WednesdayVol. 770 16 March 2016No. 16qnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadailyreportxml/Written... · WednesdayVol. 770 16 March 2016No. 16 P A R L I A M E N T A R Y D E B A T

Wednesday

16 March 2016

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 ..................................................... 2

Vol. 770

No. 16

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

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

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office and Department for

Transport

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

Baroness Altmann Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions

Lord Ashton of Hyde Whip

Lord Bates Minister of State, Home Office

Lord Bridges of Headley Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate

Change, Wales Office and Whip

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Whip

Earl of Courtown Whip

Lord Dunlop Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scotland Office

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Whip

Lord Faulks Minister of State, Ministry of Justice

Lord Freud Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions

Lord Gardiner of Kimble Deputy Chief Whip and Spokesman for Department for Environment, Food and

Rural Affairs

Lord Keen of Elie Advocate-General for Scotland

Lord Maude of Horsham Minister of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Foreign

and Commonwealth Office

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

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

and Skills and Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Lord O’Neill of Gatley Commercial Secretary to the Treasury

Lord Prior of Brampton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health

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

Sport

Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip

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

Development

Baroness Williams of Trafford Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local

Government

Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip

© Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2016

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

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http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Written Statements 16 March 2016 Page 1

Written Statements Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Machinery of Government change

[HLWS607]

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: My Rt Hon. Friend the

Prime Minister has made the following statement to the

House of Commons:

This written ministerial statement confirms that

responsibility for the regulation of claims management

companies will transfer from the Ministry of Justice to the

Financial Conduct Authority. The date for the transfer

will be announced in due course.

March Environment Council

[HLWS606]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: My Hon Friend the

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Rory Stewart)

has today made the following statement.

I attended the EU Environment Council in Brussels on

4 March along with the Parliamentary Under Secretary of

State for Climate Change, Lord Bourne. The Scottish

Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Land

Reform, Dr Aileen McLeod MSP, also attended Council.

I would like to update the House on the matters discussed.

Follow-up to COP 21 (Climate change)

The Council welcomed the Presidency’s summary of

the implications of the Paris Agreement with a number of

Member States criticising the Commission’s

Communication for lacking sufficient positive messages

to maintain the momentum of Paris. The UK, supported

by other Member States, emphasised the importance of

2020 as a moment for raising global ambition. A number

of other Member States expressed their support for the

EU increasing its ambition in light of Paris. However,

some Member States noted this was not the time to

discuss raising the EU’s mitigation ambition. In response

the Commission confirmed their view that the EU needed

to focus now on the implementation of existing

commitments.

Endocrine Disruptors

The Council gave unanimous support for the

Presidency’s draft statement on the General Court’s ruling

on the Commission’s failure to adopt delegated acts

setting out the criteria for endocrine disruptors.

Circular Economy

The Council debated the EU Action Plan for the

Circular Economy. The UK highlighted work that had

been done domestically, expressed support for elements

of the Action Plan such as industrial symbiosis, and

expressed overarching concerns for the proposed waste

targets, stressing the need to pay close attention to the

costs and benefits. Most Member States wanted

reassurance that a joined up approach was being taken by

the Commission. The Presidency stated that they will aim

for Council Conclusions on the Action Plan to be agreed

at June Environment Council.

European Semester/ Annual Growth Survey 2016

The Presidency introduced the discussion of the

contribution of the environment to jobs and growth. The

UK emphasised that the Semester and EU 2020 should

continue to be focused on jobs and growth.

Any Other Business: International Wildlife Trafficking

The Commission introduced the recently released EU

Action Plan on Wildlife Trafficking. This was welcomed

by several Member States. The UK highlighted the

valuable nature of member states working on issues such

as an import/export ban on raw ivory. The UK

encouraged other member states to follow the UK’s move

to an importation ban on lion trophies in 2017 if a

sustainable approach could not be found.

Any Other Business: Real Driving Emissions

France provided a paper calling for greater political

transparency regarding the third and fourth real driving

emission packages and for using the ordinary legislative

procedure for the adoption of conformity factors in the

future. The UK welcomed the agreement of the second

Real Driving Emissions package as a major step forward

in tackling air quality issues in member states. In support

of the Commission’s approach, the UK and other Member

States warned against changes to the current process for

determining the test procedure and requirements through

the technical committee, which would risk delaying

agreement of the remaining legislative packages and

implementation of this important regulation.

Any Other Business: Further Points

The Council noted the information from Austria of the

desire to hold a discussion on Energy Transition.

The Council noted the information from Belgium for

further action and speeding up of the implementation of

the 7th Environmental Action Plan. The Commission

announced the first review date would be in 2018.

The Council noted the information provided by the

Commission on the ratification of the Minimata

Convention (Mercury Regulation).

The Commission introduced a paper on innovation

deals and noted recent initiatives such as the International

Green Deal on the North Sea Resources Roundabout

which was formally agreed the day before Council by the

Netherlands, France, the UK and Flanders.

Lunchtime Discussion

Over lunch, Ministers discussed the ratification of the

Paris Agreement where the UK confirmed that ratification

would only be possible following completion of the

negotiations on effort sharing.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2016-03-16/HLWS607/

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2016-03-16/HLWS606/

Page 2 16 March 2016 Written Answers

Written Answers Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Aegean Sea: Refugees

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the Prime

Minister, on 7 March in Brussels, described those

fleeing across the Aegean Sea as illegally crossing, in

the light of the fact that Turkey is not a party to the UN

Convention on Refugees, which Greece and other EU

member states are. [HL6936]

Lord Bates: Migrants travelling across the Aegean Sea

may be referred to as illegally crossing if they have no

permission (such as a visa) to enter Greece or another

Member State. The same would apply if someone applied

for asylum in the UK: if they have entered the UK

illegally, then they would be treated as an illegal entrant,

irrespective of whether they make a claim for asylum or

not.

Antisemitism

Asked by Baroness Deech

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment

they have made of the reported rise in anti-Semitism in

the UK, in particular at universities, and what action

they plan to take to tackle anti-Semitism in the light of

that assessment. [HL6686]

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: There is no place in

our society, including higher education, for bigotry,

hatred and any form of racism such as anti-Semitism. We

expect universities to act swiftly to investigate and

address any anti-Semitic incidents reported to them.

Responsibility for ensuring students do not face

harassment, abuse or violence rests with individual

institutions, as a clear part of their duties under the 2010

Equality Act. The higher education sector is committed to

tackling discrimination and challenging intolerance on

campus. Bodies such as Universities UK (UUK), Guild

HE and the Equality Challenge Unit provide support to

institutions to help discharge their responsibilities through

the provision of practical guidance, discussion and

networking events to help share best practice across the

sector.

In addition, at the request of the Government, UUK

have set up a task force to consider what more can be

done to address harassment on campus, including on the

basis of religion and belief. The Union of Jewish Students

are part of the wider advisory group.

Belfast Agreement

Asked by Lord Laird

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the

Written Answers by Lord Dunlop on 23 February

(HL5589 and HL5590) concerning the Belfast

Agreement 1998, why they have not answered the

question, and whether the Agreement applies to all

residents of the UK and Republic of Ireland. [HL6428]

Asked by Lord Laird


Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 28 January

(HL5591) concerning the Belfast Agreement 1998, why

they have not answered the question, and whether the

Belfast Agreement applies to members of the British

Security Forces. [HL6429]

Lord Dunlop: My previous replies to the Noble Lord

on questions about the application of the Belfast

Agreement to specific groups explain that the Agreement,

with its three-stranded approach, paved the way for power

sharing in Northern Ireland and provides the basis for

devolved government there. The three-stranded approach

is:

• Strand 1 concerns the status and system of

government of Northern Ireland within the United

Kingdom. This provides for the creation of a

democratically elected Northern Ireland Assembly.

• Strand 2 concerns the relationship between Northern

Ireland and Ireland. This provides for the creation of a

North /South Ministerial Council.

• Strand 3 concerns the relationship between the Ireland

and the United Kingdom. This provides for the creation

of a British-Irish Council and the British-Irish

Intergovernmental Conference.

Borders: Personal Records

Asked by Lord Marlesford

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of

passengers departing overseas from each British (1)

airport, (2) port, or (3) railway station, are currently

having their passports checked by Border Force

officers, and when they expect to reach 100 per cent

checking for each departure point. [HL6914]

Lord Bates: Exit checks have been in place since April

2015 across all scheduled commercial services departing

the UK from air and sea ports and from international rail

stations, except those services not within scope such as,

for example, journeys within the Common Travel Area.

Departure data is collected by carriers and port operators

and transmitted to Home Office systems, where work

takes place to match it to arrival data, visa conditions and

other information as appropriate.

Exit checks are not conducted by Border Force officers;

however Border Force officers do from time to time carry

out intelligence led operations and interventions which

are not part of the exit checks procedures.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2016-03-11/HL6936





Written Answers 16 March 2016 Page 3

Charities: Lobbying

Asked by Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town


Written Answers by Lord Bridges of Headley on 25

February (HL6102 and HL6103), whether the Cabinet

Office's new rules on grant funding mean that (1)

Citizen's Advice, (2) the Territorial Army Rifles

Association, (3) the Consortium of Voluntary Adoption

Agencies, (4) English Heritage, (5) Imperial College,

and (6) the Marine Management Organisations, can no

longer make representations to them, Parliament or the

European Commission, on legislation or policy.

[HL6517]

Lord Bridges of Headley: The clause ensures that

taxpayers' funds are not diverted away from their intended

purpose and wasted on political lobbying. The clause does

not stop any grant recipients from campaigning using

other sources of funding.

Children: Day Care

Asked by Baroness Garden of Frognal

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they

have taken to ensure that adequate ring-fenced funding

is provided to local authorities to enable them

successfully to deliver the Government’s childcare

provision targets. [HL6906]

Lord Nash: We have already announced over £1bn

funding for the early years entitlements within the ring-

fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which

includes £300m to uplift the funding rate to providers.

The increase to the funding rate is based on robust

evidence from the Review of the Cost of Childcare. We

have made clear our commitment to maximise the amount

of this funding which reaches front line childcare

providers, and will consult on proposals for achieving this

as part of our consultation on early years funding reform

later this year.

Children's Play


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment

they have made of the value of strategic local

approaches to play, and the case for local authorities to

submit regional play strategies to them for review.

[HL6907]

Lord Nash: I refer my Noble Lady to the answer given

on 8 March to PQ 29737, which I have also set out below:

The Department for Education recognises that play has

an important role in supporting all young children to

develop and prepare for later learning.

Play is covered in the statutory Early Years Foundation

Stage framework which states: “Each area of learning and

development must be implemented through planned,

purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-

initiated activity.”

The staff working in early years settings as Early Years

Educators (level 3) and Early Years Teachers (graduates)

are required to have an understanding different

pedagogical approaches, including the role of play in

supporting early learning and development. The criteria

for the Early Years Educator and standards for Early

Years Teacher Status qualifications are set by the

department.

Ofsted registers childcare provision on the Early Years

Register and the General Childcare Register and conducts

a regular cycle of inspection to ensure that provision

meets the required quality and safety standards.

In judging the quality and standards of early years

provision, Ofsted inspectors must assess the extent to

which the learning and care provided by the setting meets

the needs of the range of children who attend, including

the needs of any children who have special educational

needs or disabilities. At August 2015, 85 per cent of

providers on the Early Years Register were rated good or

outstanding for overall effectiveness. This is an increase

of 11 percentage points since 2012.

Local Authorities provide and offer Continuous

Professional Development and training to early years

settings; some of which may include training on play.

However, it is not a requirement for local authorities to

deliver regional play training as it is already a

requirement in the Early Years Foundation Stage to cover

play in a setting.

Civil Partnerships

Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon


Written Answer by Baroness Williams of Trafford on

10 February (HL5715), whether they now intend to

legislate to allow heterosexuals to form civil

partnerships, and if not, why not. [HL6809]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Noble Lord

wrote to me on this topic previously (HL5715). As I

previously said:

In 2014, after the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act

2013 was passed, the government carried out a review of

the operation and future of the Civil Partnership Act 2004,

including a thorough public consultation on potential

changes to civil partnership. Views were invited on three

options: Abolishing, or phasing out civil partnerships; or

extending them to opposite sex couples.

The review found that there was no clear consensus on

the future of civil partnerships. A majority of respondents

to the consultation were against extending civil

partnerships to opposite sex couples and several important

organisations thought it was too soon to consider making

changes to civil partnerships until the impact of extending

marriage to same sex couples is known. Given the lack of

any consensus the Government has no current plans to

make changes to the Civil Partnership Act 2004.








On 29 January 2016 the High Court dismissed a legal

challenge to the lack of availability of civil partnerships to

opposite sex couples. The Court ruled unequivocally that

the current regime of marriage and civil partnership does

not disadvantage anyone nor does it infringe anyone’s

right to family or private life. We also welcome the

Court’s view that it is entirely reasonable for the

Government to wait to see the impact of extending

marriage to same sex couples before deciding on the way

forward.

Easter Act 1928

Asked by Lord Lisvane

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what their policy

is towards the commencement of the Easter Act 1928.

[HL6697]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: The Easter Act 1928 would

set the date for Easter to fall on the Sunday that follows

the second Saturday in April (i.e. between 9 and 15

April). The Act has not been brought into force. To do so

would require an Order in Council, with the approval of

both Houses of Parliament. The Act requires that, before

the Order is made, “regard shall be had to any opinion

officially expressed by any Church or other Christian

Body." If the Christian churches were to agree on moving

to a fixed date for Easter then the Government would

consider, depending on what date is agreed, whether to

bring into force the Easter Act 1928 or to make such other

legislative provision as may be needed.

Faith Schools: Admissions

Asked by Lord Storey

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what

consideration they have given to limiting the proportion

of places that schools can allocate using religious

admissions criteria, in line with the cap that currently

exists for free schools. [HL6796]

Lord Nash: The Government greatly values the

contribution that existing church and faith schools play in

our education system, including those of free schools, and

we have no plans to change their admission arrangements

since they are providing places for the communities they

serve.

Not all faith schools choose to allocate places by faith.

It is for the admission authority of the school to decide

whether or not to include faith-based priorities within

their oversubscription criteria.

When constructing faith-based oversubscription criteria,

including deciding how membership or practice of the

faith will be determined, admission authorities must have

regard to the guidance of their relevant religious authority

and their arrangements must comply with the statutory

School Admissions Code.

Asked by Lord Warner


Written Answer by Lord Nash on 8 March (HL6382),

in how many religiously selective schools the Schools

Adjudicator has found admission arrangements that do

not comply with the Schools Admissions Code in each

of the last three 12 month periods for which information

is available; how those numbers compare with all

schools for the same periods; and what

recommendations the Chief Schools Adjudicator has

made to the Department for Education about remedying

breaches by religiously selective schools. [HL6879]

Lord Nash: The Department does not hold data about

the outcome of objections considered by the Schools

Adjudicator in this format.

The Chief Schools Adjudicator reports annually to the

Secretary of State on fair access. We are giving careful

consideration to the findings and recommendations of her

report for 2014-15 as part of our current review of the

School Admissions Code. This report is attached.

We will be conducting a full public consultation in due

course.

The Answer includes the following attached material:

Schools Adjudicator Annual Report 2014-15 [HL6879 - Office-of-

the-Schools-Adjudicator-annual-report-September-2014-to-

August-2015.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at:


Freedom of Information

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the

Freedom of Information Act 2000 allows publicly

funded bodies that are individually bound by that Act to

form what is described as a private institution that is

claimed to be exempt from that Act, and if so, in which

clause or clauses. [HL6503]

Lord Bridges of Headley: Public authorities subject to

the Act are listed in Schedule 1, and companies wholly

owned by the public sector are automatically covered

through section 6.

Government Departments: Newspaper Press

Asked by Lord Tebbit

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether any (1)

minister, (2) official, or (3) ministerial special adviser,

have played any part in the drafting of letters

subsequently signed by retired military officers or

business people and published in national newspapers

in the last year. [HL6672]

Lord Bridges of Headley: In carrying out government

business, Ministers, officials and special advisers must

abide by their respective Codes of Conduct.











Govia Thameslink Railway

Asked by Lord Lucas


Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3

March (HL6266), what improvements Govia

Thameslink Railway have implemented since the

commencement of their franchise. [HL6699]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Govia Thameslink

Railway (GTR) have implemented numerous

improvements since the commencement of their

franchise. These include, but are not limited to:

• Extension of smart ticketing functionality meaning

that ‘the Key’ smartcard is now available at an

additional 80 stations, taking the total number of

stations to 220;

• Oyster PAYG and CPAY has been extended to

Gatwick Airport station;

• An increase in overnight services serving Luton

Airport Parkway station;

• An increased number of Rail Enforcement Officers,

with an additional 19 officers;

• An increase in customer information screens;

• A single source of customer information across

website, app and stations;

• Access to radio microphones for all platform staff to

improve information provision at stations;

• First to last staffing at an additional 25 Great Northern

and Thameslink stations;

• Ordered new trains comprising 150 vehicles for the

Great Northern Moorgate route to replace rolling stock

from the 1970s;

• Services on the Moorgate branch in the evenings and

at weekends;

• iPads for customer facing staff to improve information

provision;

• 24 hour Twitter team;

In addition, the following key improvements are on

course to be delivered by Govia Thameslink Railway in

the coming months:

• Introduction of a new fleet of trains for the Gatwick

Express – the first of which went into passenger service

on 29 Feb;

• New state of the art Class 700 trains will start to be

introduced across the GTR network from the spring;

• WiFi at 104 stations.

More details on the committed obligations and

improvements GTR are contracted to deliver can be found

in the Franchise Agreement which is available at the

government website.

Intelligence Services: Recruitment

Asked by Lord Strasburger

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the

timetable for the recruitment of the 1,900 additional

intelligence personnel announced in November 2015,

and what is being done to ensure that the salary package

offered attracts sufficiently talented applicants.

[HL6541]

Lord Bridges of Headley: 1,900 additional staff across

the three intelligence agencies will be recruited over the

Spending Review period to 2020. Specific pay and reward

details cannot be disclosed for national security reasons

however pay and reward packages for staff at the

intelligence agencies are under regular review to ensure

that what can be offered reflects both the unique

challenges the agencies face, and the high level of ability

and skill required to meet them.

Ministers' Private Offices

Asked by Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many

extended ministerial offices have been established, and

in which departments; which staff have been recruited

to them; and which of those were drawn from outside

the civil service. [HL6552]

Lord Bridges of Headley: Extended Ministerial

Offices have been established (or are being established) in

the Cabinet Office, the Department for Communities and

Local Government, the Department for Education, the

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

and the Scotland Office.

The government regularly publishes information on the

job titles and pay grades of senior civil servants along

with the numbers of staff they manage and the budgets

they are responsible for. A similar approach will apply to

staff in extended ministerial offices.

National Insurance

Asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts


applications for National Insurance numbers were

outstanding on 31 December in each of the last five

years for which figures are available. [HL6829]

Lord Freud: The information requested is not readily

available and could only be provided at disproportionate

cost.

Asked by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts


National Insurance numbers were issued to non-

residents in each of the last five years for which figures

are available. [HL6830]

Lord Freud: In order to be allocated a NINo via the

DWP Adult NINo Allocation process an individual must








be resident in the UK at the time of application. However,

a very small proportion of NINos are allocated by the

International Pension Centre to those who are resident

abroad for the purposes of Social Security Benefit

administration. These figures are not included in the

published statistics National Insurance Number

Allocations to Adult Overseas Nationals entering the UK.

NINos Issued to non-UK residents

2013-2014 5,390

2014-2015 4,150

2015 -16* 3,830

Figures are only available from 2013 and are rounded.

*is to end of February 2016.

New Businesses: Cambridge

Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have

any plans to help more businesses in Cambridge in the

light of reports that it has the best rates for startup

survival. [HL6705]

Baroness Neville-Rolfe: Government’s Start-Up Loans

scheme supports people wanting to start a business and

has provided over 35,000 loans worth over £200 million.

We’re committed to supporting start-ups by cutting taxes

on small businesses, extending rate relief and increasing

the Employment Allowance.

In Cambridge, Government has invested £4.8m in the

establishment of the Sir John Bradfield Technology

Centre to support business incubation on Cambridge

Science Park. This is in addition to a range of other

growth-enabling investments made through the £500m

Greater Cambridge City Deal, the £109.1m Greater

Cambridge Greater Peterborough Growth Deal and a

three year funding package to support development of a

local business Growth Hub

NHS: Employment Agencies


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they

have made of (1) how many health professionals will

return to permanent NHS jobs as a result of price caps

on agency staff spending, and (2) how many nurses will

leave nursing as a result of those caps. [HL6711]

Lord Prior of Brampton: No formal assessment has

been made by the Department to estimate the specific

numbers of health professionals that will return to

permanent National Health Service jobs as a result of the

introduction of price caps on agency staff spending, or on

the number of nurses that may leave nursing as a result.

Trust boards have primary responsibility for monitoring

the local impact of the price caps and ensuring patient

safety.


To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether NHS

trusts can breach price caps on agency spending if they

consider that it is essential to do so in order to ensure

patient safety. [HL6712]

Lord Prior of Brampton: NHS trusts are able to

override the price caps on agency spending if it is

considered essential to do so to ensure the safety of

patients.

The circumstances in which trusts can override the caps

is set out in the attached guidance: ‘Price Caps for

Agency Staff: Rules’.


Price Cap Rules [price cap rules.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at:

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

answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2016-03-03/HL6712

Passports


To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many valid

British passports are currently held, and how many of

those passport holders also hold passports of another

state. [HL6915]

Lord Bates: There are 49 million valid UK passports in

circulation. Records are not held centrally of persons

holding both a UK passport and foreign passport.

Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections

Asked by Lord Wasserman


Written Answer by Lord Bridges of Headley on 23

February (HL5871), whether the activities of Police and

Crime Commissioners themselves are subject to a

purdah period, and if so, when that period begins in

relation to the elections in May. [HL6403]

Lord Bridges of Headley: The pre-election restrictions

for Police and Crime Commissioners are governed by

Section 2 of the Local Government Act 1986, as amended

in 1988. It is permissible for a Police and Crime

Commissioner to campaign individually on a political

basis, but without recourse to the resources of the Office

of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC). The

Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority

Publicity would also apply in these circumstances and

covers the full range of Local Authorities (including

Police and Crime Commissioners and the Mayor’s Office

for Policing and Crime). The purdah period for Police and

Crime Commissioners and their offices, like other Local

Authorities, begins with the publication of the notice of

election by the Police Area Returning Officer (PARO),

which must happen no later than the 25th day before the

day of the election, but can be issued at any point before

then. PAROs are responsible for deciding on the date on










which they will issue the notice of election – they may

issue individually, or simultaneously.

Postgraduate Education

Asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull


are taking to raise awareness of the Postgraduate Loans

Scheme in 2016–17 and 2017–18. [HL6729]

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: The Student Loans

Company has produced a suite of information and

guidance materials for institutions and prospective

students and this is available from SLC’s website, The

Student Room and Gov.UK. Additionally, BIS and the

SLC are working together with a number of organisations,

including Universities UK, to ensure that information and

guidance is also disseminated through their own channels.

Plans for 2017-18 will be drawn up later this year once

the loan has been launched

Asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much is

being spent on promoting the Postgraduate Loans

Scheme in 2016–17 and 2017–18. [HL6730]

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park: The Department is

working alongside its delivery partner The Student Loans

Company and stakeholders such as Universities UK and

Prospects to ensure the correct information and guidance

is readily available. The Student Loans Company

produces information and guidance materials for

institutions and prospective students and expenditure for

the financial year 2016-17 is expected to be in the region

of £57,000. Budget for 2017-18 has not yet been

allocated.

Pre-school Education: Special Educational

Needs



have taken to ensure that there is adequate funding for

children with special educational needs in early years

education. [HL6905]

Lord Nash: We have already announced over £1bn

funding for the early years entitlements within the ring-

fenced Dedicated Schools Grant by 2019-20, which

includes £300m to uplift the funding rate to providers. We

are also providing protection for high needs funding that

will ensure that the level of funding rises in proportion to

the number of children, including those under 5. This will

mean that local authorities continue to have the flexibility

to target funding where it is most needed to help children

with special educational needs and disabilities and their

families, including the youngest children. Further

consideration will be given to funding for children with

special educational needs in early years education as part

of our consultation later this year.

Local authorities are required by law to secure free

entitlement places for parents that want their child to take

them up. The Government is committed to ensuring that

all families have access to high quality, flexible and

affordable childcare and parents with children with

special educational needs should have the same

opportunities as other parents through access to high

quality childcare. The Children and Families Act requires

local authorities to have a ‘local offer’ which includes a

statement on how they intend to tailor the childcare on

offer for children with special educational needs and

disabilities. Early implementation of 30 hours from

September 2016 provides a real opportunity to develop

innovative approaches to providing flexible childcare for

working parents whose children are disabled or have

special educational needs.

Through Early Implementation, York, Northumberland,

Newham and Wigan are among 8 Local Authorities

delivering the 30 hours entitlement from September 2016,

a year earlier than planned. This will include delivering

targeted places focusing on children with Special

Educational Needs and Disabilities.

They will also be supported by Early Implementer

Innovator areas including Brighton and Hove, Hampshire

and Trafford, who will test the offer and how it works

under specific circumstances, including developing

approaches to support children with Special Educational

Needs and Disabilities.

Proscribed Organisations

Asked by Lord Empey

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their

estimate of the number of persons involved in each of

the following proscribed terrorist organisations: (1)

Continuity Army Council; (2) Cumann na mBan; (3)

Fianna na hEireann; (4) Irish National Liberation Army;

(5) Irish People’s Liberation Organisation; (6) Irish

Republican Army; (7) Loyalist Volunteer Force; (8)

Orange Volunteers; (9) Red Hand Commando; (10) Red

Hand Defenders; (11) Saor Eire; (12) Ulster Defence

Association; (13) Ulster Freedom Fighters; and (14)

Ulster Volunteer Force. [HL6803]

Lord Dunlop: It is not possible to provide an accurate

estimate of the number of people involved in these

organisations. Involvement and support for illegal

proscribed organisations can take many different forms

and the true extent of involvement is often hidden.

Statistics on charges brought in relation to support for

paramilitary organisations can be found in Northern

Ireland Terrorism Legislation: Annual Statistics 2014/15,

Table 9 on the following link:

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

s/attachment_data/file/465088/Terrorism_Bulletin_2014-

2015.PDF

The relevant information is also shown below for ease

of reference:





https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/465088/Terrorism_Bulletin_2014-2015.PDF




Table: Charges brought against persons detained in Northern

Irelandunder section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000

Number of

Charges

Offence 19 Feb 2001-Mar

2013/14

April-Sept 2014/15

Oct-Mar 2014/15

2014-15 Total

Supporting a proscribed

Organisation

21 0 0 0

Making contributions

to a proscribed

organisation

47 0 0 0

Dressing as a member of

a proscribed

organisation

10 0 0 0

Source: Police Service of Northern Ireland

Railways: Franchises

Asked by Lord Berkeley


Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 3

March (HL6235), what assessment they have made of

whether a procurement process where there are only

two genuine bidders complies with the EU rules and

procedures for public contracts, which state that a

minimum of three bids are required, and whether they

have sought from the EU a derogation from that rule.

[HL6724]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Rail franchising

competitions are governed by Regulation 1370/2007 and

not the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. Therefore,

although the Department fully applies the EU treaty

principles of transparency, equal treatment and non-

discrimination, it is not obliged to follow the processes

and procedures set out in the Public Contracts Regulations

2015.

Where a competition is to be held, Regulation

1370/2007 requires a fair competitive procedure, but does

not stipulate the minimum number of bidders that is

required to evidence this.

Refugees

Asked by Baroness Berridge

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, in the

light of the ongoing problems faced by the Yazidi

community and children affected by the conflict in Iraq

and Syria, they will reassess the criteria for eligibility

for the Syrian Vulnerable Person Resettlement

Programme and other UK resettlement schemes.

[HL6675]

Lord Bates: Under the current scheme, only UNHCR

registered Syrian refugees are eligible under the Syrian

Resettlement Scheme, which has been expanded to

resettle up to 20,000 during this Parliament. We work

closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for

Refugees (UNHCR) to identify cases that they deem in

need of resettlement according to seven agreed

vulnerability criteria for the Syrian Resettlement Scheme.

The Syrian Resettlement Scheme is operated in addition

to our global resettlement schemes: Gateway and

Mandate, which are not nationality specific.

Roads: City of Westminster

Asked by Lord Trefgarne

To ask the Chairman of Committees what assessment

he has made of the progress made in respect of the

roadworks underway in Bridge Street at the northern

end of Westminster Bridge, and when he expects those

works to be completed. [HL6709]

Lord Laming: The work on Bridge Street,

Westminster Bridge and Victoria Embankment is due to

be completed by the end of this month; remaining works

around Parliament Square should be completed by the end

of April as planned. There have been detailed and helpful

discussions, and ongoing liaison, between the

Administrations of both Houses and Transport for London

about the scheduling of the work in order to ensure that

the plans for the cycle superhighway disrupt access to

Parliament as little as possible. Since the works began,

there have been no reports that they have adversely

affected or disrupted the business of Parliament.

Parliament has shared information about these works on

the intranet.

Secondary Education: Performance

Standards

Asked by Lord Northbourne

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the

Department for Education's research brief, Factors

associated with achievement: key stage 4, does not

make any reference to the family structure in which the

child is growing up, and in particular makes no

distinction between a child being brought up by both

parents living together and a child living in a single-

parent family. [HL6891]

Asked by Lord Northbourne

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the

Department for Education's research brief, Factors

associated with achievement: key stage 4, does not

mention whether they have considered the impact of

domestic violence, alcohol addiction, drugs or parental

mental health problems on children's lives. [HL6892]

Lord Nash: The aims of the research reported in

Factors associated with achievement: key stage 4, were to

assess the quality of the current measure of socio-









economic deprivation used by the Department for

Education and to identify potential alternative proxy

indicators for deprivation.

The attached research brief and full report examines the

relationship between attainment and household

employment characteristics, including whether it is a

single-parent household, and whether at least one parent

was in full-time employment. This model was not

included in the research brief because it was not

considered a feasible alternative.

The background characteristics used in the research

were collected as part of the first wave of the

Longitudinal Survey of Young People in England

(LSYPE), which did not ask questions directly addressing

the other factors mentioned. The research was

exploratory, but also pragmatic, examining a broad range

of measures but also mindful that not all measures would

be available to the Department in the future. Measures

such as domestic violence, alcohol addiction, drugs or

parental mental health problems are not collected by the

Department and were therefore not included in this

analysis.


Full report - Factors Associated with Achievement [HL6891 and

HL6892 - RR407_-_Factors_associated_with_achievement_-

_key_stage_4.pdf]

Research brief [HL6891 and HL6892 - RB407_-

_Factors_associated_with_achievement_-_key_stage_4_brief.pdf]

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

answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2016-03-09/HL6891

Slavery: Children

Asked by Baroness Doocey


children who have received a positive conclusive

grounds decision in the National Referral Mechanism in

the past three years have been refused asylum after

claiming. [HL6823]

Lord Bates: Since January 2013, three (3) children

received an initial decision to refuse asylum having

previously received a positive Conclusive Grounds

decision. Of these three refusals two (2) were

subsequently overturned on appeal.

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define

the "best interests of the child" under the UN

Convention on the Rights of the Child. [HL6860]

Lord Bates: Consistent with Article 3 of the UN

Convention on the Rights of the Child, we define the

“best interests of the child” as those factors which

contribute to a child’s well-being and which are to be

considered in light of the evidence as a primary

consideration alongside other factors in making

immigration decisions and carrying out immigration

functions.

These include, but are not limited to, taking account of

the child’s health, age and maturity, and the child’s family

and social relationships. We remain committed to giving

due consideration to the Articles in the Convention when

developing policy and legislation.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Asked by Lord West of Spithead

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

risks posed to the UK by terrorists using drones, and the

recent comments by the British Airline Pilots

Association and others regarding the risks posed by

drones, what consideration they have given to (1) the

introduction of a system of mandatory drone

registration in the UK, (2) the introduction of

mandatory geo-fencing by all drone manufacturers, and

(3) the possible banning of private ownership of drones

exceeding a certain payload capacity. [HL6659]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures

they will take to reduce the risk posed by civilian

drones to aircraft. [HL6660]


To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Cross

Government Working Group on Drones has conducted

an assessment of the risks posed (1) by terrorists using

drones, and (2) by drones to aircraft. [HL6661]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Department for

Transport (DfT) is currently working with the European

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent,

EU-wide safety rules for drones.

The Department and the Civil Aviation Authority

(CAA) work with a wide range of industry partners across

the aviation sector, (including manufacturers, airports,

and airlines), to ensure our understanding of potential

hazards to aircraft remains up-to-date and mitigations

effective.

This collaboration is also considering the need for other

potential drone policies, such as geo-fencing. There are a

number of drone models already sold in the UK with

types of this technology installed and we are assessing the

potential for solutions that could restrict drone operations

around airports and other key infrastructure.

We are also in contact with other governments about

the potential costs and benefits of registration systems,

and, in particular, whether this improves the transparency

of ownership.

The Cross Government Working Group has undertaken

analysis of the use of drones for criminal purposes,

including the potential use of drones for terrorist

purposes, and the impacts of their negligent use near










sensitive locations, such as airports. This work is kept

under review and is being used to inform research and

testing to improve mitigation techniques and strategies.

Guidance on tackling the risks of criminal drone use has

been provided to constabularies across the UK.

Education of drone users is vital. The DfT is working

with the CAA on raising awareness of responsible drone

use. This includes the CAA’s ‘Drone Code’ safety

awareness campaign and the issuing of safety leaflets at

the point of sale.

Visas: Turkey


To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what

circumstances the UK would be able to opt out of

implementing the agreement contained in the statement

of the Heads of State or Government of the EU issued

on 7 March to "accelerate the implementation of the

visa liberalisation roadmap with all member states with

a view to lifting the visa requirements of Turkish

citizens at the latest by the end of June 2016". [HL6913]

Lord Bates: The UK Government cannot be obliged by

the EU to lift visa requirements. Visa liberalisation for

Turkish citizens as referred to in the Statement of 7 March

is in respect of the Schengen area only. In accordance

with the Schengen Protocol (No.19), the UK does not

participate in the Schengen acquis concerning visas. The

UK is free to request to participate in some or all of the

provisions of the Schengen acquis which it does not

already participate in, but is explicitly not obliged to do

so. Nor is the UK bound by any Justice and Home Affairs

measures in the area of EU visa policy unless the UK

explicitly chooses to opt in, in accordance with the UK

and Ireland’s JHA Protocol (No 21).


Index to Statements and Answers

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

Machinery of Government change ....................... 1

March Environment Council ................................ 1

Written Answers ..................................................... 2

Aegean Sea: Refugees .......................................... 2

Antisemitism ........................................................ 2

Belfast Agreement ................................................ 2

Borders: Personal Records ................................... 2

Charities: Lobbying .............................................. 3

Children: Day Care ............................................... 3

Children's Play ...................................................... 3

Civil Partnerships ................................................. 3

Easter Act 1928 .................................................... 4

Faith Schools: Admissions ................................... 4

Freedom of Information ....................................... 4

Government Departments: Newspaper Press ....... 4

Govia Thameslink Railway .................................. 5

Intelligence Services: Recruitment ....................... 5

Ministers' Private Offices ..................................... 5

National Insurance ................................................ 5

New Businesses: Cambridge ................................ 6

NHS: Employment Agencies ............................... 6

Passports ............................................................... 6

Police and Crime Commissioners: Elections........ 6

Postgraduate Education ........................................ 7

Pre-school Education: Special Educational Needs

.............................................................................. 7

Proscribed Organisations ...................................... 7

Railways: Franchises ............................................ 8

Refugees ............................................................... 8

Roads: City of Westminster .................................. 8

Secondary Education: Performance Standards ..... 8

Slavery: Children .................................................. 9

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child .......... 9

Unmanned Air Vehicles ....................................... 9

Visas: Turkey 10

Documents

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