Written Answers
Tuesday 18 November 2014
Action on Smoking and Health
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what meetings took place between the Department of Health and Action on Smoking and Health in each of the last three years; and, for each meeting, who were the attendees, including job titles, and what were the nature, location and minutes or outcomes of each meeting.[HL2649]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much funding Action on Smoking and Health received from the Department of Health or Public Health England in each of the last five years; and on what basis any funding was made available including performance agreements or measures.[HL2650]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to review the funding they provide to Action on Smoking and Health.[HL2651]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department holds regular meetings with ASH to monitor delivery according to the terms of the grant awarded under Section 64 of the Health and Social Care Act.
Ministers and officials meet a range of organisations on a regular basis to discuss tobacco control. Identifying the notes taken at these meetings would involve a disproportionate cost.
Details of Ministerial meetings with external stakeholders are published quarterly in arrears on the Gov.UK website at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-travel-and-external-meetings-2014
Details of the amounts awarded to ASH under Section 64 of the Health and Social Care Act are below:
| Year | Project name | Award |
ASH has not received any funding from Public Health England.
The applications for grants provided under Section 64 of the Health and Social Care Act are considered individually on their own merit. Any grants awarded
are monitored according to the objectives set out in the grant award letter in line with terms and conditions set out in the Act. ASH provides the Department with an end of grant report for each grant.
Africa
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the use of European Union funding to promote science, technology and innovation in Africa in partnership with African institutions of higher education.[HL2771]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): an institutions are substantial recipients of EU funding for promoting Science, Technology and Innovation. Funds come from a diversity of EU funding instruments, the most significant of which are the framework programme for research and innovation, the European Development Fund, and the Development Cooperation Instrument. UK research institutions are Africa’s number one partner in EU framework programme funded collaborative research projects.
Armed Forces: Credit Unions
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when servicemen and servicewomen will be able to access credit union facilities through payroll deduction.[HL2413]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever): I refer the noble Lord to the answer given in the House of Commons on 6 October 2014 to Question 208271. We fully endorse existing, strong credit unions expanding their membership to include the Armed Forces community.
As the noble Lord will be aware, when he met my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans (Anna Soubry) on 15 October, she confirmed that the facilitation of payroll deduction for Credit Unions is technically possible and that our payroll provider is engaged with officials to scope and cost such deductions. Further work is underway to determine the criteria for access to this facility, and to develop an education campaign for our personnel so they may make informed choices.
Any payroll changes need to be delivered in one of the three releases per year of the intranet-based personnel administration system we use. It is now too late to deliver in November 2014. March 2015 is dedicated to the new pension scheme, therefore the most likely delivery date will be July 2015.
This Answer included the following attachment: Hansard Extract 6 October 2014 (HOC 208271 6 October 2014.doc)
Asylum
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for refugee status are outstanding from Syrian and Iraqi nationals; what is their estimate of
the number of outstanding applications for persons of working age; and what is the annual cost to the United Kingdom of maintaining those applicants and their dependants.[HL2675]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): As at the end of June 2014, the total number of outstanding asylum claims from nationals of Syria is 884 and from nationals of Iraq is 646. The total number of outstanding asylum claims from people over the age of 18 stands at 21,633. These figures include both main claimants and their dependants who are waiting for either a decision on their claim or for a further review.
The Home Office publishes quarterly and annual statistics on the number of asylum claims that are outstanding in the UK within Immigration Statistics Release. The data on nationals of Syria and Iraq that are outstanding are available in the latest release, Immigration Statistics: April – June 2014, table as.01q and table as.02q from GOV.UK on the statistics web pages at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-release.
In the financial year of 2013-2014, the Home Office spent £265.2 million on asylum support. This expenditure includes, but is not exclusive to, the provision of accommodation and cash support as well as support provided to unaccompanied asylum seeking children.
Asylum: Finance
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people have been on support under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for a period in excess of (1) six months, (2) one year and (3) five years.[HL2457]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates): The information requested is shown in the following table:
| Length of time people have been on Section 4 support | |
| Period on support | Number of People |
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people for whom return is not possible have been in receipt of support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 for longer than six months.[HL2656]
Lord Bates: Support is provided in some circumstances to failed asylum seekers who would otherwise be destitute under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Although no specific records are kept, only a small number of people seek support because they claim they are permanently unable to leave the UK. Support is provided because there is a temporary legal or
practical obstacle to departure, for example because the person is too sick to travel or needs time to apply for the necessary travel document. The number of people who have been on section 4 support for more than 6 months is 4,395.
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the total amount of unspent credit which has been removed from Azure card users as a result of the card's £5 carry-over limit.[HL2657]
Lord Taylor of Holbeach (Con): Approximately £850,000 of credit has not been used since the card was introduced in December 2009 for this reason.
Broadband
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to make it compulsory for internet service providers to publish, as prominently as “up to” broadband speeds, a guaranteed minimum speed for their services.[HL2807]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): The Government has no plans to regulate the way in which broadband speeds are advertised. Ofcom, the independent regulator, has already carried out a significant amount of work to improve the performance of Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
The Voluntary Code of Practice on Broadband Speeds was introduced by Ofcom in 2008 and which the majority of ISPs have now signed up to. The Code requires ISPs to make clear and accurate information on the broadband services available to consumers at the point of sale, including speed, so that they can make an informed decision before purchasing. Since the Code was strengthened in 2010, ISPs have been required to give consumers broadband speeds estimates in the form of a range rather than as a midpoint estimate where there was large variation in achievable speeds. Consumers must also be allowed to leave a contract without penalty if they receive speeds significantly below the estimate.
Under the Code ISPs are expected to manage customers’ problems when they report that they are not receiving the speeds that they had expected to receive when they purchased the broadband service. This includes the ISP investigating any technical problems and in certain circumstances offering a different broadband package without charging the customer the cost of migrating to the new package.
Ofcom is currently discussing with industry and consumer groups its proposals to revise the Code to reflect significant changes in the broadband market since the Code’s introduction, with the increased take up of superfast packages. An updated Code is due to be published in December.
Climate Change
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has spent on communicating to the public the future risks, opportunities and impacts of climate change on the well-being and economy of the United Kingdom.[HL2662]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Defra spent £8.3 million in 2013-14 under its core adapting to climate change programme. This included £1.6 million to the Environment Agency’s Climate Ready Support Service (CRSS) to help organisations across England adapt to a changing climate, through targeted engagement with key sectors and their representative bodies. Adaptation is mainstreamed across Government, and other Defra programmes also communicate climate change and impacts to their respective partners and sectors. Defra also participates in a DECC-led cross-Government communications group promoting unified and consistent messaging on climate change.
Defra continues to help build the nation’s resilience to a changing climate primarily through the implementation of the first National Adaptation Programme report published last July, the implementation of our Strategy for the second round of the Adaptation Reporting Power and improving our understanding of climate risk through the second Climate Change Risk Assessment due in 2017.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Minister has lead responsibility for communicating to the public the future risks, opportunities and impacts of climate change on the well-being and economy of the United Kingdom.[HL2663]
Lord De Mauley: Dan Rogerson, hon. Member for North Cornwall, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, is the Minister responsible for communicating information about, and adapting to, the risks, opportunities and impacts of climate change on the UK.
Conflict Prevention
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they expect the National Security Council to shift the focus of the Building Stability Overseas Strategy from promoting longer-term peace and security initiatives to pursuing more immediate interventions based on national security imperatives.[HL2787]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Government has a strong cross-departmental approach that draws on the most effective combination of defence, diplomacy, development assistance, security and intelligence to achieve the National Security Council's priorities and
long-term goals on conflict, stability and security. The UK will continue to invest in upstream prevention in fragile countries to help develop strong, legitimate institutions capable of managing tensions so as to reduce the likelihood of instability and conflict, as well as being able to respond to more immediate developments. The new Conflict Stability and Security Fund will be a mix of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA resources which will allow for a range of interventions, including the security sector reform and peace keeping support which are crucial to building stability and paving the way for sustainable peace.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many countries are now being considered by the National Security Council for possible interventions under the Building Stability Overseas Strategy; how many of those countries are seen as posing a terrorism-related threat to the United Kingdom; and how many are seen as failed or failing states that might, in the future, harbour or assist internationally active extremists.[HL2788]
Lord Astor of Hever: The Government has a strong cross-departmental approach that draws on the most effective combination of defence, diplomacy, development assistance, security and intelligence to achieve the National Security Council's priorities and long-term goals on conflict, stability and security. The new Conflict Stability and Security Fund will continue to focus on those fragile and conflict-affected countries or regions where there are risks to the UK's interests, including from terrorism, and where we know we can have an impact. The Fund will be a mix of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) and non-ODA resources which will allow for a range of interventions, including the security sector reform and peace keeping support which are crucial to building stability and paving the way for sustainable peace.
Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
Question
Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention now that the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill 2014 has received Royal Assent. [HL2559]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Coalition Government signed the Istanbul Convention on 8 June 2012 signalling its strong commitment on tackling violence against women and girls. The UK already has some of the most robust protections in the world against violence towards women and we already comply with the majority of the articles to the convention.
One of the key components was the criminalisation of forced marriage which has now come into force following Royal Assent of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. However government departments and the devolved administrations continue to rigorously examine whether we are doing everything necessary to be able to ratify the convention. In particular, this includes considering the extent to which we first need to take extra-territorial jurisdiction in respect of offences established in accordance with the convention.
Cycling
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to make cycling road rules more enforceable; and if not, why not.[HL2660]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The enforcement of cycling offences is an operational matter for individual chief officers of police. Depending on the offence officers can issue verbal warnings, fixed penalty notices or report the road user for formal prosecution. We support any action taken by the police to deter and reduce the number of cycling offences.
Cycling: Helmets
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to make it a legal requirement for cyclists to wear helmets; and if not, why not. [HL2659]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): We have no plans to make it a legal requirement for cyclists to wear helmets.
Government policy is that the cycle helmets offer a degree of protection for cyclists in the event of a fall from a cycle and some types of collisions. In line with the Highway Code rule 59, we encourage their use by all cyclists and in particular by children. However people and parents are free to choose whether to follow this advice and we have no plans to legislate to introduce mandatory enforcement of cycle helmet wearing.
Education
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Nash on 23 October (HL2026), why students without grade C maths and English whose school leaving age was raised in 2013 will have to wait until September 2015 for the new core maths level 3 and will be without a special “stepping stone” qualification in English.[HL2619]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The new core maths qualification is designed for students who have already achieved a GCSE grade C and wish to continue studying maths but not necessarily at AS/A level.
Qualifications are already available for students that have not achieved a GCSE C grade in either maths or English but are not yet ready to retake their GCSE.
A list of 263 stepping stone qualifications for teaching from September 2014 was published on 17 July and is updated regularly. 178 of those qualifications are specifically for English, 79 for maths and 6 combined.
Electoral Register
Questions
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers local authorities possess to improve the accuracy of the register of electors in their own locality.[HL2822]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how the powers of an Electoral Registration Officer differ from those of a local authority in the regulation of electors.[HL2823]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Local authorities in Great Britain are required to appoint and fund Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), who are legally distinct from the authority which appoints them. The role and powers of EROs is set out in statute. They are responsible for compiling and maintaining registers of electors for their areas.
Electoral registration in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland.
EU Immigration: North Africa
Questions
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support, if any, they are offering to North African governments to help tackle the criminal gangs trafficking people across the Mediterranean into Europe.[HL2596]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to expand safe and legal channels for people fleeing North Africa to access sanctuary in Europe.[HL2598]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Her Majesty’s Government has an extensive programme of work underway with North African partners to address the criminal activities of people smugglers and human traffickers in that region. For example, we are working with partners in North and East Africa to address the maltreatment of Eritrean migrants in the Sinai, and in March of this year, the Home Secretary also signed an EU ‘Mobility Partnership’ with Tunisia, which is intended to bolster cooperation with that country, including joint efforts
to tackle illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings. We have also made clear our intention to join a ‘core group’ of Member States and African partners leading the new ‘Khartoum Process’, due to be launched at a Ministerial Conference in Rome on 28 November, which will focus on new, concrete actions to combating people smuggling and human trafficking in the Horn of Africa. We also support the EU’s proposals for sustainable protection in North and East Africa under EU Regional Development and Protection Programmes (RDPPs). We intend to work with our EU partners to deliver them, as we have already done with the Syria EU Regional Protection and Development Programme alongside our provision of £700 Million in humanitarian aid.
In the Government’s view the only sustainable response to the scale of the situation in the Mediterranean is to ensure sufficient protection is available in the region and work with third country partners to combat the facilitators and traffickers. We do recognise there will be some refugees for whom regional protection does not offer a viable solution, which is why the UK continues to number among those offering the greatest number of resettlement places in the EU, and has developed our Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme to specifically address the needs of vulnerable migrants fleeing the Syrian conflict.
Government Departments: Sick Leave
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees are currently on sick leave from the Northern Ireland Office for stress; and how that compares with the same period last year.[HL2802]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): The Northern Ireland Office currently has no employees on sick leave due to stress. There were no employees on sick leave due to stress in November 2013.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees are currently on long-term sick leave from the Northern Ireland Office; and how that compares with the same period last year.[HL2803]
Baroness Randerson: The Northern Ireland Office currently has no employees on long-term sick leave. One employee was absent on long-term sick leave during November 2013.
Illegal Immigrants: France
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the request from the French Interior Minister for British Police to be posted to Calais to assist with dissuading people from seeking to enter the United Kingdom illegally by secreting themselves in vehicles travelling to Kent ports.[HL2671]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The French Interior Ministry issued a correction to Associated French Press on 5 November saying that M. Cazeneuve was in fact making reference to British “officials” and not police.
The UK will not be posting any British police in Calais.
In Vitro Fertilisation
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a full copy of the correspondence between the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and the authors of “Pregnancy derived from human nuclear transfer” published in Fertility & Sterility (2003, Vol. 80, Supplement 3).[HL2644]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has advised that neither its members nor its executive have been in correspondence with the authors of the abstract referred to.
International Organization for Migration
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their annual payment to the International Office for Migration.[HL2840]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates): In the 2013/14 financial year (the most recently-completed year), on 25th June 2013, the Home Office paid the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) £189,920.25.
This was a grant payment, relating to 25% of the agreed budget for the 2011 Gateway programme. The IOM makes all the arrangements on the United Kingdom’s behalf for pre-arrival costs for the Gateway programme, and we reimburse them in line with the grant agreement. This represented the final payment for that period, which was due to the IOM, and was paid after their cost reports had been audited.
Iraq
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the ability of refugees and displaced people in Iraq to survive the coming winter; and what additional international efforts are being made in that respect.[HL2677]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): In the latest Strategic Response Plan for Iraq,
the UN estimates that 1.26 million internally displaced people are in need of assistance in order to be prepared for winter, with 800,000 people in need of immediate shelter.
The UK government has responded by funding £23 million of humanitarian assistance in Iraq. £17.5 million of the funding has gone to the UN, NGOs and the International Committee for the Red Cross for projects which include winterisation assistance such as shelter kits for people living in collective shelters and unfinished buildings. In addition we have supplied some 1,500 winterised tents and more than 4,500 thermal blankets for various UN agencies and NGO partners to distribute across affected areas.
Malawi
Questions
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many applications for visas, broken down by month, were received from citizens of Malawi in (1) 2013, and (2) 2014 to date; and how many of those applications were rejected.[HL2719]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The information requested is shown in the following table.
| Number of Malawian visa applications from January 2013 to June 2014 | |||
| Year | Month | Applications | Refused |
The statistics provided are the latest available. Source: Home Office Performance Reporting and Analysis Unit.
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what level of wealth or assets a citizen of Malawi has to have in order to be granted a visa to visit the United Kingdom.[HL2721]
Lord Bates: The applicant must satisfy the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) that they meet the requirements of the immigration rules. The immigration rules apply to all non-EU nationals. For most visit visa categories, there are is no requirement to have specific levels of wealth or assets in order to be granted a visa. The ECO is required to make an overall assessment of the application which takes into consideration the personal circumstances of the applicant, and the ability of any sponsor to support them whilst in the UK. Affluence is not a specific consideration. Amongst other considerations, the ECO assess the overall genuineness of the applicant, whether they are likely to leave the UK at the end of their visit, whether they are able to be maintained and accommodated without recourse to working or taking public funds. In Points Based System categories (covering work and study categories) and Family Migration routes (covering applications to join family in the UK), there are specified financial requirements. These are set out in the immigration rules, which are published at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/immigration-rules
Marriage
Questions
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider making the payment of dowries by brides' families unlawful.[HL2550]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to consider introducing legislation in England and Wales similar to India’s Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 so as to prohibit the giving or taking of a dowry, and India’s Domestic Violence Act 2005 so as to treat demanding a dowry as domestic violence. [HL2604]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Government is clear that domestic violence and abuse does not just mean physical violence. It can also involve coercive and controlling behaviour, including dowry abuse and other forms of financial abuse. The cross-Government definition of domestic violence and abuse encompasses, but is not limited to, psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. This definition is used by Government departments to inform policy development, and other agencies, such as the police, to inform the identification of domestic violence cases.
We have recently consulted on strengthening the law around domestic violence and abuse and are considering our response. Our consideration will include whether there should be a specific offence of domestic abuse and if so, what patterns of behaviour should constitute such abuse.
Mediterranean Sea
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had or plan to have with the governments of Egypt and Tunisia regarding methods of preventing unseaworthy vessels carrying refugees and migrants leaving their shores.[HL2543]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): On 10 October, the Justice and Home Affairs Council unanimously agreed Council Conclusions on better managing migratory flows into the EU. Those Conclusions place particular emphasis on work with the Tunisian, Egyptian and Libyan authorities to find ways to curtail the supply of vessels from Tunisia and Egypt.
The EU and Member States are already developing a ‘Mobility Partnership’ with Tunisia. The UK signed the political declaration of this Partnership in March 2014. This Partnership is intended to lead to concrete work with Tunisia the area of migration, including efforts to address the current situation in the Mediterranean.
The EU and Member States are also seeking an enhanced migration dialogue with Egypt, possibly leading to the development of a similar ‘Mobility Partnership’. To date, however, Egypt has expressed no interest in a Partnership of this kind.
We also hope to work with both Egypt and Tunisia under the new EU ‘Khartoum Process’, due to be launched at a Ministerial Conference in Rome on 28 November. This new initiative will focus on combating people smuggling and human trafficking in the Horn of Africa.
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to ensure that the withdrawal of search and rescue services for migrants in the Mediterranean is well publicised and well understood. [HL2597]
Lord Bates: We are working with EU partners and with international organisations, including UNHCR, on information campaigns in North and East Africa as part of broader efforts under the EU’s ‘Task Force Mediterranean’. This includes sharing our expertise in this area and assisting work with diaspora communities to dissuade migrants from risking dangerous Mediterranean and Saharan crossings and to counter the narrative of criminal facilitators. The Government has also continued to make clear to EU partners our view that the withdrawal of Mare Nostrum must be accompanied by an information campaign, aimed at ensuring migrants in North Africa are aware of the end of this operation. We have recently reminded the Italian authorities of our view on this matter.
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what evidence they base their assessment that removal of support for rescue operations in the Mediterranean will deter or reduce the number of migrants attempting the crossing.[HL2595]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what evidence they have based their assessment that the increased numbers of migrants attempting a Mediterranean crossing is due to the Mare Nostrum operation rather than the worsening of conflicts in North Africa and the Middle East.[HL2599]
Lord Bates: The decision to phase out the Mare Nostrum search and rescue arrangements in the Mediterranean was taken by Italy with support of all EU Member States, including the UK.
While the situation is complex, the doubling in numbers attempting the crossing this year has included a rise in numbers from countries with no major current conflict. There is also clear evidence of the exploitation of Mare Nostrum by people smugglers and traffickers who are sending migrants to sea without sufficient fuel or resources to make the crossing. We have seen the Italians draw closer and closer to the Libyan coast, with migrants in some cases using a satellite phone shortly after setting sail to call the Italian Navy to rescue them. We have also seen a recent trend of migrants now flying from Turkey to North Africa in order to make the sea crossing to Italy. Since Mare Nostrum began, UNHCR estimates that over 3,000 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea in 2014, compared to 600 for the whole of 2013.
The EU’s previous experience of a surge in crossings, following enhanced Frontex operations in 2008, also suggests that a withdrawal of enhanced maritime operations may lead to a decrease in numbers attempting the crossing. On that basis, the Government believes that the JHA Council was right to conclude that we need to pursue a different approach.
Military Decorations
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will award the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal retrospectively to retired members of the armed forces who served for 15 years or more. [HL2629]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Although work continues to determine how to implement the recommendations of Sir John Holmes' independent Military Medals Review, it has already been decided that the Long Service and Good Conduct medal will not be awarded retrospectively to retired officers. A significant factor in this decision is the difficulty which would be encountered in gaining access to the records of all those who have left the Armed Forces when considering eligibility.
Oral Questions
Question
to ask the Leader of the House whether she will propose to the Procedure Committee a review of the system for tabling oral questions in the House of Lords in respect of the requirement for members to queue.[HL2628]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Stowell of Beeston) (Con): The process for tabling oral questions was considered in detail in the 2012-13 session. In response to concerns raised about the current “first-come-first-served” system - including a concern about the requirement
to queue raised by my Noble Friend, Lady Sharples - the Procedure Committee proposed the introduction of a ballot in its place (Procedure Committee, 3rd Report, Session 2012-13). The House remitted the issue back to the Procedure Committee for further consideration (HL Deb 9 Jan 2013, cols 145-172).
That further review did not identify a clear consensus as to whether a ballot was preferred to the “first-come-first-served” system (see Procedure Committee, 5th Report, Session 2012-13; see also HL Deb 24 April 2013, cols 1406-1417).
I know that strong views persist on both sides of the argument about this issue. I will write to the Chairman of the Procedure Committee on my Noble Friend’s behalf to suggest that the matter might be discussed at a future meeting of the Procedure Committee.
Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 12 September (HC Deb, col 750W), what evidence would be required to predict the cohort of patients that may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome; whether the incidence of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome would be part of any such evidence base; and, if not, why not.[HL2640]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Public Health, Jane Ellison, on 12 September (HC Deb, col 750W), whether data regarding the cohort of patients that may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome as described in the journals Human Fertility (volume 10, issue 3, pages 183–7) or Fertility and Sterility (volume 101, issue 4, pages 967–973) were shared with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA); and what assessment the HFEA has made of those studies.[HL2690]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that, with regard to the Human Fertility journal article, it has nothing to add to the answers given to the noble Lord on 22 October 2008 (Official Report WA110), 9 July 2012 (Official Report, cols. WA 202-3) and 8 January 2013 (WA23). Data regarding the cohort of patients described in Fertility and Sterility (volume 101, issue 4, pages 967–973) were not shared with the HFEA. However, the HFEA has access to the published article.
It would be for clinicians and professional bodies to decide on the evidence required to predict the cohort of patients that may develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and to treat symptoms in accordance with guidelines.
As outlined in the answer given on 23 Jan 2013 (Official Report WA217), the HFEA would refer to evidence based guidelines, produced by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, on these matters.
Parliament Square
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect the fence around Parliament Square to be removed.[HL2827]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The fence around Parliament Square is the responsibility of the Greater London Authority.
Passports
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many United Kingdom passports have been removed during the last 12 months from British citizens thought to be involved in the support of ISIL and other extremist groups in Syria and Iraq.[HL2703]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Persons may be refused a British passport or may have their existing passport withdrawn on a number of grounds, including that their grant or continued enjoyment of passport facilities is contrary to the public interest. Public interest grounds include seeking to harm the UK or its allies by travelling on a British passport to, for example, engage in terrorism-related activity.
From November 2013 to 11 November 2014, the Royal Prerogative power to withdraw or refuse a British Passport has been exercised 21 times on public interest grounds against British citizens thought to be involved in the support of ISIL and other extremist groups in Syria and Iraq.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conditions must obtain before a person’s passport can be confiscated or revoked.[HL2778]
Lord Bates: The criteria for the issue, withdrawal or refusal of a British passport are set out under the Royal Prerogative, which is put before Parliament from time to time (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-issuing-withdrawal-or-refusal-of-passports). A passport may be confiscated or revoked if a person did not or no longer meets those criteria or if the passport is being used or suspected of being used for purposes which may be unlawful.
Politics and Government
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which of the proposals contained in the section “Political Reform” of The Coalition: our programme for government have been fully implemented, partially implemented, are in the process of being implemented or remain unimplemented, respectively.[HL2653]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): In January 2013, the Government published The Coalition: Together in the National Interest, which was a mid-term review providing an update on the progress of proposals contained within “The Coalition: our programme for government” including those relating to political reform.
Since the publication of this document, a fair and decisive referendum has taken place in Scotland, legislation has been brought forward to introduce a power of recall and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013 has received Royal Assent.
Prerogative of Mercy
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many times the royal prerogative of mercy has been exercised in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively in the past five years; and of that number, how many, if any, in each of the countries have been without consultation with the relevant police authorities.[HL2637]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Faulks) (Con): The exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy may currently take one of three forms:
i) The grant of a Free Pardon;ii) The grant of a conditional Pardon;iii) Remission of all or part of a penalty by either a) a pledge of public faith, which most commonly occurs when an offender's release dates are incorrectly calculated or b) for meritorious conduct, such as saving the life of another offender/member of staff or coming to the aid of a member of staff.
By Constitutional convention, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (in succession to the Home Secretary) is responsible, in England and Wales (and the Channel Islands), for recommending to Her Majesty the Queen the exercise of the prerogative of mercy to grant a Royal Pardon. In Northern Ireland the responsibility lies with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for reserved matters and the Justice Minister for Northern Ireland for devolved matters, and in Scotland it is devolved to the First Minister. The Secretary of State for Defence also has the responsibility in relation to members of the armed forces.
In the past five years, only two free pardons were granted by Her Majesty the Queen in England in 2009 and 2014 respectively.
With regard to Remission Pardons the Royal Prerogative of Mercy has not been exercised on this basis. However, for England & Wales no records are held for the period prior to 1 February 2013.
In respect of the two free pardons that have been issued, the Police Authority was consulted in one of these decisions while the other pardon was granted posthumously and the Police Authority was not consulted.
Refuges
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government , further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31 October (HL2419), why they do not centrally record the number or location of refuges in England; and what consideration they have given to collecting such records as a means to developing nationwide policy.[HL2780]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): My Department funds UKRefugesOnline a UK-wide database of domestic violence services which supports the national 24 hour free phone domestic violence helpline. This service enables those working with victims of domestic violence to identify appropriate services and potential refuge vacancies around the country so that victims can get the help they need as quickly as possible.
In terms of government records, such information has never been centrally held. Refuges are not commissioned at a national level, and are generally either provided by local authorities or by independent voluntary sector organisations. To start recording the number and location would involve creating a new monitoring and data reporting regime on local government. It is the broader policy of the Coalition Government to try to reduce the burden of data reporting on local government, as it costs taxpayers’ money and diverts resources away from frontline services.
More broadly, this Government has secured £6.5 billion investment to help vulnerable people through housing related support. This forms a key element of refuge funding through local authority commissioned services.
We have also allocated £40 million of funding for specialist local domestic and sexual violence support services until 2015. This funding is used to part-fund 54 multi-agency risk assessment conference co-ordinators and 144 independent domestic violence advisers. We have piloted and rolled out Clare’s Law and domestic violence protection orders; extended the definition of domestic abuse to cover controlling behaviour and teenage relationships; run two successful campaigns to challenge perceptions of abuse; and placed Domestic Homicide Reviews on a statutory footing to make sure lessons are learned from individual tragedies.
We are keeping this matter under review, and are keen to support best practice and greater joint working.
Rights of Accused
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to investigate allegations that the security services or other government agencies have accessed client-lawyer communications, in breach of legal privilege.[HL2745]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): There are strict additional safeguards which apply when there is a possibility that interception or intrusive surveillance may obtain legally privileged material. These are set out in the Interception of Communications, Property Interference and Covert Surveillance codes of practice.
Agencies are already required to notify the Interception of Communications Commissioner or Surveillance Commissioner (for intrusive surveillance) in cases where legally privileged material has been or is likely to be obtained and they must make all material available for inspection by the Commissioners.
The Investigatory Powers Tribunal is able to consider cases where an individual believes that they have been subject to unlawful interception or use of surveillance powers.
River Mersey: Wrecks
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which shipwrecks are known to exist in the River Mersey and its estuary taking in the beaches of Formby, Ainsdale, Birkdale and Southport.[HL2832]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): There are a total of 1,141 wreck records in the River Mersey geographical box bounded to the west by the Wirral, to the east by Widnes, to the north by Southport, and to the south by Ellesmere Port. The majority of these will be documented wreck events for which no archaeology exists or which have only been tentatively identified with archaeology. There are 890 records in this category. The earliest recorded wreck in this area dates from 1246.
The remaining 251 records comprise wreck sites, including nine recorded hulk assemblages in riverbank or estuarine contexts (one or more vessels abandoned in an unseaworthy condition, sometimes for environmental purposes). Wreck sites may be positively identified, tentatively identified with a possible relation to a documented wreck event, or not identified at all.
The majority of wreck sites will have been dispersed. The Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (MDHB) was active in the River Mersey and Liverpool Bay in the dispersal of wrecks from the mid-19th century onwards, typically flattening them level with the river- or seabed, and many more were dismantled in situ where they stranded. English Heritage wreck records do not contain the dispersal data for every vessel.
The best source of dispersal information would be the MDHB records held at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Further information about specific shipwrecks on the River Mersey and its estuary can be found on the English Heritage PastScape webpage: http://www.pastscape.org/
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions have taken place between the relevant government departments concerning the recent cuts in scientific research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. [HL2707]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord De Mauley) (Con): Since April 2014 there have been no reductions in the baseline funding for science at RBG Kew.
RBG Kew has a well-deserved international reputation and is widely respected for its world-leading collections-based science. RBG Kew is developing a new science strategy to enhance its role further and the results of this should be publicly available in early 2015. The Board of Trustees will need to ensure any new approach is affordable within the RBG Kew budget. They will announce their proposals shortly.
The Government is involved in discussions with RBG Kew to ensure that any changes are affordable and RBG Kew’s scientific standing is maintained.
Teachers: Recruitment
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to accelerate the Teach First programme so that all teachers are recruited by that method by 2020.[HL2805]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): Teach First is a charity part-funded by the Government to raise levels of pupil attainment in schools facing challenging circumstances. Teach First’s mission is to recruit high-performing graduates into schools with significant levels of economic deprivation and low levels of educational performance.
The Government has allocated 2,000 training places to Teach First for 2015/16, a 33% increase on its allocation for 2014/15. This reflects the importance the Government places on Teach First’s contribution, and will ensure that Teach First operates in all regions of the country, including in rural and coastal areas. It would not, however, be consistent with Teach First’s mission or scale of operation for it to train all of the approximately 36,000 trainees, including at undergraduate level, required annually to meet the needs of schools of all types in all parts of the country.
Tobacco
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the legal status in United Kingdom law of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Protocol and the Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control. [HL2652]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is an international treaty that the United Kingdom signed on 16 June 2003, ratified on 16 December 2004 and which entered into force for the UK on 16 March 2005. The UK has therefore consented to be bound
under international law by the rights and obligations set out in the FCTC. More information on the FCTC, including the text of the treaty is at on the web at:
The Local Government Declaration on Tobacco Control is an initiative of the Smokefree Action Coalition. Local councils are invited to voluntarily sign the Declaration, as “a statement of a council’s commitment to ensure tobacco control is part of mainstream public health work and commits councils to taking comprehensive action to address the harm from smoking”. More information on the Declaration is on the web at:
www.smokefreeaction.org.uk/declaration
Tobacco: Packaging
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the assessment undertaken by HM Revenue and Customs during the recent consultation of the potential effect of standardised packaging on the illicit tobacco market.[HL2647]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will place in the Library of the House any correspondence between the Home Office and Department of Health regarding standardised packaging of tobacco products since 2011; and what were the contents of that correspondence. [HL2648]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Government continues to carefully consider all issues relevant to the introduction of standardised packaging of tobacco products.
The Department currently has no plans to place this information into the Library. Releasing this information at the present time would undermine Ministers and officials’ capacity for consideration and debate, which is required for proper deliberation of this developing policy.
Welfare State: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 11 November (HL2678), whether they intend to legislate to provide for welfare reform in Northern Ireland. [HL2843]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office (Baroness Randerson) (LD): Welfare reform is a devolved matter, and it is for the parties in the Northern Ireland Executive to find a resolution on these issues. The UK Government continues to strongly encourage the parties to implement welfare reform.
West Africa
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial contributions or pledges of financial contributions have been made by the European Union to assist with the fight against the ebola outbreak in West Africa; and what has been the contribution of each member state of the European Union.[HL2569]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): The UK is leading the international response to Ebola in Sierra Leone and has committed £230 million to help fight the disease.
The European Council, the European Commission and its member states pledged a total of €1 billion to the Ebola Response. According to the European Commission, as of 28 October the EU and its Member States had pledged €911 million. This includes €100 million from France, €107 million from Germany, €53 million from Sweden and €46.2 million from Italy. Adding to the Commission’s further pledge of €280 million on 6 November for Ebola research, half-funded by the private sector, this takes the current total to well over €1 billion.
Wind Power: Planning Permission
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 5 November (HL2193), about planning applications for land-based wind turbines, how many planning applications were called in for decision by the Secretary of State in the last 12 months and how they were disposed of in each case.[HL2668]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon): In the last 12 months three planning applications for land based wind turbine development have been called in for determination by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Following call in, two of the applications were withdrawn and a public inquiry on the third is due in early 2015. All three followed requests by local or neighbouring Members of Parliament to call in the applications.