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Monday
30 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 ..................................................... 3
Vol. 786
No. 13
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[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 Agnew of Oulton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education
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 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/
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Written Statements 30 October 2017 Page 1
Written Statements Monday, 30 October 2017
Employment, Social Policy, Health and
Consumer Affairs Council
[HLWS200]
Baroness Buscombe: My honourable Friend the
Minister of State for Employment (Damian Hinds MP)
has made the following Written Statement.
The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer
Affairs Council met on 23rd October 2017 in
Luxembourg. Margot James, Minister for Small Business,
Consumers and Corporate Responsibility at the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy,
represented the UK.
The Council agreed the draft Interinstitutional
Proclamation on the European Pillar of Social Rights and
gave permission for the Presidency to sign on Council’s
behalf. It is expected that this will now be officially
signed at the Gothenburg Social Summit on 17
November.
The Council agreed a General Approach on the Posting
of Workers Directive. Discussion during Council
focussed on the duration of postings and application to the
transport sector. The UK argued for a balanced text which
protected workers without disproportionate burdens on
business but ultimately, along with Ireland and Croatia,
abstained from the vote.
The Council also agreed a Partial General Approach on
two chapters (equal treatment and applicable legislation)
revising EU Social Security Coordination Regulation
883/2004. The UK voted in support.
Ministers discussed ‘improving cooperation in cross-
border labour mobility to fight fraud and abuse’ over
lunch.
The Council endorsed the key employment and social
challenges, based on the key messages from the
Employment and Social Protection Committees, without
comment.
Under any other business, the Presidency and
Commission provided information on the Tripartite Social
Summit. The Presidency provided information on the
Tallinn Digital Summit and the Commission provided
information on the New Skills Agenda for Europe. The
European Institute for Gender Equality gave a
presentation on the 2017 Gender Equality Index.
Justice Update
[HLWS203]
Lord Keen of Elie: My right honourable friend the
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (David
Lidington) has made the following Written Statement.
"I have today laid before Parliament, and shared with
the Chair of the Justice Select Committee, the
Government’s post-legislative memorandum for the Legal
Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act
(LASPO) 2012, introduced by the Coalition Government.
This fulfils the commitment made by former Justice
Minister Sir Oliver Heald before this House earlier this
year.
My predecessors also committed to publish a post-
implementation review of the legal aid changes made by
the Act during its passage through Parliament. I have
asked my officials to commence this review.
Our legal aid system is a fundamental pillar of access to
justice, accounting for more than a fifth of the Ministry of
Justice’s budget. The reforms within the Act were
founded on delivering better value for money for
taxpayers by reducing the cost of the scheme and
discouraging unnecessary and adversarial litigation, while
ensuring that legal aid continues to be available for the
highest priority cases, for example where life or liberty is
at stake, where someone faces the loss of their home, in
domestic violence cases, or where their children may be
taken into care.
The Government has previously committed to review a
number of areas, including:
• the changes made to the scope of legal aid for family,
civil and criminal cases, and the introduction of the
Exceptional Case Funding scheme;
• the changes made to fees for various types of legal aid
work;
• the procedural changes the Act made, including the
introduction of the mandatory telephone gateway and
the introduction of evidence requirements for victims of
domestic violence and child abuse;
• changes to the rules on financial eligibility, including
the application of the capital eligibility test to all legal
aid applicants, increasing income contributions for
those eligible to contribute, and capping the subject
matter of dispute disregard;
• changes to the application of the merits test;
• the abolition of the Legal Services Commission and
its replacement with the Legal Aid Agency.
This review of Part 1 of the Act will be led by officials
in my department. I am keen that we listen to views on
these changes from all interested parties, and I will shortly
be inviting individuals and organisations to join
consultative panels and contribute to this review work.
The review will conclude before the start of the summer
recess 2018.
My predecessors also committed to a post-
implementation review of the civil litigation funding and
costs reforms in Part 2 of the Act. We are considering
how to carry out that review, but we hope to conclude it
to the same timetable."
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Page 2 30 October 2017 Written Statements
Law Commission Report: Mental Capacity
and Deprivation of Liberty
[HLWS201]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: My hon. Friend the
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health (Jackie
Doyle-Price) has made the following written statement:
I am today announcing the publication of the
Government’s interim response to the Law Commission’s
report on Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty, a
copy of which is attached.
In England, around 2 million people with conditions
such as dementia, learning disability or an acquired brain
injury may be unable to always make decisions about
their care or treatment, including where they live, because
they lack mental capacity. In 2007, the Government
amended the Mental Capacity Act to introduce the
deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS), which provide a
legal framework for such decisions. However, the
framework has been subsequently criticised in both
Houses, as well as by charities, Local Authorities and
families. The current regime is inflexible and complex
and the system is bureaucratic and unwieldly meaning
that it is unnecessarily cumbersome to ensure that
vulnerable people are afforded the rights and protections
to which they are entitled. The current system does not
always empower people or place them at the heart of
decision making about their care as set out by the Care
Act 2016.
The Commission were asked to conduct a fundamental
review of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
provisions which are rooted in the Mental Capacity Act
and integrated into healthcare practices for joined-up
person-centred care. Our expressed priority at the time
was that any new scheme delivers real tangible benefits
for individuals and their families, and this remains the
case. Any new scheme must improve the quality of care
for people, improve access to safeguards and be cost-
effective.
I welcome the publication of the Law Commission’s
report which we are carefully considering and thank them
for their careful and considered work. We will now
engage with a range of stakeholders to understand in
greater detail how these changes can be implemented. We
will also consider what enabling actions need to be taken
to support the Mental Capacity Act ethos of greater
empowerment and care centred around people, their
wishes and aspirations.
This Government is committed to take action to reform
mental health and transforming care for people with
conditions such as dementia, learning difficulties and
autism. Action to reform the current Deprivation of
Liberty Safeguards regime is an important contribution
towards achieving these aims including effectively
protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our
society.
The Government will provide its final response on the
Law Commission report to the House in Spring 2018.
The Statement includes the following attached material:
Govt's interim response to the Law Commission [171026 DoLS
letter to Law Commission.pdf]
The material can be viewed online at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-10-30/HLWS201/
National DNA Database Ethics Group
[HLWS202]
Baroness Williams of Trafford: I am pleased to
announce the publication today of the 9th annual report of
the National DNA Database Ethics Group. The Group
was established on 25 July 2007 to provide Ministers with
independent ethical advice on the operation and practice
of the National DNA Database. I am grateful to the Ethics
Group for their strategic advice concerning the use of
biometric identifiers and for their continued oversight of
the work of the Forensic Information Database Strategy
Board, which contributes to ensuring that robust
procedures are in place to minimise DNA contamination
and remove systematic errors in the forensic use of DNA.
The Ethics Group’s annual report can be viewed on the
website of the National DNA Database Ethics Group and
I am arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library of
both Houses. I am grateful to the Ethics Group for their
strategic advice concerning the use of biometric
identifiers and for their continued oversight of the work of
the Forensic Information Database Strategy Board, which
contributes to ensuring that robust procedures are in place
to minimise DNA contamination and remove systematic
errors in the forensic use of DNA. The Ethics Group’s
annual report can be viewed on the website of the
National DNA Database Ethics Group and I am arranging
for a copy to be placed in the House Library.
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 3
Written Answers Monday, 30 October 2017
Agricultural Products: Import Duties
Asked by Lord Allen of Kensington
To ask Her Majesty's Government what
understanding they have reached with the EU on
sharing out the tariff-rate quotas that govern the import
of farm products into the EU from countries outside the
bloc; when they anticipate those changes will come into
effect; and what effect the proposed sharing out will
have on overall quotas registered with the World Trade
Organisation. [HL2090]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: In preparation for the UK’s
withdrawal from the EU, the UK Government and the
European Commission have set out a number of proposals
for future global trading arrangements in a joint letter to
World Trade Organization (WTO) members.
The UK and EU Commission have proposed how they
will separate the UK’s trading commitments to other
WTO members from the EU. The UK’s current trading
commitments to other WTO members, such as the tariffs
it sets on goods they export to the UK, are applied
through the EU’s schedules of commitments. As we leave
the EU these will have to be set out separately for the UK.
The proposals in the letter cover how the UK’s
commitments should be calculated. We are working to
ensure the UK schedule replicates as far as possible
existing trade flows. The UK aims to extract its share of
trade commitments and entitlements from the EU
schedule, including agricultural tariff-rate quotas (TRQs)
and domestic support. The TRQs apply to a range of
everyday items such as dairy products and meat.
The proposal is that the quotas for the EU 27 and UK
are apportioned based on existing trade flows.
Apportioning TRQs will ensure there is limited disruption
to existing overall quotas. Using historic trade flows
under the EU’s TRQs as a reference will maintain current
levels of foreign market access. The total future quota
amounts scheduled at the WTO by the EU 27 and the UK
will therefore equal the current amounts in the EU
schedule.
Upon EU exit, the UK will no longer be a member of
the EU's Single Market or Customs Union. Therefore,
regardless of any implementation period, the UK would
still need to have established its own independent
schedules at the WTO as it leaves the EU. These should
be ready on day one of EU exit to protect UK trade
interests and minimise the disruption to global trade.
The UK and the EU are committed to engaging with the
WTO Membership in a spirit of cooperation,
inclusiveness and openness on these matters over the
course of the coming weeks and months.
Apprentices
Asked by Lord Ouseley
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the causatory factors leading to a
decline in the number of young people starting an
apprenticeship in the current year; and how that decline
will affect their target to create three million
apprenticeships by 2020. [HL2073]
Asked by Lord Ouseley
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in the
light of the reduced number of young people starting an
apprenticeship in the current year, they have considered
withdrawing the apprenticeship levy charged to
companies with more than 250 members of staff.
[HL2074]
Lord Agnew of Oulton: There have been over 1.1
million apprenticeship starts since May 2015 and the
Government remains committed to reaching 3 million
apprenticeship starts in England by 2020. The
Government has introduced the Apprenticeship Levy to
provide sustainable investment in high quality
apprenticeships, and by 2020 apprenticeship funding in
England will be £2.45 billion, which is double than in
2010.
The Government is monitoring the number of
apprenticeship starts as these changes take effect.
Ultimately, it is too early to draw conclusions on the
impact of these reforms before employers have had time
to adjust. However, the Government will continue to
oversee the apprenticeship program to ensure its success.
These reforms to apprenticeships are the biggest
changes the Government has ever made in this area, and
include the introduction of the Apprenticeship Levy and
new funding arrangements in April and May respectively.
As a result, the Government expects a period of
adjustment for employers wanting to explore the
opportunities such reforms offer. Employers have 24
months to spend their levy funds.
Brexit
Asked by Lord Blencathra
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the accuracy of predictions made by
the OECD, in the light of the statement made by OECD
Director General, Jose Angel Gurria on 27 April 2016,
which suggested that a UK exit from the EU would
immediately hit confidence and would result in UK
GDP being reduced by 3 per cent by 2020. [HL2168]
Lord Bates: The government has not made an
assessment of the accuracy of the Organisation for
Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD)
predictions. The OECD is an independent international
organisation, and its analysis of the UK economy
represents its own views.
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Page 4 30 October 2017 Written Answers
British Overseas Territories: Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting
Asked by Lord Luce
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they
propose to provide observer status for British Overseas
Territories during the Commonwealth Summit in
London in April 2018. [HL2062]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is committed to
strengthening the links between the Overseas Territories
and the Commonwealth. As membership of the
Commonwealth is limited to sovereign states, the
Overseas Territories cannot attend the Heads of
Government Meeting or other ministerial meetings in
their own right but will be represented by the UK. The
UK Government will discuss the four policy pillars for
the summit (security, sustainability, fairness and
prosperity), with the Overseas Territories ahead of next
year’s summit, in order to seek their views and feedback.
Building Regulations
Asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 25
September (HL1605), whether the Building Control
Department of a local authority would be deemed an
independent scrutiny body when signing off work
carried out by contractors working for that same local
authority. [HL1735]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Building Act 1984
requires local authorities to carry out the building control
function unless the person carrying out the building work
has chosen to employ an approved inspector as the
building control body. A local authority may act as the
building control body in respect of work being carried out
by or on behalf of the same local authority.
Local authorities are required by the Building
Regulations 2010 to take all reasonable steps to be
satisfied that building work complies with all applicable
requirements in the Building Regulations whoever is
carrying out the building work. The Government has
published a set of Building Control Performance
Standards to provide guidance to building control bodies
on how to avoid any possible conflicts of interest.
Burma: Rohingya
Asked by Baroness Helic
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they
have to deploy the UK team of experts on preventing
sexual violence in conflict to Bangladesh to document
evidence of alleged rape and sexual violence against the
Rohingya people. [HL2027]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Foreign and
Commonwealth Office and Department for International
Development (DFID) officials are urgently assessing the
UN-led Sexual and Gender-Based Violence response in
Bangladesh, including the level of identification and
outreach and clinical management and what additional
support the UK may usefully provide.
DFID has funded the deployment of an international
expert to UNFPA in Cox's Bazar to lead the Gender-
Based Violence Sub-Sector, part of the UNHCR-led
Protection Sector of the international humanitarian
response. We are currently in dialogue with the
Coordinator to better understand the level of incidence,
response and coordination and associated challenges. We
will then assess whether deploying additional UK
expertise is required to reinforce UN-led efforts, including
documentation, already underway in country.
Colombia: Administration of Justice
Asked by Baroness Coussins
To ask Her Majesty's Government what technical
support they are providing to the government of
Colombia to ensure that an effective system of
transitional justice is implemented under the recent
peace agreement. [HL2103]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is supporting
the implementation of Transitional Justice mechanisms
required by Colombia’s Peace Agreement with the
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
through programmes funded by the Conflict Security and
Stability Fund (CSSF). This includes helping the
Colombian Government establish the Special Jurisdiction
for Peace, and promoting the rights of victims, and access
to justice for women.
Colombia: Human Rights
Asked by Baroness Coussins
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to support the government of Colombia to
protect those defending human rights; and how they are
helping the government of Colombia to identify and
prosecute the perpetrators of crimes against those
defending human rights. [HL2105]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Working together to
improve respect for human rights is a key part of our
relationship with the Colombian Government and civil
society. The Prime Minister raised the issue of violence
against human rights defenders with President Santos
during the State Visit last November. At a practical level,
our Ambassador to Colombia is a member of the group
"Ambassadors with Defenders" which promotes the work
of human rights defenders and raises concerns about
specific cases with the Colombian Government. Through
the Global Britain Fund, our Embassy in Bogota supports
projects that promote the role of human rights defenders
and strengthen the investigatory capacity of the Public
Prosecutor’s office. In January, British Embassy staff in
Bogota took part in a visit to South Bolivar, where local
community leaders have voiced concerns about their
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 5
security. As a result of this visit, the Office of the
Presidential Advisor on Human rights committed to
request the Colombian Ministry of Defence to provide
additional security measures for community leaders.
Colombia: Overseas Companies
Asked by Baroness Coussins
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to ensure that UK businesses operating in
Colombia are required to carry out human rights due
diligence in relation to their overseas operations and do
not initiate projects in Colombia without gaining free,
prior and informed consent from the communities that
they affect. [HL2106]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK National Action
Plan on Business and Human Rights sets out how the
Government is implementing the UN Guiding Principles.
British firms are expected to uphold these principles in
their overseas operations, as well as in the UK. We
worked closely with the Colombian authorities to develop
their National Action Plan, published in December 2015.
All companies operating in Colombia, including British
ones, are expected to comply with the requirements and
guidelines set out in that National Action Plan. British
companies are expected to incorporate human rights into
their Corporate Social Responsibility policies. We have
also provided technical assistance for British companies
in non-judicial dispute resolution.
Colombia: Peace Negotiations
Asked by Baroness Coussins
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to support the government of Colombia to ensure
that the recent peace agreement is fully implemented in
consultation with local communities. [HL2102]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Through the Conflict
Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) and our contribution
to the UN Trust Fund, the UK is supporting local
participation in regional development plans that flow
from the Peace Agreement. The UK is also supporting a
project to give the High Commissioner for Peace a
regional presence, which will improve links with local
communities.
Asked by Baroness Coussins
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to support the government of Colombia to
progress peace talks with the National Liberation Army
(ELN), extend the bilateral ceasefire, and to fully
dismantle the paramilitary groups. [HL2104]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: I welcome the temporary
ceasefire with the National Liberation Army (ELN) and
the UK encourage all efforts that lead to a lasting peace.
The UK played a leading role in the UN Security Council
that led to the adoption of Resolution 2377 on 5 October,
which authorises the UN Mission in Colombia to monitor
the ceasefire.
Common Agricultural Policy
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Prime
Minister’s proposal for a two-year post-Article 50
implementation period includes continued participation
in the Common Agricultural Policy. [HL2042]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The government is
proposing an implementation period of around two years.
The detail of interim arrangements will be a matter for
negotiation.
Credit: Interest Rates
Asked by Lord Birt
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their
assessment of the consumer and systematic risk arising
from high-cost credit products. [HL2247]
Lord Bates: The Government has fundamentally
reformed regulation of the consumer credit market,
transferring regulatory responsibility to the Financial
Conduct Authority (FCA) on 1 April 2014. Since the
transfer, the FCA has taken a proactive approach on
consumer credit, to ensure that all consumers who use
high-cost credit products are treated fairly. The
Government welcomes the ongoing work of the FCA to
review the high-cost credit market.
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. To ensure lenders are
resilient to defaults related to consumer credit, the FPC
has acted to accelerate its analysis of credit losses that
banks could incur in the very deep recession encapsulated
in the 2017 annual stress test scenario. The FPC has stated
that regulatory capital buffers for individual firms will be
set following the full stress test results so that each bank
can absorb its losses on consumer lending, alongside all
the other effects of the stress scenario on its balance sheet.
Dangerous Driving
Asked by Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
Written Answer by Lord Callanan on 16 October
(HL1657), how many non-serious casualties resulted
from cases where the driver failed to stop after a
collision in 2016. [HL2204]
Baroness Sugg: In 2016 there were 16,531 slight
casualties where the driver failed to stop after a collision.
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Page 6 30 October 2017 Written Answers
Daphne Caruana Galizia
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions,
if any, they have had with the government of Malta
about the murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.
[HL2135]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Our High Commissioner
has met the Maltese Deputy Prime Minister and Home
Affairs Minister to discuss the case and to offer UK
support to the police investigation.
Devolution
Asked by Lord Lexden
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their
response dated 17 January to the report from the
Constitution Committee Inter-governmental relations in
the United Kingdom (Session 2014–15, HL Paper 146),
when their report on inter-governmental relations will
be published. [HL2061]
Lord Young of Cookham: Work on the annual report
of the Joint Ministerial Committee is currently being
taken forward by representatives of the UK Government
and each of the devolved administrations, and is expected
to be published in due course.
Disabled Students' Allowances: Dyslexia
Asked by Lord Addington
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the average
cost to dyslexic students who received their diagnosis
before they were 18 of the assessment required to allow
them to be eligible for Disabled Students' Allowance.
[HL1998]
Viscount Younger of Leckie: All students applying for
Disabled Students’ Allowances must provide medical
evidence to confirm their eligibility.
Students with dyslexia must have an assessment or
review assessment undertaken after their 16 th birthday.
We do not hold information on costs.
Asked by Lord Addington
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
undertaken or commissioned any study on the impact
on those students applying for higher education of
requiring dyslexic students to pay for a second
assessment and to make a £200 contribution to the cost
of computing equipment necessary to carry supportive
software. [HL1999]
Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Department has not
undertaken any research on diagnostic assessments for
dyslexia for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSAs)
purposes. DSAs continue to provide funding to dyslexic
higher education students for assessed IT equipment costs
in excess of £200, as well as for software and other
support. DSAs funding is not provided to enable students
to confirm their eligibility for support.
The Department does not hold information on the
numbers of students requiring a first or review assessment
to confirm their eligibility for DSAs.
Economic Policy
Asked by Lord Myners
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the policy options available to HM
Treasury and the Bank of England in the event of a
sharp slowdown in the UK's economy. [HL2071]
Lord Bates: The government’s economic objective is
to achieve strong, sustainable and balanced growth. To
this end, the government’s economic strategy consists of:
operationally independent monetary and macroprudential
policy responsible for maintaining price and financial
stability and supporting the economy; credible fiscal
policy with the flexibility to support the economy; and
structural reforms to address long-term economic
weaknesses.
Economic Surveys
Asked by Lord Blencathra
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they made of the content of the OECD Economic
Survey of the United Kingdom 2017 before agreeing to
the same report being launched in the buildings of HM
Treasury. [HL2167]
Lord Bates: The Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development is an independent
international organisation, and its Economic Survey of the
United Kingdom 2017 represents its own views. The
government welcomes regular surveillance of the UK
economy by international institutions as a source of
external challenge and scrutiny.
Elections
Asked by Lord Blunkett
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the
anticipated date of publication of their review into
democratic engagement. [HL2094]
Lord Young of Cookham: The Government’s
Democratic Engagement Strategy will be published in
December.
Environment Protection
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of reports that environmental
defenders, including park rangers, are being killed in
record numbers globally. [HL2136]
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 7
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK government is
committed to supporting those working hard to tackle the
illegal wildlife trade. Tragically, over 100 rangers have
died in the line of duty in the last 12 months, many at the
hands of poachers. Through the Illegal Wildlife Trade
Challenge Fund, Defra has funded three projects
supporting park rangers and other environmental
defenders. In addition Defra has funded the British
Military to provide tracker training for African park
rangers, helping to ensure their safety when detecting and
disrupting the illegal wildlife trade.
Equality Act 2010
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
remarks by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 16 October,
whether the Equality and Human Rights Commission
has the power to enforce the Equality Act 2010 in the
civil courts where it considers the law has been
breached. [HL2058]
Lord Agnew of Oulton: The enforcement powers of
the Equality and Human Rights Commission are set out in
sections 20 to 32 of the Equality Act 2006, as amended by
the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013. The
Commission can investigate an unlawful act (section 20);
issue an unlawful act notice (section 21); apply to a court
for an action plan from a person served with an unlawful
act notice (section 22); seek an injunction where
necessary (section 24); provide legal assistance to an
individual who is or may become party to legal
proceedings (section 28); initiate or intervene in judicial
review proceedings (section 30); and issue a compliance
notice where it thinks that a public authority has failed to
comply with the public sector equality duty (section 32).
Fisheries: North Sea
Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, as part of
the UK's future relationship with the EU, they will
seek to continue participating in the North Sea
multiannual plan. [HL2045]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: UK fishing vessels will
need to comply with the North Sea Multiannual Plan
when fishing in EU waters, both while the UK is still
within the EU and when fishing in EU waters in
accordance with any agreement post exit. The UK
Government will continue to have a strong interest in the
overall status and effective long-term management of
mixed demersal species and nephrops in the whole North
Sea area. The science-based framework established under
the Multiannual Plan will provide a valuable support to
continued cooperation between the UK and the EU, where
it will be important to find a shared basis to agree on
sustainable rates of exploitation across all commercially
important species. The exact basis for such cooperation is
still to be determined.
Fly-tipping
Asked by Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the adequacy of legislation to protect
the countryside from fly-tipping. [HL2276]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government is
committed to tackling fly-tipping in rural and urban areas.
Local authorities and the Environment Agency have a full
range of enforcement powers to tackle fly-tipping. We
have recently strengthened their powers. We have given
local authorities the power to issue fixed penalty notices
for small scale fly-tipping and enhanced the ability of
local authorities’ and the Environment Agency to search,
seize and destroy vehicles of suspected fly-tippers. We
have also strengthened the Sentencing Council’s
Guidelines. The maximum penalties for fly-tipping are
imprisonment of up to five years or a potentially
unlimited fine.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Non-
governmental Organisations
Asked by Lord Kinnock
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
changed the rules which prevent non-governmental
bodies from using government premises for non-
governmental purposes; and if no change in the rules
has been made, why the launch of the non-
governmental Initiative for Free Trade was allowed to
take place in the Map Room of the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office in early October. [HL2053]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Foreign and
Commonwealth Office premises may be used by non-
governmental bodies for events that are in line with
Government policy, as in this case.
Funerals
Asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the current level of protection for
consumers purchasing a funeral plan, including
protection from inappropriate sales and marketing
practices. [HL2254]
Asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
any plans to strengthen the regulation of the funeral
plan market in order to improve consumer protection.
[HL2255]
Lord Bates: The provision of a funeral plan is defined
as a regulated activity and falls within the Financial
Conduct Authority’s regulatory remit unless specific
exemption criteria are met. This arrangement and these
exemption criteria are set out in the Financial Services
and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001.
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Page 8 30 October 2017 Written Answers
This legislation exempts funeral plan providers from the
Financial Conduct Authority’s regulatory remit where the
following financial arrangements are conducted, which
are designed to ensure that the customer’s payments are
secure:
1.the customer’s money is held in a trust fund, where
more than half of the trustees are unconnected with the
funeral plan provider. This trust must be managed by an
authorised fund manager and be overseen by a Fellow of
the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries; or
2.the customer’s money is placed in a life insurance
policy, issued by an authorised insurer.
HM Treasury sets the legislative framework for the
regulation of financial services, including the provision of
funeral plans, and continues to keep such exemptions
under review to ensure the maintenance of effective
prudential and conduct standards.
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy
Asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the staff guidelines issued by the
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy that reportedly state
that pupils should vomit in a bucket in their classrooms
if they feel unwell. [HL2088]
Asked by Lord Watson of Invergowrie
To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions
the Regional Schools Commissioner for East of
England and North East London has had with the
Inspiration Trust about the pupil behaviour policy of the
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy. [HL2089]
Viscount Younger of Leckie: When Insipration Trust
took on this failing school, it looked to develop a new
behaviour policy at Great Yarmouth Charter School. The
final version was published on the school website on 12
September. The content of an academy's pupil behaviour
policy is a matter for the individual Trust. However, the
Regional Schools Commissioner has sought reassurances
that all sickness cases are dealt with sympathetically and
appropriately and not as stated.
Immigrants: English Language
Asked by Lord Rosser
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to ensure that UK nationals can meet the English
language proficiency threshold that has been set for
non-UK nationals seeking permanent residency.
[HL2079]
Lord Agnew of Oulton: The department is supporting
adults in England to ensure they have the English
language skills for life and work.
Adults in England who do not have a Level 2
qualification in English are eligible for free courses up to,
and including, Level 2 in English literacy. Adults in
England are also eligible for fully or co-funded courses to
help them learn English for Speakers of Other Languages
(ESOL), depending on their employment status. Funding
is available for ESOL courses and qualifications up to
Level 2. In 2016/17, the department supported 536,700
adults to improve their English skills through literacy
courses and 114,400 through ESOL courses.
Since 2013, the Department for Communities and Local
Government has invested £12 million to support 54,000
isolated adults to learn English in community settings at
pre-entry level, focusing on women with no or very little
English who are unlikely to access classes in more formal
settings.
The English language proficiency level for non-UK
nationals seeking permanent residency or applying to
naturalise as British citizens is set at B1 of the Common
European Framework of Reference for Languages. This is
equivalent to an ESOL Entry Level 3. Detailed
Immigration Rules can be accessed here at the below web
link or via the attached document.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-
rules/immigration-rules-appendix-koll.
Immigration: EU Nationals
Asked by Lord Rosser
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they
intend to enact restrictions on free movement for EU
nationals prior to Brexit; and if so, how. [HL2080]
Baroness Williams of Trafford: There are no plans to
enact restrictions on free movement for EU citizens prior
to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
The Government has repeatedly made clear that until
we leave the EU, EU citizens will continue to enjoy the
same rights and status, and remain subject to the same
residence requirements under EU law, as is currently the
case.
This is set out in our position paper published on 26th
June 2017, available at:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/safeguarding-the-
position-of-eu-citizens-in-the-uk-and-uk-nationals-in-the-
eu
The Answer includes the following attached material:
pdf copy of publication - safeguarding position...
[HO_EU_Citizen_Rights_Policy_Factsheet_A5_FINAL_WEB_26
0617_2.pdf]
The material can be viewed online at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-10-16/HL2080
Impact Assessments
Asked by Lord Goodlad
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy
on the publication of impact assessments in relation to
(1) primary legislation and (2) secondary legislation.
[HL2022]
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 9
Lord Young of Cookham: The Government's policy is
to develop and publish impact assessments for any
proposals that have a regulatory impact, whether
delivered through primary or secondary legislation. The
form that these should take and the level and type of
detail and evidence they provide should be proportionate
to the scale of impacts and the stage of policy
development.
Income Tax
Asked by Lord Kinnock
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their
assessment of the October International Monetary Fund
half-yearly fiscal monitor report view that tax systems
should have become more progressive to reduce
inequality and that there is now "scope for increasing
the progressivity of income taxation without
significantly hurting growth". [HL2054]
Lord Bates: The International Monetary Fund’s report
conclusions consider the OECD as a whole and are not
specifically aimed at the UK.
The UK already has a progressive system. The income
tax system consists of three progressive rates of tax –
20%, 40% and 45%, which sit above an internationally
high tax-free personal allowance. As a result the top 1%
of income taxpayers pay 28% of all income tax and
HMRC statistics show additional rate taxpayers paid
£46.7bn of tax in 2014-15 compared with £34.5bn in
2010-11.
Inflation
Asked by Lord Myners
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have
recently considered setting a temporary or permanent
increase in the inflation target set for the Monetary
Policy Committee. [HL2072]
Lord Bates: The Bank of England Act 1998
established that the objectives of the Monetary Policy
Committee of the Bank of England are to maintain price
stability and, subject to that, to support the economic
policy of the Government.
The Chancellor reaffirmed at the Spring Budget 2017
that the committee will continue to target 2 per cent
inflation as defined by the 12-month increase in the
consumer prices index.
Infrastructure: Capital Investment
Asked by Lord Storey
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total
expenditure per resident on publicly funded
infrastructure projects in (1) London, (2) the North
West, (3) the East of England, (4) Yorkshire and the
Humber, (5) the South East, (6) the South West, (7) the
East Midlands, (8) the West Midlands, and (9) the
North East, in financial year 2015–16. [HL2087]
Lord Bates: Public expenditure on infrastructure in the
English regions for 2015-16 can be found on page 75 of
HM Treasury’s 2016 ‘Country and Regional Analysis’, as
part of a wider dataset breaking down public spending in
the UK. The figures provided in that document are:
North
East
North
West
Yorkshire
and the Humber
East
Midlands
West
Midlands
Total: 418 702 489 352 445
East London South
East
South
West
Total
England
Total: 468 1,079 488 428 582
An explanation of the difficulties in determining spend
at a regional level can be found on page 8. For example,
the robustness of allocation methods varies according to
the availability of data and simplifying assumptions are
made in order to reduce the reporting burdens for
government bodies.
Iraq: Islamic State
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they
took, prior to tabling UN Security Council Resolution
2379, to assess the capacity of Iraqi national courts to
conduct the recommended prosecutions of Daesh
fighters. [HL2002]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are working closely
with the Government of Iraq to bring Daesh to justice.
The UK continues to work with the High Judicial Council
and Counter-Terrorism Investigative Judges to assess the
current capability of the Iraqi judiciary, including on
human-rights compliance. Most recently the Attorney
General met the Chief Justice of Iraq on his visit to the
UK in October, where they discussed the importance of
holding Daesh to account through the courts. We have
identified areas where we can share expertise and will
continue to work closely with the Iraqi Judiciary to ensure
due process and compliance with international law.
Islamic State: Prosecutions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to
implement the recommendation in paragraph 6.2.1. of
Council of Europe Resolution 2190 (2017) to
investigate and prosecute any suspected Daesh
members who come within the UK’s jurisdiction or
control. [HL2003]
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to
implement the recommendation in paragraph 6.2.2. of
Council of Europe Resolution 2190 (2017) to prosecute
all offences committed within the UK’s jurisdiction
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Page 10 30 October 2017 Written Answers
relating to Daesh’s activities abroad, and to ratify and
fully implement the 2005 Council of Europe
Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No.
196) and its 2015 Additional Protocol (CETS No. 217).
[HL2004]
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the recommendation in paragraph
6.2.4. of Council of Europe Resolution 2190 (2017).
[HL2005]
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the recommendation in paragraph
6.2.4. of Council of Europe Resolution 2190 (2017).
[HL2159]
Baroness Williams of Trafford: UK terrorism
legislation is fully compliant with the Council of Europe
Convention and the Additional Protocol, and allows us to
prosecute individuals in the UK who have engaged in a
broad range of terrorist activity overseas in connection
with Daesh or any other terrorist organisation. The UK is
a signatory to both instruments and plans to ratify them.
Everyone who returns from taking part in the conflict in
Syria or Iraq must expect to be investigated by the police
to determine if they have committed criminal offences
and to ensure that they do not pose a threat to our national
security.
Paragraph 6.2.4 of the Resolution calls on member
states to refuse refugee status to fighters who may have
committed acts of genocide and/or other serious crimes
prohibited under international law.
We have a proud history of providing protection to
those who need it, but we will deny the benefits of
refugee status to those who commit serious crimes and are
a danger to the community and those who are a danger to
national security, including war criminals, those who
commit crimes against humanity and those involved in
terrorism either in the UK or abroad.
Israel: Palestinians
Asked by Baroness Tonge
To ask Her Majesty's Government what
representations they are making to the government of
Israel concerning the conditions for Palestinian women
in Israeli prisons and the number of Palestinian women
currently held in Israeli prisons without charge.
[HL2150]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have not
raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we
have raised concerns over treatment of Palestinian
detainees with the Israeli authorities on many occasions.
Asked by Baroness Tonge
To ask Her Majesty's Government what
representations they are making to the government of
Israel following a report from the Palestinian Prisoners’
Affairs Commission that the Israeli Army has arrested
at least 927 children since the beginning of the year and
given many of them lengthy sentences. [HL2152]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Our Ambassador to Tel
Aviv raised the issue of children in detention with the
Israeli Attorney General on 3 October. The Minister for
the Middle East and North Africa raised our concerns
surrounding children in detention with the Israeli
authorities during his visit to Israel in August 2017.
Asked by Baroness Tonge
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they
plan to take to involve Hamas in future negotiations
with Israel. [HL2153]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We welcome the
Palestinian Authority’s (PA) return to Gaza on 2 October
and the agreement to allow the PA to resume
administrative control. However the Government has no
plans to take any action to involve Hamas in future
negotiations. Our policy on Hamas remains clear: they
must renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept
previously signed agreements. We now expect to see
credible movement towards these conditions, which
remain the benchmark against which its intentions should
be judged. Ultimately we believe that peace will only
come through negotiations between the parties involved.
Joint Ministerial Committee
Asked by Lord Lexden
To ask Her Majesty's Government how far in advance
they aim to circulate papers to those attending meetings
of (1) the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary), and
(2) the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations).
[HL2059]
Lord Young of Cookham: Papers for meetings of the
Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) and the Joint
Ministerial Committee (EU Negotations) are subject to
agreement by all administrations. Once agreed, papers are
circulated to attendees by the JMC joint secretariat
consisting of officials of all four administrations.
Asked by Lord Lexden
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many
meetings of (1) the Joint Ministerial Committee
(Plenary), and (2) the Joint Ministerial Committee (EU
Negotiations), they intend to convene in 2018.
[HL2060]
Lord Young of Cookham: Meetings of the Joint
Ministerial Committee (Plenary) and the Joint Ministerial
Committee (EU Negotiations) are subject to agreement by
all four Administrations. JMC(EN) met most recently on
16 October and agreed to meet again before Christmas.
The Memorandum of Understanding agreed between
the UK Government and Devolved Administrations states
that the Joint Ministerial Committee (Plenary) should
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 11
meet at least once a year. The UK Government and the
Devolved Administrations will work together to agree any
future date of the next Joint Ministerial Committee
(Plenary).
Joint Ministerial Committee on EU
Negotiations
Asked by Lord Kinnock
To ask Her Majesty's Government what date has been
agreed for the next meeting of the Joint Ministerial
Committee on EU negotiations; and what is the
frequency of meetings intended for the future. [HL2055]
Lord Young of Cookham: Meetings of the Joint
Ministerial Committee (EU Negotiations) are subject to
agreement by all four administrations. JMC(EN) met most
recently on 16 October and agreed to meet again before
Christmas.
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement
Asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
To ask Her Majesty's Government what factors have
caused revision of the delivery programme for the
Lightning 2 jet aircraft from amber to amber–red; and
what are the implications of that change. [HL2258]
Earl Howe: The Delivery Confidence Rating for the
Lightning Programme as a whole was downgraded in July
2017 to reflect the challenges that exist within a taut
schedule in the run up to Initial Operating Capability in
December 2018. Specific challenges were related to
software, training and weapons integration. These areas
are now the focus of significant activity in the Ministry of
Defence and industry programme team. Currently, there is
expected to be no impact on the UK's ability to declare
Initial Operating Capability in December 2018.
Landlords: Licensing
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of local authority private sector
landlord licensing schemes. [HL2049]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Licensing is an
effective targeted tool delivering improved standards and
safety in the private rented sector in specific areas that are
suffering from serious problems. The Department will
shortly undertake a review of selective licensing.
Legislation
Asked by Lord Goodlad
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy
on pre-legislative consultation. [HL2023]
Asked by Lord Goodlad
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their policy
on pre-legislative scrutiny by Parliament. [HL2024]
Asked by Lord Goodlad
To ask Her Majesty's Government which bills they
intend to subject to pre-legislative scrutiny this session.
[HL2025]
Lord Young of Cookham: The Government is
committed to engaging with the public and other
interested parties as policies are developed through formal
and informal consultation. Where possible the
Government is keen to facilitate formal pre-legislative
scrutiny of draft legislation. A revised set of consultation
principles was published in 2016 to give clear guidance to
Government Departments on consultations. A copy of
these principles can be found in the attached document.
Three draft bills have already been published this
session: the Draft Health Service Safety Investigations
Bill, the Draft Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariffs Cap)
Bill and draft legislation on the Personal Injury Discount
Rate. These draft bills are available for select committees
to scrutinise as they see fit.
At the State Opening of Parliament on 21 June 2017,
the Government announced two further bills would be
published in draft this session: the draft Tenants’ Fees Bill
and draft Domestic Violence and Abuse Bill. These will
be published in due course. The Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has recently
announced their intention to publish draft legislation on
animal cruelty sentencing. Tax legislation is regularly
published draft for technical consultations.
The Answer includes the following attached material:
Attachment [20160111_Consultation_principles_final.pdf]
The material can be viewed online at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-10-16/HL2023
Letting Agents
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 28 March
(HL Deb, col 466), when they expect to legislate to
introduce compulsory client money protection for
landlords and tenants. [HL2046]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: It is essential that
measures on Client Money Protection are considered in
the round and implemented in a sensible and coherent
way with other changes to the sector, notably the ban on
letting agent fees paid by tenants, and regulation of letting
agents.
We will provide more information on legislation and
implementation shortly.
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Page 12 30 October 2017 Written Answers
Letting Agents: Fees and Charges
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect
to legislate to ban letting agents fees. [HL2047]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: We sought views on
how the ban should be implemented and enforced during
an eight week public consultation, which closed on 2
June. We received more than 4,700 responses, which we
have been analysing carefully.
We will be publishing our response to the consultation
and the Tenant Fees Bill shortly. We will provide more
information on the implementation timetable following
scrutiny of the draft bill.
Midland Main Railway Line
Asked by Lord Bradshaw
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment
they have made of the effect of the proposed
remodelling at Derby station and at Market Harborough
station on train journey times between London and
Sheffield. [HL2012]
Baroness Sugg: The journey time improvement
assessments for the Derby and Market Harborough
improvements are:
Derby station remodelling: Sheffield to London – 1.5
min saving / London to Sheffield – 2.5 min saving
Market Harborough line speed improvements (for non-
stopping trains): Sheffield to London – 0.5 min saving /
London to Sheffield – 0.5 min saving
Please note the savings above represent infrastructure
capability; the final journey time improvements will be
determined by the operating timetable, the development
of which is ongoing.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe
Asked by The Marquess of Lothian
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, during
her meeting with the President of Iran at the UN
General Assembly in September, the Prime Minister
raised the case of the imprisoned dual Iranian-British
national Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe; and what
assurances they have received that Mrs Zaghari-
Ratcliffe is not being subjected to ill-treatment.
[HL2126]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Prime Minister, the
Foreign Secretary and the Minister for the Middle East
and North Africa raised all of our dual-national cases,
including Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe, with their Iranian
counterparts in the margins of the United Nations General
Assembly in September. We continually seek assurances
of the wellbeing of British prisoners. We will continue to
raise all our dual-national cases with the Iranian
authorities at every opportunity, including requesting
consular access, not least so that we may be assured of
their welfare.
NHS: Standards
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will
publish their analysis of the cost of achieving referral to
treatment standards as set out in the NHS constitution.
[HL2033]
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will
publish their analysis of the cost of achieving the NHS's
performance targets and patient access standards.
[HL2038]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: There are no plans to publish
such analyses.
The Government holds NHS England and NHS
Improvement to account for delivery of the referral to
treatment and other performance targets and patient
access standards. Delivery of the standards is impacted by
a number of factors such as levels of demand,
productivity and financial resources. NHS England has set
these out in their Next Steps on the NHS Five Year
Forward View, which charts practical and realistic steps
for the next few years with the aim of delivering real
improvements in patient care and outcomes.
Additionally, the Government’s mandate to NHS
England for 2017/18 sets a clear expectation that NHS
England will meet agreed standards on accident and
emergency, ambulances, diagnostics and referral to
treatment.
Non-domestic Rates
Asked by Baroness Rebuck
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much of the
four-year £435 million package of support for business
ratepayers following the 2017 business rate revaluation
has been spent; and how much has been used to support
bookshops. [HL2142]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Billing authorities are
responsible for rebilling eligible businesses due to receive
support as part of the £435 million package of funding
announced by the Chancellor at the Budget. The
Department for Communities and Local Government will
be collecting data on the amount spent by billing
authorities during the financial year 2017/18 at the end of
that period as part of the normal process of reconciling
local authority relief payments. On 13 October, the
Government published a list of authorities that indicated
that they had begun to rebill businesses on each of the
three schemes. This list will be updated
(attached)regularly, at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-
rates-relief-schemes-2017-rebilling-progress
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 13
The Answer includes the following attached material:
Rebilling progress [171030 List of authorities updated.pdf]
The material can be viewed online at:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-
answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-10-17/HL2142
Asked by Baroness Rebuck
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many
bookshops have lost small business rate relief or rural
rate relief as a result of the 2017 business rate
revaluation; and, beyond the scheme to cap the annual
bill increase for any ratepayer losing these reliefs, what
plans they have to protect small bookshops from
closure. [HL2143]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: DCLG does not hold
data specifically on the impact of the revaluation on
bookshops. However, the Government has taken action to
support small business; it put in place a £3.6 billion
package of transitional relief and permanently doubled
small business rate relief meaning 600,000 small
businesses will pay no business rates at all. The
Government also doubled the level of rural rate relief
from 50 per cent to 100 per cent for eligible businesses
In addition, at the Spring Budget the Government
announced a £110 million of support to help ratepayers
losing small business rates relief and rural rate relief – this
will ensure increases in their bills this year capped at
£600. It also included a £300 million discretionary relief
fund for local authorities to design their own schemes.
Subject to meeting the criteria for local discretionary
schemes, bookshops may be eligible for support from this
fund.
Asked by Baroness Rebuck
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they
intend to provide guidance on the use of the £300
million fund for local authorities to distribute to help
businesses facing higher business rate bills; and, if so,
whether this guidance will cover support for bookshops.
[HL2145]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government will
not be providing guidance on the use of the £300 million
fund. Under the terms of the £300 million discretionary
fund, billing authorities are responsible for designing the
criteria of their local schemes and these criteria may
include bookshops.
Office for Nuclear Regulation: Public
Appointments
Asked by Lord Mendelsohn
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Office
for Nuclear Regulation expects to appoint a new Chief
Nuclear Inspector. [HL2131]
Baroness Buscombe: The Office for Nuclear
Regulation has already begun the process to recruit a new
permanent Chief Nuclear Inspector with a view to an
appointment being made by late 2017, subject to
ministerial approval.
Palestinians: Politics and Government
Asked by Lord Hylton
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are
giving any assistance to help consolidate the recent
reconciliation deal between Fatah and Hamas, and to
support negotiations aimed at long-term peace in
Palestine. [HL2119]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government is not
providing any assistance to help consolidate the recent
reconciliation deal. Our longstanding policy on
reconciliation remains that we support the Palestinian
people in realising self-determination through an
independent, sovereign, and unified Palestinian state. We
welcome the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) return to Gaza
on 2 October and the agreement to allow the PA to
resume administrative control. This is an important and
positive step toward the restoration of the PA control and
effective governance. We encourage those involved in the
talks to engage in good faith, to allow the PA to fully
resume its government functions in Gaza, and ensure
compliance with the Quartet Principles.
Pigs: Animal Welfare
Asked by Lord Laird
To ask Her Majesty's Government (1) what measures
they have taken in relation to any EU member states
that are not in compliance with the sow stall ban
contained in EU Directive 2008/120/EC; (2) which
states have been subject to such measures; and (3)
whether pork imports into the UK from non-compliant
countries continue to be allowed. [HL2210]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: In 2013 the Commission
launched infraction proceedings against six member
states. These were Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, France,
Greece and Slovenia.
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 2013 partial ban on the
keeping of sows in sow stalls proved effective.
There are no EU marketing rules to prevent imports of
pig meat from non-compliant production systems.
Public Transport: Accidents
Asked by Lord Berkeley
To ask Her Majesty's Government, in each of the last
ten years, how many people were killed or seriously
injured in (1) the UK, and (2) the Greater London area
(a) as passengers in a bus or coach; (b) as passengers in
a train; (c) in accidents involving a bus or coach as
pedestrians, cyclists or in another vehicle; and (d) in
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Page 14 30 October 2017 Written Answers
accidents involving a train as pedestrians, cyclists or in
another vehicle. [HL2008]
Baroness Sugg: The data are provided in the following
tables:
Table 1: (a) Number of people killed or serious injured (KSI) in Great
Britain and London, as passengers in a bus or coach, 2007 to 2016:
Great Britain London
2007 418 118
2008 392 137
2009 343 108
2010 364 88
2011 317 82
2012 301 90
2013 320 84
2014 279 67
2015 258 69
2016 266 70
Source: DfT STATS19
Note:
1) These figures relate to passengers killed or seriously
injured in a bus or coach, and exclude any casualties to
the driver of a bus or coach.
Table 2: (c) Number of people killed or seriously injured (KSI) in Great Britain and London in accidents involving a bus or coach which
includes pedestrian, cyclist and any other vehicle occupant or driver
KSIs, 2007 to 2016:
Great Britain London
2007 1306 368
2008 1176 374
2009 1025 305
2010 1010 236
2011 932 232
2012 910 233
2013 850 197
2014 850 185
2015 774 166
2016 730 166
Source: DfT STATS19
Note:
1) Includes pedestrian, cyclists or any occupants of
vehicles who are in an accident with a bus or coach.
These figures include the driver and passengers which are
killed or seriously injured.
The Department for Transport does not hold the data for
Northern Ireland in its road casualties database. The
required information is available on request from
Statistics Branch at the Police Service of Northern Ireland
In addition, the Department does not hold the specific
information on rail casualties as requested for parts b) and
d). Please contact the Rail Safety and Standard Board
(RSSB), who hold more detailed information on these
matters. They can be contacted on the following email
address: [email protected].
RAF Marham: Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft
Asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether
infrastructure upgrades at RAF Marham to facilitate the
arrival of the Lightning 2 jet aircraft are on schedule.
[HL2256]
Earl Howe: The overall infrastructure project is on
schedule for completion.
Asked by Lord Campbell of Pittenweem
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much is being
offered in incentive payments for early delivery of
infrastructure to facilitate the accommodation of
Lightning 2 jet aircraft at RAF Marham. [HL2257]
Earl Howe: There are no incentive payments for early
delivery.
Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations
Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark
To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they
are making on extending Right to Buy to housing
association tenants. [HL2051]
Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: We are taking stock of
the extension of Right to Buy discounts to housing
association tenants, and will announce more details in due
course.
Subversion
Asked by Baroness Tonge
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they
intend to take to ensure that other states do not interfere
improperly in the UK’s democratic process. [HL2149]
Lord Young of Cookham: Ahead of the 2017 General
Election, a series of protective measures were put in place
to mitigate or reduce risks to the UK’s democratic
process. The Cabinet Office, with the National Cyber
Security Centre, continues to monitor the threat to all UK
democratic processes whether at a national, regional or
local level.
All Government Departments, organisations and
institutions have a role to play in protecting their data and
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Written Answers 30 October 2017 Page 15
preventing adversaries obtaining information they could
misuse.
Sudan: Peace Negotiations
Asked by Baroness Cox
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to ensure that the government of Sudan upholds
its ceasefire agreements in South Kordofan and Blue
Nile States. [HL2016]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK welcomes the
reduction in conflict between government forces and the
armed opposition in the Two Areas in recent months, as
well as the extension by the government of Sudan of the
unilateral cessation of hostilities until 31 December 2017.
In the most recent round of the UK-Sudan Strategic
Dialogue on 16 October, we urged the Government of
Sudan to extend this further.
We continue to urge both sides to engage constructively
with the African Union High Level Implementation Panel
(AUHIP) peace process in order to agree upon a
permanent ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access.
Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents
Asked by Baroness Barker
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
Written Answer by Lord O'Shaughnessy on 12 October
(HL1633), whether they have considered the potential
discriminatory effects of the remedial order against
infertile single women, particularly those who use
surrogacy to have a child if their eggs or embryos have
been rendered infertile, or who have had their uterus
removed as a result of cancer or other illness, or have
been born with functioning ovaries but not a uterus.
[HL2007]
Lord O'Shaughnessy: The provision of the Human
Fertilisation and Embryology Act 2008, which requires an
applicant to have provided their own gametes to bring
about the pregnancy is unchanged by the ruling of the
High Court. An Equality Impact Assessment has been
completed in respect of the draft remedial order.
Universal Credit
Asked by The Lord Bishop of Durham
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the
remarks by the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions on 9 October (HC Deb, col 4), whether they
will publish the evidence supporting his statement that
the roll-out of Universal Credit will mean that 250,000
more people will be in work. [HL2020]
Baroness Buscombe: In total, it is estimated that
Universal Credit will help more than 250,000 people
move into employment.
There are a number of features of Universal Credit
(UC) which we estimate will drive this increase in
participation:
1. Increased financial incentives to move into work –
UC has better incentives to increase hours of work,
meaning workers keep a higher proportion of their
additional earnings, with a guarantee that work always
pays.
We have estimated the impact of financial incentives by
combining academic evidence on people’s responses to
previous welfare system reforms, and the Department’s
Policy Simulation Model. The Policy Simulation Model
was used to estimate changes in gains from work and
disposable income (i.e. drivers of income and substitution
effects) for different groups due to the introduction of
Universal Credit.
We estimate that increased financial incentives will
result in around 150,000 more people in employment
under UC in steady state.
2. Increased intensity of work search under Universal
Credit. Conditionality is extended under UC to certain
groups that were not subject to conditionality under the
legacy system, meaning they will get work coach support
and encouragement to seek work, and will sign a claimant
commitment to spend up to 35 hours (depending on their
circumstances and any caring responsibilities) a week
seeking work.
The conditionality regime in Universal Credit has a
wider reach than the equivalent JSA regime in the legacy
benefit system. We use evidence of the employment
impacts from trials of labour market interventions to
estimate the increase in employment for these groups
experiencing conditionality for the first time. We estimate
that extended conditionality under UC will result in
around 50,000 additional people moving into
employment.
3. A smoother and simpler transition into work under
Universal Credit. Universal Credit places less
administrative burden on the claimant and has a clearer
system of allowances and tapers that allow claimants to
more easily see the financial benefits of moving into work
or increasing their hours.
The estimated employment impacts of UC due to its
simplicity are based on research and evaluation evidence
of similar reforms in the past. In particular, it draws on
evidence from the:
a) quantitative and qualitative evaluations of mandatory
work-focused interviews for lone parents and Better Off
Calculations; and
b) evaluation of In-Work Credit.
We estimated that the move to a single system of
working-age benefits, in the form of Universal Credit,
will result in around 60,000 more people in employment
under UC in steady state.
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Page 16 30 October 2017 Written Answers
Vocational Guidance
Asked by Lord Shipley
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend
to publish the comprehensive careers strategy
announced in the Building the Industrial Strategy Green
Paper, published in January. [HL2236]
Lord Agnew of Oulton: My Rt hon. Friend, the
Secretary of State has confirmed that we will publish a
careers strategy shortly.
The strategy will have a clear focus on social mobility.
It will include proposals to improve the quality and
coverage of careers advice in schools. The strategy will
also include steps to improve the access to advice on
training and careers for adults throughout their working
lives.
Asked by Lord Shipley
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to ensure that working people of all ages have
easy access to information and guidance on the
education and training they can undertake to reskill or
upskill. [HL2237]
Lord Agnew of Oulton: The Government will publish
a careers strategy shortly, with a clear focus on social
mobility. This will include proposals to provide
information for individuals to access education and
training throughout their working lives, as well as help
those who want to reskill and upskill.
The National Careers Service provides free and
impartial guidance on careers, skills and the Labour
Market in England. It allows working people to identify
opportunities and respond to challenges within their
employment.
Water Abstraction
Asked by Lord Moynihan
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they
have to reform the water abstraction system, including
in relation to abstraction volumes and licence
conditions. [HL2140]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Since 2008 the
Environment Agency has made changes to over 270
abstraction licences to prevent over 27 billion litres of
water per year being removed from the environment. This
is enough water to supply half a million people with water
for one year.
In due course we will publish a water abstraction plan
that will detail how we will manage abstraction in a way
that is modern, fairer and more resilient and that protects
the environment. The plan will set out how the
Environment Agency will modify abstraction licences to
reflect better the needs of the environment.
Wild Parsnips
Asked by Lord Moonie
To ask Her Majesty's Government what dangers wild
parsnips pose to the environment and the public.
[HL2137]
Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Wild parsnip, Pastinaca
sativasubspecies sylvestris, is the wild ancestor of the
cultivated garden parsnip. It is part of our native flora and
poses no risk to the environment. Some members of the
public experience skin irritation or blisters after contact
with the plant’s sap and sunlight but the health risk is
limited.
Yemen: Military Intervention
Asked by Lord Hoyle
To ask Her Majesty's Government what
representations they have made to the government of
Saudi Arabia regarding the impact of Saudi-led
coalition air strikes in Yemen on civilians; and what
response they have received. [HL2115]
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK takes
allegations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL)
violations extremely seriously; when they occur, we
encourage the Saudi-led Coalition to ensure they are
thoroughly investigated. Saudi Arabia has publicly stated
that it is investigating reports of alleged violations of IHL
and that lessons will be acted upon.
Youth Custody
Asked by Lord Laming
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are
taking to reduce the number of children and young
people in custody on the prison estate. [HL2056]
Lord Keen of Elie: The principal aim of the youth
justice system is to prevent offending by children and
young people. Since the peak in youth proven offending
in 2006/07, the average number of under-18s in youth
custody has decreased by 70% from 2,915 to 869 in
2016/17.
The sentencing framework for young people provides
for robust alternatives to custody in the form of
community-based sentences: referral orders and youth
rehabilitation orders (including youth rehabilitation orders
with intensive supervision and surveillance). Custody
should always be a measure of last resort and be the
shortest term commensurate with the seriousness of the
offence. The main custodial sentence for children and
young people, the Detention and Training Order, is not
available for children under 12 years old and any case that
warrants one of less than four months must result in a
non‑custodial sentence.
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Index to Statements and Answers
Written Statements ................................................. 1
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer
Affairs Council ..................................................... 1
Justice Update ....................................................... 1
Law Commission Report: Mental Capacity and
Deprivation of Liberty .......................................... 2
National DNA Database Ethics Group ................. 2
Written Answers ..................................................... 3
Agricultural Products: Import Duties ................... 3
Apprentices ........................................................... 3
Brexit .................................................................... 3
British Overseas Territories: Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting ............................ 4
Building Regulations ............................................ 4
Burma: Rohingya.................................................. 4
Colombia: Administration of Justice .................... 4
Colombia: Human Rights ..................................... 4
Colombia: Overseas Companies ........................... 5
Colombia: Peace Negotiations ............................. 5
Common Agricultural Policy ............................... 5
Credit: Interest Rates ............................................ 5
Dangerous Driving ............................................... 5
Daphne Caruana Galizia ....................................... 6
Devolution ............................................................ 6
Disabled Students' Allowances: Dyslexia ............ 6
Economic Policy ................................................... 6
Economic Surveys ................................................ 6
Elections ............................................................... 6
Environment Protection ........................................ 6
Equality Act 2010 ................................................. 7
Fisheries: North Sea ............................................. 7
Fly-tipping ............................................................ 7
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Non-
governmental Organisations ................................. 7
Funerals ................................................................ 7
Great Yarmouth Charter Academy ....................... 8
Immigrants: English Language ............................. 8
Immigration: EU Nationals.................................. 8
Impact Assessments ............................................. 8
Income Tax .......................................................... 9
Inflation ............................................................... 9
Infrastructure: Capital Investment ....................... 9
Iraq: Islamic State ................................................ 9
Islamic State: Prosecutions .................................. 9
Israel: Palestinians ............................................. 10
Joint Ministerial Committee .............................. 10
Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations
........................................................................... 11
Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft: Procurement ........ 11
Landlords: Licensing ......................................... 11
Legislation ......................................................... 11
Letting Agents ................................................... 11
Letting Agents: Fees and Charges ..................... 12
Midland Main Railway Line .............................. 12
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe ................................. 12
NHS: Standards ................................................. 12
Non-domestic Rates ........................................... 12
Office for Nuclear Regulation: Public
Appointments ..................................................... 13
Palestinians: Politics and Government .............. 13
Pigs: Animal Welfare ........................................ 13
Public Transport: Accidents .............................. 13
RAF Marham: Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft ...... 14
Right to Buy Scheme: Housing Associations .... 14
Subversion ......................................................... 14
Sudan: Peace Negotiations ................................ 15
Surrogate Motherhood: Lone Parents ................ 15
Universal Credit ................................................. 15
Vocational Guidance ......................................... 16
Water Abstraction .............................................. 16
Wild Parsnips ..................................................... 16
Yemen: Military Intervention ............................ 16
Youth Custody ................................................... 16
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Index to Statements and Answers