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24 Jun 2010 : Column WA201
24 Jun 2010 : Column WA201
24 Jun 2010 : Column WA201
Thursday 24 June 2010
Air Quality
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Chesterton
To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that air quality in London will meet the European Union standards; how these plans will be published; and whether the level will be met before the Olympic Games in 2012.[HL655]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The Government take their air quality obligations very seriously and are working towards full compliance with European air quality standards. The UK is projected to meet particulate matter or PM10 limits, including in the very few locations in London that are over the limit value, and move to full compliance by 2011 (in time for the Olympics). Much of the UK, outside major urban areas, already meets the EU air quality limits for nitrogen dioxide (NO2), but, along with many other European countries, faces a challenge on achieving this in large urban areas such as London.
The UK Government intend to apply for additional time to meet the NO2 limit value by 2015 and will be putting forward plans for this in 2011. The Mayor of London is responsible for air quality in the capital and we are working with him and the Greater London Authority to ensure London has effective measures to meet the NO2 limits in the shortest time possible.
Banking
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the commission to consider separating retail and investment banking will have an independent secretariat or have a secretariat based in HM Treasury or the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. [HL380]
To ask Her Majesty's Government when vacancies for positions on the commission to consider separating retail and investment banking will be advertised. [HL381]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether positions on the commission to consider separating retail and investment banking will be filled in accordance with best practice for public appointments.[HL382]
To ask Her Majesty's Government what action will be taken to ensure that members of the commission to consider separating retail and investment banking have no interests which would have an adverse
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To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the terms of reference of the proposed commission to consider separating retail and investment banking; and whether the commission will meet in public. [HL384]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills are committed to the coalition agreement pledge to take steps to reduce systemic risk in the banking system, foster diversity in financial services, promote mutuals and create a more competitive banking industry. The independent banking commission forms part of this agenda.
The remit of the commission is outlined in the commission's terms of reference, which are a matter of public record. The Chancellor announced the membership of the commission on 16 June. All appointments are being made in line with proper procedures. The Government are satisfied that there are no conflicts of interest that will prevent the commissioners from carrying out their duties effectively. Proper arrangements for handling such future conflicts of interest that may arise will be put in place. Details of the Secretariat and other functions are still being considered.
As an independent commission, it will be at the commissioners' discretion to consider representations or evidence received on any relevant topic, and to decide the nature of any meetings.
Broadband Delivery UK
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 9 June (WA 42), who are the members of the team of Broadband Delivery UK.[HL460]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) was set up on 1 April 2010 within the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). It is led by chief executive Adrian Kamellard who reports to a BIS senior civil servant. Other current members of BDUK are:
four civil servants on loan from Her Majesty's Treasury (2.6 full-time equivalent-FTE);one civil servant from BIS (1 FTE);three private sector secondees (all 0.6 FTE) from Pinsent Masons LLP;Analysys Mason Ltd and Predictable Network Solutions Ltd;an official (0.4 FTE) from a regional development agency (Yorkshire Forward); andone full-time agency staff member.24 Jun 2010 : Column WA203
Community Broadband Network Ltd
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 10 June (WA 55), what measures were in place to verify the £30,000 and £42,500 paid by the Countryside Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs respectively to Community Broadband Network Ltd (CBN Ltd) in 2004 and 2005 to support a mentoring scheme for local broadband projects; to whom those monies were allocated by CBN Ltd; how many mentor man days were provided by CBN Ltd, giving the costs in each instance; how the £8,000 paid by the Countryside Agency to CBN Ltd to support part of the development of the CBN website was allocated; what tendering process was employed by CBN Ltd for the website development; and whether they will place all details and audit reports on those grants in the Library of the House.[HL609]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The information requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have received about the proposal that the UK Border Agency share data with the Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System; and whether they will place copies of their responses in the Library of the House.[HL408]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Neville-Jones): Two representations concerning the proposal that the UK Border Agency share data with the credit industry fraud avoidance system (CIFAS) have been received and are currently under consideration. I will arrange for the UK Border Agency's replies to be placed in the House Library in due course.
Disabled People: Work Capability Assessments
Question
Asked by Baroness Thomas of Winchester
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have identified improvements to the work capability assessments following independent and Department for Work and Pensions reports; and, if so, when they plan to implement any changes.[HL476]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): The purpose of the department-led review of the work capability assessment was to establish whether the work capability assessment is achieving its aim of
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The Government also have a statutory commitment to an independent review of the operation of the work capability assessment annually for the first five years. We are in the process of commissioning this review and aim for it to report before the end of the year.
Employment: Work Programme
Questions
Asked by Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are ensuring that medium-sized providers of welfare to work services can effectively compete with large-scale prime providers.[HL410]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): One of the key areas we will evaluate in determining who is asked to deliver the work programme will be on bidding organisations' track record on successfully developing and managing supply chains. We are clear that there will be a role for medium providers in the delivery of the work programme.
Asked by Lord Kirkwood of Kirkhope
To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to protecting small voluntary sector niche providers in introducing the welfare to work programme.[HL412]
Lord Freud: One of the key areas we will evaluate in determining who is asked to deliver the work programme will be on bidding organisations' track record on successfully developing and managing supply chains. We are clear that there will be a role for small voluntary providers in the delivery of the work programme.
Energy: Nuclear Power
Question
Asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will introduce legislation to create a statutory regulator for the nuclear energy sector.[HL366]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions (Lord Freud): Statutory regulation of the nuclear energy sector is currently the responsibility of a range of bodies. The Government attach great importance to the ongoing effective regulation of the nuclear energy sector and are currently considering future arrangements.
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Government Departments: Expenditure Cuts
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment each department has made of the effect on staff levels of the proposed expenditure cuts announced on 24 May.[HL106]
The Commercial Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Sassoon): It will be for departments to determine the exact workforce implications in line with their overall budget reductions.
By acting now, we have reduced the risk of adverse market conditions, which would mean higher interest rates for all, stifle recovery and make the challenges ahead even harder. The Government also expect jobs to be created in the private sector as a consequence of the action we are taking to hold interest rates down.
The Government are committed to protecting jobs and supporting job creation: the policies upon which the coalition has agreed will support workers and firms through the economic recovery.
Health: Drugs
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Drayson on 23 March (WA 279-80), whether they will publish the summaries or reports of the 15 grant-aided scientific studies on benzodiazepines and of the five further studies carried out after 1996.[HL593]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): The Medical Research Council does not routinely publish results of grant-funded studies: the dissemination of research findings is a task undertaken by grant-holders through publication in peer-reviewed journals. It is the responsibility of the relevant grant holders to publish summaries or reports of the eight grant-funded and seven intramural scientific studies on benzodiazepines, or the five further studies carried out after 1996.
House of Lords: Chamber
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask the Chairman of Committees whether, in the light of the level of overcrowding of the House of Lords chamber and the forthcoming introductions of new members, he will consider measures to increase the space available by extending the chamber or using gallery space for members' seating or both. [HL714]
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The Chairman of Committees (Lord Brabazon of Tara): The Administration and Works Committee is due to consider overcrowding in the Chamber at its next meeting, on Tuesday 29 June. The discussion will encompass the two ideas mentioned by the noble Lord.
House of Lords: Reform
Question
Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that any proposals from the committee on House of Lords reform for a wholly or partly elected second chamber will be accompanied by a re-allocation of powers to each chamber and the repeal of the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949. [HL469]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord McNally): The Government believe that the basic relationship between the two Houses, as set out in the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949, should continue when the House of Lords is reformed.
Independent Networks Co-operative Association
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Wilcox on 10 June (WA 55), why the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills issued a formal grant offer letter on 17 December 2009 for up to £150,000 to Malcolm Corbett as chief executive of the Independent Networks Co-operative Association when, as acting chief executive officer of Community Broadband Networks Ltd, he had not filed and received registration of the annual returns and accounts of Community Broadband Networks Ltd for the years 2005-08. [HL461]
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the offer made by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 29 June 2009 to Mr Malcolm Corbett for a grant to contribute to the cost of running the Independent Networks Co-operative Association took account of its chief executive officer not, as chief executive officer of Community Broadband Networks Ltd, filing annual returns and accounts from 31 December 2005 to 31 December 2008 with the Financial Services Authority.[HL695]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (Baroness Wilcox): I have nothing further to add to previous Answers on this subject, provided at Hansard 9 June cols. WA46-47, 10 June col. WA55, 15 June col. WA 104, 15 June col. WA104, 15 June cols. WA 103-04, 15 June col. WA 105, 15 June col. WA 105, 15 June col. WA 104, 15 June col. WA 103, 15 June col. WA 103 and 16 June col. WA 119.
24 Jun 2010 : Column WA207
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the official record of a meeting on 30 March led by Guy Jarvis to discuss future broadband delivery with the Head of Broadband Policy and Programmes at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills includes all discussion at the meeting about the formation, individuals and management of Community Broadband Network and Independent Networks Co-operatives Association; whether that record was passed to the Permanent Secretary of the department; and, if so, on what date.[HL577]
Baroness Wilcox: A note of the meeting has been provided to a member of the public and all those who attended the meeting, having been the subject of a Freedom of Information request. Additionally, the note will shortly be available at: www.bis.gov.uk/site/foi/information-released.
It was not passed to the Permanent Secretary.
Natural England
Question
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review the remit and performance of Natural England, taking into account the cost of that body, including the cost to the public and the private sectors of compliance with its regulatory functions. [HL527]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Henley): The Queen's Speech announced the Government's intention to bring forward a Bill to reform public bodies. Defra, along with other sponsor departments, is carrying out a critical examination of the number and cost of its arm's-length bodies. Natural England is being considered as part of that review.
NHS: Dentistry
Questions
To ask Her Majesty's Government which bodies regulate, inspect and set standards for dental practices in England.[HL606]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Earl Howe): The General Dental Council (GDC) protects the public by regulating the dental team. The GDC registers appropriately qualified dental professionals, sets standards of dental practice and conduct and assesses the quality of dental education.
The Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency is responsible for the regulation of medicines, medical devices and equipment used in healthcare including enforcement of the medical devices directive.
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The Health and Safety Executive protects people against risks to health or safety arising out of work activities by enforcing legislation including the Ionising Radiations Regulations and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations.
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