p a r l i a m e n t a r y d e b a t e s (hansard) house of...

Tuesday

27 January 2015

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

(HANSARD)

HOUSE OF LORDS OFFICIAL REPORT

WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND

WRITTEN ANSWERS

Written Statements ................................................. 3

Written Answers ..................................................... 5

Vol. 759

No. 93

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

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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/. Proposed corrections should be sent to [email protected] for

review.

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 Stowell of Beeston Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

Lord Wallace of Tankerness Advocate-General for Scotland and Deputy Leader of the House

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local

Government

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

Lord Ashton of Hyde Whip

Lord Astor of Hever Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence

Lord Bates Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Whip

Lord De Mauley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and

Rural Affairs

Lord Deighton Commercial Secretary to the Treasury

Lord Faulks Minister of State, Ministry of Justice

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

Baroness Garden of Frognal Whip

Lord Gardiner of Kimble Whip

Earl Howe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health

Baroness Jolly Whip

Baroness Kramer Minister of State, Department for Transport

Lord Livingston of Parkhead Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

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

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation

and Skills

Lord Newby Deputy Chief Whip

Baroness Northover Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for International

Development

Lord Popat Whip

Baroness Randerson Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Wales Office

Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip

Baroness Verma Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Energy and Climate

Change

Lord Wallace of Saltaire Whip

Baroness Williams of Trafford Whip

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mailto:[email protected]

Written Answers 27 January 2015

Written Statements Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Committee on Radioactive Waste

Management

[HLWS201]

Baroness Verma: I am today announcing the start of

the second Triennial Review of the Committee on

Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM).

Triennial Reviews are part of the Government’s

commitment to ensuring that non-departmental public

bodies continue to have regular independent challenge.

The review will examine whether there is a continuing

need for CoRWM’s function and its form and whether it

should continue to exist at arm’s length from

Government.

If there is evidence of a continued need for the body,

the review will also examine whether CoRWM’s control

and governance arrangements continue to meet the

recognised principles of good corporate governance.

I will inform the House of the outcome of the review

when it is completed.

ECOFIN

[HLWS203]

Lord Deighton: My rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of

the Exchequer (George Osborne) has made the following

Written Ministerial Statement.

A meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs

Council will be held in Brussels on 27 January 2015.

Ministers are due to discuss the following items:

Investment Plan for Europe

The Commission will present its proposal on the

European Fund for Strategic Investment, a key element of

the Investment Plan for Europe, following by a first

exchange of views.

Current Legislative Proposals

The Council will receive an update from the Presidency

on on-going work on financial services dossiers.

Presentation of the Presidency Work Programme

The new Latvian Presidency will present to Council its

six-month work programme in the ECOFIN area.

Presentation of the Commission Work Programme

The new Commission will present its Work Programme

for 2015, focusing on the economic and financial agenda.

Economic Governance

The Council will hold an exchange of views on two

Commission Communications on economic governance:

firstly, on the Economic Governance Review and

secondly, on clarifying the existing flexibility in the

Stability and Growth Pact.

Preparation of the G20 Meeting of Finance Ministers

and Governors on 9-10 February 2015 in Istanbul

The Council will adopt terms of reference in view of

the G20 meeting of Finance Ministers and Governors in

February in Istanbul.

Holocaust Commission

[HLWS204]

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: My Rt Hon. Friend the

Prime Minister has made the following statement to the

House of Commons:

Today I am publishing the report of the Holocaust

Commission, as attached, and copies of the report have

been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

On this poignant Holocaust Memorial Day, seventy

years on from the liberation of Auschwitz, Britain’s

Promise to Remember sets out the steps this country will

take to ensure that the memory of the Holocaust is

preserved and its lessons are never forgotten.

The Commission’s work was informed by a Call for

Evidence which received nearly 2,500 responses. This

included one of the largest ever gatherings of British

Holocaust survivors at Wembley Stadium; a youth essay

competition with more than 700 entries; and a wide range

of consultation events and meetings, including at the

White House and United Nations.

The Commission found widespread dissatisfaction with

the existing Holocaust memorial in Hyde Park, which was

felt to be hidden out of sight and offer no context,

information or opportunity to learn more. The strength of

feeling on this was very clear, particularly from many of

Britain’s Holocaust Survivors.

The Commission drew on emerging findings from the

world’s largest study of young people’s knowledge and

understanding of the Holocaust – conducted by UCL’s

Institute of Education. This found that the majority of our

young people do not know some of the most fundamental

facts that explain how and why the Holocaust happened,

even after studying it at school. The Commission also

reported inadequate support for regional projects,

compounded by a lack of long-term funding for Holocaust

education. And it identified the urgent need for the

recording and appropriate preservation of the testimony of

survivors and liberators.

So the Commission made four main recommendations.

First, Britain should have a striking and prominent new

National Memorial in Central London, to make a bold

statement about the importance our country places on

preserving the memory of the Holocaust and to stand as a

permanent affirmation of the values of our society.

Second, there should be a world-class Learning Centre

to accompany the National Memorial. This would be a

must-see destination that would draw on the latest

technology to engage and inspire vast numbers of visitors.

The new Learning Centre would also bring together a

nation-wide network of Holocaust organisations and

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2015-01-27/HLWS201/



27 January 2015 Written Answers

support headteachers to champion Holocaust education

throughout the country.

Third, there should be an endowment fund to secure the

long-term future of Holocaust education for ever. This

would cover the running costs of the Learning Centre and

also support Holocaust education around the country,

including through local projects and travelling

exhibitions.

Fourth, the Commission recommends an urgent

programme to complete the task of recording and

preserving the first hand testimony of British Holocaust

survivors and liberators. The Commission proposes a new

independent body to deliver all these recommendations

and wants to see testimony work completed this year, the

creation of the National Memorial in 2016/17 and the

Learning Centre within the next Parliament.

With the support of the Deputy Prime Minister and the

Leader of the Opposition I am accepting these

recommendations. I am today setting up the United

Kingdom Holocaust Memorial Foundation, under the

leadership of Sir Peter Bazalgette, to get on with this

urgent work. In support of this, and to kick-start a society-

wide fundraising effort, the government will commit £50

million towards the delivery of the new National

Memorial, Learning Centre and endowment fund.

I would like to express my thanks to Mick Davis and to

all the Commissioners – including the Rt Hon Member

for Surrey Heath (Michael Gove), the Rt Hon Member for

Morley and Outwood (Ed Balls) and the Rt Hon Member

for Bermondsey and Old Southwark (Simon Hughes) who

have given this work the cross-party status it so

profoundly deserves.

Today we stand together - whatever our faith, whatever

our creed, whatever our politics. We stand in

remembrance of those who were murdered in the darkest

hour of human history. We stand in admiration of what

our Holocaust survivors have given to our country. And

we stand united in our resolve to fight prejudice and

discrimination in all its forms.

We will keep Britain’s Promise to Remember. Today,

tomorrow and for every generation to come.

The Statement includes the following attached material:

Holocaust Commission Report [2015 01 27 - The Prime Minister's Holocaust Commission - Deposited Paper.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at:

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

answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2015-01-27/HLWS204/

Non-lethal Equipment: Jordanian Armed

Forces

[HLWS202]

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: My Right Honourable

Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs (Mr Philip Hammond) has made

the following written Ministerial statement:

I have today laid a departmental Minute proposing the

gifting of non-lethal equipment to the Jordanian Armed

Forces.

My Right Honourable Friend, the former Secretary of

State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr

William Hague) informed the House on 6 March 2013

(Official Report, column 961) that he intended to provide

additional non-lethal equipment to the Syrian opposition

in order to help save lives. He then laid a departmental

Minute on 15 April 2013 and issued a Written Ministerial

Statement containing details of that gift which included,

amongst other equipment, five 4x4 vehicles with ballistic

protection. The equipment was due to be donated to the

Syrian opposition National Coalition’s Assistance

Coordination Unit based in Turkey. Although we have

been able to deliver some of the equipment, regrettably,

we have been unable to deliver the five 4x4 vehicles as

planned.

There are two reasons for this:

(1) only the US government and United Nations have

been granted permission by the Turkish government to

use such vehicles in Turkey; and

(2) the Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU) was not a

registered entity at the time and therefore the ACU would

have only been permitted to store and use the vehicles

within Syria.

Our assessment is that delivering the vehicles to Syria

carries too much of a risk of them ending up in the wrong

hands. For example, on 7 December 2013 the Islamic

Front raided the Syrian Military Council’s headquarters in

Bab al-Hawa and took some of their equipment. We

therefore now consider that the best option is to gift the

vehicles to the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF). The JAF

would use them in their efforts to manage current

insecurity on their border with Syria, including cross-

border smuggling activity. This option represents the least

risk of the vehicles falling into the wrong hands and is

most cost-effective to the taxpayer given that the vehicles

are already stored in Jordan.

This gift has been scrutinised to ensure that the

provision of this equipment is consistent with export

controls and complies with our international obligations.

Recipients have been carefully selected to prevent

equipment being given to those involved in extremist

activities or human rights violations.

The value of these vehicles is £386,375.70 which will

be met by the Government’s Conflict Pool Fund.

The Treasury has approved the proposal in principle. If,

during the period of fourteen parliamentary sitting days

beginning on the date on which this minute was laid

before the House of Commons, a Member signifies an

objection by giving notice of a Parliamentary Question or

a Motion relating to the minute, or by otherwise raising

the matter in the House, final approval of the gift will be

withheld pending an examination of the objection.






Written Answers Tuesday, 27 January 2015

Bahrain

Asked by Lord Avebury

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment

they have made of the risk that Bahrain’s security

services are being infiltrated by supporters of Daesh,

and the consequent advisability both of training those

services and of basing United Kingdom naval forces in

Bahrain. [HL4230]

Lord Astor of Hever: The Ministry of Defence keeps

the security situation in Bahrain under regular review, in

order to inform all decisions on security measures for

deployed personnel and on co-operation with Bahrain

Defence Forces.

Banks

Asked by Lord Mendelsohn

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Bank

of England’s fair and effective markets review will

consider the level of bonuses paid to individuals

working in the fixed income, commodities and currency

markets; and how institutions fined for practices in

those areas have dealt with the payments made to such

individuals. [HL4096]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their

evaluation of progress in changing the culture in the

banking sector in the United Kingdom. [HL4103]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has

considered investigating the conduct or operation of the

boards of any of the companies that have been fined for

practices relating to LIBOR, gold price fixing or foreign

exchange manipulation. [HL4104]

Lord Deighton: The Government has taken a

substantial number of measures to change the culture in

UK banking.

This Government supported the work of the

Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards which

reported in June 2013 on professional standards and

culture of the UK banking sector. Legislation to give

effect to its recommendations on banking standards and

individual accountability were included in the Financial

Services (Banking Reform) Act 2013. The Financial

Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority

and the Treasury worked through 2014 to prepare

secondary legislation, regulatory rules and other detailed

implementing measures.

The Government expects to announce the final

timetable for implementing these reforms shortly.

In the Financial Services Act 2012, this Government

introduced a new criminal offence to address the issue of

the manipulation of the LIBOR interest rate benchmark.

In December 2014 the government announced that this

offence would be extended to cover a further seven

financial benchmarks from, subject to Parliamentary

approval, 1 April 2015.

We also recognise that there is more to do if the

banking industry and global financial markets are to

regain public trust. The Chancellor of the Exchequer

therefore announced in his Mansion House speech in June

2014 a Treasury, Bank of England and FCA review of the

operation of the foreign exchange, fixed income and

commodity markets. The Fair and Effective Markets

Review will examine how trust and credibility in these

markets can be restored. The review will report in June

2015.

In November 2014 the Financial Conduct Authority

(FCA), in co-ordination with financial regulators in the

US and Switzerland, announced the outcome of its

investigations into attempted manipulation of foreign

exchange markets by 5 banks. It imposed penalties on 5

banks totalling £1.11 billion. In addition the Director of

the Serious Fraud Office opened a criminal investigation

into allegations of fraudulent conduct in the foreign

exchange market in July 2014. The Government does not

comment on ongoing investigations, so as not to prejudice

these inquiries.

Ensuring that firms incentivise employees to behave in

the right way is essential to restoring public trust in

financial services. The Fair & Effective Markets Review’s

scope covers trading practices in markets, and drivers of

behaviour including incentives for individuals. In

November 2014 the Chancellor wrote to the Governor of

the Bank of England to ask that the increasing levels of

fixed remuneration in the financial sector following the

introduction of the ‘bonus cap’ be considered as part of

this work.

Barclays

Asked by Lord Teverson

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions

ministers and officials at the Department for Business,

Innovation and Skills have had with Barclays Bank

about the planned closure of rural branches, in

particular at St Agnes, Cornwall, which is the only bank

located in that community. [HL4106]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Officials at the Department

have discussed with Barclays Bank the rationale for the

planned closure of the branch in St Agnes, Cornwall, and

the steps that are being taken to ensure that local

resident’s banking needs can continue to be met.

The Secretary of State for Business Innovation and

Skills has also held a recent roundtable with the banks,

the Post Office, regulators, consumer groups and

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2015-01-19/HL4230




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serious_Fraud_Office



organisations representing vulnerable groups to identify

ways of maintaining access to banking services for all

communities in the context of branch closures and

technological change. A further roundtable has been

organised to review progress.

British Transport Police

Asked by Lord Bradshaw

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the

Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 19 January

(HL4148), whether British Transport Police officers

regularly patrol outside the boundaries of rail stations

where people make onward journeys. [HL4314]

Baroness Kramer: The British Transport Police (BTP)

does not routinely patrol these areas. However, it does

carry out policing beyond the railway when called upon to

do so by Home Office forces or when engaging in multi-

agency policing operations with a wider footprint than a

rail location or when required to do so when responding

to a spontaneous incident requiring an immediate police

response.

More generally, the BTP works in close partnership

with local Home Office policing teams, Council Street

Wardens and transport organisations to share intelligence

and plan patrol strategies, and on the design and execution

of police operations.

Classroom Assistants

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the latest

figures available for the number of male and female

teaching assistants in primary and secondary schools in

England and Wales. [HL4277]

Lord Nash: The following table provides the full-time

equivalent (FTE)[1] and headcount number 1 of male and

female teaching assistants in service in publicly funded

primary and secondary schools in England, November

2013.

Education matters in Wales are a responsibility of the

Welsh Government.

FTE Headcount

Primary[2] [3] 156,240 257,330

Male 6,700 9,780

Female 149,500 247,500

Secondary 3 54,350 70,690

Male 9,110 11,140

Female 45,200 59,500

Teaching assistant numbers are published in table 3a of

the statistical first release ‘School Workforce in England,

November 2013’, published online at:

www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-

in-england-november-2013

[1] Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 teachers.

[2] Includes local authority maintained nursery schools.

[3] Includes gender unknown.

Driving: Licensing

Asked by Lord Berkeley

To ask Her Majesty’s Government from which

countries outside the European Union driving licences

may be used to drive in the United Kingdom without

sitting a United Kingdom driving test. [HL4238]

Baroness Kramer: Residents who hold a driving

licence issued by a designated country may exchange that

licence for a GB equivalent without the need to take a

further driving test here. Designation of a country is based

on an assessment of driver training and testing standards,

which must be comparable with those in this country.

The following are designated countries for driving

licence exchange purposes in Great Britain: Andorra,

Australia, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Canada,

Falkland Islands, Faroe Islands, Hong Kong, Japan,

Monaco, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Singapore,

South Africa, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.

All visitors and new residents who hold a valid driving

licence issued outside the European Union and have the

relevant entitlement can drive cars and motorcycles in GB

for 12 months. After this 12-month period, non-EU

visitors and residents must apply for a provisional driving

licence and pass a driving test in the UK to be able to

continue to drive here. This arrangement is for small

vehicles only and does not include driving larger vehicles

like buses and lorries.

In Northern Ireland, driver licensing is a devolved

matter and is the responsibility of the Department of the

Environment. The designation of countries outside the EU

for driver licence purposes is therefore a decision for the

relevant department in Northern Ireland.

Drugs: Crime

Asked by Baroness Doocey

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many people

were arrested for human trafficking offences (1) during

the Metropolitan Police's Operation Pibera, and (2)

during similar operations across the United Kingdom

which targeted criminals who use children to traffic

drugs across county boundaries. [HL4300]

Lord Bates: The Home Office does not hold this

information centrally. However, the Crown Prosecution

Service has confirmed that, where a child is forced to

move drugs and there is sufficient evidence, those

responsible may be arrested for human trafficking

offences.



http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013

http://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/school-workforce-in-england-november-2013




English Language: Education

Asked by Lord Quirk


Written Answer by Lord Nash on 14 January (HL3983),

why the section of the National Curriculum in England

framework document entitled "Vocabulary, Grammar

and Punctuation" contains detailed material on the latter

two subjects but nothing on the first. [HL4239]

Asked by Lord Quirk


Written Answer by Lord Nash on 14 January (HL3982

and HL3983), where in any of the National Curriculum

documents of recent years there appear Programmes of

Study on vocabulary that provide the degree of

informed and specialised detail together with clear

guidance on progression accorded to spelling and

grammar. [HL4240]

Lord Nash: Vocabulary development is embedded

with the information on grammar in the section of the

National Curriculum framework document entitled

‘Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation’, which also sets

out the terminology that pupils should be taught to use to

discuss their writing.

The National Curriculum framework does not contain a

separate programme of study for vocabulary, nor did it in

draft form. Vocabulary development is instead

emphasised and integrated throughout the programmes of

study, and linked to reading, writing and spelling.

Reading widely and often, together with reading for

pleasure, is also reinforced throughout the programmes of

study, and attention to the quantity and quality of reading

will support vocabulary development.

The National Curriculum framework sets a clear

expectation that teachers develop pupils’ vocabulary

actively, building systematically on pupils’ current

knowledge.

Government Departments: Staff

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many staff

were employed in the Northern Ireland Office on 1

January in each of the last ten years. [HL4285]

Baroness Randerson: Because of the devolution of

policing and justice functions on 12 April 2010, and

subsequent reconfiguration of the Northern Ireland Office

(NIO), the NIO does not hold figures for the periods prior

to 2010; attempting to obtain this information would incur

disproportionate cost.

The figures below are taken from the NIO annual report

and accounts for 2010/11 to 2013/14 and show both

directly employed and seconded staff working in the core

NIO.

Reporting Years Number of

Directly Employed Staff

Number of

Seconded Staff

Overall Staff

Numbers

2010/11 79 85 164

2011/12 85 69 154

2012/13 93 72 165

2013/14 101 62 163

2015* 103 30 133

* The 2015 figure is as of 22 January 2015.

Internet: Bullying

Asked by Lord Storey

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

Ariel Trust’s recent pilot scheme to teach every primary

school pupil how to tackle cyberbullying within

Liverpool, what plans they have to tackle cyberbullying

in schools across England. [HL4139]

Lord Nash: The Government believes that schools,

internet providers and parents all have a role to play in

keeping children and young people safe online.

All schools must have a behaviour policy with

measures to tackle bullying, including cyberbullying, and

they are held closely to account by Ofsted. The

Department for Education has issued advice to schools on

preventing and tackling bullying and on supporting

bullied children which includes cyberbullying. We have

also recently issued advice aimed at parents on how to

keep children safe online, spot the signs that a child may

be being cyberbullied and what to do if it happens.

In addition, e-safety is being taught at all four key

stages of the curriculum and covers responsible,

respectful and secure use of technology. Pupils are also

taught age-appropriate ways of reporting any concerns

they may have about what they see or encounter online.

The Department is also providing around £4 million in

funding to various anti-bullying organisations, such as the

Diana Award, Kidscape and the National Children's

Bureau (NCB), who work in schools to combat bullying,

including cyberbullying. The NCB has produced a guide

for schools on preventing and tackling cyberbullying of

children with a special educational need or disability who

are especially vulnerable to this form of bullying.

Furthermore, we are currently considering bids through

a £25 million voluntary and community sector grant

programme to extend the work being done by anti-

bullying charities in schools. A £2 million grant is being

offered in conjunction with the Government Equalities

Office to support projects which tackle specifically

homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying in

schools.

More widely, the Government continues to work to

protect children online through the UK Council for Child

Internet Safety (UKCCIS) which brings together






representatives from government, industry, law

enforcement, academia, charities and parenting groups.

Licensing Laws

Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they

intend to take steps to reduce late night drunkenness

and disorderly behaviour in public places by

encouraging local and licensing authorities to order the

closure of public houses and clubs where clients cause

such a disturbance and place demands on public

services. [HL4343]

Lord Bates: The Minister for Crime Prevention wrote

to chief executives of local authorities in England and

Wales and Police and Crime Commissioners in December

about the Government’s recent actions to enable local

authorities to address alcohol harms. The Minister

encouraged the use of a number of powers including the

early morning alcohol restriction order (EMRO) which

enables local councils to restrict the sale of alcohol in the

early hours and the closure power in the Anti-social

Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. This can be

used if the local authority or police have reason to believe

that the use of premises has, or is likely to, result in

nuisance to members of the public or disorder nearby.

Licensing authorities also have the power to review a

premises licence if they or a responsible authority (which

includes the police, health bodies and environmental

health authorities) have evidence that a premises'

activities undermines one of the four licensing objectives

(the prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, the

prevention of public nuisance and the protection of

children from harm). The Government also lowered the

evidence threshold so that a review of a premises licence

can be undertaken where it is 'appropriate' rather than

'necessary' for the promotion of the licensing objectives.

Northern Ireland Government

Asked by Lord Laird


Written Answer by Baroness Randerson on 15 January

(HL3950), why she did not answer the question asked;

and whether the issue of human rights in the Republic

of Ireland was discussed in the talks leading to the

Stormont House Agreement. [HL4245]

Baroness Randerson: The issues discussed in the

recent cross-party talks were selected from a number of

topics put forward by the parties represented in the

Northern Ireland Executive. The discussions were

confidential, but the agreement reached does not touch on

human rights in the Republic of Ireland.

Asked by Lord Laird



(HL3949) concerning the government of the Republic

of Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement, on what

basis the involvement of the Republic of Ireland is

consistent with the three-stranded approach to Northern

Ireland affairs; when that approach was established; and

in what other talks the government of the Republic of

Ireland has been involved under this approach.

[HL4283]

Baroness Randerson: The three-stranded framework

emerged during political negotiations in the 1990s that

eventually led to the 1998 Belfast Agreement. Strand One

relates to the internal affairs of Northern Ireland, Strand

Two deals with relations between Northern Ireland and

the Republic of Ireland, and Strand Three relations

between the UK and Irish Governments. In practice, this

has meant the Government of the Republic of Ireland not

being involved in negotiations relating to Strand One

issues.

Asked by Lord Laird



(HL3949) concerning the government of the Republic

of Ireland and the Stormont House Agreement, whether

the government of the Republic of Ireland was involved

in all the topics discussed. [HL4284]

Baroness Randerson: The Irish Government was not

involved in all of the subjects discussed in the cross-party

talks that led to the Stormont House Agreement. Its

involvement was consistent with the well-established

three-stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs,

meaning that the internal arrangements for Northern

Ireland are for the UK Government and the Northern

Ireland parties alone.

Parades: Belfast

Asked by Lord Laird



(HL3951), what groups supported the setting up of a

panel on parading in North Belfast and which groups

did not. [HL4244]

Baroness Randerson: The SDLP, Sinn Fein and

nationalist residents groups had stated publicly that they

would not engage with the proposed panel on parading in

north Belfast announced by the Secretary of State for

Northern Ireland on 7th October 2014. Ballysillan LOL

1891 and the West Belfast UPRG also issued statements

rejecting the proposed panel.

Other unionist groupings have indicated that they would

have been prepared to support the panel, but only if they

had confidence in the panel members appointed.

Personal Care Services: Apprentices

Asked by Baroness Sharp of Guildford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many and

what proportion of (1) 16 year-olds, (2) 17 year-olds,

and (3) 18 year-olds started an apprenticeship in








England in 2012–13 and 2013–14 in hairdressing and

barbering. [HL4198]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Table one shows the number

apprenticeship starts for ages 16, 17 and 18 in 2012/13

and 2013/14 in the hairdressing and barbering

frameworks. Information on the proportion of each age

group that start an apprenticeship is not available from the

official data.

Table 1 Apprenticeships Starts by Age and Framework, 2012/13 to 2013/14

Framework Age 2012/13 2013/14

Barbering 16 70 100

17 200 180

18 360 350

Hairdressing 16 4,100 3,890

17 3,170 3,200

18 3,100 3,060

Notes

1) The source is the Individualised Learner Record.

2) Volumes are rounded to the nearest 10.

3) Age is calculated based on age at start of the programme.

Population

Asked by Lord Green of Deddington

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of

population growth in the United Kingdom over the last

10 years has been the result of immigration or the

natural increase of the immigrant population. [HL4217]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the

proportion of United Kingdom population growth

ascribed to international migration in the population

projections published by the Office for National

Statistics includes future births to migrants already

living in the United Kingdom. [HL4218]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the impact

on projected population growth of births to migrants

already living in the United Kingdom. [HL4219]



the projected population growth in England over the

next 25 years would be attributable to immigration if

the children of all migrants were also included.

[HL4220]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have

any plans for the next publication of population

estimates or projections to set out the full impact of

immigration, including the natural increase due to

immigrants already in the United Kingdom, on the

growth of the United Kingdom population. [HL4221]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what basis

immigration assumptions have been adopted in

population estimates published by the Office for

National Statistics; how such assumptions have

compared against immigration levels actually

experienced; and what is the basis for any difference

between assumptions and actual levels. [HL4222]

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: The information requested

falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics

Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.

The Answer includes the following attached material:

UK Statistics Authority Reply [PQ HL4217 HL4218 HL4219 HL4220

HL4221 HL4222 ONS Letter.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at:


Primary Education: Free School Meals


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures

they are putting in place to help infants schools that are

struggling to provide universal free school meals due to

overstretched equipment or logistical problems.

[HL4355]

Lord Nash: We have provided substantial support to

help schools deliver this policy. We have already

allocated £150 million capital funding to universal infant

free school meals and are now providing an additional

£24.5 million for individual school projects to ensure that

the meals provided are of high quality, and particularly

that all schools are able to offer hot meals.

We recognise that some smaller schools may face

particular challenges and have therefore allocated a

further £22.5 million transitional funding in 2014-15 to

help schools with 150 pupils or fewer to implement the

policy. Each qualifying small school received a minimum

of £3000.

This is in addition to the £1.2 billion in general capital

funding for school maintenance and improvements made

available to local authorities this year.

We have also set up an implementation support service,

staffed by school food experts, which schools can contact

for advice and support to help them overcome any issues

they encounter. This service will continue to be available

to schools until the end of 2015.















Railways: Freight

Asked by Lord Bradshaw


statement in the National Networks National Policy

Statement that if freight carried by rail was to increase

by 50 per cent (in terms of tonne kilometres) this would

only be equivalent to a reduction of around seven

percent in goods carried by road, whether in calculating

that ratio consideration was given to the issue of rail

freight only being a viable alternative to the longest and

heaviest loads. [HL4213]

Baroness Kramer: The figure quoted was calculated

by comparing the amount of freight moved by rail in

Great Britain with the amount moved by heavy goods

vehicles by road. As it is measured in tonne kilometres it

takes into account both the distance travelled by the

freight and its weight.

The National Policy Statement supports the

development of a robust infrastructure network of

Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges in order to reduce road

congestion, and deliver goods quickly and efficiently by

rail, reduce carbon emissions, support growth and create

employment. It aims to ensure we have modern

distribution centres linked into both the rail and trunk

road system in appropriate locations to serve our major

conurbations.

Railways: North of England

Asked by Lord Greaves

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have

made an assessment of (1) the types of routes on which

Pacer units are regularly used by Northern Rail, and (2)

the types of rolling stock that could be appropriate for

those services as replacements for Pacers within the

new franchise. [HL4237]

Baroness Kramer: Pacers are used by Northern Rail

on a diverse mix of rural and urban routes. In a number of

cases, they are used to provide additional peak capacity

on busy commuter routes. It will be for bidders for the

new franchise to consider which rolling stock types might

be appropriate as replacements for Pacers, subject to

meeting the requirements of the specification that the

Department will set out in the Invitation to Tender, but

bidders may conclude that different rolling stock types –

or rolling stock with different internal layouts – may be

suitable for the various types of route on which Pacers are

deployed.

Rights of Way

Asked by Lord Greaves

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment

they have made of the number of historic rights of way

which will not have been recorded by the time of the

cut-off in 2026, broken down by (1) routes where

claims have been submitted, and (2) routes for which

claims have not been submitted. [I] [HL4235]

Lord De Mauley: The Government has not made any

assessment of the number of historical public rights of

way which will not have been recorded by the time of the

cut-off date in 2026. Any assessment would depend on a

number of unknown variables and could only be made at

a disproportionate cost.

Satellite Broadcasting


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they

have for satellite broadcasters to pay retransmission

fees for the programmes they broadcast from terrestrial

television. [HL4359]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government will be

publishing a consultation document in due course

examining the current balance of payments between

broadcasters and platforms and the prominence of PSBs

on Electronic Programme Guides. The Connectivity,

Consumers & Content strategy paper set out the

Government’s ambition for “zero net fees”, and a lot of

progress has been made towards reaching that goal.

However we want to examine whether the amount of

regulation around these transactions is really necessary, to

ensure broadcasters can deliver the highest quality

content, at the best possible price, to the widest possible

audience.

School Leaving

Asked by Baroness Sharp of Guildford


17 year-olds in England are participating in education

and training in fulfilment of the duty to participate set

out in the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and

Learning Act 2009, and what steps they are taking to

maximise participation from September 2015 when the

requirement to participate increases to the 18th

birthday. [HL4197]

Lord Nash: Young people who were aged 17 at the

start of this academic year were covered by the first phase

of raising the participation age (RPA) set out in the

Education and Skills Act 2008. This required them to

continue in education or training for one further year, to

27 June 2014. This cohort is therefore no longer under a

duty to participate, although we expect that the vast

majority of them will continue to participate this

academic year.

Data showing the proportion of these young people

participating in the current academic year will be

published as part of the 16-18 participation statistical first

release at the end of June.

Young people who were aged 16 at the start of this

academic year will be under a duty to participate until

their 18th birthday. We will encourage schools, colleges







and training providers to ensure that young people are

aware of this requirement.

In addition, local authorities have a duty to promote the

effective participation in education and training of 16 and

17 year olds in their area with a view to ensuring that they

fulfil the duty to participate.

We plan to invest £7.2 billion in 2014/15 to fund

education and training places for 16 to 19-year-olds. The

government has implemented a range of other measures to

promote participation and help young people get the best

possible start in life, including the reform of vocational

education and the Youth Contract.

Schools: Admissions



the expected shortfall of school places by 2023 they

consider to be due to net migration between 1997 and

2014. [HL4305]

Lord Nash: The Government does not hold this data.

Special Educational Needs


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they

have to exempt special education and disability services

from the 2004 European Union Procurement Directives

and the Children and Families Act 2014; what plans

they have to reduce bureaucratic procedures for

authorities and schools trying legally to place children

with special needs; and what plans they have to

safeguard the principle of parental choice within their

special educational needs and disability policies.

[HL4310]

Lord Nash: The EU Directive 2014/24 on Public

Procurement replaces the previous Directive (2004/18).

The Department for Education will be implementing the

2014 Directive through new Public Contracts

Regulations, on which we consulted last year. The

Directive and the Regulations will raise the financial

threshold above which EU wide procurement for social,

health and educational services must take place and will

introduce a new ‘light touch regime’ for procurement of

these services. These measures will reduce the current

burden on local authorities and schools. The Crown

Commercial Service will shortly issue guidance to local

authorities. This guidance will cover the interaction

between public procurement and user choice. The new

Regulations will continue to allow for the preferences of

parents/carers and young people which is an integral

feature of the Education, Health and Care Plan process set

out in the Children and Families Act 2014.

Teachers: Males



Written Answer by Lord Nash on 16 January (HL4047)

concerning numbers of male and female teachers in

primary and secondary schools, what action they intend

to take to increase the proportion of men to at least 40

per cent of the total number of teachers. [HL4276]

Lord Nash: We value diversity in the workforce but

want the best people in the classroom regardless of their

gender. Evidence shows that the quality of teaching is the

single most important factor in schools that determines

how well pupils achieve. Teaching continues to be a

hugely popular career with more teachers in England’s

classrooms than ever before and record levels of top

graduates entering the profession. We are pleased that the

quality of entrants to initial teacher training, as measured

by degree class, remains high, with 17% of postgraduate

entrants, a new record, holding a first class degree. The

Government continues to take decisive action to ensure

we have high quality teachers in classrooms across the

country.

Wind Power

Asked by Lord Empey


electricity was generated from wind farms in the week

ending 18 January 2015. [HL4331]

Baroness Verma: During the week ending 18 January

2015, 12 per cent of electricity in Great Britain was

generated from wind farms. This data is made available

by National Grid and only refers to wind which is

operationally metered, i.e. around two-thirds of the

installed wind capacity in Great Britain.






Index to Statements and Answers

Written Statements ................................................. 3

Committee on Radioactive Waste Management .. 3

ECOFIN ................................................................ 3

Holocaust Commission ......................................... 3

Non-lethal Equipment: Jordanian Armed Forces . 4

Written Answers ..................................................... 5

Bahrain ................................................................. 5

Banks .................................................................... 5

Barclays ................................................................ 5

British Transport Police ........................................ 6

Classroom Assistants ............................................ 6

Driving: Licensing ................................................ 6

Drugs: Crime ........................................................ 6

English Language: Education ............................... 7

Government Departments: Staff ........................... 7

Internet: Bullying.................................................. 7

Licensing Laws ..................................................... 8

Northern Ireland Government .............................. 8

Parades: Belfast .................................................... 8

Personal Care Services: Apprentices .................... 8

Population ............................................................. 9

Primary Education: Free School Meals ................ 9

Railways: Freight................................................ 10

Railways: North of England ............................... 10

Rights of Way ..................................................... 10

Satellite Broadcasting ......................................... 10

School Leaving ................................................... 10

Schools: Admissions .......................................... 11

Special Educational Needs ................................. 11

Teachers: Males .................................................. 11

Wind Power ........................................................ 11

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