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101679

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: Females
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many women were in prisons in England on 30 June in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 respectively.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Corston
	uin	HL2501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The decision to sentence a person to a custodial sentence, or to remand a person into custody prior to trial or sentencing, is a matter for the independent judiciary and courts will take into account all the circumstances of the offence and the offender in determining this.</p><p> </p><p>For the last two years, the female prison population has been consistently under 4,000 for the first time in a decade. Data on the number of women in prison is published annually at:</p><p>https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339036/prison-population-2014.xls</p><p> </p><p>The numbers of women in prisons in England on 30<sup>th</sup> June on each of the years in question were:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>2006</p></td><td><p>2007</p></td><td><p>2008</p></td><td><p>2009</p></td><td><p>2010</p></td><td><p>2011</p></td><td><p>2012</p></td><td><p>2013</p></td><td><p>2014</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4,463</p></td><td><p>4,283</p></td><td><p>4,505</p></td><td><p>4,307</p></td><td><p>4,267</p></td><td><p>4,185</p></td><td><p>4,123</p></td><td><p>3,853</p></td><td><p>3,929</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are committed to making sure that sentencers have robust community options at their disposal. The Female Offenders Advisory Board are working in Greater Manchester on a pathfinder aimed at providing sentencers with robust and effective sentencing options in the community which may divert women from custody, where appropriate. Learning from the pathfinder will inform a new operating model for working differently with women in the criminal justice system. We are also testing a new model of liaison and diversion in police custody and the courts. The trial scheme, in 10 areas, will aim to identify, assess and refer people with mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and social vulnerabilities into treatment or support services.</p><p> </p><p>We are also working to make sure that female offenders have the support they need to turn their lives around. In March 2014, we published a first year progress report on delivery of our strategic objectives for female offenders, which sets out clearly our key priorities for addressing the needs of female offenders and reducing the number of women in custody. Our Transforming Rehabilitation reforms also mean that those serving under 12 month sentences will, for the first time in recent history, be subject to statutory supervision including a licence period in the community, aimed at supporting successful community reintegration and rehabilitation. Proportionally, more women than men are serving short sentences so they will benefit particularly from this element of the reforms.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 17/11/2014 14:18:29 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	215 label Biography information for Baroness Corston

101698

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Insurance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the fees and charges levied by the insurance industry.
	tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
	uin	HL2520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>Decisions regarding the pricing of insurance products, including fees and levies charged are commercial decisions for individual insurers and the Government does not seek to intervene in these decisions. However, the Government is determined that customers should be treated fairly. The Financial Conduct Authority regulates the conduct of the insurance industry and requires firms to disclose information on fees to be paid for insurance products.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of the Government’s automatic enrolment reforms, measures have recently been put forward to cap fees for workplace pensions to 0.75 per cent so that pensions savings are invested in value for money schemes.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 10/11/2014 18:04:02 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

101680

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that Azure Card users are able to meet their essential living needs; and on what grounds they base their assessment.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2502
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>Failed asylum seekers supported under section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 are provided with accommodation; utilities, household equipment and healthcare are provided free. The Azure Card is provided to enable them to buy food and other items and is uploaded each week to the value of £35.39 for each person in the household. Extra assistance is also provided where necessary, for example by arranging travel to medical appointments and by providing maternity grants for pregnant women.</p><p>The Government keeps this package of assistance under review but is satisfied that it meets the essential living needs of recipients of section 4 support.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 11/11/2014 16:51:54 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

101691

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Cancer: Drugs
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to make new cancer drugs more accessible.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL2513
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>Patients have the right to cancer drugs and treatments that have been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisal guidance for use in the National Health Service, where their doctor believes they are clinically appropriate.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We announced in August that the Cancer Drugs Fund would be increased to £280 million in both 2014-15 and 2015-16. Since October 2010, over 55,000 cancer patients in England have benefited from the Fund and this extra funding is helping to ensure that patients continue to receive the effective cancer drugs which are right for them.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>We have launched an Early Access to Medicines Scheme to give patients with life threatening or seriously debilitating conditions access to medicines that do not yet have a marketing authorisation when there is a clear unmet medical need. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency awarded the first promising innovative medicine designation for a cell therapy product for the treatment of cancer on 8 September 2014.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>In addition, the National Health Service and its partners have begun a ground-breaking new project which will sequence 100,000 whole human genomes of patients with cancer or a rare disease by the end of 2017. This will lead to faster diagnosis and better targeting of treatments.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 17/11/2014 14:34:27 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

101690

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Pupils: Disadvantaged
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to assist those who cannot afford non-core costs associated with state education.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL2512
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education recognises that meeting the incidental costs of state education can be a challenge for some low-income families. We already have a range of policies in place to help ensure that all children benefit from a good education, regardless of their background, and to support low-income families with the non-core costs of education.</p><p>The additional funding provided to schools through the pupil premium is helping schools to transform the way they educate disadvantaged children. Schools are made accountable for this additional funding, worth £2.5 billion this year and protected in real terms next year, through performance tables and Ofsted inspection. A recent Ofsted report showed that this policy is working, and schools are using the funding more effectively than ever before.</p><p>In addition, the Department has invested £340 million to support cultural education and announced an additional £18 million funding boost for music education, giving thousands more disadvantaged pupils access to instruments.</p><p>The Department issues very clear guidance to schools which seeks to minimise the impact of school uniform costs and emphasises the need for schools to consider the cost and availability of uniform when setting their policy. Individual local authorities and academies may choose to provide grants to help with the cost of school clothing in cases of financial hardship, and we would also encourage individual schools to consider running their own schemes.</p><p>The Department has also published advice on charging for school activities to support schools in fulfilling their statutory duties in relation to charging and remission for school activities and school visits. This guidance advises schools to make it clear to parents that there is no obligation to make any contribution. As ever, schools have the discretion to use their additional funds to help with the cost of visits and activities for pupils whose families cannot afford it.</p><p>Finally, from 1 September the Government has expanded free school meals to all children in reception, year 1 and year 2. As a result, up to 100,000 more poor children are benefiting from a healthy and nutritious meal every day, saving low-income families around £400 per year per child.</p><p>We know that education is the key to breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty. As a Government, we are committed to ensuring that all children, regardless of background, benefit from an education which allows them to achieve their full potential.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 10/11/2014 15:07:55 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

101687

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Revenue and Customs
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what will be the legal basis permitting HM Revenue and Customs to remove money from personal bank accounts without first obtaining a Court Order, as announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget speech in March.
	tabling member printed	Lord Willoughby de Broke
	uin	HL2509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government consulted on the process and safeguards for the Direct Recovery of Debts between 6 May and 29 July 2014. This policy will modernise and strengthen HM Revenue’s and Customs’ ability to recover tax and tax credit debts from those who are refusing to pay what they owe but have sufficient funds in their accounts.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government will publish draft legislation in due course.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In line with the Government’s Tax Policy Framework, this draft legislation will be consulted on before it is included in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finance_Bill" target="_blank">Finance Bill</a>, where it will be subject to the usual Parliamentary scrutiny</p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 17/11/2014 14:17:05 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	1775 label Biography information for Lord Willoughby de Broke

101699

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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	Local Government Services: Migrants
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the costs to local authorities of providing housing and other services to people with no other recourse to public funds.
	tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
	uin	HL2521
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government does not hold a national estimate of the costs to local authorities of providing housing and other services to people with No Recourse to Public Funds.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 17/11/2014 12:04:07 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

101696

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Bank Services: Fees and Charges
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the level of unauthorised overdraft fees charged by banks in the United Kingdom.
	tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
	uin	HL2518
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has not made an assessment of the level of unauthorised overdraft fees charged by banks in the United Kingdom.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In November 2011, the Government announced an agreement with the major current account providers to enable customers to control their account and to take action to avoid unarranged overdraft charges.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Office of Fair Trading found in January 2013 that there had been a significant reduction in bank fees and charges since their 2008 market study, and estimated that there had been an annual saving of £928million for consumers as a result.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Deighton question first answered 05/11/2014 14:01:50 answering member 4262 label Biography information for Lord Deighton
	tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

101695

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	answering body	Department for Culture Media and Sport
	answering dept id	10
	answering dept short name	Culture, Media and Sport
	answering dept sort name	Culture, Media and Sport
	hansard heading	Broadband: Coastal Areas
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment have they made of the provision of broadband services in coastal areas.
	tabling member printed	Lord Kennedy of Southwark
	uin	HL2517
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2014 answer text <p>The Government has, to date, committed £780m of central funding to support improvements to broadband services for 95% of UK premises. The funding was allocated to local bodies who are responsible for setting priorities and delivering local broadband projects. Broadband Delivery UK supported local delivery teams by providing indicative broadband coverage data from its broadband model. The data model does not identify coastal areas separately from other areas, however information about broadband provision and speeds is publically available from Ofcom at <a href="http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/" target="_blank">http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information about the BDUK projects, including coverage maps and post code checkers can be found at:<a href="https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=202405357373084260711.0004c0a24c8574593fb79&amp;msa=0&amp;dg=feature" target="_blank">https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=202405357373084260711.0004c0a24c8574593fb79&amp;msa=0&amp;dg=feature</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Gardiner of Kimble question first answered 05/11/2014 12:06:39 answering member 4161 label Biography information for Lord Gardiner of Kimble
	tabling member	4153 label Biography information for Lord Kennedy of Southwark

101682

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2014
	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	Travellers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions have been taken in pursuance of the commitments undertaken by the Ministerial Working Group on tacking inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers in their progress report of April 2012; and what further meetings have taken place, with what outcomes, since that date.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL2504
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/11/2014 answer text <p>The Ministerial Working Group on Gypsies and Travellers was convened as an ad hoc meeting to discuss inequalities experienced by the Gypsy and Traveller community. This working group resulted in the publication of a progress report which included 28 commitments made by the Departments represented on it, with the aim of helping mainstream services work more effectively with Gypsies and Travellers.</p><p> </p><p>Since the report, Ministers have not needed to meet to implement the agreed policy, as this has been delegated to the Civil Service. There have been regular meetings between Gypsy and Traveller organisations and officials across Whitehall to discuss the progress made against the Government’s commitments, and wider action to improve the social outcomes of Gypsies and Travellers. We intend to publish a follow up report in due course.</p><p> </p><p>I have deposited in the Library of the House a document with a summary of progress so far against each of the 28 commitments with links to where further information can be found.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 11/11/2014 12:51:59 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon attachment 1 file name Gypsies and Travellers commitments -DEPOSITEDPAPER-455504 (HL2504).doc title 28 Commitments
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury