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The table below details how many people were eligible for and received a non-consolidated variable pay award and the average and the maximum payment for a non-consolidated variable pay award, by Civil Service band, awarded under the Foreign and Commonwealth Office standard pay and performance management process for the past three years of published accounts. The years relate to when the payment was made. The performance year is the 12 months prior.
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | ||||
| SCS | Non-SCS | SCS | Non-SCS | SCS | Non-SCS | |
In addition, an individual employed on a SCS non-standard form of contract, which links a higher than normal percentage of their pay to delivery-based objectives, received a non-consolidated award of £20,000 in 2007 for their performance in 2006-07 and £30,000 in 2008 for their performance in 2007-08.
Government: Office Equipment
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Barbara Follett, on 9 December 2009 (Official Report, House of Commons, col. 390W), what was the average purchase price, excluding value added tax, of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80 gsm photocopier paper paid by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and each of its agencies in the latest period for which figures are available. [HL996]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Children, Schools and Families (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): The average price of a 500-sheet ream of white A4 80gsm photocopier paper paid for by Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) was £2.18 excluding VAT in the latest period available. Agencies and non-departmental public bodies have their own contractual arrangements for stationery which DCSF does not have access to and therefore cannot provide a response of their behalf.
The data have been provided by the department's supplier for stationery, Banner Business.
Health: Dentistry
Question
Asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Thornton on 16 December 2009 (WA 239), how closely the number of general anaesthetics required by children for tooth extractions in a given area correlates with the level of dental decay among children in that area; and what other factors may play a part in the number of extractions. [HL981]
Baroness Thornton: There is a close correlation. Since 2002, general anaesthetics for dental treatment have taken place only in a hospital setting. The following
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| Strategic Health Authority | Number of Extractions | Decayed, missing and filled teeth* |
- * Average number of decayed, missing and filled teeth derived from the 2005-06 survey of five-year-olds conducted within the National Health Service under the auspices of the British Association for the Study of Community Dentistry (BASCD) Dental Epidemiology Programme.
Higher Education: Infonexus College
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government when Infonexus College London was accredited as a college of education; by which UK Border Agency accreditation agency; how many overseas students in the past three years have been granted visas to study there; from which countries; and what courses it offers that would not be available to those students in their home countries. [HL107]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Infonexus College London was accredited by the Accreditation Service for International Colleges, ASIC, on 31 July 2009.
Information pertaining to overseas students studying at individual colleges cannot be released as it is commercially sensitive and would also constitute a breach of our obligations under the Data Protection Act.
The UK Border Agency does not hold information on courses that Infonexus College London offers that would not be available to those students in their home countries.
Higher Education: Overseas Students
Question
Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many sponsors of migrant students have been removed from the register of sponsors, the register of education and training providers, and any predecessor lists, in each year since 1997; and for what reasons. [HL420]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Fourteen sponsors of migrant students have been removed from the register of sponsors since 31 March 2009. Of these, six had no accreditation, one entered into liquidation and seven failed to meet their sponsor obligations.
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There were 14,838 institutions on the DIUS register of education and training providers when it closed on 31 March 2009. Information on the number of education and training providers who had been removed from this register is not available.
Immigration: Deportation
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government how long it takes on average to deport a failed asylum seeker. [HL370]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The time taken to remove a failed asylum seeker varies greatly and so overall averages can be misleading.
The 2008 National Audit Office (NAO) report identified average times to remove different types of failed asylum seekers as: 79 days for those in the detained fast track; 250 days for removing forcibly those not detained throughout the period of their claim; and 300 days for voluntary returns.
Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the costs of legal proceedings relating to the deportation of foreign nationals on the ground of national security in each year since 2001. [HL789]
Lord West of Spithead: The information requested is not centrally collated and could only be obtained by examination of individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.
Immigration: Detention Centres
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many persons residing in immigration detention centres are not free to leave the United Kingdom. [HL929]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Individuals held in immigration removal centres are free to leave the United Kingdom.
Mental Health
Question
Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham
To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures are planned to improve services for (a) children with serious emotional disturbance, and (b) adults with mental health illnesses. [HL1002]
Baroness Thornton:New Horizons: Ashared vision for mental health, published on 7 December 2009, outlined a cross-government programme of action with the twin aims of improving the mental health and well-being of the population and improving the quality
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New Horizons sets out the expectation that services to treat and care for people with mental health problems will be accessible to everyone who needs them. It highlights that people achieve the most effective recovery if their mental ill-health is identified, and treated, at an early stage. New Horizons has been developed in collaboration with strategic health authorities, is consistent with their regional visions for mental health, and does not set out to be prescriptive.
The Government published Keeping Children and Young People in Mind: The Government's full response to the independent review of CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) on 7 January 2010.
the Government's commitment for high-quality services that all children and young people will receive;a description of the effective services we expect all local areas to be working towards; anda package of support from the Government to help local areas deliver these effective services.Mobile Phones: Prisoners
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many mobile phones were taken from prisoners in each prison in Northern Ireland during 2009. [HL1131]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The number of mobile phones confiscated in each prison in 2009 was:
NHS: Strategic Service Partnerships
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the National Health Service uses strategic-service partnerships similar to those used by local authorities; whether they have considered the Audit Commission's 2008 evaluation of those partnerships; and whether in pursuing greater efficiency in the NHS following the Pre-Budget Report they will recommend that model to NHS trusts. [HL974]
Baroness Thornton: How National Health Service organisations deliver priorities is set out in the NHS Operating Framework. The NHS Operating Framework for 2010-11 was published on 16 December 2009 and sets out the need for NHS organisations to work with local partners in delivering priorities and the challenges that need to be addressed following the Pre-Budget Report. A copy of the NHS Operating Framework for 2010-11 has already been placed in the Library.
12 Jan 2010 : Column WA151
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Taxis
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission spent on taxis in 2009. [HL950]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission paid £3,354 in respect of taxis for commissioners and staff in the period 1 January to 31 December 2009.
Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon on 15 December 2009 (WA 213), whether the objective published in the current business plan of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) to work to secure the enactment of legislation reflecting NIHRC's advice to Government on a possible bill of rights for Northern Ireland is consistent with NIHRC's statutory functions. [HL1062]
Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: I have nothing further to add to my Answer of 15 December 2009 (Official Report, col. WA 213).
Rwanda
Questions
Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they and the Commonwealth are taking to ensure that the government of Rwanda extradite Laurent Nkunda to stand trial at The Hague for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Kiwanja and Rutshuru. [HL972]
Lord Brett: Allegations of serious crimes committed in the Democratic Republic of Congo since July 2002 are currently being investigated by the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Court is an independent, judicial institution and decisions on indictments and arrest warrants are a matter for the Prosecutor and the Pre-Trial Chamber. At this time, no warrant has been issued by the ICC for Laurent Nkunda.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead on 14 December 2009 (WA 175), when the admission of Rwanda to the Commonwealth was debated or approved by either House of Parliament. [HL1026]
Lord Brett: Further to the answer I gave in the House of Lords on 2 December 2009, and the written response I gave on 14 December (HL542), the 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Kampala saw a review of the membership criteria and the condition of a "constitutional link" was replaced by a "close link" to an existing Commonwealth member state.
The UK has supported Rwanda's bid to join the Commonwealth from this time onwards. This matter has been discussed publicly since this time. It is not the practice to ratify such decisions made by the Commonwealth or member states in national parliaments-including that of the UK.
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