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The figures given are expressed in cash terms for the sake of consistency, since prior to 2004 resource figures are not available. Current estimates suggest that resource expenditure on non-criminal legal aid will be around 20 per cent higher in 2006-07 than in 2004-05. The cash consequences of that increase in resources follow later.
Muslims
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the proportions of Sunni and Shia Muslims respectively who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. [HL2454]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, dated 14 March 2007.
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for an estimate of the proportions of Sunni and Shia Muslims respectively who are ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom. [HL2454]
The information requested is not available.
The number of persons who gave their religion as Muslim in the 2001 census in Great Britain was 1,588,890. Figures are not available for Northern Ireland because a separate tick-box for Muslims was not included on its version of the 2001 census form.
Nepal: UN Mission
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to reductions in the United States budget for assistance to the United Nations Mission in Nepal. [HL2415]
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The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): The United Kingdom drafted and sponsored Security Council Resolution 1740 establishing a special United Nations political mission to Nepal. We strongly support the work of United Nations Mission in Nepal. The United Nations Mission in Nepal is an expression of the whole international community's commitment to help Nepal to recover from conflict and to establish a peaceful, stable democracy.
We understand that the United States assistance to the United Nations Mission in Nepal is channelled through the United Nations Security Council. There is no indication of reductions to the United Nations Mission in Nepal at this stage. The overall US assistance to Nepal during 2005-06 was US$50 million and is likely to be in the range of US$38 million to US$40 million in 2007-08, with possibilities of further commitments later.
The United Kingdom support to the United Nations Mission in Nepal has been through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool and we have committed £1.4 million. Our contributions will support the peace process, verification of Maoist combatants, arms monitoring, constitutional support and technical assistance.
NHS: Primary Care Trust Finance
Lord Hanningfield: asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How much each primary care trust currently owes its respective local authority in the east of England region; and [HL1727]
How many local authorities currently, or in the last year, have lent their respective primary care trust money. [HL2189]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Primary care trusts do not have the legal powers to borrow from local authorities or elsewhere.
Olympic Games 2012: Construction
Lord Jones of Cheltenham asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have made an assessment of the report published on 16 February in Building magazine on construction work for the 2012 Olympic Games and the availability of quantity surveyors and project managers. [HL2171]
Lord Davies of Oldham: The Government are committed to ensuring that the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games maximise the potential for job creation, training and business growth so that the Games leave a lasting social and economic, as well as physical, legacy for London and the UK.
The Government are aware of evidence, as outlined in Building magazine, to suggest a shortage of quantity surveying skills in the UK, and the DTI is working with Work Permits UK and industry bodies
14 Mar 2007 : Column WA136
The London Employment and Skills Taskforce action plan (2006) highlighted that the construction skills needs of the Games would represent only a fraction of the overall requirements in the region. The Olympic Delivery Authority is determined to ensure that requirements for construction and project management skills are met for the 2012 Games.
Parliament Square: Tents
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
By what authority tents have been erected on the grass in Parliament Square; how many people they are intended to accommodate; what rental charge is being levied for the use of the site; what conditions have been written into any agreement; and when the consent for these tents will expire; and [HL2416]
To whom application should be made for consent to erect tents, or other methods of camping, on the grass in Parliament Square; and what categories of persons are qualified to apply. [HL2417]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Parliament Square Garden is managed by the Greater London Authority (GLA) under the GLA Act 1999. The perimeter pavements to the east and south of the square are managed by Westminster City Council.
We understand that the tents erected on the grass area of Parliament Square Garden have been erected without the permission that is required under the Trafalgar Square and Parliament Square Garden Byelaws 1999.
Passports
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What secure delivery service is used for the issue of new passports; and how many of the 298,172 replacement passports issued during 2006 related to the failure of the original passport to reach the applicant. [HL2420]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Delivery of new passports is carried out by Secure Mail Services. This company replaced services previously provided by the Royal Mail after a competitive tendering exercise in 2003. These new arrangements commenced in February 2004.
Under these arrangements, passports can be tracked throughout the delivery process, and in high-risk areas signatures are collected as proof of delivery. Losses have reduced from 3,593 in the last year of the Royal
14 Mar 2007 : Column WA137
The figure of 740 is an estimate, as investigations into reported losses for the end of last year are still ongoing. This figure comprises 635 passports reported by customers as not received where the audit trail shows a delivery, and 105 instances of passports being stolen from couriers or from their vehicles.
Where passports are lost or stolen during delivery, the original passports are cancelled and replacements are issued, which are included in the total number of replacement passports issued.
People Trafficking
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will consult the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women about measures to prevent trafficking; and whether they will make the coalition’s resource pack widely available. [HL2065]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Government published a consultation paper on proposals for a UK action plan on tackling human trafficking in January 2006, which included a chapter on prevention work. A wide range of organisations responded to the consultation, but the list of respondents does not include the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women.
The Government are in the process of finalising a UK action plan on human trafficking, which includes measures specifically designed to prevent human trafficking and actively engages with non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders with expertise in this area.
Police: Northern Ireland
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the investigatory powers of the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman extend to matters of United Kingdom national security; and, if so, what are the implications of this for the war against international terrorism. [HL2339]
Lord Rooker: The investigatory powers of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland do not extend to matters of United Kingdom national security except in so far as the powers relate to the conduct of police officers.
Police: Paddington Green
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the Metropolitan Police will facilitate the request for a visit by the Joint Committee on Human Rights to Paddington Green police station. [HL2372]
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The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The originally scheduled visit had to be cancelled for operational reasons and a new date is to be arranged between the Metropolitan Police and the office of the JCHR.
Railways: Great North Eastern Franchise
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 20 February (WA 235), whether they will accept bids from new operators offering lower standards of on-board service than those currently offered by the Great North Eastern Railway. [HL2178]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Department for Transport will review the bids submitted from the four pre-qualified bidders with respect to the level of on-board service. Bidders are entitled to propose the level of on-board service that they consider appropriate, and this will form part of their overall bid. The department believes that the market is best placed to determine this aspect of the InterCity East Coast business. The Department for Transport did not specify the standard of on-board services for the last franchise and has not done so for the new franchise.
Railways: High-speed Train
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
How fuel efficiency and emissions are factored into the procurement process for the replacement high-speed train, for which they are now responsible. [HL2511]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: One of the objectives of the InterCity Express Programme to procure the replacement of the high-speed train is to achieve an environmentally sustainable solution in support of the Department for Transport's policy of reducing the impact of travel on the environment. To this end, the technical specification will include the following:
a realistic target weight for the train which would deliver the objectives of better energy efficiency, reduced emissions and improved performance;a more demanding desirable target train weight which, if provided, would further enhance delivery of such objectives;proposals for the use of diesel-powered trains as part of the solution must fully comply with the Class IIIB emission requirements set out in European Directive 2004/26/EC;any self-powered train sets are to demonstrate a reduction in CO2 emissions per seat km;trains are to be required to be fitted with a braking system which, when obtaining power from the overhead supply, shall be capable of regenerating energy back into the overhead line;14 Mar 2007 : Column WA139
As part of the pre-qualification process, the accreditation questionnaire will test suppliers' ability to address these environmental and fuel economy issues. Their responses will be scored and will be part of the process for the selection both of potential suppliers and, following evaluation of final bids, of the winning tender.
Railways: Passenger Numbers
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 7 March (WA 58), whether they will alter their assessment of the annual passenger growth rate over the next 10 years, bearing in mind that the train operating companies operating long-distance services increased their carryings by 9.7 per cent in 2006. [HL2538]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: We are continuing to evaluate projected growth in passenger numbers as part of the preparation of the forthcoming high-level output specification. This evaluation will take account of evidence provided from recent trends in numbers of passengers carried.
Railways: Removal of Trees
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the powers of Network Rail to remove trees or other potential obstructions to railway lines extend beyond the boundaries of the railway or whether it is the responsibility of the relevant landowner to remove such obstructions. [HL2509]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The noble Lord should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question: John Armitt, Chief Executive, Network Rail, 40 Melton Street, London, NW1 2EE.
Secure Training Centres: Hassockfield
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What the reasons were for the lapse of 18 months between the inspection by the Commission for Social Care Inspection of Hassockfield secure training centre and the publication of the commission's report in February 2007. [HL2435]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The time that elapsed between the inspection and publication of the report was taken up with preparing the draft report, discussions between the commission, the operator of Hassockfield and the
14 Mar 2007 : Column WA140
Security Services
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether members of the security services routinely monitor the movements of senior public officials. [HL2486]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Security Service only investigates individuals whose activities fall within the statutory provisions of Section 1 of the Security Service Act 1989.
Sport: Football Hooligans
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have any proposals to bring the legislation in Northern Ireland on football hooligans inside football stadia in line with that for the rest of the United Kingdom. [HL2444]
Lord Rooker: Officials from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the NIO have prepared a range of proposals on sports grounds-related public order issues, which include football hooliganism inside football grounds. These proposals are currently being considered by Ministers.
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