MondayVol. 786 11 December 2017No. 37qnadailyreport.blob.core.windows.net/qnadaily... · 12/11/2017...

Monday

11 December 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 ..................................................... 6

Vol. 786

No. 37

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

http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests/

Members who want a printed copy of Written Answers and Written Statements should notify the Printed Paper Office.

This printed edition is a reproduction of the original text of Answers and Statements, which can be found on the internet

at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/.

Ministers and others who make Statements or answer Questions are referred to only by name, not their ministerial or

other title. The current list of ministerial and other responsibilities is as follows.

Minister Responsibilities

Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

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

Lord Agnew of Oulton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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 and Wales Office

Baroness Buscombe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions

Lord Callanan Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union

Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Whip

Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip

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

Baroness Fairhead Minister of State, Department for International Trade

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

Affairs

Baroness Goldie Whip

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

Strategy

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

Baroness Stedman-Scott Whip

Baroness Sugg Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport

Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip

Baroness Vere of Norbiton Whip

Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office and Women and Equalities Spokesperson

Lord Young of Cookham Whip

Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip and Wales and Scotland Office Spokesperson

© Parliamentary Copyright House of Lords 2017

This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence,

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

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http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers

Written Statements 11 December 2017 Page 1

Written Statements Monday, 11 December 2017

Cape Town Convention: MAC Protocol

[HLWS326]

Lord Henley: My hon Friend the Minister for Small

Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility

(Margot James), has today made the following statement:

The UK has opted-in to a proposal authorising the EU

to open negotiations on the conclusion of a Protocol to the

Convention on International Interests in Mobile

Equipment on Matters specific to Mining, Agricultural

and Construction Equipment (the MAC Protocol)

The Convention on International Interests in Mobile

Equipment, or Cape Town Convention (‘CTC’) as it is

commonly known, is an international private law treaty

which aims to reduce the cost of raising finance for

certain high value mobile equipment. Three protocols to

the CTC have been adopted covering aircraft, rail and

space assets. The UK ratified the Aircraft Protocol in

2015. Adoption of such protocols is viewed as boosting

growth in the relevant manufacturing industries (hence

the UK adoption of the Aircraft Protocol).

A key feature of the CTC is to reduce the cost of raising

finance through the operation of special insolvency

provisions aimed at giving finance and leasing companies

greater certainty and control over recovering assets

subject to security or leasing agreements in the event of

payment default or insolvency.

The CTC project is undertaken under the auspices of

UNIDROIT, the intergovernmental organisation focused

on harmonisation of private international law.

UNIDROIT is currently in the process of concluding a

new protocol covering mining, agricultural and

construction assets.

On 23 August 2017, ahead of the meeting of the second

session of the Committee of Governmental Experts on 2 –

6 October 2017, the Council presented a draft Council

Decision to authorise the Commission to open

negotiations on the conclusion of the MAC Protocol

together with draft negotiating directives.

We fully recognise the importance of international

efforts to reduce the cost of raising finance for equipment

vital for economic growth, particularly in lower and

middle income countries where financing costs can

significantly inhibit investment and development.

Reduced financing costs will also lead to increased

demand, providing a boost to manufacturing including

UK businesses in the mining, agricultural and

construction sectors. The three sectors are all major

exporters from the UK with certain niche manufacturers

selling up to 95% of their production overseas. Between

them the three industries employ over 50,000 people in

the UK. They are vital elements of our industrial strategy.

Preliminary economic assessment of the MAC Protocol

suggests the benefits may amount to $32 – $48 billion

annually for developing countries and $36 - $50 billion

annually for developed countries.

After due consideration the Government has decided to

opt in to negotiating mandate as proposed by the Council.

As the negotiating mandate is currently restricted so as

to preserve the EU negotiating position it is not therefore

depositable within Parliament.

The Government will continue to work with the

Scrutiny Committees if and when it considers whether to

opt in to a Council Decision to sign and conclude the

MAC Protocol. I will also update Parliament on the

Government’s opt-in decisions at these stages.

Competitiveness Council

[HLWS327]

Lord Henley: My hon Friend the Minister for

Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (Joseph

Johnson) has made the following Written Ministerial

Statement:

The Competitiveness Council took place on 30

November and 1 December in Brussels. The UK was

represented by Lord Henley on the first day and by Jo

Johnson on the second.

EU Industrial Strategy

Discussions focussed on the recent publication of a

renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy. Ministers agreed

that European industry needed to adapt to changes in the

global economy and the digital revolution. The EU should

improve investment in research and development and

support for SMEs, and strengthen its internal market. The

UK noted that its recently-published industrial strategy

identified many of the same challenges and drivers of

growth, and stressed its commitment to an open, liberal

market economy based around fair competition and high

standards.

A number of Member States cautioned against arbitrary

targets for industrial output, emphasising that support to

industry was one policy among others to boost Europe’s

competitiveness alongside a commitment to free trade and

access to global value chains. Others called for greater

sectoral support and called for the Commission to propose

a longer-term vision for EU industrial policy towards

2030. Ministers agreed Council Conclusions.

Single Digital Gateway

Ministers voted to adopt the proposed general approach

on the Single Digital Gateway. Member States generally

expressed support for the objectives of the proposal and

agreed that easier access to good quality online

information and procedures was important for the internal

market. There was broad agreement that the Presidency

had struck a good balance between ambition and

flexibility. Voting in favour of the General Approach, the

UK noted its strong support for e-government initiatives

and underlined the importance of maintaining a focus on

user needs. The Commission welcomed the agreement but

noted the extension of the implementation period to five

years.

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Lords/2017-12-11/HLWS326/


11 December 2017 Written Statements

Unified Patent Court

A number of Member States joined the Presidency and

the Commission in pressing those Member States yet to

complete ratification of the Unified Patent Court to

finalise preparations so the court can become operational

in 2018. The UK re-stated its commitment to passing the

final necessary domestic legislation currently before

Parliament.

European Defence Industrial Development Programme

(EDIDP)

The Presidency noted the EDIDP would run from 2019

to 2020, providing €500m towards the joint development

of defence prototypes and increasing European industrial

competitiveness. Timelines were ambitious with a general

approach anticipated at the 12 December General Affairs

Council. The Commission was looking for a €1.5bn fund

after 2020, covering both defence research and prototype

development.

Other items

Vice President Ansip updated the Council on the

implementation of the Digital Single Market. He

described the paradigm-shifting and multi-faceted impact

of digitalisation on the world. He urged Ministers to help

progress initiatives rapidly and ambitiously. The

Presidency and Commission noted the provisional

agreement on geoblocking with the European Parliament.

Hungary introduced a paper expressing concern about

the impact of the tobacco track and trace implementing

legislation on SMEs. Commissioner Andriukaitis

emphasised its importance for public health and tackling

illicit tobacco trade and underlined that its impact had

been considered carefully. The final text included a

number of SME derogations.

The Commission presented its recent public

procurement package, stressing that more strategic use of

procurement could help deliver environmental and social

objectives. Savings of €200bn per annum were possible

through increased professionalism. The Commission

confirmed that all elements were voluntary.

Ministers had a lunchtime discussion on the automotive

industry; the UK and others stressed the fast-changing

nature of the sector. Germany and the Commission

provided an update on the SME Action programme.

Bulgaria presented its plans for its Presidency.

Day Two – Space and Research

The Formal Competitiveness Council (Space and

Research) took place in Brussels on 1 December. Jo

Johnson, Minister of State for Universities, Science,

Research and Innovation represented the UK in the

morning and Katrina Williams represented the UK in the

afternoon.

Council conclusions on the Mid-term evaluation of the

Copernicus programme

The Council adopted conclusions on the Commission’s

recent mid-term evaluation of the Copernicus earth-

observation space programme, which underline the

importance of maintaining its free and open data policy.

EU Space Programmes

The Council then held a debate on the future direction

of EU space programmes, in light of the recent mid-term

evaluations. The UK outlined the links to the UK’s

Industrial Strategy, highlighting the importance of

international collaboration and the desire for the UK to

discuss future cooperation with the EU on space

programmes as soon as possible.

Council conclusions on Horizon 2020

Next was a discussion on the Council Conclusions on

Horizon 2020. Ministers agreed the conclusions in

document 15320/17. The UK set out its interest for an

ambitious science and innovation agreement with the EU

and stressed the need to focus on EU added value,

simplification and international collaboration in

Framework Programme 9 (FP9).

The Mission-oriented approach in the ninth EU RDI

Framework Programme

The Council then discussed the Missions-Orientated

Approach to FP9. The Commissioner (Moedas)

encouraged Member States to engage fully in the

forthcoming consultation process. The UK highlighted the

need to ensure continued focus on basic research and

emphasised the need to avoid duplication of efforts

undertaken at national level.

Other Items

The European Commission gave an update on the

European Open Science Cloud. Hungary gave an update

on the Extreme Light Infrastructure project, which was on

schedule to begin operations in 2018. Bulgaria then

presented its presidency plans. Their priorities for science

and innovation include the next Framework Programme

(FP9), the future of the ITER project and the transfer of

knowledge, data and research results to innovators and

researchers. They will also focus on the roadmap for the

governance and funding of the European Open Science

Cloud and the European super computer EuroHPC.

Economic Crime and Anti-corruption

[HLWS325]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the

Secretary of State for the Home Department (Amber

Rudd) has today made the following Written Ministerial

Statement:

Economic crime and corruption do great harm to

individuals, businesses, the integrity of our financial

system and the UK’s international reputation. We must do

more on economic crime to safeguard our prosperity, and

the UK’s reputation as a world-leading place to do

business.

The Government is making a step-change in its

response to the threat. A broad and deep public-private

partnership is at the heart of this new approach. The

Minister of State for Security will become the Minister of

State for Security and Economic Crime. Further, the

Government will:



• Establish a new Ministerial Economic Crime Strategic

Board chaired by the Home Secretary, to agree strategic

priorities across Government; ensure resources are

allocated to deliver those priorities; and scrutinise

performance and impact against the economic crime

threat.

• Create a new multi-agency National Economic Crime

Centre (NECC) hosted in the National Crime Agency to

task and coordinate the law enforcement response,

working in the closest possible partnership with the

private sector.

• Create a dedicated team to use the power in the

Criminal Finances Act 2017 to forfeit criminal money

held in suspended bank accounts.

• Legislate to give the National Crime Agency powers

to directly task the Serious Fraud Office, who will

continue to operate as an independent organisation.

• Publish draft legislation on the creation of a register of

the beneficial ownership of overseas companies and

other entities that own property in the UK or participate

in Government contracts.

• Reform of the Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)

regime, in partnership with the private sector, law

enforcement and regulators, to reduce tick-box

compliance, direct the regime to focus on the highest

threats, help firms better protect themselves and

improve law enforcement outcomes.

• Review disclosure procedures to explore how to make

prosecutorial processes more effective and efficient.

The Attorney-General will lead this work.

• Support a Law Commission review of the Proceeds of

Crime Act 2002 to identify improvements to our

powers to confiscate proceeds of crime.

In addition, the Government is today publishing the

UK’s first cross-government Anti-Corruption Strategy,

and the Prime Minister has appointed John Penrose MP as

her Anti-Corruption Champion. A copy will be available

from Gov.UK and placed in the House Library.

The Strategy provides a framework to guide UK

government efforts against corruption both domestically

and internationally for the period up to 2022. It sets six

priorities to:

• reduce the insider threat in high risk domestic sectors

(ports and borders, prisons, policing, defence);

• strengthen the integrity of the UK as a centre of global

finance;

• promote integrity across the public and private

sectors;

• reduce corruption in public procurement and grants;

• improve the business environment globally; and

• work with other countries to combat corruption.

There will be ministerial oversight of implementation

and my department will provide an annual written update

to parliament on progress.

To support the delivery of these commitments,

responsibility for the Joint Anti-Corruption Unit will

transfer from the Cabinet Office to the Home Office. This

change will be effective immediately.

EU Council: UNHCR Executive Committee

[HLWS329]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the

Minister of State for Immigration (Brandon Lewis) has

today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

The Government has taken the decision not to opt in to

EU Council Decision on UNHCR Executive Committee

Conclusion on machine-readable travel documents for

refugees and stateless persons.

The UNHCR Conclusions urge States who have not yet

done so to take necessary measures to introduce machine-

readable Convention Travel Documents for refugees and

stateless persons lawfully staying in their territory at the

earliest convenience. The Conclusions also encourage

existing national systems for civil documentation to

include refugees and stateless persons and to limit fees for

refugees and stateless persons. They commit Member

States to further strengthening international solidarity and

burden-sharing to facilitate the transition to machine-

readable travel documents to refugees and stateless

persons. The EU Commission published a Council

Decision seeking agreement to an EU position supporting

these Conclusions.

The UK already offers travel documents to recognised

refugees and stateless persons which exceeds the

recommendation to issue machine-readable travel

documents. Home Office travel documents are machine-

readable and also include a biometric chip that contains a

digital facial image of the document holder, similar to the

British passport. Furthermore, the UK already complies

with the points on costs of refugee travel documents; we

align with the 1951 and 1954 UN Conventions which

state that signatory states should charge no more than is

charged for a national passport.

The Government is committed to taking all opt-in

decisions on a case-by-case basis, putting the national

interest at the heart of the decision making process. As the

UK is compliant with the Conclusions, the UK has

decided not to opt in to this Council Decision.

Help to Save Accounts

[HLWS324]

Lord Bates: My honourable friend the Economic

Secretary to the Treasury (Stephen Barclay) has today

made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

The government is committed to supporting people at

all income levels and all stages of life to save.

Help to Save is a government backed savings account to

help working people on low incomes build up their

savings. They will be able to pay in up to £50 a month

and receive a 50% government bonus on their savings.

Subject to the approval of the House, Help to Save will

begin with a trial in January 2018, rolling out in stages to



11 December 2017 Written Statements

increasing numbers and available to all those eligible

from October 2018 at the latest.

Introducing it in this controlled way will allow HM

Revenue and Customs to thoroughly test and develop it at

every stage so that it provides the best customer

experience possible, and a quality service for savers over

the lifetime of the scheme.

From January, HM Revenue and Customs will start to

invite Working Tax Credits customers into the trial,

gradually increasing their numbers, with the expectation

that Universal Credit customers will start to be invited in

from April. Eligible customers will still have the full 5

years to register for Help to Save from the end of the trial,

and the overall cost of the programme to government will

be the same.

Today regulations will be laid in the Commons which

will set out the detail of how Help to Save will operate.

The draft regulations were subject to a consultation and a

summary of the responses and changes made have today

been published at

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-

legislation-help-to-save-accounts

Higher Education

[HLWS330]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Higher Education

and Research Act 2017 (HERA) achieved Royal Assent

on 27 April 2017. It set out a number of significant

reforms that will improve the value for money that

students receive from their investment in higher

education. These include the establishment of a new

regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), with a remit to

drive value for money, a rigorous framework for

assessing teaching and student outcomes, and provisions

that make it easier for students to switch provider.

The Act also includes a power for the Government to

set higher annual fee amounts for courses completed on

an accelerated basis, which can be matched by higher

corresponding student loan amounts. This measure will

provide valuable new options to prospective students.

The way in which degrees are currently taught and

studied has stayed largely unchanged for many years. The

vast majority of providers offer a traditional three years of

study regardless of subject, spread out across thirty weeks

a year and with a long summer vacation every year. It is

wrong that this is the only choice that most students have.

The growing dominance of the classic three-year

residential degree reflects more the convenience of the

sector and financial incentives on providers than the needs

of students for flexible ways of pursuing higher

education. And it may be deterring some from higher

education, and slowing the return of others to productive

work.

Students on accelerated degree courses can secure a

degree qualification in their preferred subject, studying

the same content for the same number of weeks over the

life of the course as the standard equivalent degree,

subject to the same quality assurances. But by studying

for more weeks each year, they are able to graduate

within only two years, and with significantly lower

student debt – good news for the student and for the

taxpayer.

I believe there is significant untapped potential for

accelerated courses, starting first with degrees, in higher

education. They offer benefits to students of lower costs,

more intensive study, and a quicker commencement or

return to the workplace. Innovative providers would like

to offer more of these courses but face significant

financial and operational disincentives in the current

system.

But for these accelerated courses to become more

mainstream, we need to be upfront about why more

universities are not already offering them. Many

universities are concerned about changing existing models

and the costs associated with doing that. This includes

extra teaching hours, capacity to research, or not being

able to rent out rooms over the holidays. A three-year

course condensed into two is more expensive to run.

That is why I am proposing a balanced package that

ensures universities are able to cover these additional

costs but must charge at least 20% less in tuition for an

accelerated two year degree than they can for its three

year equivalent.

The launch of the OfS and the new fee arrangements

will help incentivise greater provision. This in turn will

give students a genuine choice of accelerated degrees

across the full range of undergraduate courses.

In the debate in Parliament on the passage of the Bill,

we committed to consult on the detail of our proposals.

The consultation that I am launching today fulfils that

commitment so far as accelerated degrees are concerned.

The proposals on which we are consulting are:

• Arrangements enabling greater provision and take-up

of accelerated degree courses will be in place in

Academic Year 2019/20, subject to Parliament passing

secondary legislation which sets fees and loans specific

to accelerated degrees.

• Accelerated degree courses subject to the new fee

arrangements will be undergraduate first degree

qualifications recognisably provided within a more

intense period of study than other equivalent courses.

• The OfS will support and encourage more providers to

offer accelerated degree courses, over a more diverse

range of subjects than are currently offered.

• The OfS will also act as regulatory gatekeeper,

determining whether degree courses meet the statutory

definition of ‘accelerated courses’.

• The current means-tested living cost support package

(the “long course loan”) available to students whose

courses last for longer than 30 weeks and three days

each academic year will continue to provide

maintenance for students on accelerated degrees on the

same terms.

• The annual tuition fee and loan upper limit for

accelerated degree students at Approved (fee cap)

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-legislation-help-to-save-accounts

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-legislation-help-to-save-accounts



providers would be set at 20% higher than the standard

level. For example, based on current fee limits, the

annual accelerated limit for a TEF-rated provider would

be £11,100 (vs £9,250 for the three-year equivalent).

This would give students who opt for accelerated

degrees a £5,500 or 20% saving in the total cost of

tuition fees

• The annual tuition fee loan limit for students at

Approved providers (i.e. those outside the fee cap

system) would be also be set at the standard level plus

20%. For example, based on current loan limits,

students at TEF-rated Approved providers would have

an annual tuition fee loan limit of £7,398 (vs £6,165 for

the three-year equivalent).

• Existing quality assurance arrangements for

accelerated degrees should continue to apply, including

after the OfS becomes responsible for monitoring them

on 1 April 2018.

This balanced package offers students significant

savings on the costs of graduating, while also addressing

the additional in-year costs providers incur by condensing

the final standard third year of teaching into the first two

years of the accelerated degree course. The 20% uplift in

annual fee revenue should cover the extra costs associated

with accelerated provision for most courses in most

providers.

Accelerated degrees are referenced in the Industrial

Strategy published last month, which notes their potential

to widen choice for students. And they have enjoyed

cross-party support since Shirley Williams championed

them in the 1960s. In the passage of the Higher Education

and Research Bill this year, MPs and peers from all sides

called for government to support them. The proposals I

am announcing today will remove the barriers to

accelerated degrees, and make them a real choice for

many more future students.

The Statement includes the following attached material:

Accelerated Degrees: Government Consultation [Accelerated

Degrees Consultation.pdf]

Annex A - consultation principles [Annex A Accelerated

Degrees.pdf]

Annex B - assumptions and analysis [Annex B Accelerated

Degrees.pdf]

Annex C - response to the call for evidence [Accelerated Degrees

Annex C.pdf]

The material can be viewed online at:


Review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013

[HLWS328]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: My hon Friend the

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Crime,

Safeguarding and Vulnerability (Victoria Atkins) has

today made the following Written Ministerial Statement:

My rt hon Friend the Home Secretary is today laying

before the House the Home Office report on its review of

the Scrap Metal dealers Act 2013 (Cm 9552).

The Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 was introduced in

October 2013 as a response to high levels of metal theft at

that time. The purpose of the Act was to reduce these

thefts by strengthening regulation of the scrap metal

industry. Section 18 of the Act commits the Government

to review the Act within five years of commencement and

to publish a report which assesses whether it has met its

intended objectives and whether it is appropriate to retain

or repeal it or any of its provisions.

As set out in today’s Home Office report, we are

satisfied that the Act has made a positive contribution to

the falls in levels of metal theft that have occurred since it

was commenced. We are satisfied, therefore, that the Act

should be retained.

Copies of the report are available from the Vote Office

and also on the Government’s website at gov.uk.





11 December 2017 Written Answers

Written Answers Monday, 11 December 2017

Antibiotics: Research

Asked by Lord Crathorne

To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they

have to support small UK companies which are

researching and trying to produce new antibiotics, in

particular through the use of market entry rewards.

[HL3658]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Government has invested

in a range of research to address antimicrobial resistance

(AMR). Specific investments aimed at small and medium

sized enterprises include a competition call worth £4

million in 2016/17 launched by Innovate UK to

reinvigorate AMR research and innovation networks in

the United Kingdom. This call particularly focused on the

need for collaborative working with industry, including

small and medium sized enterprises, to bring products to

market. The UK is also spending £50 million in a Global

AMR Innovation Fund which aims to invest in global

research and development for the benefit of people living

in low- and middle-income countries. As part of this, it

will consider how to provide access to finance for those

researchers who struggle to access traditional funding

sources, including small and medium sized enterprises.

In response to the independent review on AMR chaired

by Lord O’Neill, the Government committed to

strengthening support for market entry rewards in

international fora including the G7 and G20 to address

market failure in antibiotics. The Department is currently

working through the G20 to make tangible progress in

developing market incentives.

Apprentices

Asked by Lord Birt

To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the

release of figures by the Department for Education on

23 November showing that the number of people

starting apprenticeships has dropped by 59 per cent in

the last year, what assessment they have made of the

reasons for that decrease; and how they plan to reverse

that trend. [HL3599]

Lord Agnew of Oulton: There has been 1.1 million

apprenticeship starts in England since May 2015.

The 59% drop in starts only covers the period from

May to July 2017, and followed a sharp rise in the

preceding months, meaning that overall apprenticeship

starts in 2016/17 are only down by 2.8% overall.

In April 2017, the government introduced changes to

the apprenticeship system including the introduction of

the apprenticeship levy and the new digital

Apprenticeship Service. It is too early to draw

conclusions on the impact of these reforms before

employers have had time to adjust.

The government will continue to monitor the number of

apprenticeship starts and work closely with employers to

ensure the success of these reforms.

Brofiscin Quarry

Asked by The Countess of Mar

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment

they have made of whether capping the limestone

quarry at Brofiscin has prevented non-biodegradable

PCBs and other toxic materials from leaching into the

underlying aquifer affecting water supplies in England.

[HL3712]

Asked by The Countess of Mar


they have made of whether or not the water supplies for

Birmingham contain residues of non-biodegradable

PCBs and other toxins as a result of leaching from

Brofiscin quarry. [HL3713]

Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Brofiscin quarry is on an

aquifer (water bearing strata/rock), which is

hydrogeologically disconnected from the aquifer beneath

Elan Valley reservoirs and the associated aqueduct that

contribute to Birmingham public water supply. The

distance that separates the two locations is significant;

therefore there is no pathway for contamination to migrate

from the quarry to the Elan aquifer. The Elan aquifer is

the nearest aquifer to Brofiscin quarry that contributes to

Birmingham’s public water supply and the Environment

Agency does not consider Brofiscin quarry to present any

risk to Birmingham’s water supply.

Natural Resources Wales is responsible for regulating

the Brofiscin quarry site. Any risks relating to this site are

a matter for the devolved Welsh Government.

Burma: Rohingya

Asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew


recent deal signed between Myanmar and Bangladesh

allowing the return to Myanmar of thousands of

Rohingya Muslims, what representations they are

making to the government of Myanmar encouraging it

to guarantee the safety and political and social rights of

those returnees. [HL3604]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK proposed and

secured unanimous support for a UN Security Council

Presidential Statement on 6 November which urged the

Government of Burma to ensure the voluntary return of

all refugees in conditions of safety and dignity to their

homes, and to allow equal access to full citizenship for all

individuals.

The Minister for Asia and the Pacific underlined this

call in his meetings with Burma's Minister of Defence, the

Deputy Foreign Minister, and Aung San Suu Kyi's Chief

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-11-28/HL3658







Written Answers 11 December 2017 Page 7

of Staff on 20 and 21 November. He stressed the need to

ensure security for returnees.

On 23 November, Bangladesh and Burma signed a

memorandum of understanding on the return of refugees

to Rakhine State. We understand that a joint working

group will be set up, with the aim of the process of returns

commencing within two months.

The UK Government will press for quick progress on

implementation of this bilateral agreement. But we will be

clear that any returns must be safe, voluntary and

dignified and there must be appropriate international

oversight.

Church Schools

Asked by Lord Murphy of Torfaen

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect

to agree the Church Supplemental Agreement.

[HL3715]

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The department is currently

considering the changes proposed by the Church of

England Education Office and Catholic Education Service

to the Church Supplemental Agreement and will respond

in due course.

Church Schools: Admissions



they have made of the impact of removing the 50 per

cent cap on faith-based admissions on pupils from

ethnic minority backgrounds who seek a place in a

Catholic school. [HL3716]



they have made of the impact of the removal of the 50

per cent cap on faith-based admissions on the ethnic

diversity of Catholic schools. [HL3717]



they have made of the regional demand from parents for

places in Catholic schools; and how the removal of the

50 per cent cap on faith-based admissions will meet that

demand. [HL3718]



they have made of the impact of the removal of the 50

per cent cap on faith-based admissions on the ability of

the Catholic Church to open new schools. [HL3719]

Lord Agnew of Oulton: The proposal to remove the

50% cap on faith admissions in faith free schools is set

out in the ‘Schools that work for everyone’ consultation

document (copies available in the House Library). The

department plans to respond on this consultation in due

course.

Commonwealth: Indigenous Peoples

Asked by Lord Alderdice

To ask Her Majesty's Government what legal or

treaty obligations they retain in respect of First Nation

peoples in Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

[HL3596]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK does not have

any prevailing legal or treaty obligations with respect to

the native/ indigenous populations in Canada, Australia,

or New Zealand. All previous relevant obligations binding

upon the UK Government have been passed to and

confined to the Governments of Canada, Australia, and

New Zealand as the independent and sovereign successor

states of the UK’s Dominions.


To ask Her Majesty's Government when was the last

time they raised through the Commonwealth the

problems facing First Nation peoples. [HL3597]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Government is

fully committed to promoting and protecting human rights

for all individuals, including indigenous people. We have

not recently raised issues affecting indigenous people in a

Commonwealth forum. However, we regularly participate

in discussions regarding indigenous peoples in various

other fora, including the UN General Assembly, the

Human Rights Council and the UN Permanent Forum on

Indigenous Issues.

Cyprus: Military Bases

Asked by Lord Sharkey

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the

Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 November

(HL3241), how the proportion of Greek Cypriots and

Turkish Cypriots employed at the Cyprus Sovereign

Base areas in 2017 compares with the proportion of

Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots in the 2011

censuses; and what assessment they have made of how

they have fulfilled their obligations under Paragraph 2

of Section 7 of Part II of Annex B of the 1960 Treaty of

Establishment to have regard as far as possible to the

proportionate numbers of the Communities in Cyprus.

[HL3632]

Earl Howe: The 2011 censuses indicate that the

proportion of Greek and Turkish Cypriots in Cyprus was

83 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. The proportion

of Greek and Turkish Cypriots employed in the Sovereign

Base Areas in 2017, is approximately 0.12 per cent and

0.08 per cent of the Greek and Turkish Cypriot

populations as identified in the 2011 censuses.

The proportion of Greek and Turkish Cypriot nationals

employed by the Sovereign Base Area Administration

(SBAA) and British Forces Cyprus in the Sovereign Base

Areas (SBAs) are 88 per cent and 12 per cent

respectively. The SBAA has reviewed the balance of its

employment and concluded that it is compliant with













Annex B, Part II, Section 7, Para 2 under the 1960 Treaty

of Establishment. Our compliance will continue to be kept

under review.

Details of the Cypriot contractors employed in the

SBAs are held by private contractors, who have no

obligation to provide us with this information.

Contractors work for a variety of employers across the

island and there is no certainty of when their staff are

working in the SBAs as opposed to under other

contractual obligations they have elsewhere on the island.

For private contractors, therefore, the information is not

held in the format requested.

Disability Living Allowance

Asked by Lord Truscott

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have

any plans to means test Disability Living Allowance.

[HL3644]

Baroness Buscombe: We have no plans to means test

Disability Living Allowance.

Gaza: Travel Restrictions

Asked by Baroness Tonge

To ask Her Majesty's Government what

representations they have made to the administration in

Gaza concerning prospects for opening the Rafah

crossing and allowing people with visas to leave.

[HL3639]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We have not raised this

issue with the administration in Gaza. The UK retains a

policy of no contact with Hamas in its entirety. We

encourage the Palestinian Authority (PA) to fully resume

its government functions in Gaza, and ensure that the

reconciliation process is compliant with the Quartet

Principles. Officials from our Consulate-General in

Jerusalem frequently urge the PA to take steps to improve

conditions in Gaza. We have also raised the opening of

the Rafah crossing with Egypt.

Higher Education

Asked by Lord Storey

To ask Her Majesty's Government what evaluation

they have made of the Higher Education Degree

Datacheck facility system. [HL3637]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Higher Education

Degree Datacheck (HEDD) system represents 103

universities. It is run by Prospects, the commercial branch

of the Higher Education Careers Service Unit – an agency

of sector bodies Universities UK and Guild HE.

The department has not evaluated the HEDD system.

Home Office: EU Law

Asked by Baroness Hamwee

To ask Her Majesty's Government which statutory

instruments in force relating to the responsibilities of

the Home Office are derived wholly, or in part, from

EU legislation. [HL3612]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office

does not hold information centrally on which statutory

instruments relating to the responsibilities of the Home

Office are derived wholly or in part from EU legislation.

For the purposes of exiting the EU, Government

departments have been analysing the UK statute book and

directly applicable EU law in their areas of responsibility

to enable an assessment of the scale of the changes

needed. This is likely to include the repeal, but also the

amendment, of provisions in Acts but we are not in a

position to give a sense of scale at this time.

Immigration

Asked by Lord Green of Deddington

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in each year

between 2007 and 2016, how many people were

granted leave to remain following (1) 10 years of legal

residence as set out in paragraph 276B(i)(a) of the

Immigration Rules, and (2) 20 years illegal residence in

the UK as set out in paragraph 277ADE(1)(iii) of the

Immigration Rules. [HL3611]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Paragraph 276B(i)(a)

refers to the requirements for indefinite leave to remain.

Accordingly this answer provides data on indefinite rather

than limited leave to remain.

Grants of indefinite leave to remain on the basis of long

residence are published in settlement table se_03 , here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigratio

n-statistics-april-to-june-2016/list-of-tables#settlement

The figures prior to July 2012 will also include grants on

the basis of 14 years lawful and unlawful long residence.

That provision was removed in July 2012.

The 20 year long residence rule was implemented from

9 July 2012. These grants of leave to remain are

categorised as Private Life in the published statistics,

available at tables ex_01 and ex_01q here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigratio

n-statistics-april-to-june-2017/list-of-tables#extensions

The 20 year qualifying period in this category can also

include periods of lawful leave, as well as illegal

residence.

The Answer includes the following attached material:

Private Life Grants - Table ex_01 and ex_01q [Private life

grants.xlsx]

Tables se_03 [Table se_03.xls]



Asked by Baroness Kramer

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether

individuals who have been granted indefinite leave to

remain are obliged to apply for British citizenship; if so,








https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/list-of-tables#settlement

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2016/list-of-tables#settlement

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/list-of-tables#extensions

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/list-of-tables#extensions





why; and if not, what information such individuals are

given by the UK Border Agency in this regard upon

arrival in the UK. [HL3625]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Individuals who are

settled in the UK are not obliged to apply to naturalise as

British citizens. The Government believes that citizenship

is a personal choice, and is a privilege and not a right, and

it would not be appropriate to compel all those who settle

in the UK to become British.

Entrants to the UK will normally need to remain in the

UK for a period of at least five years before being eligible

to settle in the UK and so it would be premature to

provide them with information on citizenship at the point

of their arrival. Where someone wishes to naturalise they

can find relevant information on the GOV.uk website.

Asked by Baroness Kramer

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there has

been any change in the terms on which indefinite leave

to remain in the UK is (1) granted, and (2) applied to

those who were previously granted such leave, in the

past year. [HL3626]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: In the past year there

have been a number of policy amendments across specific

ILR routes. Information relating to these amendments,

and the specific ILR routes these affect, are

communicated via the GOV.UK website.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departme

nts%5B%5D=uk-visas-and-immigration

There has been no change in terms for those persons

who have been granted ILR in the past year. Individuals

who hold ILR in the United Kingdom have no restriction

on their right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

They are able to apply for benefits in the same way as

British citizens.


Tables as_19 and as_20 [Tables as_19q and Table as-20_q.xlsx]

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

answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2017-11-27/HL3626

Indigenous Peoples


To ask Her Majesty's Government when was the last

time they raised through the United Nations the

problems facing First Nation peoples. [HL3598]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Her Majesty's

Government is committed to defending the human rights

of all individuals, including indigenous people. The

Government regularly participates in discussions

regarding indigenous peoples in various United Nations

fora, including the General Assembly, the Human Rights

Council, and the Permanent Forum on Indigenous issues.

Israel: Freedom of Expression


To ask Her Majesty's Government what action

they are taking with their international partners to

support and encourage free speech in Israel, following

reports of intimidation and public order offences

committed by far-right groups in that country. [HL3641]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Government stands

up for and strongly supports the right of freedom of

expression. We welcome the repeated public

commitments of the Israeli Government, including the

President and Prime Minister, to uphold and protect

Israel’s longstanding tradition of freedom of expression.

Israel: Palestinians



representations they are making to the government of

Israel regarding reports of the detention of a nine year

old boy during raids in the occupied West Bank in

November. [HL3640]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have not

raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, the

UK continues to have strong concerns about continued

reports of ill-treatment of Palestinian minors in Israeli

military detention, notably the use of painful restraints

and insufficient notification of legal rights. Our

Ambassador to Israel raised concerns with Israeli

Attorney-General Mandelblit on 3 October, and the

Minister for the Middle East Alistair Burt also raised our

concerns with the Israeli authorities during his visit to

Israel in August 2017.

We will continue regularly to raise this issue with the

Israeli authorities, and to press them to secure necessary

improvements to the practices surrounding the military

detention of minors. We will also continue to work

closely with our European partners in country.




Israel regarding reports by the UN Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that the Israeli

military have issued orders demarcating areas where

three Palestinian herding communities are located,

resulting in 419 people being at heightened risk of

forcible transfer. [HL3642]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK is gravely

concerned by Israeli proposals to relocate Bedouin

population from the E1 area, which the UN has said could

constitute forcible transfer. We regularly raise our

concerns with the Israeli authorities, including through

our Embassy in Tel Aviv. These plans could have a

negative impact on the communities concerned and will

likely open the way for further settlement expansion –

endangering the viability of the two-state solution. We



https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=uk-visas-and-immigration

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications?departments%5B%5D=uk-visas-and-immigration









continue to follow developments closely. Staff from the

British Consulate General visited Jabal al-Baba on 9

November, and both Ein al-Hilweh and Umm al-Jammal

on 22 November. We also provide legal aid to the

community at Jabal al-Baba through our support to the

Norwegian Refugee Council.




Israel regarding reports by the UN Office for the

Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs of a blockage by

the Israeli military of roads connecting southern Hebron

to the rest of the West Bank, placing residents at risk of

forcible transfer. [HL3643]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: While we have not

raised this specific issue, we have consistently called on

the Israeli Government to ease movement and access

restrictions in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Knives: Crime

Asked by Lord Laming

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they

intend to take in response to Home Office figures which

show an increase in the number of deaths as a result of

knife crime amongst under 19s. [HL3775]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Our work to tackle

knife crime is centred on four key strands: working with

the police on operations and enforcement; work on the

legislative framework; to work with retailers on

responsible sales of knives; and early intervention and

prevention.

We are encouraging police forces to undertake a series

of coordinated national weeks of action to tackle knife

crime under Operation Sceptre. It includes targeted stop

and searches, weapon sweeps, test purchases of knives

from retailers, the use of surrender bins, and educational

activities. A record thirty-two police forces took part in

the week of action in July.

We have agreed a set of commitments with major

retailers to prevent the underage sales of knives in their

stores and online. The agreement also covers staff training

and displays and packaging.

We are keeping the legislative framework under review

and we have taken action to ban zombie knives in August

2016. In addition on 14 October we launched a

consultation on new legislation on offensive weapons.

The proposals include placing restrictions on the online

sale of knives, creating a new offence of possession of an

offensive or dangerous weapon in a private place, and

updating existing legislation. We have launched a

community fund to support local communities to tackle

knife crime.

We are also supporting youth violence intervention and

prevention work in hospital emergency departments

including supporting the voluntary sector organisation,

Redthread, undertake work in London hospitals and pilots

its approach shortly in Nottingham and Birmingham.

Libya: Bomb Disposal


To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will

check, and address, any delay or obstruction by the

authorities in Misrata of the transfer to Sirte and

Benghazi of UK de-mining equipment. [HL3595]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The provision of this

equipment is to support a training programme in Misrata

for Libyan Government of National Accord military and

police units clearing mines and ordnance in Sirte. The

equipment was delivered to Sirte on 27 October 2017.

This will enable the return of families and allow other

reconstruction and development activities to take place in

safety following the removal of Daesh from that city. The

training programme is being funded by the Governments

of Germany and the United States, and is being delivered

by a contractor. The British Embassy in Tripoli is closely

following progress: our Defence Attaché has visited

Misrata to inspect the equipment and view the training, as

well as meeting with the local authorities in Sirte. We

have also provided £1 million so far this year leading to

training for more than 60 Explosive Ordnance Disposal

operators from Benghazi, including police officers and

National Safety Authority staff, and we will fund a

£200,000 mine risk education project in Benghazi to start

in December.

Local Government: Pay

Asked by Lord Kirkhope of Harrogate

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they

intend to establish independent pay review bodies to

determine the remuneration of all local authority

workers, to avoid possible conflicts of interest between

worker and political representatives. [HL3623]

Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Local government pay

is a devolved matter and that position remains unchanged.

It is right that independent locally elected local

government employers in conjunction with local

government trade unions are free to negotiate and make

decisions on pay within the limits of what they decide

they can afford.

Medical Records

Asked by Lord Warner

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an

NHS doctor denying an NHS patient access to their

medical records would be grounds for disciplinary

action by their professional body, employer or

contracting authority. [HL3647]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Patients have a legal right to

apply for access to their medical records and do not need

to give a reason. A patient who is denied access to their







medical records can make a complaint to the Information

Comissioner and/or the relevant contracting authority

and/or the General Medical Council (GMC) and/or the

relevant employer.

There are some circumstances where exemptions may

apply to a patients right to access this information and it

would be a matter for the relevant body to whom the

complaint is made to investigate further and decide on

appropriate action.

Doctors have a responsibility to be familiar with and

follow GMC guidance, and must use their judgement in

applying the principles to the various situations they face

in practice. They must be prepared to explain and justify

their decisions and actions, and serious or persistent

failure to follow the guidance will put a doctor’s

registration at risk.

Medical Treatments

Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many

technologies have been considered for ministerial

referral to the NICE High Specialised Technology

programme in each of the last three years; and of those,

how many were (1) accepted, (2) rejected, and (3)

referred to other assessment processes for

consideration. [HL3666]


To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they

have made of the number of technologies expected to

be considered for referral to the NICE Highly

Specialised Technology assessment process over the

next two years. [HL3667]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: We have made no estimate on

the number of technologies expected to be considered for

referral over the next two years.

The following table shows the number of technologies

considered for ministerial referral to the National Institute

for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Highly

Specialised Technology (HST) programme in each of the

last three years:

Financial year

2015/16 2016/17 2017/18

(so far)

Accepted (HST guidance has

started)

2 5 2

Rejected by NICE 1 (topic was not prioritised by

NICE for guidance)

1 0

Referred to other assessment

processes for consideration

1 (topic is now being developed

under Single Technology

Appraisal process)

2 0

Topic still under consideration

by NICE

8 8 24

Company withdrew Marketing Authorisation for the

indication/no longer pursuing a

license in this indication

3 0 1

Total potential HST topics

considered by NICE per financial year

15 16 (including 8 still under

consideration from 2015/16)

27 (including 9 still under

consideration from 2016/17)


To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans NICE

has put in place to increase the capacity of the Highly

Specialised Technology appraisal process. [HL3668]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The resources and capacity of

the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s

Highly Specialised Technology (HST) programme in

future years will be considered alongside other priorities

through the annual business planning process taking into

account the expected demand for HST guidance.

Mental Health Services: Children and Young

People

Asked by Lord Porter of Spalding

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have

any plans to provide additional funding for Child and

Adolescent Mental Health Services post 2020.

[HL3628]

Asked by Lord Porter of Spalding


have to provide additional funding for child and

adolescent mental health services in England and Wales

post 2020. [HL3671]








Lord O'Shaughnessy: The current Spending Review

period covers the four years from 2016-17 to 2019-20.

The Government will consider its plans for funding of

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services following

2020 as part of the next Spending Review.

NHS Litigation Authority

Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath


they have made of the performance of the NHS

Litigation Authority. [HL3618]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The NHS Litigation Authority,

known as NHS Resolution from 1 April 2017, is

accountable to the Department and its performance is

subject to regular review through the Department’s

sponsorship arrangements. The Department’s assessment

is that NHS Resolution is a well-run and efficient

organisation and that it has had some success, within the

current legal framework, in containing the cost of

National Health Service litigation, a view that was

supported by the National Audit Office (NAO), in its

report Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts

published in September 2017. A copy of the report is

attached.

NHS Resolution has a responsibility to settle justified

claims fairly and promptly, and defend unjustified claims

to secure NHS resources. Each case must be considered

on its own merits and it is important that a proper

investigation is undertaken. NHS Resolution aims to get

to the right answer as quickly as possible in every case

and to help resolve claims sooner, and without the need

for court proceedings, NHS Resolution launched a new

mediation service in December 2016. The NAO report on

clinical negligence costs concluded that it is difficult to

benchmark an optimal time for resolution and the

Department is satisfied, that overall, NHS Resolution

strikes the right balance in settling claims in a timely

manner.

In recognition that the organisation’s effectiveness in

reducing NHS litigation costs could be improved by

expanding its remit and giving it a greater role in

promoting learning from harmful incidents, the Secretary

of State announced earlier this year that the NHS

Litigation Authority would be known as NHS Resolution

from 1 April 2017 with a new five year strategy

Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm: Our

strategy to 2022 which gives it an enhanced focus on

mediation, learning and prevention, as well as litigation.

A copy of the five year strategy is attached.

NHS Resolution already works with NHS

organisations, with the use of the claims scorecards, to

help them understand their claims data to better assess

where local interventions would have the greatest impact

in reducing high volume or high costs claims. It also

shares learning and best practice across the NHS through

the development of guidance including cases studies

derived from analysis of the national database of claims,

thematic guidance and national events. Through its new

strategy, it will deliver increased insight into what drives

the costs of harm and work in partnership with others to

develop interventions that improve safety and save money

for the NHS, as demonstrated by its report Five years of

cerebral palsy claims: A thematic review of NHS

Resolution data published in September. A copy of the

report has been placed in the Library due to the size of the

document.


Delivering fair resolution [NHS-Resolution-Our-strategy-to-2022-

1.pdf]

Managing the costs of clinical negligence [Managing-the-costs-of-

clinical-negligence-in-trusts.pdf]





they have made of the extent to which the NHS

Litigation Authority acknowledges fault in a timely

manner. [HL3619]













attached.














manner.


































document.


Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm [NHS-

Resolution-Our-strategy-to-2022-1.pdf]



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



To ask Her Majesty's Government how they ensure

that lessons learned through cases handled by the NHS

Litigation Authority are passed on to the NHS rapidly

to prevent future errors. [HL3620]













attached.














manner.




























document.


Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm [NHS-

Resolution-Our-strategy-to-2022-1.pdf]






To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of

clinical cases brought against the NHS and managed by

the NHS Litigation Authority in each of the past ten

years resulted in (1) a finding of liability by the courts,

(2) a finding by the courts that there was no liability, (3)

a settlement outside court alongside an admission of

liability, (4) a settlement outside court with no

admission of liability, and (5) some other outcome.

[HL3621]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: NHS Resolution, formerly

known as the NHS Litigation Authority, manages clinical

negligence claims against the National Health Service in

England on behalf of member organisations. NHS

Resolution has provided the following information:











Clinical claims closed (or settled as a Periodical

Payment Order) 2007/08 to 2016/17 as at 31 October

2017 are set out in the attached table due to the size of the

data.

In relation to settlements outside court with or without

an admission of liability, NHS Resolution has advised

that it does not collate details of all cases where

admissions were made but it has provided the number of

settled cases where a damages payment was awarded or

not.

NHS Resolution has advised that there is no ‘other

outcome’ for cases.


Clinical claims closed [HL3621 attachment.docx]


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


Northern Ireland Government

Asked by Lord Hay of Ballyore

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are

taking to ensure that the Northern Ireland Executive is

restored as soon as possible. [HL3698]

Lord Duncan of Springbank: The Government

remains determined to re-establish the fully functioning,

inclusive devolved administration that works for everyone

in Northern Ireland. The issues dividing the parties are

relatively small in number, focusing mainly around

culture, identity and the future stability of the devolved

institutions. While not underestimating the challenges

involved the Government believes a way forward can be

found and an agreement reached. The Secretary of State

for Northern Ireland remains in close contact with the

parties and the Irish Government in accordance with the

three stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs.

Nutrition: Mental Health

Asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull


have they made of the links between nutrition and

mental health. [HL3653]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Scientific Advisory

Committee on Nutrition has made no assessment of the

link between nutrition and mental health and currently has

no plans to do so.

Office for Students: Business Interests

Asked by Lord Adonis

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the

contract of the Chief Executive of the Office for

Students forbids her from accepting remuneration for

employment from a university in England after her term

of office. [HL3648]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Office for Students

currently exists in shadow form and will be legally

constituted on 1 January 2018. In appointing the Chief

Executive Officer (CEO) her current interests were

disclosed and discussed in terms of how they affect her

tenure as CEO. In making public appointments it is not

usual practice to determine the future employment of

public appointees.



contract of the Chair of the Office for Students forbids

him from accepting remuneration or employment from

a university in England after his term of office.

[HL3649]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Office for Students

currently exists in shadow form and will be legally

constituted on 1 January 2018. In appointing the Chair his

current interests were disclosed and discussed in terms of

how they affect his tenure as Chair. He attended a Pre-

Appointment Hearing before the Education Select

Committee who endorsed his appointment. In making

public appointments it is not usual practice to determine

the future employment of public appointees.

Orphan Drugs


To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration

has been given by NICE to appraisal criteria for ultra-

orphan conditions. [HL3669]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: For treatments to be considered

by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

(NICE) for the Highly Specialised Technologies (HST)

programme, including ultra-orphan treatments, they are

subject to the elimination and prioritisation criteria set by

NICE. The elimination criteria remove any unsuitable

topics from potential consideration for guidance

development through the HST programme, and the

criteria are as follows:

- There is likely to be significant benefit to patients in

terms of administration, efficacy or improved side effect

profile;

- The new formulation or technology is at, or likely to

be at a significantly different price;

- There is appropriate evidence, such as would enable

evaluation, either available or anticipated to be available

in the near future;

- The timing is right. NICE is committed to publishing

timely guidance within six months of the marketing

authorisation; and

- The relevant clinical question(s) can be addressed by

the application of the highly specialised technologies

evaluation methodology. This would exclude topics on

which guidance to NHS England would be of inadequate

value in the absence of broader guidelines on the clinical

pathway within which the technology should be

contextualised.











The importance of each topic is considered against the

prioritisation criteria that help the Department decide

which topics should be referred to NICE for guidance

development through the HST programme. The

prioritisation criteria are as follows:

- The target patient group for the technology in its

licensed indication is so small that treatment will usually

be concentrated in very few centres in the NHS;

- The target patient group is distinct for clinical reasons;

- The condition is chronic and severely disabling;

- The technology is expected to be used exclusively in

the context of a highly specialised service;

- The technology is likely to have a very high

acquisition cost;

- The technology has the potential for life long use; and

- The need for national commissioning of the

technology is significant.

Palliative Care: Children



intend to commission a review into the consistency of

regional commissioning of services families with

children in need of palliative care. [HL3603]



they have made of the findings by the charity Together

for Short Lives in its report Commissioning children’s

palliative care in England: 2017 edition that (1) only 35

per cent of clinical commissioning groups are

implementing HM Government’s guidance set out in

Our Commitment to You for End of Life Care, and (2)

that 46 per cent have no plans to do so; and whether

they intend to conduct a review into how

implementation levels can be improved and made

consistent throughout England. [HL3606]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: In July 2016, the Government

set out its commitment to everyone at the end of life in the

Government response to the independent What’s

important to me. A Review of Choice in End of Life Care.

A copy of the Review is attached. Our Commitment to

you for end of life care: The Government Response to the

Review of Choice in End of Life Care (the Choice

Commitment) set out what everyone should expect from

their care at the end of life and the actions we are taking

to make high quality and personalisation a reality for all,

both adults and children, and to end variation in end of

life care across the health system by 2020. A copy of the

Government Response is attached. On 21 September 2017

we published One year on: the government response to

the review of choice in end of life care setting out the

good progress made in delivering this over the first year.

A copy is attached.

Through the Mandate, we have asked NHS England to

deliver the Choice Commitment, and working through

NHS England’s National Programme Board for End of

life Care with all key system partners and stakeholders,

including Together for Short Lives (TFSL), a range of

activity is ongoing to achieve this. It is right that clinical

commissioning groups have autonomy to shape services

locally, and it is important that, where needed, more is

done to provide them with tools, evidence, support and

guidance to demonstrate the benefits of delivering the

Government’s vision for end of life care. NHS England,

Public Health England and the Ambitions Partnership

(comprising national organisations across the statutory

and voluntary sectors, including TFSL) have provided a

wealth of support over the first year, including: currencies

to improve transparency in specialist palliative

commissioning; new guidance on cost effective

commissioning; data about end of life care to assist

Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STP) as

they develop their plans for services; and seven

evaluations of different approaches to 24/7 models of

care.

Early in 2017, NHS England will be holding workshops

with a range of STP leads to provide practical advice and

support on developing effective end of life care services

and demonstrating the value they can bring. In addition,

TFSL has been commissioned by NHS England to

promote the adoption of best practice approaches to

children’s that are recommended by the National Institute

for Health and Care Excellence, and report back on

barriers to implementation locally.


One year on [Government_response_choice_in_end_of_life_care

one year on.pdf]

Our commitment to you for end of life care [choice-response.pdf]

What's important to me

[CHOICE_REVIEW_FINAL_for_web.pdf]




Police

Asked by Baroness Harris of Richmond

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they

have made of the number of (1) police officers, and (2)

police community support officers, in England and

Wales, broken down by police force area. [HL3772]

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Home Office

collects and publishes statistics on the number of police

officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)

employed by each police force in England and Wales on a

bi-annual basis. These data are published in the ‘Police

workforce, England and Wales’ statistical bulletins, which

can be accessed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-

workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017







https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-england-and-wales-31-march-2017


Table H5 of the accompanying data tables contains

information on the number of police officers, by police

force area, and table H7 contains data on the number of

PCSOs by police force area:

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

attachment_data/file/629865/police-workforce-tabs-

jul17.ods


Police Workforce - Tables H5 and H7 [police-workforce Table H5

- H7.xlsx]

Police Workforce, Eng & Wales Stats - March 2017 [hosb1017-

police-workforce.pdf]



Religious Freedom

Asked by Lord Suri


Foreign and Commonwealth Office intends to establish

a fund for programmes supporting freedom of religion

or belief. [HL3638]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The protection of

Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) continues to be a

priority for the UK Government. Projects that directly

support FoRB overseas are funded through the Foreign

and Commonwealth Office (FCO)'s Magna Carta Fund

for Human Rights and Democracy. In 2017/18 the Magna

Carta Fund will spend £758,717 on six FoRB projects.

We will open for bids to support FoRB work in the

2018/19 financial year, early in the next calendar year.

Russia: Council of Europe

Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine


suspension of Russia's annual payment to the Council

of Europe, what discussions they have had with

Thorbjørn Jagland, the Secretary General, regarding the

possibility of Russia's withdrawal from the Council of

Europe. [HL3608]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The UK Ambassador to

the Council of Europe has had regular discussions with

the Secretary General to the Council of Europe over

Russia's refusal to pay the second instalment of their

budgetary payment for 2017. In addition, my right

honourable friends in the other place, the Member for

Rutland and Melton, Sir Alan Duncan, and the Member

for Aylesbury, David Lidington, separately met the

Secretary General on 28 November 2017. We are

considering all possible scenarios and are working with

the Secretary General and other Member States on this

matter. Russia has an obligation to pay its subscription as

a member and should start paying again without delay.

Russia: Yukos

Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine


representations they will make at the next meeting of

the Ministers' Deputies of the Council of Europe during

consideration of the non-payments by the Russian

Federation to the former majority shareholders of

Yukos of the 1.9 billion euros awarded by the European

Court of Human Rights. [HL3607]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Meetings of Ministers'

Deputies of the Council of Europe are confidential. We

consider that the Russian Government should implement

the European Court of Human Rights' ruling of July 2014.

The UK has made this point on many occasions

previously and will continue to press Russia to fulfil its

international obligation to comply with the Court's

judgement.

Sahel

Asked by The Marquess of Lothian

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the current

scoping mission to assess the UK's future involvement

in the Sahel, including potential support to the G5 Sahel

Joint Force, will be completed; and whether its

conclusions will be made public. [HL3706]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The scoping mission

will be completed in mid-January. The situation in the

Sahel is deteriorating, so the UK Government is looking

at a range of options to protect UK interests in the region

and support EU partners' endeavours. The conclusions

will be made public early next year.

Smoking

Asked by Lord Faulkner of Worcester

To ask Her Majesty's Government when the approval

process for proposals for a grant for 2017–18 to support

implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan under

section 64 of the of the Health Services and Public

Health Act 1968 will be completed. [HL3609]

Asked by Lord Faulkner of Worcester

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any plans

to support implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan

for England will contain provisions for future year

funding to cover the full length of the Plan from 2017 to

2022. [HL3610]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department is still

considering the scope and procurement process for grants

to support the implementation of the Tobacco Control

Plan. Cabinet Office standards require all new grants to be

subject to competition. Our intention is to make any

future grant available on a multi-year basis, subject to an

appropriate business case and satisfactory performance on

the part of the funded bodies.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/629865/police-workforce-tabs-jul17.ods













Asked by Lord Rennard

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding

they provided under section 64 of the Health

Services and Public Health Act 1968 to support

implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan for

England published in 2011; and to which organisations.

[HL3630]

Asked by Lord Rennard


have to provide funding under section 64 of the Health

Services and Public Health Act 1968 to support

implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan for

England published in July. [HL3631]

Lord O'Shaughnessy: Over the duration of the

previous Tobacco Control Plan, 2011–2015, the

Department awarded £750,000 of funding to Action on

Smoking and Health, supporting the implementation of

tobacco control policies.

From 2012, these grants were awarded under Section 64

of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.

Unfortunately, the Department’s financial system does

not provide the level of detail to confirm whether funding

was made under the legal power of Section 64 prior to

this date.

Financial

Year

Grants Procurement Grand Total Comments

2015/16 125,000 125,000 Grant to

support the

Tobacco

Plan

2014/15 150,000 150,000 Grant to

support the

Tobacco

Plan

2013/14 175,000 175,000 Grant to

support the

Tobacco

Plan

2012/13 150,000 150,000 Grant to

support the

Tobacco

Plan

2011/12 150,000 150,000 Grant to

support the

Tobacco

Plan

The Department is still considering the scope and

procurement process for grants to support the

implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan. Cabinet

Office standards require all new grants to be subject to

competition. Our intention is to make any future grant

available on a multi-year basis, subject to an appropriate

business case and satisfactory performance on the part of

the funded bodies.

Somalia and Somaliland: Overseas Aid

Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether aid has

been provided in transitional livelihood support to

former Al-Shabaab supporters through Adam Smith

International on behalf of the Department for

International Development's Somalia and Somaliland

programmes, in each of the last six years; and if so, how

much. [HL3804]

Lord Bates: No aid has been provided by the

Department for International Development through Adam

Smith International or any other channel for this purpose

in any of the last six years.

Somalia: Overseas Aid


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will

place in the Library of the House copies of

correspondence detailing operational and reputational

risks relating to the Department for International

Development's Somalia programme; and what

assessment they have made of the conclusion of the

report by the Independent Commission for Aid

Impact, UK Aid in a Conflict Affected

Country: Reducing Conflict and Fragility

in Somalia, that those risks "were the subject of anxious

consideration within and between departments”.

[HL3805]

Lord Bates: Internal correspondence on risks is often

of the sensitive nature and is not therefore in the public

domain. The specific reference in the ICAI report on

Somalia to the “anxious consideration” of risks refers to a

specific project. The report goes on to say that: “We

found, from records of the discussions and interviews

with DFID and FCO managers, that the Local Strategy

Board addressed the various concerns raised mainly by

DFID about the value and risks of the programme, agreed

modifications and safeguards, and monitored progress,

reporting to the higher-level committees as appropriate”.


To ask Her Majesty's Government what recent

assessment they have made of the ability of (1) the

Department for International Development, and (2) the

Conflict, Stability and Security Fund, to measure the

impact of their operations in Somalia on conflict and

fragility, with particular regard to whether they are

doing more good than harm. [HL3806]

Lord Bates: A variety of tools and methods are used

both by the Department for Internation al Development

and the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund to measure

the impact of programming and ensure that HMG funded

projects do no harm. These include conflict sensitivity

analyses, enhanced monitoring of results and impacts

(including by independent third parties), and where









required the use of more formalised Overseas Security

and Justice Assessments.

Sovereignty: Northern Ireland

Asked by Lord Patten


intend to call a border poll in Northern Ireland; and if

so, when. [HL3670]

Lord Duncan of Springbank: The UK Government

remains fully committed to the Belfast Agreement. This

includes the obligation for the Secretary of State to call a

border poll if he believes there is majority support for a

united Ireland. It is, however, the Secretary of State’s

view that a majority of the people of Northern Ireland

continue to support the current political settlement,

including Northern Ireland’s position within the United

Kingdom. As set out in the Government’s Northern

Ireland manifesto at the General Election the

circumstances set out in the 1998 Agreement that require

a border poll on Irish unification are therefore not

satisfied.

Sudan: Human Rights

Asked by The Earl of Sandwich

To ask Her Majesty's Government, whether, during

their current dialogue with the government of

Sudan, they have raised issues of human rights and

freedom of expression in (1) universities, (2) places of

worship, and (3) non-governmental organisations; and

what progress they have made in discussing those

issues with the government of Sudan. [HL3788]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Sudan remains a Human

Rights Priority Country for the Foreign & Commonwealth

Office, and although there have been limited

improvements in some areas, we continue to be concerned

by reports of restrictions on freedom of expression, civil

society, and freedom of religion or belief.

As part of our ongoing dialogue, officials from our

Embassy in Khartoum regularly raise our concerns about

human rights, including with regard to universities, places

of worship, and non-governmental organisations, with

Government officials at all levels. Human rights and

freedom of expression were also a key topic of discussion

at the fourth session of the UK-Sudan Strategic Dialogue

on 16 October.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

Asked by Lord Hay of Ballyore

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are

taking to support the Police Service of Northern Ireland

in tackling terrorism in Northern Ireland. [HL3699]

Lord Duncan of Springbank: The Police Service of

Northern Ireland and others who work to keep people safe

have our full support for the public service they give. This

Government has provided the Police Service of Northern

Ireland with the additional resources they asked for to

tackle the SEVERE threat from terrorism, this includes

£160m in Additional Security Funding to PSNI in this

spending review period.

Type 45 Destroyers

Asked by Lord Empey

To ask Her Majesty's Government by when the Royal

Navy's fleet of Type 45 Destroyers will have undergone

the propulsion improvement programme; and at what

cost. [HL3660]

Earl Howe: I refer the noble Lord to the answer given

by my hon. Friend, the Minister for Defence Procurement

(Harriett Baldwin), in the House of Commons on 4

December 2017 to Question number 116327.


116327 - WQnA extract on Type 45 Destroyers

[20171204_116327_Type_45_Destroyers.docx]




UN Human Rights Council: Elections



have taken to promote the "competitive HRC

membership elections" for the United Nations Human

Rights Council they called for in the joint concluding

statement of the 35th Session of the UNHRC in June.

[HL3594]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: Her Majesty's

Government is committed to the defence of human rights

worldwide and strongly supports the work of the Human

Rights Council (HRC). Recent steps to encourage

competitive elections to the HRC include our

participation in public pledging events by HRC

membership candidates in Geneva and New York. We are

considering with like-minded member states a number of

ideas relating to the membership and functioning of the

HRC, following on from the Joint Statement at its 35th

Session.

Universities: Finance


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Chief

Executive of the Higher Education Council for England

as Accounting Officer has a duty to intervene in cases

of serious abuse of funding on the part of universities.

[HL3591]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: As Accounting Officer

for the Higher Education Funding Council for England

(HEFCE), the Chief Executive Officer has a duty to

safeguard the public funds the council allocates. Through













the Memorandum of Assurance and Accountability,

which HEFCE has with all the institutions it funds, the

council monitors universities’ management of public

money. HEFCE has power, under the Further and Higher

Education Act 1992, to intervene in cases of

mismanagement.

Universities: Pay


To ask Her Majesty's Government, in respect of the

duty of the Chief Executive of the Higher Education

Funding Council for England to safeguard the efficient

use of public funds, what assessment they have made of

the value for money of salaries paid to vice-chancellors.

[HL3592]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The government is

determined to ensure that students and taxpayers can be

confident that they get a good deal from higher education

(HE).

Over recent years, the government has become

increasingly concerned about the level of remuneration

for senior staff in the HE sector. It has asked the Higher

Education Funding Council for England to look at this

issue using its regulatory powers, which has resulted in

updated guidance to the sector on senior pay and greater

transparency in relation to vice-chancellor salaries.

Holding universities to account for value for money has

been a key objective of the HE reforms, enacted in the

Higher Education and Research Act, and it continues to

guide the government’s work as the Office for Students

(OfS) is launched.

The OfS has a statutory duty to promote value for

money in the sector. The government will ask the OfS to

use its powers to take action to protect value for money

for students and taxpayers in the future.


To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Chief

Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for

England has raised with (1) Ministers, and (2) the

Permanent Secretaries, at (a) the Department for

Education, and (b) the Department for Business, Energy

and Industrial Strategy, any concerns about poor value

for money in public spending caused by excessive

salaries for vice-chancellors and other senior

administrators in England’s universities. [HL3593]

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Chief Executive of

the Higher Education Funding Council for England meets

regularly with officials and with the Minister of State for

Universities, Science, Research and Innovation who is a

Minister at both the Department for Education, and the

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

(BEIS).

They discuss a range of issues relating to the delivery of

value for money in our higher education sector, which has

included issues related to senior pay as well as issues

related to teaching, research and others aspects of the

activities of higher education providers.

The Chief Executive met the Permanent Secretary of

the Department for Education in November 2016 and

senior pay was not discussed. She has not met the

Permanent Secretary for BEIS.

Zimbabwe: Foreign Relations

Asked by The Marquess of Lothian


have taken to improve relations with Zimbabwe since

President Mnangagwa took office. [HL3710]

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Minister for Africa

visited Zimbabwe on 23-24 November. He met a range of

political leaders, including President Mnangagwa, as well

as business representatives, non-governmental

organisations and civil society to discuss the UK's support

for free and fair elections and economic reform in

Zimbabwe. The Foreign Secretary had a bilateral meeting

with the Zimbabwean delegation in the margins of the

African Union/EU Summit in Abidjan on 29 November.





Index to Statements and Answers

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

Cape Town Convention: MAC Protocol .............. 1

Competitiveness Council ...................................... 1

Economic Crime and Anti-corruption .................. 2

EU Council: UNHCR Executive Committee ....... 3

Help to Save Accounts ......................................... 3

Higher Education .................................................. 4

Review of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 ...... 5

Written Answers ..................................................... 6

Antibiotics: Research............................................ 6

Apprentices ........................................................... 6

Brofiscin Quarry ................................................... 6

Burma: Rohingya.................................................. 6

Church Schools ..................................................... 7

Church Schools: Admissions ................................ 7

Commonwealth: Indigenous Peoples ................... 7

Cyprus: Military Bases ......................................... 7

Disability Living Allowance ................................ 8

Gaza: Travel Restrictions ..................................... 8

Higher Education .................................................. 8

Home Office: EU Law .......................................... 8

Immigration .......................................................... 8

Indigenous Peoples ............................................... 9

Israel: Freedom of Expression .............................. 9

Israel: Palestinians ................................................ 9

Knives: Crime ..................................................... 10

Libya: Bomb Disposal ........................................ 10

Local Government: Pay ...................................... 10

Medical Records ................................................. 10

Medical Treatments ............................................ 11

Mental Health Services: Children and Young

People ................................................................. 11

NHS Litigation Authority ................................... 12

Northern Ireland Government ............................ 14

Nutrition: Mental Health .................................... 14

Office for Students: Business Interests ............... 14

Orphan Drugs .................................................... 14

Palliative Care: Children.................................... 15

Police ................................................................. 15

Religious Freedom ............................................. 16

Russia: Council of Europe ................................. 16

Russia: Yukos .................................................... 16

Sahel .................................................................. 16

Smoking ............................................................. 16

Somalia and Somaliland: Overseas Aid ............ 17

Somalia: Overseas Aid ...................................... 17

Sovereignty: Northern Ireland ........................... 18

Sudan: Human Rights ........................................ 18

Terrorism: Northern Ireland .............................. 18

Type 45 Destroyers ............................................ 18

UN Human Rights Council: Elections ............... 18

Universities: Finance ......................................... 18

Universities: Pay ................................................ 19

Zimbabwe: Foreign Relations............................ 19

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