house of lords - uk parliament€¦ · detriment in the logbook loan market, in particular the lack...

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

FIFTH SERIES-VOLUME DCCLXXXI

HOUSE OF LORDS

WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND

WRITTEN ANSWERS

SECOND SESSION OF THE FIFTY-SIXTH PARLIAMENT

OF THE UNITED KINGDOM OF GREAT BRITAIN

AND NORTHERN IRELAND

66 ELIZABETH II

NINTH VOLUME OF SESSION 2016-2017

COMPRISING PERIOD FROM

6 FEBRUARY 2017 - 27 APRIL 2017

PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Vol. 781

[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 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport

Baroness Anelay of St Johns Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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

Lord Bates Minister of State, Department for International Development

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

Government, Wales Office

Lord Bridges of Headley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Exiting the European Union

Baroness Buscombe Whip

Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip

Lord Dunlop Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scotland Office and Northern Ireland Office

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

Affairs

Baroness Goldie Whip

Lord Henley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions

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

Baroness Mobarik Whip

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

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Commercial Secretary to the Treasury

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

Lord Price Minister of State, Department for International Trade

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

Strategy

Baroness Shields Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office and Department for Culture Media and

Sport

Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Whip

Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office

Lord Young of Cookham Whip

Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip

© 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 6 February 2017 Page 1

Written Statements Monday, 6 February 2017

Government Assets Sale

[HLWS462]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: My honourable friend

the Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research

and Innovation (Jo Johnson MP) has made the following

Written Ministerial Statement.

Today, the Government is starting the process required

to sell part of the English student loan book under the

Sale of Student Loans Act (2008). The sale covers loans

issued under the previous (“pre-2012”) system,

specifically those which entered repayment between 2002

and 2006.

The Government’s intention to launch this sale at this

time, subject to market conditions, was set out in last

year’s Autumn Statement. The decision to launch this

process is consistent with the Government’s fiscal policy

and approach to asset sales. The position of all graduates,

including those whose loans are part of a sale, would also

not change as a result of the sale.

This Government is committed to cutting the deficit,

reducing debt, and living within our means as a country.

The Government’s policy is to sell assets where it is value

for money to do so and where there is no policy reason to

continue to own them. Selling assets gives headroom for

the government to invest in other policies with greater

economic or social returns and reduces fiscal pressures.

The Government’s policies towards student finance and

higher education are not being altered by this sale. Under

the current system of student support (the framework for

which has been in place since 2012) we will continue to

offer financial support so people who have the

qualifications and want to pursue higher education are

able to do so, with no limit on their numbers. This is part

of making sure our economy works for everyone.

Students are protected by statute and completely

unaffected. A sale would not alter the mechanisms and

terms of repayment and sold loans would continue to be

serviced by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs

(HMRC) and the Student Loans Company (SLC) on the

same basis as equivalent unsold loans. These protections

mean that purchasers would have no right to change any

of the current loan arrangements or to directly contact

borrowers.

The Government has launched the first sale process on

the basis there is a good prospect of achieving value for

money, but will only proceed with the sale subject to

market conditions and a final value for money

assessment. The assessment of value for money is in

accordance with the HMT Green Book framework and

includes a comparison of the value of retaining the

student loan book and receiving payments over time (the

retention value) and receiving cash now (the proceeds of

the sale).

This sale will comprise the future repayments on the

outstanding balances on a selection of loans, with a total

face value of around £4bn. The retention value to

Government is lower and is calculated using standard

Treasury Green Book methodology developed for asset

sales, and also accounts for Government subsidy of the

student loan system. The loans which are being sold have

already been in repayment for over ten years, and

therefore much of the original value of the loans has

already been paid back to Government.

The sale process is expected to take several months.

Selling the loan book involves securitising the remaining

future repayments on the loans and selling securities

representing the rights to these to a range of purchasers.

The House will be informed if and when a sale is

completed.

National Health Service

[HLWS464]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: This Government is committed

to making sure that only those people who are living here

and contributing to the country financially will get free

National Health Service care. Following a two year

programme of work to improve identification and cost

recovery from chargeable patients in hospitals we

consulted on extending the charging rules to areas of NHS

care that are currently free to all. Proposals for this were

set out in a public consultation entitled Making a fair

contribution – A consultation on the extension of

charging overseas visitors and migrants using the NHS in

England, which ran from December 2015 to March 2016.

The proposals explored within the consultation aimed to

support the principle of fairness by ensuring those not

resident in the United Kingdom pay for NHS care. The

proposals would not restrict access, but rather make sure

that everyone makes a fair contribution towards the cost

of the care they receive.

We are today publishing our response to that

consultation, a copy of which is attached. It summarises

respondents’ views and sets out how the Government

intends to extend charging and increase cost recovery

from patients not eligible for free care, including:

• Requiring NHS providers to obtain charges upfront

and in full before a chargeable patient can access non-

urgent treatment.

• Including out-of-hospital secondary care services and

NHS-funded services provided by non-NHS

organisations within the services that chargeable

patients will have to pay for.

• Removing NHS assisted reproduction services from

the range of services provided free of charge under

immigration health surcharge arrangements.

The principle that the NHS is free at the point of

delivery for people ordinarily resident in the UK will not

be undermined by this work.

The most vulnerable people from overseas, including

refugees, will remain exempt from charging. Furthermore,

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS462/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS464/

6 February 2017 Written Statements

the NHS will not deny urgent and immediately necessary

healthcare to those in need, regardless of payment.

Exemptions from charging will also remain in place for

the diagnosis and treatment of specified infectious

diseases in order to protect the British public from wider

health risks.

The potential income generated through the extension

of charging will contribute towards the Department of

Health’s aim of recovering up to £500 million per year

from overseas migrants and visitors by the middle of this

Parliament (2017/18). The recovery of up to £500 million

per year will contribute to the £22 billion savings required

to ensure the long-term sustainability of the NHS.

We are also publishing today on gov.uk the evaluation

of the initial phase of the programme, the lessons from

which we are factoring in to the future operation of the

programme.

The Statement includes the following attached material:

Consultation Response [Cost recovery response.pdf]

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

answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS464/

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

[HLWS463]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My hon Friend the

Minister of State for Security (Ben Wallace) has today

made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

I am pleased to lay before Parliament the 2015-16

annual report of the appointed person under the Proceeds

of Crime Act 2002. The appointed person is an

independent person who scrutinises the use of the search

and seizure powers that support the measures in the Act to

seize and forfeit cash used for criminal purposes and to

seize and sell property in settlement of confiscation

orders.

The report gives the appointed person’s opinion as to

the circumstances and manner in which the search and

seizure powers conferred by the Act are being exercised. I

am pleased that the appointed person, Mr. Douglas Bain,

has expressed satisfaction with the operation of the

powers and has found that there is nothing to suggest that

the procedures are not being followed in accordance with

the Act. Mr. Bain has made no recommendations this

year.

From 1 April 2015 to the end of March 2016 over £67

million in cash was seized by law enforcement agencies

in England and Wales under powers in the Act. The

seizures are subject to further investigation, and the cash

is subject to further judicially approved detention, before

forfeiture in the magistrates’ court. These powers are a

valuable tool in the fight against crime and the report

shows that the way they are used has been, and will

continue to be, monitored closely.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS464/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS464/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS464/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-06/HLWS463/


Written Statements Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Bills of Sale

[HLWS465]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: My honourable friend The

Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Simon Kirby) has

today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

In 2014, HM Treasury asked the Law Commission to

review the Victorian-era Bills of Sale Acts. This

legislation enables consumers and small businesses to

borrow money using their goods as security, whilst

allowing borrowers to retain possession of the goods. In

recent years, bills of sale have been most commonly used

in relation to logbook loans, which are loans that are

secured on a consumer’s vehicle.

The desire for a comprehensive review reflected the

government’s significant concerns about consumer

detriment in the logbook loan market, in particular the

lack of protections available to consumers who took out a

logbook loan, as well as innocent third party purchasers

who unknowingly buy a vehicle that is subject to a

logbook loan.

In 2014, the government also fundamentally reformed

the consumer credit market, by transferring regulation

from the Office of Fair Trading to the Financial Conduct

Authority (FCA). This more robust regulatory system is

helping to deliver the government’s vision for a well

functioning and sustainable consumer credit market which

is able to meet consumers’ needs.

The government has ensured that the FCA has strong

powers to protect consumers, including the power to levy

unlimited fines and require firms to compensate

consumers who have lost out, where it finds wrongdoing.

The FCA assesses every firm’s fitness to trade as part of

the authorisation process, and it has put in place binding

standards on firms. It proactively monitors the market,

focusing on the areas most likely to cause consumer harm,

and it has a broad enforcement toolkit to punish breaches

of its rules. This has ensured that firms treat consumers

fairly and consumers are better protected from sharp

practice by firms.

However, the FCA cannot tackle the inadequacies of

the Bills of Sale Acts, which mean that there are still

significant gaps in the protection available for consumers

who use logbook loans and third party purchasers.

The Law Commission’s final report and

recommendations to reform the Bills of Sale Acts were

published in September 2016, and the government has

now had the opportunity to consider the report fully.

The government is grateful to the Law Commission for

a report which is exhaustive and careful in its treatment of

this complex matter, and which makes detailed

recommendations for reform.

The government agrees with the Law Commission’s

conclusion that consumers and unincorporated businesses

should continue to be able to use their existing goods as

security while retaining possession of them but that the

Bills of Sale Acts no longer provide an appropriate legal

framework and should be reformed. As well as accepting

the overarching thrust of the recommendations, the

government welcomes many of the detailed suggestions

for reform. There are, however, some recommendations

where the government’s acceptance is qualified. We will

want to reflect further on these points, and take

discussions forward with the Law Commission,

stakeholders and other government Departments.

This as an opportunity for the government to continue

its work in creating a modern, fit for purpose consumer

credit regime. The recommendations will improve

outcomes for consumers by simplifying the information

that is presented to them and providing increased

protections if they get into financial difficulty. The

recommendations will also remove unnecessary burdens

for firms, and create new opportunities for small,

unincorporated businesses to access finance.

Copies of the government’s full response to the

Report’s recommendations will be placed in the libraries

of the House once these have been fully considered and

agreed with the Law Commission.

The government is keen that this work should move

forward, and has agreed to support the Law Commission

in drafting primary legislation to enact the necessary

reforms. The government will seek to use the special

Parliamentary procedure which is available for Bills that

implement uncontroversial Law Commission

recommendations, subject to agreement with the Usual

Channels, and to bring forward the legislation when

Parliamentary time allows.

The Law Commission’s final report is available at:

http://www.lawcom.gov.uk/wp-

content/uploads/2016/09/lc369_bills_of_sale.pdf

Fire Reform

[HLWS466]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the

Minister of State for Fire and Policing (Brandon Lewis)

has today made the following Written Ministerial

Statement:

I want to update the House on progress made since the

Prime Minister, as then Home Secretary, set out plans last

May to reform the fire and rescue service in England to

become more accountable, efficient and professional than

ever before.

Services are already transforming and seizing

opportunities for collaboration, for example, delivering a

single suite of national operational guidance, creating a

single, cross service research and development function

and developing a cross service new commercial strategy.

The service has also recently formed the National Fire

Chiefs' Council which will transform the operational

voice of fire and rescue services.



Our reform agenda is based around three distinct

pillars: efficiency and collaboration, accountability and

transparency, and workforce reform.

The Government has legislated through the Policing

and Crime Act 2017 to transform local fire and rescue

governance, enabling police and crime commissioners to

become the fire and rescue authority where a strong local

case is made. The Act also creates a statutory duty to

collaborate. Better joint working can strengthen our

emergency services, deliver significant savings to the

taxpayer and – most importantly – enable them to better

protect the public. This new duty requires emergency

services to keep collaboration opportunities under review

and to take on collaboration opportunities where it would

be in the interests of efficiency and effectiveness to do so.

It will come into force in April.

While fire and rescue authorities have achieved

significant savings to date, I believe they can go further.

Last year I undertook a basket of goods exercise to

ascertain the prices each fire and rescue authority pays for

a basket of twenty-five common items. The exercise

illustrated that procurement practices need to be improved

and so the Home Office has supported the sector develop

a new commercial approach to aggregate and standardise

procurement. This exercise will be repeated in the

Autumn to ensure progress is being made and a separate

exercise will be undertaken this spring on different, high

spend items.

I will create an independent inspectorate and am

considering options. I want this inspectorate to be

rigorous in application and forensic in process, to deliver

rounded and comprehensive inspections to assess the

operational effectiveness and efficiency of each service.

This independent scrutiny will ensure that fire authorities

are held to the highest possible standards. I will update

the House in due course as this body is formed.

Transparency of fire and rescue services increased last

year by the publication of new procurement and

workforce diversity data and will be strengthened further

by the creation of a new website that will hold a range of

information, in one place, about services. This will

include information such as chief officer pay, expenditure

and workforce composition and further information is

planned.

I will create a professional standards body to further

professionalise the service. The Home Office is working

with the sector to develop options for this body which I

hope will form later this year. I propose this body to set

standards on a range of issues such as leadership,

workforce development, equality and diversity and

codifying effective practice.

Finally, I published the independent review into

firefighter terms and conditions by Adrian Thomas in

November. The review's recommendations, if

implemented, will secure the future of the service for

years to come by creating a diverse working environment

free from bullying and harassment, with strong leadership

and more flexible working conditions. I am encouraged

that the Local Government Association, in partnership

with the sector, recognise the need to take swift action in

response to this report and deliver vital reforms to the

workforce. I expect the recommendations of the review to

be followed, particularly in relation to reforming the

National Joint Council and the Grey Book, and I will be

closely monitoring progress.

I also expect services to step up and find solutions to

the current lack of diversity so clearly highlighted in the

workforce statistics we published last year, with just 4%

of firefighters from an ethnic minority background and

just 5% female.

Delivering this ambitious reform agenda does not

simply rest with me, or with the Government. Ultimately,

the sector itself must shape and deliver these changes. It is

for their benefit and the benefit of the communities they

serve, and I look forward to seeing the results.


Written Statements Wednesday, 8 February 2017

Foreign National Offenders and British

National Offenders: Repatriation

[HLWS468]

Lord Keen of Elie: My right honourable friend the

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

(Elizabeth Truss) has made the following Written

Statement.

"A minute has been laid before Parliament regarding

the Ministry of Justice’s escorting of Foreign National

Offenders and British National Offenders and specifically

in relation to incurring a contingent liability.

My department is responsible for the transfer of Foreign

National Offenders (FNOs) to their home countries and

the repatriation of British National Offenders (BNOs)

held overseas. This role was carried forward by the

Ministry of Justice (MoJ) from the Home Office at the

time the MoJ was established.

The escorting of FNOs continues to play an important

part in reducing the number of Foreign Nationals who are

held within our Justice system.

Previously, the Home Office had provided Heathrow

Airport Holdings Limited (formerly BAA) with

confirmation of HM Government’s agreement to

indemnify them against any claims in respect of damage

or injury caused to third parties in the event that the

National Offender Management Service (NOMS) were

found to be negligent in the discharge of their duties. The

National Offender Management Service was an executive

agency of the Home Office and was transferred to the

Ministry of Justice at the same time as the Ministry was

established.

The Ministry of Justice will continue to provide this

assurance and I am updating the House on this new

agreement. NOMS has prepared written assurance for

Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited and other third

parties (e.g. airlines) which may be affected by our

operations. This assurance covers the following amounts:

• Up to 50 million pounds for damage or injury per

incident to third parties caused airside in the event of

negligence of NOMS;

• Up to 250 million pounds to damage or injury to third

parties per incident in the event of negligence by

NOMS whilst on board an aeroplane.

• Up to 10 million pounds for personal accident and/or

sickness for NOMS staff whilst on escorting duties.

The addition of a Contingent Liability to the accounts

of a government department or agency is a standard

approach that ensures full disclosure of all assets and

liabilities and is in line with the rules laid out in the

Financial Reporting Manual.

The Treasury has approved the proposal in principle. If,

during the period of fourteen parliamentary sitting days

beginning on the date on which the minute is laid before

parliament, a member signifies an objection by giving

notice of a Parliamentary Question or by otherwise raising

the matter in parliament, final approval to proceed with

incurring the liability will be withheld pending an

examination of the objection, and the existing indemnities

will continue."

General Affairs Council: February 2017

[HLWS471]

Lord Bridges of Headley: My right honourable friend

the Minister of State for Exiting the European Union

(David Jones) has made the following Written Ministerial

Statement.

The General Affairs Council (GAC) on 7 February will

be held in Brussels under the Maltese Presidency. The

agenda will cover 1) follow up to the December European

Council; 2) preparation for the March European Council;

and 3) Commission Communication on Next Steps for a

Sustainable European Future.

Follow up to the December European Council

The Presidency is likely to present an update on the

implementation of the December 2016 European Council

Conclusions on migration, security (internal and external),

economic and social development (youth), Cyprus and

external relations (covering the EU/Ukraine Association

Agreement and Syria).

Preparation for the March European Council

There will be a discussion on the agenda of the March

European Council. The agenda includes: security; jobs

and growth; external relations; and migration.

Commission Communication on Next Steps for a

Sustainable European Future

The Commission will present a Communication on

Next Steps for a Sustainable European Future and there

will be an exchange of views. The Communication sets

out the EU’s commitment to deliver the 2030 Agenda for

Sustainable Development which was agreed at the 2015

UN General Assembly.

Immigration

[HLWS469]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My hon Friend the

Minister of State for Immigration (Robert Goodwill) has

today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

The Government takes the welfare of unaccompanied

asylum-seeking children extremely seriously, and the UK

has a proud history of providing protection for those in

need, including some of the most vulnerable children

affected by the migration crisis. The Government’s

strategy is to support international efforts to find a

comprehensive and sustainable solution to the refugee

crisis; we must deal with its root causes, as well as

respond to the consequences. That is why the UK has

been at the forefront of the response to the events in Syria

and the region, pledging over £2.3 billion in aid - our

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-08/HLWS468/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-08/HLWS471/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-08/HLWS469/


largest ever humanitarian response to a single crisis. We

are also one of the few EU countries to meet our

commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of Gross National

Income on overseas aid.

We have a comprehensive approach to tackling these

issues both at home and overseas. By the end of this

Parliament, we will have resettled 20,000 Syrian nationals

through our Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement

Scheme and a further 3,000 of the most vulnerable

children and their families from the Middle East and

North Africa region under the Vulnerable Children’s

Resettlement Scheme. We also received over 33,000

asylum claims in the UK last year.

The number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking and

refugee children arriving in the UK has risen over the last

few years, including in response to this Government’s

commitment to the transfer of hundreds of children from

Calais and to address the humanitarian needs of the most

vulnerable children. The UK has contributed significantly

to hosting, supporting and protecting the most vulnerable

children affected by the migration crisis. In the year

ending September 2016, the UK granted asylum or

another form of leave to over 8,000 children. This

includes those who claimed asylum in the UK, those who

were brought to the UK through our resettlement

schemes, those transferred from within Europe, and those

granted a refugee family reunion visa.

In 2016, we transferred over 900 unaccompanied

asylum-seeking children to the UK from Europe. This

included more than 750 from France as part of the UK’s

support for the Calais camp clearance. Over 200 of those

children met the published criteria for section 67 of the

Immigration Act. The remainder were transferred under

an accelerated process based on the family reunion

criteria of the Dublin Regulation. This was a one-off

process, based on the principles of the Dublin framework

but operated outside of it, and was implemented in

response to the unique circumstances of the Calais camp

clearance. All children not transferred to the UK are in the

care of the French authorities.

The UK can be proud of its record of helping refugee

children and I can today announce, in accordance with

section 67 of the Immigration Act, that the Government

will transfer the specified number of 350 children

pursuant to that section, who reasonably meet the

intention and spirit behind the provision. This number

includes over 200 children already transferred under

section 67 from France. It does not include children

transferred to UK where they have close family here. We

will announce in due course the basis on which further

children will be transferred from Europe to the UK under

section 67 of the Immigration Act to the specified

number.

As required by the legislation, we have consulted with

local authorities on their capacity to care for and support

unaccompanied asylum-seeking children before arriving

at this number. Local authorities told us they have

capacity for around 400 unaccompanied asylum-seeking

children until the end of this financial year. We estimate

that at least 50 of the family reunion cases transferred

from France as part of the Calais clearance will require a

local authority placement in cases where the family

reunion does not work out. We are grateful for the way in

which local authorities have stepped up to provide places

for those arriving and we will continue to work closely to

address capacity needs.

The Government will continue to meet our obligations

under the Dublin Regulation and accept responsibility for

processing asylum claims where the UK is determined to

be the responsible Member State, ensuring that it is in

their best interests to come here. We are working closely

with European partners to ensure the timely and efficient

operation of the Dublin Regulation.

Of the over 4,400 individuals resettled through the

Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement scheme so far,

around half are children and last year we welcomed the

first families to the UK under the Vulnerable Children’s

Resettlement Scheme. We are fully committed to an

effective response in the affected regions and to resettling

the most vulnerable directly from those regions. Within

Europe, the UK has also established a £10 million

Refugee Children’s Fund to support the needs of

vulnerable refugee and migrant children arriving in

Europe. The fund includes targeted support to meet the

specific needs of unaccompanied and separated children.

Here in the UK, we have launched the National

Transfer Scheme to ensure a fairer distribution of

unaccompanied asylum-seeking children across England

and ease pressure on the children’s services of those local

authorities with large numbers of unaccompanied

children. To implement the National Transfer Scheme the

Home Office has established a dedicated team to process

the transfer of children quickly whilst at the same time

acting in accordance with the child’s best interests. The

Home Office also published detailed guidance for local

authorities setting out the processes involved in

transferring unaccompanied asylum-seeking children

from one local authority to another, including the need to

ensure that the scheme is driven by the welfare of the

child.

As announced on 1 November, the Government will

also deliver a safeguarding strategy for unaccompanied

asylum-seeking children. This will ensure the

Government puts in place a comprehensive safeguarding

strategy for unaccompanied asylum-seeking and refugee

children living in or being transferred or resettled to the

UK.

To further support the transfer arrangements and

underline our commitment to unaccompanied asylum-

seeking children, the Government significantly increased

the funding it provides to local authorities who look after

unaccompanied asylum-seeking children. Local

authorities now receive £41,610 per annum for each

unaccompanied asylum-seeking child aged under 16 and

£33,215 per annum for unaccompanied asylum-seeking

child aged 16 and 17. This represents a 20% and 28%

increase in funding respectively. In addition, the

Government went further and also increased the funding it


provides to local authorities for those young people who

turn 18 and go on to attract leaving care support by 33%.

These significant increases in Government funding will

have a very positive impact on local authorities’ ability to

care for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

The Government has also announced the £140 million

Controlling Migration Fund in England, which is intended

to cover a broad range of costs associated with migration.

It cannot duplicate or top up unaccompanied asylum-

seeking children rates, but it may support short-term costs

not included in the mainstream unaccompanied asylum-

seeking children grant and costs related to family reunion

cases. This could include costs such as the safeguarding

assessments, recruitment campaigns for social workers or

support workers, specialist counselling or training on the

specific needs of unaccompanied children. Additional

funding has also been offered to Strategic Migration

Partnerships across the UK to help them bolster local

structures and ensure they are equipped to deal with the

diverse needs of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

The Government has taken significant steps to improve

an already comprehensive approach to supporting asylum-

seeking and refugee children. This latest announcement

provides further evidence of the Government’s

commitment to playing its part in the global migration

crisis. In addition to the tens of thousands of children in

conflict regions and in Europe that are benefiting from

UK aid and development assistance, we are providing

protection to thousands of children in the UK each year.

The UK should be proud of its overall contribution.

Prisons and Probation

[HLWS470]

Lord Keen of Elie: My right honourable friend the

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice

(Elizabeth Truss) has made the following Written

Statement.

"A new executive agency of the Ministry of Justice,

called Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service, will

replace the National Offender Management Service from

1 April 2017. The Service will be responsible for the roll

out of the Government’s programme to improve the way

we reform offenders to protect the public and tackle the

unacceptable levels of reoffending. Michael Spurr will

become the Chief Executive of the new HM Prison and

Probation Service from 1 April 2017.

HM Prison and Probation Service will have full

responsibility for all operations across prison and

probation. The Ministry of Justice will take charge of

commissioning services, future policy development and

be accountable for setting standards and scrutinising

prison and probation performance.

The creation of HM Prison and Probation Service will

build a world-leading, specialist agency, dedicated to

professionalising the prison and probation workforce,

backed by an additional £100m a year and 2,500

additional prison officers. The Service will be a place that

staff are proud to work, attracting the brightest and best

talent to deliver modernised offender reform,

strengthened security, counter-terrorism and intelligence

capability.

In recognition of the vital work carried out by prison

and probation staff, new schemes to improve promotion

opportunities have been launched, including; enhanced

professional qualifications for probation officers, a new

leadership programme, an apprenticeship scheme to

launch in April and higher pay and recognition for

specialist skilled officers dealing with complex issues

such as counter-terrorism, suicide and self-harm support

and assessment.

This forms part of our far-reaching organisational

reforms to the system, which will make services more

accountable to Ministers for delivery and performance.

This will be further supported by measures within the

Prison and Courts Bill, which will create a new

framework and clear system of accountability for prisons.

Probation services will also offer improved training and

learning opportunities for offenders to ensure they do not

return to a life of crime, working hand in glove with

prisons to ensure a more integrated approach. We will set

out more details later this Spring.

A key priority of HM Prison and Probation Service will

be to focus on the particular needs of offenders. To meet

the needs of women offenders across the whole system,

for the first time there will be a Board Director

responsible for women across custody and community.

Sonia Crozier, Director of Probation, will take on this

responsibility (reporting directly to the CEO) from 1 April

2017. We set out also in December 2016 the

Government’s plans for the youth justice system, putting

education and training at the heart of youth custody. We

are working closely with the Youth Justice Board to

review existing governance arrangements and will set out

changes in due course."

Votes A Annual Estimate 2017-18

[HLWS467]

Earl Howe: The Secretary of State for Defence (Sir

Michael Fallon) has made the following Written

Ministerial Statement.

The Ministry of Defence Votes A Estimate 2017-18,

has been laid before the House today as HC968. This

outlines the maximum numbers of personnel to be

maintained for each Service in the Armed Forces during

Financial Year 2017-18.



Written Statements Thursday, 9 February 2017

Commercial Spaceflight

[HLWS473]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My Right Honourable

friend, the Secretary of State for Transport (Chris

Grayling), has made the following Ministerial Statement.

We intend to publish a draft Spaceflight bill later this

month, dedicated to commercial spaceflight in the UK.

This legislation will be fundamental to enabling small-

satellite launches and sub-orbital flights from the UK,

ensuring the UK is well placed to take advantage of a

growing global market. The government’s intention is to

introduce this Bill formally early in the next session,

following a period of scrutiny and engagement with

industry and other interest groups.

The space sector is vital to the future of the UK

economy, with a strong record of creating high-value jobs

and generating wealth across the country. To help the

creation of the space launch market in the UK, the UK

Space Agency is inviting commercial space consortia to

apply for grant funding to take the action that will make

our ambitions a reality.

Together, the proposed legislation and grant funding

announced today will have the potential to enable

commercial spaceflight from a UK Spaceport by 2020.

European Union Finances Statement

[HLWS480]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: My right honourable friend

the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (David Gauke) has


I am today laying before Parliament, the European

Union Finances 2016: statement on the 2016 EU Budget

and measures to counter fraud and financial

mismanagement (Cm 9400). This is a routine annual

publication. It is the thirty sixth in the series. The

statement gives details of revenue and expenditure in the

2016 European Union (EU) Budget, recent developments

in EU financial management and measures to counter

fraud against the EU Budget. It also includes a chapter

and annex on the use of EU funds in the UK while we

remain a member state.

Fraud, Error and Debt Measures

[HLWS476]

Lord Henley: My Right Honourable Friend The

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Damian Green

MP) has made the following Written Statement.

We are committed to ensuring an effective and accurate

benefit system, as part of creating a welfare system which

is fair to those who use it, and fair to the taxpayers who

fund it. An important part of this is recovering money

owed to the Government through overpayment of

benefits.

Fraud and error in the DWP benefits system is

historically low, and at 1.9% is lower than in 2010.

Claimant error and official error are at their lowest level

ever, and we are protecting taxpayers’ money by

recovering a record amount in overpaid benefits. For

2015/2016 around £1 billion was recovered jointly by the

Department and local authorities, an increase of £70

million since 2014/2015.

Using DWP powers to recover tax credits debt

In order to build on this success, today, I can announce

that from April 2018 the Department for Work and

Pensions (DWP) will recover a segment of HM Revenue

and Customs (HMRC) tax credits debt associated with

people whose tax credits claim has ended. This is debt

that has been subject to recovery by HMRC but where

repayment has not been secured.

The claimants who have these historic debts will have

previously been contacted numerous times by HMRC and

invited to start a voluntary repayment plan. They will also

have had the opportunity to appeal and challenge the debt.

From April 2018 DWP will begin to try to recover this

debt using a wider range of methods. Where people

haven’t voluntarily made arrangements to repay, this may,

as a last resort include recovery directly from earnings.

DWP has greater powers than HMRC in this regard.

This initiative helps deliver the Government’s

commitment to reform the benefits system and switch to

Universal Credit. During transition HMRC will continue

to administer financial support for those with on-going

entitlement to tax credits.

Using Data and Analytics to identify potential fraud

and error

Many people rely on the benefit system for support – it

provides a vital safety net for people who are out of work,

people with disabilities, those who are carers, bringing up

children, retired, or on low incomes. So it is vital that we

protect it from the very small minority who try to claim

taxpayers’ money they are not entitled to.

According to the most recent fraud and error national

statistics around £110million is lost annually to DWP as a

result of fraud and error relating to undeclared partners.

The most up to date information (financial year 13/14)

suggests around 1.5% of Income Support (IS) expenditure

is overpaid annually as a result of a partner not being

declared appropriately.

We will engage with an external data provider to

identify benefit claimants thought to be most likely to

have an undeclared partner more effectively. We expect

that this will provide more and better evidence to enable

us to identify high risk cases. The data provider will not

have any contact with claimants directly or any decision

making authority. All cases will be progressed through

the existing DWP fraud and compliance processes.

We expect to award a contract for around 18 months

and will evaluate its effectiveness in order to inform



decisions about whether this type of data matching

provides a useful indication of undeclared partners for

future use in the Universal Credit system.

General Affairs Council: February 2017

[HLWS481]

Lord Bridges of Headley: My right honourable friend

the Minister of State for Exiting the European Union

(David Jones) has made the following written statement:

The General Affairs Council (GAC) was held on 7

February in Brussels under the Maltese Presidency.

The agenda covered 1) follow up to the December

European Council; 2) preparation for the March European

Council; and 3) Commission Communication on Next

Steps for a Sustainable European Future. The UK

Permanent Representative to the EU represented the UK.

A provisional report of the meeting and the Conclusions

adopted can be found at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2017/02

/07/

Follow up to the December European Council

The Maltese Presidency presented the EU’s key

priorities and progress, stating that further work was

needed in all areas. The Commission added that Member

States should not lose sight of making progress on

relocation and the Common European Asylum System.

Preparation for the March European Council

The Presidency presented the draft agenda which

includes: jobs, growth and competitiveness, which would

take stock of single market strategies; security, where

leaders would examine decisions taken at December’s

European Council; and a place-holder for external

relations. The Presidency announced that external

migration would be added. The UK supported the

addition of migration following the discussions at the

Valletta Summit, welcomed the opportunity to return to

security and noted the importance of jobs, growth and

competitiveness and external relations.

Commission Communication on Next Steps for a

Sustainable European Future

The Commission introduced its Communication, in

which it set out a vision for a more sustainable future in

line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and

Agenda 2030. It includes empowerment of women;

energy transformation; a digital single market; and

lifelong learning. There will be Council Conclusions in

June to progress work in this area.

AOB

Portugal presented conclusions of a conference on the

future of the European Monetary Union held in Lisbon in

January. The conference, attended primarily by

representatives from southern European countries, called

for the EU to work together to promote growth and

convergence across Eurozone countries, backed by a

socially sustainable increase in public and private

investment.

Government Transformation Strategy

[HLWS472]

Lord Young of Cookham: My Right Honourable

friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster

General (Ben Gummer) has made the following Written


Today the Government is publishing the Government

Transformation Strategy 2017-2020. This strategy sets out

the Government’s objectives to harness digital (the

technologies, culture, skills and tools of the internet-era)

to transform the relationship between the citizen and state.

The ‘Digital by Default’ services developed under the

previous strategy have helped to establish the UK as a

global leader in digital government. However, the

opportunity to transform government further, as well as

the need to be able to respond quickly to new or changed

priorities, mean that our current approach to digitally-

enabled transformation of government needs to be

accelerated and expanded.

The Government Transformation Strategy defines our

vision and ambition for a government that is ‘of the

internet’ rather than simply ‘on the internet’. It sets out

how government services, and other interactions with the

public and businesses, will be improved and enhanced -

both in terms of providing service to citizens and in

gaining (and keeping) their trust. Digital is the the best

way of achieving this.

The strategy sets out five pillars for the future direction

of government:

1. Create shared platforms, components and reusable

business capabilities: continuing with government as a

platform, reducing duplication, cost and increasing

efficiency across government.

2. Make better use of data: ensuring that government

data is properly managed, protected and (where non-

sensitive) made available and shared effectively. To

accelerate the transformation of government, and ensure

we retain public trust and confidence in our use of data,

we will appoint a new Chief Data Officer for government.

3. Business Transformation: developing end-to-end

services that meet the needs of their users across all

channels, in coordination with a fundamental rethink of

back-office operations.

4. Grow the Right People, Culture and Skills:

continuing to ensure that we have the right people, with

the right skills and training, employed in the right place

working in the right way.

5. Build better tools, processes and governance for civil

servants: transforming the inside of the Civil Service to

become an organisation that is digital by default.

One of the most important and challenging aspects of

delivering transformed online services is identity

assurance - establishing that the user is who they say they

are and not someone pretending to be them. GOV.UK

Verify, the government’s online identity verification

service, went live in May 2016. We will continue to

enable individuals to prove their identity online and to

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS481/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2017/02/07/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/gac/2017/02/07/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS472/


access government services securely and safely. To

achieve this, we will work towards 25 million people

having a GOV.UK Verify account by the end of 2020.

This strategy also sets out the evolving role of the

Government Digital Service to support, enable and assure

transformation delivered by government departments. It

provides the direction of travel and does not in and of

itself constitute any additional spending commitments.

I will place a copy of this strategy document in the

House Libraries.

Local Government Funding

[HLWS474]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: My right honourable

friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local

Government (Sajid Javid) has made the following Written


"Further to the points raised in the House yesterday on

Surrey County Council and local government finance, I

would like to take the opportunity to put some facts on the

record.

Surrey County Council’s budget and council tax is a

matter for the council. Surrey’s elected councillors voted

through their 2017/18 budget on Tuesday 7 February,

based on the draft Local Government Finance Settlement.

Surrey County Council have been clear that their Budget

decision (setting a level of council tax which is not above

the referendum threshold) was theirs alone.

As part of the statutory draft Local Government

Finance Settlement consultation, the Department for

Communities and Local Government discusses local

government funding with councils across the country, of

all types and all political colours. This happens every

year, and necessarily involves councils making direct

representations to the Government.

DCLG will publish the final settlement later this month,

and the House of Commons will then vote on it. This is

entirely transparent, and detailed funding figures for every

council are published as part of that process.

Whilst the final settlement has yet to be approved, the

Government is not proposing extra funding to Surrey

County Council that is not otherwise provided or offered

to other councils generally. There is no ‘Memorandum of

Understanding’ between Government and Surrey County

Council. In the draft Settlement published in December,

Surrey’s core spending power is forecast to rise by 1.4 per

cent from 2015/16 to 2019/20. We believe this provides a

sustainable base on which the council can plan ahead and

allocate their £1.7 billion a year budget.

We are, however, conscious of the medium and long-

term pressures that all councils face from a growing and

aging population. The Government is therefore delivering

broader reforms to local government finance – through

bespoke Devolution Deals, the integration of health and

social care, a Fairer Funding Review, medium and longer-

term reforms to support adult social care, and the move,

from 2019/20, to 100 per cent business rates retention

across the country. All these reforms have been discussed

in recent weeks with Surrey and other councils from

across the country as part of the Local Government

Finance Settlement process.

The Local Government Finance Bill, that Parliament is

at present considering, will legislate to deliver the reforms

to business rates. A number of pilots are already taking

place from April 2017 in combined authorities and unitary

councils across the country. These will take place in

Liverpool, Greater Manchester, West Midlands, West of

England, Cornwall and Greater London. The Government

plans to undertake further pilots in 2018/19, in areas

without a devolution deal, including two-tier council

areas. The nationwide rollout will then take place across

England in 2019/20.

Surrey County Council informed the Government that

they wished to become a pilot area. The Secretary of State

for Communities and Local Government told them that

this was not possible for 2017/18, but said that, subject to

due process and meeting the necessary criteria, they could

participate in the 2018/19 pilot. All other councils will be

free to apply to participate in these pilots, and the

Government invites them to do so. The Department for

Communities and Local Government has already held

discussions about the 2018/19 pilots with several councils

and it will be publishing more information shortly.

The Government’s wider reforms to local government

funding will make councils less dependent on money

from Whitehall, ensuring all councils have strong

incentives to support local jobs and local firms, and

directly benefit from the proceeds of a growing

economy."

Ministerial Cars

[HLWS479]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: I am publishing today

details of the charges incurred by Departments for the use

of official government cars provided to Ministers by the

Government Car Service during the financial year 2015-

16, which are in the attached table.

Official transport is provided so that Ministers can carry

out their work effectively and securely, including working

on sensitive and confidential government documents

whilst travelling.

We are committed to continuing our focus on reducing

the cost to the taxpayer of the provision of secure

Ministerial cars. The Government Car Service has

reduced its running costs by three quarters since 2010. We

continue to be committed to reducing the cost to the

taxpayer of the provision of secure transport.

To assist public scrutiny, equivalent figures for the £6.7

million charges to each department under the last Labour

Government can be found at 28 October 2010, Official

Report, Column 23WS.

https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/c

mhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#101028

27000372

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS474/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS479/https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201011/cmhansrd/cm101028/wmstext/101028m0001.htm#10102827000372


Department No. of GCS

Depart-mental Pool

Car

Services @ 31/03/2016

Depart-

mental Pool Car Service

Pre-Booked

Service

Total

Charges (all services)

Attorney

General's Office

(formerly Law

Officers' Department)

1 £82,221.67 £0.00 £82,221.67

Cabinet Office 3 £181,486.50 £6,172.25 £187,658.75

Government

Chief Whip

0 £25,435.49 £3,076.25 £28,511.74

Leader of the House of

Commons

1 £73,233.74 £0.00 £73,233.74

Department for Business,

Innovation and

Skills

1 £84,797.79 £4,512.45 £89,310.24

Department for

Education

1 £87,837.30 £24,899.33 £112,736.63

Department for Communities

and Local

Government

2 £172,334.20 £2,260.35 £174,594.55

Department for

Culture, Media

and Sport

1 £82,449.30 £292.50 £82,741.80

Department for

Energy and

Climate Change

1 £83,199.54 £1,907.25 £85,106.79

Department for

Environment, Food and Rural

Affairs

1 £94,646.45 £9,689.11 £104,335.56

Department for International

Development

1 £22,172.98 £6,052.50 £28,225.48

Department for Transport

2 £171,639.84 £4,472.05 £176,111.89

Department for

Work and Pensions

0 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00

Department of

Health

1 £84,353.29 £75.00 £84,428.29

Foreign &

Commonwealth

Office

0 £0.00 £705.00 £705.00

HM Treasury 2 £202,226.95 £37,397.27 £239,624.22

Home Office 2 £171,392.96 £27,703.94 £199,096.90

Ministry of Defence

0 £0.00 £0.00 £0.00

Department No. of GCS

Depart-mental Pool

Car

Services @ 31/03/2016

Depart-

mental Pool Car Service

Pre-Booked

Service

Total

Charges (all services)

Ministry of

Justice

0 £0.00 £1,555.00 £1,555.00

Northern

Ireland Office

0 £0.00 £11,736.03 £11,736.03

Scotland Office 0 £0.00 £593.70 £593.70

Wales Office 0 £0.00 £3,342.76 £3,342.76

20 £1,619,427.99 £146,442.74 £1,765,870.73

Methodological note:

The charges recorded in this Statement reflect the

service model which came into effect in April 2012 as

part of the reform programme. This provides

Departmental Pool Cars which are a shared resource for a

Department to use as efficiently as possible. In addition,

the Car Service offers a small pre-bookable service

utilising any spare capacity.

These charges do not necessarily reflect the total spend

on car services as some departments have arrangements

with other providers. The Treasury has two Cabinet

Ministers. The former Chancellor used the Government

Car Service to supply a driver and vehicle for his

protection package whereas the PM, Home, Foreign,

Defence and Northern Ireland Secretaries of State used

the Metropolitan Police. Such charges are not included in

the table.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council

[HLWS477]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: My rt Hon Friend the

Secretary of State for Communities and Local

Government (Sajid Javid) has today made the following


On 26 February 2015, the then Secretary of State for

Communities and Local Government and the then

Secretary of State for Education, having considered the

report of the inspection by Dame Louise Casey CB and

advice note from Sir Michael Wilshaw (HM Chief

Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills),

concluded that it was both necessary and expedient for

them to exercise their intervention powers as Rotherham

Metropolitan Borough Council was failing to comply with

its best value duty. Due to the extent and the gravity of

the failings in the Council, the then Secretary of State for

Communities and Local Government decided that the

intervention should be broad and wide ranging. He

directed that Commissioners should exercise all executive

functions of the authority, as well as some non-executive

ones, including licensing, until the Council could exercise

them in compliance with its best value duty. A team of

Commissioners was appointed to exercise these functions.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS477/


On 11 February 2016, my predecessor returned certain

functions to the Council, including education, housing

and planning. He was satisfied with the progress made

and that the Council was able to exercise the identified

functions in compliance with the best value duty.

Returning these functions was the start of building

effective and accountable political leadership and

represented a clear milestone on the road to recovery. On

13 December 2016, I announced the return of licensing

functions to the Council. I am pleased now to be able to

report on further progress made.

In his 10 November 2016 progress report, Lead

Commissioner Sir Derek Myers provided robust evidence

to support his recommendation for economic growth,

town centres, external partnerships and grounds

maintenance to be returned to the Council. Additional

information provided in December 2016 gave me

sufficient assurance on the return of audit, and adult social

care and NHS partnership.

The Commissioners will continue to have oversight of

these six service areas to ensure continued compliance

with the best value duty. With the exception of adult

social care and NHS partnership, where Commissioners

will have the power of direction, the other five service

areas will be returned to the Council with the

Commissioners having the power of advice.

Today, I have written to the Council to say that I am

now ‘minded to’ return these service areas to the Council

but will seek representations before making a final

decision. I am placing a copy of the documents associated

with these announcements in the Library of the House and

on my Department’s website.

Service Museums

[HLWS475]

Earl Howe: Further to my Written Ministerial

Statement of 15 October 2015 (HLWS241), I am today

announcing the publication of the findings of the review

of the three Service Museums: The National Museum of

the Royal Navy, the National Army Museum and the

RAF Museum. Periodic reviews of Non-Departmental

Public Bodies (NDPBs) are part of the Government’s

commitment to ensuring, and improving, the

accountability and effectiveness of public bodies.

The review concluded that the Service museums

support the heritage objectives of the Ministry of Defence

and the functions performed are still required. The review

recommended that the Service museums should be

retained as NDPBs of the Ministry of Defence.

The review was carried out with the participation of a

wide range of internal and external stakeholders and I am

grateful to all those who contributed to this review.

The Review of the Service Museums report has been

placed in the Library of the House. It will also be

available on the Government website at: www.gov.uk.

Sporting Future: Annual Report

[HLWS478]

Lord Ashton of Hyde: My Hon Friend the

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport,

Tourism and Heritage (Tracey Crouch) has made the

following Statement:

I am today publishing the first annual report on the

Government’s sport strategy Sporting Future: a New

Strategy for an Active Nation.

Sporting Future set out a new government vision to

redefine what success looks like in sport by concentrating

on five key outcomes - physical wellbeing, mental

wellbeing, individual development, social and community

development and economic development. It was a bold

new strategy for an active nation. It marked the biggest

shift in Government policy on sport for more than a

decade. Much has been achieved so far, and this first

annual report sets out the steps we have taken towards

making sure absolutely everyone can benefit from the

power of sport.

Investment in sport and physical activity is now focused

on the five key outcomes. Funding is being opened up to

organisations who can demonstrate how they will

consistently deliver some or all of those shared goals.

Progress has been made against the three major outputs

described in Sporting Future - engagement in sport as a

participant, volunteer and spectator; maximising

international and domestic sporting success and the

impact of major events; and supporting a more

productive, sustainable and responsible sport sector across

the board.

I am grateful to all those who are working to make

Sporting Future such a success. The annual report is

being deposited in the House Libraries and is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sporting-

future-first-annual-report.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS475/http://www.gov.uk/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-09/HLWS478/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sporting-future-first-annual-reporthttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sporting-future-first-annual-report


Written Statements Monday, 20 February 2017

Defined Benefit Occupational Pension

Schemes

[HLWS482]

Lord Henley: My honourable Friend Parliamentary

Under Secretary of State for Pensions Richard Harrington

MP has made the following Written Statement.

Today the Government is publishing a Green Paper

“Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Pension

Schemes”. This paper also forms part of the Government

response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee

report into Defined Benefit Pension Schemes. I would

like to thank the Committee for its report.

Defined Benefit schemes are an important pillar of the

UK economy and our pensions system. In order to

generate the funds needed to pay the pensions of retired

workers, around £1.5 trillion is invested by nearly 6,000

schemes. The Government is committed to a system that

works for employers, schemes and the 11 million people

who are in a Defined Benefit scheme.

While the Government does not believe that there is any

systemic issues within the sector, it is clear that

experiences differ from scheme to scheme. The

Government recognises that recent years have been

particularly challenging for some employers providing

Defined Benefit pensions and the trustees responsible for

running these schemes.

The Green Paper looks at a range of issues that have

been raised by various stakeholders, for example, whether

the Pensions Regulator’s powers should be extended to

improve member protection. It focuses on four key areas

– funding and investment, scheme affordability, member

protection and consolidation, so that we can start to build

consensus on whether we may want to reform the current

system.

The paper relates only to private sector Defined Benefit

schemes and is not concerned with other types of pension

provision, such as public service pension schemes or

Defined Contribution schemes.

The Government wants to hear from all those with an

interest in defined benefit schemes, in particular from

scheme members themselves. The consultation will close

on 14 May 2017.

Foreign Affairs Council: 6 February 2017

[HLWS484]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My right Honourable

Friend, the Minister of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs (Sir Alan Duncan), has made the

following written Ministerial statement:

My Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State for

Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs attended the Foreign

Affairs Council on 6 February. The Foreign Affairs

Council was chaired by the High Representative of the

European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Federica Mogherini. The meeting was held in Brussels.

Foreign Affairs Council

A provisional report of the meeting and Conclusions

adopted can be found at:

http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2017/

02/06/

Agenda items included Libya, Ukraine, Egypt and the

Middle East Peace Process. Ms Mogherini briefed

Foreign Ministers on the Serbia/Kosovo dialogue and on

planning for a conference on Syria to be held in Brussels

in the spring.

Libya

The Council discussed the situation in Libya and

adopted Conclusions. The EU remains committed to an

inclusive political settlement under the framework of the

Libyan Political Agreement, with Libyan ownership of

the political process and encouragement to all Libyan

actors to engage constructively. There can be no military

solution to the conflict. The EU reaffirmed its continued

support for the UN Support Mission in Libya and

welcomed engagement by Libya’s neighbours and

regional organisations. Ministers also discussed the need

to stem irregular migration along the Central

Mediterranean route.

Ukraine

Foreign Ministers discussed the recent escalation in

violence in eastern Ukraine and the resulting

humanitarian situation around the town of Avdiivka. They

also discussed how the EU could increase support for the

full implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Ministers

agreed on the need for continued strong support for

Ukraine’s reform agenda, which is crucial to strengthen

Ukraine’s resilience, and welcomed the progress Ukraine

has made on reform to date.

Egypt

Foreign Ministers discussed the economic and political

challenges facing Egypt, including the human rights

situation, and agreed on the need for closer cooperation

on these issues. Ministers also agreed that working more

closely with Egypt on regional issues is a priority, given

Egypt’s status as a strategic partner in countering

terrorism and tackling illegal migration.

MEPP

Foreign Ministers discussed issues relating to the

Middle East Peace Process. The Council discussed

possible timing for the next EU-Israel Association

Council and agreed to revert to the issue. Member States

expressed concern about the increase in Israel’s

settlement building and the new settlement legislation

passed by the Israeli Knesset.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-20/HLWS482/http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-20/HLWS484/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2017/02/06/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/fac/2017/02/06/


Ministers agreed without discussion a number of

measures:

• The Council updated the information related to

twenty-one persons and one entity subject to restrictive

measures against the Democratic Republic of the

Congo.

• The Council took note of the annual progress report

on the implementation of the European Union strategy

against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction

(WMD).

• The Council took note of the annual report on the

implementation of the European Union strategy to

combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small

arms and light weapons and their ammunition – Actions

in 2015.

• The Council approved the conclusion of an agreement

aimed at continuing the International Science and

Technology Center (ISTC).

Independent Reviewer of Terrorism

Legislation

[HLWS483]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the

Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber

Rudd) has today made the following Written Ministerial

Statement:

I am pleased to announce that I am appointing Max Hill

QC as the new Independent Reviewer of Terrorism

Legislation.

Mr Hill has been a QC for nine years and has extensive

experience both defending and prosecuting complex cases

involving terrorism, homicide, violent crime, high value

fraud and corporate crime. He successfully prosecuted the

21/7 bombers, and he appeared in the inquest into the 7/7

bombings. He also sits as a Recorder at the Old Bailey.

Mr Hill will take up this role from 1 March 2017. He

takes over from David Anderson QC, who has served as

Independent Reviewer with great distinction since 2011,

and to whom I am extremely grateful for the significant

contribution he has made.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-02-20/HLWS483/


Written Statements Tuesday, 21 February 2017

Agriculture and Fisheries Council

[HLWS486]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: My Hon Friend the

Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

(George Eustice) has today made the following statement:

I represented the United Kingdom at the Agriculture

and Fisheries Council on 23 January in Brussels.

Council opened with a presentation by the Maltese

Presidency on their work programme for the next six

months.

This was followed by an update from Commissioner

Hogan on the progress of EU trade talks, including a

discussion of the findings of the Commission’s report on

the cumulative economic impact of future trade

agreements on EU agriculture. The UK intervened to

point out the benefits of an ambitious approach to future

EU free trade agreements.

The Council then discussed the dairy market situation

and the recent report on the EU Milk Package, along with

ongoing outbreaks of Avian Influenza. Member States

including the UK welcomed the fragile recovery of the

dairy market. Commissioner Hogan stressed that the

release of supplies of skimmed milk powder held in

public intervention would be handled carefully to avoid

any negative impact on the market. On Avian Influenza,

the UK joined with several other Member States to raise

concerns about the impact of necessary disease control

measures on free-range egg producers. Commissioner

Hogan agreed that the Commission would examine policy

options and report back quickly.

A number of other items were discussed under ‘any

other business’:

- The Slovakian delegation provided information on the

conclusions of the 40th Conference of Directors of Paying

Agencies;

- The Commission responded to a request for

information regarding the scope of the Commission’s

powers to adopt delegated acts for exceptions from the

rules on protected designations of origin for wines.

Until exit negotiations are concluded, the UK remains a

full member of the European Union and all the rights and

obligations of EU membership remain in force. The

outcome of these negotiations will determine what

arrangements apply in relation to EU legislation in future

once the UK has left the EU.

ECOFIN

[HLWS487]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: My right honourable friend

the Chief Secretary to the Treasury (David Gauke) has


A meeting of The Economic and Financial Affairs

Council (ECOFIN) will be held in Brussels on 21

February 2017. EU Finance Ministers are due to discuss

the following items:

Early morning session

Ministers will be briefed on the outcomes of the 20

February meeting of the Eurogroup, and the European

Commission will present an update on the current

economic situation following the publication of the

Commission’s Winter Forecasts on 13 February.

Ministers are also expected to discuss points of

clarification in relation to the intergovernmental

agreement on the Single Resolution Fund.

Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive

Ministers will be invited to reach a general approach to

the second Anti-Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD2).

Current financial service legislative proposals

The Council Presidency will provide an update on

current legislative proposals in the field of financial

services.

Criteria and process leading to the establishment of the

EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes

Council will take stock of further work that has taken

place following the Council conclusions agreed at

ECOFIN on 8 November 2016.

Preparation of the G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers

and Central Bank Governors on 17-18 March 2017 in

Baden-Baden

Ministers will be asked to mandate the Economic and

Finance Committee (EFC) to finalise the EU Terms of

Reference for the next meeting G20 of Finance Ministers

and Central Bank Governors.

Discharge to be given to the Commission in respect of

the implementation of the budget for 2015

On the basis of a report from the European Court of

Auditors, Ministers will be asked to approve a

recommendation - to be forwarded to the European

Parliament.

Budget guidelines for 2018

Ministers will be asked to adopt Council conclusions on

the guidelines for the 2018 budget, which will serve as a

point of reference in the forthcoming budgetary cycle.

European Defence Fund

The Commission will provide information on its

European Defence Action Plan, focusing in particular on

the proposed launch of a European Defence Fund.

Local Government Finance

[HLWS485]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: My rt Hon Friend the

Secretary of State for Communities and Local

Government (Sajid Javid) has today made the following




Local Government Finance

I have today laid before the House, the ‘Report on

Local Government Finance (England) 2017–18’, which

represents the annual local government finance settlement

for local authorities in England.

I would like to thank all colleagues in the House, and

council leaders and officials, who contributed to the

consultation after the provisional settlement was

published before Christmas. Representations from nearly

200 organisations or individuals have been carefully

considered before finalising the settlement.

In 2010 we inherited the largest deficit in our peacetime

history. As we continue to bring that down, local

government, which still accounts for nearly a quarter of

public spending despite the savings delivered since 2010,

must continue to play its part.

At the same time, local residents rightly continue to

expect excellent public services. I commend all councils

for how they are getting on with the job. Public

satisfaction wi

house of lords - uk parliament€¦ · detriment in the logbook loan market, in particular the lack...

Documents