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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

[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/.

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

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http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

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."

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-10-30/HLWS200/


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:


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.






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


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.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-10-17/HL2090





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


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







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



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



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.



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


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.








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


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


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


they have made of reports that environmental

defenders, including park rangers, are being killed in

record numbers globally. [HL2136]












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


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


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


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


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


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.









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


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


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


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]



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]





https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-koll

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-koll








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


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


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


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]


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







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]



they have made of the recommendation in paragraph

6.2.4. of Council of Europe Resolution 2190 (2017).

[HL2005]



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


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.



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.


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


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.


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
















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


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


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



on pre-legislative consultation. [HL2023]



on pre-legislative scrutiny by Parliament. [HL2024]


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.


Attachment [20160111_Consultation_principles_final.pdf]



Letting Agents



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.













Letting Agents: Fees and Charges


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


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










https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-relief-schemes-2017-rebilling-progress

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/business-rates-relief-schemes-2017-rebilling-progress



Rebilling progress [171030 List of authorities updated.pdf]


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

answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-10-17/HL2142


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.



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











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

at [email protected].

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


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.


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


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


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


mailto:[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]







preventing adversaries obtaining information they could

misuse.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Asked by Baroness Cox


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


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


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.






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


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


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


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.








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

Index to Statements and Answers

Documents

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