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Questions
Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col 946W), what percentage of the people whose applications for an identity card have been received work for the Secretary of State for the Home Department. [HL272]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col. 946W), what percentage of the people whose applications for an identity card have been received work for (a) the Home Office, (b) Home Office executive agencies, and (c) Home Office sponsored non-departmental public bodies. [HL273]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col. 946W), how many applications for an identity card have been received (a) in total, and (b) from people working in (1) the Home Office, (2) the Identity and Passport Service, and (3) other executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies sponsored by the Home Office. [HL274]
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by the Home Secretary, Alan Johnson, on 12 November (HC Deb, col. 946W), and following the issuing of identity cards to members of the public in Greater Manchester, how many applications for identity cards they expect to receive from British and Irish citizens in each of the next 12 months. [HL275]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The commencement order under the Identity Cards Act 2006 that came into force on 20 October allows for certain IPS and Home Office staff as well as airport operator staff at
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Since 20 October, up to and including 27 November, 1,416 eligible volunteers, from the Greater Manchester area, London and the two airports, have made an appointment to enrol for an identity card. Up to and including 20 November, almost 13,000 people have registered their interest in the National Identity Service. So far 19 per cent of those registered are from the Greater Manchester area.
We began enrolling those who live and work in Greater Manchester from 30 November. At this stage it is, therefore, difficult to make any precise forecast of the number of people likely to take up the option of applying for an identity card in the next 12 months.
Immigration
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of illegal immigrants in the United Kingdom. [HL172]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Since the phasing out of embarkation controls in 1994, no Government have been able to produce an accurate figure for the number of people who are in the country illegally. By its very nature it is impossible to quantify accurately and that remains the case. However, the Government have reintroduced border controls through the e-borders system, which will, in future, allow an estimate to be made.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been found working for the UK Border Agency in each of the last five years. [HL228]
Lord West of Spithead: In 2006, a total of nine contract cleaners, working in the then Immigration and Nationality Department of the Home Office, were found not to have valid leave to remain in the UK. Following that, the Home Office's procedures for checking its own employees were tightened and the Home Office worked with its contractors to ensure that they fulfilled their responsibilities for pre-employment checking of their employees. Since 2006 we know of only one other case (in 2008) where an employee of a contractor had invalid leave to remain.
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many illegal immigrants have been found working for the Home Office in each of the last five years. [HL229]
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Lord West of Spithead: There have been two occasions within the last five years where compliance checks have found illegal immigrants working for Home Office contractors. In the first case (2007) the individual was removed from the UK; in the second (2009) removal action is currently under consideration.
Immigration: Detention Centres
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their response to the warnings they have received of the prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse in immigration detention centres; and what assessment they have made of whether contractors managing these centres provide adequate staff to monitor the use of these substances, and take action when evidence of abuse comes to their attention. [HL129]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): Each immigration removal centre (IRC) has a security department responsible for identifying threats, including drugs, and for developing strategies, responses and actions to counter these and to manage the risk.
For security reasons, we are unable to reveal the detail of the strategies. However, they are designed to minimise illegal entry to the centre of prohibited items including drugs and alcohol.
All removal centres are adequately staffed to provide a safe and secure environment for staff, detainees and visitors alike. Detention custody officers are all trained in searching techniques and substance awareness. All drug finds and incidents of trafficking are reported to the police and, where appropriate, detainee visits are monitored or visitors banned.
Immigration: Northern Ireland
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 220), what arrangements exist for those granted leave to enter the United Kingdom while resident in the Republic of Ireland who enter the United Kingdom through the Northern Ireland land frontier with the Republic of Ireland to get their passports stamped to prove a United Kingdom arrival date, as required for applications for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom. [HL315]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): There are currently no arrangements in place for those persons holding leave to enter the United Kingdom, who cross the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, to have a UK arrival endorsement placed in their passport. This is because the principles of the common travel area mean that such an endorsement is not required.
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When applying for indefinite leave to remain, a person is asked on the application form to supply all passports and travel documents used since their first arrival in the UK. However, the accompanying guidance notes make it clear that where this evidence is not available, the applicant should provide an explanation and supply additional documentary evidence of having lived in the UK during the qualifying period.
Migration
Question
Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno
To ask Her Majesty's Government what information is given to migrants from the European Union on their arrival in the United Kingdom. [HL348]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): As all EEA nationals have a right to freedom of movement in the United Kingdom they are not subject to the same border controls as non-EEA nationals seeking to enter the United Kingdom.
As such no information is given to EEA nationals on their arrival.
The United Kingdom Border Agency offers relevant information on the Home Office website for EEA Nationals, and ukvisas.gov.uk offers information in the form of leaflet INF18, for EEA nationals intending to travel to the UK.
National DNA Database
Question
Asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have information about the ethnicity of those whose data are included in the national DNA database; and, if so, whether they will publish the information. [HL278]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not hold self-reported ethnicity data, but data on the "ethnic appearance" of persons who have a DNA profile on the database. The ethnic appearance data have six broad ethnic categories plus "unknown". It is based on the judgment of the police officer taking the sample and is recorded for police intelligence purposes to assist in subsequent identification. The ethnic appearance data have only been recorded for volunteer samples since 2005.
The table below shows the number of DNA profiles on the NDNAD broken down by ethnic appearance, as at 16 October 2009. "Unknown" means that no ethnic appearance was recorded by the officer taking the sample. The number of profiles held is not the same as the number of individuals. This is because some profiles are replicates-i.e. more than one profile is held for one individual. This may occur if, for example, an individual gives different names, or different
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Data on the number of subject profiles retained on the NDNAD broken down by ethnic appearance are published in the NDNAD Annual Reports. The latest annual report for 2007-09 is published on the NPIA website at: http://www.npia.police.uk/en/14399.htm
Northern Ireland Office: Political Directorate
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what changes they propose to the Northern Ireland Office's Political Directorate regarding its monitoring of human rights and equality. [HL269]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): None.
Planning
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will introduce regulations to reform planning legislation to enable control over partial demolition and development in conservation areas. [HL65]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they will take to reform planning regulations to take account of concerns about the level of heritage protection in conservation areas caused by the 1991 South Lakeland and 1997 Shimizu judgments. [HL66]
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they will proceed with reform of permitted development rights in conservation areas resulting from feedback on the White Paper, Heritage Protection for the 21st Century. [HL67]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government & Department for Work and Pensions (Lord McKenzie of Luton): The Government are preparing a new planning policy statement (PPS) on the historic environment. The draft PPS, which was the subject of a recent public consultation, advises that, where an element of a conservation area does not positively contribute to its significance, local planning authorities should take into account the desirability of enhancing or better revealing the significance of the conservation area. The Government believe that this could go some way towards addressing the implications of the South Lakeland judgment. We hope to publish a final version of the PPS in spring 2010.
In the 2007 White Paper, Heritage Protection for the 21st Century, the Government proposed that planning permission should be required for the partial demolition of an unlisted building in a conservation area. The intention was to address the 1997 Shimizu judgment that consent from the local planning authority is required only for total or substantial demolition. Responses to
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to review Planning Policy Statement 15 to ensure that listed buildings receive adequate protection. [HL167]
Lord McKenzie of Luton: A draft planning policy statement (PPS) 15 was the subject of a recent public consultation exercise. It is intended that this will replace the current planning policy guidance notes 15 (planning and the historic environment) and 16 (archaeology and planning). The draft sets out policies on the conservation of the historic environment, including designated heritage assets such as listed buildings, through the planning system. Responses to the consultation exercise are being considered and a final version of the PPS is expected to be published next spring.
Public Bodies
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the difference between a quango and a non-departmental public body. [HL61]
Baroness Crawley: The term "non-departmental public body" has been used by successive Governments since 1980 to describe bodies which have a role in the processes of national government but are not government departments, or part of one, and which accordingly operate, to a greater or lesser extent, at arm's length from Ministers. The term "quango" is not an official term or classification used by government.
To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the annual expenditure on non-departmental public bodies in (a) 2008, (b) 2007, (c) 2006, (d) 2005, and (e) 2004. [HL62]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the budget for expenditure on non-departmental public bodies for 2009-10. [HL63]
Baroness Crawley: Information on total expenditure by non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) is published in the annual Cabinet Office Public Bodies report. Copies of Public Bodies for the period 2004-08 are available from the Libraries of the House. Copies can also be downloaded from www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/resources/ndpbs.aspx
Public Bodies 2009 will be published early in the new year. Information on budgets for NDPBs for 2009-10 is not held centrally.
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To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the remarks by Baroness Crawley on 12 November (HL Deb, col. 899), which Members of the House of Lords were appointees to non-departmental public bodies on 18 November; and what were their appointments and levels of individual remuneration. [HL64]
Baroness Crawley: I wrote to the noble Lord on this issue on 19 November.
Questions for Written Answer
Question
To ask the Leader of the House how many Questions for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords in session 2008-09 did not receive an answer by the end of the session. [HL243]
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Baroness Royall of Blaisdon): Six Questions for Written Answer tabled in the House of Lords in Session 2008-09 did not receive an Answer by the end of the Session. Departments have been advised to provide substantive Answers to these questions in writing in due course.
Visas
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 16 July (WA 264-5), what happened to each international student who had their student visa revoked. [HL170]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): In general terms a student whose visa is revoked has three options: they can appeal against the decision to revoke their visa to the independent Asylum and Immigration Tribunal; they can seek to regularise their stay in the United Kingdom by applying for leave to remain in another immigration category; or they can return home. Students who do not follow one of these courses of action will be considered for appropriate enforcement action. Action to enforce a person's departure is prioritised on those who pose the greatest risk to the UK public.
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 239), in how many countries VFS Global is contracted to act as an outsourced visa service for United Kingdom visa applicants; and which other companies are contracted to supply visa services for United Kingdom visa applicants in which other countries. [HL311]
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Lord West of Spithead: The UK Border Agency has contracts in place with two suppliers to provide visa application support services throughout its global network. VFS Global operates in 34 countries, CSC (Computer Sciences Corporation) operates in 14. The countries in which they operate are listed below:
| Countries in which VFS Global and CSC operate the UK's visa application support services | |
| VFS | CSC |
To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord West of Spithead on 12 November (WA 239), how many visa applications were (a) accepted, and (b) turned down, by VFS Global in the last year in (1) India, and (2) Pakistan. [HL312]
Lord West of Spithead: All decisions on UK visa applications, including those lodged in India and Pakistan, are made by UK Border Agency (UKBA) entry clearance officers. VFS Global is contracted by the UKBA to provide visa application support services in India, Pakistan and various other countries and plays no part in decision making. VFS Global has no power to refuse to accept an application after due payment is made. It may inform an applicant if certain key documents appear to be missing, and that the application may be refused for that reason.
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