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This guidance was issued in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Region's Water Industry Act 1999-Delivering the Government's Objectives (2000) which says in relation to payment schemes that "customers should be able to make frequent payments (such as weekly or fortnightly). Companies should also provide as many options as possible on where and when payment can be made customers should be able to take up these options at no extra cost to them".
To ask Her Majesty's Government what legislation covers the ability of essential service providers to
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Lord Young of Norwood Green: Electricity and Gas suppliers are required by their licences to provide a wide choice of payment methods.
In the communications sector, there is no legislation that specially covers discounts. However, in Ofcom's view the Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations 1999 (UTCCRs) apply where communications providers provide discounts for certain payment methods. The extra amount payable by consumers who do not pay by those payment methods is an additional charge that may be assessed for fairness under the UTCCRs.
In the water sector, Section 143 of the Water Industry Act 1991 allows the Secretary of State to give guidance to the Water Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) on the exercise of powers used when approving companies' charges schemes. Ofwat must have regard to such guidance.
The statutory Social and Environmental Guidance to the WSRA (Ofwat) published in August 2008 refers to the guidance from the Secretary of State on matters to be taken into account when approving companies' charges schemes.
This guidance was issued in the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Region's Water Industry Act 1999-Delivering the Government's Objectives (2000) which says in relation to payment schemes that "customers should be able to make frequent payments (such as weekly or fortnightly). Companies should also provide as many options as possible on where and when payment can be made. Customers should be able to take up these options at no extra cost to them".
To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of customers pay online for (a) water, (b) electricity, (c) gas, and (d) council tax. [HL5464]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Ofwat estimates that less than 1 per cent of customers pay their water bills online. Ofgem estimates that around 5 per cent of customers settle their energy bills online.
The administration of council tax is the responsibility of individual billing authorities and information about payment methods is not collected by central government.
Gaza
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect the first consignments of reconstruction materials to enter Gaza; and what support they have given to the Egyptian proposal for a joint monitoring committee to supervise supplies entering Gaza. [HL5213]
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The Minister for Europe (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): According to the UN since January 2009, 24 truck loads of reconstruction materials have entered Gaza for both private sector use and water related construction projects. However, on the whole, shipments of shelter reconstruction materials are still being rejected.
The UK continues to press the Israeli Government to ease border restrictions and permit the flow of humanitarian aid and reconstruction material. We welcome Egyptian efforts aimed at easing the tensions around Gaza and so improving access.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking in response to the request of the United Nations Humanitarian Co-ordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Mr Maxwell Gaylard, for full and unrestricted access to spare parts and materials needed to restore water and sanitation services in Gaza. [HL5381]
Lord Brett: The most recent conflict in Gaza caused considerable damage to public infrastructure and exacerbated an already serious situation. Post-conflict reconstruction and repair of damaged and deteriorating water infrastructure has been significantly delayed due to import restrictions imposed by the Government of Israel two years ago.
Since then, the Department for International Development (DfID) has been engaged with the UN and other donors in advocacy efforts to achieve full access for humanitarian items and personnel and materials essential to repair homes, schools and infrastructure. We strongly support the UN's Framework for the Provision of Minimum Humanitarian Assistance in Gaza, which reminds all parties of the obligation to respect humanitarian principles. DfID will continue to engage in these advocacy efforts.
DfID has also provided funding to a number of non-governmental organisations engaged in humanitarian response and early recovery activities. This included £600,000 to Oxfam for distribution of over 43 million litres of drinking water to more than 63,000 beneficiaries, and basic repairs of the water network which improved sanitation for more than 100,000 people.
Government Initiatives: Advertising
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government which initiatives by Communities and Local Government and its agencies were advertised in each of the past five years; how much was spent on each; and which used the services of the Central Office of Information. [HL5431]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The department's expenditure on communications, including advertising, is set out in its annual reports, which include details of the main initiatives communicated.
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Between 2006-08, Central Office of Information expenditure data show that advertising for the following campaign areas used its services. COI does not hold the information for 2004-06:
E-Gov (Connect to your Council);
E-Gov (Connect to your Council); and
E-Gov (Connect to your Council);
Health: Quality and Outcomes Framework
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what criteria are used by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to decide which indicators will be piloted for potential inclusion in the 2011-12 Quality and Outcomes Framework. [HL5465]
Baroness Thornton: The criteria used by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for piloting potential indicators for inclusion in the Quality and Outcomes Framework have been published in its Interim Process Guide. This document is due for review in 2010.
A copy has been placed in the Library.
Human Rights
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether their foreign policy is based on there being no denials of human rights in the Republic of Ireland. [HL5020]
The Minister for Europe (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Government do not believe Ireland is denying the human rights of its citizens.
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International Development
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the planned year-on-year increases (in percentage and estimated real terms) in funding for the Department for International Development in order for the United Kingdom to reach its commitment for its official development assistance to reach 0.7 per cent of gross national income by 2013. [HL5377]
Lord Brett: Expenditure plans for the Department for International Development to meet its official development assistance (ODA) commitment from 2008-09 to 2010-11 were set out in the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and revised in the 2009 Budget. The revised figures are set out in the table below. Departmental budgets beyond 2010-11 have not yet been agreed.
Internet: Mastering the Internet
Question
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether as part of the Mastering the Internet programme, or any other initiative, they are intending to utilise, or require communications service providers to utilise, Deep Packet Inspection to record communications data in non-centralised databases. [HL5310]
The Minister for Europe (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): The Government are considering how Deep Packet Inspection technologies might support the lawful acquisition of communications data. The Government's consultation on options to maintain the capability of public authorities to use communications data which closed on 20 July makes it clear that the proposed way forward involves non-centralised databases held by the communications service providers.
Asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Mastering the Internet programme will require the creation of any new non-central databases. [HL5311]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: It is longstanding government policy not to comment on intelligence matters.
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Israel and Palestine
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will propose that the Middle East quartet should draw up a plan to end all conflict between Israel and Palestine and to settle wider Arab-Israeli issues. [HL5214]
The Minister for Europe (Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead): We strongly support the US approach and that of the quartet. Current US efforts to work with the parties to restart negotiations offer the best way forward to end the conflict.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of Visions of the Endgame by Tony Klug, published by the Fabian Society and the Oxford Research Group. [HL5215]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We are in contact with Tony Klug and with others who have ideas on the way forward. He provides an interesting model for how to conclude negotiations. But we are not yet at that point. Our focus is on working closely with the US and other partners to restart negotiations.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they and quartet members have taken or will take to prevent Israel breaking international law by (a) increasing the number of settlers in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and (b) issuing orders for demolishing Palestinian homes. [HL5240]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: The quartet statement of 26 June was clear in that it "urged the Government of Israel to freeze all settlement activity, including natural growth; to dismantle outposts erected since March 2001; and to refrain from provocative actions in East Jerusalem, including home demolition and evictions".
We-and our partners-have been vocal in our opposition to illegal Israeli settlement activity and the demolition of Palestinian homes. We will continue to press the Israeli Government on these important issues.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ask the Government of Israel to reopen the premises of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce, in accordance with requirements set out in the road map. [HL5241]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We have pressed the Government of Israel at the highest levels to allow the reopening of the east Jerusalem institutions, including the chamber of commerce, and we continue to call on Israel to do so. In his speech to the Knesset in July 2008, my right honourable friend the Prime Minister made a public call for the chamber of commerce to be reopened.
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The UK position is clear that a comprehensive peace should be based on two states, living side by side within secure and agreed borders based on those of 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital for both states.
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will make representations to the Government of Israel to hand over to the Palestinian Authority four former settlements near Jenin which have been empty since 2005 and are in a closed military area. [HL5242]
Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead: We are aware of this issue and have worked, and will continue to work, closely with international actors including the quartet representative and the United States security co-ordinator, who have asked the Israelis to allow these buildings to be used by the Palestinians.
Kenya: Water Management
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to encourage the Government of Kenya to improve water management in the region, and in particular reversing the damage to areas such as the Mau forest. [HL5379]
Lord Brett: The Department for International Development (DfID) provides core funding to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to support its work on water management and core support (£3 million from 2008-11) to the Global Water Partnership (GWP). GWP is supporting the development of integrated water management plans (IWRM) at the national level in several countries including Kenya. DfID has also provided an additional £1.5 million per year to UNEP's poverty and environment initiative.
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