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Monday

9 October 2017

P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T E S

(HANSARD)

HOUSE OF LORDS

WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND

WRITTEN ANSWERS

Written Statements ................................................ 1

Written Answers ..................................................... 6

Vol. 784

No. 25

[I] indicates that the member concerned has a relevant registered interest. The full register of interests can be found at

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests/

Members who want a printed copy of Written Answers and Written Statements should notify the Printed Paper Office.

This printed edition is a reproduction of the original text of Answers and Statements, which can be found on the internet

at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/.

Ministers and others who make Statements or answer Questions are referred to only by name, not their ministerial or

other title. The current list of ministerial and other responsibilities is as follows.

Minister Responsibilities

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

Earl Howe Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union

Lord Ashton of Hyde Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Lord Bates Minister of State, Department for International Development and Treasury Spokesman

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local

Government, Northern Ireland Office

Baroness Buscombe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions

Lord Callanan Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Whip

Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip

Lord Duncan of Springbank Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scotland Office

Lord Gardiner of Kimble Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs

Baroness Goldie Whip

Lord Keen of Elie Advocate-General for Scotland and Ministry of Justice Spokesperson

Lord Nash Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education

Lord O'Shaughnessy Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health, Whip

Lord Prior of Brampton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial

Strategy

Baroness Sugg Whip

Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Whip

Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office and Women and Equalities Spokesperson

Lord Young of Cookham Whip

Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip and Wales and Scotland Office Spokesperson

© Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2017

This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence,

which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests/

http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Written Statements 9 October 2017 Page 1

Written Statements Monday, 9 October 2017

Commonwealth Games 2022

[HLWS147]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: My right hon. Friend the

Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I wish to inform the House that, on 9 October 2017, the

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport laid a

minute recording the submission of a bid by

Commonwealth Games England, Birmingham City

Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority and

DCMS to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games in

Birmingham.

Birmingham’s bid presents an excellent opportunity to

demonstrate the very best of Global Britain to the world,

showcasing the UK as a destination for international

trade, education and tourism. It has the full backing of

government and will not only help grow the economy in

the West Midlands and beyond, it would also leave a

strong sports legacy by upgrading facilities to benefit both

elite athletes and the local community.

The government will provide around 75% of the net

budget costs of delivering the Games and an underwrite

of the total event budget, as well as a series of further

guarantees which the CGF requests accompany the bid.

The bid, therefore, creates contingent liabilities for the

UK government in relation to Commonwealth Games.

The minute notes these liabilities as government’s

commitment to provide funding for the Games,

underwrite the costs, and provide a number of further

guarantees relating to the successful planning and

delivery of the event. These contingent liabilities will

only take effect in the event of a successful bid and our

agreement of a hosting contract with the Commonwealth

Games Federation.

The bid was submitted on 30 September 2017 and, due

to the much shorter than usual timeframe in which to

prepare the bid, I apologise that there was insufficient

time to notify Parliament of our intention before the

House returned.

Parliamentarians may signify objections by giving

notice of a Parliamentary Question or by otherwise raising

the matter in parliament by 31 October. Final approval to

proceed with incurring the liability will be withheld

pending an examination of the objection.

Contingent Liability

[HLWS142]

Earl Howe: My hon Friend the Minister for Defence

Procurement (Harriett Baldwin) has made the following

Written Ministerial Statement.

I have today laid before Parliament a Departmental

Minute describing a Contingent Liability (CL) in the

region of £150 million associated with Programme

HADES.

Programme HADES will provide the continued

delivery of Motor Transport, Supply, Aircraft and Ground

Engineering, and Airfield Support services. HADES will

replace expiring unit-specific Multi-Activity Contracts at

a number of units from 1 April 2018. The programme will

ensure continuity of service provision at minimum cost

and is essential to support Strategic Defence and Security

Review 2015 outcomes.

The maximum CL is in the region of £150 million,

which ensured healthy competition from prospective

tenderers. There is also a further CL of £643,000

associated with the indemnity given to contractors for

Terminal Redundancy Liability associated with ex-

Authority staff.

The Treasury has approved the proposal in principle. If,

during the period of fourteen Parliamentary sitting days

beginning on the date on which this minute was laid

before the House, a Member signifies an objection by

giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or a Motion

relating to the Minute, or by otherwise raising the matter

in the House, final approval will be withheld pending an

examination of the objection.

Correction to Written Answers HL2981 and

HL3595

[HLWS144]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign and

Commonwealth Office would like to correct the Written

Answers given to Baroness Helic on 4 November 2015

[HL2981] and 24 November 2015 [HL3595]. The

questions asked about the cost to the public purse of

supporting the Office of the Quartet Representative in

each of the last eight financial years, and the grades of the

FCO staff seconded to the Office of the Quartet

Representative from 2007 to 2013.

The answers provided omitted a Grade 7 equivalent

officer who was seconded during this period, and

contained errors in some dates. The corrected information

is as follows:

The FCO provided the following members of staff to

the Office of the Quartet Representative from 2007-2013:

one Senior Civil Servant from July 2007 until April 2010;

one Grade 6 equivalent from March 2010 to June 2013;

one Grade 7 equivalent from July 2007 to August 2009;

one HEO equivalent from August 2007 to August 2010;

one EO equivalent from September 2010 to August 2012;

and one AO equivalent from September 2012 until June

2013.

DFID Supplier Review

[HLWS141]

Lord Bates: My right honourable friend, the Secretary

of State for International Development (Priti Patel) has

made the following statement:

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-10-09/HLWS147/




9 October 2017 Written Statements

The UK is an acknowledged world leader in the

provision of development and humanitarian aid. Our aid

budget acts not only in the interests of the world’s

poorest, but also in Britain’s long term national interest.

Our global leadership in development requires

continuing efforts to improve value for money, efficiency,

innovation and effectiveness. I am therefore introducing

tough new measures to ensure that the aid managed by

DFID contractors delivers the best possible results for the

world’s poorest people, provides value for taxpayers’

money and upholds high standards of ethical and

professional behaviour.

A tough new DFID Supply Partner Code of Conduct

will cover commercial requirements, ethical behaviours,

transparency obligations, environmental sustainability and

social responsibility. DFID will monitor suppliers’

implementation of the Code, with legally enforceable

sanctions for non-compliance.

DFID will introduce greater transparency to drive down

costs along its supply chains. DFID contracts will now

include tough new measures to bear down even harder on

costs, fees and overheads and to provide greater

transparency in contracts and throughout supply chains.

These include Open Book Accounting clauses enabling

DFID to obtain, use and verify information from its

suppliers to make sure we have access to full financial

information on costs to enable us to fully challenge value

for money. It will also include a clause, which we can use

if necessary to intervene to ensure a fair deal for the

taxpayer.

DFID will open up procurement to new entrants in the

UK and overseas, simplifying documentation and

processes and making greater use of digital platforms and

social media to allow potential suppliers to access

contract opportunities. A programme of business

engagement events in the UK and overseas will facilitate

engagement by new suppliers and the Department will

also carry out research into the specific barriers facing by

local suppliers in developing countries in accessing

contract opportunities.

DFID will level the playing field for small suppliers and

sub-contractors, ending the imposition of agreements

which restrict sub-contractors’ ability to work for other

suppliers. It will introduce new protections for small

suppliers and sub-contractors operating in consortia,

including contract checks to eradicate so called “bid

candy” practices in which major suppliers drop sub-

contractors once they have won the contract. We will

continue to break up suitable tenders into manageable

sizes and services to better enable smaller suppliers to

compete.

A robust, comprehensive approach to supplier

management will enable the Department to hold suppliers

to account across their entire portfolio of work with

DFID, bringing DFID into line with best practice in the

private sector. This will allow DFID to challenge delivery

partners more strongly on value for money, identify

underlying performance problems and tap into a

supplier’s wider areas of expertise.

DFID will put more information in the public domain,

so that members of the public can assure themselves

directly that DFID’s aid is being used effectively. This

will include a policy on allowable costs in day rates paid

to consultants and annual league tables of supplier

performance. We will publish annual information on our

commercial practices, setting out performance during the

year and making further recommendations for

improvement.

These reforms will complement the detailed line-by-

line review of every programme in DFID’s portfolio,

either already approved or in design phase, carried out by

my Ministerial team. They will help to ensure maximum

impact from the development programmes delivered by

DFID’s contractors, complementing the work done in the

Civil Society Partnership Review to strengthen value for

money from grants to Civil Society Organisations and in

the Multilateral Development Review to improve the

efficiency and effectiveness of the international

development system.

Infected Blood: Government Response

[HLWS145]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: My hon. Friend the

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jackie

Doyle-Price) has made the following written statement:

In 2016 the Government decided to improve the way

we support people who have suffered as a result of the

infected blood tragedy of the 1970s and 1980s. At this

time the Government committed an additional £125

million of support to those affected, more than doubling

the Department of Health’s annual spending on the

scheme over the Spending Review period to April 2021.

Following the 2016 consultation we announced new

annual payments for people with chronic hepatitis C

(stage 1 infection) and a new one-off payment for

bereaved partners and spouses; a new process for those

with stage 1 infection to apply for the higher payment

amount; and increased annual payments from 2018/19.

In March 2017 we launched a second consultation,

looking at the new voluntary process by which those

infected by stage 1 Hepatitis C can apply for higher

annual payments (the Special Category Mechanism). The

Special Category Mechanism aims to benefit beneficiaries

with hepatitis C stage 1 who consider their infection, or

its treatment, to have a substantial and long-term impact

on their ability to carry out routine daily activities.

The consultation was open to all beneficiaries and other

interested parties across the UK to comment on our

proposals. The consultation closed on 17 April 2017.

The government has listened carefully to the

consultation responses, analysed pre- and post-

consultation evidence from other sources, and reviewed

consultation proposals in line with respondents’ views



and evidence. Following this, the consultation response

sets out the Government’s plans for reform, which are

summarised below:

• Introduction of planned uplifts in annual payments

from 2018/19. All beneficiaries will receive an increase

in annual payments from 2018/19.

• A new Special Category Mechanism (SCM) for those

with hepatitis C infection at stage 1 in November 2017.

• The introduction of a single programme of

discretionary support for all – infected and bereaved.

• An increase in the overall level of funding for

discretionary support from 2018/19.

• All annual payments will include the winter fuel

payment.

• Addition of type 2 or 3 cryoglobulinemia

accompanied by membranoproliferative

glomerulonephritis, MPGN), to the current hepatitis C

stage 2 conditions.

A letter will be sent to the beneficiaries of the English

scheme to make them aware of these changes, and advise

them on how to access the consultation response, a link to

which is also provided as part of this statement. When the

SCM process opens beneficiaries with hepatitis C at stage

1 will receive a letter telling them how to apply.

For the first time, all beneficiaries of any of the current

five schemes will be receiving support from a single

scheme. As previously announced the NHS Business

Services Authority (NHSBSA) will become the new

single scheme administrator in England, with effect from

1 November 2017. While this transition takes place,

annual and discretionary payments and services will

continue to be made by the current schemes to ensure a

smooth transition to the new scheme with minimum

impact on the beneficiaries.

The Government strongly believes that all those who

are affected by this tragedy should be supported by a fair

and transparent scheme that focuses on their welfare and

long-term independence. With this additional funding and

scheme reform, the support provided to those affected by

the infected blood tragedy will be greater and fairer than

ever before.

I attach a copy of the full consultation and the related

equality analysis and it can also be found on gov.uk using

the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/infected-

blood-support-special-category-mechanism

The Statement includes the following attached material:

Consultation response [Infected blood - Consultation

Response.pdf]

Equality Analysis [Infected Blood - Equality Analysis.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at: http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-

answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-10-09/HLWS145/

Mental Health Act Review

[HLWS143]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: My Rt. Hon. Friend the

Secretary of State for Health has made the following

written statement:

The Government has commissioned an independent

review of mental health legislation and practice to tackle

the issue of mental health detention.

There have been concerns that detention rates under the

Mental Health Act are too high. The number of detentions

has been rising year on year, and last year on average

there were 180 cases a day where people were sectioned

under the terms of the act. People from black and

minority ethnic populations are disproportionately

affected, with black people in particular being almost 4

times more likely than white people to be detained.

The Government is committed to improving mental

health services and ensuring that people with mental

health problems receive the treatment and support they

need, when they need it. This can mean that people need

to be made subject to the Mental Health Act – that is, be

detained or ‘sectioned’. In these cases, our dedicated

professional staff – including psychiatrists, nurses, social

workers, and the police – work tirelessly to ensure that

people are treated with dignity under the Act, and that

their liberty and autonomy are respected as far as

possible.

Professor Sir Simon Wessely, former President of the

Royal College of Psychiatrists, will lead the review which

will deliver recommendations for change to the

Government. Sir Simon will look at the evidence, review

practice, and above all consider the needs of service users

and their families, and how best the system can help and

support them. He will identify improvements in how the

Act is used in practice, as well as how we might need to

change the Act itself. Vice Chairs will be appointed to

work with Sir Simon and ensure the leadership of the

review has comprehensive professional expertise whilst

also being representative of service users and others

affected by the Mental Health Act.

Following consultation with stakeholders, Sir Simon

will produce an interim report identifying priorities for the

review’s work in early 2018, and develop a final report

containing detailed recommendations on its priorities, by

autumn 2018.

Further detail on the independent review, including its

Terms of Reference, can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-

announces-review-to-tackle-detention-of-those-with-

mental-ill-health

Northern Ireland Update

[HLWS148]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: My Right honourable

friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (James

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/infected-blood-support-special-category-mechanism

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/infected-blood-support-special-category-mechanism





https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-announces-review-to-tackle-detention-of-those-with-mental-ill-health




9 October 2017 Written Statements

Brokenshire) has made the following Written Ministerial

Statement:

The DUP and Sinn Fein continue their discussions

towards the formation of an Executive in Northern

Ireland. The parties have reduced the number of issues

between them - including on some aspects of language

and culture - but clear differences still remain. The

Government is committed to continuing to work with all

the Northern Ireland parties and the Irish Government,

consistent with the three stranded approach, towards

reaching agreement quickly. I have been in regular

contact with party leaders and Irish Foreign Minister

Simon Coveney and will have further meetings in Belfast

this week. The Prime Minister has been actively involved

throughout this process. This has included her recent

meeting with the Taoiseach and discussions with the

leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein. She shares the high

priority which I place on the Government being ready and

willing to work tirelessly to support the restoration of the

Northern Ireland devolved institutions.

It is crucial that, with this support, the parties continue

to do their utmost to reach an agreement which allows

them to make those decisions which are important to the

people of Northern Ireland. The parties have shown

leadership and the ability to look beyond their differences

in the past to resolve significant challenges which have

separated them. I have urged the parties to focus their

remaining efforts and energies on closing the outstanding

gaps swiftly to find a resolution which will pave the way

for the restoration of devolved government in Northern

Ireland. With the right spirit of compromise this can be

achieved and now is the time to come together and reach

agreement.

I stand ready to bring forward legislation to enable an

Executive to be formed quickly once agreement has been

reached. But the timeframe for this is not indefinite. As

Secretary of State, I have a responsibility for good

governance and political stability in Northern Ireland -

which has now been without a full Executive for ten

months. If devolved government is not restored in the

next few weeks, I will consider carefully what steps are

needed in the best interests of the people, the voluntary

sector, public services and businesses in Northern Ireland.

As a minimum, this would involve introducing legislation

later this month to set a budget for 2017/18 putting

Northern Ireland on a path towards greater UK

Government intervention in its day to day affairs.

We are not at this point yet. It is in the best interests of

Northern Ireland and its people to have strategic decisions

taken by locally elected politicians in the interests of the

whole community. That is why the Government remains

resolute in its efforts with the parties to secure the

outcome which a majority of Northern Ireland want and

need: the restoration of devolution. Ultimately, it is for

the parties to reach agreement, but Northern Ireland has

come so far and I encourage the parties to keep this firmly

in mind as they work towards finding that resolution.

Student Finance Update

[HLWS146]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: My honourable friend

the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research

and Innovation (Joseph Johnson MP) has made the

following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am today confirming the earnings threshold above

which individuals are required to make contributions to

the cost of their education from April 2018. I am also

confirming the maximum tuition fees for the 2018/19

academic year.

Earnings threshold

The earnings threshold will be increased from 6 th April

2018. From its current level of £21,000 the threshold will

rise to £25,000 for the 2018-19 financial year. Thereafter

it will be adjusted annually in line with average earnings.

The new threshold will apply to those who have already

taken out and will take out loans for tuition and living

costs for full time and part time undergraduate courses in

the post-2012 system and those who took out or will take

an advanced learner loan for a further education course.

The lower threshold for variable interest rates for post-

2012 student loans will also rise to £25,000 on 6th April

2018, and the upper threshold will rise to £45,000 from

£41,000 on the same date. Both the repayment and

variable interest thresholds will be adjusted annually in

line with average earnings thereafter. In 2018-19 around

600,000 borrowers will benefit from the threshold

changes. Most of those 600,000 borrowers will both make

lower contributions and have a lower rate of interest

applied.

The repayment thresholds applicable to pre-2012

student loans, the older mortgage style loans and master’s

loans are not affected by these changes.

Tuition fees

Maximum tuition fee caps will be maintained at

2017/18 academic year levels in the 2018/19 academic

year.

For HEFCE funded providers that have a current

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) award and have

an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access

(OFFA), the maximum tuition fee for full-time courses

will remain £9,250 in 2018/19. For HEFCE funded

providers that have a current TEF award but do not have

an access agreement with OFFA, the maximum tuition fee

for full-time courses will be £6,165 in 2018/19. For

HEFCE funded providers that do not have a current TEF

award, the maximum tuition fee for full-time courses in

2018/19 will remain £9,000 for providers with an OFFA

access agreement and £6,000 for providers without an

OFFA access agreement.

Maximum fee loans for all new students and eligible

continuing students who started their full-time courses at

publicly funded providers on or after 1 September 2012

will be maintained at £9,250 in 2018/19 academic year.



For continuing students who started their full-time

courses before September 2012, maximum tuition fee and

fee loan caps at publicly funded providers in 2018/19 will

be maintained at £3,465.

For HEFCE funded providers that have a current TEF

award and have an access agreement with OFFA, the

maximum tuition fee for part-time courses will be £6,935

in 2018/19. For HEFCE funded providers that have a

current TEF award, but do not have an access agreement

with OFFA, the maximum tuition fee for part-time

courses will be £4,625 in 2018/19. For HEFCE funded

providers that do not have a current TEF award, the

maximum tuition fee for part-time courses in 2018/19 will

be £6,750 for providers with an OFFA access agreement

and £4,500 for providers without an OFFA access

agreement.

Maximum fee loans for all new students and eligible

continuing students who started their part-time courses at

publicly funded providers on or after 1 September 2012

will be maintained at £6,935 in 2018/19.

For all new students and eligible continuing students

who started their full-time courses on or after 1

September 2012 and are undertaking courses at private

providers that have a current TEF award, the maximum

fee loan will be £6,165 in 2018/19. For private providers

that do not have a current TEF award, the maximum fee

loan for full-time courses will be £6,000 in 2018/19.

For all new students and eligible continuing students

who started their part-time courses on or after 1

September 2012 and are undertaking courses at private

providers that have a current TEF award, the maximum

fee loan will be £4,625 in 2018/19. For private providers

that do not have a current TEF award, the maximum fee

loan for part-time courses in 2018/19 will be £4,500.

The Government will set out further steps on HE

student financing in due course.

9 October 2017 Written Answers

Written Answers Monday, 9 October 2017

Absent Voting: Northern Ireland

Asked by Lord Maginnis of Drumglass

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the

Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 3

July (HL3), what discussions, if any, they have had

with (1) the Police Service for Northern Ireland, and (2)

the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland,

regarding evidence of abuse of the proxy voting system

in Northern Ireland during the last General Election;

and what are the details of those discussions. [HL1448]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The administration of

proxy votes, including any related engagement with the

PSNI, is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral

Officer.

The Chief Electoral Officer has regular discussions with

Government Ministers and officials on a range of issues

relating to elections and electoral registration, including

absent voting procedures.

The Chief Electoral Officer is currently carrying out an

administrative review of all operational procedures in

respect of absent voting in Northern Ireland and the

Government will consider carefully any recommendations

that result from this review.

Acids: Sales

Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they

have to control the sale of dangerous acids. [HL1285]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We are developing a

set of voluntary commitments for retailers to restrict

access to the most harmful corrosive products. We are

currently discussing the commitments with the British

Retail Consortium. We are also undertaking work to

review the Poisons Act 1972 and how it controls the sale

of particular acids and corrosive substances.

Affordable Housing: Rents

Asked by Lord Marlesford


remarks by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 14

September following the statement on Local Housing

Need, what is the basis of their classification of

affordable rents as 80 per cent of market rents.

[HL1621]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Affordable Rent must

be set at or below 80 per cent of market rents, so tenants

will still benefit from sub-market rent. Actual levels of

rents vary, and landlords must consider the local market

conditions to ensure a fit with local circumstances when

setting rents.

Government introduced Affordable Rent in 2012 to

maximise government investment in affordable housing,

enabling the development of more homes for every pound

of public spending. This has allowed us to build nearly

333,000 new affordable homes since 2010, including

240,000 affordable homes for rent.

Agriculture

Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering

To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will put

in place a negotiated UK framework for agricultural

trade and policies between the nations and regions of

the UK once the UK has left the European Union.

[HL1396]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: We are committed to

working closely with the devolved administrations on an

approach to returning powers from the EU that works for

the whole of the UK and reflects the devolution

settlements of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Common frameworks should only be established where

they are needed, whether this is to maintain a functioning

UK internal market, put us in a strong negotiating

position to strike trade deals, or to provide the certainty

needed to agree and meet international obligations.

The Government expects that the return of powers from

the EU will lead to a significant increase in the decision

making powers for the devolved administrations.

Agriculture: Productivity


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will

commit to continuing public investment in supporting

growth in farm productivity and resilience after the UK

has left the EU. [HL1295]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: It is our priority to enable

an innovative, productive and competitive food supply

chain from farm to fork, which invests in people and

skills. The government has already committed to provide

the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end

of the parliament. The Agriculture Bill will ensure that

after we leave the EU we have an effective system in

place to support UK farmers and protect our natural

environment for future generations. We will listen to

everyone who has an interest in the future of the industry

as we prepare new approaches to support our farmers to

grow and sell more world-class food.

Air Routes: EU Countries

Asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they

plan to take to ensure continued access for airlines

based in the UK to EU member states, once the UK has

left the EU. [HL1228]

Lord Callanan: The Government is considering

carefully all the potential implications arising from the

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-09-07/HL1448








Written Answers 9 October 2017 Page 7

UK’s exit from the EU, and plans to negotiate the best

possible relationship between the UK and EU in the field

of aviation with a smooth and orderly transition.

Securing liberal market access to EU markets is a very

high priority for the Department for Transport. The

importance of air services to the health of the UK

economy is recognised across Government.

We will work closely with the international aviation

community to ensure that this global industry continues to

be a major success story for the UK economy.

Asked by Lord MacKenzie of Culkein


Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 19 July

(HL1088), in developing their plans to negotiate the

best possible relationship between the UK and the EU

in the field of aviation what steps they intend to take to

provide clarity and certainty regarding access to the

Single Aviation Market for (1) airlines that intend to

make decisions about whether to increase capacity in

the UK, and (2) passengers intending to plan holidays,

for the 18 months leading up to March 2019; and

whether they are taking steps to avoid the risk of

uncertainty by seeking an early interim agreement with

the EU-27 on UK-EU aviation traffic rights by the end

of this year. [HL1298]


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are

developing a contingency plan for aviation in the event

that the UK leaves the EU without a deal to ensure that

access rights for the UK and the EU airlines are

maintained after March 2019. [HL1299]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what is

their estimate of the economic impact of no deal being

made on the right of UK airlines to fly between EU

member states and third party countries in relation

to which the legal right to fly is currently held by the

EU and not the UK. [HL1300]

Lord Callanan: It will be in the interests of both sides

in the negotiation to maintain closely integrated aviation

markets. The Government continues to work closely with

the aviation sector to ensure this industry continues to be

a major success story for the British economy. Air

transport and aerospace add at least £22 billion to the UK

economy each year.

The Government plans to negotiate the best possible

relationship between the UK and EU in the field of

aviation with a smooth and orderly transition. We will

approach the discussions with ambition, giving citizens

and businesses as much certainty as possible, as early as

possible.

The opening up of access to air services helps to deliver

connectivity, choice and value for money that benefits

consumers and businesses both here and abroad. Seeking

new aviation arrangements is a high priority for the

Department for Transport, not just with the EU but also

with those states where we currently rely on EU-

negotiated arrangements for market access.

However, a responsible government should prepare for

all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in

which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached.

That is exactly what we are doing across the whole of

Government.

Amazon: Taxation

Asked by Lord Hain

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment

they have made of the conclusions of the report by the

Centre for Economics and Business Research

Bookselling Britain that bookshops pay 11 times more

tax than Amazon, and whether they have plans to

address this. [HL1576]

Lord Bates: The UK levies corporation tax on

companies based on the profits generated by their

economic activity undertaken in the UK.

The Government has announced a number of recent

changes to reinforce that principle, including a restriction

to the deductibility of corporate interest expense, which is

due to increase receipts by around £1bn per annum.

The Government also continues to consider, at both a

domestic and international level, whether the existing tax

rules deliver that principle for new digital business

models. For instance, the UK actively supports the

OECD’s Task Force on the Digital Economy, which has

been mandated to explore these issues.

Animal Welfare

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) which EU

states have not complied with the conventional cage

ban for hens, (2) what steps they have taken in relation

to any non-compliance, and (3) whether the UK still

allows eggs to be imported from non-compliant

countries. [HL1387]

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) which EU

states have not complied with the sow stall ban under

EU Directive 2008/120/EC, (2) what steps they

have taken in relation to any non-compliance, and (3)

whether the UK allows pork to be imported from non-

compliant countries. [HL1388]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: A Report from the

European Commission to the European Parliament and to

the Council in September 2016 states that the

Commission’s actions to encourage all Member States to

enforce the 2012 ban on the keeping of laying hens in

conventional (‘battery’) cages, and the 2013 partial ban

on the keeping of sows in sow stalls proved effective.








According to information available to the Commission,

all Member States are now compliant with the cage ban.

In terms of the sow stall ban, the Commission is checking

the documentation of the last three Member States to see

if they are now fully compliant.

Animal Welfare: Prosecutions

Asked by Lord Allen of Kensington

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many

prosecutions have been brought under the Animal

Welfare Act 2006 in each of the last five years for

which figures are available; and how many prosecutions

were successful in each of those years. [HL1469]



custodial sentences were given as a result of

prosecutions brought under the Animal Welfare Act

2006 in each of the last five years for which figures are

available; and what was the length of each such

custodial sentence awarded. [HL1470]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The number of defendants

proceeded against at magistrates’ courts and found guilty

and sentenced at all courts for offences under the Animal

Welfare Act 2006, in England and Wales, from 2012 to

2016, can be viewed in the table below.

Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty

and sentenced at all courts for the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (1) , England and Wales, from 2012 to 2016 (2)(3)(4)

Outcome 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Proceeded against

1,999 1,897 1,523 1,188 1,039

Found

Guilty

1,535 1,435 1,161 899 807

Sentenced 1,533 1,431 1,159 902 807

of which

Immediate

custody

118 107 97 84 71

of which

up to 3

months

44 42 44 32 29

3 months

and up to six

71 59 52 45 38

Six months

3 6 1 7 4

(1) Includes offences under SS 4, 5, 6(1),6(2) 7, 8, 9, 13(6) and 34(9)

(2) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with.

When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the

offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the

offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.

(3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data

have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by

the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken

into account when those data are used.

(4) The number of offenders sentenced can differ from those found guilty as it may be the case that a defendant found guilty in a particular

year, and committed for sentence at the Crown Court, nay be sentenced in the following year.

Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services – Ministry of Justice.

Ref: PQ HL 1469 1470

Armed Forces: Recruitment


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many of those

who enquire about joining (1) the Navy, (2) the Army,

and (3) the Royal Air Force, are eventually recruited

into those services. [HL1231]

Earl Howe: The total number of applications to join the

UK Regular Armed Forces, by Service, in the 12 months

ending 30 June 2017 is set out below:

Royal Navy/Royal Marines 13,888

Army 100,645

Royal Air Force 22,715

The total intake (trained and untrained) to the UK

Regular Armed Forces, by Service, in the 12 months

ending 30 June 2017 is set out below:

Royal Navy/Royal Marines 2,884

Army 7,966

Royal Air Force 1,949

The number of applications received does not directly

relate to intake figures. Figures relate to the number of

applications received and not the number of applicants, as

one applicant may submit several applications. For

successful applicants who accept an offer to join the

Services, there is processing time between their

application being received and the applicant joining the

Services.

Therefore, the intake figures for the year ending 30

June 2017 (or any other time period) are not comparable

with the number of applications received in the same

period, as the numbers apply to different cohorts of

people. Applications will not result in intake if, for

example, they are withdrawn by the applicant during the

recruitment process, rejected by the Services, or if an

offer to join the Services is declined by the applicant.

A comprehensive breakdown of applications and intake

figures can be found in the Ministry of Defence’s UK

Armed Forces Monthly Service Personnel Statistics, the

latest edition of which (July 2017) can be found on the

Government’s website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-

forces-monthly-service-personnel-statistics-2017




https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-monthly-service-personnel-statistics-2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-monthly-service-personnel-statistics-2017


Ascension Island: Aviation

Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham

To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they

have made in providing assistance to those working on

Ascension Island, whose work has been disrupted by

the cessation of the use of Ascension as a refuelling

stop for flights to and from the Falkland Islands.

[HL1276]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The re-routing of the

South Atlantic Airbridge away from Ascension has

clearly impacted the lives of people on Ascension and the

operations of the organisations based there.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has been in

close contact with the employers on the island to

understand the effects of the loss of the Airbridge on their

operations and their employees and families. I have

spoken to Ascension Island councillors to hear their

concerns.

To maintain access in the short term, military flights

have been supplementing visits by the Royal Mail Ship

from St Helena. A monthly civilian flight between

Ascension Island and St Helena will soon begin,

providing access for returning Saint Helenians and

contractors to travel to South Africa and onwards. We

continue to examine longer term options for Ascension

while the runway is rebuilt.


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they

intend to revert to using Ascension Island as a

refuelling stop after scheduled works have been

completed; and when they expect flights using

Ascension to resume. [HL1277]

Earl Howe: Following the scheduled restructuring

works to the Wideawake runway on Ascension Island, the

Ministry of Defence fully intends on returning to

Ascension Island to continue operation of the South

Atlantic Airbridge to the Falklands.


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, following

the completion of scheduled works to the US Airbase

Wideawake Airfield on Ascension Island, the RAF will

resume their use of that airfield. [HL1378]

Earl Howe: Ascension Island remains strategically

important in supporting the Ministry of Defence (MOD)

mission in the South Atlantic. The MOD fully intends to

return to Ascension Island following the full restructuring

of the runway.

Asylum

Asked by Lord McInnes of Kilwinning

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of the

recommendations of the report Refugees Welcome? by

the All Party Parliamentary Group on Refugees, what

measures they have taken to improve the experience of

successful asylum seekers. [HL1290]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We are working to

ensure that asylum seekers in Home Office

accommodation who are granted refugee status are able to

access the mainstream benefits system smoothly if they

continue to need support to cover their living needs.

In particular, we have established a new process that

provides additional support to refugees during their

transition on to mainstream benefits. That support

involves offering a prompt appointment with the

Department for Work and Pensions’ “vulnerable persons”

service, and further assistance to ensure they receive the

first payment of any benefit they are entitled to before

their Home Office support comes to an end.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what lessons have

been learned from the integration of recent Syrian

refugees, in particular in relation to the provision of (1)

housing, (2) National Insurance numbers, and (3)

support in finding employment; whether those lessons

are being deployed to ensure effective integration and

support for successful non-Syrian asylum seekers; and

if so, how. [HL1291]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The ability to plan for

the arrival in the UK of those refugees who have been

resettled in this country because they are fleeing the

conflict in Syria has meant that we are able to provide

appropriate support upon arrival. This involves planning

for their accommodation and providing caseworker

support to access public services, including the service

provided by DWP. A pilot to provide bespoke

employment support is also in place. Additional funding

has been made available by the Home Office and

Department for Work and Pensions to provide increased

levels of English for Speakers of Other Languages tuition,

which will also significantly improve the chances of

finding employment. We will evaluate the results of the

programme, including the employment pilot, to see what

lessons may be learnt.

Asylum: Children

Asked by Lord Hylton


children have been reunited with family members in the

UK under Article 8.2 of the Dublin Regulation.

[HL1517]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: At present we do not

publish data on cases covered by the Dublin Regulation.

Eurostat, the EU’s statistics agency, regularly publishes

Member State figures, which can be found at:

http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-

explained/index.php/Dublin_statistics_on_countries_resp

onsible_for_asylum_application

The Government has committed to publishing regular

updates on the number of unaccompanied asylum seeking









http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Dublin_statistics_on_countries_responsible_for_asylum_application




children transferred to the UK from Europe, including

those transferred under the Dublin Regulation. This data

will be published in the coming months.

Asylum: LGBT People

Asked by Lord Scriven

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people

claimed asylum in the UK on the grounds of sexual

orientation or gender identity in the last 18 months; and

of those that did, how many have been granted the right

to remain in the UK. [HL1439]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office

remains committed to publishing information on the

number of people claiming asylum on the basis of sexual

orientation. Work is ongoing to assure the quality of the

data for publication in line with reporting standards.

Aviation: Lasers

Asked by Lord Fink

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people

have been arrested on suspicion of endangering an

aircraft with a laser pointer under the Aviation and

Safety Act 1982 within the last 12 months. [HL1535]


collects and publishes data on the number of arrests

broken down by offence group and police force area.

These data are published in the ‘Police Powers and

Procedures, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, and

data can be accessed here:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-

procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-

2016

Data presented here are on the police power of arrest. In

line with police recorded crime statistics, these data cover

arrests for all notifiable offences carried out by police in

England and Wales

The Answer includes the following attached material:

Police Powers and Procedures - Stats bulletin 2016 [police-

powers-procedures-hosb1516.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at:


AWE Aldermaston

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Atomic

Weapons Establishment (AWE) Aldermaston has been

placed on special measures for the fourth year running;

whether the AWE has produced a plan for dealing with

high levels of radioactive waste; if not, why not; and

whether they have made an assessment of the extent to

which any failure to do so puts staff and residents in the

area surrounding that establishment at risk. [HL1561]

Earl Howe: The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)

has stated that safety at the Atomic Weapons

Establishment (AWE) sites is acceptable. The ONR's

decision to place the AWE Aldermaston site under

enhanced regulatory attention was due to issues relating

principally to ageing facilities, which do not pose any

immediate safety concerns.

AWE has a plan in place for the long-term safe

management of radioactive waste and this has resulted in

the successful closure of the ONR's Improvement Notice

regarding this matter.

The Ministry of Defence works closely with AWE,

monitoring all aspects of its performance, including

regulatory compliance.

Bahrain: Human Rights


To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they

plan to take in the light of the remarks by the UN High

Commissioner for Human Rights that the government

of Bahrain's restrictions on human rights since June

2016 mean that "democratic space in the country has

essentially been shut down". [HL1519]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government

monitors events in Bahrain closely. We raise human

rights concerns with the Bahraini authorities in private

and in public and will continue to do so. We encourage

the Government of Bahrain to deliver on its international

and domestic human rights commitments.

Bahrain: Technical Assistance



Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 31

July (HL931), how the £1.52 million from the Conflict,

Stability and Security Fund for technical assistance to

Bahrain in 2016–17 was broken down by head of

expenditure; and how much was actually spent under

each of those heads. [HL1626]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: In 2016-17, the UK

continued to work with the Government of Bahrain –

including through the Conflict, Stability and Security

Fund (CSSF) – to encourage progress on human rights in

areas which included focusing on building effective and

accountable institutions, strengthening the rule of law and

justice reform. All of our work aims to support these

institutions to operate in line with international standards,

including on human rights, through sharing UK expertise

and experience. Any training provided by or on behalf of

the UK Government fully complies with our domestic and

international human rights obligations. The Foreign and

Commonwealth Office is not in a position to make precise

figures available as we have a duty to maintain the

confidentiality and confidence of our partners.



https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-powers-and-procedures-england-and-wales-year-ending-31-march-2016










BBC: Video on Demand

Asked by Lord Chadlington


intend to take steps to ensure licence payers are able to

access BBC iPlayer when outside the UK; and if so,

when. [HL1496]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The Government's BBC White

Paper published in May 2016, 'A BBC for the Future',

made clear that the Government agrees that BBC content

should be portable following the closure of the iPlayer

loophole.

The BBC is an independent body governed by the

Royal Charter. Under the terms of the Charter, the BBC is

operationally and editorially independent of Government

and there is no provision for the Government to intervene

in the Corporation's day-to-day operations. Therefore it

will ultimately be up to the BBC to determine whether or

not their content will be available abroad.

Belfast Agreement


To ask Her Majesty's Government on how many

occasions the current Secretary of State for Northern

Ireland has met with and consulted each of the Belfast

Agreement participants, (1) Lord Alderdice, (2) Lord

Empey, (3) Lord Kilclooney, (4) Lord Maginnis of

Drumglass, and (5) Lord Trimble, (a) as a group, or (b)

individually; and what are the details of those meetings.

[HL1447]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Secretary of State

for Northern Ireland has regular meetings with

Parliamentarians, including regular events for members of

the House of Lords with an interest in Northern Ireland

affairs, to which these five members are invited.

Bell Pottinger Group: South Africa

Asked by Lord Hain


they have made of whether Bell Pottinger's recent

public affairs work in South Africa was in line with

their policy on international trade conducted by British

firms. [HL1261]

Asked by Lord Hain


they have made of whether the taking of income by UK

Directors of Bell Pottinger for public affairs work in

South Africa commissioned by businesspeople linked to

President Zuma was in line with their policy on

international trade conducted by British firms.

[HL1262]

Asked by Lord Hain

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether

Government staff, in the UK or in South Africa, were

consulted by Bell Pottinger's Directors before they took

income for public affairs work in South Africa

commissioned by businesspeople linked to President

Zuma. [HL1263]

Baroness Sugg: The behaviour of Bell Pottinger in

South Africa has clearly been completely unacceptable.

We welcome the investigations conducted by the Public

Relations and Communications Association and Herbert

Smith Freehills and the conclusions of their reports.

At no stage was Her Majesty's Government (HMG) in

any way involved in this work, nor consulted in advance.

The UK has one of the world’s toughest anti-corruption

laws, and HMG takes any allegations of bribery or

corruption extremely seriously.

Asked by Lord Hain


finding that Bell Pottinger was in breach of the UK

Public Relations and Communications Association code

of conduct regarding its recent activities in South

Africa, what assessment they have made of the extent to

which the actions which led to that breach were

in contravention of UK trade policy. [HL1264]

Baroness Sugg: The Public Relations and

Communication Association (PRCA) has found that Bell

Pottinger’s work breached a number of clauses of its

Professional Charter, and of its Public Affairs and

Lobbying Code of Conduct. The company’s membership

of the PRCA has been terminated and it should not be

eligible to reapply for corporate membership for a

minimum of five years.

The UK has a world leading system of professional

standards and industry specific codes of conduct, which

we encourage British companies to uphold in their

operations domestically and overseas. Our industry bodies

and regulators ensure compliance, as demonstrated by the

robust response of the PRCA to Bell Pottinger’s activities

in South Africa.

Betting: Internet

Asked by The Lord Bishop of St Albans


intend to regulate the use of electronic data by betting

firms and their affiliates to target online advertising at

specific groups. [HL1406]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The use of personal data for the

purpose of targeted online advertising is subject to

safeguards found in the Data Protection Act 1998 and the

Privacy and Electronic Communication Regulations 2003.

Updated regulation will be put in place in May 2018 when

the Data Protection Bill applies new standards,

comprising those in the General Data Protection

Regulation, specifically requiring, either clearer and

affirmative consent from individuals to be sought, or

applying additional safeguards where data processing is

allowed in the absence of consent.











All betting firms are required to have a licence to

operate from the Gambling Commission. A condition in

the Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice holds

licensed operators responsible for the actions and

behaviours of their affiliates. The Commission published

an advice note earlier this year on ensuring direct

marketing is not sent to those who have self-excluded

from gambling.

Operators and affiliates are required to comply with the

requirements of the Privacy and Electronic

Communication Regulations and the Data Protection Act,

and the Information Commissioner’s Office may take

enforcement action if there is evidence of a breach. The

Advertising Standards Authority also has the power to

take action if it were to receive evidence of irresponsible

targeting, for example deliberately sending certain

commercial messages to vulnerable groups in a way that

exploited their vulnerability. This could be under general

responsibility rules, in relation to the targeting, or specific

rules on prohibited approaches regarding the content of

the advertisement.

Birds of Prey: Conservation

Asked by Viscount Ridley

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many hen

harrier nests in the UK were located in areas where the

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds had primary

control over access in (1) 2015, (2) 2016, and (3) 2017;

how many of those nests failed to have any chicks

fledge; and what were the known causes of those nest

failures. [HL1502]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Wildlife conservation is a

devolved matter so this reply relates to England only.

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)

has primary control over access to two known hen harrier

breeding sites: the RSPB reserve at Geltsdale and United

Utilities landholding in the Bowland Fells.

Between 2015 and 2017, eight nests were located on

these sites, six of which failed to fledge young.

Further details including known causes of nest failures

are shown in the table below.

Year Site Monitored by Outcome Nest failure

reason

2015 United Utilities RSPB 1 Chick

Fledged

2015 United Utilities RSPB Nest failed Male disappeared

2015 United Utilities RSPB Nest failed Male

disappeared


disappeared


disappeared

Year Site Monitored by Outcome Nest failure

reason

2015 United Utilities RSPB Nest failed Predation

2015 RSPB Geltsdale RSPB Nest failed Male

disappeared

2016 RSPB Geltsdale RSPB 1 Chick

Fledged

There were no nests on RSPB monitored land in 2017.

Blood Transfusions

Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS

patients (1) are receiving, or (2) have in the last year

received, blood plasma from compensated US donors.

[HL1272]


To ask Her Majesty's Government which

international companies supply plasma products to

hospitals in England. [HL1273]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards

are in place to ensure the safety of blood plasma

products for NHS patients. [HL1274]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards

are in place to ensure a suitable supply of blood plasma

products for NHS patients. [HL1275]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Blood plasma supplied by NHS

Blood and Transplant for transfusion to hospitals in

England is either imported from Austria or comes from

United Kingdom donors. Both sources are public, not

privately sourced.

Blood plasma derived medicinal products are subject to

medicinal regulation to assure their safety. Data are not

held on the number of National Health Service patients

receiving blood plasma medicinal products which may

have been derived from United States donors.

The companies that supply plasma derived products to

hospitals in England via NHS England’s Commercial

Medicines Unit (CMU) frameworks are:

- CSL Behring;

- Grifols;

- Octapharma;

- BPL (Bio Products Laboratory);

- LFB Biomedicaments;

- Baxalta (now part of Shire); and

- Shire Pharmaceuticals.

Information is not held on supply of plasma derived

medicinal products to NHS trusts outside of a CMU

framework agreement.








There are a number of measures in place to ensure the

safety and supply of plasma and medicinal products for

patients.

All companies wishing to supply plasma derived

medicinal products to hospitals in the UK have to be

licensed by the Medicines and Healthcare products

Regulatory Agency (MHRA). There are a series of

stringent safety measures in place to prevent infections

resulting from the use of medicinal products prepared

from human blood or plasma, including selection of

donors, screening of individual donations and plasma

pools for specific markers of infection and the inclusion

of effective manufacturing steps for the

inactivation/removal of viruses. These measures are

described in detail in the European Medicines Agency’s

Guideline on plasma-derived medicinal products. A copy

is attached.

The Department works closely with the MHRA, the

pharmaceutical industry, NHS England and others to

manage risks to the supply chain of blood plasma

products to NHS patients.


Guideline on plasma-derived medicinal products [Guideline on

plasma-derived medicinal products.pdf]



Bosnia and Herzegovina: Transport

Community Treaty

Asked by Lord Wallace of Tankerness


are taking to encourage the signing of the Transport

Community Treaty by Bosnia and Herzegovina.

[HL1568]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Transport

Community Treaty was signed by Bosnia and

Herzegovina (BiH) on 19 September 2017. The

Government actively supported EU-led efforts to

encourage Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to sign up to

the Treaty. The Treaty is an important step to improve

infrastructure and transport links in BiH and the Western

Balkan region.

Brexit

Asked by Lord Campbell-Savours

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have

a record of the comments made by Michel Barnier at

the Ambrosetti Forum held in Italy on 2 September and

if so, whether they will publish them. [HL1235]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Her Majesty’s

Government did not attend the Ambrosetti Forum and

therefore we do not hold a record of the comments made.

The comments have however been widely reported in the

media.

Asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew


any plans for the Law Commission to have a role in the

review and preparation of legislation affected by Brexit.

[HL1239]



received any proposals from the Law Commission for

the Commission to play a role in the review and

preparation of legislation affected by Brexit. [HL1240]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Law Commission

has confirmed through the Ministry of Justice, its

sponsoring department, that it stands ready to assist the

Government in the review and preparation of exit related

legislation, so this will be an option available to

individual departments in future if considered necessary

and appropriate. Government is working to deliver a

functioning statute book in time for exit day and is taking

the necessary powers in the EU (Withdrawal) Bill to

allow it to deliver just that.

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno


they have made of the economic consequences of no

deal being reached with the EU. [HL1322]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: A future partnership

between the UK and EU is in the interests of both sides,

and we are confident that we will secure a good deal for

the UK as a whole.

A responsible government should, however, prepare for



The government is undertaking a comprehensive

programme of analytical work to assess, across a range of

scenarios, the economic impacts of exiting the European

Union. However, and as the House of Commons agreed in

October and December 2016, it would not be appropriate

to publish any such information that could damage our

negotiating position.

Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town

To ask Her Majesty's Government what meetings

they have held with the Chartered Trading Standards

Institute with regard to Brexit over the past six months,

particularly in respect of their undertaking to "continue

to engage with...consumer organisations", as set out in

their position paper published in August, Continuity in

the availability of goods for the EU and the UK.

[HL1489]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Officials from the

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

(BEIS) have regular contact with the Chartered Trading

Standards Institute (CTSI) as part of the Consumer

Protection Partnership (CPP). CPP is an operational and














strategic group, chaired by BEIS, and CTSI are fully

engaged in all partners' discussions, including on EU exit.

With the negotiations underway, officials from HM

Government will continue to engage widely with

consumer organisations. We will reach a successful

outcome by drawing on the expertise of these groups,

understanding their perspectives and working with them

to test and validate positions as we prepare to leave the

European Union.



used the continental media as a way of presenting to the

public in the EU–27 their case for a constructive future

relationship with the EU; and what plans they have to

do so. [HL1579]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We engage with

continental media daily to set out our plans for a deep and

special future partnership with the EU27. Engagement is

conducted directly through briefings with EU

correspondents in the UK, via our team in UKRep in

Brussels and through our network of Embassies in

Member States.

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon


have made for the UK to leave the EU in March 2019 in

the event that the European Council or the European

Parliament does not ratify any agreement reached

between the UK and the European Commission

concerning the UK’s departure from the EU. [HL1586]



and we have entered into the negotiations anticipating

success. However, since the result of the referendum, we

have taken the responsible approach to work at pace to

build a detailed understanding of how withdrawing from

the EU will affect policies and services for a range of

outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no

mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached.

Given the long lead-in times to implement some of our

contingency measures, we need to begin now for them to

remain viable. But implementing the first stages of

contingency plans now should not be interpreted as an

expectation that talks with the EU will not be successful,

and we are clear that securing a good deal for both sides is

by far and away the highest probability, but we have a

duty to plan for the alternative. These are the actions of a

responsible government determined to ensure a smooth

exit under any eventuality.

British Overseas Territories: EU Aid

Asked by Baroness Sheehan

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is

provided from the European Development Fund to the

governments of (1) the British Overseas Territories, and

(2) Antigua and Barbuda. [HL1628]

Lord Bates: The following table sets out the indicative

allocations under the 11th European Development Fund

(2014-2020).

Anguilla €14 million

Antigua and Barbuda €3 million

Falkland Islands €5.9 million

Montserrat €18.4 million

Pitcairn €2.4 million

Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha €21.5 million

Turks and Caicos Islands €14.6 million

In addition, the Overseas Territories and Antigua and

Barbuda are able to access Regional Funds under the

EDF.

British Overseas Territories: Hurricanes and

Tornadoes



sought support from the European Development Fund

for relief efforts in (1) the British Overseas Territories,

and (2) other Commonwealth nations, impacted by

Hurricane Irma. [HL1629]

Lord Bates: Needs assessments are being undertaken

to help inform the response, including through the

European Development Fund.

Burma: Armed Conflict

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Coventry

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance

and support they are providing the government of

Burma and other parties in Burma to de-escalate the

crisis in Rakhine State. [HL1244]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is one of the

largest development and humanitarian donors to Burma

and to Rakhine State. Since 2012, we have provided over

£30 million in humanitarian assistance, including on food

and sanitation for over 126,000 people.

The UK is also the largest bilateral donor supporting

displaced Rohingya refugees and the vulnerable

communities which host them in Bangladesh. The

Department for International Development has allocated

£20.9 million to respond to humanitarian needs between

2017 and 2022.

On August 30 and September 13, the UK raised the

situation in Rakhine in the UN Security Council. We also

discussed Burma at the September session of the UN

Human Rights Council. Our immediate priority is to make

sure food and medical assistance can be provided to

displaced civilians from all communities. We urge the

Government of Burma to address the growing

humanitarian crisis in Rakhine and implement the







recommendations of the Kofi Annan-led Rakhine

Advisory Commission.

Burma: Human Rights


To ask Her Majesty's Government what

representations they have made to the government of

Burma to engage with existing United Nations Human

Rights Council mechanisms and address reports of

severe human rights violations in Rakhine State.

[HL1248]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We remain concerned

that human rights violations by the Burmese security

forces following the violence in Rakhine State in October

2016 have not been fully investigated or addressed. That

is why the UK co-sponsored a resolution at the Human

Rights Council in March which set up a Fact Finding

Mission to look into the human rights situation in Burma.

We have urged the Government of Burma to cooperate

fully with the Mission and its mandate and to enable the

Mission to visit Burma.

Ministers have raised this issue with the Burmese

authorities and our broader concerns about the recent

outbreak in violence in Rakhine State. The Foreign

Secretary has spoken on several occasions with State

Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has raised our

concerns. Our ambassador in Rangoon has also raised our

concerns with the Burmese authorities.

We support the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by

former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and welcome

its report published on 24 August. Amongst its

recommendations, the Commission noted that the

Government of Burma must take full responsibility for all

residents in Rakhine State and ensure access to services

and humanitarian aid. We assess that the Commission's

recommendations provide the most realistic solution to

address the longstanding and underlying issues in

Rakhine. The UK stands ready to support Burma to

implement the Commission's report. The UK has raised

Burma twice at the UN Security Council since the

outbreak of the current violence, and secured the

Council's first press statement on Burma in eight years.

The UK also raised its deep concern about reports of

human rights violations at the 36th session of the UN

Human Rights Council.

Burma: Humanitarian Aid


To ask Her Majesty's Government what humanitarian

assistance they are providing to help alleviate the

emerging humanitarian crisis in Rakhine State in

Burma. [HL1245]

Lord Bates: Since 2012, the UK has provided over £30

million in humanitarian assistance in Rakhine state,

including food and sanitation for over 126,000 people.

Our partners are delivering humanitarian assistance to

more than 80,000 people in the non-conflict zones of

Rakhine State. We continue to strongly urge the Burmese

authorities to allow the access of aid, food and medication

to all affected communities in Rakhine and we are

working closely with them to support this. In northern

Rakhine DFID partners are ready to provide emergency

food assistance to 30,000 people and to treat more than

3,000 severely malnourished children and pregnant

women once access is granted. DFID has also committed

£10.9 million to meet the needs of displaced Rohingya

and the host communities who support them in

Bangladesh.

Burma: Military Aid

Asked by Lord Ahmed


contributing funds from the UK development aid

budget towards the cost of training the Myanmar

military; and if so, how much. [HL1209]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: No UK development aid

is used to fund the educational courses focused on

governance, accountability, ethics, human rights and

international law which we provide to the Burmese

military. These courses are funded from the Conflict,

Security and Stability Fund.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration

they have given to the suspension of military assistance,

including training, for the Burmese army. [HL1247]

Earl Howe: In light of the ongoing violence in Burma's

Rakhine State and the growing humanitarian crisis it has

caused, the UK Ministry of Defence has decided to

suspend all training and educational courses provided to

the Burmese military with immediate effect.

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool


they intend to suspend their programme of military

training with the Burmese army in the light of its

attacks on civilians in Rakhine State. [HL1437]

Earl Howe: In light of the ongoing violence in Burma's

Rakhine State and the growing humanitarian crisis it has

caused, the UK Ministry of Defence has decided to

suspend all training and educational courses provided to

the Burmese military with immediate effect.

Burma: Rohingya

Asked by Lord Ahmed


they have made of the needs of refugees fleeing

violence in the Rakhine region of Myanmar. [HL1208]

Asked by Lord Ahmed

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the UK is,

or will be, contributing humanitarian aid for Rohingya









refugees; and if so, how much has been contributed to

date. [HL1210]

Asked by Lord Ahmed

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support, if

any, they plan to give to the government of Bangladesh

to accommodate Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.

[HL1211]

Lord Bates: We are working at the highest levels with

the government, other donors and the UN to improve

access and ensure that aid reaches those that need it most.

However this is a changing situation and there is not yet

access to the conflict areas for a needs assessment. We are

working with others to establish a picture of what is

happening, where people are and what shape they are in.

The UK has long been one of the biggest contributors of

humanitarian aid for the displaced population in both

Burma and Bangladesh. DFID has already committed

£5.9 million to meet the needs of displaced Rohingya and

the host communities who support them in Bangladesh.

This is reaching 55,188 people with a range of support

including food, education and protection of the safety and

dignity of the most vulnerable, including women and

girls. A further £5 million is being made available to

provide urgent assistance to newly arriving refugees with

needs such as food, shelter, and water and sanitation.

Within Rakhine State we have provided over £30 million

in humanitarian assistance since 2012, including food and

sanitation for over 126,000 people. The UK Government

is deeply concerned about the violence against the

Rohingya and other communities in Burma’s Rakhine

State, and the plight of thousands fleeing their homes.

Asked by Lord Ahmed


made any representations to the government of

Myanmar regarding the recent violence against the

Rohingya community. [HL1207]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Following the recent

outbreak of violence in Rakhine State, the Foreign

Secretary has twice spoken with State Counsellor Aung

San Suu Kyi and has raised our concerns. Our

Ambassador in Rangoon has also raised our concerns with

the Burmese authorities. We convened discussions on

Burma at the UN Security Council on 30 August and 13

September. The Foreign Secretary convened a meeting of

foreign ministers at the UN on 18 September during

which he called on the Burmese National Security

Adviser and Deputy Foreign Minister present to heed the

Security Council’s call to stop the violence and ensure

full humanitarian access in northern Rakhine.Our High

Commissioner in Dhaka has discussed the situation with

the Government of Bangladesh.


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan

to make representations to the government of Myanmar

concerning the position of the Rohingyas, in particular

their personal and group rights. [HL1241]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The British Government

is deeply concerned by the situation in Rakhine and

discrimination against the Muslim minority Rohingya

population. Following the recent outbreak of violence in

Rakhine State the Foreign Secretary has twice spoken

with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and has raised

our concerns. Our ambassador in Rangoon has also raised

our concerns with the Burmese authorities. The Minister

of State for International Development (Rt Hon Alistair

Burt MP) visited Burma in July. He discussed the

situation in Rakhine State with the Burmese Ministers of

Health and Education and met Rohingya leaders. We will

continue to raise our concerns at every opportunity.

We are also urging the Government of Burma to

improve living conditions and to address the citizenship

status of the Rohingya and all communities in Burma,

particularly those who face severe discrimination.

Asked by The Marquess of Lothian


representations they have made to the 1st State

Counsellor of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, regarding

the persecution of the Rohingya people. [HL1394]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Following the recent

outbreak in violence in Rakhine State, the Foreign

Secretary spoke with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi

on 7 and 17 September. He raised our concerns about the

continuing violence, the need for any allegations of

human rights abuses to be investigated and for

humanitarian access to be granted to affected

communities. We will continue to raise our concerns

about the situation in Rakhine and the plight of the

Rohingya with the Government of Burma.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures

they will seek to take through the UN Security Council

in response to the crisis in Rakhine State, Burma,

following the recent discussions in the Security

Council. [HL1435]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK has raised

Burma twice at the UN Security Council since the

outbreak of the current violence, and secured the

Council's first press elements on Burma in eight years. I

refer the Noble Lord to the UK Permanent

Representative's remarks to the press following the 13

September Security Council consultations, in which he

said that the UK would get to work on further products,

such as a Presidential Statement.

The UK has been active in other fora in response to the

crisis in Rakhine. The Foreign Secretary convened a

meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss Rakhine at the

UN General Assembly on 18 September, where he

pressed for an end to the violence and full humanitarian

access. The Minister of State, Rt Hon Mark Field MP

discussed these points further in an OIC event at UNGA

on 19 September.









The Prime Minister also urged the Burmese military to

stop the violence in Rakhine State and announced the UK

would suspend defence engagement until the issue is

resolved.

I have also raised Burma in the Human Rights Council

on 11 September, where I strongly condemned the

violence and pressed the security forces, who are in the

lead in Rakhine, to protect civilians and abide by

international norms. The UK also discussed Burma during

the Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on

19 September, and the Item 4 statement on the same day,

and pressed Burma on the same points.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are

taking to press the government and military of Burma to

allow unhindered access to all areas of Rakhine State

for international aid organisations, human rights

monitors, and media. [HL1436]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary

spoke with State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on 7 and

17 September. He raised our concerns about the

continuing violence in Rakhine State, the need for any

allegations of human rights abuses to be investigated and

for humanitarian access to be granted to affected

communities. He also convened a meeting of Foreign

Ministers to discuss Rakhine at the UN General Assembly

on 18 September, where he pressed for an end to the

violence and full humanitarian access. The Minister of

State discussed these points further in an Organisation of

Islamic Cooperation (OIC) event at UNGA on 19

September.

The Prime Minister also urged the Burmese military to

stop the violence in Rakhine State and announced the UK

would suspend defence engagement until the issue is

resolved.

I have also raised Burma in the Human Rights Council

on 11 September, where I strongly condemned the

violence and pressed the security forces, who are in the

lead in Rakhine, to protect civilians and abide by

international norms. The UK also discussed Burma during

the Interactive Dialogue with the Fact Finding Mission on

19 September, and the Item 4 statement on the same day,

and pressed Burma on the same points.

We will continue to urge the Burmese authorities to

allow the access of aid, food and medication to all

affected communities in Rakhine. We are working closely

with them to support this.

The Burmese authorities organised a visit of local and

international media to Maugdaw in Rakhine State at the

end of last week.



they are giving to the authorities in Burma to regularise

the citizenship of those Rohingyas legally entitled to

Burmese citizenship. [HL1438]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We continue to urge the

Government of Burma to improve living conditions and

the citizenship status of all communities in Burma,

particularly those who face severe discrimination, such as

the Rohingya.

We support the Rakhine Advisory Commission, led by

former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, and welcomed

its report published on 24 August. The Commission

recommended that the Government of Burma take full

responsibility for all residents in Rakhine State, ensure

access to services and humanitarian aid and accelerate the

verification process in line with the 1982 Citizenship Act.

We assess that the Commission's recommendations

provide the most realistic solution to address the

underlying issues in Rakhine. The UK has repeatedly

urged the Government of Burma to implement the

recommendations and stands ready to support Burma to

implement them.

Business: Loans

Asked by Lord Mendelsohn


they have made of the findings contained in the Bank of

England's Money and Credit June 2017 Statistical

Release that there was (1) a £0.2 billion fall in loans to

non-financial small and medium enterprises, and (2) an

£8.2 billion rise in loans to large business, in the year to

June. [HL1303]

Lord Bates: The Treasury monitors the Bank of

England’s Money and Credit statistical releases and other

statistical publications.

The Government is supporting lending to SMEs in a

variety of ways, such as through the establishment of the

British Business Bank to make finance markets work

better for small businesses. The Government is also

helping alternative lenders which lend to small

businesses, for example through support for challenger

banks; introducing a bespoke regime for peer-to-peer

lending; and structural interventions such as the bank

referral scheme and the SME credit data sharing scheme.

Caribbean: Disaster Relief

Asked by Lord Blencathra

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there are

any restrictions in (1) UK law, or (2) international law,

which would prevent or limit the use of funds from the

budget of the Department for International

Development for the reconstruction of the Turks and

Caicos Islands, Anguilla, and the British Virgin Islands.

[HL1590]

Lord Bates: There are no restrictions in UK or

international law on the support for reconstruction that we

can provide to the overseas territories.

There are, however, rules on what is counted as Official

Development Assistance (ODA), which are set by the

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and







Development’s Development Assistance Committee

(DAC). These rules include a list of the developing

countries and territories to which support given by donors

can be classed as ODA. In the case of Anguilla, the

British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands,

their Gross National Income per capita exceeds the limit

for them to be considered developing countries. The

Secretary of State wrote to the Chair of the DAC to raise

the issue of whether these rules should be adjusted to

reflect the scale of the impact in this case.

This does not impact our response in the region – the

government has committed £57m to date for immediate

relief and we will match every pound donated to the Red

Cross [up to £3m].

Caribbean: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Asked by Lord Condon

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many British

emergency services personnel are being deployed to

assist in the aftermath of hurricane Irma; where those

personnel will be deployed; and what range of

assistance they will provide. [HL1487]

Lord Bates: We now have almost 700 military

personnel, over 50 police, and a senior search and rescue

adviser from the UK’s fire and rescue services in the

Caribbean region to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane

Irma. DFID has sent over 18 humanitarian and logistics

advisers in the region, including humanitarian advisers in

Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, and the British Virgin

Islands, where they are supporting Governors and local

authorities.

All UK personnel are deployed as part of a coordinated

cross-Government response, bringing together military,

aid, and consular effort. Across the affected area, our

personnel have delivered urgent humanitarian relief,

assisted in restoring vital infrastructure, and supported

local institutions in maintaining law and order. We will

continue to work closely with our advisors on the ground

and with the Overseas Territories governments to deploy

our specialists where they are most needed.

The Government will continue to do all it can to

support those affected. Further details of our work are

available on our website.

Asked by Lord Naseby

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the

complement of disaster relief equipment carried by

Royal Fleet Auxiliary Mount Bay; and in particular,

how many (1) helicopters, (2) tractors, (3) bulldozers,

(4) other vehicles, and (5) items of heavy lifting

equipment are being carried. [HL1546]

Earl Howe: Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) MOUNTS

BAY is currently carrying the following equipment while

conducting humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in

the Caribbean:

1 Wildcat helicopter

1 Mexflote raft

1 Combat support boat

2 Pacific 24 rigid inflatable boats

2 Inflatable raiding crafts

2 Medium wheeled tractors

2 Support Vehicles (15 tonne)

1 Rough terrain forklift

1 Light wheeled tractor

2 Quad bikes with trailers

2 Pinzgauer soft top all-terrain vehicles

1 Self loading dump truck

2 Bandvagn 206D flatbeds

1 Support Vehicle (six tonne)

1 Land Rover & trailer

1 King Trailer

This amounts to one helicopter, four tractors, zero

bulldozers, 15 other vehicles and three items of heavy

lifting equipment.

HMS OCEAN is also due to arrive in the region by 23

September with three Wildcat, four Merlin and two

Chinook helicopters and 60 tonnes of Department for

International Development supplies onboard to assist with

the longer-term recovery effort. HMS OCEAN will be

deployed according to need once Hurricane Maria has

passed.


To ask Her Majesty's Government when relief aircraft

at RAF Brize Norton were ordered to be loaded up to

fly to the disaster zone affected by Hurricane Irma.

[HL1547]


To ask Her Majesty's Government when RAF Brize

Norton was informed of the impact of Hurricane Irma

and of the need for relief flights. [HL1548]

Earl Howe: On 6 September 2017 RAF Brize Norton

was notified of the potential requirement to provide

humanitarian relief flights and on 7 September the station

was tasked to prepare those flights.

Having identified and prioritised the relief stores

required and established which runways remained open

following Hurricane Irma's impact, the first aircraft were

loaded and dispatched from RAF Brize Norton on 8

September, reaching the Caribbean that night.

The Ministry of Defence is providing significant

support to the relief efforts in the Caribbean following the

devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. Royal Fleet

Auxiliary (RFA) MOUNTS BAY was pre-positioned in

the region and loaded with aid precisely so we could

respond to hurricane damage. So far 60 tonnes of much

needed humanitarian aid has been distributed across the

region by air. HMS OCEAN arrived in the British Virgin

Islands on Friday 22 September with a further 60 tonnes

of aid and is helping to deliver humanitarian assistance

and disaster relief and engineering tasks.







UK military personnel will continue to provide

immediate support after Hurricane Maria has passed.

Defence activity will remain under constant review and

we will continue to work with local authorities to

establish what is required.


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many medical

doctors they have sent to assist in the disaster zone

affected by Hurricane Irma; when those doctors left the

UK; and where they went. [HL1550]

Lord Bates: DFID is liaising urgently with

governments in the region to understand their needs for

medical staff. We are also working with the Department

of Health, and Public Health England to carry out needs

assessments and UK medical experts are standing by to

deploy as required and if requested by local governments.

DFID has already offered up to £2.5 million to the Pan

American Health Organisation, which is supporting them

to provide health services including deployment of

medical staff to the region.

The Government will continue to do all it can to

support those affected.

Asked by Lord Berkeley


intend to require those off-shore companies and funds

that are registered in UK territories in the West Indies

to contribute to the cost of repairs of infrastructure

damaged by Hurricane Irma within the territory in

which those companies and funds are registered.

[HL1588]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are currently

focussed on the immediate humanitarian response to

Hurricane Irma, and supporting the territories’

preparations for Hurricane Maria which we expect to

cause further damage to some of the territories over the

coming days. Each Overseas Territory has its own unique

constitution, laws and powers to generate revenue.

Therefore, the question of how off-shore companies or

funds might contribute to the costs of repairing

infrastructure is one for the respective Overseas

Territories Governments.

We are working in partnership with the Overseas

Territories Governments on a long term plan to help

repair the damage caused. Most of the people affected by

Hurricane Irma in the Overseas Territories are British

nationals and the UK stands ready to support their

governments in their recovery efforts.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their

estimate of the number of people who remain missing

in (1) the British Overseas Territories, and (2) other

Commonwealth nations to which they are providing

assistance, impacted by Hurricane Irma. [HL1630]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Despite the FCO Hotline

taking more than 3500 calls since 8 September, we are

relieved that the number of Hurricane-related casualties in

the Overseas Territories has been low, partly due to

preparedness in the Overseas Territories and a quick

Government response. In addition to providing

humanitarian assistance in the region, we are working

closely with the Overseas Territories to support recovery

and reconstruction, £62 million has been committed to

date. Establishing an accurate number of those missing in

affected Overseas Territories is difficult while relief and

reconstruction is continuing, however we believe the

number is low.

The number of missing people in the Independent

Caribbean is a matter for the Governments of the

countries concerned.


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many UK

military personnel are engaged in relief efforts in (1) the

British Overseas Territories, and (2) other

Commonwealth nations, impacted by Hurricane Irma.

[HL1631]

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence is providing

significant support to the relief efforts in the Caribbean

following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma. As at

21 September 2017, there are 543 UK military personnel

in the British Overseas Territories of the British Virgin

Islands, Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands. 671

personnel are in the Commonwealth nation of Barbados.

In addition there are 207 military personnel on RFA

MOUNTS BAY, which was pre-positioned in the region

ready for the hurricane season. HMS OCEAN arrived in

the British Virgin Islands on Friday 22 September with an

additional 632 personnel to support relief efforts.

Cars: Sales

Asked by Baroness Randerson


estimate of the number of personal contract purchase

plans taken out to finance car purchases over each of

the last five years; and what assessment they have

made of the potential impact of such loans on (1) the

car industry, and (2) the UK economy, if there were to

be a widespread failure to repay such loans. [HL1555]

Lord Bates: The government established an

independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and gave

the FPC a primary objective to identify, monitor and take

action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to

protecting and enhancing financial stability. The FPC’s

June 2017 Financial Stability Report (FSR), assesses

recent trends in the consumer credit market, including

dealership car finance and personal contract purchase

(PCP) agreements. The FSR notes that PCP agreements

have been growing rapidly, from around three-fifths of

new car purchases financed through dealership car

finance in 2011 to four-fifths in 2016, but that arrear rates

on dealership car finance are generally lower that other

forms of consumer credit.









Cataracts: Surgery



they have made of the adverse consequences for

patients of restricting the use of blue-light filtering

intraocular lenses, as laid out in the NICE

draft guideline Cataracts in adults: management.

[HL1492]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government has made no

such assessment. The National Institute for Health and

Care Excellence (NICE) has not yet issued its final

clinical guideline on the management of cataracts and it

would not be appropriate to pre-empt its final

recommendations. NICE recently consulted on the draft

clinical guideline and will take the comments it received

in response to the consultation fully into account in

developing its final guidance, due for publication in

October 2017.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the

exceptional circumstances that led to the addition of a

review question on blue-light filtering intraocular lenses

in the final scope of the NICE guideline Cataracts in

adults: management. [HL1493]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The National Institute for

Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has advised that there

were no exceptional circumstances that led to the addition

of a review question on blue-light filtering intraocular

lenses in the development of its guideline on the

management of cataracts. The draft review questions in

the scope for the guideline referred to various aspects of

lens design and, during the NICE Guideline Committee’s

work on this area, the question relating to blue-light

filtering intraocular lenses was added and subsequently

signed off through all the normal processes. This is

consistent with the normal way in which questions are

refined by committees during guidance development.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigation

they have conducted into evidence reporting lower

incidence of age-related macular degeneration in

patients with blue-light filtering intraocular lenses; and

what account was taken of that evidence in the

preparation of the NICE draft guideline Cataracts in

adults: management. [HL1494]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government has not

conducted any such investigation. The National Institute

for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent

body responsible for developing authoritative, evidence-

based guidance for the National Health Service. NICE

will consider all the evidence fully in developing its final

guidance on the management of cataracts due for

publication in October 2017.

Charities: Finance

Asked by Lord Patten

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the ten

charities in England and Wales to which they provide

the greatest amounts of funding; and what was the

amount paid to each of those charities in the last

financial year. [HL1318]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: DCMS does not hold this

information centrally. Government puts transparency and

accountability to the public at the heart of how we do

business and publishing data is key to this so, working

with users across government, Cabinet Office Grants

Function has designed and built the Government Grants

Information System (GGIS). This records and reports

grants data across government departments in a simple,

standardised and scalable way. This system is new and

our aim is for it to be an essential tool helping

departments manage grants in an efficient and effective

way.

Charities: Standards



estimate of the amount that they pay annually to

charities in England and Wales. [HL1316]



assessment of standards of corporate governance in

charities in England and Wales. [HL1317]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: Government recognises that

high quality governance is central to an effective and

sustainable voluntary sector.

To obtain a clear picture of the current state of sector

governance, government is working with the Charity

Commission, as well as a partnership of sector

representatives, to carry out research. This will help in

identifying strengths as well as areas for improvement.

The findings of this research will be published shortly.

Children: Custody

Asked by Baroness Gale


have made in ensuring that the judiciary are trained to

adhere to Practice Direction 12J: Child Arrangements

and Contact Order: Domestic Violence and Harm in all

private law family proceedings where domestic abuse is

alleged. [HL1457]

Lord Keen of Elie: Under the Constitutional Reform

Act 2005, responsibility for the training of judges rests

with the Lord Chief Justice. There is no ministerial

oversight of such training.










Children: Day Care

Asked by Lord Storey


taking to ensure that every child has access to 30 hours

of free childcare. [HL1329]

Lord Nash: All parents, of three- and four-year-olds

are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week,

regardless of income and employment status, from 1st

September, we have introduced an additional 15 hours of

free childcare per week for working parents.

The department has invested an additional £1 billion

per year by 2019-20 in the free entitlements, including

over £300 million per year to increase the hourly funding

rates paid for the early years entitlements. The Childcare

Choices website provides parents with information about

the government’s childcare offers in one place, as well as

a childcare calculator to help parents decide what is best

for their family circumstances. We also tested 30 hours in

twelve early delivery areas, and are sharing the lessons

from early delivery with local authorities and providers to

support full rollout.

Local authorities play a central role in delivery of free

early education, as they are required to secure sufficient

childcare, as far as is reasonably practicable, in their area.

We are working closely with local authorities and

supporting them and providers through our delivery

contractor Childcare Works, business sustainability

support and £100m capital funding.

Commercial Broadcasting: Radio

Asked by Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect

to publish their response to the consultation on

Commercial Radio Deregulation. [HL1529]

Asked by Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury


intend to deregulate aspects of commercial radio, as

identified in their consultation on Commercial Radio

Deregulation. [HL1530]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The commercial radio

deregulation consultation closed on 8 May 2017. We

intend to publish the government response in due course.

Community Housing Fund

Asked by Baroness Bakewell of Hardington Mandeville

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are in

a position to announce the mechanism for distributing

the second year of funding from the Community House

Fund. [HL1363]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The annual £60 million

Community Housing Fund was launched on 23 December

2016 to put local groups who know their area’s needs best

in the driving seat and help them deliver housing that is

affordable to the local community. For the 2016/17

financial year, grants were awarded to 148 local

authorities which were particularly affected by local

affordability issues or high rates of second home

ownership. My officials have been working up proposals

for the delivery of the Fund from 2017/18 and an

announcement will be made in due course.

Community Transport: Licensing

Asked by Lord Bradshaw


undertaken an impact assessment of the effect on

individuals and communities unable to access

conventional bus services of their proposals to require

community transport operators to hold a conventional

PCV operator's licence. [HL1575]

Lord Callanan: Not all community transport operators

are required to hold a PSV operator’s licence. This only

applies to operators who do not fit into one of the relevant

exemptions to EU Regulation 1071/2009, which has

applied in the UK since 2011.

We will consult on the issue and use of section 19 and

section 22 permits later this year. The consultation will be

accompanied by an Impact Assessment focussing on the

potential effects for operators who use permits.

We are working with community transport and local

authority organisations to understand better the potential

impacts.

Contraceptives

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether payments

to GPs in England in respect of long-acting reversible

contraception cover the full cost of administering those

treatments; and, if not, why not. [HL1409]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Local authorities are

responsible for contracting with general practice for the

provision of long-acting methods of contraception.

Details of individual contracts are not held centrally.

Cost of Energy Independent Review

Asked by Baroness Featherstone

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the

specific financial interests which are referred to in the

declaration of interest by Professor Dieter Helm

published on 6 August in relation to the cost of energy

review. [HL1466]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The review is being

conducted in accordance with well-established principles

for transparency and accountability, typical of this kind of

independent review. As the declaration of interests makes

clear, Professor Helm will not change any financial

interest he might have in companies that are active in the

UK energy sector during the course of the review.









Credit



they have made of the finding contained in the Bank of


Release that there was a 10 per cent rise in outstanding

unsecured consumer credit in the year to June.

[HL1301]

Lord Bates: The Treasury monitors the Bank of

England’s Money and Credit statistical releases and other

statistical publications. The government established an

independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) and gave

the FPC a primary objective to identify, monitor and take

action to remove or reduce systemic risks with a view to

protecting and enhancing financial stability. The FPC’s

June 2017 Financial Stability Report (FSR), published on

27 June, assesses recent trends in unsecured debt in the

consumer credit market. The FSR notes that consumer

credit has been growing rapidly, but that loss rates on

consumer credit lending are low at present.

Credit Cards



intend to introduce measures to prevent the automatic

increase of credit card limits. [HL1404]

Lord Bates: The regulation of consumer credit

including credit cards is a matter for the Financial

Conduct Authority.

Last year, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

published the results of its Credit Card Market Study. As

a result of this study, the FCA has taken action to tackle

persistent debt in the credit card market. As part of this,

the industry has also developed a voluntary agreement to

give greater control to customers and to restrict offers of

credit limit increases.

We have passed the Lord Bishop’s question on to the

FCA, who will reply directly to him by letter. A copy of

the letter will be placed in the Library of the House.

Cucumbers: Packaging

Asked by Lord Hayward

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether British

retailers are required to cover in plastic wrapping

cucumbers sold to consumers; and if so, whether that

requirement derives from (1) UK law, (2) EU law, (3) a

non-legally binding commitment between the

Government and retailers, or (4) some other source.

[HL1599]



intend to review the practice of covering in plastic

cucumbers sold to consumers. [HL1600]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions

they have held with British retailers in each of the last

five years concerning plastic wrapping used to cover

cucumbers sold to consumers. [HL1601]



estimate of the annual level of waste resulting from

plastic wrapping used to cover cucumbers sold to

consumers in the UK; and whether they have made any

comparative assessment of the equivalent level of waste

in (1) Germany, (2) France, (3) Italy, and (4) the

Netherlands. [HL1602]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There is no specific

requirement to wrap cucumbers in cling film or other

wrapping, but food businesses are required to provide

food that is both safe and fit to eat. Food businesses do

cover cucumbers to improve the shelf life of these

products and reduce food waste, as the environmental

impact of wasting food is far greater than the packaging

containing it.

We have had no discussions with retailers regarding the

packaging of cucumbers over the last five years and have

no plans to review the practice.

We do not collect data on specific packaging lines and

formats and are not aware of any equivalent data relating

to cucumber packaging from other Member States.

Cultural Heritage: Transport

Asked by Lord Faulkner of Worcester

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether public

grants to heritage railways and tramways are permitted

under state aid rules where they fall within the English

Aid for Cultural and Heritage Conservation State Aid

Scheme. [HL1534]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Public grants to

heritage railways may be permitted under state aid rules

provided they meet the eligibility and other criteria set out

in Chapter 1 and Articles 53 and 54 of the General Block

Exemption Regulation 651/2014. It was under this

legislation that the English Aid for Cultural and Heritage

Conservation State Aid scheme was notified to the

European Commission.

Customs


To ask Her Majesty's Government what factors they

will take into account, and with whom they will consult,

in their deliberations on the nature of future customs

arrangements with the EU, with particular reference to

which of the two approaches they have set out, a highly

streamlined customs arrangement or a new customs

partnership with the EU, should be pursued. [HL1320]



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_Policy_Committee










Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Our future partnership

paper on customs arrangements sets out our objectives for

a new customs arrangement with the EU, and our

proposals to achieve them. The paper seeks views from all

those with a stake in our future customs relationship with

the EU, and poses a number of specific questions on our

proposals for feedback.

We are also continuing to engage in dialogue on our

proposals with industry stakeholders, including through a

series of business roundtables conducted across the

country, involving a range of different sectors. We will

continue to engage with interested parties to inform our

thinking as we move towards negotiations with our EU

partners.



they have made of the impact of any future variance in

environmental and consumer standards between the UK

and the EU on customs arrangements once the UK has

left the EU. [HL1323]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: As the government has

made clear, we are in the process of carrying out a

programme of rigorous and extensive analytical work that

will contribute to our exit negotiations with the EU, to

define our future partnership with the EU, and to inform

our understanding of how EU exit will affect the UK’s

domestic policies and frameworks.

We stand by our manifesto commitment to be the first

generation to leave the natural environment in a better

state than we found it, and we will uphold our obligations

under international environmental treaties.

We also recognise the importance of having effective

protections for consumers buying goods and services

across borders, and are determined to cooperate closely

with our EU partners on issues of consumer protection

after we leave the EU.



estimated the financial impact on taxpayers of setting a

new streamlined customs arrangement once the UK has

left the EU; if so, when they expect that impact to

manifest; and how long they estimate it will take to put

in place the new arrangements. [HL1324]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The government has

undertaken a significant amount of work to assess the

economic impacts of both approaches highlighted in the

recent Future Customs Arrangements paper, but

parliament has voted not to disclose material that could

damage the United Kingdom’s position in its negotiations

with the European Union. When assessing all options for

the UK’s future relationship with the EU, the government

will be guided by what delivers the greatest economic

advantage to the UK.

The precise nature of a new streamlined customs

arrangement, including implementation time, will be

determined through negotiations. As set out in the

Government's paper in August, the government believes

that a model of close association with the EU Customs

Union for a time-limited interim period would help both

sides to minimise unnecessary disruption and allow for a

smooth and orderly transition to any new arrangement.

Dangerous Driving



any plans to consult on proposals for the introduction of

new criminal offences related to causing death by

reckless and dangerous cycling; and if so, whether the

penalties for those offences would be the same as for

the equivalent driving offences. [HL1366]

Lord Callanan: Protecting pedestrians and all road

users is a top priority. We have some of the safest roads in

the world but are always looking at ways to make them

safer.

There already are road traffic offences that apply to

cyclists and they can then be prosecuted if they commit

those offences.

The Department is carefully considering the

implications of the recent tragic case of Mrs Briggs who

died after a collision with a cyclist, including whether

current legislation is adequate.

Data Protection: USA

Asked by Lord Laird


received a legal opinion on the Privacy Shield

framework between the EU and the US; whether they

have taken independent legal advice on that framework;

if so, what was the content of that (1) opinion, and (2)

advice; and whether they will place a copy of that (1)

opinion, and (2) advice in the Library of the House.

[HL1613]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The Government has no

intention of commenting on or publishing any legal

advice that may have been received on these matters.

Asked by Lord Laird


have taken to implement the judgment and findings of

the European Court of Justice in Schrems v Data

Protection Commissioner. [HL1614]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: In October 2015, the European

Commission's adequacy decision on the Safe Harbor

Agreement was invalidated by the Court of Justice of the

EU (CJEU) in the Schrems case. The Court considered

that the third country concerned must ensure an adequate

level of protection safeguarded by its domestic law or

international commitments, and that the reliability of such

a system, in light of that requirement, is founded

essentially on the establishment of effective detection and

supervision mechanisms in relation to the protection of








fundamental rights. Consequently, the Court found that

the Safe Harbor Agreement failed to comply with the

requirements of Directive 95/46/EC and established

Human Rights law. The judgment was addressed to the

Commission. The EU-US Privacy Shield decision has

since replaced the Safe Harbor agreement, in providing a

basis for personal data transfers from the US to the US

companies certified under the scheme.

The Information Commissioner has provided regular

updates to the status of the Privacy Shield and remains an

active member of the Article 29 Working Party Privacy

Shield annual joint review team.

Debts



they have made of the finding contained in the Bank of


Release that one in six of the 2.2 million people with

personal debt are in financial distress; and what action

they are taking to reduce consumer debt. [HL1302]

Lord Bates: The government monitors the Bank of

England’s statistical releases, including Money and

Credit, and is committed to supporting all those affected

by problem debt.

We have a range of measures in place to help achieve

that. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates

the consumer credit market, and has introduced binding

rules to strengthen consumer protection. They are based

on the principle that money should only be lent to a

consumer if they can afford to repay it; lenders must show

forbearance if there is evidence of financial difficulty.

The FCA also capped the cost of payday loans. As part

of a review of this price cap, the FCA will examine the

high-cost credit market more broadly and consider

whether further interventions are necessary to address the

risk of consumer harm.

The Money Advice Service (MAS), which was set up

by the government, coordinates the provision of free-to-

client debt advice. In 2016/17, MAS spent just under £49

million on its debt advice work, directing around 90% of

this to fund frontline services. This led to more than

440,000 free-to-client debt advice sessions being

delivered face-to-face, over the phone and online across

the UK.

In the Queen’s Speech, the government announced the

Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. This will legislate to

restructure the financial guidance landscape and bring

debt advice, money guidance, and pensions guidance

together in a single body, and give consumers better

access to the financial information they need. This Bill is

currently going through Parliament.



intend to take to offer individuals relief from persistent

debt; and whether they intend to introduce a statutory

breathing space scheme. [HL1403]

Lord Bates: The government is committed to

supporting all those affected by problem debt, and has a

range of measures in place.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates the

consumer credit market, and has introduced binding rules

to strengthen consumer protection. They are based on the

principle that money should only be lent to a consumer if

they can afford to repay it; lenders must show forbearance

if there is evidence of financial difficulty.

The FCA also capped the cost of payday loans. As part

of a review of this price cap, the FCA will examine the

high-cost credit market more broadly (such as rent-to-

own), and consider whether further interventions are

necessary to address the risk of consumer harm.

The Money Advice Service (MAS), which was set up

by the government, coordinates the provision of free-to-

client debt advice. In 2016/17, MAS spent just under £49

million on its debt advice work, directing around 90% of

this to fund frontline services. This led to more than

440,000 free-to-client debt advice sessions being

delivered face-to-face, over the phone and online across

the UK.

In the Queen’s Speech, the government announced the

Financial Guidance and Claims Bill. This will legislate to

restructure the financial guidance landscape and bring

debt advice, money guidance, and pensions guidance

together in a single body, and give consumers better

access to the financial information they need. This Bill is

currently going through Parliament.

Deportation: EU Nationals

Asked by Baroness Hamwee


breakdown of the reasons for the deportation of EU

nationals in (1) the first quarter of 2016, and (2) the first

quarter of this year. [HL1495]


does not hold the information in the format requested.

Developing Countries: Health Services


To ask Her Majesty's Government how much

bilateral expenditure was directly targeted by

DFID towards HIV and AIDS in (1) 2015-16, and (2)

2016-17. [HL1562]


To ask Her Majesty's Government how

much bilateral expenditure was directly targeted by

DFID towards reproductive health in (1) 2015–16, and

(2) 2016–17. [HL1563]

Lord Bates: In 2015-16 DFID direct bilateral

expenditure on reproductive health care, including







training of personnel, was nearly £65 million. This

excludes direct bilateral expenditure on family planning,

which is reported separately. On HIV/AIDS prevention,

treatment and care direct bilateral expenditure was £27m.

This data uses the specific reproductive health and HIV

input sector codes set by the OECD/DAC. This does not

capture spend on related programming that complements

our wider work on HIV and reproductive health (for

example family planning services, maternal and neo-natal

health, strengthening health systems, research activities

and our substantial contribution to the Global Fund to

fight AIDS, TB and Malaria).

Data for all sector codes are available on the Statistics

for International Development website. Data for 2016/17

will be released early in 2018.

Diesel Vehicles: Imports


To ask Her Majesty's Government, whether they

intend to ban the importation of vehicles produced by

those German car manufacturers that are being

investigated by the German anti-trust authorities for

alleged collusion to misrepresent diesel emissions until

that investigation has concluded. [HL1365]

Lord Callanan: This is a matter for the relevant

competition authorities and we await their findings. There

are no plans to ban the importation of vehicles from the

manufacturers that are reportedly under investigation.

Disaster Relief


To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion,

and what total sum of the budget of the Department for

International Development, in each of the last ten years,

has been used for emergency assistance to countries

suffering from the consequences of natural disasters

such as hurricanes, typhoons or earthquakes. [HL1618]

Lord Bates: The amount of UK Official Development

Assistance (ODA) spent on humanitarian assistance in

each of the last 10 years is provided in the table below. In

line with the OECD Development Assistance Committee

(DAC) classification, this includes expenditure on

emergency response, reconstruction relief and

rehabilitation, and disaster prevention and preparedness.

This expenditure covers humanitarian support to

countries overseas suffering from the consequences of

natural and man-made disasters. Detailed data is not

collected to identify separately expenditure for natural

disasters.

UK bilateral Official Development Assistance (ODA)

for humanitarian assistance, 2006 -2015, £ million.

Year Humanitarian Assistance 1,2 £ million

2006 220

2007 294

2008 367

2009 484

2010 369

2011 422

2012 425

2013 825

2014 1119

2015 1,266

Information on total UK ODA is available on gov.uk

website

1.The definition for humanitarian assistance is set

internationally by the OECD Development Assistance

Committee.

2. The statistical data for ODA is collected according to

use, such as sector or purpose, and not by event.

Source: Statistics on International Development

Egypt: Aviation


To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries

have (1) reinstated flights to and from Sharm-el-Sheikh,

and (2) not reinstated flights to and from Sharm-el-

Sheikh; and what steps they are taking to develop

satisfactory security arrangements with the Egyptian

government. [HL1362]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Those EU countries that

suspended flights to Sharm el-Sheikh but have now

returned are: Belgium, Denmark, Poland, Germany,

Hungary. The EU countries that are yet to return to Sharm

following the suspension are: UK, Austria, Switzerland.

Turkey and Ukraine have also resumed flights.

The UK and Russia contributed the largest volume of

flights by far to the resort; neither have reinstated flights.

Russian airlines do not fly to any Egyptian airports.

Flights from the UK continue to other Egyptian airports.

Our officials have regular discussions with UK airlines

and others about flights from Sharm el-Sheikh.

Government aviation security experts continue to work

closely with their Egyptian counterparts on the ground,

sharing their expertise in establishing effective security

arrangements.

We look forward to achieving the return of flights to

Sharm el-Sheikh, once we can be assured of the necessary

security.





Electric Vehicles



taking to improve the capacity of the electricity grid to

cope with additional demand resulting from increased

numbers of electric cars and buses. [HL1559]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Government has set out

its ambition for almost all cars and vans to be zero

emissions by 2050, and that sales of new conventional

cars and vans will end by 2040. By setting these long-

term goals, the Government can ensure that there is plenty

of time to ready the grid for the mass transition towards

cleaner, more efficient vehicles.

We have regular discussions with all the key parties in

the electricity systems – including energy suppliers,

network operators and National Grid – to ensure that all

parties are prepared for electric vehicle take up. The

capacity market is our principal tool for ensuring we have

sufficient capacity to meet demand. National Grid use the

latest trends in supply and demand (including from

electric vehicles) when advising on the volume of

capacity to secure through these auctions.

Distribution Network Operators forecast the likely

uptake of plug-in electric vehicles, in discussion with

Government, in order to shape their investment plans.

Government is also taking powers as part of the

Automated and Electric Vehicles Bill to require all new

chargepoints sold or installed in the UK to be smart

enabled. Smart charging can help reduce the impact of

electric vehicles on the electricity network by ensuring

that they can flex to the grid’s need, avoiding existing

peaks in demand.

Electric Vehicles: Batteries



estimate of the proportion of used electric vehicle

batteries that are recycled; and what proportion of such

batteries they aim to be recycled following the end of

conventional petrol and diesel car and van sales.

[HL1428]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance is

available for the sustainable disposal or recycling of

used electric car batteries; and what additional

assistance will be provided to account for rising

demand ahead of the end to sales of conventional petrol

and diesel cars and vans. [HL1429]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Waste Batteries and

Accumulators Regulations 2009 ban the disposal of

automotive and industrial batteries to landfill and place a

responsibility on battery producers to recycle their

batteries. It is therefore estimated that all automotive and

industrial batteries are recycled.

There are currently no plans for amendments to the

Regulations, though we will continue to monitor the

market.

These requirements remain in place whether the vehicle

relies on an electric or conventional power supply.

Electricity: Storage

Asked by Baroness Featherstone


intend to develop a strategy to ensure future continuity

on network charging in relation to electricity storage;

and if so, how. [HL1255]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The charging regime is the

responsibility of Ofgem as the independent regulator. In

the joint BEIS/Ofgem Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan

released on 24 July 2017 it was recognised that at present

network charges can put storage at a relative disadvantage

to other network users, preventing a level playing field.

The Government is keen to see fair changes to the

charging regime that create a level playing field for

storage. Ofgem indicated that changes to storage charging

would be best and most rapidly brought forward by

industry, and two modifications have now been raised to

address this issue. Ofgem also expects industry to provide

guidance on the treatment of storage as intermittent or

non-intermittent in the distribution charging

methodologies by the end of 2017.

Electronic Surveillance

Asked by Lord Paddick


composition of the Technical Advisory Panel

established under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016.

[HL1312]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: It is for the

Investigatory Powers Commissioner, Lord Justice

Fulford, to establish the Technology Advisory Panel

(TAP), decide upon its composition, and appoint its

members. Lord Justice Fulford took over responsibility

for the oversight of investigatory powers by public

authorities on 1st September 2017 and will appoint

members of the TAP in due course.

Lord Justice Fulford has said he would be happy to

discuss the establishment of the TAP, the wider set-up of

his office, and any other matters relating to his duties with

interested Members of Parliament or Lords.

Energy Performance Certificates:

Conservation Areas


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is a

legal requirement to provide a prospective (1) buyer,

and (2) tenant, with an Energy Performance Certificate









whenever a dwelling in a conservation area is sold or

let. [HL1609]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: An Energy

Performance Certificate is required when either selling or

renting a property in a conservation area unless a valid

exemption applies. For example, listed buildings or

buildings in a designated environment where compliance

with certain minimum energy performance requirements

would unacceptably alter their character or appearance.

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students

Asked by Baroness Garden of Frognal


international students with Tier 4 visas gained

qualifications in the last academic year for which

figures are available. [HL1426]

Lord Nash: We do not hold information on how many

students with a Tier 4 visa gain qualifications each year.

However, the Higher Education Statistics Agency

(HESA) collects data on those gaining HE qualifications

by country of domicile. This shows that in the academic

year 2015/16 there were just over 150,000 higher

education qualifications obtained at UK Higher Education

Institutions by students living in non-EU countries

immediately prior to them commencing their studies. Not

all these students would have required Tier 4 visas to

study in the UK.



international students left the UK without (1) accessing

work experience, or (2) gaining a qualification, in the

last year for which figures are available. [HL1427]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The information you

have requested is not included in statistics published by

the Home Office.

Environment Protection: Greater

Manchester

Asked by Lord Pendry


finding in the State of Nature 2016 report that 56 per

cent of assessed species are in decline, what measures

they are taking to support the Greater Manchester

Urban Pioneer project under the 25-year Environment

Plan to improve the status of nature in the city; and

what resources they are allocating to that project.

[HL1319]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Greater Manchester

Urban Pioneer is one of four pioneer projects created by

Defra to inform the development and implementation of

the government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. The

pioneers are partnership projects designed to test and

refine better ways of managing the environment.

The Greater Manchester Pioneer is being led by the

Environment Agency with support from the Defra 25

Year Environment Plan team. Local government and

relevant government agencies are also providing

resources as key pioneer partners. Increasing biodiversity

across Greater Manchester is one of the objectives of this

pioneer.

EP Committee of Inquiry into Money

Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion



Written Answer by Lord Bates on 28 July (HL997),

whether they received a request for ministers to meet

the European Parliament's Committee of Inquiry into

Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion;

and if so, what was their response. [HL1282]

Lord Bates: The European Parliament’s Committee of

Inquiry into Money Laundering, Tax Avoidance and Tax

Evasion requested a meeting with ministers during the

Committee’s two-day visit to London during February

2017. Ministers were unavailable on the days requested

and the Committee met with senior officials from the

UK’s cross-agency Panama Papers Taskforce.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals

NHS Trust



they have made of the extent to which the consultation

exercise being undertaken by the Epsom and St Helier

Trust about the future of local acute hospital provision

is consistent with the Cabinet Office’s consultation

principles. [HL1372]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The future of local acute

hospital provision is a matter for NHS England and the

National Health Service locally.

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

advises that it is not currently carrying out a public

consultation. However, the Trust is currently engaging

with the public on its proposals to move to a single acute

specialist facility and to keep most care local. The

purpose of this engagement is not focused on specific

sites but on the principle of moving to a single acute

specialist facility.



proposal from the Epsom and St Helier Trust to

downgrade or close services at Epsom and St Helier

University Hospitals to make way for a new acute

hospital in Sutton, whether any such proposal has been

included in the Surrey Heartlands Sustainability and

Transformation Plan. [HL1373]










Lord O'Shaughnessy: Any decision regarding service

changes is a matter for NHS England and the National

Health Service locally.

The Surrey Heartlands Sustainability and

Transformation Plan refers to the need to make progress

on an estates solution for Epsom and St Helier University

Hospitals but does not make proposals to downgrade or

close services at Epsom and St Helier University

Hospitals.

Erasmus+ Programme

Asked by Baroness Coussins

To ask Her Majesty's Government when issues

relating to the UK's participation in the Erasmus

Programme will be scheduled for discussion as part of

the negotiations on exiting the EU. [HL1242]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: At the start of these

negotiations, both sides agreed that the aim was to make

progress on four key areas: citizen's rights, the financial

settlement, Northern Ireland and Ireland and broader

separation issues.

Both sides need to move swiftly on to discussing our

future partnership, including specific European

programmes we may still wish to participate in. We want

that to happen after the October European Council.

The UK government does recognise the value of

international exchange and collaboration in education and

training, and this forms part of our vision for the UK as a

global nation.

Europe: Refugees


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether (1) the

International Committee of the Red Cross, and (2) the

Inter-Agency Standing Committee of the UN have been

consulted about unaccompanied refugee children in

Europe; if so, with what result; and if not, why not.

[HL1516]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK is working

collaboratively with EU Member States, NGO’s and

International organisations, including British Red Cross,

UNHCR and Unicef to indentify and transfer eligible

children and ensuring the timely and efficient operation of

the Dublin Regulation. Last month, the British Red Cross

met with UK officials in Greece to discuss the operation

of the Dublin process. In addition our secondees in Italy

and Greece also work with Member States and relevant

partners to provide advice and support on the process for

transferring eligible children under section 67 in the

future.

European Economic Area

Asked by Lord Lea of Crondall

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, if the UK

were to remain in the EEA by joining EFTA after

leaving the EU, the annual cost to the UK in terms of

liabilities to the EU would remain the same as if the UK

had remained in the EU; and if not, what is their

estimate of the reduction or increase in that cost.

[HL1389]

Lord Bates: The arrangements for withdrawal from the

EU, including any financial or subsequent trading

arrangements with the EU, will be a matter for the

withdrawal agreement as part of the Article 50 process.

The UK government is committed to working with the

EU to reach a fair arrangement for Britain’s exit and the

best deal for UK taxpayers.

European Medicines Agency: Greater

London


To ask Her Majesty's Government on what date, and

by whom, was the European Medicines Agency lease at

Canary Wharf agreed; and what problems have been

reported to them as to the terms of the lease. [HL1234]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The Government

understands that the original lease agreement was signed

by the European Medicines Agency in 2011. The contract

is between the EMA and the landlord, and as such we

would not expect to be alerted to any problems as to the

terms of the lease.

Exchange Rates

Asked by Lord Lea of Crondall


taking, if any, to ensure that the pound sterling does not

fall below parity with the euro. [HL1390]

Lord Bates: The UK has an inflation target, not an

exchange rate target, and the government does not express

a view on the level of the exchange rate. The value of

sterling adjusts flexibly in response to economic

conditions and market forces.

Family Proceedings



taking to ensure that finding of fact hearings are

undertaken within family court proceedings where there

are allegations of domestic abuse. [HL1458]

Lord Keen of Elie: A revised Practice Direction 12J

has been made by the President of the Family Division

and approved by Ministers and is coming into force on

2nd October. This sets out the procedure governing

finding of fact hearings in child arrangements cases where

domestic abuse is alleged. Application of the practice

direction is a matter for the senior judiciary.










Farms: Tenants


To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last met

with the Tenant Farmers Association to discuss their

proposals for the reform of the taxation framework

within which agricultural tenancies operate in order to

foster longer-term farm business tenancies. [HL1294]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: George Eustice, Minister

of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food met with

members of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group which

includes the Tenant Farmers Association on the 27 June

2017 to discuss a range of issues relating to agricultural

tenancies including the taxation framework. In addition

Defra officials meet regularly with the Tenant Farmers

Association to keep in touch on tenant farming issues, the

most recent meeting took place on 20 July 2017.

Farms: Theft


To ask Her Majesty's Government what actions they

are planning to take to address the theft of equipment,

vehicles and livestock from farms. [HL1286]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: It is for Chief

Constables and Police and Crime Commissioners, as

operational leaders and elected local representatives, to

decide how best to deploy resources to manage and

respond to crime and local priorities, in rural and urban

areas alike.

Female Genital Mutilation


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether all

professionals and staff involved in the detection of

female genital mutilation have received appropriate and

in-depth training. [HL1342]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government has no current

plans to introduce annual medical examinations to

identify female genital mutilation (FGM); we believe that

prevention and support are where efforts are best focused.

Medical examinations may take place in individual child

protection cases, however.

Medical examinations in France and elsewhere take

place within a different social and legal framework than

in England and so are not comparable.

As part of the Department’s £4 million FGM

Prevention Programme, which is in partnership with NHS

England, we have introduced a range of training and

guidance for health professionals. This includes:

- Specialist FGM safeguarding guidance to help health

professionals protect against FGM;

- Specialist guidance to help health professionals

commission appropriate FGM services;

- Awareness-raising roadshows and outreach work

across the country – this has directly reached over 3,500

professionals;

- Educational films about FGM and updated content on

the NHS Choices website;

- Comprehensive e-learning on FGM, free of charge to

all National Health Service staff (this was developed by

Health Education England, with more than 4,000 staff

having used this to date); and:

- Supported a number of projects with health partners

including the Royal Colleges. These have delivered a

range of practical measures to improve clinical skills,

awareness and preparedness to treat and safeguard women

and girls with FGM.

Fit for Work Programme

Asked by Lord Luce


to reach conclusions following their review of the Fit

for Work Scheme. [HL1543]

Baroness Buscombe: The Green Paper consultation set

out our ambition to transform employment prospects for

disabled people and people with long-term health

conditions, and sought views on a range of issues

including how to improve occupational health provision,

drawing lessons from the Fit for Work service. We have

been carefully considering the responses we received, to

inform our approach to better supporting individuals to

stay in and return to work. We will set out our plans for

taking forward our ambitions in the Autumn.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Lord

Luce and the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition for their

response to the Green Paper consultation which has given

us valuable insight.

Food: Imports



consider introducing policies for import substitution on

food products, particularly dairy and horticulture, once

the UK has left the EU. [HL1297]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK sources food from

a diverse range of countries, in addition to a strong

domestic production base. This will not change after

leaving the EU. We want to grow more, sell more and

export more British food, supported by the Industrial

Strategy. This will allow the food and drink sector to

become even more resilient, competitive and profitable. It

is our priority to enable an innovative, productive and

competitive food supply chain from farm and sea to fork,

which invests in people and skills.

We are prioritising securing the freest trade possible

with the EU, including an ambitious and comprehensive

trade agreement and a new customs agreement. We work

to promote transparency and open global markets







internationally, as well as a competitive domestic market

to help producers and retailers offer the best prices,

quality and choice to consumers.

Food: Procurement



have to enhance public procurement of British food

once the UK has left the EU. [HL1296]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The government has a

manifesto commitment to ensure that a third of goods and

services procured by departments are supplied by Small

and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). We are delivering this

in respect of food and catering services through the Plan

for Public Procurement: Food and Catering Services,

published in 2014.

The Plan aims to simplify the public procurement

process and open up the market to more SMEs and local

producers. It provides a level playing field on which UK

producers can compete for the opportunity to supply more

of the produce currently supplied from other countries. It

provides tools, including the balanced scorecard, to help

contracting parties to balance a range of criteria beneficial

to the consumer, the environment, and to producers.

These include embedding UK production standards,

encouraging seasonality of fresh produce and calling for

menus which celebrate the provenance of the food. This

approach is a UK-led initiative which is not affected by

leaving the EU.

The use of the balanced scorecard approach is

mandatory for central government departments as existing

contracts are renewed. Defra is working closely with

buyers and with the industry to ensure they are well

prepared to maximise the opportunities.

The UK’s departure from the EU allows some

flexibility to re-examine procurement rules to ensure they

work in the best interests of UK businesses.

Football: Taxation

Asked by Lord Tebbit

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether HMRC

collects any revenue from football club transfer

payments. [HL1338]

Lord Bates: Football transfer fees are subject to VAT

according to the normal rules. Any profits made by

football clubs are subject to Corporation Tax in the usual

way. Payments made to players as part of their transfer,

such as signing-on fees, are taxable as earnings.

Frigates

Asked by Lord West of Spithead


statements in the National Shipbuilding Strategy about

their intention to grow the Royal Navy fleet, what is

their aspiration for the number of frigates for the Royal

Navy by 2040. [HL1504]

Earl Howe: As explained in the Strategic Defence and

Security Review 2015 White Paper and in the National

Shipbuilding Strategy, our ambition is to sustain a

destroyer and frigate force and to grow this force by the

2030s. The Type 31e General Purpose Frigate, which we

announced our intention to procure on 6 September 2017,

will give us the opportunity to do this, although we have

not yet made detailed planning assumptions for the

precise number of frigates that the Royal Navy will

operate in 2040.

Gambling: Internet



intend to incorporate a review of online gambling into

the Triennial Review of Gaming Machine Stake and

Prize Limits. [HL1405]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: A review of gaming machines

and social responsibility measures was launched in

October last year. The call for evidence invited views on

measures to improve social responsibility across the

gambling industry. The review is nearing completion and

we are aiming to announce the findings in October.

Gaza



representations they have made to the Israeli

government in the light of reports that the Israeli

military has instituted a ban on food, toiletries, and

electronic devices for Palestinians leaving the Gaza

strip. [HL1413]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have not made

any representations to the Israeli Government on this

issue, we continue to call on Israel to ease restrictions on

movement and access.

Gaza: Armed Conflict



they intend to make of the relationship between the

exposure of pregnant women to military attacks in Gaza

in 2014 and the levels of heavy metal contaminants in

the hair of mothers and newborn children in Gaza.

[HL1414]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We do not intend to

make any assessment of this issue. Our Embassy in Tel

Aviv and our Consulate-General in Jerusalem frequently

urge the Israeli and Palestinian authorities to take steps to

ease restrictions and improve conditions in Gaza.









GCE A-level


To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of

recent leaks of A-Level examination questions, what

measures they plan to put in place to restore public

confidence; and what steps they are taking to ensure

consistent sanctions against those who leak such

information. [HL1328]

Lord Nash: This is a matter for the Office of

Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) and

I have asked its Chief Regulator, Sally Collier, to write

directly to the noble Lord. A copy of her reply will be

placed in the House of Lords Library.

General Practitioners

Asked by Lord McColl of Dulwich


guidance issued by NHS England to clinical

commissioning groups in May stating that all areas of

the country should have a system in place from

September to ensure that all new GP referrals are

subject to clinical peer review, how they define such

reviews. [HL1581]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Clinical peer reviews are a

simple way for general practitioners (GPs) to support each

other and help patients get the best care, from the right

person at the right time, without having to make

unnecessary trips to hospital. More than half of clinical

commissioning groups (CCGs) have already implemented

some form of clinical peer review system and the NHS

England guidance will help ensure best practice is shared

to the remaining local commissioners.

There is flexibility in how local CCGs and their GPs

implement prospective internal clinical peer review, but it

should see GPs reviewing each other’s new referrals to

provide constructive feedback in a safe learning

environment. Delivering prospective internal peer review

will help ensure that all patients get access to the optimum

care pathway. It should not be established as an approval

process and the referring GP retains responsibility for the

patient and makes the final decision.

Government Departments: Equal Pay


To ask Her Majesty's Government which government

departments have not yet met the requirement to

publish information about gender pay gaps between

male and female employees. [HL1445]

Lord Nash: All government departments listed in

Schedule 2 to the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and

Public Authorities) Regulations 2017 are required to

publish this information if they have 250 or more

employees, including staff working in executive agencies.

Grammar Schools



taking to ensure that selective schools do not de-select

students at the age of 16. [HL1330]

Lord Nash: Where schools admit external applicants

into their sixth form, it is lawful for them to set minimum

academic standards for entry. The Education (Pupil

Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 as amended

also permits schools to remove pupils from the admission

register who are above compulsory school age, if they do

not meet the academic entry standards for the sixth form.

The regulations do not permit their removal from the

register for failure to maintain high academic attainment

once they have entered the sixth form.

The Department’s statutory guidance: ‘Exclusion from

maintained schools, Academies and pupil referral units in

England’ explicitly states that, once a pupil is enrolled, it

is unlawful to exclude for a non-disciplinary reason such

as academic attainment or ability.

We expect all schools to adhere to these rules and we

have recently written to them to remind them of their

responsibilities.

Great Western Railway Line

Asked by Lord Rosser

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, for the

bi-modal trains running under the Great Western

franchise, the switch from diesel to electric and vice

versa will occur whilst the train is on the move, and if

so, whether at full speed, or slow speed, or whether the

switch will be made whilst the train is in a station or

otherwise not moving. [HL1482]

Lord Callanan: Intercity Express Trains running on

the Great Western Main Line will be able to switch

seamlessly between electric and diesel mode whilst on the

move and whilst stationary. The speed of train during that

power change will depend on the line speed at that

location.

Great Western Railway Line: Electrification


To ask Her Majesty's Government, in light of recent

decisions to reduce the previously announced intended

extent of route electrification of the Great Western

franchise, what additional payment will have to be

made to Hitachi to reflect the consequential increase in

the use of the diesel engine in the bi-modal train.

[HL1480]

Lord Callanan: The Department for Transport is

currently in discussions to amend the Great Western Main

Line Intercity Express contract. The specific detail of

these discussions remains commercially confidential.










To ask Her Majesty's Government what effect recent

decisions to reduce the previously announced intended

extent of route electrification of the Great Western

franchise will have on journey times of bi-modal trains.

[HL1481]

Lord Callanan: The Intercity Express bi-mode trains

being introduced from this autumn will deliver the

existing Great Western Main Line timetable.

The Department for Transport is working with Network

Rail and Hitachi to ensure delivery of journey times

reduced by around 15minutes once electrification between

London, Bristol and South Wales is complete. These new

bi-mode trains, capable of operating in electric and diesel

mode, mean that we can improve journeys for passengers

without disruptive work to put up wires and masts along

routes where they are no longer required.

Great Western Railway Line: Rolling Stock


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, apart

from the new bi-modal trains, there is any passenger

rolling stock on order for Great Western franchise

which is not yet in service or fully in service. [HL1483]

Lord Callanan: A separate order for the AT300

version of the Hitachi Intercity Express Train has been

made by Great Western Railway (GWR) to replace HST

trains on long-distance services between London and the

South West of England. A further order of these trains has

been made to cover fast services from London to Oxford

and Newbury/Bedwyn. GWR has also ordered

Bombardier Class 387 electric trains for electric services

in the Thames Valley, the first of which are already in

service between Maidenhead and Paddington, with the

final ones planned to enter service when the route

between London and Didcot Parkway is available for use

by electric trains. Some of these trains will also operate

local services between Reading and Newbury.

Hate Crime



planning to review hate crime laws so that hate crimes

based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and

disability are treated equally to those based on race and

faith, by making them aggravated offences. [HL1484]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: We have one of the

strongest legislative frameworks in the world to tackle

hate crime. The hate crime action plan published in July

2016 includes new actions to ensure the legislation is used

effectively to support victims and deal with perpetrators.

We keep our legislation under review. Since 2010 the

Government has strengthened legislation to offer further

protection for transgender and disabled people and on the

grounds of sexual orientation.

Hate Crime: Prosecutions

Asked by Lord Vinson


issued any guidance to the Crown Prosecution Service

concerning the extent to which insults constitute hate

crimes. [HL1416]

Lord Keen of Elie: In order for an offence to constitute

a “hate crime”, first a “basic” crime has to be committed.

There are a number of such possible offences which can

be committed by way of an insult, particularly offences

under the Public Order Act 1986, the Malicious

Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act

2003.

Such offences could be designated as a “hate crime”, if

they meet the required criteria for the three strands of hate

crime offences – (a) racially and religiously aggravated

offences; (b) homophobic, transphobic and biphobic

offences and (c) disability hate crime.

The Government does not issue legal guidance to the

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is independent.

The CPS hate crime guidance, which must be followed by

all prosecutors, was reviewed and published in June 2017.

Health

Asked by Lord McColl of Dulwich

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many legal

cases have been filed against the Department of Health

about public health matters in each of the last five

years; and how many are currently in progress.

[HL1582]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department and the

Government Legal Department do not categorise cases as

specifically relating to ‘public health’. According to

Government Legal Department records, the approximate

total number of judicial review cases brought against the

Department in each of the last five years is shown in the

following table. 42 cases are recorded as active as of 15

September 2017.

Year Number of cases brought

2012/13 26

2013/14 16

2014/15 22

2015/16 25

2016/17 28

Total 117

Source: Data from the Government Legal Department.









Health Services



specialised Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

there were in England in (1) 2000, (2) 2005, (3) 2010,

(4) 2015, and (5) 2017. [HL1410]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Data is not available for all the

years requested. Clinic codes have been collected since

2015-16 as part of the Sexual and Reproductive Health

Activity Dataset (SRHAD), but this does not provide a

precise count of services. In 2015-16, the number of

different sexual and reproductive health service clinic

codes in SRHAD was 856 across 129 providers which

submit data.



any plans to improve the streamlining of

commissioning services for family planning and Sexual

and Reproductive Health Services in England.

[HL1411]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government has no plans

to change the current commissioning arrangements for

sexual and reproductive health services. Following the

completion of a commissioning survey across the sexual

and reproductive health system, Public Health England

published Sexual Health, Reproductive Health and HIV:

A Review of Commissioning on 30 August 2017. A copy

of this report is attached. The report identifies a number

of challenges facing commissioners and providers of

these services and makes recommendations to address

them. The recommendations include proposals to improve

the coordination of commissioning across different

organisations.


Sexual and reproductive health report

[Sexual_health_reproductive_health_and_HIV_a_survey_of_com

missioning.pdf]


http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-

answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-09-06/HL1411


To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the

public health budget for family planning or Sexual and

Reproductive Health Services in England in (1) 2000,

(2) 2005, (3) 2010, (4) 2015, and (5) 2017. [HL1412]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Data prior to 2013 is not held in

the format requested.

In 2015-16, local authorities reported spend of £631

million in total against three public health categories of

sexual health. This information is shown in the following

table. Data on spend in 2017-18 will be published in due

course.

Sexual health - category of expenditure Spend in 2015-16

(millions)

Sexually transmitted infection testing and

treatment (prescribed functions)

£365.973

Contraception (prescribed functions) £193.489

Advice, prevention and promotion (non-

prescribed functions)

£71.673

Health Services: Per Capita Costs

Asked by Lord Pendry

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is

the expenditure per head of population for each NHS

England clinical commissioning group. [HL1397]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The information is not available

in the format requested. However, figures for the total

expenditure of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in

England for 2016-17 are in the table, which has been

attached owing to the size of the data.


CCG expenditure [Total Spend per Clinical Commissioning

Group.docx]



Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was

paid (1) by the UK to each EU member state for

healthcare provided to (a) UK citizens, and (b)

UK pensioners resident in of those states in the last

year; and (2) by each EU member state to the UK for

healthcare provided to (a) their citizens, and (b)

pensioners resident in the UK. [HL1385]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department, on behalf of

the United Kingdom Government, reimburses other

European Economic Area (EEA) countries and

Switzerland for the cost of providing treatment to people

we are responsible for under European Union law, based

on pension and benefit eligibility, and irrespective of

nationality. In the same way, other EEA countries and

Switzerland reimburse the Department, on behalf of the

UK Government, for the cost of the National Health

Service providing treatment to people they are responsible

for under EU law, irrespective of nationality and

including UK nationals insured in another EEA country or

Switzerland.

Member state claims against the UK are in local

currency, so totals are significantly affected by the

exchange rate at the time of payment and can mean a

difference of millions of pounds. Member states can

submit claims up to 18 months in arrears, so claims for














any 12 month period do not necessarily reflect treatment

provided in that period.

Due to the size of the data, figures for the amount paid

by the UK to each EU member state for healthcare in

2016/17 are provided in the attached table. These figures

are the latest available and rounded to the nearest pound.

After the UK leaves the EU, and in a reciprocal deal,

the UK will continue to export and uprate the UK state

pension and to provide associated healthcare cover on

behalf of the UK within the EU.


EEA medical costs [HLPQs 1385-6 Figures.xlsx]




Asked by Lord Laird


they have made of arrangements for the payment of

healthcare costs for EU pensioners living in the UK and

UK pensioners living in the EU after the UK leaves the

EU. [HL1386]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department, on behalf of

the United Kingdom Government, reimburses other

European Economic Area (EEA) countries and

Switzerland for the cost of providing treatment to people

we are responsible for under European Union law, based

on pension and benefit eligibility, and irrespective of

nationality. In the same way, other EEA countries and

Switzerland reimburse the Department, on behalf of the

UK Government, for the cost of the National Health

Service providing treatment to people they are responsible

for under EU law, irrespective of nationality and

including UK nationals insured in another EEA country or

Switzerland.

Member state claims against the UK are in local

currency, so totals are significantly affected by the

exchange rate at the time of payment and can mean a

difference of millions of pounds. Member states can

submit claims up to 18 months in arrears, so claims for

any 12 month period do not necessarily reflect treatment

provided in that period.

Due to the size of the data, figures for the amount paid

by the UK to each EU member state for healthcare in

2016/17 are provided in the attached table. These figures

are the latest available and rounded to the nearest pound.

After the UK leaves the EU, and in a reciprocal deal,

the UK will continue to export and uprate the UK state

pension and to provide associated healthcare cover on

behalf of the UK within the EU.


EEA medical costs [HLPQs 1385-6 Figures.xlsx]




Hepatitis



established the cross-agency expert group on viral

hepatitis to provide strategic direction and advice

around hepatitis C and other viral hepatitis, as

announced in March. [HL1556]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: With the support of the

Department and the Chief Medical Officer, Public Health

England (PHE) has established a national cross-agency

expert group, the National Strategic Group on Viral

Hepatitis, to provide strategic direction and advice around

all types of viral hepatitis, including hepatitis C. It will

provide advice to PHE, the Department, NHS England

and to the wider health system. The new group is

committed to working towards the World Health

Organization goal to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major

public health threat and brings together partner

organisations to improve health services, minimise the

number of new infections and reduce the health

consequences of viral hepatitis for people in England. A

priority is addressing the cross-system operational barriers

in case finding and treatment capacity.

Hepatitis: Pigmeat


To ask Her Majesty's Government when Public

Health England first became aware that pig meat from

the Netherlands and Germany was infected with

Hepatitis E; and why steps were not taken to ban

imports of infected meat. [HL1223]



estimate of the number of people who may die as a

result of contracting Hepatitis E from infected pig meat

imported from other EU member states. [HL1224]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Public Health England (PHE)

knows of no published data that shows either German or

Dutch pig meat contains the hepatitis E virus (HEV).

Detecting the presence of HEV in foods to prove

causation is technically extremely difficult.

PHE’s role is advisory. The Food Standards Agency is

the regulatory body responsible for determining any

necessary steps to protect consumers.

It is not possible to estimate the number of people who

may die as a result of HEV. PHE is aware of a small

number of cases, on average between one and two a year,

where coincident HEV infection is included in the death

certificate.

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention



Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 21












July (HL370), what does "followed up on all of them"

mean in the context of the Coroner's report into the

Lakanal House fire in 2009; and what were the

recommendations of the Coroner that were (1) agreed,

and (2) not agreed, by them. [HL1281]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Department

considered and has acted on the recommendations of the

Coroner's report into the Lakanal house fire in 2009. A

note setting out the action the then Government took in

response to the recommendations has been placed in the

Library of the House.



answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 5 September

(HL Deb, col 1896), whether any cladding confirmed

by the Building Research Establishment as being made

of aluminium composite material, that was referred to

under the heading "data sharing" in the letter dated 5

September from the Department of Communities and

Local Government to local authorities, was already

listed as having been used in the construction of

buildings during the last 18 months in the Borough of

Windsor and Maidenhead. [HL1591]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Following the

completion of the large-scale system tests, we have

published consolidated advice (attached) to building

owners which contains a summary of the numbers of

initial screening tests which have been completed to date

by the Building Research Establishment:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/upload

s/attachment_data/file/643281/Update_and_consolidated_

advice_for_building_owners_following_large-

scale_testing.pdf

Where social housing buildings fail the tests, local

authorities in England are informing tenants and the

relevant constituency MP.


Summary of the numbers of screening test [170926 Update and

consolidated advice for building owners - HL1591.pdf]




Asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb


they have made of the robustness of tests to

determine the extent to which materials are fire resistant

carried out before the Grenfell Tower fire, compared

with tests conducted by the Building Research

Establishment more recently; and whether

the robustness of those tests has any impact on the

availability of Government financial assistance to

housing providers for the replacement of materials that

are a fire hazard. [HL1604]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Since 2006, Building

Regulations guidance has provided two approaches to

testing materials for use in cladding systems. These are to

either test the combustibility of each component or to test

them as a system. The recent large-scale tests at Building

Research Establishment are in accordance with this

second approach. The Government will consider the

system of Building Regulations in light of the

Independent Review on Building Regulations and Fire

Safety, the findings of the Public Inquiry and ongoing

work to review building safety. The Government expects

building owners to fund measures designed to make a

building safe and to draw on existing resources to do so.

A decision on financial assistance for social landlords will

be determined on the basis of their ability to pay for

essential fire safety works, and they should contact the

Department or the regulator for social housing to discuss

the position.


To ask Her Majesty's Government whose

responsibility it was, prior to the Grenfell Tower fire, to

ensure that tests on wall cladding systems were carried

out in a rigorous fashion; and who is responsible for

assessing why such tests reached different conclusions

in some cases to those carried out by the Building

Research Establishment. [HL1605]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Building

Regulations allow for a range of different approaches to

demonstrating compliance. The responsibility for

ensuring that the requirements of the regulations have

been met rests with the person responsible for the work

and this must be scrutinised by an independent building

control body. The Government will consider these issues

in light of the Independent Review on Building

Regulations and Fire Safety, the findings of the Public

Inquiry and ongoing work to review building safety.

Higher Education: Standards

Asked by Lord Jopling


Written Answers by Lord Nash on 27 July (HL733) and

9 August (HL734), whether they will now answer the

question and list those establishments which were

eligible to apply to participate in the Teaching

Excellence Framework, but which declined to join this

voluntary process. [HL1379]

Lord Nash: As we have previously stated, the

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) is a voluntary

process and the Government, therefore, does not keep a

record of providers who have chosen not to participate.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England,

who are responsible for delivering the TEF, have

published a list of providers who received ratings on their

website: http://www.hefce.ac.uk/tefoutcomes/.



https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643281/Update_and_consolidated_advice_for_building_owners_following_large-scale_testing.pdf










http://www.hefce.ac.uk/tefoutcomes/


Hillsborough Families' Experiences Review


To ask Her Majesty's Government when the report by

Bishop James Jones into the Hillsborough families’

experiences was received; when it will be made

publicly available; and whether it has addressed issues

relating to legal representation for families of victims at

coroners' inquests where the police are legally

represented. [HL1326]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Bishop James Jones

submitted a copy of his report into the experiences of the

Hillsborough families to the Home Secretary on 20 June

2017. On 8 September 2017 he submitted a version that

takes account of the Crown Prosecution Service’s

charging decisions announced on 28 June 2017. That

report will be considered by the Government. The report

and separately the Government’s response will be

published in due course. In the meantime we are not in a

position to comment on its contents.

Hinkley Point C Power Station



contractually guaranteed a minimum level of energy

production from the Hinkley Point C nuclear power

station that consumers or the National Grid will buy in

2030, even if that energy is not needed due to the

growth of renewable energy and home energy storage;

and, if so, what that level is. [HL1606]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Government has not

contractually agreed a minimum level of energy

production from the Hinkley Point C nuclear power

station. The Contract for Difference (CfD), agreed on

October 2016, is an agreement to pay the generator the

difference between the wholesale market price and a

“strike price” for every megawatt hour of electricity they

generate. It is the generator’s responsibility to sell their

power in the wholesale market.



contractually guaranteed a minimum level of subsidy to

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station for providing

back-up energy capacity; and, if so, (1) what that level

is, and (2) whether this will be funded by taxes or by

users through their energy bills. [HL1607]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Government has not

contractually agreed a minimum level of subsidy to

Hinkley Point C nuclear power station for providing back

up energy capacity. System balancing decisions are for

the system operator, who may choose to contract with

HPC in the 2020s as with any other system user, but no

such contracts are currently in place.



consumers and households who do not use grid

electricity will have to pay for any of the electricity

produced by Hinkley Point C nuclear power station.

[HL1608]

Lord Prior of Brampton: No, consumers and

households who do not use grid electricity will not pay for

any of the electricity produced by Hinkley Point C

nuclear power station.

HMS Ocean



involvement of HMS Ocean in hurricane relief

operations in the Caribbean, whether they will

review plans to dispose of her at the end of the year.

[HL1505]

Earl Howe: There are currently no plans to review the

decision to decommission HMS OCEAN in 2018.

Holiday Accommodation

Asked by Baroness Gardner of Parkes


assessment of the need for a registration process of

short-term holiday let tenants; and whether they have

consulted local councils on this issue. [HL1597]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: There has been no

assessment of, or consultation on, a register of short term

holiday let tenants.

Holiday Accommodation: Greater London



aware of the difficulties experienced by London

borough councils in the enforcement of the 90 days a

year limit for homeowners' short-term letting of their

property. [HL1596]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Where there are

concerns about serious abuse of the 90 night limit a

London Borough can seek a consent from the Secretary of

State for the authority to make a direction to remove the

freedom to short term let for 90 nights from that property.

The criteria for assessing a request for consent are set out

in the Department's planning practice guidance.



research by the Kensington Society which found that

there were some 70,000 short-term lets available in

London on 2 June 2016 alone, what is their assessment

of the impact of the growth in the number of London











properties used for short-term holiday lets on the

availability of long-term housing in London. [HL1598]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government

supports the shared economy, and although it does not

hold specific information on short-term holiday lets, it

does monitor broader trends in private rented housing

through the English Housing Survey. It is right that

Londoners should have similar rights as elsewhere in

England and be free to sublet their homes where their

tenancy, contract or mortgage allows. We condemn,

however, the abuse of planning laws, and those in breach

face a fine of up to £20,000.

Home Office: Ministers

Asked by Lord Green of Deddington

To ask Her Majesty's Government who has held

office since 1 January 2000 as (1) Home Secretary and

(2) minister responsible for immigration; and what were

the dates of their appointment. [HL1371]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Since 1st January

2000 there have been 8 Home Secretaries.

Name Appointment Began Appointment End Date

Rt Hon Jack Straw 2nd May 1997 8th June 2001

Rt Hon David Blunkett 8th June 2001 15th December 2004

Rt Hon Charles Clarke 15th December 2004 5th May 2006

Rt Hon John Reid 5th May 2006 27th June 2007

Rt Hon Jacqui Smith 28th June 2007 5th June 2009

Rt Hon Alan Johnson 5th June 2009 11th May 2010

Rt Hon Theresa May 12th May 2010 13th July 2016

Rt Hon Amber Rudd 13th July 2016 Current

Since 1st January 2000 there have been 12 Ministers of

State for Immigration.


Barbara Roche 28th July 1999 11th June 2001

Lord Rooker 11th June 2001 29th May 2002

Beverley Hughes 29th May 2002 1st April 2004

Des Browne 1st April 2004 6th May 2005

Tony McNulty 16th May 2005 23rd May 2006

Liam Byrne 23rd May 2006 3rd October 2008

Phil Woolas 3rd October 2008 11th May 2010

Damian Green 13th May 2010 4th September 2012

Mark Harper 4th September 2012 8th February 2014

James Brokenshire 8th February 2014 14th July 2016


Robert Goodwill 16th July 2016 11th June 2017

Brandon Lewis 11th June 2017 Current

Hong Kong: BBC World Service



representations they have made to the governments

of Hong Kong and China concerning the cessation of

broadcasts on the BBC World Service. [HL1361]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Changes to the

broadcasting of BBC World Service programming in

Hong Kong are a decision for the Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region Government. We have not raised

this issue with the Hong Kong Special Administrative

Region Government as the BBC World Service is still

available on RTHK (Radio Television Hong Kong) FM

Radio 4 overnight, and available online 24 hrs a day for

listeners in Hong Kong.

There have been no representations to the Chinese

Government.

Hospitals: Closures


To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the status

of proposals to close acute hospitals at (1) one in five

sites in South West London, and (2) one in three sites in

Leicestershire. [HL1374]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Any decision regarding service

changes is a matter for NHS England and the National

Health Service locally.

NHS England advises that the South West London

Sustainability and Transformation Plan does not propose

the closure of any hospital within its footprint.

In respect of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland

Sustainability and Transformation Plan, the document

considers a range of options for local services, and where

specific proposals are agreed by the local NHS, they will

be subject to formal public consultation.

Hospitals: Greater London



discussions they have held with NHS England over the

funding of a proposed new hospital in South West

London. [HL1375]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Any decisions about new

hospitals are for NHS England and the National Health

Service locally.

NHS England has advised that proposals for a new

hospital in South West London are at a very early stage. A







Strategic Outline Business Case is being prepared for

initial consideration by NHS Improvement.

House of Lords: Catering


To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker, further to the

Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 31

July (HL1160), what steps he is taking to increase the

number of British products on sale in all outlets in the

House of Lords, including British wine. [HL1283]

Lord Laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked

me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond

on his behalf.

The vast majority of fresh products purchased by House

of Lords Catering and Retail Services (CRS) are British,

and CRS has an ongoing policy to continue to increase its

use of British products, taking account of procurement

and value for money tests. British produce is always

preferred when in season, and menus are designed to

incorporate British sustainable products and showcase

British seasonal produce where possible. The majority of

the main ingredients in CRS dishes, such as meat, poultry,

fish and dairy produce, are British.

In House of Lords bars, CRS aims to supply a range of

beverages including British options; CRS has recently

changed supplier to increase its offering of British craft

ales and lagers.

CRS aims to increase the selection of British wines

available in House of Lords restaurants and bars.

Additional British wines will appear on the wine lists

after the conference recess.

For the House of Lords retail shop, CRS aims to

increase its ranges of British products; work is underway

to develop with its suppliers products that would enhance

the British selection on offer.

House of Lords: Wines



Written Answer by the Senior Deputy Speaker on 31

July (HL1160), what is the price of the two English

wines offered in the House of Lords; and how this

compares in each case with the standard House wine on

offer. [HL1380]

Lord Laming: The Senior Deputy Speaker has asked

me, as Chairman of the Services Committee, to respond

on his behalf.

The price of the English still wine offered in the Peers’

Dining Room and available on request in the Barry Room

is £54.00 a bottle. The price of the equivalent standard

House of Lords own label wine is £18.00 a bottle. The

variance in price arises because the English wine (a pinot

noir) has a higher wholesale price, while the House pinot

noir is purchased in larger volumes using a long-term

contract. The house wine is also sold by the glass at £6.35

for 250ml and £4.80 for 175ml.

The price of the English sparkling wine offered in the

Peers’ Dining Room and available on request in the Barry

Room is £55.00 a bottle. The price of the equivalent

House of Lords own label champagne is £47.50 a bottle.

Neither is sold by the glass in the dining rooms.

Housing: Construction



assessment of the impact of the removal of the

requirement for developers to provide a certain

proportion of affordable housing in developments of ten

homes or fewer on the number of small and medium-

sized enterprise builders over the last two years.

[HL1624]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Government does not

have data on the number of small and medium-sized

(SME) builders over the last two years, but the National

House Building Council (NHBC) estimated that the

number of homes registered by small builders fell from

44,000 in 2007 to 16,000 in 2016.

Our Housing White Paper published in February this

year recognised that small sites create particular

opportunities for smaller developers, as well as custom

developers, and set out a number of proposals for national

policy changes so that local planning authorities have

policies that support the development of small sites.



assessment of the impact of the removal of the

requirement for developers to provide a certain

proportion of affordable housing in developments of ten

homes or fewer on the number of rural houses

completed in areas of population under 3,000. [HL1625]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Government does not

collect national data on the number of homes delivered in

areas of population under 3,000.

Housing: Domestic Violence



they have made of the reduction in the benefit cap on

housing availability for victims with children under two

who have fled abusive partners and who are currently

(1) residing in a refuge, and (2) residing in other forms

of temporary accommodation. [HL1459]



to assess the impact of the lower benefit cap on the

length of a victim’s stay in a domestic abuse refuge, and

the resulting cost to the taxpayer. [HL1460]









Baroness Buscombe: People who are subject to the

benefit cap still receive benefits that are equivalent of

gross family earnings of £25K, and £29K in London. If

this is not enough money to secure a tenancy, the claimant

can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

which can be given in advance to help secure a property.

The DHP guidance explicitly states that funding should be

aimed at individuals or families fleeing domestic

violence.

We have commissioned the National Centre for Social

Research (NatCen) to carry out some research into the

new lower, tiered Benefit Cap and we are working with

the Institute for Fiscal Studies to peer review in-house

analysis on the impacts of the lower benefit cap on capped

households. It is expected that a full evaluation report will

be produced around the end of 2018.

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination


To ask Her Majesty's Government what reduction

there has been in the incidence of cervical cancer since

the introduction of the vaccination against the human

papilloma virus. [HL1339]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The national human papilloma

virus (HPV) immunisation programme began in the

United Kingdom in September 2008. The girls vaccinated

as part of the national HPV immunisation programme will

currently be aged up to 27 years of age and the oldest

routinely vaccinated girls will be up to 22 years of age.

Public Health England is conducting surveillance to

assess vaccine efficacy by monitoring the frequency of

vaccine and non-vaccine HPV types in cervical cancer.

This includes enhanced surveillance among women less

than 30 years old who were diagnosed with cervical

cancer. Data collection started in 2013, although a very

small number of cases in this age group have been from

women eligible to have received the HPV vaccine as part

of the national immunisation programme. This is ongoing

surveillance.

Hurricanes and Tornadoes: Caribbean


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether use was

made of the UK's remote sensing and satellite

technology to predict the impact of the storm system of

Hurricane Irma; and if so, by whom. [HL1551]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Met Office is the UK

National Met Service and monitors weather around the

world, including hurricanes in the Caribbean such as

Irma. For this purpose the Met Office uses a wide range

of observations, including satellite and remote sensing

technologies which form a crucial input to its weather

modeling capability. Model predictions on the track of

hurricanes together with information on their intensity

and structure are used by the Met Office in its briefings to

Her Majesty’s Government but also shared with the

American National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) National Hurricane Centre.

Immigrants: Detainees

Asked by Baroness Hamwee


response by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 4 July

(HL Deb, cols 788–9) and her Written Answer on 31

July (HL668), regarding rates of pay for work

undertaken by immigration removal centre detainees,

whether any of the work undertaken by those detainees

was duplicated by staff or employees of (1) the Home

Office, or (2) the Immigration Removal Centre; if so,

what were the rates paid to those detainees for that

work; and what is their assessment of why no savings

or efficiencies have been realised by the Home Office

or private service providers. [HL1267]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: It is not permitted

contractually for private service providers to use the

detainee paid work scheme to replace staffing obligations

in immigration removal centres.

None of the work undertaken by detainees on a

voluntary basis in this scheme is duplicated by staff or

employees of either the Home Office or the private

service provider and there are no savings or efficiencies

realised by the Home Office or private service providers.



they have made of the merits of detaining (1) persons

awaiting deportation who have served custodial prison

sentences, and (2) others awaiting deportation, in

separate establishments. [HL1455]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: All individuals

entering immigration detention are risk assessed and

accommodated under the processes set out in Detention

Services Order 03/2016.

The Home Office seeks to remove foreign national

offenders at the earliest opportunity. Where that is not

possible, foreign national offenders awaiting deportation

will normally be transferred into immigration detention

on completion of their sentence. However, those assessed

as unsuitable for the immigration detention estate, for

reasons of safety and control, remain in prison.

We continue to keep the management of foreign

national offenders in the detention estate under review.

Immigration



Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on

24 July (HL980), how many grants of discretionary

leave to remain have been made to persons unable to

leave the country through no fault of their own and

where there is no prospect of enforced removal, in






(1) the current year, and (2) each of the two previous

years. [HL1518]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Whilst there is

provision to grant discretionary leave to remain where

someone has been unable to leave through no fault of

their own and there is no prospect of enforced removal,

we do not grant such discretionary leave for the sole

reason that removal cannot be enforced.

Those who have no right to remain in the UK are

expected to leave voluntarily and should take all

reasonable steps to do so.

The overall numbers of discretionary leave grants are

published on the Immigration Statistics webpage and the

most recent release is available from:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-

statistics-april-to-june-2017-data-tables

The breakdown for years 2014-2016 is as follows:

Year Total

applications

Total initial

Decisions

Grants of

Discretionary Leave

2016 30,747 24,895 114

2015 32,733 28,662 227

2014 25,033 19,782 200

Immigration Controls



immigration officers, when scanning the passports of

arrivals in the UK, are automatically alerted to any

person arriving at a UK port of entry who is subject to a

deportation order. [HL1456]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The UK holds a

watchlist of adverse information and intelligence drawn

from a variety of sources, including the police. The

system is used by Home Office staff for the purposes of

national security and the detection and prevention of

crime. It is longstanding policy not to discuss either the

specific data held on the watchlist, the source of the data

or how it is used as to do so would be counterproductive.

Immigration: Children



comments by a Home Office spokesperson, reported in

The Guardian on 4 August, that they have "provided

refuge or other forms of leave to more than 8,000

children", how many of those children were granted (1)

asylum, and (2) other forms of leave broken down

by (a) the types of leave granted, and (b) the number

of children granted each form of leave. [HL1325]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In 2016 the UK

granted asylum or another form of leave to over 8,000

children. This figure includes children granted asylum or

another form of leave following an asylum claim, children

resettled under our resettlement programmes and those

children who were granted family reunion visas.

The forms of leave granted to children who have made

an asylum claim can include Refugee Leave,

Humanitarian Protection, UASC Leave, Discretionary

Leave, Grants of Family or Private Life Leave To Remain

or Leave Outside The Rules. Children who are resettled to

the UK under our resettlement programmes are granted

Humanitarian Protection status or Indefinite Leave to

Remain depending on the specific resettlement

programme. Family reunion visas can be granted to

family members of those granted Refugee Status or

Humanitarian Protection in the UK, and are granted

Leave in line with their relative.

The Home Office publishes the number of Asylum

applications from main applicants, by age in table as_03

of the Immigration Statistics release. The latest figures are

available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attac

hment_data/file/593028/asylum2-q4-2016-tables.ods


Asylum 2 Q4 2016 tables [asylum 2 - q4 - 2016 tables.xlsx]



Inflation



continue to include figures relating to the Retail Price

Index in the monthly press release on UK consumer

price inflation issued by the Office for National

Statistics. [HL1620]

Baroness Sugg: The information requested falls within

the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have

asked the Authority to reply.


UKSA Response [HL1620 Lord Marlesford.pdf]



Insects: Non-native Species



they have made of (1) the decline since 2012 in UK

native ladybird species as a result of the invasive

Harlequin ladybird, and (2) the impact of this decline

on the resilience of ecosystems; and what steps they are

taking to address this. [HL1395]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Harlequin ladybird

(Harmonia axyridis), a native of central and eastern Asia,

was released for the control of pest insects across Europe


https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017-data-tables




https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/593028/asylum2-q4-2016-tables.ods

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/593028/asylum2-q4-2016-tables.ods










from the late 1980s. It was first recorded in the UK in

2003 and considered an established species by 2005.

There are no known cases of the Harlequin ladybird

having been deliberately released in the UK and it is

believed to have arrived through natural dispersal from

Europe.

The Government has not conducted its own assessment

of the decline in UK native ladybird species as a result of

the Harlequin ladybird. However, research carried out by

the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and analysis by

UK experts using records collated through the UK

Ladybird Survey, indicate that the Harlequin ladybird is

displacing some native ladybird species, by out-

competing them for food and through direct predation.

Further research is planned by the Centre of Ecology and

Hydrology to understand better the impact of the

Harlequin ladybird on the resilience of the UK’s natural

ecosystems.

The Harlequin ladybird is now widely spread across the

UK, particularly in England. There are no appropriate

methods for controlling the Harlequin ladybird which

would not also harm native species and no effective

mitigation measures that can be adopted to address their

impacts. The Harlequin ladybird however, provides an

important case study that has informed our response to

invasions of similar non-native species.

International Courts: Judgements



to publish a summary of the verdicts and punishments

imposed by all international courts and tribunals

associated with the United Nations relating to breaches

by individuals of international law in the last 20 years,

including those imposed by the International Criminal

Court. [HL1580]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Support for international

criminal justice and accountability is a fundamental

element of UK foreign policy. International courts and

tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, have

an important role to play in global efforts to end impunity

for the most serious crimes of international concern by

holding perpetrators to account and achieving justice for

victims. The institutions report regularly on their activities

and publish up-to-date details of convictions and

sentences on their publicly accessible websites. The

Government does not intend to publish a summary of

such information at this time.

Invalid Vehicles: Pedestrian Areas



any plans to restrict the (1) size, (2) weight, and (3)

speed, of mobility scooters that are permitted to be used

on pavements; and how many injuries have been caused

to pedestrians by users of mobility scooters in each of

the last five years. [HL1367]

Lord Callanan: We have no plans to restrict the size,

weight or speed of mobility scooters permitted to be used

on pavements.

Below is a table showing the number of reported

accidents, by severity, involving mobility scooter in Great

Britain: 2011-2015. It is important to note that the number

of police forces who have provided data has changed over

time, so the data below is not comparable between years

in terms of national trends in the number of accidents.

Accident severity

Year* Killed Serious Slight Total

2011 0 6 4 10

2012 1 17 66 84

2013 5 26 125 156

2014 9 46 153 208

2015 8 47 167 222

*Number of police forces providing data: 2011=1,

2012=12, 2013=22, 2014=27, 2015=31

The second table below gives the number of reported

casualties in accidents involving mobility scooters from

2011-2015. The information has been broken down to

separate mobility scooter riders from all other casualties

involved in these accidents. It is important to note that the

number of police forces who have provided data has

changed over time, so the data below is not comparable

between years in terms of national trends in the number of

casualties.

Number of reported casualties, by severity, involving mobility scooter

in Great Britain: 2011-2015

Mobility scooter rider Other casualties

Casualty severity Casualty severity

Year* Killed Serious Slight Total Killed Serious Slight Total

2011 0 4 1 5 0 2 3 5

2012 1 11 43 55 0 6 26 32

2013 5 17 102 124 0 9 31 40

2014 9 37 117 163 0 9 46 55

2015 8 39 127 174 0 8 45 53

*Number of police forces providing data: 2011=1,

2012=12, 2013=22, 2014=27, 2015=31

IRA: Libya

Asked by Lord Tebbit


(1) have taken, and (2) intend to take, to support UK

victims of IRA attacks that used Gaddafi-supplied

Semtex and weapons. [HL1337]






raised the issue of compensation for the victims of

Qadhafi-sponsored IRA terrorism during his meeting with

Prime Minister Serraj in Tripoli on 4 May 2017 and again

on his most recent visit in August. He emphasised again

the importance the UK places on this issue and

encouraged the Libyan authorities to engage with UK

victims' groups and their representatives. Prime Minister

Serraj expressed sympathy with those who had suffered

from the previous regime, but it was also clear from his

discussion with the Foreign Secretary that the Libyan

Government continues to face numerous challenges and

that progress on the issue of compensation is likely to

remain slow. We continue to make clear to the Libyan

authorities that this is a priority issue for the UK. We will

continue to raise the subject of legacy at every

opportunity.

Iran: Political Prisoners



answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 23 January

(HL Deb, col 513) committing to action on the reported

massacre of political prisoners by the government of

Iran in 1988 if there were corroborated evidence, what

assessment they have made of the report by the UN

Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in

the Islamic Republic of Iran, published on 14 August;

and what action they intend to take in the light of that

report. [HL1449]


opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances

and takes any allegations of extrajudicial killings

seriously. Whilst at present we have no plans to raise the

1988 executions, we continue to take action with the

international community to press for improvements on all

human rights issues in Iran, including ending the death

penalty and by supporting the work of the Special

Rapporteur.



they have made of the statement by Amnesty

International on 22 August concerning conditions

imposed on political prisoners in Gohardasht and other

Iranian prisons, particularly the finding that around 20

such political prisoners are on hunger-strike; and what

representations they have made, or diplomatic pressure

they have imposed, on the Iranian authorities to take

such life-preserving action as may be necessary.

[HL1513]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Reports about

mistreatment of political prisoners in Iran are deeply

concerning. I urge Iran to allow the UN Special

Rapporteur for Human Rights in Iran access to the

country in order to carry out an independent assessment

of prison conditions and the wider human rights situation

in the country.

Isles of Scilly: Transport

Asked by Lord Berkeley


investment has been made in the last five years in (1) St

Mary's harbour, (2) Penzance harbour, (3) Land's End

Airport, and (4) St Mary's airport, for transport to and

from the Isles of Scilly; and what amounts within those

total investments were from (a) HM Government, (b)

European funds, and (c) the private sector. [HL1490]

Lord Callanan: The Government has invested £6.1m

in the £11.7m project to improve the quays at St Mary’s

and dredge Penzance Harbour to improve the sea

connections between the Isles of Scilly and the mainland

for passengers and freight. The project also benefited

from £5.6m of European Regional Development Funding.

The project was promoted by Cornwall Council and was

completed in 2016.

Land’s End and St Mary’s airports have also been

upgraded with the assistance of European Regional

Development Funding totalling £6.8m, which included

works (completed in 2014) to improve the runways at

both airports.

The Government does not maintain a record of private

sector investment in the above facilities.

Israel: Burma



they have made of reports that the government of Israel

has supplied weapons to the government of Myanmar.

[HL1566]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not made

representations on this issue. Under the EU arms embargo

to Myanmar, the UK would not export military equipment

to Israel if we believed that the ultimate end user

destination would be Burma.

Israel: EU External Relations



response to the publication in June by the European

Council on Foreign Relations of Israel's unlawfully

prolonged occupation: consequences under an

integrated legal framework. [HL1514]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While the UK has not

made a specific assessment of the European Council on

Foreign Relations report, it has long been the

Government's view that Israel's presence in the Occupied

Palestinian Territories is governed by the provisions of

the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to which Israel is

a state party. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its

obligations under international law and have a regular

dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the

occupation.









Israel: Palestinians



representations they are making to the government of

Israel regarding the detention of Palestinian legislative

council members. [HL1497]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have not

raised the issue of the detention of Palestinian

parliamentarians with the Israeli authorities, we remain

concerned about Israel’s extensive use of administrative

detention which, according to international law, should be

used only when security makes this absolutely necessary

rather than as routine practice and as a preventive rather

than a punitive measure. We continue to call on the Israeli

authorities to comply with their obligations under

international law and either charge or release detainees.



propose measures to improve the status quo for the

people of East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza, for

humanitarian reasons and to prepare the way for

permanent peace negotiations. [HL1538]


regularly raises with the Government of Israel concerns

about the situation for Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the

West Bank and Gaza, and pushes for an easing of

restrictions. We are firmly committed to the promotion

and protection of human rights, and call upon all parties

to abide by International Humanitarian Law. Ultimately

peace will only come through fresh negotiations between

the parties, which the UK fully supports, and it is critical

that Israel and the Palestinians take advantage of any

momentum gathered through international efforts.



they have made of reports that Hamas leaders have

offered the government of Israel a long-term ceasefire

in exchange for the blockade on the Gaza Strip being

lifted. [HL1564]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have not made

any assessment of this issue, we have been clear that we

believe that a durable ceasefire agreement should ensure

that Hamas and other terrorist groups permanently end

rocket fire and other terrorist attacks against Israel, and

that all terrorist groups in Gaza should disarm. Our policy

on Hamas remains clear: Hamas must renounce violence,

recognise Israel and accept previously signed agreements.

Hamas must make credible movement towards these

conditions, which remain the benchmark against which its

intentions should be judged. We call on those in the

region with influence over Hamas to encourage them to

take these steps.




Israel regarding reports of the eviction of families living

in East Jerusalem. [HL1565]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Minister of State for

the Middle East issued a statement on 6 September

condemning the eviction of the Shamanseh family from

the property they have lived in for decades in East

Jerusalem. The UK considers such evictions contrary to

international law and they cause unnecessary suffering.

The increased trajectory of evictions, demolitions and

settlements in East Jerusalem undermines the prospects

for peace.

Israel: Palestinians




Israel regarding reports that Israeli forces have

demolished a kindergarten in the Bedouin community

of Jabal al-Baba. [HL1498]




Israel regarding reports of the confiscation of solar

panels that had been donated to the village of Jubbet

Al-Dhib. [HL1499]




Israel regarding reports of the demolition by Israeli

forces of school buildings which were built using EU

funds from the village of Jub-Ad Dhib. [HL1500]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: I raised the UK’s

concerns about the demolitions of schools in Area C when

I met the Israeli Ambassador on 29 August. The EU

missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah issued a local

statement expressing strong concern over recent

confiscations, by the Israeli authorities, of Palestinian

school structures in Bedouin communities in the West

Bank. The statement referred to confiscation of solar

panels in Abu Nuwar (9 August), a kindergarten in Badu

el Baba (21 August), and the dismantling of an

elementary school in the village of Jubbet Adh Dhib close

to Bethlehem (22 August). Demolitions and evictions of

Palestinians from their homes cause unnecessary suffering

to ordinary Palestinians; call into question Israel’s

commitment to a viable two-state solution; and, in all but

the most exceptional of cases, are contrary to

International Humanitarian Law.









Jeremy Bamber



have taken to ensure that the Chief Constable of Essex

complies with requests from Jeremy Bamber's legal

team, and with court orders made in 1994, 2001 and

2002, to provide non-disclosed evidence in relation to

the murders at White House Farm in Essex in 1985.

[HL1475]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Police forces are

operationally independent of government and decisions

around the management and handling of a police

investigation fall under the direction and control of the

Chief Officer of the force concerned.



complied in full with the order issued by the Central

Criminal Court in 1994, as a result of a Judicial Review

initiated by lawyers acting for Jeremy Bamber,

instructing the then Home Secretary to disclose all

DNA evidence from Essex Police in relation to the

White House Farm murders in Essex in 1985. [HL1476]


complied with the order as set out in paragraph 163 of the

judgement in the Court of Appeal case of R V JEREMY

BAMBER Neutral Citation Number: [2002] EWCA Crim

2912 Case No: 20011745 S1.

Joint Ministerial Committee on EU

Negotiations

Asked by Lord Wallace of Tankerness

To ask Her Majesty's Government on which dates the

Joint Ministerial Committee on EU negotiations has

met in 2017 to date; and which ministers attended on

behalf of (a) the UK Government, and (b) the devolved

administrations. [HL1632]

Baroness Sugg: The Joint Ministerial Committee on

EU Negotiations [JMC(EN)] met in 2017 on 19 January

and 8 February.

On 19 January 2017, the following ministers attended:

a. On behalf of the UK Government: The Secretary of

State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon James Brokenshire;

The Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David

Mundell MP; The Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon

Alun Cairns MP; The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Rt

Hon David Gauke; Minister of State for Europe and the

Americas in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt

Hon Alan Duncan MP; Minister for Cabinet Office, Rt

Hon Ben Gummer MP; and Minister of State for the

Department for Exiting the EU, Rt Hon David Jones MP.

b. On behalf of the devolved administrations: from the

Scottish Government, The Minister for UK Negotiations

on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Mike Russell MSP; from

the Welsh Government, Cabinet Secretary for Finance

and Local Government, Mark Drakeford AM; and from

the Northern Ireland Executive, Minister for

Infrastructure, Chris Hazzard MLA and Junior Minister,

The Executive Office, Alastair Ross MLA.

On 8 February 2017, the following ministers attended:

a. On behalf of the UK Government: The Secretary of

State for the Department for Exiting the European Union,

Rt Hon David Davis MP; The Secretary of State for

Northern Ireland, Rt Hon James Brokenshire; The

Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David Mundell

MP; The Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Alun

Cairns MP; Minister of State for Europe and the Americas

in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rt Hon Alan

Duncan MP; Minister for Cabinet Office, Rt Hon Ben

Gummer MP; Minister of State for the Department for

Exiting the EU, Rt Hon David Jones MP; Chancellor of

the Exchequer, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP.

b. On behalf of the devolved administrations: from the

Scottish Government, The Minister for UK Negotiations

on Scotland’s Place in Europe, Mike Russell MSP; from

the Welsh Government, Cabinet Secretary for Finance

and Local Government, Mark Drakeford AM; and from

the Northern Ireland Executive, Minister for Finance,

Máirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA and Junior Minister, The

Executive Office, Alastair Ross MLA.

Kurds: Human Rights



assessment of the welfare of the Kurdish people in

Syria, Turkey and Iraq. [HL1525]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Kurdish people in Syria

have suffered during the conflict, alongside much of the

country's population, including through the brutality of

both the Assad regime and terrorist groups like Daesh. As

such Syrian Kurds have been amongst the recipients of

UK aid in our largest ever response to a humanitarian

crisis (£2.4 billion since the start of the crisis). UK

funding is distributed on the basis of need, to ensure

civilians are not discriminated against on the grounds of

race, religion, or ethnicity. In the same way, our policy

position is that a transition away from the Assad regime to

a government that can protect the rights of all Syrians,

unite the country and end the conflict is necessary to

protect all minority groups: we continue to use all of our

diplomatic levers to advocate for this.

All communities in Iraq have also suffered at the hands

of Daesh. We are committed to ensuring that the Kurds in

Iraq can look forward to a brighter future within a stable,

democratic and unified Iraq. One that can provide the

security, jobs, healthcare and education that all Iraqis

want and deserve, including the Kurds. The Department

for International Development has provided £209.5

million in life-saving humanitarian aid to Iraq since June

2014, which has helped to support internally displaced

people across Iraq, including those hosted in the

Kurdistan region.







We are concerned by ongoing violence and reports of

civilian casualties in South Eastern Turkey where a

significant proportion of the Kurdish community live, and

a worsening humanitarian situation in that region. We

urge the Turkish state to treat all of its citizens equally,

regardless of ethnicity or faith. We regularly urge the

Turkish authorities to respect human rights, including the

right to freedom of expression, and to support the rule of

law. We will continue to monitor these issues closely.

Languages: Northern Ireland

Asked by Lord Laird


they have made of whether the Belfast Agreement

ensures equality between the Irish and Ulster Scots

languages. [HL1287]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Belfast Agreement

recognised the importance of respect, understanding and

tolerance in relation to linguistic diversity, including the

Irish language and Ulster Scots.

The Government is fully committed to the Belfast

Agreement.

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of

Offenders Act 2012

Asked by Lord Marks of Henley-on-Thames

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to

launch a post-implementation consultation on the Legal

Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act

2012. [HL1422]

Lord Keen of Elie: The Lord Chancellor is currently

considering the planned post-implementation review of

recent legal aid reforms. We will make an announcement

in due course.

Legal Representation



they have made of the impact of litigants in person on

the court system. [HL1421]



they have made of the increasing numbers of litigants in

person since the reforms contained in the Legal Aid,

Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012

came into effect. [HL1423]

Lord Keen of Elie: Information on numbers of litigants

in person is not held centrally.

Unrepresented parties have always been a feature of the

civil and family justice system. Since 2015, the

Government has invested £5 million of funding to support

litigants in person through a range of measures designed

to provide additional information, support and guidance.

The Lord Chancellor is currently considering the

planned post-implementation review of recent legal aid

reforms. An announcement will be made in due course.

Asked by Lord Beecham


publish the results of their review of the Legal Aid,

Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 in

relation to (1) the number of unrepresented litigants

compared to the situation prior to the coming into force

of the Act, and (2) the outcomes in cases where litigants

are unrepresented in cases relating to housing and

family law and the criminal courts; and if so, when.

[HL1528]

Lord Keen of Elie: The Lord Chancellor is currently

considering the planned post-implementation review of

recent legal aid reforms and will make an announcement

in due course.

Libya: Refugees


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during

his recent visit to Libya, the Foreign Secretary

discussed reports that the Libyan Coastguard threatened

and fired upon search and rescue vessels. [HL1509]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of such

reports. During his visit in August, the Foreign Secretary

raised the Libyan Coastguard with Prime Minister Serraj,

underscoring the importance of respecting human rights

and international law. We have made clear that all vessels

must operate in accordance with maritime law and any

behaviour that threatens legitimate search and rescue

activity is not acceptable. The Libyan Coastguard training

package – which the UK is helping to deliver – aims to

help develop a corps of professional Libyan Coastguard

personnel with the skills required to manage search and

rescue activities properly, whilst respecting human rights

and international law.



his recent visit to Libya, the Foreign Secretary visited

detention centres for refugees; and what information

they have collected about conditions in those centres.

[HL1510]


did not visit any Libyan detention centres during his visit

to Libya in August 2017, but did visit a centre in an

earlier visit. The Foreign Secretary raised the importance

of adhering to international human rights standards with

Prime Minister Serraj. We are very concerned about

humanitarian conditions inside Libyan detention centres,

particularly those not controlled by the Libyan

Government. The UK is working to improve conditions

and protect migrants' human rights in detention centres

through its programming. The UK has provided £3.2

million in Libya for direct assistance in detention centres.











We are also providing Assisted Voluntary Returns from

Libya: this programme has supported the return of more

than 1,400 migrants to their home countries.



his recent visit to Libya, the Foreign Secretary was

made aware of the case of a 12-year-old boy from Mali

who was picked up by the Libyan Coastguard following

the death of his parents in the Mediterranean, and who

was returned by that coastguard into a detention centre

intended for adult males; and if so, what action they

have taken to assist (1) that unaccompanied child, and

(2) other similarly detained unaccompanied minors.

[HL1512]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are not aware of this

particular case. We are concerned about the risk to

unaccompanied minors who are detained in Libya and

about detention conditions across the board. The UK is

working to improve detention conditions through our

programming. The key is to break the business model of

smugglers and to prioritise interventions upstream in

countries of origin and transit to reduce the need of

migrants to leave their home country or move on from a

safe third country in their region.

LIFE

Asked by Baroness Barker

To ask Her Majesty's Government what timetable for

(1) monitoring, and (2) evaluation, has been agreed for

the grant from the Tampon Tax Fund awarded to Life

2009; and to whom the results of the evaluation will be

made available. [HL1213]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: All grants awarded from the

Tampon Tax Fund are monitored by the Office for Civil

Society throughout the lifetime of the grant to ensure that

the projects deliver the agreed outputs and outcomes. The

timing of monitoring reports is set out in individual grant

agreements and varies depending on the nature of the

project. Funded organisations are responsible for

evaluating their own projects.

The Life Charity grant agreement has yet to be agreed.

Lighting


To ask Her Majesty's Government who made the

decision to replace the lightbulb classification system

from watts to lumens; and whether they intend to

review that classification system once the UK leaves

the EU. [HL1526]

Lord Prior of Brampton: No decision has been made

to replace lightbulb classification from watts to lumens.

The “luminous efficacy” of lightbulbs has for many years

internationally been measured in lumens (measure of

brightness) per watt (measure of power). This is the ratio

of light out /energy in. There are currently information

requirements placed on suppliers of lightbulbs that require

the packaging to display the equivalent Watts of the

lumen rating. However, as the demand for LEDs increases

in the UK, lumens per watt is becoming a more

appropriate measure of a lamp’s effectiveness in

converting electricity to light.

List of Ministerial Responsibilities



publish an updated edition of the list of ministerial

responsibilities, last updated in October 2016. [HL1616]

Baroness Sugg: The updated List of Ministerial

Responsibilities will be published shortly. In the interim,

a summary of Ministers responsibilities can be found on

Gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers.

Magistrates' Courts: Newcastle upon Tyne



magistrates court proceedings will be heard in

Newcastle following the proposed relocation of family

proceedings to the Civic Centre; and if not heard in

Newcastle, where. [HL1527]

Lord Keen of Elie: HM Courts & Tribunals Service

intends that magistrates’ court hearings will continue to

be heard in Newcastle following the proposed relocation

of civil and family work to the Civic Centre.

Military Aid


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1)

officials, and (2) service personnel, are engaged in

advising foreign governments on their obligations under

international law on the conduct of military operations,

broken down by country. [HL1233]

Earl Howe: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) provides

training to foreign governments and their Armed Forces

on international law, including on topics such as

international humanitarian law, counter-piracy and

maritime law, and the military justice system. The number

of UK officials and Service personnel involved in

providing this training changes over the course of a year.

The majority of international law training is provided by

individuals and small teams deploying and visiting for

short periods of time.

This year the MOD has provided training to the Czech

Republic, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, and Uganda. We

also welcomed foreign students from Canada, Denmark,

the Republic of Ireland, Nigeria, Switzerland, Uganda,

and the USA on UK courses such as the Brigade Legal

Officers course. One British Army lawyer works in the

International Institute for Humanitarian Law at San

Remo, Italy.






https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers




Additionally training and advice on international

humanitarian law is incorporated into a range of military

training delivered by the UK Armed Forces to our

international partners. I refer the noble Lord to the answer

I gave on 1 December 2016 to Question HL3314 to Lord

Hodgson of Astley Abbotts, which details those countries

the UK trained during financial year 2016-17.

Finally, officials and Service personnel meet their

foreign counterparts at conferences, in multi-lateral

organisations including NATO, and at academic

institutions. The MOD does not centrally record these

meetings and a full response could only be provided at

disproportionate costs.



completed a review into the allocation of costs of using

Ministry of Defence assets for emergency relief in cases

of (1) natural disasters, and (2) the rescue of migrants at

sea, to the budget of the Department for International

Development. [HL1619]

Earl Howe: The appropriate allocation of operational

costs is considered at the commencement of an operation

and, where appropriate, reviewed annually. For most

operations the Ministry of Defence (MOD) seeks funds

for costs that are over and above existing funding

arrangements. Where the Department for International

Development (DfID) has requested the use of MOD assets

to support humanitarian and disaster relief operations the

additional costs may be recovered from DfID. The

additional cost of the counter-people trafficking operation

in the Mediterranean is met from the HM Treasury

Special Reserve.

Money Laundering: Azerbaijan

Asked by Baroness Cox


statement by the Prime Minister’s spokesman on 5

September that information relating to the Azerbaijani

Laundromat scheme received from the media would be

examined by the National Crime Agency (NCA),

whether they have asked (1) the NCA, or (2) a financial

regulator, to examine allegations relating to UK-

registered companies and partnerships. [HL1471]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Investigations into

allegations of money laundering are conducted by law

enforcement agencies such as the National Crime Agency,

the Serious Fraud Office, and the police. Decision in

whether to investigate and how to do so is purely a matter

for law enforcement. The NCA, SFO, and the police of

are operationally independent of the Government.

Motor Vehicles

Asked by Lord Birt


to ban the use of vehicles with petrol and diesel engines

from 2050. [HL1217]

Lord Callanan: Our aim is for almost every car and

van to be zero emission by 2050. We are investing

£1billion on supporting ultra-low emission vehicles to

mass market. This ambition is technology neutral but we

expect it to be industry led with the car industry rising to

meet changing consumer tastes.

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe

Asked by Baroness Northover

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the

Foreign Secretary intends to meet the Iranian Foreign

Minister or members of his team at the next UN

General Assembly; and if so, whether he will seek to

ensure that the British Ambassador to Iran can visit the

detained British-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-

Ratcliffe, particularly in the light of concerns about her

health. [HL1552]



intend to make an appeal to Iran to release Nazanin

Zaghari-Ratcliffe, in the context of the theme of the

General Debate of the 72nd Session of the UN General

Assembly, Focusing on people: striving for peace and a

decent life for all on a sustainable planet. [HL1553]


met the Iranian Foreign Minister on 18 September and

raised the cases of our British/Iranian dual-national

detainees, including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe. I also raised

our dual national detainees with the Iranian Deputy

Foreign Minister, at the UN General Assembly in New

York.


To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are

taking forward the request from Nazanin Zaghari-

Ratcliffe's legal representative that an independent

medical commission should examine her for her fitness

to remain in prison; and whether they intend to seek

assurances that any such assessment will be objective.

[HL1554]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are not aware of any

request to assist on this matter from either the legal

representative or family of Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, but we

will consider what assistance we may be able to offer

should a request be made.









NHS: Exchange Rates

Asked by Lord Watson of Richmond


they have made of the additional costs to the NHS as a

consequence of the fall in the value of the pound since

the EU referendum. [HL1419]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Spending Review set

budgets for the National Health Service for the years up to

and including 2020-21. Costs in the NHS may be

impacted by a number of factors and these are regularly

discussed with HM Treasury.

Non-domestic Rates


To ask Her Majesty's Government how much revenue

they expect to receive in the next financial year from

the tax on single business spaces covering multiple

floors, as set out by the Valuation Office Agency; and

what is their estimate of the average cost to each small

and medium-sized enterprise affected by that change.

[HL1544]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The recent change in

the Valuation Office Agency’s approach to assessing

single business spaces covering multiple floors follows a

Supreme Court judgement. The Government is

considering the implications of this judgement, and any

potential impact on small and medium-sized businesses.

Following Budget 2016, the Government announced a

wide-ranging package of measures to support rate payers,

that will be worth £9 billion over the next five years.

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many small

and medium sized businesses will be impacted by the

Valuation Office Agency's decision to class communal

spaces such as staircases, corridors and lifts as separate

premises for business rate purposes; and how many

such businesses will be billed retrospectively as a result

of this change. [HL1431]



they have made of the impact on small and medium

sized businesses of the Valuation Office Agency's

decision to class communal spaces such as staircases,

corridors and lifts as separate premises for the

calculation of business rates. [HL1432]

Lord Bates: In July 2015, the Supreme Court clarified

existing rating law relating to communal spaces such as

staircases, corridors and lifts. The Valuation Office

Agency (VOA) has a legal duty to adapt its practices to

reflect the judgment.

The VOA assesses the value of property and not the

businesses that occupy the property. As such, it does not

hold information on whether the occupant of a property is

a small or medium business.



are planning to take to prevent or limit any negative

impact on small businesses from the Valuation Office

Agency's decisions (1) to class communal spaces such

as staircases, corridors and lifts as separate premises for

the calculation of business rates, and (2) to bill

businesses for this change retrospectively. [HL1433]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The recent change in

the Valuation Office Agency’s approach to assessing

units within multi-occupied buildings follows a Supreme

Court judgement. The Government is considering the

implications of this judgement, including for small

businesses. Following Budget 2016, the Government

announced a wide-ranging package of measures to

support rate payers, that will be worth £9 billion over the

next five years.

North Korea: Weapons




North Korea in relation to that country's programmes

for the development of missiles and nuclear weapons.

[HL1229]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: On 5 September the

Minister for Asia and the Pacific summoned the North

Korean ambassador to condemn North Korea's nuclear

test on 3 September. He emphasised that North Korea's

continued development of nuclear and ballistic missile

capabilities was reckless, posed a threat to international

peace and security, increased regional tension and

hindered the prospects for lasting peace on the Korean

Peninsula. Ministers and our Embassy in Pyongyang have

made the same points on many occasions to the North

Korean authorities.

Northern Cyprus: Airports

Asked by Lord Sharkey


held discussions with officials in Northern Cyprus

concerning security arrangements at Ercan International

Airport; if so, what were the (1) objectives, and (2)

outcomes, of those discussions; and if they have not

held such discussions, why not. [HL1627]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government has not

discussed security arrangements at Ercan with officials in

the northern part of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus has

not designated Ercan as an airport under the 1944

Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation. The

Court of Appeal has ruled that direct flights from Ercan to

the UK therefore cannot take place. Flights from Ercan to

the UK land first in Turkey where passengers, their











baggage, and any cargo are screened before the aircraft

continues on to the UK.

Offences against Children

Asked by Lord Ouseley


they have made of concerns expressed by the NSPCC

regarding the 60 per cent rise in reports of child neglect

over the past five years. [HL1308]

Lord Nash: The Department’s children in need annual

census demonstrates an increase between 2011-12 and

2015-16 of 27% in the number of Child Protection Plans

at 31 March with the initial category of neglect as the

form of abuse (from 18,220 to 23,150). Over the same

period there was an increase of

19 per cent in the number of children in need at 31

March with the primary need of ‘abuse or neglect’ (from

168,270 to 199,720), although this cannot be

disaggregated to identify neglect needs only. These

figures are in the context of general increases of 17 per

cent with regard to Child Protection Plans at 31 March

and 7 per cent with regard to children in need at 31

March.

We recognise the great importance of identifying

hidden abuse, including in the form of neglect, and

continue to fund the NSPCC to deliver the Childline

service, with £8 million invested to 2020. We have also

delivered a major communications campaign, Together,

we can tackle child abuse, to raise awareness and

encourage the members of the public to raise concerns.

Through our wide-ranging reforms to children’s social

care, we are working to ensure all forms of abuse,

including neglect, are identified early, with timely and

proportionate assessments of individual needs, and the

right services provided at the right time to keep children

safe.

Asked by Baroness Walmsley


publish their response to the Home Office public

consultation, Reporting and Acting on Child Abuse and

Neglect. [HL1418]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The previous

Government launched a consultation on reporting and

acting on child abuse and neglect. This sought views on

the introduction of possible new measures including a

mandatory reporting duty or a duty to act. The

Government has reviewed the consultation responses and

will publish its response in due course.

Offenders: Deportation



individuals who were serving custodial sentences and

were recommended for deportation on release, have

been deported in each of the last five years. [HL1453]


routinely publishes figures on the total number of foreign

national offenders that have been removed. The figures

can be found at ‘Returns data tables – immigration

statistics April to June 2017 volume 5 – rt_06_q’ when

accessing the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/immigration-

statistics-april-to-june-2017-data-tables

Figures in include enforced removals and voluntary

returns.A foreign national offender (FNO) is someone

who:(a) is not a British citizen; and (b) is/was convicted

in the UK or abroad of any criminal offence. Following

the introduction of Association of Chief Police Officers

Criminal Records Office (ACRO) cases, the FNO returns

figure has included cases where foreign nationals who had

a criminal conviction in another country, were picked up

by police in the UK, and subsequently returned from the

UK. In addition, these people could also have a UK

conviction. This case type is now sufficiently well

established to warrant separate identification in the

statistical series. These figures are a count of an

administrative process and, as such, are provisional and

will be revised in line with the existing series. Those with

an overseas criminal record may also have a UK criminal

record.


Returns Data Table - Apr-June 2017 - vol 5 rt 06_q [Returns 5 -

apr-jun 2017 tables - rt_06q.xlsx]






individuals who have completed custodial sentences

and have been recommended for deportation, are

currently awaiting deportation. [HL1454]


routinely publishes figures on the total number of foreign

national offenders that are currently time served and are

awaiting removal action. The figures can be found on the

following link:


IE Transparency Data - Q1 2017 [Copy of IE - Transparency Data

- Q1 2017 v2.xlsx]




Olympic Games: South Korea

Asked by Lord Moynihan

To ask Her Majesty's Government what contingency

plans are in place for UK competitors and supporters

travelling to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in

Pyeongchang, South Korea, in the light of the threat of














instability in that region; and what advice they have

issued. [HL1479]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Both the UK

Government and the Pyeongchang Organising Committee

for the Olympic Games in South Korea have contingency

plans for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as we

do for all major sporting events. As we prepare for the

Games, we are in close touch with the British Olympic

and Paralympic Associations. The Government keeps all

travel advice under constant review, including for the

Republic of Korea.

Oral Tobacco

Asked by Viscount Ridley


have to publish (1) the assessments, and (2) the

correspondence, held by Public Health England

regarding the toxicology of the smoking substitute snus,

including any communication with government

scientists. [HL1503]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: There are no current plans to

publish any assessments or correspondence on the

toxicology of snus.

Out-of-school Education

Asked by Lord Warner

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they

have made of the number of children being taught at

unregistered schools; and what information and

directions they have given to (1) local authorities, and

(2) Ofsted, on this issue. [HL1354]


To ask Her Majesty's Government how

many unregistered schools have been closed in each of

the last three years for which records are available.

[HL1355]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers, (1)

Ofsted, (2) local authorities, and (3) the Secretary of

State, have to close unregistered schools; what

representations they have received about the adequacy

of such powers; and whether they have any plans to

strengthen those powers. [HL1356]



regard children attending unregistered schools to be

children at risk and therefore subject to assessment

under local authority child protection procedures.

[HL1357]

Lord Nash: National statistics on the number of

children being taught at unregistered schools are not held

centrally. However, we are working closely with Ofsted

and local authorities to tackle this sector.

We have provided Ofsted with additional resources to

root out and inspect those suspected of operating

unlawfully and take action to bring them into compliance

with the law. We have also been supporting local

authorities to use their existing powers under

safeguarding or health and safety legislation to disrupt

and tackle both unsuitable out-of-school settings and

unregistered independent schools.

Although we don’t track closures of unregistered

schools, Ofsted’s Annual Report 2015/16: education,

early years and skills, published on 1 December 2016,

noted that from January 2016 to end August 2016 (the end

of the period covered by the report), Ofsted inspected 38

such settings; Ofsted issued 19 warning notices telling

proprietors to cease operating illegally; and 15 of those

providers ceased to operate illegally following those

inspections. Ofsted will publish its next annual report

later this year.

The annual report can be accessed on gov.uk at

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/

attachment_data/file/574186/Ofsted_annual_report_educa

tion_and_skills_201516_web-ready.pdf.

It is a criminal offence for any person to operate an

unregistered independent school and Ofsted has powers to

inspect such settings. Anyone who is found to be

conducting an independent school without registration is

breaking the law and may be liable to prosecution.

However, in most cases, collaborative working between

Ofsted and local authorities has resulted in such settings

voluntarily ceasing to operate unlawfully, which is

verified by the figures highlighted in the Ofsted report

referred to above.

As part of our ongoing work with Ofsted and local

authorities we have been raising awareness on how we

can all work together to help ensure that children are safe

and are receiving a suitable education. We keep this under

constant review.

The legislative framework for the child protection

system in England is provided largely by the Children Act

1989 and the Children Act 2004. This sets out the

overarching responsibility of local authorities for

safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children in

their area, regardless of where they are educated. It is for

local authorities to assess whether the threshold for

intervention is met in the case of an individual child

taking account of the impact and influence of

environmental factors, such as attending an unregistered

school. However, wherever local authorities have

reasonable cause to suspect that a child is suffering, or

likely to suffer, significant harm, they are under a duty to

investigate. Local authorities should make whatever

enquiries necessary to decide what, if any, action to take

to safeguard or promote the child’s welfare.


Ofsted annual report education and skills 2015-16

[Ofsted_annual_report_education_and_skills_201516.pdf]









https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/574186/Ofsted_annual_report_education_and_skills_201516_web-ready.pdf







To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will

respond to the consultation on out-of-school education

settings which closed in January 2016; and whether

they propose to introduce provisions that would require

such settings to (1) register, and (2) be subject to risk-

based inspections. [HL1443]



they have made of the impact that requiring out-of-

school settings to (1) register, and (2) be subject to risk-

based inspections, would have on addressing the

existence of illegal unregistered schools. [HL1444]

Lord Nash: The Government published a Counter

Extremism Strategy in 2015, which set out plans to

introduce a new system of oversight for out-of-school

education settings – such as supplementary schools,

tuition centres and madrassahs. To learn more about these

settings, and the potential scope and impact of any

regulatory system, the department issued a call for

evidence. We will make an announcement about the

outcome in due course.

Overseas Aid


To ask Her Majesty's Government what was DFID's

(1) core, and (2) non-core, expenditure in (a) 2015–16,

and (b) 2016–17, to (i) UNFPA, (ii) UNAIDS, (iii) UN

Women, (iv) the WHO, (v) The Global Fund, (vi) the

IPPF, and (vii) Women and Children First (UK).

[HL1507]

Lord Bates: The table below shows DFID’s spend to

the organisations in the UK’s financial years 2015/16 and

2016/17. These figures are provisional until the

Government’s ‘Statistics on International Development’

are published later in 2017 (for 2016 spend) and in 2018

(for 2017 spend).

£ millions 2015/16 2016/17

Core Non-core Core Non-core

United Nations

Population Fund

(UNFPA)

20.1 89.1 20 87.8

Joint United Nations

Programme on

HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)

15 0 15 0

UN Women 12.5 2.7 12.5 6.8

World Health

Organisation (WHO)

14.5 250.1* 14.5 *

£ millions 2015/16 2016/17

Core Non-core Core Non-core

The Global Fund 100 0 152.9 0

International Planned Parenthood

Federation (IPPF)

8.6 0 6.5 0

Women and Children First (UK)

0 0.09 0 0.04

Total 170.7 341.9 68.5 247.5

*The World Health Organisation operates a biennial budget cycle; as such the non-core funding for 2015/16 financial year also covers

2016/17 financial year.

Overseas Companies: Race Relations

Asked by Baroness Primarolo


planning to amend the Race Relations Act 1965 and

subsequent related legislation to clarify the extent to

which that legislation applies to the activities outside

the UK of UK-based (1) companies, and (2) directors.

[HL1398]

Lord Nash: The employment provisions of the

Equality Act 2010 (“the Act”), which supersedes previous

equalities legislation, only apply to employer activities in

Great Britain. Some activities outside Great Britain may

also be in scope of the Act, if the employment

relationship is found to have a strong connection with

Great Britain. The Government has no plans to amend the

Act in this respect.

Pakistan: Marriage



encouraged the government of Pakistan to enact laws

recognising the legality of Christian marriages.

[HL1573]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Ministry of Human

Rights in Pakistan is currently reviewing the Christian

Marriage Act 1872 and Christian Divorce Act 1862. We

have discussed the review with the then Minister for

Human Rights, Kamran Michael, and regularly raise

minority and women's rights with the Government of

Pakistan.

Pakistan: Minority Groups




Pakistan about the Supreme Court Order of 2014

requiring the establishment of a task force and a

national council of minority rights; and what

explanation they have received, if any, regarding the

lack of progress and their disestablishment. [HL1515]














Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We regularly raise our

concerns about the protection of minority communities

with the Government of Pakistan at a senior level. The

Foreign Secretary discussed the importance we attach to

safeguarding the rights of all Pakistan's citizens during his

visit to Pakistan in November 2016.

The former Minister for Asia and the Pacific, my hon.

Friend the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma), raised

the protection of minorities with Kamran Michael, former

Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah

Khan, former Prime Minister's Special Assistant for

Human Rights, during a visit to Pakistan in January 2017.

While we have not raised the 2014 Supreme Court

judgement specifically, we have encouraged the

implementation of the National Action Plan on Human

Rights, which includes the establishment of an

independent National Commission for Minorities. We

continue to press Pakistan to take the steps necessary to

ensure it complies in full with its human rights obligations

and that the rights of all its citizens, including minorities,

are respected.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what information

they have about proposals in Pakistan to establish (1) a

National Council for Minorities’ Rights, and (2) a

dedicated police unit to protect religious minorities; and

whether they have encouraged such developments.

[HL1572]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Action Plan for

Human Rights, published by the Pakistan Ministry of

Human Rights in 2016, contains proposals for a range of

measures to improve human rights in Pakistan, including

a National Commission for Minorities and security

arrangements for protection of places of worship of

minorities. We have encouraged implementation of the

Action Plan.

Pakistan: Overseas Aid



overseas aid they have given to Pakistan in each of

the past five years; and of that, how much has

specifically been committed to the promotion of (1) the

protection of minorities, and (2) freedom of religion or

belief. [HL1574]

Lord Bates: The DFID Annual Report includes the

following figures for aid spend in Pakistan for the last five

years;

2012-13 £203.1 Million

2013-14 £253 M

2014-15 £249 M

2015-16 £336.2 M

2016-17 £422.1M

£39.5 million has been committed to the Voice and

Accountability programme (AAWAZ) which aims to

ensure that democratic processes are more open, inclusive

and accountable to citizens in Pakistan. It focuses on three

areas:

1- Women’s and minority rights, their political

participation and decision making;

2- Tolerance and prevention of violence (inter-faith,

sectarian and gender-based)

3- Increasing the accountability and responsiveness of

the state to citizens’ demands for improved service

delivery (particularly on health and education).

Pakistan: Religious Freedom


To ask Her Majesty's Government when they last

raised with the government of Pakistan (1) the anti-

Ahmadiyya laws set out in Penal Code Article 298,

and (2) that government's obligations to protect

freedom of religion or belief; and whether they intend

to encourage the government of Pakistan to invite the

United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of

Religion or Belief to make a country visit to Pakistan.

[HL1569]


remains firmly committed to the promotion and protection

of Freedom of Religion or Belief. We regularly raise

concerns about the protection and persecution of minority

communities, including Ahmadiyya Muslims, the

blasphemy laws and the protection of freedom of religion

or belief to the Government of Pakistan at a senior level.

The Foreign Secretary raised the importance we attach to

religious tolerance and safeguarding the rights of all

Pakistan's citizens during his visit to Pakistan in

November 2016. The former Minister for Asia and the

Pacific, my hon. Friend the Member for Reading West

(Mr Sharma), discussed the protection of religious

minorities with Kamran Michael, former Minister for

Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah Khan, Prime

Minister's Special Assistant for Human Rights, during a

visit to Pakistan in January 2017.

We continue to urge Pakistan to take the steps

necessary to comply in full with its human rights

obligations, including engaging with the UN and other

international bodies, and to ensure that the rights of

minorities are respected.

Pakistan: Schools


To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the

meeting of Lord Alton of Liverpool and Baroness

Nicholson of Winterbourne with the Minister of State at

the Department for International Development, Rory

Stewart MP, about the role of school textbooks and the

school curriculum in Pakistan in describing non-

Muslims, what progress has been made in promoting

inclusive educational approaches in that country.

[HL1571]









Lord Bates: DFID’s education programmes in Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces continue to support

provincial governments in the ongoing process to update

and revise textbooks. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab

lower secondary textbooks are now the focus. Through

the Ilm Two programme DFID is directly supporting the

production of additional reading materials that

specifically focus on religious tolerance and inclusion.

DFID is also engaged with Federal Government

consultations on a new draft National Curriculum which

is in its early stages. The Federal Government has also

agreed minimum standards for educational quality which

were adopted by provinces this year. These standards set

the quality criteria for learners, curriculum, textbooks ,

teachers and assessment and form the basis for the current

textbook reform.

Palace of Westminster: Official Cars



any plans to instruct drivers of ministerial cars not to

keep their engines running when parked in Speaker's

Court. [HL1617]

Lord Callanan: Government Car Service drivers are

given a clear instruction not to keep engines running

whilst parked and regular reminders are sent out on this

subject.

Palestinians: Freedom of Expression



representations they have made to the Palestinian

Authority following reports of restrictions being

imposed on free speech and the arrest of activists who

have criticised Palestinian Authority leaders. [HL1567]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government stands

up for and strongly supports the right of freedom of

expression. We have concerns about the contraction of

space for free speech in the Occupied Palestinian

Territories. Our Consul-General to Jerusalem raised our

concerns over the arrest and detention of human rights

activists and advocates of free speech with the Palestinian

Authority on 10 September.

Parents: Low Incomes

Asked by Baroness Eaton

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they hold

data on the family circumstances of babies born to low

income families in the UK; if so, which department

holds those data; and how many babies were born to

low income families that had (1) parents in a couple

relationship, and (2) a single parent, in the last five

years for which figures are available. [HL1592]

Baroness Buscombe: Information on the number of

children born into families in low income is not available

for any period.

This is because the main sources of income data only

capture a household's situation once a year. Therefore we

do not record the income of the family on the day the

child is born. The sample size for households with very

young children will be small and it may also be the case

that the response rate from families with very young

children will be lower than usual and therefore may not be

representative.

Parks

Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch


have made of the total acreage of public parks in the

UK for each year since 2010. [HL1279]

Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many public

parks there were in the UK in each year since 2010.

[HL1280]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government does

not collect data on number of parks or their acreages but

fully recognises the value of publicly accessible green

spaces which allow communities to come together and

contribute to their health and well being. The

Communities and Local Government Select Committee

published its report on Public Parks in January 2017

which looked at both the value and future sustainability of

parks as well as some of the challenges the sector faces.

We will shortly be publishing our response to the

Committee’s recommendations. We will work closely

with the parks sector and other Government Departments

who have the expertise and knowledge of what works

well to ensure that parks continue to play a vital role in

communities.

Pedicabs: Greater London

Asked by Baroness Stowell of Beeston

To ask Her Majesty's Government what powers

currently exist to prevent the operators of rickshaws and

pedicabs playing loud music on London's highways.

[HL1407]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Anti-social

Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 introduced a

range of flexible powers to make it quicker and easier for

police forces, local authorities and other partners to

protect victims and communities from anti-social and

nuisance behaviour. This includes Community Protection

Notices, Public Spaces Protection Order and Dispersal

Powers.

It is also an offence under section 97 of the Road

Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 for a

person to use a motor vehicle on the road in such a










manner as to cause any excessive noise. The police have

the power to restrict noise from moving vehicles.

The police also have the power under section 59 of the

Police Reform Act 2002 to seize vehicles. This can be as

a result of driving a vehicle in a careless and inconsiderate

manner or driving a vehicle other than on a road, contrary

to the Road Traffic Act 1988, or using a vehicle in a

manner causing, or likely to cause, alarm, distress or

annoyance to members of the public.

The Home Office has not issued any guidance on the

use of these powers. How these powers are used is an

operational matter for the police.

Personation

Asked by Lord Ouseley


have they made of the implications for crime and

security in the UK of reports that there are 500

occurrences of identity theft each day and what action,

if any, they plan to take to reduce identity theft.

[HL1311]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government is

concerned about the harms caused by identity crime and

the 2016 National Strategic Assessment of Serious and

Organised Crime sets out our assessment of the threats

associated with identity crime.

Government are taking a number of steps to counter the

increase in illegal activity around identity fraud including:

Action Fraud was established in 2014 and is the UK’s

national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre. All

frauds including identity thefts should be reported to

them. The City of London Police is the national policing

lead for fraud and works with Action Fraud using the

National Fraud Intelligence Bureau to combat identity

thefts.

The Government is also concerned about the harms

caused by identity crime and Action Fraud provides

advice to individuals and businesses as well as support to

victims.

Gov.uk Verify is a simple and secure way of verifying

identity when accessing some government services

online, reducing the risk of fraud no matter which service

is being accessed. HMG plans to extend the Verify

platform so that people have one single, common and safe

way of verifying themselves to all parts of government by

2020. Government also plans to make this platform more

widely available, so that people can safely verify their

identity to access non-government services such as

banking.

Plants: Diseases


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the

bacteria Xylella fastidiosa is capable of infecting tree

and plant species in the UK; and if so, whether they are

taking steps to ban the importation of any goods,

produce, plants or other species that could bring the

disease into the UK. [HL1220]



they have made of the effectiveness of the EU Food

Safety Agency's plans to stop the spread of Xylella

fastidiosa in Europe. [HL1221]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Certain subspecies of

Xylella fastidiosa could be damaging to tree and plant

species in the UK. We are pressing, at an EU level, for

protections to be strengthened and will continue to keep

this issue under review nationally. This includes taking

account of the most up to date scientific information,

including that published by the European Food Safety

Authority, which has helped to inform the development of

measures to protect against the disease and actions in

response to findings within the EU.

On the basis of the current evidence, Defra’s Secretary

of State has written to the European Commissioner for

Health and Food Safety Vytensis Andriukaitis to raise

concerns about EU protections against the disease and

urge stronger action. The letter also highlights that

national measures could be introduced in the event that

the appropriate level of protection is not forthcoming

through the EU review. The Chief Plant Health Officer

has written to businesses growing and trading host plants

to encourage good biosecurity and careful sourcing of

plants. Copies of these letters will be placed in the library.


'Act now to keep the UK Xylella free' letter ['Act now to keep the

UK Xylella free' letter.pdf]

Letter to Commissioner Andriukaitis [letter to Commissioner

Andriukaitis.pdf]




Plastics: Recycling



any plans to consult on a proposal to phase out the use

of black plastic containers, in the light of the inability of

some automatic recycling sorting machines to recognise

black plastic. [HL1368]



any plans to introduce legislation to require councils to

accept polystyrene for recycling; and if not, whether

they intend to ban the use of polystyrene as a packaging

material once the UK has left the EU. [HL1369]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The recycling of packaging

has risen from around 46% to 60% over the last decade

and our packaging regulations and policies incentivise

businesses to use less packaging and to ensure that their











packaging can be recycled at end of life. There are no

plans to ban any specific packaging materials at this time.

Almost all packaging is technically recyclable,

including black plastic and expanded polystyrene. Some

local authorities and waste management companies

choose not to collect this type of packaging for recycling

for various reasons, including cost of investing in new

machinery which can sort this packaging.

WRAP has published a report on the technical solutions

to improve the separation of black plastic in the sorting

process and is working with a working group of industry

and local authorities to put in place arrangements to

expand the collection and recycling of black plastic from

households.

Commercially, polystyrene is collected for recycling

and producers are supporting work to increase recycling

of this material. It is not commonly collected at the

kerbside for recycling due to its bulk and low value as a

secondary material.

Police and Prison Officers: Pay

Asked by Lord Hoyle

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether pay

increases during this financial year for police and prison

officers will be paid for from existing budgets.

[HL1578]

Lord Bates: As the Chief Secretary to the Treasury set

out in the Written Ministerial Statement laid on 12 th

September, pay awards for 2017/18 for police and prison

officers will be funded within existing budgets.

Police: Biometrics


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many facial

images are held on the Police National Database.

[HL1441]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In July 2016 there

were 19 million facial images on the Police National

Database (PND), The information requested can be found

in the "Biometrics Commissioner Annual Report 2017

(attached) which is published on the gov.uk website:

www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attach

ment_data/file/644426/CCS207_Biometrics_Commission

er_ARA-print.pdf


Biometrics Commissioner Annual Report 2017

[CCS207_Biometrics_Commissioner_ARA-print.pdf]





individuals have asked to have their facial images

removed from police databases in the years (1) 2014,

(2) 2015, (3) 2016, and (4) 2017 to date; and of those

who have asked, what percentage have had their images

removed. [HL1442]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The information

requested is not centrally collected.

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals



prisoners there are; and what is the breakdown by

nationality of those who are not UK citizens. [HL1451]


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-

UK citizens have been given custodial sentences in

each of the last five years; and how many in each year

have been recommended for deportation on release

from prison. [HL1452]

Lord Keen of Elie: As of 30 June 2017, there were

85,863 prisoners in Ministry of Justice run prisons and

Immigration Removal Centres (IRCs) in England and

Wales. 9,756 were foreign national prisoners, with 6,792

of these serving a custodial sentence. A breakdown of

nationalities and sentenced foreign prisoners held as of 30

June, for the last five years can be found in the

government published statistics which have been given in

the attached annexes.

All Foreign National Offenders (FNOs) sentenced to

custody are referred to the Home Office at the earliest

opportunity to be considered for deportation. This

Government is absolutely committed to removing FNOs,

and during the financial year 2016 / 2017, a record

number of 6,343 FNOs were removed from prisons, IRCS

and the community.


Prison Population 2017 by nationality [Annex - prison population

2017 by nationality.xlsx]

Prison Population nationality by group custody [Annex - prison

population nationality group by custody.xlsx]



Prisoners on Remand: Acquittals



have made of the number of remand prisoners acquitted

of the offences for which they were remanded in the

year 2016-17. [HL1214]

Lord Keen of Elie: The latest currently available data

on court remand covers the 2016 calendar year. Of the

345,897 defendants who were prosecuted and





https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/644426/CCS207_Biometrics_Commissioner_ARA-print.pdf














subsequently not convicted at magistrates’ courts,

approximately 9% (32,238) had been remanded in

custody at some point during those proceedings.

Of the 37,606 defendants who were subsequently not

convicted at the Crown Court, approximately 17% (6,524)

had been remanded in custody at some point during those

proceedings.

Those defendants included as not convicted include

those who were not proceeded against at magistrates’

courts and those who were not tried at the Crown Court

due to the proceedings terminating early, for example due

to the defendant dying before the court appearance date.



to change the policy of making no discharge grant or

compensation to remand prisoners acquitted of the

offences for which they were remanded. [HL1215]

Lord Keen of Elie: The decision to remand a defendant

in custody is taken by the court under the Bail Act 1976

and is a separate decision to a finding of guilt or

innocence. Where the lawful decision to remand a

defendant is made and a person subsequently acquitted

there is no provision or reason to award compensation.

Remand prisoners discharged at court or from prison

after a period of custody on remand are not eligible for a

Discharge Grant. Current policy is set out in Prison

Service Instruction 72/2011. There are no immediate

plans to review the arrangements for remand prisoners in

respect of eligibility for payment of a Discharge Grant

when acquitted of the offences for which they were

remanded.

Prisoners' Release: Northern Ireland

Asked by Lord Trimble


prisoners have been released under the Northern Ireland

(Sentences) Act 1998; and of that number, how many

prisoners were designated as (1) loyalist, and (2)

republican. [HL1347]



republican prisoners sentenced for a scheduled offence

have been refused release under the Northern Ireland

(Sentences) Act 1998 and have not yet been released.

[HL1348]


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many loyalist

prisoners sentenced for a scheduled offence have been

refused release under the Northern Ireland (Sentences)

Act 1998 and have not yet been released. [HL1349]



republican prisoners, released under the Northern

Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998, have been recalled; and

of those, how many were subsequently released under

that Act. [HL1350]


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many loyalist

prisoners, released under the Northern Ireland

(Sentences) Act 1998, have been recalled; and of those,

how many were subsequently released under that Act.

[HL1351]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Northern Ireland Office

officials are currently undertaking a consolidation

exercise, in conjunction with the Sentence Review

Commissioners to confirm the answers to your questions.

I will write to the Noble Lord once this exercise has been

completed.

Prisons: Sanitation


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prison

places there are without in-cell sanitation or access to

toilet facilities. [HL1216]

Lord Keen of Elie: All prison accommodation has

access to either in-cell sanitation (a toilet and wash basin

installed in the cell) or toilet facilities accessed through

the following means:

• Open Access – some prisoners, including those

housed in open conditions, are not locked in their cells

and therefore are able to use central facilities at all

times;

• Electric Unlocking - cell doors are opened

electronically to release prisoners one at a time. When

out of their cell, prisoners have access to a restricted

area that includes the toilet facility; or

• Manual Unlocking – staff are deployed to unlock

prisoners to use toilet facilities. This is only used as a

contingency measure.

Private Rented Housing: Electrical Safety

Asked by Lord Tope

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend

to make an announcement on mandatory electrical

safety checks in the private rented sector. [HL1415]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: All homes should be

decent and safe. Following Royal Assent of the Housing

and Planning Act 2016, a Working Group of relevant

experts was established to provide recommendations to

ministers on what, if any, legislative requirements for

electrical safety in the private rented sector should be

introduced. The Working Group has concluded and their

report and recommendations are currently being

considered.












Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland

Asked by Lord Kilclooney

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether release of

the £1 billion allocated in connection with their

confidence and supply agreement with the DUP is

dependent upon the restoration of the executive at

Stormont. [HL1477]

Lord Bates: We want to see the financial support for

Northern Ireland decided upon and spent by a devolved

government to benefit the whole community. It will be for

the restored Northern Ireland Executive to determine how

the additional funding is spent.

Asked by Lord Empey

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the

£1 billion additional funding for Northern Ireland

agreed in June has been allocated to date. [HL1531]

Asked by Lord Empey

To ask Her Majesty's Government what requests they

have received from departments of the Northern Ireland

Executive for the £1 billion additional funding for

Northern Ireland agreed in June; from which

departments; and how much was requested. [HL1532]

Asked by Lord Empey

To ask Her Majesty's Government which stakeholders

they have consulted about the allocation of the £1

billion additional funding for Northern Ireland agreed in

June. [HL1533]

Lord Bates: We want to see the financial support for

Northern Ireland decided upon and spent by a devolved

government to benefit the whole community. No funding

has been allocated to date.

The UK Government receives regular representations

from departments of the Northern Ireland Executive on a

range of matters of importance to Northern Ireland and

the UK.

Public Transport: Accidents



have to establish an impartial body to investigate

serious incidents involving public transport on the

roads, similar to the services provided in relation to rail

by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch and the

Office of Road and Rail. [HL1560]

Lord Callanan: There are no current plans to establish

a new body to investigate serious incidents involving

public transport on the roads as there are well-established

collision investigation units within the police service and

effective ways in place to report the conclusions and

outcomes.

The department currently supports the police STATS-

19 collision reporting system and directly funds a

programme of detailed investigation under the Road

Accident in-depth Study in conjunction with police

forces, coroners and several hospitals.

Radicalism



Written Statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on

12 July (HLWS40), what definition of political and

social extremism they used in the Home Office Review;

and whether that definition included religious

conservatism. [HL1537]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The review into the

funding of Islamist extremist activity in the UK used the

Government’s definition of extremism, set out in the

Counter-Extremism Strategy published in October 2015.

Extremism is the vocal or active opposition to our

fundamental values, including democracy, the rule of law,

individual liberty and the mutual respect and tolerance of

different faiths and beliefs. We also regard calls for the

death of members of our armed forces as extremist.

Railways: Electrification

Asked by Lord Bradshaw

To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what has been

the cost, and (2) what is the predicted cost, of extending

the electrification clearance through train stations from

2.75 metres to 3.5 metres; and whether they intend

to make representations to the Office of Road and

Rail with regards to the new requirements for increased

clearance at train stations. [HL1227]

Lord Callanan: The Rail Safety and Standards Board

(RSSB) determine appropriate national technical

standards for electrical clearances in consultation with

Network Rail. The appropriate clearance distances are

subject to adequate risk assessments and it is a matter for

Network Rail to determine how best to protect the public.

The Department for Transport does not intend to make

representations to the Office of Road and Rail about these

standards.

In regard to costs, this information is held by Network

Rail.

Railways: Plumpton



aware of planned cuts to Southern Rail services to

Plumpton station at peak times; and whether they have

made an assessment of the impact of those cuts on

commuters. [HL1450]

Lord Callanan: Govia Thameslink Railway’s (GTR)

recent consultation on the 2018 timetable included a

specific question on stopping patterns at Plumpton and

Cooksbridge stations. GTR indicated that there was

limited support for changes to current timetable.










Therefore there are no plans to cut to peak time stops at

Plumpton.

Refugees: Libya


To ask Her Majesty's Government how they intend to

respond to the letter from Joanne Liu, International

President of Médecins Sans Frontières, that was sent to

the Prime Minister on 6 September concerning the

conditions faced by people detained in Libya. [HL1508]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of

Medecins Sans Frontieres’ open letter to the Prime

Minister and share their concerns about the standards of

treatment those in detention face. This is why we are

providing assistance to improve conditions in detention

facilities as well as encouraging Assisted Voluntary

Returns, and will continue to do so. This activity is

specifically designed to protect migrants' human rights

and improve conditions. It is underpinned by the 'do no

harm' principle and we have checks in place to make sure

that is the case. The key is to break the business model of

smugglers and to prioritise interventions upstream in

countries of origin and transit to reduce the need of

migrants to leave their home country or move on from a

safe third country in their region.

Refugees: Sri Lanka


To ask Her Majesty's Government, in the light of Sri

Lanka's new Counter Terrorism Act, what assessment

they have made of risks to Tamil returnees to Sri Lanka

who have been refugees in the UK. [HL1313]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: To clarify, the UK

does not return refugees to a country where they have a

well-founded fear of persecution.

Given that Sri Lanka’s new Counter Terrorism

proposals have yet to be passed into law, it is too early to

evaluate how it will be used in practice or what, if

anything, this means for Tamil returnees.

However, counter-terrorism legislation is not new to Sri

Lanka. The Home Office and the courts have both

considered this issue previously and concluded that the

existence and use of such legislation does not create a risk

to Tamil returnees in and of itself.

We continue to monitor the situation, and will consider

how this law is used. Cases continue to be considered on

their individual facts and merits. The Home Office’s

guidance on this is available on the Gov.Uk website.

Religious Buildings: Repairs and

Maintenance

Asked by Lord Beith


they have made of the impact of (1) the Heritage

Lottery Fund's Grants for Places of Worship scheme,

and (2) the future need to support religious buildings of

historic or architectural significance. [HL1587]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The Heritage Lottery Fund

operates at arm’s length from Government and any

assessment of what their Grants for Places of Worship

programme has achieved is for them to make.

The English Churches and Cathedrals Sustainability

Review was announced in 2016 and tasked with

delivering a report and recommendations to the

Chancellor and Secretary of State for Digital, Culture,

Media and Sport. This Review has yet to report, however

its findings will help to inform any future assessment by

Government of the need to support religious buildings of

historic or architectural significance.

Roads: Accidents


To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy

on the recording of road traffic accidents as serious

rather than fatal when death occurs at a later stage.

[HL1400]

Lord Callanan: The Department for Transport’s

STATS19 data collection system for road casualty

statistics follows a common internationally agreed

definition on fatalities. For statistical purposes, the

definition of a fatal road casualty is restricted to casualties

who sustain injuries leading to death less than 30 days

after the accident. This is the common international

definition, adopted by the Vienna Convention in 1968 to

allow for satisfactory international comparisons of road

accident statistics.

Robert Litt

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty's Government on which

occasions Robert Litt, then General Counsel to the US

Office of the Director of National Intelligence, visited

the UK for the purpose of meeting ministers or civil

servants after June 2014; what business he conducted

on those occasions; and with which UK officials.

[HL1610]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The former General

Counsel to the US Office of the Director of National

Intelligence, Robert Litt, visited the UK in November

2014 to meet the FCO's Legal Adviser, and in December

2016 to meet officials from the Cabinet Office, including

a Deputy Director of the National Security Secretariat.

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty's Government what information,

if any, they have received from HM Embassy in Dublin

concerning visits to the Irish Republic since June 2014

of Robert Litt, then General Counsel to the US Office

of the Director of National Intelligence. [HL1611]










Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We hold no such

information.

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty's Government what information,

if any, they have received from the UK Permanent

Representative to the EU concerning visits to Brussels

since June 2014 of Robert Litt, then General Counsel to

the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence,

with particular regard to visits made in September and

October 2015. [HL1612]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We hold no such

information.

Roundabouts: Traffic Lights

Asked by Lord Mawson


assessment they have made of the effectiveness of

traffic lights on roundabouts reducing congestion across

England. [HL1478]

Lord Callanan: Provision of traffic lights is the

responsibility of each local traffic authority. It is for them

to decide if lights are required at roundabout junctions on

their network, taking into account local circumstances

such as accident records, traffic flows and road layout.

The Department for Transport recommends local

authorities regularly review sites to revise timings as

needed and to ensure the use of signal control is still

appropriate.

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew


To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions

they have had, or intend to have, with Kew Gardens

concerning making available from their plant library

those species which have suffered serious loss or

destruction in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the British

Virgin Islands, and Anguilla. [HL1589]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Following the devastating

impact of this year’s hurricane season on our Caribbean

Overseas Territories, addressing the affected Territories’

immediate humanitarian and security needs is the highest

priority for Her Majesty’s Government.

Defra has had preliminary discussions with the Royal

Botanic Gardens, Kew about the Territories’ likely

environmental recovery needs.

Once the Territories are in a position to evaluate and

address their environmental recovery needs, Defra will

discuss with the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the

Territories how Kew’s plant materials, technical

assistance and scientific expertise can contribute to the

restoration of habitats in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the

British Virgin Islands and Anguilla.

Sanctions: Burma


To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration

they have given to the introduction of financial and

travel sanctions against senior Burmese military

officials following the Burmese military's recent

offensive in Rakhine State. [HL1246]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: EU trade, financial and

targeted sanctions on Burma were lifted in April 2013, but

EU Restrictive measures were retained and renewed this

year with UK support. These measures are kept under

review. Our focus for the moment is on providing

humanitarian assistance, urging restraint by the security

forces in Rakhine and a de-escalation of tensions.

Sanitary Protection: VAT


To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the aims

of the Tampon Tax Fund; and whether those aims have

been published or made available to applicants for

grants. [HL1212]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: The aim of the Tampon Tax

Fund is to improve the lives of disadvantaged women and

girls.

An application form and guidance, which included

detail about the aims of the Fund and selection criteria,

was sent to any organisation which expressed an interest

in bidding.

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade

Asked by The Lord Bishop of Leeds

To ask Her Majesty's Government what guarantees, if

any, they sought from the Minister of Foreign Affairs of

Saudi Arabia, Abdel al-Jubeir, when he visited London

on 4 September, that British arms sales to Saudi Arabia

will only be used in accordance with international

humanitarian law. [HL1542]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: During his visit to

London on 4-5 September, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel

al-Jubeir had meetings with the Prime Minister and

Foreign Secretary. Both raised the importance of

Coalition compliance with their international

humanitarian law obligations.

The UK Government takes its arms export licensing

responsibilities very seriously and operates one of the

most robust arms export control regimes in the world. Our

defence exports to Saudi Arabia are kept under careful

and continual review to ensure they meet the rigorous

standards of the Consolidated EU and National Arms

Export Licensing Criteria. All export licence applications

are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking account of all

relevant factors at the time of the application.








We welcomed the High Court’s ruling in July this year

that UK Government decisions on arms export licensing

to Saudi Arabia are lawful. The judgment stated the

Government was rationally entitled to conclude that Saudi

Arabia has been, and remains, genuinely committed to

compliance with international humanitarian law. We note

the application to appeal and will continue to defend the

decisions challenged.

Saudi Arabia: Radicalism



representations they made to the Minister of Foreign

Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Abdel al-Jubeir, when he

visited London on 4 September, concerning reports of

financial and logistical support provided by Saudi

Arabia to Daesh and other radical Sunni groups in the

Middle East and Asia. [HL1539]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: This was not discussed

on 5 September. We have seen no evidence to suggest

there has been any funding of Daesh by the Government

of Saudi Arabia. Where we do have concerns we do not

shy away from raising them. Saudi Arabia has had its own

painful experiences as the victim of numerous Daesh

attacks. It is a key ally in the fight against Daesh,

participating in coalition airstrikes to fight it and speaking

out against its poisonous ideology.

Saudi Arabia: Religious Freedom



representations they made to the Minister of Foreign

Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Abdel al-Jubeir, when he

visited London on 4 September, concerning religious

freedom, eliminating discriminatory enforcement of

laws against religious minorities, and promoting respect

and tolerance for minority Muslim and non-Muslim

religious practices and beliefs. [HL1540]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Saudi Arabia remains a

Foreign and Commonwealth Office human rights priority

country, particularly because of the restrictions on

freedom of religion or belief. Although not discussed on 5

September, we regularly raise our concern with the

Government of Saudi Arabia.



assessment of freedom of religion or belief in Saudi

Arabia. [HL1541]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Saudi Arabia remains a

human rights priority country because of the restrictions

on the freedom of religion and belief, including the

prohibition on publicly practising religions other than

Islam. The UK Government strongly supports the right to

freedom of religion or belief as set out in the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights and subsequent

international human rights instruments.

Schools: Uniforms

Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they propose

to put guidance on school uniform supply on a statutory

basis as set out in the HM Treasury 2015 report A

Better Deal. [HL1491]

Lord Nash: Decisions on school uniform, including

how this is sourced, are made by the governing body (or

academy trust) of the school, but our existing guidance is

clear that, when setting their uniform policies, schools

should keep costs to a minimum and ensure the uniform is

affordable for everyone.

The guidance also reminds schools of their obligation

under Human Rights and Equalities legislation, as well as

highlighting the legal requirement for schools to have a

complaints process in place. Parents who have concerns

about a school’s uniform policy can use this process to

raise these with the school. If parents continue to have

concerns, they can raise these with the Department.

We intend to put this guidance on a statutory footing

when a suitable legislative opportunity arises.

Sharia Law Independent Review



the independent inquiry into the application of Sharia

Law in the United Kingdom to conclude; and when they

expect the report to be published. [HL1249]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Professor Mona

Siddiqui’s independent review into the application of

Sharia law in England and Wales is expected to report to

the Home Secretary in the coming months. The

Government will consider the publication of the review

and its response, once the review report has been

submitted.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what has caused

the delay in publishing the report of the independent

inquiry into the application of Sharia Law in the United

Kingdom. [HL1250]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government’s

independent review into the application of Sharia law in

England and Wales is not delayed. The review chair,

Professor Mona Siddiqui, is expected to submit her

review report in the coming months.

Shops: Closures

Asked by Lord Hain


bookshops have closed in the UK since 2010. [HL1577]









Lord Prior of Brampton: In 2016, there were 2,005

retail units specialised in selling books in the UK,

compared to 2,055 in 2010 (ONS business counts).

Sint Maarten: Hurricanes and Tornadoes

Asked by Lord Macpherson of Earl's Court


taking to help British nationals stranded on the

Caribbean island of Sint Maarten. [HL1488]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Providing assistance to

vulnerable British Nationals affected by Hurricane Irma

has been a consistent priority. Fifty two British Nationals

have been assisted to leave St Maarten. We have deployed

consular teams to Curacao and Guadeloupe to help those

who have left.

For those that remain on the island, a two person

Foreign and Commonwealth Office Rapid Deployment

Team is assisting British Nationals at the airport, while an

Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) team, made up of 59

nurses, doctors and building experts, is providing support

elsewhere on the island. We are in close contact with the

Dutch, French, German and US Authorities who are

providing aircraft for assisted departures. Those persons

wanting to leave St Maarten will be prioritised through a

triage system at the airport with the most vulnerable

people given priority.

Slavery: Victims



assessment of how the 45 day reflection and

recovery period for victims of trafficking and modern

slavery, under the National Referral Mechanism, is

working in practice; and whether that time limit is 45

working days, or 45 calendar days. [HL1536]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Potential victims of

modern slavery in England and Wales are entitled to a

reflection and recovery period for a minimum of 45

calendar days, or until a conclusive decision has been

made on their victim status. This meets and exceeds

obligations under the European Convention on Action

against Trafficking in Human Beings, which requires a

minimum of 30 days of support. In practice, many

potential victims are in support for more than 90 days.

As part of the Government’s reform of the National

Referral Mechanism, we are working with partners to

assess how the current system works in practice and

consider the support we provide to victims, to ensure that

it enables them to begin to recover, rebuild their lives, and

avoid future exploitation.

Small Businesses: Government Assistance



estimate of the monetary benefit to individual small and

medium-sized enterprises from support provided under

the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act

2015. [HL1545]

Lord Prior of Brampton: At around 5.5m, small and

medium-sized businesses comprise 99.9% of UK

businesses. The Government recognises the importance of

small and medium-sized businesses and the valuable

contribution that they make to our economy.

To avoid overburdening businesses the Small Business,

Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 has, amongst other

things, reduced regulatory burdens, improved payment

practices across the public sector and improved access to

finance.

In many instances it would be difficult to quantify the

monetary benefit directly attributable to the support

provided under the Small Business, Enterprise and

Employment Act 2015, rather than by other business

activities.

Social Security Benefits

Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett


estimate of (1) the future annual cost of ending the

freeze on working-age and children's benefits, and (2)

what the additional annual cost of those benefits would

now be had the freeze not been implemented. [HL1288]

Baroness Buscombe: These estimates can be derived

using the published “Welfare Reform and Work Bill:

Assessment of the Benefit Rate Freeze” attached.

Using the figures published in the impact assessment

for the benefit freeze, we can estimate the annual cost of

ending the freeze on working-age and children’s benefits.

Assuming the freeze was ended after 2017/18 (such that

savings from 2017/18 onwards are constant at £0.9bn),

the annual cost of ending the freeze would be £2.7bn by

2020/21.

Assuming the freeze ends after 2017/18, the additional

annual cost to working-age and children’s benefits had the

freeze not been implemented is £0.9bn per annum.


Welfare Reform and Work Bill: Impact Assessment [Welfare

Reform and Work Bill Impact Assessment of the Benefit rate

freeze.pdf]




South Sudan: Refugees



they are giving to the government of Uganda to help

with the reception of refugees from South Sudan; and

what assessment they have made of how the health

services in that country are coping with the needs of

refugee women. [HL1343]










Lord Bates: Her Majesty’s Government is providing

£40m in bilateral aid this year to support the Ugandan

Government’s response to its refugee population of 1.3m,

of whom 1m are from South Sudan. This support is

providing food for 1 million people, clean water and

nutrition support for more than 200,000, shelter and relief

items for 116,000 and vaccinations for 40,000 children.

82% of Uganda’s refugees are women and children.

Health care for refugees is provided largely through the

existing health system. The main challenges are ensuring

adequate infrastructure, human resources and supplies to

meet the increased demand for reproductive and maternal

health services; and the management of communicable

diseases such as malaria.

South Western Railway: Compensation



intend to offer additional compensation to South

Western Railway season ticket holders who purchased

their tickets before the announcement of disruption to

services using Waterloo Station. [HL1399]

Lord Callanan: Network Rail and Stagecoach South

West Trains began a comprehensive programme of

communications surrounding the Waterloo Capacity

Enhancement Works in September 2016, which gave

affected passengers sufficient notice to be able to amend

their travel plans. Throughout the works, passengers were

entitled to compensation from the train operators through

the arrangements set out in their Passenger’s Charter as

applied at the time. This provided affected passengers

who held monthly or longer season tickets with 10 void

days.

Based on the latest published figures for punctuality

over the prior 12 months, these passengers are also

entitled to a 5% discount upon renewal. The Government

is not intending to offer any compensation over and above

the current entitlement.

Southern

Asked by Baroness Smith of Basildon

To ask Her Majesty's Government when ministers

last (1) met, and (2) had discussions with,

representatives of Southern Rail. [HL1583]

Lord Callanan: My Hon Friend, the Parliamentary

Under-Secretary of State for Transport, the Hon Member

for Blackpool North and Cleveleys (Paul Maynard MP) as

Rail Minister met with GTR in June and the Secretary of

State met with GTR in July.



representations ministers have received regarding

passenger services on Southern Rail. [HL1584]

Lord Callanan: Ministers receive numerous

representations about Southern Rail from individuals and

organisations – through both formal and informal

channels. The government is committed to making sure

passengers receive the reliable, high quality services on

Southern they deserve, and I am encouraged that the

Public Performance Measure of punctuality is currently at

82% compared to 62% in early December 2016.



assessment they have made of the quality of passenger

services on Southern Rail. [HL1585]

Lord Callanan: The quality of passenger services on

Southern Rail has been significantly better since the New

Year with the Public Performance Measure of punctuality

currently at 82%, compared to 62% in early December

2016. The latest National Rail Passenger Survey showed a

7% increase in overall journey satisfaction on Southern

Rail compared with the previous survey.

Speed Limits: Fines


To ask Her Majesty's Government where the

proceeds from speeding fines for motoring offences are

directed; and to what activities and whose budgets they

are directed. [HL1382]

Lord Bates: Speeding fines for motoring offences are

directed into the Consolidated Fund. The fund is

administered by HM Treasury and is used to support

general expenditure on public services such as policing,

healthcare, local government grants and transport. Annual

accounts for the Fund can be found on the Government’s

consolidated fund website.

Sri Lanka: Disaster Relief


To ask Her Majesty's Government what additional aid

they have offered to Sri Lanka to help cope with the

severe drought and floods which have affected over one

million people. [HL1434]

Lord Bates: Our assessment is that the crisis in Sri

Lanka is being adequately managed through existing

mechanisms in Sri Lanka, including the Government’s

National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and

humanitarian agencies on the ground, including the Sri

Lankan Red Cross Society. The UK provides significant

amounts of funding to UN humanitarian emergency

agencies (such as UNHCR, UNICEF and WFP), the EU’s

humanitarian emergency response agency (ECHO) and

the Red Cross, all of whom are contributing to the

response. At the moment therefore we do not anticipate

that a bilateral response from the UK will be needed.

Other countries in the region are also providing

assistance, and the US and EU have offered their support.








St Helena: Aviation



they have made of the possibility of using St Helena

Airport as a refuelling stop for flights to and from the

Falkland Islands. [HL1278]

Earl Howe: The distance between the UK and the

Falkland Islands and the time spent over water

necessitates the use of large aircraft which have the

capability to operate the route. The runway length at St

Helena Airport has been assessed by the Ministry of

Defence as not sufficient to enable our large military

aircraft to operate from it.

Strokes

Asked by Baroness Hodgson of Abinger


have to ensure that new treatments for stroke, including

mechanical clot retrieval, will be available throughout

the country once the National Stroke Strategy comes to

an end in December. [HL1270]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Although the National Stroke

Strategy comes to an end in December, NHS England

continues to lead an effective programme of work on

prevention and treatment.

NHS England is improving acute treatment through the

centralisation of care in centres that can provide the

highest level of care at all times of the day and week.

Stroke is one of the five conditions chosen to deliver the

urgent and emergency care standards by this autumn.

NHS England has established a cardiovascular disease

(CVD) collaborative to bring together relevant

stakeholders in the field of CVD and provide a forum

where relevant work being undertaken in this area and

potential new initiatives can be discussed and

responsibilities for action determined.

CVD prevention is a key theme in NHS England’s Five

Year Forward View and its NHS RightCare programme.

NHS England have also recently announced that it will

be commissioning the new treatment of thrombectomy

(extracting the blood clot causing the blockage to blood

flow through a catheter inserted into the artery). This will

initially be provided in the neuroscience centres, but in

due course additional centres may need to provide this

treatment to ensure complete population coverage.

Sudan: Churches




Sudan regarding the demolition of churches built on

land that has since been designated for buildings other

than places of worship. [HL1465]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The British Government

continues to be deeply concerned by reports of the

demolition of churches in Sudan. Through the UK-Sudan

Strategic Dialogue, and our policy of phased engagement,

we continue to raise human rights issues with the

government of Sudan and make regular representations on

freedom of religion or belief, including in relation to

reported church demolitions, most recently during the

Archbishop of Canterbury’s visit to Sudan in July.

Sudan: Human Rights



they have made of the human rights situation and

current levels of humanitarian access in Sudan.

[HL1461]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We continue to be

concerned by the human rights situation in Sudan. This

includes restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of

religion or belief, and sexual and gender based violence,

especially in the conflict areas of Darfur, South Kordofan,

and Blue Nile.

Whilst the release and pardon of six human rights

activists by the government of Sudan, including Dr

Mudawi Ibrahim Adam, an issue on which the UK

actively lobbied the government of Sudan, was a positive

development, considerable human rights challenges

remain. Sudan is a Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Human Rights Priority Country and improving human

rights is a key objective in our engagement.

The UN states that there has been an improvement in

levels of humanitarian access in Sudan, including to

previously inaccessible parts of Darfur. We welcome this

and encourage the government of Sudan to make further

progress on full humanitarian access.

Sudan: Sanctions



they have made of the efficacy of sanctions on Sudan.

[HL1462]




the United States regarding the suspension or

refinement of sanctions on Sudan. [HL1463]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: There has been a

reduction of large scale armed conflict in Sudan, which

was a key priority for the British Government. We will

continue to support the targeted UN sanctions and arms

embargo on Darfur, as well as the EU arms embargo that

remains in place across Sudan. We welcome the

suspension of US bilateral economic sanctions on Sudan,

which, if lifted permanently, will support progress

towards economic development. We encourage the










government of Sudan to make the required progress in

order to enable the permanent lifting of US economic

sanctions.



they have made of the humanitarian impact of sanctions

on the people of Sudan. [HL1464]

Lord Bates: HMG, through DFID, follows the

humanitarian situation closely and provides over 550

thousand vulnerable people in Sudan with humanitarian

assistance each year. DFID supports Sudan’s most

vulnerable people to meet their basic needs, sustain their

livelihoods, and build their resilience to crises.

We welcome the temporary suspension of US bilateral

economic sanctions on Sudan, which if lifted permanently

will support progress towards inclusive economic

development for Sudan’s people. We encourage the

Government of Sudan to continue to make the required

progress to enable permanent lifting of US sanctions. The

UK continues to apply the United Nations’ arms embargo

and targeted sanctions in Darfur, as well as the European

Union arms embargo on Sudan.

Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents


To ask Her Majesty's Government when the

Remedial Order relating to the Human Fertility and

Embryology Act 2008 which will allow single people to

apply for parental orders following a surrogacy

arrangement will be laid; and whether it will apply to

both single male applicants and single female

applicants. [HL1420]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Drafting work on the remedial

order is ongoing, which we currently estimate will be laid

in the autumn session of Parliament.

The order would apply equally to male and female

applicants.

Syria: Drinking Water


To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific

measures they are taking to support the Free Syrian

Army to ensure the re-introduction of safe drinking

water to Raqqa. [HL1289]

Lord Bates: Humanitarian organisations are currently

unable to enter Raqqa City as it is an active conflict zone.

DFID funded partners – United Nations agencies and non-

governmental organisations – are supporting those

displaced by the fighting with water, sanitation and

hygiene assistance, food and shelter. To increase access to

water, our partners are providing safe drinking water and

chlorine for water purification, and repairing the water

network in the nearby town of Tabqa.

Syria: Overseas Aid


To ask Her Majesty's Government what types of

assistance they provided to the Syrian opposition

between 2015 and the latest date for which figures are

available; which factions associated with the Free

Syrian Army received that assistance; what was the

nature of that assistance; and what was the cost.

[HL1251]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Through the cross-

government Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF)

for Syria the UK is supporting those groups opposed to

Daesh and Assad as well as Syrian civilians and their

communities. This support to the moderate opposition has

included political support and non-lethal equipment. In

terms of equipment, we have provided communications,

medical and logistics equipment. We have also provided

equipment to protect against chemical weapons attack.

For security reasons we do not disclose the names of

groups supported. The UK does not supply weapons to

anybody in Syria. The value of the CSSF for Syria is £69

million in the current financial year, was £64 million in

2016-17, and £66 million in 2015-16.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the

source of their funding for the Syrian opposition since

2015; and whether those funds were provided from the

international development budget. [HL1252]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Through our Conflict,

Stability and Security Fund the UK is providing over £60

million annually to support those groups opposed to

Daesh and Assad as well as Syrian civilians and their

communities. This is a cross-government fund run by the

Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Department for

International Development and the Ministry of Defence.

The majority of this spend is Official Development

Assistance. Through this fund, we are helping to meet the

needs of Syrian communities by supporting local

governance, the delivery of key services (including

education, basic policing and search and rescue services)

and livelihoods in areas controlled by the moderate

opposition.

Syria: Politics and Government



they have made of the role of President Bashar al-Assad

in the future of Syria; and whether they intend to make

any change to their policy. [HL1391]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Assad's regime bears

overwhelming responsibility for the suffering of the

Syrian people. His oppression has caused untold human

suffering, fuelled extremism and terrorism, and created

the space for Daesh. We believe there needs to be a

transition away from Assad to a government that can









protect the rights of all Syrians, unite the country and end

the conflict. It is for Syrians to decide how that happens,

as part of a Syrian-led transition process. We will

continue to use all diplomatic tools to work for a political

solution to the terrible conflict in Syria.

Taimoor Raza


To ask Her Majesty's Government what information

they have about the case of Taimoor Raza who has

been sentenced to death in Pakistan for allegedly

breaking the blasphemy laws on social media; and what

representations, if any, they have made on his behalf.

[HL1570]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the case

of Taimoor Raza, a Pakistani national who was sentenced

to death on 10 June 2017 after allegedly making

blasphemous remarks on social media. We understand Mr

Raza has submitted an appeal to the High Court.

The UK remains firmly opposed to the death penalty in

all circumstances. While we have not raised Mr Raza's

case directly with the Pakistan authorities, we have

repeatedly called upon the Government of Pakistan to end

capital punishment and, at a minimum, commit to

publicly renewing the previously imposed moratorium on

the death penalty. We regularly raise our concerns about

freedom of expression and the misuse of the blasphemy

laws with the Pakistani Government at a senior level.

The Foreign Secretary raised misuse of the blasphemy

laws during his visit to Pakistan in November 2016. The

former Minister for Asia and the Pacific, my hon. Friend

the Member for Reading West (Mr Sharma), discussed

the death penalty and the importance we attach to

freedom of expression with Kamran Michael, former

Minister for Human Rights, and Barrister Zafarullah

Khan, Prime Minister's Special Assistant for Human

Rights, during a visit to Pakistan in January 2017. The

Government will continue to urge Pakistan to honour in

practice its human rights obligations, including those

related to the death penalty and freedom of expression

and religion.

Tidal Power: Swansea Bay



timescale for making a decision on plans for a Swansea

tidal lagoon, following publication of the Hendry

Review in January. [HL1557]

Lord Prior of Brampton: The Government is

considering the findings of the independent Hendry

Review before deciding, in light of the relevant factors, its

position on the proposed Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon

project.

T-levels



have made in developing T-level qualifications.

[HL1593]


To ask Her Majesty's Government who is developing

T-level qualifications; in what subjects; and at what

levels. [HL1594]



T-level qualifications to be available to candidates.

[HL1595]

Lord Nash: The government is creating a world class

technical education system. The best way to deliver this

successfully is through partnership between government,

business experts and leaders and education professionals.

We are therefore working closely with these stakeholders

and their representative bodies to ensure we get these

reforms right.

T levels will be shaped by industry professionals and

will provide stretching technical content, delivered to

industry standards. This will ensure the qualifications

have real labour market value and credibility. The first

teaching of T levels by a number of providers will

commence in September 2020, with all routes available

from September 2022.

We are planning a public consultation on the design of

T levels, to allow all interested organisations and

individuals to contribute towards the development of the

new programmes. We will provide an update on progress

with the development of T levels later this year.

Tobacco: Retail Trade



made any assessment of the effectiveness of the

Scottish Tobacco Retailer Licensing Scheme; and

whether they have any plans to replicate that scheme in

England. [HL1219]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: HM Revenue and Customs has

carried out a consultation on the impact of licensing the

supply chain for the sale of tobacco products. This was

for the purpose of tackling the illicit trade in line with the

requirements of the World Health Organization

Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Illicit Trade

Protocol. A response document for the consultation will

be published later this year. The Government has no plans

at present to introduce a licensing scheme in England. The

Government recognises that Scotland has implemented a

registration scheme and will continue to observe the

impact of this scheme on tobacco control.











Trade Agreements


To ask Her Majesty's Government what flexibility

they will seek in the terms of any new trade deal

negotiated with non-EU countries to take account of as

yet unknown restrictions inserted in any future deal

between the UK and EU. [HL1321]

Baroness Sugg: The departmental responsibility for the

EU-UK trade agreement lies with the Department for

Exiting the EU.

We are considering in depth, our future trading

relationships with partners as we prepare to leave the EU.

We will consider what this means for negotiating an

ambitious trade agreement with the EU, as well as striking

agreements with countries outside the EU.

Trains: Standards


To ask Her Majesty's Government what comparative

assessment they have made of (1) new Intercity Express

bi-mode trains, and (2) fully electric trains, in respect of

their (a) acceleration, and (b) overall speed. [HL1558]

Lord Callanan: Hitachi Rail and Great Western

Railway (GWR) are testing the Intercity Express Trains in

diesel and electric to ensure they can deliver existing

timetables and offer journey time reductions once

electrification is complete. We remain confident that

journey time improvements will be delivered. Testing is

ongoing in the run up to the Intercity Express Train

introduction on the GWR network.

Turkey: Historic Buildings


To ask Her Majesty's Government what help they can

offer to Turkey to assist in the cultural preservation of

damaged historical buildings in the Suriçi

neighbourhood. [HL1522]

Lord Bates: The UK Government has committed £30

million to help protect and restore cultural heritage in

twelve target countries in the Middle East and North

Africa, including Turkey, through the establishment of the

Cultural Protection Fund. The British Council is funding

two projects in Diyarbakir province which includes

Suriçi. The projects will cover surveys, documentation

and condition assessments of buildings in order to allow

for appropriate conservation planning in the future.

Turkey: LGBT People


To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they

have given to LGBT groups in Turkey. [HL1440]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government

attaches great importance to supporting and promoting

LGBTI rights internationally, including through our

bilateral programme funds. Last year we supported a

project in Turkey to raise public awareness and support

the human rights of vulnerable groups – including LGBTI

groups – focused specifically on strengthening

networking and communication at local, national and

regional level. This year we are supporting a project to

raise awareness and build up the advocacy capacity of

LGBTI citizens and refugees in Turkey with the active

cooperation and participation of Bar associations,

lawyers, social workers and rights-based civil society

organisations. More generally, we regularly raise human

rights in our dialogue with the Turkish government at all

levels.

Turkey: Prisons



intend to ask the Council of Europe to make public their

report concerning allegations of ill-treatment in Turkish

prisons, prepared by its Committee for the Prevention

of Torture. [HL1524]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: On 13 September, the

UK Permanent Representative to the Council of Europe

intervened in the Committee of Ministers to call on

Turkey to agree to the publication of all Committee for

the Prevention of Torture (CPT) reports concerning

Turkey from 2015-2017. We take the issue of human

rights in Turkey, not least allegations of torture, very

seriously and will continue to work with the Government

of Turkey and the Council Of Europe to address these

issues.

Turkey: Torture



intend to raise at the United Nations the allegations of

torture used in Turkey. [HL1523]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We raised Turkey

human rights issues in the UN Human Rights Council in

Geneva on 12 September. Our Representative said:

"While recognising the challenges caused by the appalling

attempted coup, we share the High Commissioner's

concerns about Turkey's human rights situation. We hope

steps can be taken to release detained civil society

representatives and to lift the State of Emergency, sending

a strong signal of Turkey's commitment to human rights."

We will continue to engage with the UN over the situation

in Turkey.

Type 26 Frigates


To ask Her Majesty's Government how long they

anticipate it will take BAE Systems to build a Type 26








frigate; and what assessment they have made of that

timescale. [HL1506]

Earl Howe: The first ship, HMS GLASGOW, is

expected to be structurally complete in the early 2020s.

This timescale is consistent with the engineering

challenge of building the First of Class of a modern

complex warship.

UK Trade with EU



assessment of how World Trade Organisation rules

would affect the UK economy, broken down by sector,

were the UK to leave the EU without a trade deal.

[HL1467]



and we are confident that we will secure a good deal for

the UK as a whole.

A responsible government should, however, prepare for



The Government is undertaking a comprehensive

programme of analytical work to assess, across a range of

scenarios on a sector by sector basis, the economic

impacts of exiting the European Union. However, as

Parliament has agreed, it would not be appropriate to

publish any such information that could damage our

negotiating position.


To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent they

expect the UK and EU to have mutual recognition of

(1) goods, and (2) services, through regulatory

equivalence post-Brexit. [HL1468]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The UK Government is

committed to making the UK the best place in the world

to do business. This will mean fostering a high quality,

stable and predictable regulatory environment. We want

to minimise the regulatory and market access barriers for

both goods and services. However, these discussions will

be subject to the negotiations.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Asked by Lord Fink

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many times in

the last 12 months a commercial aircraft runway in

England and Wales has had to close temporarily due to

a drone sighting. [HL1370]

Lord Callanan: In accordance with Regulation (EU)

No 376/2014, safety-related events which endanger or

which, if not corrected or addressed, could endanger an

aircraft, its occupants or any other person have to be

reported to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The

Regulation requires that the reporting, analysis and

follow-up to such occurrences remain confidential.

However, the Regulation does permit information to be

released on request to interested parties that have a

genuine safety related need for the information. An

application can be made at www.caa.co.uk/srg1605.

The CAA will shortly be publishing an Aviation Safety

Review in accordance with the requirements of the

Regulation. This will include detailed analysis of safety

occurrences reported to the CAA in 2016 and is intended

to inform the public about the level of safety in civil

aviation in a clear, engaging and objective manner.

Venezuela: Antisemitism


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether in their

bilateral discussions with the government of Venezuela

they have raised ways of combating anti-semitism.

[HL1521]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have had no recent

discussions with the government of Venezuela on

combating anti-semitism.

Venezuela: Foreign Relations



assessment of relations between the UK and Venezuela.

[HL1520]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK aspires to have

good relations with Venezuela but the current political

situation there has put a strain on the relationship as we

have joined international condemnation of the Venezuelan

Government's recent actions. Our Embassy maintains a

practical working relationship with the Venezuelan

Government. Where we can, we work with the

Government on a range of priority issues including human

rights, democracy challenges, counter-narcotics, climate

change and efforts to protect UK commercial interests.

This work supports our long-term vision for Venezuela’s

stability, democracy and prosperity.

Venezuela: Politics and Government

Asked by Baroness Hooper

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the

informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers of EU

member states on 8 September in Gymnich, and in

advance of the UN General Assembly, what action is

being taken at the national and EU level to find a

sustainable solution to the current political crisis in

Venezuela. [HL1603]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are working closely

with partners, including the EU and UN, to consider a

range of options to promote an end to the crisis in

Venezuela. The most recent discussion at EU level took

place on 12 September. The Lima Group of Foreign

Ministers met in the margins of the UN General












Assembly on 20 September and will re-convene in

Canada in October. Any solution to the current crisis in

Venezuela must come from the region. The Minister for

Europe and the Americas is working closely with Peru's

Foreign Minister, Ricardo Luna, in support of Peru's

regional leadership. We will continue to work with

partners to consider a wide range of options to prevent

further violence and alleviate the suffering of ordinary

Venezuelans.

Venezuela remains a Human Rights Priority Country

for the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and the

Minister for Europe and the Americas met the President

of the National Assembly, Julio Borges, and Antonieta

Lopez, the mother of opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez,

on 7 September and stressed the UK's unwavering support

for the National Assembly as a democratic institution.

Visas

Asked by Viscount Waverley

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether biometric

and fingerprint data taken from a visa applicant's

application to enter the UK are deleted from any

database if that applicant is subsequently refused entry;

and if not, for what specific purpose the data are

retained. [HL1360]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Fingerprints taken

from visa applicants are normally retained for up to ten

years regardless of whether the application was

successful, as set out in regulations made under the

Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002.

This enables the Secretary of State to identify easily

those who make further applications for visas to come to

the UK, preventing immigration abuse and those who are

a risk of high harm from entering the country.

Vocational Education: Overseas Students


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many (1) EU,

and (2) non-EU, overseas students are taking technical,

professional and vocational courses in the UK.

[HL1425]

Lord Nash: The department does not collect data on

the nationality of Further Education students.

Students will be eligible for Education and Skills

Funding Agency funding if they are a citizen of a country

within the European Economic Area (EEA) and have

been resident in the EEA for at least three years prior to

the start of learning and are ordinarily resident in

England.

Yemen: Military Intervention


To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Yemeni

civilians were killed by air strikes in July and August;

and which countries were responsible for those air

strikes. [HL1393]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We do not maintain

records of casualty figures for the conflict in Yemen.

Gathering data is extremely challenging considering the

complexities of the situation and the challenges faced by

humanitarian monitors across the country. Estimates by

the UN and NGOs vary considerably. On 12 September,

the Saudi Joint Incidents Assessment Team published the

results of 15 investigations they have made into alleged

violations of International Humanitarian Law.



are taking following reports that British armaments

have been used by Saudi Arabia in the Yemen to target

innocent civilians. [HL1501]


takes its arms export licensing responsibilities very

seriously and operates one of the most robust arms export

control regimes in the world. Our defence exports to

Saudi Arabia are kept under careful and continual review

to ensure they meet the rigorous standards of the

Consolidated EU and National Arms Export Licensing

Criteria. All export licence applications are assessed on a

case-by-case basis, taking account of all relevant factors

at the time of the application.






Index to Statements and Answers

Written Statements ................................................. 1

Commonwealth Games 2022 ............................... 1

Contingent Liability.............................................. 1

Correction to Written Answers HL2981 and

HL3595 ................................................................. 1

DFID Supplier Review ......................................... 1

Infected Blood: Government Response ................ 2

Mental Health Act Review ................................... 3

Northern Ireland Update ....................................... 3

Student Finance Update ........................................ 4

Written Answers ..................................................... 6

Absent Voting: Northern Ireland .......................... 6

Acids: Sales .......................................................... 6

Affordable Housing: Rents ................................... 6

Agriculture ............................................................ 6

Agriculture: Productivity ...................................... 6

Air Routes: EU Countries ..................................... 6

Amazon: Taxation ................................................ 7

Animal Welfare .................................................... 7

Animal Welfare: Prosecutions .............................. 8

Armed Forces: Recruitment ................................. 8

Ascension Island: Aviation ................................... 9

Asylum ................................................................. 9

Asylum: Children ................................................. 9

Asylum: LGBT People ....................................... 10

Aviation: Lasers.................................................. 10

AWE Aldermaston ............................................. 10

Bahrain: Human Rights ...................................... 10

Bahrain: Technical Assistance ........................... 10

BBC: Video on Demand ..................................... 11

Belfast Agreement .............................................. 11

Bell Pottinger Group: South Africa .................... 11

Betting: Internet .................................................. 11

Birds of Prey: Conservation ............................... 12

Blood Transfusions ............................................. 12

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Transport Community

Treaty ................................................................. 13

Brexit ................................................................. 13

British Overseas Territories: EU Aid ................ 14

British Overseas Territories: Hurricanes and

Tornadoes .......................................................... 14

Burma: Armed Conflict ..................................... 14

Burma: Human Rights ....................................... 15

Burma: Humanitarian Aid ................................. 15

Burma: Military Aid .......................................... 15

Burma: Rohingya ............................................... 15

Business: Loans ................................................. 17

Caribbean: Disaster Relief ................................. 17

Caribbean: Hurricanes and Tornadoes ............... 18

Cars: Sales ......................................................... 19

Cataracts: Surgery .............................................. 20

Charities: Finance .............................................. 20

Charities: Standards ........................................... 20

Children: Custody .............................................. 20

Children: Day Care ............................................ 21

Commercial Broadcasting: Radio ...................... 21

Community Housing Fund ................................ 21

Community Transport: Licensing ...................... 21

Contraceptives ................................................... 21

Cost of Energy Independent Review ................. 21

Credit ................................................................. 22

Credit Cards ....................................................... 22

Cucumbers: Packaging ...................................... 22

Cultural Heritage: Transport .............................. 22

Customs ............................................................. 22

Dangerous Driving ............................................ 23

Data Protection: USA ........................................ 23

Debts .................................................................. 24

Deportation: EU Nationals ................................ 24

Developing Countries: Health Services ............. 24

Diesel Vehicles: Imports.................................... 25


Disaster Relief .................................................... 25

Egypt: Aviation .................................................. 25

Electric Vehicles ................................................. 26

Electric Vehicles: Batteries ................................ 26

Electricity: Storage ............................................. 26

Electronic Surveillance ....................................... 26

Energy Performance Certificates: Conservation

Areas ................................................................... 26

Entry Clearances: Overseas Students ................. 27

Environment Protection: Greater Manchester .... 27

EP Committee of Inquiry into Money Laundering,

Tax Avoidance and Tax Evasion ........................ 27

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS

Trust.................................................................... 27

Erasmus+ Programme ........................................ 28

Europe: Refugees................................................ 28

European Economic Area ................................... 28

European Medicines Agency: Greater London .. 28

Exchange Rates .................................................. 28

Family Proceedings ............................................ 28

Farms: Tenants ................................................... 29

Farms: Theft ....................................................... 29

Female Genital Mutilation .................................. 29

Fit for Work Programme .................................... 29

Food: Imports ..................................................... 29

Food: Procurement ............................................. 30

Football: Taxation .............................................. 30

Frigates ............................................................... 30

Gambling: Internet.............................................. 30

Gaza .................................................................... 30

Gaza: Armed Conflict......................................... 30

GCE A-level ....................................................... 31

General Practitioners .......................................... 31

Government Departments: Equal Pay ................ 31

Grammar Schools ............................................... 31

Great Western Railway Line .............................. 31

Great Western Railway Line: Electrification..... 31

Great Western Railway Line: Rolling Stock ..... 32

Hate Crime ......................................................... 32

Hate Crime: Prosecutions .................................. 32

Health................................................................. 32

Health Services .................................................. 33

Health Services: Per Capita Costs ..................... 33

Health Services: Reciprocal Arrangements ....... 33

Hepatitis ............................................................. 34

Hepatitis: Pigmeat .............................................. 34

High Rise Flats: Fire Prevention ........................ 34

Higher Education: Standards ............................. 35

Hillsborough Families' Experiences Review ..... 36

Hinkley Point C Power Station .......................... 36

HMS Ocean ....................................................... 36

Holiday Accommodation ................................... 36

Holiday Accommodation: Greater London ....... 36

Home Office: Ministers ..................................... 37

Hong Kong: BBC World Service ...................... 37

Hospitals: Closures ............................................ 37

Hospitals: Greater London ................................. 37

House of Lords: Catering................................... 38

House of Lords: Wines ...................................... 38

Housing: Construction ....................................... 38

Housing: Domestic Violence ............................. 38

Human Papillomavirus: Vaccination ................. 39

Hurricanes and Tornadoes: Caribbean ............... 39

Immigrants: Detainees ....................................... 39

Immigration ....................................................... 39

Immigration Controls ........................................ 40

Immigration: Children ....................................... 40

Inflation ............................................................. 40

Insects: Non-native Species ............................... 40

International Courts: Judgements ...................... 41

Invalid Vehicles: Pedestrian Areas .................... 41

IRA: Libya ......................................................... 41


Iran: Political Prisoners ...................................... 42

Isles of Scilly: Transport .................................... 42

Israel: Burma ...................................................... 42

Israel: EU External Relations ............................. 42

Israel: Palestinians .............................................. 43

Israel: Palestinians .............................................. 43

Jeremy Bamber ................................................... 44

Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations

............................................................................ 44

Kurds: Human Rights ......................................... 44

Languages: Northern Ireland .............................. 45

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of

Offenders Act 2012 ............................................ 45

Legal Representation .......................................... 45

Libya: Refugees .................................................. 45

LIFE.................................................................... 46

Lighting .............................................................. 46

List of Ministerial Responsibilities .................... 46

Magistrates' Courts: Newcastle upon Tyne ........ 46

Military Aid ........................................................ 46

Money Laundering: Azerbaijan .......................... 47

Motor Vehicles ................................................... 47

Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe .................................. 47

NHS: Exchange Rates ........................................ 48

Non-domestic Rates............................................ 48

Non-domestic Rates: Valuation .......................... 48

North Korea: Weapons ....................................... 48

Northern Cyprus: Airports .................................. 48

Offences against Children .................................. 49

Offenders: Deportation ....................................... 49

Olympic Games: South Korea ............................ 49

Oral Tobacco ...................................................... 50

Out-of-school Education .................................... 50

Overseas Aid ...................................................... 51

Overseas Companies: Race Relations ................ 51

Pakistan: Marriage .............................................. 51

Pakistan: Minority Groups ................................. 51

Pakistan: Overseas Aid ...................................... 52

Pakistan: Religious Freedom ............................. 52

Pakistan: Schools ............................................... 52

Palace of Westminster: Official Cars ................ 53

Palestinians: Freedom of Expression ................. 53

Parents: Low Incomes ....................................... 53

Parks .................................................................. 53

Pedicabs: Greater London.................................. 53

Personation ........................................................ 54

Plants: Diseases ................................................. 54

Plastics: Recycling ............................................. 54

Police and Prison Officers: Pay ......................... 55

Police: Biometrics .............................................. 55

Prisoners: Foreign Nationals.............................. 55

Prisoners on Remand: Acquittals ....................... 55

Prisoners' Release: Northern Ireland ................. 56

Prisons: Sanitation ............................................. 56

Private Rented Housing: Electrical Safety ........ 56

Public Expenditure: Northern Ireland ................ 57

Public Transport: Accidents .............................. 57

Radicalism ......................................................... 57

Railways: Electrification ................................... 57

Railways: Plumpton ........................................... 57

Refugees: Libya ................................................. 58

Refugees: Sri Lanka ........................................... 58

Religious Buildings: Repairs and Maintenance . 58

Roads: Accidents ............................................... 58

Robert Litt.......................................................... 58

Roundabouts: Traffic Lights .............................. 59

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew ............................. 59

Sanctions: Burma ............................................... 59

Sanitary Protection: VAT .................................. 59

Saudi Arabia: Arms Trade ................................. 59

Saudi Arabia: Radicalism .................................. 60

Saudi Arabia: Religious Freedom ...................... 60


Schools: Uniforms .............................................. 60

Sharia Law Independent Review ........................ 60

Shops: Closures .................................................. 60

Sint Maarten: Hurricanes and Tornadoes ........... 61

Slavery: Victims ................................................. 61

Small Businesses: Government Assistance ........ 61

Social Security Benefits ..................................... 61

South Sudan: Refugees ....................................... 61

South Western Railway: Compensation ............. 62

Southern .............................................................. 62

Speed Limits: Fines ............................................ 62

Sri Lanka: Disaster Relief .................................. 62

St Helena: Aviation ............................................ 63

Strokes ................................................................ 63

Sudan: Churches ................................................. 63

Sudan: Human Rights ......................................... 63

Sudan: Sanctions ................................................ 63

Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents ................. 64

Syria: Drinking Water ........................................ 64

Syria: Overseas Aid ............................................ 64

Syria: Politics and Government .......................... 64

Taimoor Raza ..................................................... 65

Tidal Power: Swansea Bay ................................. 65

T-levels ............................................................... 65

Tobacco: Retail Trade ........................................ 65

Trade Agreements .............................................. 66

Trains: Standards ................................................ 66

Turkey: Historic Buildings ................................. 66

Turkey: LGBT People ........................................ 66

Turkey: Prisons ................................................... 66

Turkey: Torture .................................................. 66

Type 26 Frigates ................................................. 66

UK Trade with EU.............................................. 67

Unmanned Air Vehicles ..................................... 67

Venezuela: Antisemitism .................................... 67

Venezuela: Foreign Relations ............................. 67

Venezuela: Politics and Government ................. 67

Visas .................................................................. 68

Vocational Education: Overseas Students ......... 68

Yemen: Military Intervention ............................ 68

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