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178373

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to uprating the state pension of retired British citizens who have made full National Insurance contributions in the United Kingdom but who now live abroad.
tabling member printed	Baroness Benjamin
uin	HL4761
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pension paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. This is to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. The up-rating policy is determined by the differing social security arrangements for the countries concerned. Most bilateral agreements were entered into over 40 years ago and based on the prevailing economic and social conditions such as labour market migration patterns – in both the UK and the other countries. The Commonwealth Charter, while it provides a broad statement of common values, does not overrule national legislation in commonwealth countries.</p><p> </p><p>Around 13 million UK state pensions are paid to those entitled, of which around 1.2 million are paid to those living outside the UK. Approximately 550,000 pensioners live in countries in which the UK state pension is not up-rated. The UK state pension is paid on the basis of National Insurance contributions and not on the basis of nationality or citizenship. Information on the nationality, citizenship and ethnicity of state pension recipients is not available. There is no evidence of a proven behavioural link between up-rating policy and pensioner migration. Many of the pensioners migrated well before they reached State Pension age. Only a small minority of UK state pension recipients, less than five per cent, moved overseas at retirement. However it remains important that those planning to live overseas consider the impact on their state pension. The decision to move abroad remains a personal choice for individuals.<br> <br></p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL4762 HL4763 HL4764 HL4765 question first answered 10/02/2015 16:06:26 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	4167 label Biography information for Baroness Benjamin

178374

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have assessed the policy of freezing the state pension of retired individuals who live abroad in certain Commonwealth countries against the 2013 Commonwealth Charter commitments to fairness and non-discrimination; and with what result.
tabling member printed	Baroness Benjamin
uin	HL4762
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pension paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. This is to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. The up-rating policy is determined by the differing social security arrangements for the countries concerned. Most bilateral agreements were entered into over 40 years ago and based on the prevailing economic and social conditions such as labour market migration patterns – in both the UK and the other countries. The Commonwealth Charter, while it provides a broad statement of common values, does not overrule national legislation in commonwealth countries.</p><p> </p><p>Around 13 million UK state pensions are paid to those entitled, of which around 1.2 million are paid to those living outside the UK. Approximately 550,000 pensioners live in countries in which the UK state pension is not up-rated. The UK state pension is paid on the basis of National Insurance contributions and not on the basis of nationality or citizenship. Information on the nationality, citizenship and ethnicity of state pension recipients is not available. There is no evidence of a proven behavioural link between up-rating policy and pensioner migration. Many of the pensioners migrated well before they reached State Pension age. Only a small minority of UK state pension recipients, less than five per cent, moved overseas at retirement. However it remains important that those planning to live overseas consider the impact on their state pension. The decision to move abroad remains a personal choice for individuals.<br> <br></p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL4761 HL4763 HL4764 HL4765 question first answered 10/02/2015 16:06:26 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	4167 label Biography information for Baroness Benjamin

178375

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
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 impact of their policy to freeze rather than uprate the state pensions of those living abroad in countries without bilateral social security agreements on British pensioners living in the United Kingdom who might otherwise choose to move overseas.
tabling member printed	Baroness Benjamin
uin	HL4763
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pension paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. This is to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. The up-rating policy is determined by the differing social security arrangements for the countries concerned. Most bilateral agreements were entered into over 40 years ago and based on the prevailing economic and social conditions such as labour market migration patterns – in both the UK and the other countries. The Commonwealth Charter, while it provides a broad statement of common values, does not overrule national legislation in commonwealth countries.</p><p> </p><p>Around 13 million UK state pensions are paid to those entitled, of which around 1.2 million are paid to those living outside the UK. Approximately 550,000 pensioners live in countries in which the UK state pension is not up-rated. The UK state pension is paid on the basis of National Insurance contributions and not on the basis of nationality or citizenship. Information on the nationality, citizenship and ethnicity of state pension recipients is not available. There is no evidence of a proven behavioural link between up-rating policy and pensioner migration. Many of the pensioners migrated well before they reached State Pension age. Only a small minority of UK state pension recipients, less than five per cent, moved overseas at retirement. However it remains important that those planning to live overseas consider the impact on their state pension. The decision to move abroad remains a personal choice for individuals.<br> <br></p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL4761 HL4762 HL4764 HL4765 question first answered 10/02/2015 16:06:27 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	4167 label Biography information for Baroness Benjamin

178376

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure that all recipients of United Kingdom state pensions resident in Caribbean countries are treated on a fair and equal basis.
tabling member printed	Baroness Benjamin
uin	HL4764
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pension paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. This is to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. The up-rating policy is determined by the differing social security arrangements for the countries concerned. Most bilateral agreements were entered into over 40 years ago and based on the prevailing economic and social conditions such as labour market migration patterns – in both the UK and the other countries. The Commonwealth Charter, while it provides a broad statement of common values, does not overrule national legislation in commonwealth countries.</p><p> </p><p>Around 13 million UK state pensions are paid to those entitled, of which around 1.2 million are paid to those living outside the UK. Approximately 550,000 pensioners live in countries in which the UK state pension is not up-rated. The UK state pension is paid on the basis of National Insurance contributions and not on the basis of nationality or citizenship. Information on the nationality, citizenship and ethnicity of state pension recipients is not available. There is no evidence of a proven behavioural link between up-rating policy and pensioner migration. Many of the pensioners migrated well before they reached State Pension age. Only a small minority of UK state pension recipients, less than five per cent, moved overseas at retirement. However it remains important that those planning to live overseas consider the impact on their state pension. The decision to move abroad remains a personal choice for individuals.<br> <br></p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL4761 HL4762 HL4763 HL4765 question first answered 10/02/2015 16:06:27 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	4167 label Biography information for Baroness Benjamin

178377

registered interest
date	06/02/2015
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of (1) the number of British pensioners overall, and (2) the proportion of those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, who would be more likely to emigrate if the practice of freezing pensions for those who live overseas was ended.
tabling member printed	Baroness Benjamin
uin	HL4765
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The policy of this Coalition Government on the up-rating of UK state pension paid to people living overseas is the same as that of successive post-war Governments. This is to up-rate such pensions where we are legally required to under the terms of EU law or a bilateral social security agreement. The up-rating policy is determined by the differing social security arrangements for the countries concerned. Most bilateral agreements were entered into over 40 years ago and based on the prevailing economic and social conditions such as labour market migration patterns – in both the UK and the other countries. The Commonwealth Charter, while it provides a broad statement of common values, does not overrule national legislation in commonwealth countries.</p><p> </p><p>Around 13 million UK state pensions are paid to those entitled, of which around 1.2 million are paid to those living outside the UK. Approximately 550,000 pensioners live in countries in which the UK state pension is not up-rated. The UK state pension is paid on the basis of National Insurance contributions and not on the basis of nationality or citizenship. Information on the nationality, citizenship and ethnicity of state pension recipients is not available. There is no evidence of a proven behavioural link between up-rating policy and pensioner migration. Many of the pensioners migrated well before they reached State Pension age. Only a small minority of UK state pension recipients, less than five per cent, moved overseas at retirement. However it remains important that those planning to live overseas consider the impact on their state pension. The decision to move abroad remains a personal choice for individuals.<br> <br></p> answering member printed Lord Freud grouped question UIN HL4761 HL4762 HL4763 HL4764 question first answered 10/02/2015 16:06:27 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
tabling member	4167 label Biography information for Baroness Benjamin

177290

registered interest
date	03/02/2015
answering body	Department for Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Right to Buy Scheme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 15 January concerning the Right to Buy scheme (HL4050), how many social housing units were lost to provide the £600 million; how many will be provided from that money; what consideration they have given to the wider fairness of offering property at a discount to those who have already enjoyed a social housing tenancy; and whether Stamp Duty on such sales is levied at full market value or on the discounted value.
tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
uin	HL4657
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The Government is committed to helping tenants achieve their home ownership aspirations. The Right to Buy Scheme has helped almost 2 million households to enjoy the benefits of home ownership, including greater independence, and the security of owning a valuable asset.</p><p> </p><p>Over £600 million has been generated from 14,731 additional Right to Buy sales since the policy was reinvigorated in April 2012. All but two stock holding authorities have entered into agreements with the Government to replace that stock on a one-for-one basis within three years, and any one-for-one receipts not used by authorities will be returned to the Homes and Communities Agency or the Greater London Authority for investment in new affordable housing.</p><p> </p><p>Stamp Duty is worked out as a percentage of the price the tenant pays for a property. Information on Stamp Duty can be obtained from: <a href="http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sdlt/intro/rates-thresholds.htm" target="_blank">www.hmrc.gov.uk/sdlt/intro/rates-thresholds.htm</a></p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 10/02/2015 16:13:23 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

176643

registered interest
date	29/01/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Cancer Drugs Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government why patients and patient groups are not allowed to appeal decisions of NHS England to exclude certain drugs from the approved list in the Cancer Drugs Fund.
tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
uin	HL4552
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines that applications to include candidate drugs/indications for inclusion in the national CDF list can only be made directly for potential cohorts of patients by the pharmaceutical industry and/or clinicians.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There are two different routes for applicants to challenge the decisions of the national Cancer Drugs Fund panel – either by making a complaint to the Chair of the panel and/or by requesting a formal review (often referred to as an ‘appeal’).</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The complaints process outlined within the CDF SOP, indicates that a complaint can be made by either the manufacturer or a clinician where there is dissatisfaction with the outcome (either inclusion or exclusion of a drug) in respect of the national CDF list. A complaint must be made by a written letter to the chair of the panel outlining the reasons for the complaint.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A formal review, which is undertaken by NHS England’s Cancer and Blood Programme of Care Board, can only be requested by the original applicants to the CDF where the application has been unsuccessful.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>With regard to the decisions announced by NHS England on 12 January 2015, all complaints or requests for a formal review must be submitted by 9 February 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS England’s <a title="Standard Operating Procedures: The Cancer Drugs Fund - Opens in a new window (937kb)" href="http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sop-cdf-1114.pdf" target="_blank">CDF Standard Operating Procedure document</a> is available at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sop-cdf-1114.pdf</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Clinicians will continue to be able to apply for individual patients to receive drugs not on the national CDF list on an exceptional basis.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Patients have the right to make a complaint using the National Health Service complaints process and, under this process, complainants have 12 months in which to lodge their complaint. This is separate to the CDF complaints process referenced above, which can only be accessed by CDF applicants and clinicians. Details of the NHS complaints process can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx" target="_blank">www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL4553 question first answered 10/02/2015 15:48:48 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	2024 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

176644

registered interest
date	29/01/2015
answering body	Department of Health
answering dept id	17
answering dept short name	Health
answering dept sort name	Health
hansard heading	Cancer Drugs Fund
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how patients' interests are able to be represented if a company chooses not to appeal decisions of NHS England to exclude certain drugs from the approved list in the Cancer Drugs Fund.
tabling member printed	Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
uin	HL4553
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>NHS England’s Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines that applications to include candidate drugs/indications for inclusion in the national CDF list can only be made directly for potential cohorts of patients by the pharmaceutical industry and/or clinicians.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There are two different routes for applicants to challenge the decisions of the national Cancer Drugs Fund panel – either by making a complaint to the Chair of the panel and/or by requesting a formal review (often referred to as an ‘appeal’).</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The complaints process outlined within the CDF SOP, indicates that a complaint can be made by either the manufacturer or a clinician where there is dissatisfaction with the outcome (either inclusion or exclusion of a drug) in respect of the national CDF list. A complaint must be made by a written letter to the chair of the panel outlining the reasons for the complaint.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>A formal review, which is undertaken by NHS England’s Cancer and Blood Programme of Care Board, can only be requested by the original applicants to the CDF where the application has been unsuccessful.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>With regard to the decisions announced by NHS England on 12 January 2015, all complaints or requests for a formal review must be submitted by 9 February 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS England’s <a title="Standard Operating Procedures: The Cancer Drugs Fund - Opens in a new window (937kb)" href="http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sop-cdf-1114.pdf" target="_blank">CDF Standard Operating Procedure document</a> is available at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/sop-cdf-1114.pdf</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Clinicians will continue to be able to apply for individual patients to receive drugs not on the national CDF list on an exceptional basis.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Patients have the right to make a complaint using the National Health Service complaints process and, under this process, complainants have 12 months in which to lodge their complaint. This is separate to the CDF complaints process referenced above, which can only be accessed by CDF applicants and clinicians. Details of the NHS complaints process can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx" target="_blank">www.nhs.uk/choiceintheNHS/Rightsandpledges/complaints/Pages/NHScomplaints.aspx</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe grouped question UIN HL4552 question first answered 10/02/2015 15:48:48 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
tabling member	2024 label Biography information for Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

176654

registered interest
date	29/01/2015
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	Trade Agreements
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 reasons for differences in the number of free trade agreements which include services entered into by the European Union and Switzerland respectively; and what plans they have to address the difference.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL4563
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>Switzerland and the European Union have entered into a significant number of free trade agreements. Switzerland has around 30 FTAs and the EU approximately 50. Services have been included in some of these agreements but not all.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The UK Government is a strong supporter of the inclusion of Services in free trade agreements, because it creates a more stable and transparent trading and investment environment for UK companies to export their Services to trading partner markets. This is why Services form a strong component in our modern trade agreements such as with Canada, Korea and Singapore. It will also feature strongly in the EU’s upcoming agreements with Vietnam and the United States (TTIP). Many of these agreement are very ambitious covering areas often not included in traditional agreements and reflecting the range of trade carried out by the EU.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The EU is committed to the inclusion on Services in its negotiations and has fully supported the establishment of the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA). The agreement is solely based on Services and derived from a concerted push by the services industry. TiSA is based on the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which involves all WTO members. More information on TiSA can be found on the following website <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/" target="_blank">http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 10/02/2015 17:07:38 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch

176655

registered interest
date	29/01/2015
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	EU External Trade
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made, in the light of Singapore’s conclusion by 2005 of free trade agreements which include services with Japan, the United States, India and China, of the reasons why the European Union has not entered into such agreements with those countries.
tabling member printed	Lord Pearson of Rannoch
uin	HL4564
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/02/2015 answer text <p>The European Union is currently negotiating free trade agreements with Japan, the United States, India (currently at a standstill) and an investment agreement with China. Each of these negotiations includes services.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For the EU, trade in services is of strategic importance. The sector accounts for some three-quarters of EU gross domestic product (GDP) and of EU jobs. Liberalising trade in services will be an important component of the EU negotiations with Japan and the United States.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The EU is committed to the inclusion of services in its free trade agreements. In the investment agreement with China, the EU is addressing market access issues relating to services and it is hoped that the India FTA negotiations will resume. In the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership agreement (TTIP) between the EU and US, better market access for services is one of the top priorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In recognising the importance of trade in services negotiations the EU is also taking an active role in the Trade in Services (TiSA) negotiations. TiSA is based on the WTO's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), which involves all WTO members.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More information on TiSA can be found on the following website <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/" target="_blank">http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/tisa/</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Livingston of Parkhead question first answered 10/02/2015 17:11:27 answering member 4278 label Biography information for Lord Livingston of Parkhead
tabling member	3153 label Biography information for Lord Pearson of Rannoch