The Department of Health is working with NHS England and partners, including the Health and Social Care Information Centre, to explore the practical issues involved in providing regular and timely updates of live birth data to local authorities.
Consumers: Protection
Question
Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the comments by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, Jenny Willott, on 13 May (HC Deb, col 691), whether they will set out the additional guidance produced by the Trading Standards Institute in relation to the cited consumer regulations of December 2013. [HL1741]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) (Con): Guidance on the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 has been produced by the Trading Standards Institute, and is available at http://www.businesscompanion.info/. This guidance is updated regularly, and we have asked TSI to consider providing clarification on ticket sales as part of these updates.
Diesel Fuel
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what incentives they have put in place over the past 20 years to encourage motorists to switch from petrol to diesel fuel.[HL1735]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government is committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions from transport as part of targets set in the carbon budget. Successive governments have been hugely successful in this aim and consumers have benefited from more fuel efficient vehicles, including those with petrol engines.
At various points in time successive governments have put in place different treatments of petrol and diesel vehicles under transport related taxes such as Vehicle Excise Duty and Fuel Duty. Over this Parliament neither Vehicle Excise Duty nor Fuel Duty has distinguished between petrol and diesel vehicles.
Diesel cars and vans have become increasingly popular, reflecting good fuel efficiency and the improvements in engine technology. Diesel engines can produce more air pollution than petrol engines. Successively tighter European emission standards for new diesel vehicles has reduced particulate matter pollution and will address emissions of oxides of nitrogen.
Energy: Meters
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to encouraging the six largest energy companies to develop and use their own vulnerability checklist as part of a comprehensive assessment process to help determine a household's circumstances before any new pre-payment meters are installed, in accordance with the voluntary code agreed with Consumer Focus in March 2011.[HL1756]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): All the large suppliers have agreed to the 5 key principles set out by Consumer Focus in March 2011. This includes a check of whether a customer is vulnerable before installation of a prepayment meter and offering a different payment method if appropriate. In the 2012 report “Making Progress” Consumer Focus found that most large suppliers use a checklist to help staff identify the best approach. This report is available at this link:
http://www.consumerfutures.org.uk/files/2013/07/Making-progress.pdf
Government supports initiatives to ensure that vulnerable pre-payment customers are being treated fairly and receiving appropriate support and is considering areas where Government action could further improve the consumer experience of pre-payment customers.
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will work with energy companies to ensure that those using pre-payment meters pay the equivalent tariffs to those paying by direct debit, irrespective of whether smart meters are installed.[HL1758]
Baroness Verma: Energy supplier licence conditions, set by Ofgem, allow suppliers to apply different charges to different payment methods providing the differentials reflect the costs to the supplier of the form of payment. This allowance is made in recognition of the fact that some payment methods are more expensive to administer than others. In May 2014, Ofgem published the results of analysis on this issue which showed that across the market the price on different payment methods reflects the varying costs suppliers face in providing them. This is available at the following link:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/price-differences-between-payment-methods-%E2%80%93-open-letter
Floods: Somerset
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the readiness to deal with possible flooding on the Somerset Levels in the winter of 2014–15.[HL1787]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Repairs to damaged assets in Somerset form part of the large national programme for preparedness ahead of the coming winter. This programme is progressing on time. All of the flood risk assets damaged last winter will either be fully repaired before the coming winter or, for a small number of assets, will have temporary repairs to ensure communities are protected, with permanent works to follow or clear contingency plans in place.
In Somerset the Environment Agency has identified a total of 48 projects, including some improvement projects, which are new works as part of the Somerset Flood Action Plan. As of 3 September, 11 projects were completed, 25 were underway and 12 due to start. We expect all projects to be completed by 31 October.
Gambling: Internet
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when further guidance will be provided to online poker gambling companies and their software providers in respect of the latest licence conditions and codes of practice guidance relating to the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014, the sharing of information to prevent cheating, money laundering, crime and problem gambling, and the investigation of customer complaints.[HL1742]
Lord Newby (LD): The Gambling Commission has no immediate plans to add to the guidance already given, but will add answers to any specific questions or points that may emerge in the Commission’s Frequently Asked Questions blog.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will clarify which elements of the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards are considered mandatory; and whether they have received any communication from businesses about the clarity of the guidance relating to those Standards.[HL1743]
Lord Newby: The Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards clearly differentiate between requirements which are mandatory and those provisions which are guidance. The Government has not received any communication from businesses about the guidance.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, in respect of the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards, concessions were granted on compliance times in relation to auto-play and clock display. [HL1744]
Lord Newby: The Gambling Commission has identified significant differences between its own auto-play requirements and those currently available to British
consumers from operators based in other jurisdictions where they can currently offer gambling to the British market. The Commission is currently consulting on improvements to auto-play requirements and wanted to avoid unnecessary investment by operators to change their auto-play functionality whilst this is underway. There has been no concession in relation to the technical standard on clock display.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what work has been done to ensure that new compliance rules relating to the Gambling Act 2005 and the Remote Gambling and Software Technical Standards do not prevent any software businesses from providing services to the gambling industry.[HL1745]
Lord Newby: The Commission has held a number of meetings with software suppliers and users to discuss matters such as the length of time for suppliers to obtain the necessary licences. On current plans the requirement for licensed remote gambling operators to source their gambling software from Commission licensed gambling software businesses has been deferred until 30 January 2015. In addition, the Commission has published an advice note titled ‘What is gambling software?’. The Commission has also demonstrated its awareness of the commercial implications of its requirements by its willingness to contemplate ‘umbrella’ licensing arrangements in some circumstances.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the release in July 2014 of the Gambling Commission’s consultation on amendments to its statement of principles for licensing and enforcement policy, with a closing date of September 2014, they have given consideration to delaying the deadline for applications for gambling software licences pursuant to the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 until the second quarter of 2015.[HL1746]
Lord Newby: The consultation on minor updates and amendments to the Commission’s statement of principles for licensing and compliance ending on 30 September 2014, does not affect the timetable for applications for gambling software licences.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Gambling Commission will publish the reasoning behind each gambling software licence decision. [HL1747]
Lord Newby: The Gambling Commission does not publish the reasoning behind all licence decisions, only those where there is a public interest in doing so. There are no plans to change this process.
Gibraltar: Spain
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 30 July (HL1323), why they accept that the European Commission has a locus in the matter of the border between Spain and Gibraltar; and whether they consider that locus to apply to action by the European Commission concerning incursions into British Gibraltar territorial waters by Spanish vessels from Spanish territorial waters.[HL1789]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): Gibraltar forms part of the EU and the EU provisions on the free movement of workers, capital and services apply to Gibraltar. Spain is entitled to establish checks at the border with Gibraltar, but these checks must be proportionate and non-discriminatory in order to remain in compliance with EU law. Pursuant to its role as guardian of the EU treaties the European Commission has an important role to play in assessing whether Spain has complied with these EU law obligations. We have made consistently clear to the Commission that we believe Spain has breached EU law in this area and the Commission recently agreed that the checks giving rise to waiting several hours to cross the border were disproportionate.
Incursions by Spanish state vessels into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters raise issues under the international law of the sea rather than under EU law. The UK robustly defends its sovereignty over British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by challenging all unlawful incursions and by making formal protests to the Spanish government.
Hearing Impairment: Health Services
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish their criteria for the award of contracts for the provision of audiology services to their agencies.[HL1780]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): There are no national criteria for awarding contracts for the provision of audiology services with the exception of a small number of specialised services which are commissioned nationally by NHS England. The specifications, setting out what providers must have in place to deliver specialised audiology services, can be found on the NHS England website at the following link:
www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/commissioning/spec-services/npc-crg/group-d/d09
The national contract for the provision of hearing aids is managed through the NHS Supply Chain and provides for the assessment of patients by National Health Service audiology professionals, as well as the provision and fitting of digital hearing aids. This
contract ran from 2010 until 2014, and has subsequently been extended to July 2016. It is currently under review to determine the options for re-procurement after 2016. More information can be found at the NHS Supply Chain website at the following link:
www.supplychain.nhs.uk/product-news/contract-launch-briefs/2014/july/hearing-aids-and-accessories/
Hindley Young Offender Institution
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the report published on 15 August by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, which found that there were insufficient services for boys with brain injuries, learning disabilities or in need of speech and language therapy, whether they have any plans to improve the health services provided to boys in the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution.[HL1806]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): NHS England and Young Offenders Institution (YOI) Hindley have not yet responded to the August 2014 report published by Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons. Currently, healthcare services commissioned for the population in YOI Hindley aged under 18 years include treatment for acquired or traumatic brain injury, learning disabilities and difficulties and speech, language and communication needs. These remain an important element of the overall service, which is based on needs identified in the health and wellbeing needs assessment for YOI Hindley.
In Vitro Fertilisation
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 July (HL1011), what is the proposed timetable of steps in deciding when mitochondrial donation should be offered in treatment; and what impact each of the separate experiments recommended by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s Expert Panel will have on that timetable.[HL1761]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Government has decided to proceed with putting regulations before Parliament, subject to giving further consideration to the Expert Panel’s recommendations, refining the draft regulations to take account of changes identified during the consultation, and discussion with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority about an appropriate approval process. The Government will consider the timing of the regulations in the light of these actions. We aim to provide an update about this soon.
Iran
Question
Asked by Lord Clarke of Hampstead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to review their relationship with the government of Iran, including considering firmer sanctions. [HL1791]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): Since the election of President Rouhani in 2013, we have been working to improve the UK-Iran relationship for the benefit of both countries. We intend, following Iran’s assurances that UK staff in Iran would be safe and able to carry out their functions, to reopen our Embassy in Tehran as soon as practical arrangements allow. A global diplomatic presence is a key component of UK foreign policy. Nevertheless, there will continue to be range of issues on which the UK and Iran disagree. Restored embassies will enable us to better understand these differences and to work more effectively to tackle them.
Along with our E3+3 partners, the UK remains committed to reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran which ensures that their nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful. Failure to reach a settlement would lead to the re-imposition of sanctions suspended under the interim deal and consideration of further sanctions pressure.
Iraq: Iran
Question
Asked by Lord Clarke of Hampstead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the latest situation in Camp Ashraf and Camp Liberty.[HL1790]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We rely on the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) for information about the situation at Camp Liberty, as they monitor the adherence by all parties to applicable human rights standards. On 31 August UNAMI reported that the provision of life support systems such as water, electricity and food continue to be well in excess of basic humanitarian standards.
There are no residents now at Camp Ashraf. The final group of residents were transferred to Camp Liberty on 11 September 2013.
Middle East
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the then United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, that “there seems to be a strong possibility that international law has been violated, in a manner that could amount to war crimes,” by Israel in Gaza; and whether they have made any representations to the United Nations about that statement. [HL1797]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The Government has taken note of the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. We are clear that there must be meaningful investigations into possible violations of international humanitarian law by all sides, including those abuses committed by Hamas and other militant groups. We call on all parties to cooperate with the UN Commission of Inquiry, which must be balanced and impartial. We have not responded directly to the UN on this statement but we have commented publicly on a number of the issues raised in it. The UN Commission of Inquiry has yet to complete its work, so it would be wrong to pre-determine its findings.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Palestinian civilians, at the time of the latest ceasefire, had been (1) killed, and (2) injured, as a result of Israel’s military action in Gaza; how many of those casualties were children; and what were the comparable figures for Israeli civilian casualties from Palestinian military action in the same period.[HL1814]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: According to UN figures, the number of Palestinian civilians killed as a result of Israel’s military action in Gaza was, by the time of the 26 August ceasefire, 1,462. 495 of them were children. The UN does not provide exact figures for the number of injured Palestinian civilians. However, it estimates that over 5,000 women, children and elderly Palestinians were injured.
According to Israeli government statistics, seven civilians in Israel were killed by rocket/mortar fire from militant groups in Gaza. Six of these were Israeli (including one child) and one was a Thai national. 126 were injured. Further casualties from Hamas rockets were thought to have been prevented by the Israeli Iron Dome system.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 30 July (HL1482), whether they now consider that the recent military action by Israel in Gaza is proportionate, as defined in the Joint Service Manual of the Law of Armed Conflict; and whether they will publish their assessment of the proportionality of that action.[HL1815]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Prime Minister, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), has been clear on the UK’s recognition of Israel’s right to take proportionate action to defend itself and our condemnation of Hamas’s rocket attacks. We have consistently urged Israel to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties, to exercise restraint, and to help find ways to bring this situation to an end. There must now be meaningful, effective and independent investigations into possible violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law by all sides, including those abuses committed by Hamas and other militant groups. Both sides should
cooperate with the Commission of Inquiry set up by the UN Human Rights Council, which must itself be independent and balanced in its approach.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 18 August (HL1710), whether they regard that the lifting of the Israeli blockade of Gaza is a requirement for avoiding “a return to the status quo ante” set out in that answer.[HL1818]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: A durable ceasefire agreement will have to address the underlying causes of the conflict to bring an end to the cycle of violence. Avoiding a return to the status quo ante will require an agreement which: addresses Israel’s legitimate security concerns; allows the Palestinian Government under the leadership of President Abbas to resume control of Gaza to restore effective and accountable governance; and ensures the lifting of Israeli restrictions, to ease the suffering of ordinary Palestinians, and allows Gaza’s economy to grow.
Monetary Policy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have ruled out cancelling the gilt-edged securities bought by the Bank of England under the quantitative easing policy.[HL1802]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The independent Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England has operational independence for monetary policy. The MPC makes decisions on its policy tools, including quantitative easing (QE), in order to meet the 2% inflation target in the medium term.
The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic policy framework. To use monetary policy tools to meet fiscal objectives, such as financing government borrowing, could conflict with the MPC’s objective of price stability and undermine confidence in the monetary policy framework. Additionally, Government borrowing from the central bank is illegal under Article 123 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
National Child Measurement Programme
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost of the National Child Measurement Programme.[HL1768]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): On 1 April 2013, Public Health England (PHE) took on responsibility for national oversight of the National Child Measurement Programme
(NCMP). The total cost of the programme to PHE for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 financial years are shown in the following table.
| Financial Year | Programme costs | Capital costs | Totals |
There were exceptional costs in 2013-14 due to the need to develop a new NCMP IT system to enable local authorities to carry out their statutory duty of returning NCMP data to the Health and Social Care Information Centre.
NHS
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Ministerial Statement on the NHS Commissioning Board: Annual Assessment and Annual Report and Accounts by Earl Howe on 22 July (WS 124–5), what factors they considered when they decided on which date to make that statement; and what arrangements they have made for parliamentary scrutiny of the NHS mandate for 2015–16.[HL1760]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): We announced on 22 July 2014 in a Written Ministerial Statement on the NHS Commissioning Board: Annual Assessment and Annual Report and Accounts (WS 124-5) that the Government proposes to uphold all of the existing objectives in the current mandate and maintain a stable mandate for 2015-16. This announcement was made on 22 July so the annual assessment could be published before Parliamentary recess and alongside the annual report of the NHS Commissioning Board (known as NHS England). The timing of the publication of NHS England’s Annual Report and Accounts was determined by the annual reporting cycle of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies. The exact date of the Written Ministerial Statement was subject to other Government business.
The Health and Social Care Act 2012 requires the Secretary of State to publish and lay before Parliament its mandate to NHS England. Before specifying any objectives or requirements in the mandate, the Secretary of State must consult NHS England, Healthwatch England and any other persons he considers appropriate.
We have been working closely with NHS England on the approach to the mandate and have been engaging with stakeholders over the summer, ahead of publishing and laying the final mandate before Parliament in the autumn. The mandate for 2015-16 will take effect from April 2015.
Offences against Children: Rotherham
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they are giving to bringing criminal charges for conspiracy and misconduct in a public
office against any officials, social workers, councillors and police officers who failed to take action against child abusers and rapists, as outlined in the report by Professor Jay, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham (1997 – 2013). [HL1736]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): South Yorkshire Police is currently conducting a number of investigations which relate to the period covered by the report. As these are ongoing investigations it would be inappropriate to make further comment. The CPS will consider all potential offences referred to it by the police in accordance with the two-stage test set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
Ophthalmic Services
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the optometry services provided under contract to their agencies operate in a market in which there are sufficient independent providers to maintain the stimulus of fair commercial competition.[HL1776]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish their criteria for the award of contracts for the provision of optometry services to their agencies.[HL1777]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether their policy for the award of contracts for the provision of optometry and other services to their agencies includes a requirement to assess and compare the net tax revenue that would be provided by each competing bidder; and, if not, why not.[HL1778]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): All Government agencies are subject to European regulations covering both competition and awarding public contracts. Additionally, they apply the Government’s principles of transparency in communicating commercial opportunities, which includes actions to stimulate and attract opportunities for small and medium enterprises.
Standard tender documentation for commercial contracts incorporates a pre-qualification questionnaire that requests information from bidders as part of the Government’s policy, to check compliance with company tax laws. The information requested is proportionate with the value of the contract to be awarded.
In line with Government policy all new procurement tenders and contract awards are published via the Government’s central record system known as ‘Contracts Finder’. It would not be possible to quantify prospectively the net tax revenue likely to be generated by each competing bidder.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the terms of the recently awarded contract to supply optometry services to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency for a three-year period. [HL1779]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency published an advertisement relating to this contract in the Official Journal of the European Union. This document outlined to prospective bidders the duration of the contract and the categories required for service delivery. Due to the detail and length, I have placed copies of this advertisement as well as copies of the Contract Award Notice, the terms and conditions of the contract and the specifications of the contract in the Libraries of the House.
Palestinians
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 29 July (HL1376), and in the light of the discovery of tunnels from Gaza into Israel, what assessment they have made of the measures put in place by the United Nations to avoid the diversion of materials imported into Gaza, in particular concrete, from humanitarian use.[HL1771]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The discovery of a number of tunnels reaching Israel during Operation Protective Edge is deeply concerning. The UN implement a strict controls system with the Government of Israel for the import of construction materials for use in humanitarian projects in Gaza, in order to mitigate the risk of transfer of materials for use other than that intended. Given the recent conflict in Gaza which has left more than 108,000 people homeless, there is an urgent need for legitimate construction work in Gaza and we are talking to the UN and Israel to support a way forward that addresses Israel’s security concerns whilst meeting the clear humanitarian need.
Parliament: Work Experience
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they intend further to support young people from low-income families in accessing government internship and work experience opportunities within the Palace of Westminster.[HL1748]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the administrations of the House of Commons and House of Lords about supporting young people from low-income families in accessing internship and work experience opportunities within the Palace of Westminster.[HL1749]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Placement schemes are a matter for the House authorities. I encourage the noble Lord to pursue this issue with the House authorities.
Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they propose to maximise the availability of new pension freedoms.[HL1775]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government response to the consultation “Freedom and Choice in Pensions”, which was published in July, sets out how the new pension freedoms will be enacted. The Government estimates that up to 18 million people will be able to benefit from the reforms.
Pharmacy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis the Department of Health reimburses small independent chemists for NHS prescription drugs; whether they reimburse the full wholesale amount to chemists; and, if the full cost is not reimbursed, on what basis the payment is made.[HL1738]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The National Health Service pays community pharmacies that provide NHS pharmaceutical services a combination of fees and allowances for services provided and reimbursement for the products supplied as laid out in the Drug Tariff. The Drug Tariff is a compilation of determinations made by the Secretary of State and NHS England.
The reimbursement prices for products supplied are set in a number of different ways depending, for example, on whether the product is prescribed as a brand or a generic. For example, reimbursement prices for the most commonly prescribed generic products are set out in Part VIIIA of the Drug Tariff and are placed in categories A, C and M. The reimbursement price is established differently depending on the category in which the product is placed. For example, Category M prices are set using volume and sales data from suppliers.
The total of the reimbursement prices of products supplied by a pharmacy is subjected to a deduction as set out in Part V of the Drug Tariff. The size of the deduction is dependent on the value of the total of the reimbursement prices for that pharmacy. The larger the total, the larger the deduction. Each pharmacy providing NHS services, whether independent or part of a larger company, is paid in this way.
Prisons: Race Relations
Question
Asked by Baroness Young of Hornsey
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many race relations posts at a senior level there are currently in prisons; and what were the numbers (1) five, and (2) ten years ago.[HL1798]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): Data on the number of Race Relations posts is not collected centrally. In 1997, the Prison Service Order (PSO) 2800 The Race Relations Manual made it compulsory for all Governors to appoint a Race Relations Liaison Officer and recommended that this should be at the Principal Officer (middle manager) grade. In September 2006, a revised PSO 2800 mandated that Prison Governors would recruit a Race Equality Officer (REO) based on competence and the skills needed to perform the role.
In April 2011, Prison Service Instruction (PSI) 32/2011 Ensuring Equality was published, which removed all mandatory orders to have a specific post for race equality. It mandated that all prisons should have a senior manager with lead responsibility for coordinating work on all equality related issues.
Public Libraries
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions are being taken at national level to preserve and enhance a public library system which takes account of the uses and demands of new technology. [HL1813]
Lord Newby (LD): Library services are increasingly thinking of ways to serve the community in the 21st century and are constantly looking at ways they can provide a service to their users using available new technology. WiFi is available in various public libraries, with the number of locations offering this service continuing to increase. Many libraries already provide e-books for their users and the Government recently extended the Public Lending Right to e-books for on-site lending. Various libraries are being equipped with new equipment such as advanced reading technology to enable blind and partially sighted people access to digital and physical information. Libraries are also evolving their services - Exeter library now offers a Fab Lab which is a low-cost digital workshop equipped with laser-cutters, routers, 3D scanners, 3D milling machines, and programming tools, where you can “make almost anything”.
Railways: Bridges
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who funded the footbridge at Stodham, near Petersfield, which was recently opened to provide an alternative to a level crossing.[HL1796]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Network Rail is now an arm’s-length public sector body and the funding of the footbridge at Stodham is an operational matter for the company.
Network Rail advises that it funded the footbridge at a cost of £350,000.
Railways: Electrification
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current estimate of cost overrun on future rail electrification.[HL1794]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The detailed cost estimates for future rail electrification are still being developed by Network Rail and will be evaluated using the Enhancement Cost Adjustment Mechanism set out in the Office Rail Regulation’s Final Determination for Control Period 5. This process is not expected to conclude until early 2016.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Department for Transport and Office of Rail Regulation staff are investigating Network Rail's costs of electrification; and whether the Department for Transport is planning to take over the responsibility of the Office of Rail Regulation for monitoring Network Rail's costs.[HL1795]
Baroness Kramer (LD): The detailed cost estimates for future rail electrification are still being developed by Network Rail and will be evaluated using the Enhancement Cost Adjustment Mechanism set out in the Office of Rail Regulation’s Final Determination for Control Period 5. This process is not expected to conclude until early 2016. There are no plans for changes to the responsibilities of the three organisations in relation to monitoring costs.
Rivers: Somerset
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the progress in setting up a rivers board better to manage water in the Somerset Levels.[HL1785]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Local partners in Somerset are developing a plan for a new Somerset Rivers Board. Ministers and officials are in close contact with local partners about progress on the formation of the Board.
Turkey
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Popat on 11 August (HL1600), whether their assessment is that British Christian and Jewish visitors to Turkey do or do not have freedom of worship in those countries. [HL1788]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): It is our assessment that British Christian and Jewish visitors to Turkey do have freedom to worship there. The Turkish government is continuing to improve protections for all religious minorities in Turkey and we welcome this.
We and our EU partners assess however that more needs to be done to entrench freedom of religion for all in Turkey and we will continue to encourage the Turkish authorities to make further progress, as part of our wider human rights dialogue.
Answers received between Tuesday 16 September and Monday 22 September 2014
Academies and Free Schools
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Nash on 28 July (HL Deb, cols 1416–19), what proportion of the salary costs in free schools is spent on non-teaching staff. [HL1831]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the reply by Lord Nash on 28 July (HL Deb, cols 1416–19), what proportion of the salary costs in academies is spent on non-teaching staff.[HL1832]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The proportion of the salary costs in academies spent on non-teaching staff is 27.6%.
The proportion of the salary costs in free schools spent on non-teaching staff is 28.8%.
These figures are based on the last published data for academies’ and free schools’ expenditure, which covers the 2011-2012 financial year.
For comparison, the proportion of the salary costs in maintained schools spent on non-teaching staff is 33.1%.
Andy Coulson
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why Andy Coulson is being held in a top security prison. [HL1793]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): Mr Coulson was initially located in the prison that served the court his case was being heard in. Belmarsh is a multi-functional prison; one of its roles is to hold all prisoners remanded or convicted from a number of courts.
Prisoners are assigned a security category once they have been sentenced. A prisoner cannot be allocated to a prison of the appropriate category until their risks and sentence management targets have been assessed. Once this assessment was completed Mr Coulson was allocated to a Category D prison. He was transferred to the Category D establishment on 2 September 2014.
Anjem Choudary
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Home Office officials have had any discussions with Mr Anjem Choudary.[HL1860]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Home Office officials have not had any discussions with Mr Anjem Choudary.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Home Office has, in the last 10 years, provided funding for any organisation supported, run or assisted by Mr Anjem Choudary.[HL1861]
Lord Newby (LD): Under this Government, the Home Office has not provided funding for any organisation with a known association with Anjem Choudary. The Home Office has in place strict monitoring to make sure that funding and other support cannot be provided to extremist organisations.
Ashya King
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Attorney General was consulted about the European Arrest Warrant issued for the parents of Ashya King. [HL1829]
The Advocate-General for Scotland (Lord Wallace of Tankerness) (LD): Both the police and CPS are independent of Government and save in cases which require his consent to prosecute the Attorney General has no role to play in the decision to apply to a court for a European Arrest Warrant (EAW). The alleged offence in this case did not require Attorney General’s consent and he was not, therefore, consulted prior to the application for a warrant.
After the EAW had been obtained, as superintending Minister for the CPS, the Attorney General did discuss the case with the CPS; but the decision to apply to withdraw the warrant remained entirely that of the CPS.
Asylum: Iraq
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to resettling in the United Kingdom a proportion of those displaced from ISIS-controlled areas of Iraq.[HL1591]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): There are no current plans to resettle those displaced from ISIS-controlled areas
of Iraq. However, we are proud of the UK’s record of offering protection to those genuinely in need, and the Government will of course continue to consider asylum claims, including applications from Iraqi nationals suffering religious persecution, under our normal rules.
Asylum: Northern Ireland
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum seekers were first registered in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years; how many of those were children; and what were the ten most frequent countries of origin and the number of asylum seekers from each of those countries in the last five years.[HL1781]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Home Office does not centrally record information on the location of an asylum seekers point of claim. However we are able to provide the information that you have requested as it stands currently. This has been provided in the following tables.
In line with our data protection principles, data sets with a cohort of fewer than 10 people have been replaced with a *.
The number of cases where the claimant's latest address is in Northern Ireland by year of application is found in Table 1.
| Year of Claim | |||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | Total | |
The number of these cases where the claimant was a minor, by year application is found in Table 2.
| Year of Claim | ||||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
The number of cases where the claimant's latest address is in Northern Ireland, sorted by year of application and by country of origin is found in Table 3.
| Country of Origin | Year of Claim | |||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | |
The figures quoted relate to main claimants only and have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, as such it should be treated as provisional and subject to change.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum seekers applied for asylum in Northern Ireland after having first sought and been registered for asylum in the Republic of Ireland in each of the last five years; how many of those applicants were children; and how many overall were returned. [HL1782]
Lord Bates: The data requested is noted below. Figures for children are not recorded separately, and as such have been included in the data table.
The minimum age of those recorded in the data set is 14.
The figures quoted relate to main claimants only and have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, as such it should be treated as provisional and subject to change. In line with our data protection principles, data sets with a cohort of fewer than 10 people have been replaced with a *.
| Year of Claim | |||||
| 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | |
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum seekers are currently being housed in Northern Ireland; and how many were granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years, and under which categories.[HL1783]
Lord Bates: The number of asylum seekers who currently reside in Northern Ireland is 545. The number of asylum seekers granted leave to remain whose latest address is in Northern Ireland is shown in the following table.
The figures quoted relate to main claimants only and have been derived from management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols, as such it should be treated as provisional and subject to change.
| Calendar Year | ||||||
| Type of Decision | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 |
Asylum: Syria
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance is given to the Counter Terrorism Unit concerning its involvement in the reception and integration of Syrian refugees under the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.[HL1595]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The safety and security of the UK are our priority. An essential part of delivering this is knowing who is coming to the UK and carrying out all necessary checks in advance of their arrival. We therefore ensure that the necessary checks are undertaken before those accepted on the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme arrive in the UK. We have also been working with local partners, including local authorities, the police and healthcare sector, to ensure the safeguarding of individuals on the scheme when they arrive in the UK.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Syrian Refugees have arrived in the United Kingdom under the Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme. [HL1606]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will extend the Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme to include Iraqi Refugees fleeing religious persecution. [HL1607]
Lord Bates: The first beneficiaries of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation (VPR) scheme arrived in March, and by the end of June 50 Syrians had been relocated to the UK. Groups of Syrians are now being brought to the UK on a regular basis under the scheme. We will be publishing the number of people arriving under the VPR scheme each quarter as part of the Home Office’s official migration statistics.
The VPR scheme is a bespoke programme designed to help particularly vulnerable refugees displaced by the Syrian crisis who cannot be supported effectively in the region, particularly survivors of torture and violence, women and children at risk and those in need of medical care. We have no plans to extend the scheme to include Iraqi refugees fleeing religious persecution. However, the Government has already
brought a number of Iraqis into the UK under the Gateway Programme where they have been in a protracted refugee situation for five years or more, and who amongst other things are escaping religious persecution.
Furthermore, the Government will of course continue to consider asylum claims, including applications from Iraqi nationals suffering religious persecution, under our normal rules.
British Nationals Abroad: Armed Conflict
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to create a specific, indictable offence with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, for British subjects offering support to, or participating in, any foreign army, organisation or military unit which is not a member of NATO.[HL1739]
Lord Newby (LD): British subjects who travel overseas to participate in armed conflict abroad can potentially be prosecuted under a wide range of terrorism and criminal law offences available under existing UK law. As such, a new offence of participation in foreign military organisations which are not members of NATO, is not currently under consideration.
The Prime Minister has just announced proposals to further strengthen our capability to deal with the increased threat from foreign fighters and British-born jihadists who seek to harm the UK.
Cooperatives
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the Financial Conduct Authority’s responsibilities for the oversight of cooperative societies are sufficient to protect the interests of members and creditors.[HL1800]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they last reviewed the responsibilities and authorities of the Financial Conduct Authority to regulate cooperative societies.[HL1801]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Financial Conduct Authority acts as the registrar for cooperative societies; it has no regulatory function in respect of cooperative societies where they are not authorised firms. The Government considers that this role is appropriate. The FCA was given additional powers in relation to this role in April 2014.
Cycleways: Greater London
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the current position in respect of the agreement of the Royal Parks to the Mayor of London’s proposed east–west cycle superhighway; whether there has been any delay to that agreement; and if so, why. [HL1828]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): Her Majesty’s Government understands that Transport for London (TfL) is continuing to work with The Royal Parks to agree a suitable alignment for the East-West Cycle Superhighway through St James’s Park.
TfL is also working with The Royal Parks to provide physically separated cycle routes on the roads in Hyde Park. Kerb-segregated cycle tracks are proposed for South Carriage Drive and West Carriage Drive to provide a continuous route for cyclists using the East-West Cycle Superhighway. TfL proposes to upgrade the junctions on these roads to make them safer and more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists. A kerb-segregated cycle track is also being considered for North Carriage Drive.
TfL plans to consult on the Hyde Park proposals later in 2014.
Detention Centres: Children
Question
Asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the recommendations made by Barnardo’s in its report of April 2014 on the treatment of children in the Cedars facility; which, if any, of the recommendations have been acted upon; and what actions have been taken.[HL1765]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Home Office welcomed Barnardo’s report which has been carefully considered. Of the five recommendations, family escort teams have been implemented. Of the remainder, what was recommended is largely current policy already including use of force which is subject to review. We are unable to accept the recommendation not to separate families as there will be occasions when this is unavoidable. Such decisions are scrutinised at senior level and by the Independent Family Returns Panel.
Entry Clearances
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the criteria for giving visas to overseas church representatives in cases where all fares and expenses are guaranteed by a United Kingdom church body.[HL1763]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Applicants for visit visas are required to have adequate funds available to cover the cost of their travel to and stay in the UK, without taking employment or accessing public funds. Entry Clearance Officers take into account the individual’s income and outgoings to see whether they have enough money to fund a trip to the UK as well as having suitable accommodation. Relatives and friends can offer this support by providing evidence to demonstrate
they have the financial means to support the applicant, as well as information on where the applicant will be staying in the UK.
Officials will be meeting colleagues from the Church of England soon to discuss the current process for visit visa applications for visitors. This should assist both applicants and United Kingdom church bodies when arranging visits to the UK as we want to ensure that genuine applicants who meet the requirements are able to demonstrate this sufficiently the first time.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 11 August (HL1352), whether the citizens of the countries referred to in the answer could enter the Republic of Ireland and then enter the United Kingdom without a visa by entering Northern Ireland.[HL1841]
Lord Bates: Citizens of Bolivia, Fiji, Guyana, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Swaziland and Taiwan travelling to Northern Ireland, or any part of the UK, from the Republic of Ireland, require a UK visa.
In recognition of the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, intelligence led operations are conducted to target potential abuse and identify those not in possession of the appropriate UK entry clearance.
Entry Clearances: Chernobyl
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what visa requirements, screening procedures and payments are necessary before an individual suffering from the after-effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster is permitted to enter the United Kingdom.[HL1635]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Visa applications are considered under the relevant immigration rules and on the individual merits of the case. A standard visit visa costs £83.
Equal Pay
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will ensure that public authorities in England and Scotland have equivalent duties in respect of gender pay differences to those required by the Equality Act 2010 (Statutory Duties) (Wales) Regulations 2011.[HL1848]
Lord Newby (LD): The public sector Equality Duty (PSED), at section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 (the Act), consists of a general duty which requires public bodies to consider the key aims of eliminating discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and fostering good relations when designing policies and delivering services. It commenced in April 2011 and applies equally across Great Britain.
The PSED is underpinned by specific duties which are set out in secondary legislation to provide a framework to help public bodies meet the general duty. England, Scotland and Wales have taken different approaches towards the specific duties. The Scottish and Welsh specific duties, which are determined by the Scottish and Welsh Governments respectively in accordance with section 153(2) and (3) of the Act, adopt a prescriptive approach that places particular requirements on public bodies in respect of equal pay. The English specific duties, which aim to increase transparency and accountability, enable more flexibility for public bodies depending on their size and functions. However, guidance issued by the Government on the English specific duties makes it clear that public bodies should consider any equal pay issues affecting their workforce when reporting on their compliance.
The Government has no current plans to change the specific duties. The Government appointed an independent Steering Group in 2012 to review how the PSED was operating. The Steering Group reported in September 2013 and concluded that it was too early to make a judgment on the overall impact of the PSED and the effectiveness of the specific duties. The Government accepted its recommendation that a further evaluation should be carried out in 2016 as more time is needed to let the legislation bed down.
European Fighter Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 29 July (HL1167), how many fully qualified Typhoon pilots there are in the Royal Air Force.[HL1750]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): I am withholding the information requested as its disclosure would, or would be likely to prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.
Extradition
Question
Asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Faulks on 29 July (WA 277), whether any working group or committee within Government is currently giving consideration to issues relating to extradition; and, if so, what matters are being considered.[HL1715]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Both the UK Government and Scottish Government have said that there can be no ‘pre-negotiations’ on independence in advance of the referendum. The question of potential future extradition issues for Scotland would be affected by Scottish independence, so cannot be answered now because it would depend on multiple negotiations that could only take place if people in Scotland vote to leave the UK in September’s referendum.
Financial Services: Zimbabwe
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to co-operating with the United States Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission, as part of their investigation of the funding of President Mugabe in 2009 by Och-Ziff, BlackRock, GLC Partners and Credit Suisse, in order to establish whether any United Kingdom funding was involved.[HL1858]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): UK regulators and law enforcement agencies cooperate closely with international partners, including those in the United States. Requests for assistance for investigations in the US and elsewhere are made to the UK Central Authority. Her Majesty’s Government does not confirm or deny the existence of such requests and we are unable to comment on any ongoing investigations.
Food Supply Networks Review
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many meetings have been held by Ministers with representatives of the food industry to discuss the subject matter of the Elliott Review into the Integrity and assurance of the food supply networks since the final draft was received by departments in June; and who was present at such meetings.[HL1811]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): There have been no Ministerial meetings with representatives of the food industry called specifically to discuss the review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks since June 2014. However the action being taken by industry following the horsemeat fraud incident and the Elliott Review interim report will have been discussed in the regular meetings Ministers have held with the food industry during this time.
Professor Elliott submitted his final report to Government in July, and this was published on 4 September.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the cost to date of the Elliott Review into the Integrity and assurance of the food supply networks; and when the final report will be published.[HL1812]
Lord De Mauley: Professor Chris Elliott’s Independent Review into the Integrity and Assurance of Food Supply Networks was published on 4 September.
The Review to date has cost £194,000 in payments to Queens University Belfast for Professor Elliott’s time, his Subject Matter Experts, venue hire and associated costs of carrying out the Review.
A number of staff in Defra and on loan from the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency provided secretariat to support the Review. These staff were already part of departments’ existing administration budgets and the associated cost of these positions whilst working on the Review was £288,000, although some staff were also providing support to other areas of work.
Gambling
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which provisions of the Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 enable the sharing of information received by the Gambling Commission with overseas regulators, where such information is not required for an overseas criminal investigation or overseas criminal proceedings. [HL1825]
Lord Newby (LD): The Gambling (Licensing and Advertising) Act 2014 does not affect existing position in respect of the Gambling Commission’s ability to share information with overseas regulators.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what type of information the Gambling Commission intends to share with overseas regulators.[HL1826]
Lord Newby (LD): The type of information that the Gambling Commission may share with overseas regulators in the course of carrying out its licensing and regulatory functions will depend on the circumstances. Of course, all information is shared subject to generally applicable legal requirements such as those arising under data protection law.
Gambling: Internet
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether companies providing sound effects, graphics and language translation services for use in the creation of gambling products require a licence.[HL1821]
Lord Newby (LD): The Gambling Commission’s advice note “What is gambling software?” explains that, “Where the third party is only providing part of a game, such as artwork, under the control and design specifications of Company Y, then this indicates Company Y is in control and is the entity to hold a gambling software licence whereas the third party does not” (para 4.13). This equally applies to those that provide other aspects of the overall game for example sound effects and language translation services.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why intellectual property relating to gambling software, often owned by separate companies which in turn license that software, rather than by the direct software developers or gambling operators, remains a determinant of a gambling licence requirement.[HL1822]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why, in the light of the Gambling Commission’s guidance, a software developer owning intellectual property in gambling software requires a licence if it amends the software, whereas a gambling operator owning the intellectual property in gambling software which sub-contracts the amendment of that software to another company does not.[HL1823]
Lord Newby (LD): Intellectual property relating to gambling software is only one of the factors that is relevant to understanding where control of the product sits. There are also other factors that are relevant when considering who needs a gambling software licence for example who is responsible for the design and functionality of the software and what the contract says in terms of responsibilities and liabilities. One relevant activity caught by Section 41 of the Gambling Act 2005 is adaptation, and so the person who actually undertakes that adaptation will need to be licensed.
Gambling: Licensing
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Gambling Commission’s guidance on licensing; and in particular whether they consider that it is clear in respect of who will need a licence and which activities will need to be licensed. [HL1824]
Lord Newby (LD): The Gambling Commission is the expert body on gambling licensing and it is for the Commission to determine the best way to achieve the desired policy outcomes and what advice and guidance it is appropriate to offer the regulated industry.
Glen Parva Young Offender Institution
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what changes have been made at Glen Parva Young Offenders Institution since the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons published on 6 August, which concluded that “Glen Parva was not safe.”[HL1807]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , in the light of the report by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons published on 6 August on Glen Parva Young Offenders Institution, whether they have introduced measures to reduce the use of force, including full control and restraint.[HL1808]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report within six months of the date of publication.
HMYOI Glen Parva has already introduced an improvement plan to address the concerns raised. Safety is the Governor’s top priority and the YOI is
now providing a safe and decent regime for all offenders. An external safer custody audit in June 2014 found that progress had been made since the inspection.
Hilda Murrell
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, following the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 4 August (HL938), they will give the titles and dates of the five files relating to Hilda Murrell which will be referred to the Lord Chancellor’s Advisory Council.[HL1810]
Lord Newby (LD): Further to the previous answer, the five additional files relating to Hilda Murrell which will be referred to the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Council, are as follows:
Death of Miss Murrell - 1985Death of Miss Murrell - 1985-1994Death of Miss Murrell - 1985Death of Miss Murrell - 1985-1986Murrell Hilda - Murder Enquiry (F4 papers) - 1984-1985.
Hindley Young Offender Institution
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they have taken in response to the report published on 15 August by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, and the report’s conclusion that the Institution “struggled to keep the vulnerable boys it held safe”.[HL1803]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): As with all establishment inspection reports by HMIP, NOMS will produce an action plan responding to all the recommendations made in the report within six months of the date of publication.
NOMS considers safety a top priority in all of its prisons. The prison will continue to build on its violence reduction strategy and safeguarding policy within the next 12 months to keep those in its care safe. HMYOI Hindley has also recently adopted Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) a new accredited restraint system developed specifically for use with young people (under 18). This provides staff with behaviour management techniques to recognise young people’s behaviour and uses approaches that minimise the need to resort to the use of force.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , in the light of the report published on 15 August by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons on the lower site at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, which found that half the boys held on the lower site were sharing cells
designed for one and that many of the cells were dirty and lacked basic amenities, what plans they have to refurbish those cells.[HL1804]
Lord Faulks: NOMS is committed to ensuring that prison cells remain in a decent and habitable condition. Every prison cell, including at HMYOI Hindley, is subject to daily and weekly checks for damage. There are currently no plans to refurbish every cell at HMYOI Hindley. However, a number of cells will be upgraded to include new robust furniture, and new windows on a priority basis. A scheduled programme of wing and cell painting is also in place at the establishment, and work is ongoing to improve the toilet screens in a number of cells.
House of Lords: Computer Software
Question
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
To ask the Chairman of Committees how many Members of the House of Lords have been unable to access features such as their emails and calendars since the switch to Office 365.[HL1766]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Sewel): Between 14 July and 31 August, PICT logged cases from 237 Members which directly related to issues resulting from the migration of their mailboxes to Microsoft Office 365. The cases covered a wide variety of issues including reconfiguration of desktops, laptops and mobile devices; we do not know the number of Members who were unable to access their email or calendar.
PICT apologises for the problems that the implementation of Office 365 caused for some Members of the House of Lords.
Human Trafficking
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Derby
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many child victims of human trafficking were interviewed in 2013 by competent authority staff, as opposed to specialist interviewers.[HL1545]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): “There were 450 potential victims of trafficking who were minors at the time of exploitation referred into the National Referral Mechanism in 2013. These referrals were considered by UK Visas and Immigration and the UK Human Trafficking Centre.
The UK Human Trafficking Centre (UKHTC) do not conduct interviews with potential victims of trafficking. Interviews may take place with other agencies, for example the Police or Social Services, however UKHTC does not keep a record of who conducts the interviews, or when the interviews take place.
UK Visas and Immigration do conduct interviews where appropriate. Information on the training received by the staff involved in interviewing is
not collated centrally and establishing this would incur disproportionate cost. However, all UKVI staff undertaking interviews with children must have undertaken specialist training. In addition, staff may also have received Competent Authority training which includes a two day specialist training course. All reasonable grounds and conclusive ground decisions are taken by trained Competent Authority staff.”
Immigrants: Detainees
Question
Asked by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many children of illegal immigrants have been detained in the United Kingdom in each year since 2010. [HL1764]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Home Office publishes periodic data on the numbers of children entering detention under Immigration Act Powers since 2010. This information is located on the GOV.UK website, accessible via the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/children-entering-detention-under-immigration-act-powers
The Home Office does not routinely record the immigration status of the parents of those children entering detention under Immigration Act Powers. Whilst this information is held on Home Office systems, extracting the information would require an individual inspection of records, which it is considered would incur a disproportionate cost.
Immigration Controls: Bahrain
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have given any instructions to immigration officials on giving greater scrutiny or priority to Bahraini nationals in carrying out entry clearance, border control and removals functions under paragraph 17(4)(a) of Schedule 3 to the Equality Act 2010. [HL1774]
Lord Newby (LD): Immigration officials are authorised to give greater scrutiny or priority to specific nationalities when carrying out entry clearance, border control and removals functions on the basis of a risk assessment which indicates that those nationalities constitute a greater risk to immigration control. For national security reasons, the nationalities concerned are not disclosed.
Isabella Acevedo
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many (1) immigration officers, and (2) police officers, effected the detention of Isabella Acevedo at Haringey Town Hall on 18 July; and what guidance exists as to the circumstances in which immigration officers may effect detentions and the number of officers to be deployed.[HL1300]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): A team of seven immigration officers and one police officer were deployed on this operation. Decisions on the size of an Immigration Enforcement arrest team are made on a risk assessment and intelligence basis. On this occasion, consideration was given to the potential number of guests and indications that there were several subjects of interest who were believed to be unlawfully present.
In total there were two people arrested at the premises, one female and one male.
Islam
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what criteria they apply in selecting members of the Muslim community to consult; and whether the Home Office has employed or consulted advisers who believe in the creation of an Islamic state in the United Kingdom by non-violent means.[HL1740]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): As stated in the Prevent Strategy, and reinforced in the report of the Prime Minister’s Extremism Task Force in December 2013, the Government will not engage with people, from any background, who engage in vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs. By contrast, the Government does set great value to the wide range of people from many different British Muslim groups and mosques with whom we do work. Last year, for example, Prevent local coordinators in our 30 Prevent priority areas worked with over 250 mosques, 50 faith groups and 70 community groups as part of their work to help people recognise and challenge extremist propaganda and support those who may be vulnerable to being drawn into terrorism.
Israel
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about the case of Ms Khalidah Jarrar, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council; and what assessment they have made of the reasons why Israel seeks to expel her from Ramallah and exile her to Jericho.[HL1853]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): Officials in our Embassy in Tel Aviv routinely raise the rights of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails with the Israeli government. We have not raised this particular case, but understand that Khalidah Jarrar has been moved to Jericho under orders from an Israeli military court for security reasons.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the number of Palestinian Legislative Council members now imprisoned or detained in Israel; and whether they are making representations about the arrests of Mr Bassem al Za’areer from near Hebron on 22 August and of Mr Hisham Muhammad Abu Zgheib, Secretary-General of Fatah in Tulkarem refugee camp, on 27 August.[HL1854]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government understands that there are 36 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council being detained by the Israeli authorities. While we have not raised the specific cases of Mr al Za'areer and Mr Abu Zghieb with the Israeli authorities, officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv last raised the issue of Palestinian prisoners with the Israeli authorities on 7 September.
Max Clifford
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why Max Clifford was handcuffed to a prison officer when he attended his brother’s funeral; and whether he remained so restrained throughout the service.[HL1792]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): NOMS does not comment publicly on matters concerning a named individual’s imprisonment.
Merlin Helicopters
Questions
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 6 November 2013 (HL2992–5), on what day 846 Naval Air Squadron will stand up the first Royal Navy Merlin Mk3 helicopter squadron; and by what date they expect the transition of the Merlin Mk3 airframe to the Commando Helicopter Force to be complete. [HL1751]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): 846 Naval Air Squadron will stand up as the first Royal Navy Merlin Mk3 helicopter squadron on 30 September 2014. The transition of the Merlin Mk3 and Mk3a aircraft to the Commando Helicopter Force will be complete in 2016.
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 6 November 2013 (HL 2992–5), whether programme funding has been agreed for ship-optimisation of the Merlin Mk3 helicopter.[HL1752]
Lord Astor of Hever: The Merlin Life Sustainment Programme was approved and contracted in December 2013 with funding to update 25 Merlin MK3/3a helicopters with new avionic systems to overcome obsolescence issues as well as ship optimisation enhancements including the addition of a folding main rotor head and folding tail. The upgrade project will enable embarked operations from Royal Navy ships.
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 25 October 2013 (HL2640), whether Nimrod MRA4 ASW technology has now been incorporated into the Merlin Mk2.[HL1753]
Lord Astor of Hever: The Anti Submarine Warfare capability developed on Nimrod MR2 for the Nimrod MRA4, has been approved and funded and is in the process of being integrated onto the Merlin Mk2 aircraft. The capability is expected to be in service in 2016.
Military Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what differences are required in generic skills in (1) surveillance, (2) anti-submarine warfare, and (3) anti-surface warfare, in respect of aircrew of (a) Merlin Mk2 helicopters, and (b) maritime patrol aircraft. [HL1819]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): There are no differences in the generic surveillance skills required for surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface warfare, in respect of aircrew of Merlin Mk2 helicopters, and maritime patrol aircraft.
Navy
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 25 October 2013 (HL2640), what programme of work the Royal Navy is undertaking to establish the best way to replace the maritime capability that was to be provided by the Nimrod MRA4; and whether that programme has included work at the maritime warfare training schools at HMS Collingwood. [HL1754]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Staff from Navy Command, including from the Maritime Warfare Centre at HMS Collingwood, and Air Command are actively involved in studies on future wide area maritime surveillance, which are being led by the Joint Forces
Command. In particular, the Royal Navy is providing submarine, aviation, information superiority and warfare experts to inform the Air Information Superiority Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) Optimisation Study (AIOS) and related work. The AIOS is considering a number of options for wide area surveillance, including the use of manned and unmanned aircraft and the use of space-based assets, primarily with a view to informing the forthcoming Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Navy: Military Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Royal Navy pilots are flying (1) F35 aircraft with the US military, (2) F18 aircraft with the US military, (3) Typhoon aircraft, (4) Hawk aircraft, or (5) any other type of fast jet with another nation’s military. [HL1755]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The information requested regarding the number of Royal Navy pilots flying the specific aircraft is as follows:
Note: Figures have been rounded where appropriate in accordance with Departmental conventions.
Nimrod Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any Royal Air Force Nimrod aircrews have been funded since the cancellation of the Nimrod MRA4 programme in 2010; and if so, how many, and why. [HL1820]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): No Nimrod aircrews have been funded since financial year 2010-11.
Offences against Children
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the light of the report by Professor Jay, Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham (1997 – 2013), they will ask Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary to investigate police forces which have large Pakistani communities to establish whether any reports of child rape were systematically ignored or covered up.[HL1737]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The failings in Rotherham exposed by this inquiry are appalling and the Coalition Government is absolutely clear that the lessons of past failure must be learned.
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has a key role to ensure that identified weaknesses are addressed, and has several relevant inspection programmes underway. As part of their 2014/15 business plan, the Home Secretary commissioned HMIC to inspect forces to honour based violence and, in particular, how well forces establish and maintain relations with minority communities in a multi-cultural society, identify and assist vulnerable people and victims, and encourage increased reporting of crimes.
This work is scheduled to report in early 2015. Concurrently, HMIC are carrying out an audit of the quality of crime recording in every police force, which includes an examination of when forces are incorrectly 'no-criming' serious offences such as rape and sexual assault. HMIC's full report and conclusions will be published in October. Furthermore, HMIC intends to use its forthcoming all-force PEEL inspection programme to monitor how effective forces are at protecting those at greatest risk of harm, including children. HMIC are currently consulting on the methodology for this programme. There is no question of other sensitivities preventing steps from being taken to ensure both the proper protection of children and the prosecution of those responsible for the sexual abuse of children.
Palestinians
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the condition of the civilian population of Gaza in relation to hunger, shelter, clean water, sewage disposal, access to medicines and supply of electricity following Israeli military action in Gaza in recent months; and whether they will publish their assessment.[HL1816]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): We are gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza where the damage sustained in the recent conflict has been unprecedented. More than 100,000 people have been left homeless, the UN estimates that only 10% of the population receives clean water daily, and many people face power cuts of up to 20 hours a day. DFID works closely with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA), which manages the process of collecting, analysing and publishing information about the humanitarian situation in Gaza. The latest situation reports are published here: http://www.ochaopt.org/. DFID will continue to work with partners on the ground to monitor the situation and adapt our response accordingly.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the level of humanitarian aid to Gaza from United Kingdom public funds has changed in the current financial year; and, if so, by how much.[HL1817]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): As part of our existing programme in support of Palestinian development, annual DFID funding to Gaza amounts to approximately £30 million year. In addition to this UK has been one of the biggest donors to the Gaza crisis, providing over £17 million in emergency assistance. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep our funding under review.
Parliamentary Information and Communications Technology Service
Question
Asked by Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
to ask the Chairman of Committees what is the mean and maximum time delay for PICT to answer telephone helpline calls from Members of the House of Lords.[HL1767]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Sewel): The mean and maximum time for PICT to answer telephone calls to extension 2001 (the PICT Service Desk) is set out by month in the table below. These figures represent all calls to the Service Desk. Unfortunately, it is not possible to produce figures for specific customer groups.
| Month | Mean wait (minutes: seconds) | Maximum time delay (minutes: seconds) |
PICT aims to answer 80% of calls in 20 seconds or less and 90% of calls in 60 seconds or less.
Pitcairn Islands
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to encourage immigration to Pitcairn; what are the targets for immigration to Pitcairn; and what they consider to be the obstacles to such immigration.[HL1839]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): Her Majesty's Government (HMG) fully supports the economic development of the Pitcairn Islands. The Government of Pitcairn has recently worked up a new Strategic Development Plan and immigration policy, which HMG is currently considering. In 2013, the Government of Pitcairn and HMG commissioned two independent expert reports into attitudes to resettlement amongst the Pitcairn diaspora community, and on the broader economic potential of the islands. Both reports recognised
that there are substantial obstacles to immigration to Pitcairn, including its relative isolation, the limited economic opportunities and the legacy of child safety issues. We will continue to work in partnership with the Government of Pitcairn to support the community in Pitcairn as we consider longer-term options for the island.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the future population of Pitcairn will be large enough to maintain a sustainable community on the island.[HL1840]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: In 2013, the Government of Pitcairn and Her Majesty's Government commissioned two independent pieces of analysis – into the appetite amongst the Pitcairn diaspora for return to the island, and on the broader economic potential of the island. Both reports recognised that unless the population of the island increases, it will be a challenge to maintain the longer-term viability of the community.
Police and Crime Commissioners
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidelines, if any, are given to police and crime commissioners upon taking up office.[HL1842]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) are subject to statutory duties and are required to sign a Declaration of Acceptance of Office upon taking office. The respective Offices of the PCC, in conjunction with the Association of PCCs, coordinate individual inductions for newly elected PCCs. The Home Office does not issue guidelines to PCCs upon them taking office.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the total cost of police and crime commissioners, including salaries and expenses, for each year since they were established.[HL1843]
Lord Bates: The Home Office does not collect data on salaries and expenses claimed by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs). However we have been clear that all Police and Crime Commissioners must be as transparent as possible.
Under paragraph 1(c) and (d) respectively of Schedule one of the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011, PCCs are obliged to publish “the salary of each relevant office holder” and “the allowance paid to each relevant office holder in respect of expenses incurred by the office holder in the exercise of the body’s functions”.