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61531

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the estimated current backlog of persons waiting to be assessed by Atos Healthcare for (1) Employment Support Allowance, and (2) Disability Living Allowance, broken down by region of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales; what action they are taking to address the backlog; and on what evidence they base their attribution of the delays to failings within Atos.
tabling member printed	Lord Morrow
uin	HL300
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The table below shows outstanding Employment and Support Allowance new claims, existing Employment and Support Allowance recipients awaiting a review and Incapacity Benefit claimants awaiting reassessment, at the end of April 2014 for England, Scotland and Wales. The figures exclude cases referred to Atos Healthcare where the claimant has yet to return their ESA50 questionnaire.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Region</strong></p></td><td><p>ESA New claims awaiting a Work Capability Assessment</p></td><td><p>Existing ESA recipients awaiting a review Work Capability Assessment</p></td><td><p>Incapacity Benefit recipients awaiting reassessment</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>England</p></td><td><p>333,000*</p></td><td><p>201,000*</p></td><td><p>74,000*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Scotland</p></td><td><p>34,000*</p></td><td><p>13,000*</p></td><td><p>2,000*</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>28,000*</p></td><td><p>20,000*</p></td><td><p>7,000*</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>* Note: figures are based on operational management information received from Atos Healthcare and are rounded to the nearest thousand.</p><p> </p><p>The total Disability Living Allowance claimants' awaiting an assessment at the end of April 2014 nationally was 800. Figures are based on operational management information received from Atos Healthcare and are rounded to the nearest hundred.This information is not routinely collated to regional area.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland has a separate contract with Atos Healthcare for the delivery of assessments in Northern Ireland. Therefore, questions relating to waiting times in Northern Ireland should be addressed to the Minister for Social Development in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>We are working closely with our supplier to deliver the best possible service for claimants, driving up performance and quality to help reduce waiting times and process claims as quickly as possible. We are continuing to monitor and robustly manage this contract.</p><p> </p><p>Identification by the Department of a reduction in Atos Healthcare's quality led to decisive action in the form of a retraining and re-accreditation exercise and an overhaul of audit arrangements when we instructed Atos Healthcare to introduce an improvement plan in July 2013. The quality of reports provided by Atos Healthcare has improved significantly but the Department continues to monitor quality closely.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 26/06/2014 15:19:52 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	3795 label Biography information for Lord Morrow

61534

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Succession
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any regulation of heir hunters in the way they operate or the fees they charge beneficiaries; if not, whether they have plans to introduce such regulations; and, if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Lord Hoyle
uin	HL303
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p>There is no regulation in place that specifically covers the way probate researchers operate or the fees they charge beneficiaries.</p><p> </p><p>Relationships between probate researchers and their clients are normally contractual arrangements and subject to contract law.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is planning to introduce regulation of the activity of conducting private investigations, surveillance or inquiries, which could bring some probate and asset researchers into scope for statutory licensing by the Security Industry Authority.</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 26/06/2014 15:17:01 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	1000 label Biography information for Lord Hoyle

61535

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept id	26
answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
hansard heading	World War II: Anniversaries
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to recognise women who worked in munitions factories during the Second World War as part of the 70th anniversary commemorations marking the end of conflict.
tabling member printed	Baroness Taylor of Bolton
uin	HL304
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p><br>The Government fully appreciates the efforts and the often very dangerous conditions experienced by those who worked in factories producing vital equipment for the armed forces that helped contribute to winning the Second World War. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been working with the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Recognition for Munitions Workers, which was set up in 2011 to explore ways to ensure that the valiant collective efforts of all those who worked in munitions factories are not forgotten.</p><p>Following the very successful commemorations to mark the 70th anniversary of D-Day we will now be focussing in more detail across government on how the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2015 might be marked in an appropriate manner. No decisions have yet been made on how the anniversary will be marked, but we expect an announcement on the commemorations to be made by the Government later in the year.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 03/07/2014 16:43:53 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	407 label Biography information for Baroness Taylor of Bolton

61536

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Young People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many 18–21 year olds and 22–24 year olds in England are (1) employed, (2) employed and claiming housing benefit, and (3) employed and claiming housing benefit and on an apprenticeship.
tabling member printed	Lord Willis of Knaresborough
uin	HL305
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Since May 2010, the number of out-of-work Housing Benefit claimants has fallen. Action this Government has taken is bringing the ballooning housing benefit bill under control - saving the taxpayer around £6bn by the end of this Parliament</p><p> </p><p>Housing benefit has always helped those in and out of work. The average rate of increase of housing benefit claimants in work has slowed under this Government, having increased by more than 50% in just 18 months under the last Government. And we have seen a fall in the number of housing benefit claimants in the last year.</p><p> </p><p>(1) Analysis of the Labour Force Survey for the most recent period Jan-Mar 2014 shows that:</p><p>Of those aged 18-21 in England, around 1,567,000 are employed.</p><p>Of those aged 22-24 in England, around 1,242,000 are employed.</p><p>(2) (3)The information for those in work or undertaking apprenticeships, is only available for HB recipients whose claim is not passported: that is for those who do not receive the following benefits: Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income-Based), Employment and Support Allowance (Income-Based), or Pension Credit (Guaranteed Credit).</p><p>The information that shows those in work for HB recipients whose claim is not passported can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Stat-Xplore_User_Guide.htm</a></p><p>Those in apprenticeships are recorded as being in work and cannot be separately identified.</p><p>The economic status of all Housing Benefit (HB) recipients is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 26/06/2014 15:18:13 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	4151 label Biography information for Lord Willis of Knaresborough

61537

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Cabinet Office
answering dept id	53
answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
hansard heading	Sovereignty: Scotland
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their current estimate of the time it will take, in the event of a "yes" vote in the Scottish referendum on 18 September, for the necessary legislative and administrative preparations to be made for the implementation of independence.
tabling member printed	Lord Smith of Finsbury
uin	HL306
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2014 answer text <p>It is not possible to predict the time needed for the preparations that would be necessary in the event of a “yes” vote in the Scottish referendum.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 27/06/2014 12:49:06 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
tabling member	186 label Biography information for Lord Smith of Finsbury

61538

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	HM Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	CaTreasury
hansard heading	Debts
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what figures for household debt in the United Kingdom were provided by the Office for Budget Responsibility in each year from 2010–11 to 2013–14 and estimated for 2014–15; and what is the percentage represented by such debt of (1) national income, and (2) disposable income, in each year.
tabling member printed	Lord Kinnock
uin	HL307
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p><strong>The OBR publish figures for household debt, GDP and disposable income on their website alongside their Economic and Fiscal Outlook. </strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>In 2010-11 total lending to households in the United Kingdom or debt liabilities was estimated to be £1.53 trillion in the National Accounts produced by the Office for National Statistics, this is equivalent to 102% of annual Gross Domestic Product and 152% of household disposable income in that year. In 2011-12 the figure was 1.53 trillion (99% and147% respectively), and in 2012-13 the figure was 1.54 trillion (98% and 143%). These data are not yet available for 2013-14. In their March 2014 Economic and fiscal outlook the Office for Budget Responsibility forecast these figures to be 1.66 trillion in 2014-15 (97% and 144% respectively).</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 26/06/2014 15:13:23 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
tabling member	693 label Biography information for Lord Kinnock

61539

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Department for International Development
answering dept id	20
answering dept short name	International Development
answering dept sort name	International Development
hansard heading	Egypt
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what funds are available via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development to help the people of Egypt to promote good governance, economic development and the rule of law.
tabling member printed	Lord Stone of Blackheath
uin	HL308
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The FCO and DFID support Egypt through the following funds:</p><p>1) The Arab Partnership Economic Facility</p><p>2) The Arab Partnership Participation Fund, and</p><p>3) The Conflict Pool</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Northover question first answered 26/06/2014 15:35:36 answering member 2539 label Biography information for Baroness Northover
tabling member	2222 label Biography information for Lord Stone of Blackheath

61544

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	Syria and Iraq
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will seek ways to contain and, if possible, eliminate the influence of al-Qaeda-affiliated and other jihadi groups in Syria and Iraq.
tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
uin	HL313
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p>The UK is deeply concerned by the growth of terrorism in Syria and Iraq, which threatens the Syrian and Iraqi people, the region, and the UK. We condemn all acts of terrorism committed in both states. Tackling the threat from foreign extremists currently operating as part of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) is a priority. I repeated the Statement on Iraq outlining the Government's response given to the House on Monday 16 June by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), House of Lords Hansard, Official Report, Columns 703-706.<br><br>The threat from foreign extremists is being tackled through a wide range of interventions from disrupting the flow of foreign-fighters travelling from the UK through to supporting the counter-terrorist efforts of regional partners.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 25/06/2014 13:51:17 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

61546

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept id	16
answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
hansard heading	South Sudan: Ceasefires
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to commit to ensuring that diplomatic engagement with South Sudan continues beyond the signing of and re-commitment to a ceasefire, in order to support an inclusive national dialogue process.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL315
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p>Recommitting to a ceasefire is an important step, but it is only the first step in a long process towards national reconciliation in South Sudan. We welcome the agreement reached between President Salva Kir and Riek Machar to work towards the formation of a transitional government of national unity. This is a further positive step. But both parties must continue to engage constructively in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)-mediated peace talks in Addis. The UK, along with our troika (UK, US and Norway) and EU partners, continues to support IGAD efforts to resolve the crisis with both financial assistance and expertise. The UK Special Envoy to the South Sudan peace talks has attended each session of the talks in an advisory capacity since his appointment in January this year, including when the latest agreement on transitional government was reached on 10 June. The Special Envoy has also met with both parties in South Sudan and has engaged regional leaders whose influence is vital to the peace process. We are exploring with troika partners further ways in which we can support the national dialogue process, both financially and administratively.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 25/06/2014 15:47:24 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

61548

registered interest
date	12/06/2014
answering body	Home Office
answering dept id	1
answering dept short name	Home Office
answering dept sort name	Home Office
hansard heading	Meriam Ibrahim
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will answer the question asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool on 10 June (HL Deb, col 236), and on 11 June (HL Deb, col 418), about whether asylum in the United Kingdom will be offered to Meriam Ibrahim, who has been imprisoned and given a death sentence in Sudan.
tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
uin	HL317
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK has a proud record of offering sanctuary to those who need it. Each claim for asylum is carefully considered and where we find individuals are in need of our protection, asylum is given. However, to be eligible for international protection, a person must be located outside of their country of origin.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 25/06/2014 13:57:04 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool