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349525

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2015
	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	Fuel Direct Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the affordability of a standard Fuel Direct rate of £3.70 for direct payments for arrears on fuel bills; and whether in setting that rate they considered (1) allowing some customers to pay a lower rate of direct deduction, and (2) allowing customers to pay by Fuel Direct for ongoing bills when they are not in arrears.
	tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
	uin	HL394
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Third Party Deduction is a long standing scheme of last resort where all other means of budgeting have been exhausted. Where the Secretary of State decides that it is in the claimant’s best interests to order repayment of the arrears he can do so. The scheme was introduced in the 1970’s to protect the vulnerable and their family, whilst not adding to their financial burden.</p><p> </p><p>Fuel Direct is set in legislation at 5% of their Personal Allowance, which is a fixed deduction of £3.70 for each element of fuel debt. This is considered to be the most appropriate level of repayment in order to clear the fuel debt arrears and to prevent enforcement action.</p><p> </p><p>Each year the amount of Third Party Deduction is re-assessed as part of The Social Security Up-rating Order.</p><p> </p><p>Once the arrears have been paid a person will usually be taken off the Fuel Direct scheme. In exceptional circumstances a person may be allowed to remain on the Fuel Direct scheme to help ensure that they don’t get into debt again.</p><p> </p><p>However Fuel Direct is not intended as a budgeting aid and the Governments main objective is to help people into employment, whilst encouraging them to be responsible for their own financial affairs, whether they are on benefit or not.</p> answering member printed Baroness Altmann question first answered 18/06/2015 14:39:18 answering member 4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann
	tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

350105

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2015
	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	Prescribed Industrial Diseases
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many claims they have received for Prescribed Disease C3b in the last 10 years; and of these, how many were allowed.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The information as requested is not available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Baroness Altmann question first answered 18/06/2015 13:40:56 answering member 4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

348836

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2015
	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	Sudan: Christianity
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Sudan about the arrest of two Christian pastors from South Sudan.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Cox
	uin	HL315
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>Our Ambassador in Khartoum raised the cases of Reverend Yat Michael and Reverend Peter Reith with the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March. In addition, officials at our Embassy in Khartoum are in close contact with the legal team working on behalf of the two pastors and are co-ordinating with other Embassies in Khartoum to ensure the international community is represented at the ongoing legal proceedings.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 10:37:37 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	3364 label Biography information for Baroness Cox

348868

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2015
	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	Gaza
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 2 June (HL10), what is their assessment of the cause of the conflict in Gaza, and in particular the effect of Israel's military occupation; and what improvements in living standards have been delivered to the people of Gaza following Israel’s lifting of certain restrictions.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Tonge
	uin	HL347
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The underlying causes of the conflict in Gaza are rocket fire and other attacks against Israel from Hamas and other militant groups; Israeli restrictions on movement and access; and the lack of progress made by the Palestinian Authority in returning to Gaza to restore effective and accountable governance. Israeli restrictions damage the economy and living standards of ordinary people in Gaza. Israel’s lifting of certain restrictions has resulted in some limited improvements in living standards in Gaza compared to the situation in the immediate aftermath of last summer’s conflict. The water supply has been doubled, more agricultural produce is leaving Gaza for export to Israel or transfer to the West Bank, and the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism is facilitating repairs. However, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs assesses that the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. We are continuing to call on Israel to ease movement and access restrictions further.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 10:38:56 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	200 label Biography information for Baroness Tonge

349142

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2015
	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	Eritrea: Human Rights
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea accusing Eritrea of crimes against humanity.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The Government note the report of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea published on 8 June. We are carefully reviewing their findings and look forward to discussion of the report at the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 23 June. We are disappointed the Commission has not been granted access to Eritrea. We continue to call on the Government of Eritrea to honour its international human rights obligations and cooperate fully with the whole UN human rights system, including the Commission.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 10:42:22 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

349144

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2015
	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	Eritrea: Human Rights
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to press the United Nations Security Council to refer Eritrea to the International Criminal Court, in the light of the report by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in Eritrea.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL360
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The UN Commission of Inquiry Report on Human Rights in Eritrea does not recommend referral of Eritrea to the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Report recommends that the international community continues to engage closely on the human rights situation in Eritrea, including on countering irregular migration, human smuggling and trafficking. The UK is already fully engaged on this through the African Union-EU ‘Khartoum Process’. The UK will also continue to press Eritrea to improve its human rights record through a range of channels including via the UN Human Rights Council and Special Rapporteur, EU Article 8 Dialogue, and through regular bilateral diplomacy.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 15:23:27 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

349148

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2015
	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	Philip Blackwood
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the United Kingdom Ambassador to Burma raised the case of Philip Blackwood when he met the Minister of the President's Office earlier this year; and if so, whether he specifically requested Mr Blackwood's release from prison.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead
	uin	HL364
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>Our Ambassador in Rangoon informed the Minister of the President's office that we were following Mr Blackwood's case closely. We continue to provide advice and support to the New Zealand Embassy, who are providing consular assistance to Mr Blackwood who is a dual British/New Zealand national.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 15:22:22 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	3895 label Biography information for Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead

349153

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2015
	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	Bhutan: Overseas Aid
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what funds in aid and development assistance have been made available to Bhutan in each of the past three years; and for what purpose.
	tabling member printed	Lord Smith of Finsbury
	uin	HL369
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The UK contributes to aid and assistance in Bhutan primarily through the EU. The EU development programme for Bhutan from 2007-2013 was €14 million and focused on support for renewable natural resources and enhancing good governance. The 2014-2020 programme is a €42 million package focused on strengthening civil society, supporting local governance and developing sustainable rural livelihoods by enhancing food and nutrition security and generating employment opportunities. <br><br>There was no bilateral spend in financial years 2013-14 or 2014-15. In financial year 2012-13 the UK spent: <br><br>• £15,000 on a high-level visit to the UK headed by the Bhutanese Chief Justice. The purpose of the visit was to develop relationships in the field of judicial and advocacy training, explore ways of developing cooperation and mutually beneficial trade links. <br> <br>• £14,610 on a Chevening Scholarship for a Bhutanese journalism scholar.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 15:21:05 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	186 label Biography information for Lord Smith of Finsbury

349512

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2015
	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	Democratic Republic of Congo: SOCO International
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they intend to take in the light of reports into the activities of Soco International in Virunga national park, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which allege breaches of bribery and corruption laws.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL381
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>We are aware of allegations of serious wrongdoing made against Soco International, its employees and agents connected to its activities in the Virunga National Park in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). We expect all companies to act appropriately and encourage anyone with evidence of fraud, bribery or corruption to pass this to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).</p><p>Allegations of bribery and corruption, and incidents of violence, intimidation and threats directed at environmental activists, fishermen and local residents campaigning against oil exploitation in the Virunga National Park have been inadequately investigated by the DRC authorities. We have called upon the DRC authorities to undertake a full investigation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 15:19:25 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

349519

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2015
	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	Middle East: Armed Conflict
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to encourage the governments of Saudi Arabia and Iran to find political solutions to the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Bahrain.
	tabling member printed	Lord Ahmed
	uin	HL388
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2015 answer text <p>The UK and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have a long history of friendship, understanding and co-operation. Our shared interests are wide and diverse, and include cooperation on counter-terrorism, defence, trade and investment, education and healthcare. We also work closely with the Government of Saudi Arabia across a range of shared key foreign policy interests.</p><p>Iran is an important country in the region but it is contributing to regional instability through its actions. We discuss regional issues as part of our bilateral dialogue with Iran, and continue to encourage Iran to play a constructive role in the region.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 22/06/2015 10:45:11 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	3470 label Biography information for Lord Ahmed