Written Answers
Thursday 23 October 2014
Access to Work Programme
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many Access to Work advisers have received (1) awareness training in the implications for a particular disability, and (2) training to enable them to work constructively with employers.[HL1981]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are monitoring the approaches taken by Access to Work advisers during the assessment and decision-making process, and what measures they are taking to ensure consistency.[HL1982]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the service delivery standards for the Access to Work scheme.[HL1983]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to consider individual and local requirements in the provision of Access to Work support for deaf people.[HL1986]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): All 128 Access to Work advisers receive training which includes Disability Awareness, Decision Making, Equality & Diversity, Negotiating Skills and Effective Communications. In addition, Access to Work have specialist adviser teams focussing on hearing impaired and visually impaired customers, and also a team to assist customers with mental health conditions. These teams receive additional training, which includes input from suppliers, disability charities and other disability led groups. Also as part of the standard adviser training, staff undertake Influencing Skills and Constructive Conversations training to enable them to work effectively with employers.
Access to Work advisers have standardised work instructions to help ensure consistency during the evaluation and decision making process. However, all Access to Work awards are agreed on an individual basis, taking account of a customer’s disability, job role and the barriers they are facing. Standards are monitored using a Quality Assurance Framework which includes the quality of telephone conversations with customers and employers, and the consistency and accuracy of decisions and financial awards.
Access to Work aims to contact customers within 7 working days and give 80% of all decisions in 15 working days. Time sensitive requests, such as customer support requirements at interview, are prioritised and are supported by a 5 working day service standard. Demand for Access to Work, particularly new applications, grew during 2013/14 and customer volumes continue to grow in 2014/15.
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they are currently engaging in dialogue with organisations, employers and individuals to guarantee best practice throughout the Access to Work scheme.[HL1984]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Access to Work scheme’s allocations on employers’ ability to employ large numbers of disabled employees. [HL1985]
Lord Freud: The Department for Work and Pensions has conducted a series of meetings and workshops this year with users, disabled people's organisations, employers and other experts to ensure that Access to Work builds on its success in a way that is sustainable and ensures that we can help as many disabled people to fulfil their potential in the workplace as possible.
It is right that larger employers make a contribution to supporting their staff, but we are looking more widely at how we can better support employers to recruit and retain disabled people. We have already made a significant concession on cost share by exempting small employers from cost share, potentially saving businesses with fewer than 50 staff up to £2,400 for each employee who uses the scheme.
Burma
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government where rice supplied by the Department for International Development for internally displaced people in Kachin State, Burma, is purchased; and which companies transport the rice.[HL2053]
Baroness Northover (LD): DFID partners purchase rice for internally displaced people in Kachin State from a variety of sources and work with local organisations on the delivery of the rice. Given the sensitive operating environment, we do not provide detailed information on suppliers or transporters of rice.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government in which states and regions of Burma the Myanmar Education Consortium will operate.[HL2054]
Baroness Northover: The Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC) allocates support in response to calls for proposals. The first call, in November 2013, invited proposals from organisations in all of Burma’s states and regions. This was followed by a specific call on Education in Emergencies in June 2014. The 14 projects funded as a result of these first two calls are or will be operating in Ayeyarwady, Bago (East, West), Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Magway, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Rakhine, Sagaing, Shan (South, North), Tanintharyi, and Yangon. The next call for proposals is currently under development and is planned for 2015.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the emergency component of the Myanmar Education Initiative will reach internally displaced children in areas under the control of the Kachin Independence Organisation.[HL2055]
Baroness Northover: The Myanmar Education Consortium (MEC) currently reaches internally displaced children in Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO) controlled areas. It is not funded out of the emergency component, but is funded out of the main MEC grant pool.
Climate Change
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 26 September (HL1855), whether they will list those Members of the House who have benefited from their contribution to costs incurred in attending meetings overseas on climate change.[HL2083]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The Government contributed £1,800, as part of a Foreign & Commonwealth Office Prosperity Fund project on carbon markets, towards travel and accommodation costs for Baroness Worthington to attend an emissions trading experts meeting in China in April 2014.
Curriculum
Question
Asked by Lord Browne of Belmont
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to enable schools to determine their own curriculum.[HL2089]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): All schools, including academies and free schools, are required to teach a curriculum which is broad and balanced. Within that framework, academies, free schools and other types of independent schools retain the freedom to design and follow their own curriculum. Maintained schools must teach the national curriculum as part of their wider school curriculum. Following the recent review, the Government has slimmed down the national curriculum to give schools greater flexibility to tailor their school curriculum to best meet the needs of their pupils.
Directors: Equal Opportunities
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made with achieving diversity on corporate boards; and what percentages of (1) women, (2) disabled people, and (3) black and minority ethnic people there are on the boards of FTSE 100 companies.[HL2023]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) (Con): Government has been supporting Lord Davies’ voluntary business-led strategy for the advancement of all women, irrespective of ethnicity or disability. These measures are working. Women now account for 22.8% of board members in FTSE100 companies, up from 12.5% in February 2011.And there are no all-male boards in the FTSE 100 down from 21 in 2011.
We do not collect statistics for, and FTSE 100 companies do not have to report on, the number of disabled or ethnic minorities on their boards.
In September 2014 The Financial Reporting Council published an updated UK Corporate Governance Code, including changes to the preface highlighting the importance of diversity on the board. This includes gender, race and a wide range of other factors including difference of approach and experience.
On 30 September the Secretary for Business Innovation and Skills also announced his support for a business led initiative to support wider ethnic diversity on boards.
Education
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether sufficient attention is being paid to enhancing the skills of students over the age of 16 in English and maths for those who have (1) have, and (2) have not, achieved a C grade in either subject at GCSE.[HL2026]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): This Government has made a historic commitment to address long-standing concerns about the literacy and maths skills of young people in England. The Department for Education is reforming the English and mathematics curriculum and qualifications to be academically rigorous, and to keep pace with universities’ and employers’ demands. We want to make sure that young people have access to English and mathematics education that set expectations matching those in the highest performing countries.
The Department is also reforming A and AS levels in English and mathematics to make sure they properly equip students for higher education. Students will start to study the new A levels in English from September 2015. Reformed A and AS levels in mathematics will be introduced from September 2016.
New level 3 Core Maths qualifications are currently being piloted and will become available from 2015. These new qualifications encourage students to continue the study of mathematics post-16. The Government is providing £20 million in 2014-16 to support piloting and to build capacity to teach the new Core Maths qualifications in schools, sixth form colleges and further education colleges.
From 2015, students will be able to study new GCSEs in English and mathematics. These reformed qualifications will provide greater assurance of strong English, literacy and mathematics.
In July 2012, the Government announced that students that did not hold at least a C grade GCSE would have to continue to study English and mathematics from age 16 to 18 or the institution they attend would lose funding. More recently, Minister Hancock announced that, from September 2015, students holding a D grade in English and/or mathematics would have to take a GCSE course only rather than an alternative stepping stone qualification.
Since 2012, the Department for Education and the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills have been working with the sector and stakeholders to prepare for the expansion of post-16 GCSE teaching. A two-year, £30 million further education workforce package has been introduced, focusing on training existing teachers and recruiting more graduates to teach English and mathematics at GCSE level.
Energy: Prices
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the outcomes of the round-table discussions convened by Ofgem over the summer with suppliers, consumer representatives, parliamentarians and the Government, particularly in relation to addressing the higher fuel costs imposed by pre-payment meters.[HL2157]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): Ofgem will host a round-table event on the afternoon of 29 October on price differences between various payment methods for domestic consumers of electricity and gas. The event follows an open letter published by Ofgem on 20 May that set out the findings to a request for information to suppliers on the prices they charge consumers for different payment methods, including prepayment:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/87924/openletterfinalrepublished.pdf.
Iran
Questions
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had through the chargé d’affaires of the recently reopened Iranian embassy regarding the imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani.[HL2154]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We are aware of the imprisonment of Pastor Behnam Irani. We remain deeply concerned about the detention of and discrimination against members of minority religious groups in Iran. We have called on the Iranian government to protect the rights of all minority groups in Iran. The Iranian Embassy in the UK is yet to reopen, but the UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised the issue of freedom of religion with the Iranian authorities during his visit to Iran earlier this year.
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions the Prime Minister had with President Rouhani regarding freedom of religion and belief in Iran during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.[HL2155]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Both the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), raised a high profile human rights case in their meetings with President Rouhani and the Foreign Minister respectively. The UK’s non-resident Chargé d’Affaires raised the issue of freedom of religion and belief with the Iranian authorities during his visit to Iran earlier this year. The British Government urges the Iranian government to respect the rights of all minority religious groups.
Iraq
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of a report by Human Rights Watch that Islamic State is detaining Yezidi men, women and children from Iraq in Iraq and Syria; and what they know about their situation.[HL2002]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) continues to commit atrocities against Muslims, Christians, Yezidis, Turkmen and other communities throughout the areas under its control. The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of communities on the basis of their religion, belief or ethnicity. We are working closely with the Iraqi government and our international coalition partners to assist and protect civilians wherever we can. We are aware of reports from Human Rights Watch and others that Yezidi men, women and children are being detained by ISIL along with people from other religious groups. We welcome the commitments that Prime Minister al-Abadi has made to inclusivity, to protecting Iraqi citizens, addressing human rights abuses and holding those responsible to account.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether there are any extreme flight safety hazards from the F35B making shipborne rolling vertical landings on Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers by day and night. [HL1951]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Shipborne Rolling Vertical Landing (SRVL) is a unique technique
which is being specifically developed for operations on board the Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier. Trials are under way to develop this technique, which is at an early stage of development, these trials have suggested that SRVL can be executed at acceptable levels of risk when required. SRVL will be used at the extremes of climatic temperatures and air pressures only when the aircraft is carrying heavy weapon loads and the Ministry of Defence has previously undertaken flight trials using a Harrier aircraft on a French carrier to demonstrate proof of concept. Simulator trials are continuing. Final flight trials will not be conducted until 2019.
Lebanon
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are making representations to the government of Lebanon about the death of Ahmad Dorra, a Syrian refugee, following his detention by the Lebanese army.[HL2036]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We regularly raise with the Lebanese Armed Forces and appropriate authorities the need to protect all refugees who are residing in the country.
The Lebanese Armed Forces have reported that Ahmed Dorra was killed while being transferred to the Dar Al Amal Hospital following clashes between the Lebanese Armed Forces and armed groups in the Lebanese border town or Arsal. We are continuing to work with local non-governmental organisations, including Human Rights Watch and the International Committee of the Red Cross to understand the exact circumstances of the case. Due to ongoing security restrictions in the geographical area, work to establish this continues.
We work with our Lebanese partners to promote democracy, stability and human rights in Lebanon. We will continue to monitor and make representations to the Government of Lebanon when allegations are made.
Libya
Question
Asked by The Marquess of Lothian
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the last ministerial visit to Libya took place; and what plans they have for future visits.[HL2146]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), visited Tripoli in March 2014. The former Minister of State at the Department for International Development, my right hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Melton (Sir Alan Duncan), visited on 22 June. Our Embassy in Tripoli has been temporarily closed since 6 August due to ongoing fighting and instability in Libya. The Prime Minister’s
Special Envoy to the Libyan Political Transition, Jonathan Powell, visited Libya on 11 October in support of efforts being led by the UN to agree a ceasefire and political settlement. Until such time as the security situation improves, there are no plans for Ministerial visits to Libya.
North Africa
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will help to set up systems, for example using satellites or drones, in order to prevent migrants attempting to cross the Sahara from dying from heat and thirst.[HL2142]
Baroness Northover (LD): DFID is working in Africa to improve the conditions for the poorest people and to address overall stability and security. DFID monitors the numbers of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Sahel region as part of routine humanitarian surveillance but does not specifically monitor routes followed by irregular migrants. There are no plans to set up such monitoring systems. Similarly DFID provides humanitarian support across the Sahel region to refugees and IDPs, with £12m to UNHCR for refugee support and £17.5m through ICRC in support of conflict affected people provided across the region since January 2013. DFID Ethiopia also is providing £0.5m support to Eritrean refugees. This includes sensitisation messages on the difficulties of legal and illegal migration, and support for unaccompanied children who need special protection.
Occupied Territories
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel about (1) the demolition of homes in the E–1 area and the bulldozing of walls, adjoining houses and land in Khillet al-Qamar and a plan to displace Bedouin in the West Bank; and (2) the destruction of the electricity network in Aqraba following the demolition of houses in al-Tawil in August.[HL2035]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), raised strong concerns over the plans to move the Bedouin population from Area C with the Israeli Justice Minister on 6 October during his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories between 5-8 October The issue was also raised by officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv in meetings with senior officials in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. We regularly make clear, publicly
and privately, to Israel our serious concerns about the actual or threatened demolition of Palestinian homes and infrastructure in the West Bank, and the need for a planning process that adequately addresses the needs of Palestinian communities. Demolitions cause unnecessary suffering to ordinary Palestinians; are harmful to the peace process; and are, in all but the most exceptional of cases, contrary to international humanitarian law. The Fourth Geneva Convention is clear that the destruction of any real or personal property in Occupied Territory is not justified unless it is rendered absolutely necessary by military operations. We also make clear to Israeli officials that forcible transfer would be a breach of International Humanitarian Law and would have serious ramifications on Israel’s international standing.
Palestinians
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much financial assistance they pledged at the recent Cairo conference to the rebuilding of Gaza; whether such resources will be passed to the Palestinian Authority directly or through a third party; and when they expect to release the first tranche of resources. [HL2028]
Baroness Northover (LD): The UK pledged £20 million at the conference for Gaza reconstruction. These funds will be channelled through both the Palestinian Authority (via a Trust Fund administered by the World Bank), and through implementing partners with an established presence in Gaza, including UN agencies. The first tranche of resources will be released rapidly, to fund the removal of unexploded ordnance, facilities to offer reconstructive surgery, and the mechanism to monitor the import of construction materials.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contact they have had with the government of Israel about ensuring the smooth flow of rebuilding materials into Gaza; and what assurances they have been given by that government that such materials will not be blocked by Israel.[HL2029]
Baroness Northover: The UK has an ongoing dialogue with the Government of Israel on issues relating to humanitarian access and reconstruction in Gaza. DFID funds the UN Access Coordination Unit to facilitate the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza. We welcome the agreement between Israel, the Palestinian Authority and the UN on the mechanism for the import of construction materials, and stand ready to support its continued implementation.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the role of Hamas representatives in decision-making by the Palestinian Authority on the use of rebuilding materials in Gaza.[HL2030]
Baroness Northover: The import of construction materials into Gaza will be monitored and verified by a tripartite monitoring and verification mechanism involving the UN, Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. Hamas is not represented on the steering committee overseeing implementation. Individuals and companies in receipt of materials will be vetted to ensure compliance with UK and EU counter-terrorism legislation.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with any European Union partners on the development of (1) an international port, and (2) an international airport, in Gaza; and what assessment they have made of such developments. [HL2031]
Baroness Northover: The UK has ongoing discussions with EU partners on encouraging sustainable economic development in Gaza. The UK and the EU continue to call for the lifting of economic restrictions in place in Gaza. Allowing the free movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza will improve conditions for trade, economic development and job creation.
Unemployed People: Travel
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance is given to help young people on benefits with the travel costs associated with attending job interviews.[HL2224]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud) (Con): All Jobcentre Plus District Managers have access to the Flexible Support Fund, that they can use to supplement mainstream services and to tailor support to the needs of individuals and the local area. A proportion of this fund will be spent by their Work Services Teams on discretionary awards to individual claimants, which could include helping with travel costs to attend job interviews.
Young Offenders: Restraint Techniques
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the techniques described in section 6 of volume 5 of the Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint training manual, dealing with the restraint of children under escort, have been subject to independent assessment by medical and childcare experts.[HL1972]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): Section 6 (now section 14) of volume 5 of the Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) Manual about escorting a young person under restraint has been risk assessed and approved by the Restraint Advisory Board (RAB), a panel made
up of leading independent medical and behaviour management experts. The risk assessment was also reviewed and informed by a separate Independent Medical Expert.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of staff authorised to use the minimising and managing physical restraint system have been trained in managing medical emergencies which might arise during the restraint of children.[HL1973]
Lord Faulks: The Government is clear that restraint should only ever be used against young people as a last resort where it is absolutely necessary to do so and where no other form of intervention is possible or appropriate. Use of restraint is closely monitored in the youth secure estate.
Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint (MMPR) training provides staff with knowledge about recognising which health conditions are associated with an increased risk of harm to a young person during physical restraint, what symptoms and signs should be monitored during restraint, and actions to take should such symptoms occur. MMPR training also instructs staff on how to deal with a medical emergency should one arise during restraint.
In addition, all custody officers in Secure Training Centres receive first aid training as part of their initial training course. In Young Offender Institutions all custodial managers must be trained in first aid.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have obtained legal advice about whether the use of pain induction techniques in the minimising and managing physical restraint system is compatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child; and, if so, when such advice was received.[HL1974]
Lord Faulks: The Government is clear that restraint should only ever be used as a last resort where it is absolutely necessary to do so and where no other form of intervention is possible or appropriate. Use of restraint is closely monitored in the youth secure estate.
Legal advice was obtained throughout the development of Minimising and Managing Physical Restraint. The requirements of the Convention on the Rights of the Child together with all other requirements of international, domestic and common law are taken into account by the Government in determining its policy and practice of the use of restraint in the under-18 secure estate.