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Commission for Equality and Human Rights
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
How much expenditure has been incurred through the use of external consultants since April 2006 in respect of the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights; and whether the budget for transition in the current year will be overspent. [HL4732]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): By 30 June 2007, £2.6 million had been spent since April 2006 on external consultants in respect of the establishment of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. Consultancy expertise has chiefly been used to support organisational design, legal services, senior team recruitment, estates, information technology development and website content and design.
The Commission for Equality and Human Rights is expected to remain within its budget for transition in the current year.
Common Agricultural Policy: Single Farm Payment
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the cause of the delay in their response of 18 July to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee's report of 29 March on the Rural Payments Agency and the implementation of the single payment scheme. [HL5182]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): I apologise for the delay in replying to the report. As the issues raised went wider than departmental responsibilities, and
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Dogs
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many prosecutions there have been each year in Northern Ireland under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. [HL5296]
The Attorney-General (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 does not apply to Northern Ireland. The relevant order is the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 as amended by the Dangerous Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1991.
Primary responsibility for prosecutions under the dogs order falls to district councils. I have no information regarding the number of prosecutions brought by district councils. Very occasionally, the PPS will prosecute offences under the order. Information is only available for the period January 2002 to September 2007 and is set out below:
2002: one summary prosecution for “urging a dog to attack a person” contrary to Article 28 of the order;
2003: one summary prosecution for “urging a dog to attack a person” contrary to Article 28 of the order;
2006: one summary prosecution for “urging a dog to attack a person” contrary to Article 28 of the order;
five summary prosecutions for “keeping an unregistered breeding establishment” contrary to Article 12 of the order.
Equality
Lord Ouseley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which government department is leading on equality legislation; and what plans it has for the location of responsibility for overseeing the work of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. [HL4729]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The lead role on equality is transferring to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), where a new Equalities Office will be set up. The Government Equalities Office will be physically located with and supported by staff in the Department for Work and Pensions. It will have its own vote from the House of Commons. Harriet Harman will be responsible for the Equalities Office at Cabinet level as Secretary of State for Equality. Barbara Follett, in addition to her current role, will be Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Equalities Office, with the title Minister for Equality. The Permanent Secretary at the DWP, Sir Leigh Lewis, will become the accounting officer for the new Equalities Office.
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The DWP will take on responsibility for the Government's overall strategy and priorities on equality issues, including sponsorship of the Commission for Equality and Human Rights. Because of the links to the community cohesion agenda, race and faith issues remain located with the rest of the community agenda in the DCLG.
For convenience, I attach below a copy of the Prime Minister's Written Ministerial Statement dated 26 July 2007 regarding the machinery of government changes detailing the establishment of the new Government Equalities Office.
“To strengthen further the Government’s ability to deliver across the entire equalities agenda, I am today announcing the establishment of a new Government Equalities Office.“The Government Equalities Office will be physically located with and supported by staff in the Department for Work and Pensions. It will have its own vote from the House of Commons. The Women and Equalities Unit, currently based in the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG), will transfer to the new office.“Because of the links to the community cohesion agenda, race and faith issues remain located with the rest of the community agenda in DCLG.“My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons will be responsible for the Equalities Office at Cabinet level as Secretary of State for Equality. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), my hon. Friend the Member for Stevenage (Barbara Follett), in addition to her current role, will be Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Equalities Office, with the title Minister for Equality. The Permanent Secretary at DWP, Sir Leigh Lewis, will become the Accounting Officer for the new Equalities Office.“As now, there will continue to be lead Secretaries of State and Ministers for individual policy areas:“My right hon. Friend the Leader of the House of Commons is the lead Cabinet Minister for women and is supported in this role by the Women and Equality Unit;“My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is the lead Cabinet Minister for disability issues, supported by the Minister for disabled people, my hon. Friend the Member for Stirling (Mrs. McGuire) and the Office for Disability Issues in his department;“My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government is the lead Cabinet Minister for race and faith issues. My right hon. Friend the Minister for Competitiveness at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform will also play an important role in advising the Government on issues of concern to faith communities.1 Oct 2007 : Column WA246
Lord De Mauley asked Her Majesty's Government:
In light of their statement in A Framework for Fairness that there would be a need to exclude specific activities from any future Single Equality Bill, what plans they have so far made to allow (a) age-based concessions, whether in the private or public sector; (b) insurance companies to design and provide products for specific market segments (for example, younger or older drivers); and (c) age limits on group holidays. [HL4820]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: While making clear that no decision has yet been taken on whether legislation is the most appropriate way to tackle age-harmful discrimination, A Framework for Fairness states that a number of exceptions would be necessary to ensure that justifiable or beneficial age-targeted activities and practices would not be impeded by any legislation to outlaw age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. The responses to the Green Paper, which is currently out for public consultation, will inform the Government's decisions on whether to legislate in this area as part of the proposed Single Equality Bill and what exceptions would be necessary should we decide to do so.
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
What has been the Disability Rights Commission's reaction to the Single Equality Act Green Paper; and whether they will take steps to ensure that the existing legal requirement on public bodies to produce disability equality schemes is not removed or weakened. [HL4900]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: The consultation paper A Framework for Fairness: Proposals for a Single Equality Bill for Great Britain was published on 12 June. It is aimed at simplifying discrimination law, making it more effective and ensuring that it is fit for modern 21st-century Britain. The Government are actively seeking views on how to achieve a Single Equality Bill which delivers these aims. The consultation period closes on 4 September.
The consultation paper contains a number of proposals aimed at simplifying, clarifying and strengthening the law protecting disabled people from discrimination. The Disability Rights Commission had expressed concern, in its initial reactions, that the proposals in the consultation paper fail to remedy deficiencies in existing antidiscrimination law. In particular, the commission has been critical of the proposals for the structure of
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The proposals for a single public sector equality duty aim to ensure that public authorities focus action on achieving real improvements for people who experience discrimination and disadvantage. The Government welcome views on the proposals, including whether the requirement to produce equality schemes should be retained, and these will be considered carefully before final decisions are made.
Lord Wedderburn of Charlton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will reintroduce a satisfaction index concerning forms of discrimination; and whether they will encourage the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to prioritise an inquiry into discrimination, especially as it concerns gender inequalities. [HL5134]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: There are no plans to introduce a satisfaction index concerning forms of discrimination, nor specifically to encourage the Commission for Equality and Human Rights to prioritise an inquiry into discrimination especially as it concerns gender inequalities.
Under the Equality Act 2006, the CEHR is required as part of its duties to promote an understanding of the importance of equality and diversity and work towards the elimination of unlawful discrimination. The CEHR board includes an Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) transition commissioner to ensure continuity in respect of work relating to gender equality.
EU: Wine Lake
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the plans announced by European Union Commissioner Fischer Boel on 4 July to dig up sufficient vineyards in the European Union to reduce the excess wine lake by 10 per cent. [HL5131]
The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): The Government welcome the Commission’s proposals to reform the EU wine regime, which include a number of measures aimed at reducing the gap between supply and consumption in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector. The proposed grubbing-up scheme will provide for up to 200,000 hectares of vines to be grubbed-up, thereby reducing EU wine production by around 7.5 million hl over five years. The purpose of the scheme is to ease the transition to a more market-oriented sector by allowing producers to leave
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Fire and Rescue Service: Firebuy
Lord Brookman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in supporting the decision of Firebuy Limited to award the 15-year contract to a single preferred bidder supplying personal protective equipment for the Fire and Rescue Service, sufficient account has been taken of its possible effect on further competitive bidding in the United Kingdom. [HL5302]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): The potential impact on the market of the integrated clothing project (ICP) was considered by London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, the contracting authority that initiated the ICP procurement process and the conclusion reached was that any potential impact was negligible.
Throughout the ICP process, the contracting authority (now Firebuy Limited) has in any event sought to ensure there are mechanisms in place to minimise any potential impact, as well as to achieve best value for fire and rescue authorities. These include: a technological refresh at the contract mid-point; benchmarking; market testing; and promotion of effective supply chain management.
Lord Brookman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the stage 3 review of the integrated clothing project (ICP) by 4ps (Public Private Partnerships Programme) gateway review team undertaken over 18 to 20 June will be made public by Firebuy Limited, in order to allow at least a single month's opportunity for wider industry and public comment ahead of any conclusive decisions being taken to award a 15-year ICP contract to a single supplier. [HL5303]
Baroness Andrews: The stage 3 gateway review, which looked at the investment decision before the contract was placed with the supplier, was received by Firebuy Limited on 9 August. Once it has been considered and approved by the Firebuy Limited board later this month, it is Firebuy's intention to make the gateway review report available.
Firebuy Limited is not obliged, and does not intend, to provide for a period of consultation following publication of the gateway review report. Opportunity for comment has been available throughout the tender process. Firebuy's key objective is to reach contract close as soon as possible, in early October 2007, in order to meet the needs of fire and rescue authorities, particularly those with pressing needs, in order that they may fulfil their statutory duties including those arising under the Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992.
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Firearms: Northern Ireland
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many persons who have fulfilled the suitability requirements of Article 2 of the Firearms (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 are current or former members of the Irish Republican Army, Sinn Fein or a terrorist organisation. [HL4778]
Lord Rooker: The Chief Constable has informed me that records are not held in a way that would allow information to be readily collated against the types of categorisation requested. This would require a manual trawl of records which could only be conducted at disproportionate cost. The Chief Constable will not issue a firearm certificate to anyone unless he is satisfied that the person is fit to be entrusted with a firearm.
Food: Child Labour
Baroness Northover asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the findings of the United Nations Internal Labour Organisation's report Combating child labour in cocoa growing that an estimated 12,000 children have been trafficked into slavery on cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast; and what action they are taking within the international community to combat this. [HL5256]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government remain concerned by reports of child labour at cocoa farms in the Ivory Coast and the issue of trafficking.
We are supporting international efforts to address the problem of child labour around the world through the work of the international Labour Organisation (ILO). The UK is a signatory to ILO Convention 182 which focuses on eliminating the worst forms of child labour. In addition, we are a signatory of ILO Convention 138, which seeks to raise the minimum age from which children are allowed to work. The Ivory Coast is also a signatory to both of these conventions and we have therefore made direct representations to the Ivorian Government concerning child labour on cocoa farms in the country, most recently in June 2007. Through a Department for International Development-ILO partnership agreement worth £15 million, £1.9million has been allocated to the ILO International Programme for the Elimination of Child Labour.
The UK is a supporter of the International Cocoa Initiative, which works with the support of the chocolate manufacturers to address concerns about the worst forms of child labour in cocoa production. The initiative is focusing on surveying working practices in Ghana and the Ivory Coast and is working closely with the respective Governments. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office hosted a meeting of the Cocoa Task Force on 22 February, where a progress report on the initiative's work was given.
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Addressing the global problem of child trafficking is also a priority for the Government. As a result, the UK is a signatory to the relevant international protocols including the Council of Europe Convention, and we are working with the EU and others to help bring an end to trafficking in all its forms.
Health: Northern Ireland
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements they made prior to 8 May to establish a Northern Ireland Health Authority; what appointments were made; and whether the necessary legislation was in place to enable this process. [HL5040]
Lord Rooker: In accordance with the decisions taken by the Government in relation to the Review of Public Administration and announced in November 2005 and March 2006, the Minister responsible for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety decided that the department should fulfil some of its responsibilities by appointing a senior management team who would, subject to approval of the necessary legislation, later become officers of the proposed Health and Social Services Authority. These appointments took place under the normal regulations for all appointments to the NICS and in accordance with the provisions of the Northern Ireland Civil Service Commissioners' recruitment code.
The following appointments were made prior to 8 May:
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