Written Answers
Thursday 20 November 2014
Asylum: North Korea
Question
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether refugees from the North Korea will still be able to claim asylum in the United Kingdom following the findings of the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal UKUT 00391.[HL2751]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): All asylum claims from North Korea continue to be carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and the European Convention on Human Rights against the background of the latest country information and relevant case law.
Banks: Finance
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the failure by nine European banks of the European Central Bank stress test. [HL2796]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The European Central Bank carried out a ‘Comprehensive Assessment’ of the banks which are now under its supervision. This identified 13 banks as needing to increase their aggregate capital by an estimated €9.5 billion.
Of these, four were in Italy (requiring €3.31 billion); two in Greece (€2.69 billion, but EU re-structuring plans means that essentially very little capital needs to be raised by them); two in Slovenia (€0.06 billion); one in Austria (€0.86 billion), Portugal (€1.15 billion), Cyprus (€0.18 billion), Ireland (€0.85 billion) and Belgium (€0.34 billion).
At the same time, the European Banking Authority announced the results of its EU-wide stress test which comprised of a slightly different sample of banks.
A process is in place to help ensure that the banks which failed the stress tests will address their capital shortfalls in a timely way.
They are required to submit plans to their regulators on how they intend to address their shortfalls in the two weeks after disclosure of the results.They will have between six and nine months to address capital shortfalls.
The Treasury has worked with the Prudential Regulation Authority to examine the risks to the UK and estimate these to be very limited.
Carbon Emissions
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to couple any expansion of airport capacity with steps to ensure that targets for the reduction of domestic carbon dioxide emissions from homes, workplaces and ground transport are increased to ninety per cent, as recommended by the Committee on Climate Change.[HL2755]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): The Coalition Agreement for Government rules out current airport expansion in the South East for the life of this Parliament. It will be for the Government of the day to consider the environmental impacts, including CO2 emissions, of any proposed expansion with reference to the Airports Commission recommendations on options for maintaining this country’s status as an international hub for aviation.
Council Housing
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action are they taking to support council tenants who want to form housing cooperatives.[HL2800]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): We encourage local authorities to work closely with their communities to look at the range of options open to them. This may include forming community led groups, such as co-operatives, Community Land Trusts or Tenant Management Organisations. My officials continue to discuss issues affecting co-operative housing more generally with the co-operative sector.
Council tenants have the Right to Manage, which enables them to set up a Tenant Management Organisation (a management co-operative) to manage the homes in their area, with a management allowance from the Council. The Tenant Empowerment Programme, £2 million in 2014/15 and £1 million in 2015/16, supports social housing tenants to engage in, manage and/or take control of their housing services. This includes training, support and funding to enable tenant groups to take up their Right to Manage. There are currently over 200 Tenant Management Organisations across England, managing around 80,000 homes.
In October 2012, we funded the Co-operatives UK to establish and run the Community Shares Unit to grow a sustainable market and promote the long term success of the community shares model, as a means to raising equity finance and increasing participation in community enterprises and projects. Community-led housing is one of the areas identified as requiring development.
We are also encouraging community led organisations, including co-operatives, to apply for funding through the 2015-18 Affordable Homes Programme. The Homes and Communities Agency has held back over 25% of their £1.7 billion budget, for which it is now inviting bids. This should be of particular help to smaller community-led organisations.
Crime: Statistics
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to revise the publication of criminal statistics under the broad classifications of “White, Black, Asian, Mixed, other” and instead use the full 18-point classifications as used in the National Census. [HL2814]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Glen Watson, Director General for ONS to Lord Blencarthra dated November 2014.
As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to revise the publication of criminal statistics under the broad classifications of “White, Black, Asian, Mixed, Other” and instead use the full 18-point classifications as used in the National Census. (HL2814)
There are a range of crime and justice statistics produced across the Government Statistical Service (GSS), principally by the Office for National Statistics; the Home Office; and the Ministry of Justice.
The GSS has a set of harmonised concepts and questions recommended for use in the collection and dissemination of statistics, one of these being the classification of ethnic group. This does recommend the use of the 2011 Census-based ethnic group classifications to which your question refers.
Data on victims of crime sourced from the ONS Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW), are collected using the full 18-point harmonised classification. However, presently summary breakdowns are routinely published using the five broad classifications: ‘White’, ‘Mixed / Multiple ethnic groups’, ‘Asian’, ‘Black’ and ‘Other’. We are considering publication of the full 18-point ethnicity classification in future ONS crime statistics releases.
In relation to administrative data sourced from the police service and wider criminal justice system, the harmonised classification is not currently adopted as standard. For example, statistics on arrests and ‘stops and searches’ are collected according to the 16-point classification used in the 2001 Census. The Home Office and other criminal justice agencies have no current plans to move to the 18-point classification used in the 2011 Census owing to the cost and resource that would be required to update police systems to
capture the two additional categories. Statistical series from the various criminal justice partners are generally published under the five broad classifications, but fuller breakdowns are available on request from the Home Office and Ministry of Justice.
The Code of Practice for Official Statistics encourages producers of statistics to periodically review their practices in the light of user needs. I will ask the Heads of Profession in the Home Office and Ministry of Justice to review with ONS their presentations of ethnicity classifications.
Dementia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to sustain and support those in rural areas who have been diagnosed with dementia. [HL2723]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): As part of the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, a task and finish group on rural communities is considering support for people with dementia living in rural areas. The task and finish group will report in due course.
European Commission
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 3 November concerning the power of the European Parliament to reject candidates nominated for membership of the European Commission by member states (HL2231), what would be the consequence of a member state insisting on their nominee taking office.[HL2790]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): It would be for the Commission President to liaise with the Member State on next steps.
European Union
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 3 November (HL2246, HL2247 and HL2249) concerning the repatriation of powers from the European Union to the United Kingdom, whether they will consider recommending withdrawal from the European Union if their objectives cannot be met through negotiation.[HL2789]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The UK Government’s position is clear: the European Union must reform to become more competitive, democratically accountable and fair for those inside and outside the Eurozone. The need for reform is widely recognised among EU Member States and the UK Government has already shown that it is possible, such as through cutting the EU budget and ending the UK’s bailout obligations.
Financial Services: Fees and Charges
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action are they taking to ensure openness regarding fees in the financial services industry.[HL2799]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government is clear that consumers must be able to access clear and transparent information about the charges that may apply to financial services products easily.
In relation to current accounts, the Government reached an agreement in November 2011 with the major providers to enable customers to manage their account and to take action to avoid bank charges. Under the agreement, all customers have the option to receive text alerts where their balance falls below a certain level; are made aware by what time of day they can pay in funds in order to avoid going overdrawn; and, benefit from a buffer zone to ensure that they are not charged for going over their limit by a small amount.
The Government has also legislated to require the Financial Conduct Authority to cap the cost of payday loans, including fees and charges. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) created rules to effect the cap on 11 November.
More generally, the FCA requires firms to be clear, fair and not misleading when giving information to consumers. The FCA is currently considering how key information about a product or service should best be communicated to consumers. This includes the fees and charges associated with financial products. The FCA will publish a discussion paper on this issue in the near future.
Football
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action are they taking to support the growth in the number of older people playing walking football.[HL2740]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con): Walking football is a fantastic way to help people who would not otherwise take part in sport to get active. To support this, Sport England is investing £11.3m in its ‘Get Healthy Get Active’ scheme which encourages inactive people to play sport.
Three of the ‘Get Healthy Get Active’ projects will offer walking football as part of the programme of sports that participants can choose from and, as part of its ‘Inclusive Sport Fund’ to encourage people with disabilities to be more active, Sport England has also invested £168,141 into a project delivered by the Rotherham Community Sports Trust which features a walking football programme for people with early onset dementia.
Forests
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the acreage of forest that would need to be planted in the United Kingdom in order to meet a carbon reduction budget of 50 per cent by 2025; and what is their assessment of the contribution forests and other carbon sinks can make to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.[HL2735]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): There are no sector-specific carbon reduction targets for forests and other carbon sinks but the contribution of these sectors to meeting carbon budgets is set out in the 2011 Carbon Plan. Forests and other carbon sinks can play a valuable role in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the Government has put in place a range of policies to realise this reduction. These include the Rural Development Programme, the Woodland Carbon Code and the UK Forestry Standard as set out alongside Government’s wider forestry objectives in the Forestry and Woodlands Policy Statement.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what international action they are taking to press the case for global re-afforestation in order to act as a carbon sink.[HL2736]
Baroness Verma: The UK supports protection and conservation of global forests through our £3.87 billion International Climate Fund (ICF). To date, over £500 million has been committed to support a range of initiatives, including supporting forest governance; sustainable forestry, agriculture and land management, community forest management, and developing knowledge and evidence that can contribute to effective and coordinated policies and strategies. The UK also supports REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation, and Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests, and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks), through investments in pilot REDD+ projects through the ICF, and through decisions supportive of the development of REDD+ through the international climate change negotiations.
The UK played a key role in developing the New York Declaration on Forests, endorsed by over 150 governments, private sector stakeholders, civil society, non-governmental and indigenous community organisations at the United Nations Secretary-General’s
Climate Summit on 23
rdSeptember 2014. The Declaration highlights the importance of reducing deforestation and increasing forest restoration to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius and calls for action. It sets out an ambitious restoration goal of restoring 150 million hectares of degraded landscapes and forestlands by 2020 and significantly increasing the rate of global restoration thereafter, which would restore at least an additional 200 million hectares by 2030.
There are a number of important international processes in 2015 that can also encourage more ambitious outcomes for global re-afforestation and restoration. The UK will press the case for ambitious, quantitative forest conservation targets for 2030 in the post-2015 new sustainable development goals, and supports the inclusion of ambitious outcomes for forests as part of the post-2020 new international climate agreement. The Bonn Challenge 2.0 will also be an opportunity for countries to bring forward ambitious forest restoration targets.
Human Trafficking
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Home Office maintains internal management information on confirmed cases of trafficking for domestic servitude of non-European Union nationals broken down by visa type; and if so, what are those figures for the years 2009–13.[HL2712]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Home Office maintains internal management information on its Case Information Database (CID) relating to case outcomes for non-EEA National Referral Mechanism (NRM) referrals.
However CID does not record, in a searchable format, the type of exploitation for each case.
As the official owners of NRM data the UK Human Trafficking Centre in the National Crime Agency (NCA) publishes quarterly NRM statistics which include a summary of confirmed victims of trafficking by nationality, age, gender and type of exploitation. This data is available on the NCA website at: http://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/publications/national-referral-mechanism-statistics.
Immigration
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the report, The Fiscal Impact of Immigration to the United Kingdom published in the Economic Journal, and its conclusions on the financial impact on the United Kingdom of migrants from the European Union.[HL2699]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government does not comment on individual academic reports.
Immigration Controls: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they plan to take to ensure that persons preparing to enter Northern Ireland from another country, and who intend to remain for any length of time, are required to declare previous criminal convictions and sentences in their native, or any other, countries, and that such declarations are cross-checked with those countries before entry to Northern Ireland is approved.[HL2506]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Those requiring entry clearance are already required to declare any criminal convictions as a part of the application process. Where an applicant has been convicted and received a prison sentence, this may lead to a mandatory refusal of entry clearance to the UK.
Her Majesty’s Government is focused on improving our access to overseas criminality information and participates in several key EU information exchange mechanisms such as the European Criminal Records System (ECRIS) which has increased this capability, enabling us to remove and prevent the re-entry of EU offenders. The UK is also scheduled to join the Schengen Information System (SIS II) at the end of this year which will further strengthen our borders. ECRIS and SIS II are included in the package of 35 EU justice and home affairs measures that the Government is seeking to remain party to after 1 December, under Protocol 36 of the Treaty of Lisbon.
We are also leading efforts within the EU to share data on serious offenders, and have signed a number of Information Sharing Agreements with international partners to increase the availability and speed of criminal records exchange.
Immigration: Poland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of (1) the positive, and (2) the negative, contributions of Polish immigrants to the United Kingdom.[HL2693]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Home Office has made no such assessment.
The United Kingdom welcomes those who want to come to this country to contribute to our economy and our national way of life, but immigration must be controlled and kept at a sustainable level. Uncontrolled, mass immigration can make it difficult to maintain social cohesion and, puts pressure on public services.
Local Government Services: Immigrants
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what support they provide to local authorities in dealing with families which have no recourse to public funds.[HL2744]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Home Office works closely with local authorities in dealing with families with no recourse to public funds, in particular through the No Recourse to Public Funds Connect database. Where the immigration status of such families is unresolved, the Home Office will seek to conclude all outstanding applications as quickly as possible. Where such families have no right to remain in the UK, the Home Office will seek to secure their return to their country of origin.
Middle East
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking and intend to take in the future to ameliorate the situation of members of the Syriac Orthodox Church and other Christian communities in Iraq and Syria in the light of the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in those countries.[HL2749]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The British Government strongly condemns the persecution of communities on the basis of their religion, belief or ethnicity. We are concerned about the growing number of reports of Christians, and other minority groups, being targeted in Syria with many having already fled to camps in Lebanon, Turkey or Jordan. The UK has committed a total of £700 million in response to the humanitarian crisis in Syria and the region. Of this, £314 million has already been allocated to help ensure refugees from Syria are supported in neighbouring countries. We are supporting non-governmental efforts to promote dialogue between different ethnic and sectarian groups in Syria, with a view to a future political settlement. We are also funding training for Syrian activists to document abuses to a criminal law standard with the aim that this documentation could be used in a future process of accountability. In Iraq we have committed £23 million of humanitarian assistance to help those who have fled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) advances. Following lobbying from the UK and other international partners, a resolution was passed at the Human Rights Council in September, mandating the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to despatch a mission to investigate and report on ISIL abuses. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), met the Archbishop Athanasius of the Syriac Orthodox Church in London on 29 July
to discuss the situation for religious groups in the region and issued a statement condemning reported threats against Christians in Iraq and Syria. We continue to encourage influential religious leaders in Iraq to speak out publicly and condemn sectarian violence.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 20 October, what assessment they have made of the position of (1) Bahrain, and (2) Israel, in respect of the obligation to respect human rights as being an essential element of any trade agreement with the United Kingdom.[HL2762]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The EU’s negotiations on a free trade agreement with the Gulf Co-operation Council, including Bahrain, were suspended in 2008. Bilateral trade issues are discussed at the biannual UK-Bahrain Joint Working Group meetings, which also include a substantial discussion of human rights and reform issues. Bahrain continues to make steady progress with its political reforms, and the UK will continue to encourage Bahrain to do more.
The EU-Israel Association Agreement provides an important framework to discuss the EU’s human rights concerns, and work with Israel to address these. The EU regularly raises its concerns with Israel in meetings at all levels through the structures of the Association Agreement, including through an informal human rights working group and regular political level meetings. At the same time, as the terms of the agreement make clear, any upgrade in relations between the two parties depends on progress towards a two state solution.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority about the recent suicide attacks on Israeli citizens in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.[HL2817]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our Consul-General to Jerusalem has met advisers to President Abbas and senior officials in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, where he has discussed the current tensions in Jerusalem including the attacks on the Jerusalem light rail. He has been urging Palestinian leaders to exert their influence to restore calm in Jerusalem, as our embassy in Tel Aviv has also been doing in its contacts with Israeli leaders.
Asked by Lord Palmer of Childs Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of recent reports that Hamas intends to use building materials to rebuild tunnels to attack Israel.[HL2818]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK has recently invested £0.5m in the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM), specifically a Materials Monitoring Unit, to ensure that any reconstruction materials made available to Gazans to repair their homes are closely tied to an assessment of needs and subjected to rigorous spot checks. This will safeguard against the risk of building materials being diverted towards building tunnels.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority about recent fatal attacks on the Metro train line running between East and West Jerusalem.[HL2828]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our Consul-General to Jerusalem has met with advisers to President Abbas and senior officials in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, where he has discussed the current tensions in Jerusalem including the attacks on the Jerusalem light rail. He has been urging Palestinian leaders to exert their influence to restore calm in Jerusalem, as our embassy in Tel Aviv has also been doing in its contacts with Israeli leaders.
Minimum Wage
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Neville-Rolfe on 29 October (HL 2219), whether they have any plans to amend the minimum wage legislation to include interns and others not currently covered by it including those subject to the terms of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.[HL2696]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) (Con): Many interns are already entitled to the National Minimum Wage. The term “intern” is not defined in any legislation: entitlement to the minimum wage depends on whether or not an individual is a worker for minimum wage purposes.
The National Minimum Wage applies to all workers unless a specific exemption applies. If an intern is a worker they will be entitled to the minimum wage. An applicable exemption would be students in further or higher education performing work-experience for a period not exceeding 12 months which is part of their studies. It can be legitimate for employers to offer unpaid or ‘expenses-only’ opportunities in some circumstances – in particular where the individual is acting as a volunteer.
Given this dependency on employment status, it is vital that employers and workers understand how this is determined. This is why last month, the Business Secretary announced a review of employment status, looking at how the system could be clarified, providing transparency for both individuals and employers. This is an internal review and findings will be presented to ministers early next year.
There are currently no plans to specifically consider individuals covered by the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
North Korea
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to ensure that state contracted companies from the United Kingdom which implement
projects inside North Korea abide by relevant International Labour Organisation Conventions on labour standards, respect human rights, and comply with United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights; and whether they conduct monitoring and evaluation of their funded projects in North Korea.[HL2835]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): All Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) programme expenditure, not least activity taking place in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), undergoes a formal approval process. Approval requires the proposal to be agreed by a board, based on an assessment by our Embassy, who must agree that the activity meets our objectives for the country in question and that the implementing organisation will be an effective partner. In line with departmental guidance, projects undertaken in all countries are subject to monitoring and evaluation to ensure the expenditure met FCO priorities and was delivered in an efficient, effective, sustainable and impactful manner. This monitoring takes place on expenditure in the DPRK.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the publication of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry report into violations of human rights in North Korea, what discussions and representations they have made to the government of Switzerland about the freezing of North Korean assets in Switzerland.[HL2836]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We remain in regular contact with Switzerland regarding our policy on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), not least to improve the human rights situation. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in the DPRK recommended that the UN Security Council introduce targeted sanctions on human rights grounds. While we are appalled by reports of ongoing human rights violations, the pervasive culture of impunity and the lack of accountability, we will want to ensure any new sanctions regime has a clear impact on the human rights situation in the DPRK without any unintended negative effects on the general population, and be sure any proposals are both legally and politically deliverable in the EU following recent successful legal challenges.
North Sea Oil
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of changing oil prices on reserves from North Sea oil.[HL2614]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Baroness Verma) (Con): Each year the Department of Energy and Climate change publishes estimates of UK oil reserves based
on assessments of the amount of oil that is technically and commercially recoverable. The judgement on commerciality rests with the operators of each field/discovery, not the Department. It will depend, among other things, on oil prices when they make that assessment. The latest estimates can be found on the attached.
This Answer included the following attachment: UK Oil Reserves & Estimated Ultimate Recovery 2014 (UK Oil Reserves and Estimated Ultimate Recovery 2014.pdf)
Obesity
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 26 September (HL1920), how they reconcile the proposed “hard-hitting national action on obesity” described in the NHS Five Year Forward View with the Government Equalities Office body image programme which promotes positive representation of a diversity of body types.[HL2811]
Baroness Garden of Frognal (LD): The Government recognises that obesity and poor body confidence are both part of a wider public health issue. This is the relationship that people have to their bodies, and how they integrate physical and emotional wellbeing. There is a strong relationship between poor body image, disordered eating and weight problems. Research shows that people with low levels of body satisfaction are more likely to gain weight over time (regardless of starting BMI); whereas those who have higher levels of body satisfaction are less likely to gain weight.
This is partly because people with low body image are less likely to be physically active and more likely to use unhealthy weight control behaviours. Poor body image is also linked with depression and low self-esteem. People who do not feel good about their bodies are less likely to look after them, so supporting people to value themselves and take care of their bodies is crucial in tackling obesity.
The Government is committed to tackling obesity and tackling the causes of poor body image. The Public Health England Change4Life campaign has been widely acclaimed for its positive approach and for not using “fat shaming” imagery. Instead, it focuses on motivating healthy behaviour change rather than achievement of a particular body type.
Peninsular War
Question
Asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contribution they made to the bicentennial celebrations in Portugal in 2014 of the Peninsular War 1809–14; and what further contributions they plan to make to the care and maintenance of the memorials and interpretation centres in Portugal and Spain. [HL2700]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The Government has not received any requests to contribute to the bicentennial celebrations of the Peninsula War in Portugal. There are no plans to provide any public funding for the care and maintenance of memorials and interpretation centres either in Portugal or Spain.
Many Regiments do however conduct Regimental pilgrimages to those battlefields to keep their history alive, to remember their forebears and to foster good relations with the local communities who are the custodians of the many battlefield memorials.
Politics and Government: Greater London
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the effectiveness of the current structures of governance in London.[HL2741]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): Since 2010, the Coalition Government has made a series of reforms which have decentralised power down to local government and down to local communities below it.
This has included strengthening the governance structures in London at a variety of levels: by devolving power and funding over housing, economic development and the Olympic legacy to the Mayor and Assembly through the Localism Act 2011; by abolishing unelected bodies such as the Government Office for London and London Development Agency; supporting the creation of a London-wide economic partnership; and delivering a broader set of reforms to local government transparency, accountability, housing finance and local government finance which the London Boroughs in particular have benefited from.
The London Enterprise Panel was established by the Mayor in 2012 in response to the Government’s invitation to areas to form Local Enterprise Partnerships. It provides a forum which enables the Mayor, London Boroughs and the private sector to work together to take a strategic view of regeneration, employment and skills in the capital. The Panel has successfully negotiated a growth deal which includes delivering £120 million of investment in London’s Further Education colleges and work to develop new ways to help those furthest from the labour market into work.
As set out in the Government response to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Report: Post-Legislative Scrutiny of the Greater London Authority Act 2007 and the London Assembly (Cm 8761), the Government believes there is scope for governance reform in the relation to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
Ministers have serious concerns about the governance in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets following an independent inspection report, and are consulting the council on the report and a proposed package of interventions as outlined in the Oral Statement of 4 November 2014, Official Report, House of Commons, Col. 663.
The Coalition Government considers that power should be devolved to the lowest appropriate level including to communities and individuals. For instance, we have introduced powers for local communities in London to establish neighbourhood forums to take forward neighbourhood planning and introduced a range of ‘community rights’ such as the Community Right to Challenge and the Community Right to Bid for Assets of Community Value.
Parish councils can also provide communities with a democratically accountable voice and a structure for taking community action. London saw its first parish council in decades have its first elections in May 2014, in Queens Park, Westminster. A number of other local communities in London are now campaigning for parish councils to be set up. The Government is also making it easier to set up new town and parish councils where they do not currently exist and is seeking to amend legislation to do so.
Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the change in the Treasury Block Grant to the Northern Ireland Executive should the Executive reduce corporation tax to 12.5 per cent from the existing United Kingdom level of corporation tax. [HL2695]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government has not yet agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive how the block grant adjustment will be calculated if corporation tax rate-setting powers are devolved.
Russia
Question
Asked by Lord West of Spithead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any representations to the government of Russia about the number of close encounters between Russian and NATO aircraft and ships. [HL2766]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We have made no direct representations to the Government of Russia on this issue. The UK strongly supports comments made by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Stoltenberg last week, calling on Russia to obey the norms of international air traffic and understand that he has plans to follow up with Russia directly on this point. NATO Foreign Ministers, including the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), will discuss Russia’s actions at the forthcoming meeting on 2 December.
Somalia
Questions
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Human Rights Watch account of sexual and gender-based violence against women and girls by African Union forces in Somalia. [HL2785]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The UK was extremely concerned by the allegations contained in the Human Rights Watch Report. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), urged a full investigation into these allegations with the African Union and the foreign ministers of relevant troop contributing countries. Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ministry of Defence experts recently met with staff from Human Rights Watch to discuss the report and further possible action to address the issues it raises.
Asked by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take steps to ensure that there is independent oversight of the conduct of troops of the African Union Mission in Somalia.[HL2786]
Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We welcome the deployment of a civilian delegation from the African Union (AU) to Somalia to investigate the process for dealing with complaints of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse by African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) forces. We will continue to engage with the AU on the recommendations that stem from that investigation and the recommendations of the recent Human Rights Watch Report, and are considering what practical assistance the UK can provide towards this end. When the Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Southend East (James Duddridge), met AU senior officials and foreign ministers from AMISOM troop contribution countries during the UN General Assembly in New York in September, he urged a full and transparent investigation into allegations of sexual abuse by AMISOM troops.
The UK already supports pre-deployment training programmes for AMISOM on prevention of sexual violence, international human rights laws, and best practice in assisting women and children in the aftermath of violent conflict. The UK also contributes to the AU’s Gender Peace and Security Programme, aimed at mainstreaming gender best practice into AU peace and security activities.
Tax Avoidance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to take steps to discourage public bodies from employing as auditors, accountants or financial
advisers firms which have facilitated tax avoidance by the use of such devices as those employed in Luxembourg as described in The Guardian on 6 November.[HL2705]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): As stated in the Government publication ‘Managing Public Money’, which is available in the libraries of the House, during the evaluation stage of sourcing, it is important for public sector procuring organisations to establish the propriety of candidate suppliers.
Her Majesty’s Government has taken robust action to tackle tax avoidance during this parliament, including through investing in HMRC compliance activities, identifying and closing loopholes, and making strategic reforms to the UK tax system, such as the UK’s first General Anti-abuse Rule.
Transport: Seating
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any minimum leg room dimensions have been set to accommodate tall people seated in buses, underground and railway trains and United Kingdom operated aeroplanes; under what regulations; and whether those regulations have changed in the last 25 years. [HL2844]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Government does not regulate the minimum leg room to accommodate tall people seated on buses, underground and railway trains and United Kingdom operated aeroplanes.
Accessibility legislation for buses, underground and railway trains does require extra, defined amounts of clearance at certain percentages of seats in order to
enable persons of reduced mobility to use those seats comfortably. Taller passengers might wish to make use of this additional space, although they would need to vacate those seats when needed by someone who has priority—such as pregnant women or people with mobility difficulties.
The only regulations on aircraft seating relate to the spacing needed to ensure that passengers can evacuate the aircraft quickly in an emergency.
World War I: Debts
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much they owe the government of the United States as a result of the First World War; and what are the arrangements for repayment.[HL2727]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): At the end of the First World War, the debt owed to the United States by the United Kingdom amounted to around £850 million. Repayments of the debt were made between 1923 and 1931. In 1931, President Hoover of the United States proposed a one year moratorium on all war debts, which allowed extensive international discussions on the general problems of debt repayment to be held. However, no satisfactory agreement was reached. In the absence of such an agreement, no payments have been made to, or received from, other nations since 1934. At the time, the United Kingdom was owed more by other nations than the outstanding principal it owed the United States.
For this reason, liabilities and assets arising from WW1 have not been listed on the UK government’s balance sheet since 1944-45.