Written Answers
Monday 15 December 2014
A303
Question
Asked by Lord Brougham and Vaux
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to their recently published road investment strategy, when the work on the A303 will start; and how long it will take.[HL3398]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): On 1 December, the Government published the first Road Investment Strategy, setting out how we will invest £15 billion in over 100 schemes across the road network. It included a long-term commitment to invest over £2 billion in the A303/A30/A358 corridor and proposed to start this process with three major improvements; dualling the A303 between Amesbury and Berwick Down and between Sparkford and Ilchester, and providing a dual carriageway link from the M5 at Taunton to the A303. The Highways Agency will now start to develop the proposals but each will be subject to differing timescales depending on detailed design and progress through planning processes. Our aim is for construction of these proposals to start towards the end of this Road Period which runs from 2015/16 to 2019/20.
Armed Conflict: Sexual Offences
Question
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will next publish a report on progress in implementing the commitments agreed and announced by United Kingdom Ministers at the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict held in London in June.[HL3260]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict had two primary objectives: to agree practical action to tackle impunity for the use of rape as a weapon of war, and to begin to shift global attitudes to these crimes. The Summit resulted in a number of practical outcomes and commitments, including the launch of the new International Protocol on the Documentation and Investigation of Sexual Violence in Conflict, various national action plans and strategies to address the issue, and the provision of additional support to survivors and organisations working with them. Our focus is now on implementing these outcomes.
The report from the Summit was published online on 10 December. It includes details of the commitments made at the Summit. We will continue to update Parliament on progress.
Asylum: Homosexuality
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will now take in the light of the judgment of the European Court of Justice on 2 December that refugees who claim asylum on the ground that they are homosexual should not have to undergo tests to prove it, that refusal to answer questions about their personal circumstances is not sufficient reason to reject their credibility, and that an applicant’s failure to declare their homosexuality from the start of the asylum process is also not ground for rejection.[HL3390]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): The Government is carefully considering the full detail of the judgment but our initial view is that the UK’s approach to considering asylum claims based on the grounds of sexual orientation is in line with the ruling. The UK has never required individuals to undergo tests in order to establish their sexuality.
Existing guidance, which was drawn up in conjunction with the UK Lesbian and Gay Immigration Group, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Stonewall, is clear that questions of a sexually explicit nature should not usually be asked. Late declaration of homosexuality is not in itself a reason for refusal but needs to be explained. The Government will shortly be publishing a revised version of its guidance and will ensure that the judgment is fully reflected in it.
Autism
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure (1) that the particular needs of older people with autism are met by the final statutory guidance implementing the adult autism strategy, (2) the appropriate and timely diagnosis of adult autism, and (3) the provision of care and support services for adults with autism.[HL3399]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether all staff in the Department of Health have access to autism training, as laid out in their adult autism strategy Think Autism.[HL3400]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made to ensure that staff in arm’s-length bodies who work with the Department of Health have access to training on autism, as laid out in their refreshed adult autism strategy Think Autism. [HL3401]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Think Autism, the April 2014 update to the Adult Autism Strategy has over 30 actions for Government departments and other
organisations and is overseen by the Autism Programme Board. A summary of progress will be published in August 2015.
Work is underway to look at how staff in the Department of Health and arm’s length bodies have access to autism training, such as the Hidden Impairment Toolkit developed by the Department for Work and Pensions and the National Hidden Impairment National Group. The needs of older people with autism, the appropriate and timely diagnosis of adult autism, and the provision of care and support services for adults with autism are also identified in Think Autism and are part of the consultation on the revised statutory guidance for local authorities and the National Health Service which runs until 19 December.
Local authority areas will also report back on progress they are making on implementing these and other issues in Public Health England’s forthcoming national autism self-assessment exercise on implementing the Adult Autism Strategy. 42 Autism Innovation Fund projects totalling £1 million to help support people with autism and share learning for wider replication in other areas were also recently announced.
BBC Media Action
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the result of the latest annual review into the grant of £90 million by the Department for International Development to BBC Media Action; whether any evaluation report has suggested that the project’s impact and outcomes are unlikely to be achieved; how much of the grant has been spent and where; and what are the BBC’s current priorities in relation to the project.[HL3427]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): The latest annual review for DFID’s grant to BBC Media Action, completed in November 2014, found the project results to have exceeded its plan.
From November 2011 to November 2014 the project has spent £53.3 million in the following countries; Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Burma, Ethiopia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia. Additional activities took place through an Asia regional programme. BBC Media Action’s priority for the global grant continues to be supporting media outputs that contribute to better governance, healthier populations and an increased ability to cope with crises.
British Transport Police: Scotland
Question
Asked by Lord Harris of Haringey
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to Recommendation 67 of the Smith Commission Report and its implications for the British Transport Police. [HL3510]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The UK Government has welcomed the Smith Commission Agreement and has committed to delivering draft clauses by 25 January 2015. The Government will now prepare draft clauses in order that the Agreement can be implemented. This includes the recommendation to devolve the functions of the British Transport Police. We are considering how these can best be devolved whilst ensuring that the security of the railway, its passengers and staff, is not compromised. Once the functions of the British Transport Police have been devolved it will be for the Scottish Government to decide how to police the railway network in Scotland.
Business: Taxation
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Deighton on 26 November (WS 37) concerning the meeting of ECOFIN on 7 November, what will be the effect of the proposed amendment to Directive 2011/96/EU; and whether it transfers further powers over taxation to the European Union.[HL3291]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The amendment to Article 1 of the Parent Subsidiaries Directive introduces an anti-abuse measure, which requires Member States to withdraw the benefits of the Directive with respect to tax arrangements, where gaining a tax advantage through exploiting the Directive is a main purpose.
UK officials have worked successfully to incorporate UK changes into the text. These ensure that the rule is proportionate, is in line with OECD recommendations on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting, and does not delegate further powers to the Commission.
Cancer
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have any plans to increase screening for cancers. [HL3272]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) advises Ministers and the National Health Service in all four countries about all aspects of screening policy and supports implementation. It keeps evidence in support of new programmes under review. Where stakeholder organisations or individuals feel that there is enough evidence published in peer reviewed journals to consider screening for a condition they can submit a proposal to the UK NSC. For further information please see the UK NSC’s website:
http://www.screening.nhs.uk/policyreview
In 2011, the UK NSC recommended that screening for bowel cancer using flexible sigmoidoscopy should be piloted as part of the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Programme. NHS England and Public Health England are working together to set up screening centres for Bowel Scope Screening (BSS), with over 30% operational by the end of March 2014. Our commitment is to have BSS rolled out to 60% of screening centres in England by the end of March 2015, and to all screening centres in England by the end of 2016.
In early 2015 the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening is due to be published and the NELSON study, a randomised controlled lung cancer screening trial using multi-slice low-dose CT in high risk men and women, is expected to end in December 2015. Following publication of the results of these two studies the UK NSC will review its recommendation on screening women for ovarian cancer and screening current and former smokers for lung cancer.
College Green
Question
To ask the Chairman of Committees how much income is received per year for permissions to the media for temporary structures on College Green. [HL3458]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Sewel): Abingdon Green is owned by the House of Commons, although its utilisation is managed by Black Rod. The House of Lords does not receive any income for temporary structures used by the media on College Green.
Colombia
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what conversations they have held with the Colombian authorities regarding the case of human rights defenders and land claimants Yomaira Mendoza and Enrique Cabezas; what information they have received on the progress of the investigation into the attacks against Ms Mendoza and Mr Cabezas, their homes and their families; and what assurances they have received regarding measures for their protection.[HL3290]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): Our Ambassador in Bogotá raised the cases of Yomaira Mendoza, Enrique Cabezas and the Curbaradó community with the Minister of the Interior in July. The Ministry provided assurances that as a result of the consultations between the Government of Colombia and the Curbaradó community greater protection measures had been agreed. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials met with Ms Mendoza and Mr Cabezas on 28 October during their recent visit to the UK, to receive a firsthand account of the situation. Investigations into the threats against them are ongoing.
Community Amateur Sports Clubs Scheme
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Deighton on 25 November 2013 (WS 76–8), whether they consider that the new draft regulations on registration and eligibility for community amateur sports clubs meet Lord Deighton’s pledge to “keep the rules as simple as possible”.[HL3276]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The Government has decided to proceed with a single set of rules to apply to all clubs following detailed consultation across the sector. A single set of rules setting out clear tests will make it simpler and easier for clubs to understand and comply with their responsibilities. The rules are as simple as possible, bearing in mind they apply to almost one hundred different sports, operating in often very different ways.
However, the Government does recognise that the existing administrative arrangements that apply when an existing CASC changes its status—such as when an unincorporated association changes into a company—can be burdensome. HMRC will therefore introduce a simpler, more streamlined process within the existing legislative framework.
Cybercrime
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking with international partners to close down cybercrime networks.[HL3466]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Combating cyber crime is a core part of the National Cyber Security Strategy, which is underpinned by the National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP) and £860 million of investment over five years. The Government has so far committed around 10% of NCSP funding to build law enforcement capabilities to tackle cyber crime. This includes the establishment of the National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU) in the National Crime Agency (NCA), and cyber teams within each of the Regional Organised Crime Units across England and Wales.
Almost every major cyber crime investigation has an international element and as a result the NCA has prioritised building partnerships with key international partners to tackle this common cyber threat.
To this end, and as a result of NCSP investment, the NCA has deployed a number of International Liaison Officers overseas. The NCA, EU and other international partners (US, New Zealand, Australia and Canada) have agreed common threats and goals which are informing the development of a model for proactive global joint cyber investigations. Over the past year the NCCU has led the UK response in a number of global operations targeting malware and
the unit has a leading role in the Joint Cybercrime Action Taskforce (J-CAT) hosted at the European Cyber Crime Centre at Europol.
Dementia
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to ensure adequate care for dementia sufferers.[HL3273]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Dementia is a key priority for this Government and we are committed to ensuring people with dementia and their carers receive the best possible care in all care settings. That is why in 2012 we launched the first ever Prime Minister’s Challenge on dementia to increase diagnosis rates, raise awareness and understanding and double funding for research in dementia by 2015.
A number of steps have been taken to help care for dementia patients:
- on 1 April 2014 we have put in place a new Dementia Directed Enhanced Service, which has had over 80% take up by general practitioners (GPs) to reward practices for facilitating timely diagnosis and support for people with dementia. An additional enhanced service for GPs will run between October 2014 and March 2015 with a view to a further boost to diagnosis;- in the hospital setting, through the Dementia Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) reward (introduced from April 2012), with around 4,000 referrals a month, it is clear that more people with dementia in hospitals are being identified and assessed. Between April 2013 and June 2014 there have been 59,961 referrals as a result of the introduction of this CQUIN goal;- the Dementia Care & Support Compact, the care sector’s own response to the Prime Minister’s Challenge on Dementia, sets out a commitment to support the delivery of the challenge and improve care and support for people with dementia, their carers and families;- Health Education England (HEE), Skills for Care and Skills for Health launched the pilot for the new Care Certificate on 28 April 2014. Taking place across a range of health and social care settings, the pilots are testing a set of standards designed to help employers to assess not only workers’ skills, but also the knowledge, behaviours and values that are required to deliver compassionate and quality care. The pilots are nearing completion. Subject to evaluation, we plan to introduce the Care Certificate by 1 April 2015;- the Government’s refreshed Mandate to HEE, published on 1 May 2014, builds on the existing ambition to have 100,000 National Health Service staff receive Tier 1 training on dementia by setting
an ambition for a further 250,000 NHS staff to receive Tier 1 training on dementia by March 2015, with the tools and training opportunities being made available to all staff by the end of 2018;- 72 communities across England have signed up to the national Dementia Friendly Communities recognition process, with an increased ambition to reach 75 by March 2015;- on 7 May 2014, Public Health England and the Alzheimer’s Society launched a major new campaign with the aim of securing one million people to become dementia friends by March 2015. The campaign is aimed at improving understanding and attitudes about dementia and towards people with the condition. There are currently over 579,000 Dementia Friends; and- we have made available £50 million capital funding for 2013-14 for the NHS and local authorities to work with providers to create better care environments to help people with dementia live well with the condition. The projects are now in the process of being evaluated and we will disseminate the key recommendations by the end of the year.
EU Budget: Contributions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are aware of the calculations used by the European Commission as a basis for the recent demand of £1.7 billion; and, if so, what is their assessment of those calculations.[HL3255]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The European Commission are responsible for calculating Member State contributions to the EU Budget using data provided by Eurostat, who collate and validate the data from Member States’ national statistical institutions, including for the UK the Office for National Statistics.
The Prime Minister has been clear that it was completely unacceptable for the European Commission to demand a payment upfront on such a large scale and provide a month in which to pay it.
European Finance Ministers met on the 7 November, and the Chancellor secured an agreement which meant the UK paid nothing on 1 December. Instead the payment will be made in instalments next year, and no fines or interest will be applied. The UK will also not pay £1.7 billion. The British rebate will apply in full, and apply simultaneously with the payment, not a year in arrears as normal. This means the Government has halved the bill, to around £850 million.
Lastly, the UK won agreement to change the regulations to ensure this never happens again. In the future, if any country receives an adjustment demand that is excessive, it will have the same opportunity to phase payments so that they are more affordable.
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 20 November (HL2790) concerning candidates nominated by member states of the European Union to the European Commission, whether the member state or the President of the European Commission would be the final arbiter of whether the nominee takes office.[HL3294]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): I refer the noble Lord to my previous answer. Depending on the particular circumstances and facts of the situation, both parties would need to discuss and agree next steps.
European Union
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government which of the 28 member states of the European Union are required to hold a referendum before they approve either a new treaty or an amendment to an existing treaty. [HL3296]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): The EU has adopted new treaties, and amended existing ones, since the original Treaty of Rome in 1957. These changes have reflected the evolution of EU business. Developments in the Eurozone are likely to create the conditions for further treaty change in the future.
A number of different factors determine whether an EU Member State is required to hold a national referendum before approving a new EU treaty or an amendment to an existing EU Treaty. These factors include Constitutional obligations, legal or political precedent and the nature of the treaty or treaty change. In the UK, the European Union Act 2011 sets out the circumstances in which treaties amending or replacing the EU Treaties require prior approval by referendum.
European Union Crime Prevention Network
Question
Asked by Lord Maclennan of Rogart
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have decided to leave the European Union Crime Prevention Network.[HL3311]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): On 1 December 2014 the UK opted out of more than 100 EU police and criminal justice powers including the European Union Crime Prevention Network.
The Government has always been clear that we wanted to remain part of a smaller number of measures which give our police and law enforcement agencies vital and practical help in the fight against crime. The European Union Crime Prevention Network is not one of those measures.
Female Genital Mutilation
Question
Asked by Lord Berkeley of Knighton
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they are making in securing convictions for female genital mutilation.[HL3412]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): At the Girl Summit hosted by the Prime Minister in July 2014, the government set out a clear commitment to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and announced a comprehensive package of domestic measures to achieve this.
This involved a range of measures to improve the law enforcement response and thereby help to secure convictions for FGM. A number of amendments have been tabled to the Serious Crime Bill to strengthen the law, new police guidance on FGM is being published, and a review by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary into so called ‘honour-based’ violence with a focus on FGM will commence in 2015. In addition, 42 forces have signed joint protocols with the Crown Prosecution Service on the investigation and prosecution of FGM. The government published a consultation on 5 December on how to introduce a mandatory reporting duty to increase referrals to the police in order to support more prosecutions.
Females: Equality
Question
Asked by Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will next publish a report on progress in implementing the commitments agreed and announced by United Kingdom Ministers at the Girl Summit held in London in July.[HL3261]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): The first annual progress report on commitments made at Girl Summit 2014—including those announced by United Kingdom Ministers—will be issued in July 2015.
Financial Services: Taxation
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Deighton on 26 November (WS 37) concerning the meeting of ECOFIN on 7 November, whether they plan to continue their
opposition to the proposed Financial Transaction Tax; and whether they will indicate that they will not facilitate the collection of the tax in the United Kingdom.[HL3293]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): The UK is not participating in the Financial Transaction Tax (FTT) proposed to be adopted by 11 EU member states.
The Government strongly objects to certain extraterritorial aspects of the European Commission’s proposal, which in our view breach EU Treaty requirements.
While any eventual FTT is likely to be significantly narrower in scope than the current proposal the Chancellor has been clear that the government will not hesitate to renew its legal action against the FTT if our concerns are not addressed.
Freedom of Expression
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recent comments by the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police on the role of the police in defining what counts as acceptable speech.[HL3568]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): Speakers in the UK must stay within the law, including laws about the glorification of terrorism and incitement of racial or religious hatred. Whether an individual’s behaviour is unlawful is a decision for the police and Crown Prosecution Service, on a case by case basis.
Future of the Home Care Workforce Commission
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the finding of the Burstow Commission on the future of the home care workforce that home care requires better oversight.[HL3341]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department has not conducted a formal assessment of the findings of the Commission. However, the Government is taking a variety of actions to drive up the quality of home care services and improve the working conditions of staff.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has introduced a new system of inspection of social care providers. The new inspections are structured around five key questions that matter most to people: are services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive to people’s needs?
From 1 April 2015, providers will be under a legal duty to meet a new set of registration requirements that include new fundamental standards. The CQC has a range of enforcement powers it can employ to ensure providers comply with these standards, including the ability to prosecute both providers and directors that are responsible for unacceptable standards of care. We are also introducing a “fit and proper person” test for directors. Where a director is deemed by the CQC to be unfit for the role, it will be able to insist upon his/her removal.
The Department worked with the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association and the Health Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham to develop a set of commissioning standards for local authorities. The standards were launched successfully at the National Children’s and Adults’ Services conference in October 2014 and will now be piloted by a number of local authorities.
Local authorities will be encouraged to use them to support improvement in their commissioning practices, including those which impact on the social care workforce, such as provider compliance with National Minimum Wage requirements and fair employee contracting terms.
The Government is also naming and shaming employers that break National Minimum Wage laws and helping staff to recover the pay owed to them. We expect to have employers in the care sector soon.
George Cross
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a George Cross has recently been awarded but not yet gazetted; and if so, when it will be gazetted. [HL3325]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): As the noble Lord will understand, we cannot comment on individual gallantry cases.
Health Services
Question
Asked by Lord Browne of Belmont
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive on United Kingdom-wide strategies for tackling diabetes, obesity, and heart and rare diseases. [HL3394]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): Research and evidence of best practice in health is shared widely across the United Kingdom. However, as health is a devolved matter Ministers do not routinely discuss health issues with their counterparts.
Health: Screening
Questions
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what percentage of the eligible population have had an appointment under the NHS Health Check Scheme in each year since the scheme began.[HL3277]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the clinical effectiveness of the NHS Health Check Scheme.[HL3278]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the cost-effectiveness of the NHS Health Check Scheme.[HL3279]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what tests are offered under the NHS Health Check Scheme. [HL3280]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what has been the annual cost of the NHS Health Check Scheme for each year since the scheme began. [HL3281]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Nordic Cochrane Centre review of the evidence base supporting the NHS Health Check Scheme.[HL3282]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The NHS Health Check is offered to all 40-74 year olds without existing disease once every five years. The check assesses family history of cardiovascular disease, smoking status, alcohol use, levels of physical activity, body mass index, cholesterol and blood pressure and uses information on age, gender and ethnicity to identify an individual’s 10-year risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Where the results of these tests indicate that a person is at high risk of diabetes and chronic kidney disease then additional diagnostic tests, specifically HbA1c or serum creatinine respectively, are undertaken.
Data on eligible population having an NHS Health Check has been collected nationally since 2011-12. Of those eligible 7.1%, 8.0% and 9.0% had an NHS Health Check in 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 respectively.
Cost-benefit modelling estimates the cost of the programme to be £332 million each year at full roll out, with the average annual benefit to be £3.678 billion. The cost-benefits of the programme primarily arise from the opportunity it presents to prevent 1,600 heart attacks and strokes, and save at least 650 lives each year. It also offers the opportunity to prevent over 4,000 people a year from developing diabetes and detect at least 20,000 cases of diabetes or kidney disease earlier, allowing individuals’ health to be better managed and improve their quality of life.
The findings from this cost-benefit modelling further suggest that the programme is cost-effective, with potential savings to the National Health Service of around £57 million per year after four years, rising to £176 million per year after 15 years. This equates to a cost per quality-adjusted life-year of around £3,000, which is considerably lower than the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s threshold.
The Government is committed to bringing ever-greater scientific and clinical rigour to the programme. Public Health England has established an Expert Scientific Clinical and Advisory panel, formed of eminent clinicians and academics, which keep the evidence under review and have recently published research priorities for consultation.
The Cochrane Centre review does add to the existing evidence base, however, its generalisability to the NHS Health Check is limited. The studies that the review considers are old, predominantly published in the 1960s. They were also undertaken on people from different age groups and the ‘health checks’ that they consider are not directly comparable to the NHS Health Check. For example, the age of the studies means that the majority were carried out before statins were introduced into primary care.
Heart Diseases
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the Inter99 review of evidence relating to the effectiveness of mass screening and lifestyle coaching on ischaemic heart disease.[HL3327]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Inter99 randomised controlled trial has been critically appraised by Public Health England’s Expert Scientific and Clinical Advisory Panel (ESCAP). ESCAP’s appraisal has highlighted that although the study did not detect positive health outcomes at a population-level, the trial did report positive lifestyle changes for individual participants.
ESCAP also recognised that there were important differences between the health check considered in the Inter99 trial and the NHS Health Check, which limits its generalisability to the programme in England. In particular, the NHS Health Check population is both older and less healthy than the Danish population studied in the trial. The interventions also differ as the NHS Health Check has a much stronger focus on clinical management of newly detected disease.
HIV Infection
Question
Asked by Lord Allen of Kensington
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions they are taking to reduce the risk of HIV and to improve early diagnosis of the infection of people who sleep rough.[HL3364]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): In 2013 the Department published the Framework for Sexual Health Improvement in England. The Framework highlights the additional risks faced by homeless people around sexual health and HIV and states that it is vital that their health needs are met.
Public Health England supports local authorities to understand the effectiveness of their local system for homeless people, including access to and quality of healthcare for rough sleepers and other single homeless people. The Faculty for Homeless and Inclusion Health, the Queen’s Nursing Institute, Homeless Link and St. Mungo’s Broadway, and Find and Treat are amongst a number of partners involved in this work.
Immigration Controls
Questions
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they plan to deal with net immigration; and whether they intend to revise their targets.[HL3247]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): We are building an immigration system that is fair to British citizens and legitimate migrants, that is tough on those who abuse the system or flout the law, and that ensures people come to the UK for the right reasons—to work hard and contribute to our economy and society.
We have cut net migration from outside the EU by nearly a quarter since 2010—close to levels not seen since the late 1990s. We have also clamped down on nearly 800 illicit colleges, reduced 45,000 visas from the further education route; and cut family visas by nearly a third since it came to power.
Our reforms have also made it more difficult for EU migrants to claim benefits in the UK and, through the landmark Immigration Act, made it tougher for illegal immigrants to remain by restricting access to work, housing, benefits, healthcare, bank accounts and driving licences and making it easier to remove those who have no right to be here by reducing the number of appeals.
The Government has reformed benefits, healthcare and housing rules to make them among the tightest in Europe and we continue to see an increase in the number of British citizens in work. In the past, the majority of growth in employment was taken up by foreign nationals; in the last year, two-thirds of it was accounted for by UK nationals. This shows that our immigration policy benefits UK nationals first while still attracting skilled migrants needed by British business.
However there is more to be done. The Prime Minister set out further measures to reduce migration, including EU migration, in his immigration speech delivered on 28 November.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bates on 20 November (HL2506), in each of the last four years how many people have been found to have failed to declare a previous conviction following a conviction for a further offence after entering the United Kingdom. [HL3298]
Lord Bates: The information requested is not held centrally.
In Vitro Fertilisation
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 1 December (HL3088), what was the overall incidence of stillbirths from in vitro fertilisation pregnancies for the past decade following foetal reduction in either the first trimester or early in the second trimester that affected (1) the remaining twin from the same twin pregnancy, (2) one of the remaining triplets from the same pregnancy, and (3) both of the remaining triplets from the same pregnancy, according to data held by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.[HL3301]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that in the decade preceding 31 December 2012, the HFEA register records one incidence of a still birth following an embryo reduction at week 13 in a twin pregnancy, and one incidence of a still birth following a double embryo reduction at 12 weeks in a triplet pregnancy. Within this time period there are no other records of incidences of still births following foetal reductions in multiple pregnancies taking place within the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
The first trimester has been taken as weeks 0-13 and ‘early in the second trimester’ as weeks 14-16.
The HFEA has also advised that any records held on its register after 31 December 2012 are not yet verified.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Earl Howe on 17 November (HL2642) and on 2 December (HL2905), whether they consider that mutations affecting DNA Polymerase Gamma might in turn ever be potentially responsible for disease-associated mitochondrial DNA mutations such as those listed in Annex D of the “Mitochondrial Donation” consultation document; and if not, why not.[HL3302]
Earl Howe: We have been advised that there is no evidence to suggest that mutations affecting DNA polymerase gamma result in high levels of the mitochondrial DNA mutations responsible for the mitochondrial diseases listed in Annex D of the mitochondrial donation consultation document. As stated in my previous answer of 17 November 2014 (Official Report, col. WA59), mitochondrial donation techniques would only be used for patients that have an inherited mitochondrial DNA mutation and could not be used for those diseases in which faulty mitochondria arise from a nuclear gene mutation.
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 2 December (HL2905), what was the empirical evidence upon
which the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority based its recommendation regarding multi-foetal pregnancy reduction.[HL3303]
Earl Howe: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that as stated in my Written Answer of 17 November 2014 (Official Report, Columns WA 60-61), when developing its policy on multiple births, the HFEA commissioned an Expert Group on Multiple Births after IVF (in vitro fertilisation), which concluded that the prevention of multiple pregnancies through single embryo transfer should be preferred to multifetal pregnancy reduction.
The evidence this recommendation was based on is outlined in the Expert Group’s report, available on the HFEA’s website at:
http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/MBSET_report.pdf
Iraq
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any resources have been directed to the Turkmen community in Iraq, many of whom have been displaced from their home, as well as the Christian and Yizhidei communities.[HL3372]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): DFID has allocated £39.5 million to the humanitarian crisis in Iraq since June and is delivering a range of life-saving assistance such as food, water, shelter, sanitation and medical care to those who have been displaced by the conflict.
All UK funded aid is distributed on the basis of need to ensure civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of race, religion or ethnicity. Our aid is reaching thousands of vulnerable displaced people across Iraq. This has included delivering aid to thousands of people trapped by ISIL in the Iraqi town of Amerli, including many from the Turkmen community.
Local Government: Pensions
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what fees have been paid (including management, performance and trading costs) by all the managers of funds in the Local Government Pension scheme.[HL3482]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon) (Con): The Department for Communities and Local Government publishes statistics about the Local Government Pension Scheme each year, using data provided by each of the 89 administering authorities in England and Wales. In the financial year 2013-14, the authorities reported fund management costs to be £494 million and administration costs to be £133 million.
M6
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to invest in improving the M6.[HL3271]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): As part of the Government’s £15 billion investment in the strategic road network announced on the 1st December, the Department for Transport’s Road Investment Strategy includes committed funding for enhancements to the M6. This includes four schemes already committed to upgrade the most heavily congested parts of the M6 to Smart Motorway, which will add an extra lane through the use of the hard shoulder as part of the “smart spine”, a 145 mile corridor linking London and Manchester and improvements to three junctions to increase capacity and provide better access to local employment and development sites.
Mental Health Services
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the availability of beds for mental health patients; and whether they have any plans to tackle any shortage.[HL3268]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): There has been a managed move over the last decade from an over dependence on inpatient services towards a comprehensive, community-based service, including Crisis Resolution Teams and Home Treatment Teams.
This means a shift in resources from inpatient care towards recovery-focused, community based services where the emphasis is on targeted, timely intervention to prevent crisis, or manage crises closer to home.
However, the Government has made it clear that beds must always be available for those who need them.
The Government’s 2014-15 Mandate to NHS England states that every community must develop plans to ensure no-one in mental health crisis will be turned away.
In February 2014 we published the mental health Crisis Care Concordat, which describes the roles and responsibilities of public services for improving outcomes for people experiencing a crisis.
This makes it clear that local commissioners should commission a range of mental health services that allows beds to be available for a person in urgent need. Local areas are expected to commit to and agree to deliver their own ‘Mental Health Crisis Declaration’.
Mental Health Services: Children
Question
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funding has been provided for child and adolescent mental health services each year since 2010.[HL3322]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The aggregated primary care trust (PCT) spend on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in England since 2010 is set out in the following table. The figures outline what PCTs have spent but do not indicate the amount of funding provided by the Department. The figures in the table have been rounded to the nearest £ million:
| 2010-11 | 2011-12 | 2012-13 | 2013-14 |
However, this does not include:
- spend by local authorities, including children’s services and schools’ expenditure on early intervention or emotional resilience programmes;- £54 million invested by the Department over the four years from 2011-12 to 2014-15 in the Children and Young People’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme; and- The £150 million investment over five years for NHS England in CAMHS for the treatment of eating disorders.
Mental Illness: Police Custody
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will take further action to prevent the detention of mentally ill people in police cells caused by the shortage of relevant National Health Service secure mental health facilities.[HL3287]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Government is already taking action to prevent the inappropriate use of police cells as a place of safety under the Mental Health Act 1983.
The Government has an ambition to reduce this practice by 50% this year—and to see how police and health colleagues can work together so that it does not happen at all to children and young people.
Last year the number of people taken to police cells as places of safety fell significantly. Emerging figures for police forces for 2014-15 appear to be continuing this downward trend.
The police have told us that between the six months of April and September this year there have been 2,282 such cases—which, if maintained over the rest of the year, would result in a further 24% decrease in
use of cells over last year. At the same time the use of health-based places of safety increased by 3,019 uses between 2012-13 and 2013-14.
This puts us well on track to achieve our aim of reducing the 2011-12 figure of 8,667 uses of police cells by half in 2014-15.
In February, we published a Crisis Care Concordat to make sure people in crisis get the help they need. All localities are working to complete local crisis declarations agreed by all the local relevant agencies, by the end of the year.
In conjunction with the Home Office, the Department of Health has conducted a review of section 135 and section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983. This is due to report shortly.
The new Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Well-Being Taskforce will also be looking at the issue of under 18s being detained in police custody as part of its Access and Prevention work.
Military Decorations
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many gallantry medals have been awarded but not gazetted. [HL3258]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Ministerial Policy Advisers
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will update the list of Special Advisers in post, in respect of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister, published by the Cabinet Office on 25 October 2013, showing in addition to the names and salaries the policy areas for which each Special Adviser is responsible.[HL3560]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): An updated list of special advisers will be published in due course.
Nationality
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how quickly a foreign national can gain British citizenship; what are the time spans involved in France, Italy, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands; and what assessment they have made of new citizens granted nationality in other European Union countries using that nationality to access the United Kingdom.[HL3429]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Bates) (Con): An individual naturalising as a British citizen is required to have been lawfully resident in the UK for a minimum of five years, with the last year of residence free of time restrictions, or three years if the spouse of a British citizen.
Every country within the EU has the right to decide its own citizenship laws, but we would object if another Member State operated its processes in a way that could lead to abuse of free movement rights. The Government is clear that EU citizens who benefit from the right to free movement must adhere to the responsibilities this brings with it. The Government does not tolerate the abuse of free movement rights and is working at a domestic level and with other member states to tackle such abuse.
Nurses: Recruitment
Question
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many nurses did not enter the nursing profession following graduation in each of the past three years.[HL3363]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department does not hold this information.
Nurses: Resignations
Question
Asked by Lord Willis of Knaresborough
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the attrition rate for registered nurses in each of the first three years following their qualification as a registered nurse.[HL3362]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe) (Con): The Department does not hold information on the attrition rate for registered nurses.
Outdoor Education
Questions
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Ofsted inspection framework contains explicit references to learning outside the classroom. [HL3537]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): This is a matter for Ofsted and I have asked Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, to write to you with the information requested. A copy of his reply will be placed in the House library.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the pupil premium has enabled more children from very low income households to take part in activities such as residential fieldwork courses and museum visits.[HL3539]
Lord Nash: The independent evaluation report ‘Evaluation of pupil premium’[1] and the Ofsted report ‘The pupil premium: how schools are spending the funding successfully to maximise achievement’[2], both published in 2013, state that residential fieldwork and museum visits are amongst the activities on which some schools chose to spend this funding.
Schools are free to spend the pupil premium as they see fit in deciding how to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils. They are strongly encouraged, however, to consider the evidence of what works and are required to publish online how they have used this funding and the impact it has had. They are also held to account for the progress and attainment of those pupils through Ofsted inspections and measures in the performance tables.
This Answer included the following attachment:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/evaluation-of-pupil-premium
www.ofsted.gov.uk/resources/pupil-premium-how-schools-are-spending-funding-successfully-maximise-achievement
Palestinians
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian situation in Gaza following the recent floods; and what discussions they have had with the government of Israel about beginning reconstruction.[HL3350]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): The UN declared a state of emergency in Gaza after heavy rain led to flooding. 100,000 people remain displaced, 19,000 of whom are still sheltering in UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools, after the 52 day war of this summer and are in need of immediate assistance. The UK was the first donor to support the tripartite Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM) and is in discussion with all the parties to ensure that it facilitates the timely access of large amounts of construction materials into Gaza for reconstruction.
Parcels
Question
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action are they taking to ensure people are aware of their rights when they receive poor service from parcel delivery firms.[HL3469]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) (Con): On 31 July this year the UK Statement of Principles on Parcel Deliveries, developed through collaboration between Citizens Advice and the British Retail Consortium, was published. The Principles set out best practice for businesses, such as parcel delivery firms, on how they can ensure fair delivery prices, consumers can obtain delivery cost information upfront and get clear directions to the terms and conditions. This will help consumers to be better informed about online retailers’ pricing policies in particular with regard to delivering to consumers in remote communities. The Statement of Principles is available on the Citizens Advice website: http://www. adviceguide.org.uk/scotland/news/whats_new_sep14_ statement_of_principles_for_parcel_deliveries_now_ covers_the_uk.htm.
If a consumer has a problem with a parcel delivery firm they can contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 08454 04 05 06 or through their website (https://www.adviceguide.org.uk) which offers a free service on how consumers can proceed with their complaints.
Currently, Citizens Advice is giving Christmas shopping tips, with guidance on what consumers can do if they suffer delivery problems when buying Christmas gifts. This advice can be found on their website: http://www. adviceguide.org.uk/england/news/whats_new_dec14_ christmas_shopping_tips.htm.
In addition, the Consumer Rights Bill which is currently before Parliament, will clarify and enhance consumer rights and remedies when contracting with traders for the provision of services, such as parcel delivery firms. This will make it clear for the first time that if traders breach the rights set out in the Bill, the trader is required to re-perform the service to bring it up to scratch or failing that offers a reduction in price. We have been working closely with consumer groups, including Citizens Advice, to develop an effective publicity campaign, including the use of social media to raise consumers’ awareness of these new rights. The Citizens Advice website will be updated by 1 October 2015 when the Bill is anticipated to come into force.
Roads: Construction
Question
Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the timeframe for their planned road improvement works announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 1 December.[HL3270]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport (Baroness Kramer) (LD): The Road Investment Strategy (RIS) committed a total of £15.2 billion in enhancement and long term maintenance of the network between 2015/16 and 2020/21 including 127 major enhancements, of which 84 were newly announced.
This funding will be used to complete the road schemes on the Strategic Road Network currently under construction and begin construction of previously-announced schemes. It is anticipated that 69 of the
84 new road schemes announced as part of the RIS will enter construction over the course of the first Road Period which runs from 2015/16 to 2019/20.
A further 15 schemes will be developed during this Road Period, but may not enter construction until the next Road Period. This is generally because the design of the scheme is complex and needs time to consider a number of potential options or because interaction between a proposed scheme and other committed work on the network means doing all of the work at once would cause significant disruption. This RIS commits funding to prepare this scheme so it can be ready to enter construction early in the next Road Period. Should the Strategic Highway Company be able to develop the scheme more quickly than expected, and if efficiency savings have freed surplus funds, construction may begin this Road Period.
Schools: Vocational Guidance
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to incorporate careers education into the national curriculum.[HL3386]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools (Lord Nash) (Con): The Government’s vision is to make sure that every young person leaves school or college prepared for life in modern Britain. An important element of this is ensuring that young people get the careers education and guidance they need to succeed in the workplace. My Rt hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, made available £20 million to support improvements in this area in the Autumn Statement, and my Rt hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced on 10 December the creation of a new employer-led careers and enterprise company. The new company will support much greater engagement between employers on the one hand and schools and colleges on the other, to create inspired and skilled young people ready to engage positively with the world of work.
The Department for Education has issued schools with revised statutory guidance, which underpins their duty to secure independent careers guidance. The statutory guidance makes it clear that schools should have a strategy for the careers advice and guidance they provide to young people, which should be embedded within a clear framework, linked to outcomes for pupils.
Personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education is a subject that can encompass careers education and employability skills. All schools should teach PSHE, drawing on good practice. We have outlined this expectation in the introduction to the new national curriculum and in our communications to schools.
Sierra Leone
Questions
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the performance of the ebola medical facility at Kerry Town in Sierra Leone. [HL3312]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they tasked Save the Children with operating the ebola medical facility at Kerry Town in Sierra Leone. [HL3313]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will consider transferring operation of the Kerry Town ebola medical facility in Sierra Leone to the British armed forces.[HL3314]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many suspected ebola patients have been turned away from the Kerry Town medical facility in Sierra Leone while beds have lain empty.[HL3315]
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much money has been spent to date on establishing the Kerry Town medical facility in Sierra Leone. [HL3316]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): DFID is working with a range of partners to respond to the unprecedented Ebola crisis in West Africa. Partners are selected according to need and their ability to deliver results.
As of 10 December, £16.2 million has been disbursed for the Kerry Town Treatment Centre and 52 beds are operational, including a 12-bed facility which treats Ebola patients from Her Majesty’s Government, international healthcare workers and Sierra Leonean healthcare professionals working in UK-sponsored facilities. Scale-up of the facility continues according to schedule. All patients who meet the eligibility criteria and who have been properly referred have been admitted to Kerry Town.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will achieve the targets set by the World Health Organisation to reduce the incidence of ebola in Sierra Leone.[HL3317]
Baroness Northover: The UK has committed £230 million to the response in Sierra Leone. This includes supporting 700 treatment beds to help up to 8,800 patients over 6 months; and supporting over 100 burial teams and their fleet. With UK support, nationally on average 95% of reported bodies are being buried within 24 hours.
Sovereignty: Scotland
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the decision to grant a referendum on independence to the Scottish people and the terms of that referendum were agreed by the Cabinet.[HL3257]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): In line with long-established convention, the Government does not comment on the proceedings of Cabinet or its committees.
Sri Lanka
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the European Union decision in 2010 to remove trade concessions from Sri Lanka pending the government of that country improving its human rights record has created a precedent for other countries.[HL3352]
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills & Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Livingston of Parkhead) (Con): In 2010 some trade preferences, known as GSP+, were removed from Sri Lanka by the European Union following investigations and reports which found significant shortcomings in respect of Sri Lanka’s implementation of three human rights conventions. Sri Lanka continues to receive beneficial but less generous trade preferences from the EU under the ‘standard’ GSP scheme.
As was the case for Sri Lanka, any decision for the EU to remove GSP+ preferences from a country is based on the objective criteria and following the process established in the GSP Regulation as agreed by European Member States and the European Parliament.
St Helena
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in the construction of the St Helena airport; what is the estimated date that the first aircraft could land; and whether the construction is within budget.[HL3259]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International Development (Baroness Northover) (LD): Construction of the St Helena Airport is more than 60% complete. It is currently within budget and on target to open for commercial flights in early 2016.
Succession to the Crown Act 2013
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Wallace of Tankerness on 26 February (HL Deb, col 922) and the Written Answer on 23 June (HL224), when they now expect all the necessary processes to be completed so that the Succession to the Crown Act 2013 can be implemented.[HL3512]
Lord Wallace of Saltaire (LD): Further to the answers of 26 February (HL Deb, col 922) and 23 June (HL224), all Realms have concluded the necessary processes before implementation with the exception of Australia. Out of the six Australian States, five have now enacted legislation and the remaining State has introduced its legislation. Once that has been enacted we understand
that the Australian Government will introduce the Commonwealth’s Succession to the Crown Bill into the Australian Parliament as a priority. The UK Government will then be in a position to make the commencement order for the Act.
Summertime
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the 1968–71 experiment of continuous British Summer Time (GMT+1) will be repeated to obtain updated statistics in order to select the best clock time for daylight saving during the winter months.[HL3472]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Neville-Rolfe) (Con): We will not be repeating the 1968-71 experiment of continuous British Summer Time (GMT+1), as there is no consensus across the whole of the UK for this experiment to take place. There are both negative and positive effects, but until a UK-wide consensus is confirmed we have no plans to change the clocks.
Taxation
Question
Asked by Lord Palmer of Childs Hill
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the annual tax summaries sent to taxpayers show income tax as the amount which is 20 per cent of income and does not take account of allowances which reduce income tax to a lower figure.[HL3252]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Individuals’ personal allowance is shown as a tax free amount on their annual tax summary. The income tax calculation shows the taxable income above individuals’ personal allowance, payable at each tax rate.
UN Human Rights Council
Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the report by the United Nations Association-UK The UK’s role on the UN Human Rights Council: Priorities for the UK’s 2014–16 term.[HL3253]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Anelay of St Johns) (Con): We welcome the contribution made by UN Association-UK (UNA-UK) to the discussion on the UK’s role in the Human Rights Council.
The Government shares much of the analysis contained in the report. We have already achieved or are working towards delivering on a number of the recommendations. For example, we champion the independence of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; the majority of UK funding to the Office of the High Commissioner is not tied to specific conditions; and we engage with UN human rights mechanisms and support civil society engagement.
We share the ambitions stated in the report to strengthen the UN human rights mechanisms, lead by example and stimulate change on the ground; though we do not agree with the proposed methodology in every instance. For example, the recommendation to lengthen the mandates of country specific Special Rapporteurs to three years could in some cases undermine the efforts of countries to address their domestic human rights concerns quickly. We will continue to work closely with civil society, including UNA-UK, on our priorities for our second year on the Human Rights Council. The UK will be standing at the November 2016 Human Rights Council elections for the consecutive (2017-2019) term.
As I said during the launch of the UNA-UK foreign policy manifesto, as the Minister responsible for global human rights policy, I see my role as setting direction for the years to come through the promotion and protection of human rights bilaterally and in multilateral fora, including in the Human Rights Council.
VAT
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Statement by Lord Deighton on 26 November (WS 37) concerning the meeting of ECOFIN on 7 November, whether they will give details of the proposed directive amending Directive 2006/112/EC on the common system of VAT; and what will be the likely effect of the amendment on the United Kingdom.[HL3292]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Deighton) (Con): Details of the proposed Directive are set out in the Explanatory Memorandum 15337/13: "Standard VAT Return" deposited in the Houses of Parliament by the XST in November 2013. The UK’s current VAT return and associated procedures are supported by businesses. As the Office for Tax Simplification said in its recent report—Review of the Competitiveness of the UK Tax Administration— "The UK’s VAT return always wins praise for simplicity...". The Government is committed to retaining that simplicity and continues to press for that in the EU. Negotiations on the proposed Directive are still continuing.
World War I
Question
Asked by Lord Faulkner of Worcester
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to grant official recognition to Captain Bruce Bairnsfather for the contribution of his cartoons to the morale of the men on the fighting front, the nation on the home front, and United Kingdom allies in the 1914–18 war.[HL3274]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Astor of Hever) (Con): Captain Bairnsfather’s cartoons played a significant role in maintaining the morale of British troops during the First World War. It is therefore right that his contribution
to the war effort is recognised. He is commemorated by the English Heritage Blue Plaque at 1 Sterling Street in Knightsbridge, London. The plaque was erected in 1981 to commemorate the site of one of his old studios. He is also commemorated by plaques at
his former home in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Royal British Legion Club in Colwall, near Malvern in Worcestershire. The Ministry of Defence has no further plans to commemorate Captain Bairnsfather’s contribution.