 50 defendants with charges under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 were also charged with a conspiracy to commit an offence under this act. The 8 defendants shown in the conspiracy row are those where there was no corresponding Sexual Offences Act 2003 charge.
Independent Schools Inspectorate
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that schools in membership of member associations of the Independent Schools Council have confidence in changes to the arrangements under which they are inspected.[HL908]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): My officials have discussed these matters with the Independent Schools Council (ISC). We have also taken into account the responses of ISC and its member associations to the recent consultation on independent inspectorates, and as a result are making changes to the advice for independent inspectorates, which we will finalise shortly.
If the Independent Schools Inspectorate makes any changes to its inspection arrangements, we would expect it to consult with their schools and the associations before implementing any changes.
Internet: Privacy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in light of the recent ruling of the European Court of Justice, they plan to introduce legislation to clarify the law on the right to be forgotten.[HL941]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): The Government is continuing to assess the implications of the recent European Court of Justice ruling on the “right to be forgotten”. However, it is important to be clear that the ECJ judgment does not give individuals an unfettered right to have their personal data deleted from search engine results.
The Government is conscious of the possible unintended consequences of the judgment, such as the administrative burdens for search engines in complying with the judgment, a potential increase in caseload for the Information Commissioner’s Office in responding to complaints and ultimately the volume of cases that may end up in the Tribunal on appeal.
With this in mind, the Government welcomes the work being undertaken by the Committee of European data protection authorities to develop criteria to be used by search engine operators to consider requests for deletion. The guidance issued by this Committee will be of vital importance to search engines operators in striking the right balance between the privacy rights of individuals and other interests, including the public interest in retaining the information. Therefore as well as supporting search engine operators with the practical application of the ruling, the Government considers this guidance is the right mechanism for clarifying the rights and obligations provided by this judgment.
At the same time negotiations on a replacement General Data Protection Regulation are ongoing in the Council of the EU, including on proposed provisions which are in shorthand called the “right to be forgotten” provisions. The Government does not support the ‘right to be forgotten’ as proposed by the European Commission. It is not technologically possible to remove all trace of data uploaded on the internet and we should be mindful of setting unrealistic expectations for data subjects which do not exist in practice. The Government also consider that an obligation to inform other controllers of a request under the so called “right to be forgotten” should be made clearer and
more realistic. Therefore, we will continue to make the case for greater clarity and a more proportionate approach to this measure.
Iraq Committee of Inquiry
Questions
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what daily fees are paid to the chairman and each member of the Chilcot inquiry; for how many days they have been paid; and what has been the total expenditure on the inquiry so far.[HL1191]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 15 July (WA 114), what steps they are taking to ensure that the Chilcot inquiry report is published before the General Election.[HL1192]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Chairman of the Inquiry is paid £790 per day and the members of his committee £565 per day. The Chairman and members are only paid for days that they work. These figures have not changed since the beginning of the Inquiry. In financial year 2013/14, the Committee and Advisers’ remuneration was £201,100.
I have nothing further to add to my written answer of 15 July 2014.
King’s College London
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of proposals by King's College London to reduce scientific staff posts in the South London and Maudsley catchment area by 10 to 15 per cent in (1) clinical services, (2) autism research, and (3) mental health research. [HL1257]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): It is not for the Government but for local hospitals to decide how many staff they employ. Local National Health Service organisations are best placed to determine the skill mix of their workforce and must have freedom to deploy staff in ways appropriate for their locality.
Safe staffing is not solely about numbers, but also importantly about the quality of care patients receive and how staff spend their time.
Landslips
Question
Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and country parks will receive any support specifically to repair storm damage, landslips and coastal erosion.[HL1150]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Government committed around £560 million to support those affected by the recent flooding. Whilst we have no proposals to provide support specifically to repair storm damage, landslips and coastal erosion in AONBs and Country Parks we are helping households and businesses affected by the recent flooding through the repair and renew grant, council tax and rates relief. Farmers and fishermen are receiving funding for repairs through existing schemes. We are supporting businesses through a £10 million hardship fund.
Large Goods Vehicles
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the period from 1 May 2012 to the end of December 2013, what proportion of the self-certified data submitted to Risk Solutions by operators using one metre longer and 2.05 metre longer semi-trailers in the Department for Transport's trial were (1) randomly monitored, and (2) independently scrutinised. [HL1044]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Risk Solutions has been appointed as the independent evaluator of the trial data. They monitor and scrutinise all of the data that is submitted by operators.
Loans: Republic of Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they are owed by the government of the Republic of Ireland as a result of loans following the recent financial crisis; how much has been paid off; and what are the arrangements for repayment.[HL922]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): I refer the noble Lord to the last statutory report which the Treasury provided to Parliament as required by Section 2 of the Loans to Ireland Act 2010. The last report was published on the 28 April 2014 and is available here along with all previous reports submitted:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bilateral-loan-to-ireland
Since the publication of this report, the UK has received a further interest payment from Ireland on the 16 June 2014 of £41,769,173.48.
The next report will be provided as soon as reasonably possible at the end of the next reporting period which finishes on the 30 September 2014.
Macedonia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to bring about a resolution of the dispute between the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Greece to allow the candidature for European Union membership of the FYROM to progress.[HL1056]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): We firmly believe that the dispute over the official name of Macedonia is a bilateral issue and therefore should not form a block to Macedonia opening EU accession negotiations. We continue to encourage both sides to engage with the UN process to find a mutually accepted solution as soon as possible.
Maternity Services
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the rate of maternity unit closures; and what steps they intend to take in respect of such closures.[HL1086]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): To drive improvements to maternity care nationally we have invested £35 million to improve services at over 160 maternity units across the country, targeting those areas with the largest increases in birth rates. There are over 1,700 more midwives than in 2010, with 6,000 more in training, and the number of midwifery-led units has increased from 82 in 2007 to 155 units in 2013.
The Department does not collect data on, or assess the rate of, maternity unit closures centrally. The National Audit Office report, Maternity Services in England, published in November 2013, found that 28% of maternity units reported that they closed for half a day or more between April and September 2012.
There are occasions when a maternity unit cannot safely accept more women into their care and may need to close temporarily. Any decisions to redirect women are always made by clinicians as part of a carefully managed process.
Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are responsible for commissioning maternity services in line with NHS England commissioning guidance. As part of the commissioning process, CCGs take into account the views of local maternity services users and factors such as demography, geography and the balance between choice and safety to determine the level of provision appropriate locally. NHS England has established strategic clinical networks to research, develop and disseminate best practice to support this guidance.
Middle East
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the targeting of its air strikes on Gaza.[HL1004]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): On 11 July our Ambassador in Tel Aviv met with Major General Amos Gilad, Political-Military Director at the Israeli Ministry of Defence, and raised the need to avoid civilian casualties, including from air strikes.
I refer the noble Baroness to the Statement on Gaza made by the then Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), which I repeated in the House of Lords on 14 July, Official Report Column 434.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase the safety of civilians in Gaza, in the light of the possibility of ground troops being deployed there.[HL1065]
Baroness Warsi: We are deeply concerned by the continued violence in Gaza and Israel and call on all sides to de-escalate to avoid further civilian casualties. We have stressed to Israel counterparts our concern that a ground invasion of Gaza would increase the risk of civilian casualties, and that a large ground operation risks prolonging the conflict.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel concerning the reported shooting of Adam Eriqat with a rubber bullet in Abu Dis, and the impact of the new military checkpoint near Ma’ale Adumim on the time taken for his ambulance to reach hospital.[HL1069]
Baroness Warsi: Whilst we have not made representations on this specific incident, the UK has repeatedly made clear to Israel our concerns over the manner in which the Israeli Defence Force polices Palestinian protests.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will update the list of Special Advisers in post, in respect of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, published by the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2013 showing, in addition to the names and salaries, the policy areas for which each Special Adviser is responsible.[HL1252]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The Government will publish an updated list in due course in line with the commitment within the Ministerial Code.
Ministers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Ministers, in either the House of Lords or the House of Commons, are not in receipt of a Ministerial salary.[HL1226]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): There are currently thirteen Ministers in Her Majesty’s Government who are not in receipt of a Ministerial salary.
Motorcycles: Noise
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have to reduce the noise of motorcycles on public roads.[HL923]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): There are already a number of measures in place to control motorcycle noise with manufacturers required to meet strict noise limits which are then enforced by the police and through annual MoTs. There are currently no plans for further measures.
Neurofibromatosis
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they plan to take to encourage early diagnosis of neurofibromatosis Type 1.[HL1093]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which National Clinical Director has responsibility for overseeing the National Health Service response to neurofibromatosis Type 1.[HL1094]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to increase awareness amongst midwives and general practitioners of neurofibromatosis Type 1.[HL1096]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) patients are included within the remit of Dr David Bateman in his role as National Clinical Director for Chronic Disability and Neurological Conditions at NHS England.
There are currently no plans for awareness raising activity in relation to NF1, which is an inherited condition. Information for the public on the diagnosis and treatment of NF1 can be found on the NHS Choices website, which sets out the key signs and symptoms of the condition, including: coffee colored patches on the skin, two or more neurofibromas (bumps on or under the skin); bone defects, such as bowing of the lower leg; and, a family history of NF1. The NF1 webpages can be viewed at the following link:
www.nhs.uk/conditions/Neurofibromatosis/Pages/Introduction.aspx.
More detailed information for general practitioners and other health professionals can be found on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NHS Evidence website:
This provides free access to quality health and social care evidence and best practice.
NHS
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many legal entities exist within the National Health Service which do not directly deal with patients.[HL1026]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department does not hold the precise information requested. However, the Department has published guidance, entitled The Health and Care System Explained, on organisations that are involved in the delivery of health services since the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act (2012). Based on that guidance, it is estimated that there are 16 national bodies and 224 local bodies that do not directly provide health services to patients within the system.
By contrast, there are approximately 33,000 bodies in England that do provide NHS services directly to patients, including NHS trusts, NHS foundation trusts, general practices, dental practices, opticians and community pharmacies.
Nuclear Power Stations
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what national security considerations they take into account when awarding contracts for the provision of nuclear-generated electricity in the United Kingdom. [HL1116]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The Government does not award contracts for the provision of nuclear generated electricity as this is a matter for the private markets. We welcome investment and Britain is open for business.
Nuclear site licensees and those constructing nuclear facilities are required to meet a number of stringent security requirements including in the areas of physical security, guarding and personal vetting, which the independent Office for Nuclear Regulation monitors and enforces.
Obesity
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many obese (1) men, and (2) women, between the ages of (a) 30–35, (b) 35–40, and (c) 40–45, have required knee replacement surgery in the past four years. [HL1084]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Health and Social Care Information Centre has provided a count of finished consultant episodes1 with a main or secondary procedure2 for knee replacement surgery (a) where there is a main or secondary diagnosis of obesity3 and (b) for all diagnosis, by gender and patients aged 30-34, 35-39, 40-44 and 45-49, 2009-10 to 2012-134. This information is provided in the following tables:
| (a) main or secondary diagnosis of obesity | ||||||||||||
| Gender and age group | ||||||||||||
| Male | Female | Unknown | ||||||||||
| Year | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 |
| b) all diagnoses | ||||||||||||
| Gender and age group | ||||||||||||
| Male | Female | Unknown | ||||||||||
| Year | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 |
Notes
:
1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year.
2. The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 4 prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. For example, patients under going a ‘cataract operation’ would tend to have at least two procedures – removal of the faulty lens and the fitting of a new one – counted in a single episode.
3. The number of episodes where this diagnosis was recorded in any of the 20 (14 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 7 prior to 2002-03) primary and secondary diagnosis fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. Each episode is only counted once, even if the diagnosis is recorded in more than one diagnosis field of the record.
4. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care.
Parades Commission
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have consulted the government of the Republic of Ireland at any stage about the recent appointment of a chairman and members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission; and, if so, what was the result.[HL1057]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): This Government did not consult the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the recent appointment of a chairman and members of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will instruct the Northern Ireland Parades Commission to provide copies on request of representations made to it, and the minutes of its discussions regarding determinations.[HL1058]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the Northern Ireland Parades Commission should be required to give detailed reasons for its decisions; and if not, why not. [HL1059]
Baroness Randerson: Under the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998, determinations are operational matters for the Parades Commission acting independently of Government. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland plays no role in that process.
The Noble Lord may wish to write to the Parades Commission directly on these matters.
Peers: Attendance
Question
To ask the Chairman of Committees how many, and which, Members of the House of Lords have not attended a sitting of the House since the last General Election.[HL945]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Sewel): Fifty-four peers who were Members of the House of Lords at the time of the last General Election have not attended a sitting of the House since then. This figure includes six Members who hold disqualifying judicial offices, three Members who resigned under the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 (one of whom has since died), two Members who have retired under the informal retirement scheme, twenty-two Members who have taken leave of absence, twenty Members who have died and one who has not yet taken the oath (having been disqualified until the end of June 2014). A list of their names has been placed in the Library of the House.
| Peers who were Members of the House of Lords at the time of the 2010 General Election but have not attended a sitting of the House since then |
Plastic Bags
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the likely impact of the forthcoming charge for plastic bags on usage; and what are their long-term waste reduction targets.[HL1137]
TheParliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Government has developed an Impact Assessment for the forthcoming 5p charging scheme for England. This examines the impact of the charge on businesses, consumers and the environment. Once completed the Impact Assessment will be available to view on the GOV.UK website.
Based on experience in other countries we expect the 5p charge to reduce the distribution of light weight plastic bags from large retailers by 70-80% and overall in England by 50-60%.
Prescriptions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of physiotherapists and podiatrists being trained as independent prescribers, what progress is being made to extend prescribing to include other groups of allied health professionals.[HL1151]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England is working closely with the relevant professional bodies and the
Department to keep the case for any further expansion of prescribing responsibilities for the allied health professions under review.
Prisoners: Children
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children are currently affected by parental imprisonment in England and Wales.[HL1046]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children in the care of a single parent are currently affected by parental imprisonment in England and Wales.[HL1047]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): The Ministry of Justice does not centrally collate or hold information on the questions above.
Prisons
Question
Asked by Lord Browne of Belmont
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are being taken to ensure that there are sufficient prison places to accommodate people who receive custodial sentences.[HL1018]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): Prison numbers fluctuate throughout the year and we have sufficient accommodation for the current and expected population. Sensible measures have been taken to ensure that we will have sufficient capacity to deal with the projected level of the population. These measures include identifying additional places if required in prisons that can provide safe and decent conditions. This is a proportionate measure to ensure that we are able to hold all of those committed to custody by the courts.
We are planning to open an additional 2,000 places over the next nine months. We will have more adult male prison places at the end of this Parliament than we inherited. In the next Parliament, we will open a new prison in Wrexham, providing a further 2,000 places.
Public Sector: Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made in encouraging public sector pension funds in the United Kingdom to amalgamate to achieve greater purchasing power.[HL979]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government has recently conducted a consultation on structural reform in the Local Government Pension Scheme for England & Wales, the UK’s largest funded public service pension scheme.
The consultation sets out a package of proposals for greater collaboration between funds in order to secure cost savings and efficiencies. The Government will carefully consider respondents’ views and publish a response in due course.
Railways: Electrification
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have, or have been presented with, concerning the electrification of Welsh railway lines; and whether they intend to meet Ministers of the Welsh Government to finalise those plans.[HL1239]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government’s intention to electrify the main line to Swansea and the Valley lines network in South Wales was set out in the 2012 rail investment strategy for 2014-19, on the basis of an agreement made between the UK and Welsh Governments in 2012. The Secretary of State for Transport met the Welsh Minister for Economy, Science and Transport on 16th July 2014 to develop these plans. The Welsh Government is also examining the business case to electrify the North Wales main line, which could be considered as part of a future rail investment strategy.
Satellites
Question
Asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the potential value to knowledge of climate change and its impacts, of more accurate measurements of the Earth that could come from the proposed Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial-and-Helio-Studies satellite mission.[HL1034]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The possible benefits from the proposed Traceable Radiometry Underpinning Terrestrial-and-Helio-Studies (TRUTHS) satellite mission were the subject of a challenge workshop hosted in 2013 by the UK Centre for Earth Observation Instrumentation and Space Technology (CEOI-ST), which is funded by the UK Space Agency.
The outputs of the CEOI-ST investigation are currently being considered by the UK Space Agency.
School Milk
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their decision to re-introduce school milk resulted from a European Union Directive, regulation or proposal. [HL1110]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): No. The revised school food standards require schools to make milk available. The decision is not linked to a European Union Directive, regulation or proposal.
Schools: Mental Health Services
Question
Asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking in schools to improve the mental health of children up to age 16.[HL1235]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): On the 16 June 2014 the Department for Education issued new non-statutory guidance for schools and teachers on pupil’s mental health and behaviour. This guidance gives information, guidance and practical tools on how to build resilience and support good mental health. It also helps school staff identify those pupils who may have emerging problems and provides guidance on appropriate routes of support. The guidance is published online:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/mental-health-and-behaviour-in-schools--2
In addition our special educational needs (SEN) reforms are set out in the 0-25 SEN and Disability Code of Practice which is currently before Parliament. This makes it clear that schools should look to identify any underlying mental health needs that pupils have. The Code emphasises the importance of staff development and provides a number of signposts to specific support. This includes further support for teachers and adults working with children and young people, which is available through www.minded.org.uk, a website funded by the Department of Health that helps adults identify and support children and young people’s mental health issues.
Schools: Standards
Question
Asked by Lord Allen of Kensington
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of introducing data on post-school destinations in addition to academic achievements as an indicator of school performance.[HL1135]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Department for Education intends to publish destination measures data for both key stage 4 (KS4) and key stage 5 (KS5) in performance tables once we are satisfied that the data are robust enough. KS4 education destinations are already included in performance tables, and have been since 2013, but before we publish full destinations data we have to test and evaluate it fully to ensure its reliability.
We published the KS5 destination measure for the first time as experimental statistics in the 2014 destinations statistical first release1 because of the inclusion of new institutions, such as independent schools and special
schools. The employment, training and characteristics data need to be fully tested and evaluated before they can be published on the performance tables website. Tables, including employment data and breakdowns of the data based on student characteristics for former KS4 students, have also been published in the destination measures statistical first release (experimental statistics) alongside the KS5 data.
1 www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-destinations
Secure Accommodation
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the funding for secure children's homes will be ring-fenced to maintain places.[HL1180]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Secure children’s homes (SCHs) are children’s homes that provide a locked environment and restrict a young person’s liberty. They provide care and accommodation to children and young people who have been placed there on welfare grounds by local authorities and the courts. They also accommodate and care for children and young people who have been detained or sentenced by the Youth Justice Board (YJB), and those who have been remanded to secure local authority accommodation.
Funding for local authorities to purchase welfare beds is included in the Revenue Support Grant given to local authorities and is not ring-fenced, in line with our general policy to increase the control that local authorities have over their budgets to meet local needs.
The YJB has a series of block-bed contracts with nine SCHs across England and Wales. A recent tendering exercise let a number of new two-year contracts.
The latest statistics on SCHs published on 4 June 2014 show that there were 298 approved places in England and Wales at 31 March 2014, an extra two places since 31 March 2013. These statistics are available online:
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/317365/SFR14-2014_Text.pdf
Sports: Young People
Question
Asked by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage young people to engage in sport.[HL1153]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): As part of Sport England’s 2012- 17 Youth and Community Strategy it is investing £461 million to get more young people playing sport regularly. Currently over half of all young people (54.5%) play sport once a week and almost a quarter of a million more young people are playing sport today than in 2005 when London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Specific targets for young people have been
agreed with each national governing body of sport. Sport England is also running programmes specifically targeting young people including Sportivate which over the last two years has given almost 400,000 young people the opportunity to take up a new sport. Over 2000 satellite clubs have been set up across England to reduce the number of young people who stop playing sport after leaving school.
Syria
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of President Assad’s re-election by the Syrian people, whether they intend to amend their stance on the Presidency of Syria as described in the answer by Baroness Warsi on 1 July (WA 253); and, if not, why not.[HL956]
The Senior Minister of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Warsi) (Con): The UK remains committed to finding a political settlement to the Syria crisis. President Assad is the greatest obstacle to such a settlement. He refused to engage substantively in the UN Security Council-backed Geneva II peace talks which aimed to establish a transitional government agreed by both sides, and lay the foundations for free and fair elections. Instead, his regime’s brutality continues to fuel the conflict, stoke sectarian tensions, and create conditions conducive to the growth of terrorism. President Assad is not a credible partner for solving this crisis.
The regime’s recent Presidential “elections” do not change this. They were a parody of democracy, taking place against the backdrop of horrendous violence, and disenfranchising the many millions of Syrians who have been forced to flee their homes. The Arab League, the UN, the US, Turkey and the EU all rejected these so-called elections.
We continue to call on the Assad regime to make a clear commitment to ending the violence and engaging in substantive talks with the opposition under the Geneva framework. The UK will continue to support a strong and more inclusive opposition and work to increase pressure on the regime in order to create conditions for a political settlement that can end the conflict and address the terrorist threat.
Terrorism: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 14 July (WA 108), why it took four years for Northern Ireland officials to decide to consolidate the records of those released as a result of the Belfast Agreement of 1998.[HL1145]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Records received from the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) following the devolution of policing and justice powers were, at that time, deemed to be in an acceptable format.
Following devolution, NIO officials have not been required to consolidate the information held and are now undertaking a consolidation exercise.
Travel: Concessions
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what (1) concessionary fares, and (2) free travel arrangements, for bus and travel services exist in each region of the United Kingdom; and whether they have plans to expand and encourage such schemes.[HL1244]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Statutory concessionary bus travel is a devolved matter with separate systems administered in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. This response, therefore, refers only to the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme (ENCTS). The ENCTS is a statutory concession scheme which allows for free travel for older and disabled people on local bus services anywhere in England, between 0930 and 2300 during weekdays and anytime at weekends and bank holidays. In addition, local authorities are able to provide non-statutory, discretionary concessions for specified groups of people, from their own funds, in accordance with their local priorities, which the Government encourages. In each of the years 2010/11 to 2013/14, nearly all of the 89 Travel Concessionary Authorities outside London were offering some sort of discretionary travel concession over and above the statutory minimum ENCTS, for example companion passes or extensions to travel times. The statutory concession for London residents provides free travel for pass holders on almost all public transport in London. Details of discretionary enhancements across England can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/259404/concessionary-travel-statistics-2012-13.pdf
(see in particular table BUS0841).
Wind Power
Questions
Asked by Lord Browne of Belmont
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps are currently in place, and what steps they intend to take, to address health and safety issues associated with the use of wind turbines.[HL1016]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): Wind generators, in the same way as all other industries, are covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA). This requires them as duty holders to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of their employees and any members of the public who may be affected by their activities.
There are also well-established British and European standards covering product safety. The HSE performs appropriate regulatory checks on the operation and maintenance of wind turbines and also commissions
research as needed. An HSE-commissioned report on risk assessment in the vicinity of wind turbines was published in 2013 and can be viewed online at:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr968.pdf.
Offshore wind developers are working together, through the G9 group, to seek solutions to safety challenges to working offshore. More information can be found at:
http://www.g9offshorewind.com/about-the-g9.
Asked by Lord Browne of Belmont
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current success rate of planning applications for wind turbines and wind farms; and what were the comparable figures in each of the last five calendar years.[HL1017]
Baroness Verma: The Renewable Energy Planning Database (REPD) tracks the progress of all projects over 0.01MW from submission of a planning application through to determination and generation:
https://restats.decc.gov.uk/app/reporting/decc/monthlyextract
The table below sets out the number and percentage of onshore wind installations, as well as the combined capacity of those installations, which are recorded on the REPD as having been approved or refused planning permission, on a year-by-year basis, since January 2009. These numbers are accurate as of the end of May 2014:
| Number of planning applications | Capacity (MW) | |||
| Approved | Refused | Approved | Refused | |
Zoos
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implementation of the European Union's Zoos Directive 1999 in the United Kingdom through the zoo inspection system.[HL1106]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): The Zoo Licensing Act 1981, which sets out comprehensive licensing and inspection requirements for zoos, implements the EC Zoos Directive in Great Britain. Responsibility for administering these requirements rests with local authorities, which have powers to check compliance with zoo licences, to impose conditions and to take action. Ultimately this could mean closing part, or all, of a zoo if the requirements of the legislation are not met. This in turn ensures our compliance with the Directive.
In response to concerns about how local authorities were carrying out this role, Defra commissioned research into local authority implementation of the Act. The 2011 report, which looked at the period 2008-2010, found no serious problems and indeed there was evidence of significant improvements in a number of areas during this time.
The report made suggestions for further improvements, such as updating guidance and zoo inspection report forms. These, together with the majority of the suggestions, have been actioned and we continue to work to make further improvements.