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17 May 2007 : Column WA55
Written Answers
Thursday 17 May 2007
Carers
Baroness Hollis of Heigham asked Her Majesty’s Government:
How many grandparents in the United Kingdom regularly care for their grandchild or grandchildren for a minimum of 20 hours a week, enabling the mother to work and thus pay national insurance contributions; how many of these grandparents are below state pension age; how many are not accruing a state pension; and how many of them are grandmothers; and [HL3579]
How many relatives who are not grandparents and who are not registered childminders regularly care for a child or children in their family for a minimum of 20 hours per week, enabling the child's or children's mother to work and thus pay national insurance contributions; how many such relatives are below state pension age; how many are not accruing a state pension; and how many of them are women. [HL3580]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The information requested is not available.
The Family Resources Survey records the number of hours someone is reported to be caring. It does not, however, link all carers with the people for whom they care. Therefore, we cannot say whether the carer is a relative, grandparent or otherwise of the person receiving care or whether that relative is accruing state pension entitlement. Neither can we say whether the relative's care allows the child or children's mother to work.
I refer my honourable friend to the Answer I gave on 7 February 2007 (Official Report, col. WA138) for information regarding the number of people who report they are caring for at least 20 hours a week and not accruing state pension entitlement.
We intend to use the Pensions Bill to introduce a new carer's credit in 2010, which will ensure that those providing necessary and significant care of at least 20 hours a week continue to build up state pension entitlement while they are caring. The carer's credit is not, however, intended for those providing care for a child without disability.
Climate Change
Lord Leach of Fairford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 3 May (WA 234), what “other resources” will be included in the climate change pack for secondary schools in addition to the film “An Inconvenient Truth”; and [HL3797]
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Adonis on 3 May (WA 234), in what terms the online teacher guidance associated with the climate change pack for secondary schools will be expressed; and how it will seek to ensure observance of Sections 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996; and [HL3798]
Which, if any, experts they have consulted in coming to the view that the film “An Inconvenient Truth” forms a suitable part of a balanced education for school pupils; and [HL3799]
Whether they have considered including the Channel 4 documentary “The Great Global Warming Swindle” in the proposed climate change packs for secondary schools in order to balance the scientific theories propounded in the film “An Inconvenient Truth”.[HL3800]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Adonis): The pack, which has been distributed to secondary schools in England, is a wallet containing digital resources. In addition to the film “An Inconvenient Truth”, it has a DVD with four short films produced by Defra, information on Sustainable Schools and links to web-based teacher guidance. This guidance, accessible through the Sustainable Schools website www.teachernet.gov.uk/sustainableschools, reminds teachers about the duties contained in Section 406 and 407 of the Education Act 1996. We recognised that “An Inconvenient Truth”, together with the other resources in the pack, provides a stimulating resource for teachers and pupils. We consulted a number of people with teaching expertise, including representatives of the Royal Geographical Society and the Association for Science Education, and experts in the science of climate change, including the Met Office, when developing the teacher guidance. Where teachers decide to use the pack, the guidance provides ideas for using the resources to teach about climate change in geography, science and citizenship as part of the national curriculum. We will not be sending a copy of “The Great Global Warming Swindle” to schools.
EU: Voting Mechanisms
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will propose that any new treaty text for the European Union's functional priorities should combine normal national interest protections for member states with the expansion of qualified majority voting procedures in some areas beyond the single market. [HL3710]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): There is at present no consensus among EU partners on the way forward regarding the constitutional treaty or any new treaty. These issues will be discussed at the European Council in June. The Government's approach to these discussions was set out in the Written Ministerial Statement of 5 December 2006 (Official Report, cols. 10-11WS) by my right honourable friend the Minister for Europe, Geoff Hoon, in another place.
The Government have always taken the view that qualified majority voting in some areas can deliver practical benefits—but we will consider, as in all things, what is in the national interest.
Housing: Energy Efficiency
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take to ensure that targets to improve the English social housing stock by step changes are met; and, in particular, what action they will take to increase the level of energy efficiency in such units. [HL3617]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The Government, through the regional assemblies and Housing Corporation, are working with local authorities and registered social landlords to make all their homes decent. In 2001, 1.2 million social homes were below the decent homes standard; in 2006, this had fallen by 41 per cent and by 2010 it will have fallen by 90 per cent.
The decent homes standard comprises four elements, one of which is the thermal performance of homes. Landlords are expected to ensure that homes have effective insulation and efficient heating systems. Research by the Building Research Establishment on the implementation of the decent homes programme indicates that the majority of improvement works under the decent homes scheme include work to improve energy efficiency. The same research also indicates that most landlords, when implementing energy efficiency works, deliver to high standards.
Defra also supports the energy efficiency commitment (EEC) which is run by Ofgem. The EEC requires obligated electricity and gas suppliers to achieve targets for the improvement of energy efficiency in domestic properties in Great Britain. This involves energy suppliers working with householders and housing providers (both social and private) to implement energy efficiency measures, which are funded mostly by the energy suppliers themselves.
Social housing providers, builders and householders can access a number of grants for energy efficiency works under the DTI's low-carbon buildings programme, covering up to 50 per cent of costs of installing microgeneration or other energy efficiency technology.
Israel and Palestine: Gaza
Baroness Tonge asked Her Majesty's Government:
What discussions they have had with the Palestinian Authority concerning the attack by Islamic extremists on a United Nations school in Gaza.[HL3671]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We have had no discussions with the Palestinian Authority about this incident. However, we remain very concerned at the security situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and continue to work closely with international partners to improve the situation on the ground. We have held discussions with the Palestinian Authority about the security situation and raised the need for the National Unity Government to take action to tackle this.
Israel and Palestine: West Bank
Lord Steel of Aikwood asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will introduce legislation to prevent United Kingdom companies and citizens from marketing or purchasing properties in those parts of the West Bank which are under an occupation considered in international law to be illegal. [HL3651]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The Government currently have no plans to introduce such legislation. However, we regard all settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as illegal under international law and have repeatedly raised our concerns about settlement activity with the Israeli Government.
Pensions
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The most recent DWP employers' pension provision survey reports that, in 2005, 1 per cent of private sector employers in Great Britain offered a defined benefit pension scheme that was open to new members. In general, larger employers are more likely to have an open occupational scheme than smaller employers, and 8 per cent of the private sector workforce were active members of an open defined benefit scheme in 2005.
Prisoners: Parole
Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:
When parole reviews have occurred in relation to Raymond D Gilbert, who is currently held in HM Prison Woodhill; and when future consideration of his parole will occur. [HL3181]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): Mr Gilbert, who is currently detained at HM Prison Kingston, had his suitability for release considered by the independent parole board in 1996, 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2006. The board has not yet considered Mr Gilbert to be suitable for release on life licence at any of these reviews. His suitability for release will again be considered by the parole board in March 2008.
The parole board is empowered to direct the release of any tariff-expired life-sentence prisoner. The statutory test applied by the board in considering release is whether it is necessary for the protection of the public for the prisoner to be confined.
Railways: Cross-country Franchise
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the revisions recently made by Network Rail to the passenger growth figures in the north-western route utilisation study, they will revise the 30 per cent growth factor built into the refranchising of the cross-country InterCity railway route. [HL3720]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The process of letting the new cross-country franchise is nearing completion. The franchise agreement will contain a change mechanism, which would allow the Government to purchase additional capacity during the life of the franchise.
Railways: Fares
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to take any steps following the 20 per cent rise in off-peak fares by South West Trains, in the light of its monopoly position. [HL3699]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Department for Transport regulates peak commuter fares where operators have a degree of market power.
We limit annual average increases in these fares to no more than 1 per cent above inflation.
Across the London and south-east area, these fares are about 2 per cent less in real terms than they were in 1996.
However, off-peak fares are unregulated, and operators are free to price these commercially.
Traffic Commissioners: Annual Report
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect to publish the annual report of the Traffic Commissioners for 2005-06; and why this has been delayed. [HL3721]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The traffic commissioners’ annual reports do not require publication on a particular date. The 2005-06 reports are expected to be published by the end of the month.
Transport: Heavy Goods Vehicles
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Under what circumstances the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency will grant an MoT certificate in respect of a heavy goods vehicle that does not have a calibrated and sealed tachograph. [HL3742]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) will issue an annual test certificate to a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that does not have a calibrated and sealed tachograph when the vehicle meets all other annual test requirements and it is deemed exempt from tachograph regulations.
The current list of vehicles exempt from tachograph regulations is available online at www.dft.gov.uk in Drivers’ Hours and Tachograph Rules for Goods Vehicles in UK and Europe, second edition (December 2006).
UN: High-level Panel
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress the United Nations has made in meeting the recommendations of the high-level reform panel; and whether there are any areas in respect of which they intend to press for urgent action to meet any recommended objectives. [HL3709]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The 2004 report of the High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change outlined a series of recommendations for the UN architecture including for,
The report inspired the then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's own In Larger Freedom report in which he outlined a series of reforms for the UN. At the subsequent world summit in September 2005, he set world leaders the challenge of agreeing a broad package of reforms for the UN.
A number of these reforms have been implemented, including the establishment of the new Peacebuilding Commission, Human Rights Council and Central Emergency Response Fund. We continue to press for further progress on Security Council enlargement and management reforms.
A further recommendation of the world summit was that the secretary-general launch work to strengthen the management and co-ordination of UN operational activities to make a more effective contribution to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the millennium development goals. Kofi Annan subsequently established a high-level panel on system-wide coherence to identify ways of improving the performance of UN operations in development, humanitarian assistance and the environment. The panel launched its report, Delivering as One, in New York on 9 November 2006. The secretary-general set out his proposals for implementing some of the panel report's recommendations on 20 November, followed by his successor Secretary-General Ban's response to the other, more substantive elements of the report on 4 April, with the intergovernmental process starting in the General Assembly on 16 April. These initial discussions have generally been constructive and positive.
A key recommendation from the report was better co-ordinated development activity in-country, particularly consolidation of various overlapping UN bodies to form “One UN”. Eight pilot countries were announced on 5 January (Vietnam, Pakistan, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, Cape Verde, Albania and Uruguay) to start implementing in-country these “One UN” reforms.
Other key recommendations that the UN is keen to implement as a priority include:
one UN for development at the headquarters level through the establishment of a sustainable development board and millennium development goals funding mechanism;strengthened global environmental governance, through an enhanced UN environment programme;augmented UN humanitarian action in emergencies through a fully funded central emergency response fund; andimproved action on gender and women's empowerment with a central agency headed by an undersecretary-general.UN: Human Rights Council
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Triesman on 26 April (WA 166), whether they have raised, or will raise, with the United Nations Human Rights Council why it has so far only criticised the state of Israel for human rights violations. [HL3755]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): We have on a number of occasions raised our concerns about the UN Human Rights Council's (HRC) disproportionate emphasis on Israel, while other situations were comparatively neglected.
During the UK explanation of position at the HRC special session on Darfur on 13 December 2006, the UK said:
“It is right that the Council should, in the interests of non-selectivity set out in its founding mandate, move its focus beyond the Middle East alone and take serious action in response to the awful events in Darfur”.
During an interactive dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on 29 November 2006, the UK praised, with reference to the awful events in Beit Hanoun, the high commissioner's report for acknowledging,
- “as [the] Council frequently fails to do, the tragedy of human suffering on both sides of the conflict”.
Following the special session on Beit Hanoun in November 2006, the EU explanation of vote stressed that:
“The Human Rights Council should address all human rights violations wherever they occur in an objective and non-selective manner”,
We shall continue to raise concerns, should they continue to arise.
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