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224526

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Wales Office
	answering dept id	28
	answering dept short name	Wales
	answering dept sort name	Wales
	hansard heading	Senior Civil Servants: Welsh Language
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the retention of Welsh as a requirement for applicants to senior managerial public roles in areas where Welsh is the main language.
	tabling member constituency	Arfon
	tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
	uin	225797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>I have regular discussions with Welsh Government ministers on a range of issues, including the Welsh language.</p><p>The Welsh language is a devolved subject and the adoption and successful implementation of Welsh language schemes is a matter for individual public bodies in Wales.</p><p>The UK Government is fully committed to the Welsh language and to providing Government services in the Welsh language. The Wales Office supports other Departments in delivering their Welsh language services, and proactively seeks opportunities to raise the profile of the Welsh language across Government.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Vale of Glamorgan answering member printed Alun Cairns question first answered 09/03/2015 12:31:45 answering member 4086 label Biography information for Alun Cairns
	tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

224414

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Financial Services: Technology
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps his Department has taken to boost the growth of the financial technology industry.
	tabling member constituency	Windsor
	tabling member printed	Adam Afriyie
	uin	225806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2015 answer text <p>As part of our long term economic plan, the Government is committed to supporting the continued growth of the Financial Technology (FinTech) sector. The Government has taken a number of steps to achieve this, including:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Creating a new Payments Systems Regulator (PSR), which will ensure that smaller banks and alternative providers of finance – including FinTechs – can access payment systems in a fair and transparent way, and thereby contributing to a fairer and more competitive payments industry. The PSR will open its doors on 1 April this year.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Committing to additional funding of £100m to the British Business Bank’s Investment Programme – including funding for FinTech.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Launching the GO-Science’s Blackett Review on FinTech Futures, which looks ahead 10 years to the future and identify what the technologies, enablers and barriers are that will shape the future of the UK FinTech sector.</p><p> </p></li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><p>Naming the big banks that will have to share credit data, and refer on SMEs they reject for finance – helping alternative finance providers, including FinTech firms, to lend more effectively;</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>Supporting the development of the peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding market: consulting on ISA eligibility for crowdfunded debt securities; announcing we will review EU regulations standing in the way of P2P institutional lending; and creating a bespoke regulatory framework for P2P.</p><p> </p></li></ul><p> </p><p>Most recently at budget 2015, we announced a further package of measures to build on the government’s wide-reaching programme of reform to drive competition in banking and FinTech, including announcing that:</p><p> </p><ul><li><p>The Government intends to apply anti-money laundering regulation to digital currency exchanges in the UK, launch a new research initiative into digital currency technology, with £10 million additional funding, and work with the British Standards Institution and the digital currency industry to develop voluntary standards for consumer protection.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Gocompare will launch the first personal current account comparison tool making use of customers’ bank midata releases on 26 March 2015.</p><p> </p></li><li><p>The Government will work with the banks and FinTech firms to develop an open API (Application Programming Interface) standard for banks, by the end of the year.</p></li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li><p>the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ‘Project Innovate’ will work with HMT and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to investigate the feasibility of developing a regulatory ‘sandbox’ for financial services innovators</p><p> </p></li><li><p>Innovate Finance has agreed to deliver its FinTech regional strategy through a series of local partnerships; the first partnership has already been established in Leeds, and further partnerships will be established in Manchester and Edinburgh by April, and in Newcastle, Bristol and other centres before the end of the year.</p></li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 25/03/2015 11:07:37 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	1586 label Biography information for Adam Afriyie

224418

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	HM Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Remploy
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the Answer of 26 February 2015 to Question 224963, on which dates since May 2010 Ministers in his Department met a former Remploy employee.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Pamela Nash
	uin	225889
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>Treasury Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Details of ministerial and permanent secretary meetings with external organisations on departmental business are published on a quarterly basis and are available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm" target="_blank">http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/minister_hospitality.htm</a>.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency South Northamptonshire answering member printed Andrea Leadsom question first answered 09/03/2015 17:03:53 answering member 4117 label Biography information for Andrea Leadsom
	tabling member	3909 label Biography information for Pamela Nash

224493

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Prisoners: Suicide
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners and what proportion of the prison population have killed themselves in each of the last 20 years.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	225903
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Data on deaths in custody, including the numbers and rates of self-inflicted deaths in each of the last 20 years, is published in the Safety in Custody Statistics Bulletin, available at <a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-in-custody-statistics</a>.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 09/03/2015 14:46:34 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

224494

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Victim Personal Statements
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, in what proportion of relevant cases were victim impact statements submitted to Crown courts in criminal proceedings in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Dwyfor Meirionnydd
	tabling member printed	Mr Elfyn Llwyd
	uin	225895
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>We published a new Victims’ Code in December 2013 which sets out in plain language what support and information people should expect from the moment they report a crime to the end of a trial and beyond and who to demand help from if they are not receiving it. Significantly, for the first time it entitles victims and bereaved relatives to ask to read out their Victim Personal Statement (VPS) to the court before an offender is sentenced. This gives them the opportunity to explain in their own words how the crime has affected them and their family.</p><p> </p><p>HM Courts and Tribunals Service does not record information in relation to the number and proportion of cases in which victim personal statements are submitted in criminal proceedings. The Government has made a commitment to monitor criminal justice agencies’ compliance with the Victims’ Code and in Our Commitment to Victims, published on 15 September 2014, we announced that criminal justice agencies will publish information on how they have improved services for victims by April 2015.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous question first answered 05/03/2015 17:41:50 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	549 label Biography information for Mr Elfyn Llwyd

224500

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Young Offenders: Asbestos
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of children that have been exposed to asbestos while serving a custodial sentence in the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	225885
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all young people in custody. Prison Service Order 3802, issued in 2004 ensures that Governors, Area Managers and Heads of Groups have systems in place against the accidental release of asbestos fibres within Young Offenders Institutions. I will write to the hon Member on any incidents of exposure within the last five years, as it has not been possible to determine this information within the timescale permitted.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is no asbestos at the Secure Training Centre sites. Responsibility for managing any asbestos-related risks in Secure Children’s Homes would rest with their managers and owners, who are all local authorities, and information is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 225887 question first answered 05/03/2015 17:41:48 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

224503

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Young Offender Institutions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of youth custody establishments which contain asbestos.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	225887
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>We are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for all young people in custody. Prison Service Order 3802, issued in 2004 ensures that Governors, Area Managers and Heads of Groups have systems in place against the accidental release of asbestos fibres within Young Offenders Institutions. I will write to the hon Member on any incidents of exposure within the last five years, as it has not been possible to determine this information within the timescale permitted.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There is no asbestos at the Secure Training Centre sites. Responsibility for managing any asbestos-related risks in Secure Children’s Homes would rest with their managers and owners, who are all local authorities, and information is not held centrally.</p> answering member constituency South West Bedfordshire answering member printed Andrew Selous grouped question UIN 225885 question first answered 05/03/2015 17:41:48 answering member 1453 label Biography information for Andrew Selous
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

224298

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Saudi Arabia
	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 Saudi Arabia following the decision of a Saudi Arabian court to sentence a man to death for renouncing his Muslim faith; and whether they consider such sentences to be compatible with Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as it relates to freedom of religion and belief.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5320
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>It is a matter of public record that the British Government strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief, which is severely restricted in Saudi Arabia. We believe, as Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and that this right includes freedom to change one’s religion or belief. Any action to punish an individual for their faith or belief is not compatible with Article 18.</p><p>The UK has repeatedly made clear that it opposes the death penalty in all countries and in all circumstances because we believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent. Ministers, our Ambassador, and our Embassy team in Riyadh frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the EU.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 16/03/2015 17:41:15 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224299

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Maldives
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the arrest and imprisonment of former President Mohamed Nasheed in the Maldives, and allegations of police brutality and denial of legal representation in his trial.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5321
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2015 answer text <p>We are concerned about last month’s arrest of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed on charges of terrorism and increasing political tensions. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), issued a press statement on 26 February expressing concern at the continued detention of Mr Nasheed and urging all political parties to act with moderation and restraint. It is important for international confidence in Maldives that Mr Nasheed, like all other citizens, is seen to be enjoying due legal process and respect for his fundamental rights. Mr Swire discussed these concerns again with the Maldives Foreign Minister on 6 March. He has also discussed this case with the Secretary General of the Commonwealth and with High Commissioners in London. The Commonwealth made clear in a press statement on 23 February the importance of ensuring that the rule of law is respected, with adherence to due process, and in accordance with the Commonwealth Charter. We continue to monitor the situation closely.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns grouped question UIN HL5367 question first answered 13/03/2015 14:43:47 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224300

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Bangladesh
	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 Bangladesh about their obligations under Article 18 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights following the reported murder by unidentified assailants in Dhaka of Avijit Roy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5322
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>We take human rights very seriously, raising concerns with the Government of Bangladesh when there are credible allegations. We ask that all incidents are investigated promptly, transparently and impartially. At Bangladesh’s 2nd Universal Periodic Review at the Human Rights Council on 29 April 2013 the UK called on the Government of Bangladesh to do more to protect vulnerable groups. Our High Commissioner in Dhaka expressed the UK’s horror at the murder of US resident Abvijit Roy and the serious injury to his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya as well as at all the violence that has taken place in Bangladesh in recent months.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:51 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224301

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Iraq
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports that Isis has destroyed and burnt ancient books and manuscripts in Mosul.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5323
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The British Government is aware of reports that the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has destroyed and burnt ancient books and manuscripts in northern Iraq. Whilst we are not in a position to confirm those reports we utterly condemn all acts of vandalism against Iraq’s history and culture. The UK supported the passage of UN Security Council Resolution 2199 which condemns the destruction of cultural heritage in Iraq and Syria, including the targeted destruction of religious sites and objects.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:43 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224306

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Ukraine
	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 24 February (HL4787) concerning arms to Ukraine, whether the armoured vehicles being supplied to Ukraine are capable of being armed with lethal weapons; and, if so, whether they have sought assurances from the government of Ukraine that it will not convert those vehicles for armed conflict.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL5328
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence have purchased 75 Saxon armoured vehicles through a private commercial contract. The vehicles are unarmed with no offensive capability. Our Embassy in Kyiv are seeking confirmation from the Ukrainian authorities about whether they have plans to retrofit the vehicles but any subsequent decision to convert the vehicles is a matter for the Ukrainian government.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:33 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

224311

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Iran
	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 Iran to end the use there of capital punishment on children.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Listowel
	uin	HL5333
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The British Government opposes the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, especially in the case of minors. We have made our position clear to the Iranian government, both privately and in public. During our submission to the UN Human Rights Council’s Universal Periodic Review of Iran’s human rights record on 31 October 2014, the Government recommended that Iran put an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty for minors.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 09/03/2015 16:23:24 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	2054 label Biography information for The Earl of Listowel

224323

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Eastern Europe
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proposals they have with regard to the aims and agenda of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership summit meeting at Riga in May 2015.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL5345
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2015 answer text <p>We expect the Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga to send a strong message of support to Eastern Partnership countries. It is vital that they make their own strategic choices without third party interference and for the Summit to confirm the EU’s support for the implementation of real reforms on the ground for the benefit of citizens, including through the implementation of the EU Association Agreements with Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.</p> answering member printed Baroness Anelay of St Johns question first answered 13/03/2015 14:44:42 answering member 3474 label Biography information for Baroness Anelay of St Johns
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

224291

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	East Coast Main Line
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with Network Rail over plans to increase the maximum line speed on the East Coast Main Line to 140mph and the impact of such an increase on the business case for HS2 to Leeds and beyond.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL5313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>Network Rail has been asked to start to consider options for increasing line speeds on certain sections of the East Coast Main Line from the current maximum of 125mph to 140mph. This increased line speed could be utilised by the new Intercity Express trains, which are designed to operate at this higher speed, and depending upon the length of the sections involved could result in reductions to advertised journey times to key destinations.</p><p> </p><p>No analysis can be undertaken on the impact of this proposal upon other projects until the outcome of the initial work is known.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 09/03/2015 15:55:20 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

224292

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	East Coast Main Line
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the likely effect of increasing the line speed on the East Coast Main Line to 140mph on capacity to accommodate slower passenger or freight trains on that line.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL5314
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>Network Rail has been asked to start to consider options for increasing line speeds on certain sections of the East Coast Main Line from the current maximum of 125mph to 140mph. This work will identify the impact of these potential changes, if any, upon all users of the line.</p><p> </p><p>Prior to the implementation of any such changes Network Rail will apply the standard rail industry ‘Network Change’ consultation process. This provides all relevant parties the opportunity to fully understand the details of the proposed changes, assess the impact of these changes upon their access rights and make appropriate representations.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 09/03/2015 15:53:33 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

224308

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Great Western Main Line
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the electrification of Thames Valley railways is likely to be completed on time and at the original cost; and if not, why not.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL5330
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>I have been advised by Network Rail that work on the Thames Valley railways is progressing well and they are aiming for completion at the end of 2016. However, the programme is subject to change and alteration as the scope and needs of the overall project change.</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 11/03/2015 14:30:39 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

224321

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Shipping: Waste Disposal
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have plans to require all ships above a certain tonnage, docking in the United Kingdom, to show that they had landed all their plastic waste for safe disposal; and whether primary or secondary legislation would be needed for this purpose.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL5343
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The discharge, into the sea, of plastic from ships is already prohibited internationally and the UK has secondary legislation in place which includes the requirement for it to be landed to port waste reception facilities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Before entry into a port the master of the ship is required to notify the quantity of plastic waste on board and to indicate whether it is for delivery at this port or their next point of call.</p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 16/03/2015 17:49:50 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

224289

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Students: Loans
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is (1) the amount, and (2) the proportion, of debt incurred under the current student loan scheme which they estimate will not be repaid and will have to be written off.
	tabling member printed	Lord Beecham
	uin	HL5311
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>I refer the noble Lord to the replies given by my Rt Hon Friend the Member for Havant (David Willetts) on 31 March 2014 to Questions 193225 and 193350.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 26/03/2015 15:15:51 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	4181 label Biography information for Lord Beecham

224339

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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 Chief Scientific Adviser
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have had any discussions with Mr Juncker about the arrangements he is putting in place to replace the function of the post of Chief Scientific Adviser to the President of the European Commission; and what are those arrangements.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Caithness
	uin	HL5361
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government has discussed this matter with Carlos Moedas, the European Commissioner responsible for Research, Science and Innovation and with Commission officials. The European Commission is still considering a number of options on the future provision of scientific advice to the European Commission and has indicated it will make an announcement before the summer.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Neville-Rolfe question first answered 16/03/2015 13:57:27 answering member 4284 label Biography information for Baroness Neville-Rolfe
	tabling member	3310 label Biography information for The Earl of Caithness

224322

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Private Infrastructure Development Group
	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 Northover on 19 February (HL 4577), what were the uses to which the £360 million deposited in the Private Development Group Account were put; and what results those have produced so far.
	tabling member printed	Lord Hylton
	uin	HL5344
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2015 answer text <p>DFID’s investment in the PIDG has supported 35 projects, including in energy, agricultural infrastructure, industrial infrastructure, transport, ports and roads. These projects have created nearly 200,000 jobs and driven £6.8 billion of private investment into some of the world’s poorest countries. In 2013 alone, eight PIDG projects started operations, bringing new or improved services to 8.6 million people.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Northover question first answered 17/03/2015 12:15:18 answering member 2539 label Biography information for Baroness Northover
	tabling member	2018 label Biography information for Lord Hylton

224293

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Geothermal Power
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to support the development of geothermal energy.
	tabling member printed	Lord Berkeley
	uin	HL5315
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government is supporting geothermal energy development through a combination of financial support, innovation support and legislative measures. Deep geothermal heat projects receive a dedicative tariff through the Renewable Heat Incentive and by supporting the development of heat networks, including through the work and funding of the Heat Networks Delivery Unit. Geothermal power projects are eligible for support under the Renewable Obligation and in the future through Contracts for Difference. The Department has set a final strike price for deep geothermal power of £145 per megawatt hour, up until 2016/17, and £140 per megawatt hour thereafter.</p><p>The Government is providing support for innovation in geothermal technologies through DECC’s Energy Entrepreneurs Fund and the Heat Networks Demonstration Competition.</p><p>The underground access clauses introduced through the Infrastructure Act remove a significant barrier to deep geothermal development. The Government will continue to work with the industry to explore how other barriers to geothermal development can be overcome to further support the industry’s development.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 16/03/2015 17:47:25 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	3526 label Biography information for Lord Berkeley

224316

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Natural Gas: Russia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of natural gas currently being consumed in the United Kingdom is sourced from Russia.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL5338
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>The United Kingdom does not physically import any gas directly from Russia. A small amount of Russian gas may be imported through our interconnector pipelines with the Netherlands and Belgium, which amounts to around 1% of the United Kingdom’s demand.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 11/03/2015 14:23:33 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

224317

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Natural Gas: Russia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what contingency arrangements are in place to secure natural gas supplies in the event of a termination of supplies coming from Russia.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL5339
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>Our Stress Test that we concluded as part of an EU-wide exercise found that the UK has a robust market which is likely to cope with a range of scenarios involving disruptions to Russian gas supplies, including the very unlikely and extreme case of full Russian disruption and severe winter weather. This is thanks largely to the UK’s robust gas market, a diverse range of gas supply options and extensive gas supply infrastructure. This includes domestic production, supply pipelines from Norway, Belgium and the Netherlands, liquefied natural gas terminals which can import gas from world markets and storage facilities.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 11/03/2015 13:27:57 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

224318

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Natural Gas: Russia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with other European governments to secure natural gas supplies to Western Europe.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL5340
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>During the Commission exercise on stress tests last summer when all Member States were asked to consider the impact of one and six month winter disruptions of Russian gas to the EU under two scenarios (total cessation of Russian gas supplies by all routes and cessation of all transit gas to the EU via Ukraine), the UK had detailed discussions with immediate neighbours, including with Belgium and the Netherlands, on security of supply assumptions and preparedness. Those discussions confirmed general alignment as regards our respective security of supply positions and relative demand, supply and import profile assumptions, including any impact on possible flows through the interconnectors. Indeed the Commission stress test analysis last Autumn on the pan-European situation acknowledged the relative robustness of western states to a disruption given its diversity of supply sources and routes and the efficient functioning of the liberalised western and north western markets, which are more liquid and price responsive than other regions of the EU.</p><p>Notwithstanding this there is a need for strengthened co-operation amongst all Member States to increase resilience throughout the EU and to urgently reduce dependence of some Member States on a single or major third country supplier, particularly in the South East and Baltic regions. We strongly support the Commission taking an active role in those regions to help achieve that. Security of supply is a key priority of the Energy Union, which the UK endorses.</p><p>The UK has also been very actively engaged in supporting the process for selecting Projects of Common Interest (PCIs) whereby key cross-border infrastructure projects are accorded PCI status and can benefit from streamlined ‘one stop shop’ planning regimes, regulatory certainty for higher risk projects, a mechanism for agreeing cross-border cost allocations for projects and possible funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).</p><p>Increased interconnection and the supply diversity that it will facilitate, together with a sustained push to ensure full implementation of the internal market legislation and co-operation on a regional basis in emergencies will enhance security of supply for all Member States. Strong energy efficiency and demand reduction measures and increased use of indigenous low carbon energy resources are also essential and will play a key part in the drive for a secure Energy Union.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 11/03/2015 14:19:37 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

224319

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Natural Gas: Russia
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what proportion of the United Kingdom's natural gas supplies have originated from Russia in the last three years for which figures are available.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL5341
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>The physical origins of the gas that the United Kingdom receives through the two interconnector pipelines to the Continent are not known as gas can be traded between production at source and final consumption. Due to the interconnectedness of the European gas system, it is possible that some gas produced in Russia ultimately arrives in the United Kingdom. We estimate that these are small volumes, around 1 percent of total supply.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 11/03/2015 13:10:58 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

224320

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept id	63
	answering dept short name	Energy and Climate Change
	answering dept sort name	Energy and Climate Change
	hansard heading	Natural Gas: Storage
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that natural gas storage capacity is sufficient to ensure energy security in the United Kingdom.
	tabling member printed	Lord Empey
	uin	HL5342
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/03/2015 answer text <p>Gas storage is an important aspect of our energy security, but it is only one part of the overall gas infrastructure picture. Our security lies in diversity of sources and routes and the UK has significant levels of domestic production; pipelines to Norway, the Netherlands, and Belgium; four liquefied natural gas terminals connecting us to global markets; and eight gas storage sites with two more currently under construction.</p><p>Within the context of this overall diversity of infrastructure, we consider the current levels of gas storage to be sufficient for energy security. We recognise the potential cost implications of intervention and so have a market-led approach to investment in this country and if there is need the market will respond, as it has done with new sites at both Hill Top Farm and Stublach in Cheshire.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 11/03/2015 13:10:31 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	4216 label Biography information for Lord Empey

224528

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	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	Social Rented Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many people have been fined for non-payment of rent and services in social housing in each year since 2011.
	tabling member constituency	Bishop Auckland
	tabling member printed	Helen Goodman
	uin	225835
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>We do not hold this information.<br><br> Office of Fair Trading guidance on unfair terms in tenancy agreements explains that they regard the imposition of a fixed daily or monthly charge for overdue rent as being penal rather than compensatory in nature and unfair (paragraph 3.46). Annex A of the guidance explains that the regulations apply to social housing tenancies (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/284440/oft356.pdf).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Great Yarmouth answering member printed Brandon Lewis question first answered 05/03/2015 15:43:38 answering member 4009 label Biography information for Sir Brandon Lewis
	tabling member	1484 label Biography information for Helen Goodman

224509

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Tyres: EU Action
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment of the effect on (a) consumers and (b) retailers of the inclusion of tyres in the transposition of Article 2(h) of EU Regulation 168/2013 in those European countries that have done so.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Northfield
	tabling member printed	Richard Burden
	uin	225825
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>The Secretary of State currently has no plans to make an assessment of the transposition of EU Regulation 168/2013 in other EU countries. The UK is obliged by EU law to implement this regulation, and we intend to make a Statutory Instrument in due course.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 15:27:51 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	301 label Biography information for Richard Burden

224520

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Southern
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will review the compensation payable to ticket holders experiencing serious delays on Southern Rail.
	tabling member constituency	Mid Sussex
	tabling member printed	Sir Nicholas Soames
	uin	225899
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>I have previously set out that I am considering the case but I cannot make any guarantees at this point. To provide additional compensation above Passenger Charter arrangements to passengers would place a large additional financial burden on this and future major projects which would in turn increase the cost to taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We are spending over £1bn rebuilding London Bridge station and upgrading the tracks in the London Bridge area as part of the £6.5bn Thameslink Programme upgrade. When complete in 2018, the Thameslink Programme will bring huge benefits, transforming north-south travel through London and providing direct access to Crossrail at Farringdon. It is important that we all recognise the scale of the task at hand. It is simply not possible to expand and enhance our Victorian era infrastructure - as seen at London Bridge - without some changes in services and some disruption. However, I have been clear that we must keep disruption to a minimum and keep passengers informed.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 16:58:28 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	116 label Biography information for Lord Soames of Fletching

224521

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Midland Main Line
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will require East Midlands Trains to reinstate half hourly off-peak rail services northwards from Kettering.
	tabling member constituency	Kettering
	tabling member printed	Mr Philip Hollobone
	uin	225896
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>Department officials have met with a number of stakeholders and are aware of this aspiration. The stopping pattern will seek to balance the needs of all users of the route. We are currently in negotiation with the operator with regard to the short Direct Award for operating the East Midlands franchise, and full details of the award will be announced when successful negotiations have been completed.<br></p><p> </p><p>As you may be aware, we will run a full franchise competition for the long-term running of this franchise, to begin service provision in October 2017. Local stakeholder engagement is a key element of the competition, as is a public consultation which will help specify the long-term franchise.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Local authorities are also able to specify and fund service enhancements; recent examples of this include Cornwall, Lancashire and Burnley councils; it may be worth contacting Kettering Borough Council or Northamptonshire County Council to determine if such an enhancement is the best way to meet local transport needs. In doing so the Council(s) would discuss the feasibility of the scheme with Network Rail and the train operator. If the scheme is feasible and represents value for money, the Council would need to be prepared to fund the cost of the link from funding sources which are available for transport investment.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 13:38:17 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	1537 label Biography information for Mr Philip Hollobone

224522

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railway Stations: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to improve access for people with disabilities at rural train stations.
	tabling member constituency	Fylde
	tabling member printed	Mark Menzies
	uin	225866
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The Access for All programme has delivered 140 accessible routes at stations, with a further 78 due for completion by 2019. More than 1,100 stations have also received smaller scale access improvements and many of these have been at rural stations. Any infrastructure work carried out at stations must meet UK and EU accessibility standards.</p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 09/03/2015 14:58:10 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	3998 label Biography information for Mark Menzies

224779

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: North West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has for electrification of railway lines in the North West.
	tabling member constituency	City of Chester
	tabling member printed	Stephen Mosley
	uin	907869
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>A number of routes in the North West are in the process of being electrified.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Network Rail is considering potential projects for the next funding Control Period through the refresh of its national electrification Route Utilisation Strategy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Final decisions on further schemes will take into account the recommendations of the Task Force of northern MPs and Council Leaders set up to explore the priorities for future electrification in the North.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 13:07:54 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	3954 label Biography information for Stephen Mosley

224903

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Rolling Stock
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to introduce new rolling stock on the rail network.
	tabling member constituency	Pendle
	tabling member printed	Andrew Stephenson
	uin	907873
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>Passengers will see significant increases in rolling stock thanks to the Government’s investment and the franchising programme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>More than 3,700 new carriages will be in service across the country by the end of 2019. In addition, the Northern Invitation To Tender clearly requires improved rolling stock, the retirement of Pacers by 2020 and 120 new carriages suitable for use on non-electrified routes on the Northern network.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 13:18:28 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4044 label Biography information for Andrew Stephenson

224904

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Franchises
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what criteria his Department uses to allocate subsidies and premiums to train companies for the operation of rail franchise agreements.
	tabling member constituency	Esher and Walton
	tabling member printed	Mr Dominic Raab
	uin	907885
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>The Secretary of State allocates subsidies and premiums for each franchise using the following criteria at the bidding stage. This determines if a franchise will either pay a premium to the department or receive a subsidy.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For a premium paying TOC</p><p> </p><p>The total income bid exceeds the sum of total bid costs and bid margin</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>For a subsidy paying TOC</p><p> </p><p>The sum of total bid costs and bid margin exceed total bid income.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Premiums receivable and Subsidies payable are set at the point of contract award based on bid forecast. There are some factors that may make actual payments differ from Bid. They include Revenue (share)/support, profit share, regulatory changes, inflation indices etc.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 13:20:23 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	4007 label Biography information for Dominic Raab

225265

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Railways: Passengers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the number of rail passenger journeys.
	tabling member constituency	South Suffolk
	tabling member printed	Mr Tim Yeo
	uin	907877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>In the first four years under this Government, passenger journeys increased by 26%. The number of journeys made on the rail network grew by 6% in 2013/14, and has more than doubled since privatisation.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Devizes answering member printed Claire Perry question first answered 05/03/2015 16:48:00 answering member 3974 label Biography information for Claire Perry
	tabling member	136 label Biography information for Mr Tim Yeo

224457

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	NHS: Finance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the value is of projected savings from paperless working included in NHS spending plans for each of the next three years.
	tabling member constituency	Copeland
	tabling member printed	Mr Jamie Reed
	uin	225901
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>The Information Strategy published in May 2012, ‘The power of information’ estimated that £5 billion worth of benefits can be achieved across health and social care over 10 years.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>An independent report from Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) indicated at least £4.4 billion of extra benefits could be utilised by the National Health Service from making better use of Information Technology.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The PWC report can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/study-on-the-impact-of-digital-technology-in-health-and-social-care" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/study-on-the-impact-of-digital-technology-in-health-and-social-care</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 09/03/2015 16:16:40 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1503 label Biography information for Mr Jamie Reed

224458

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	General Practitioners: Cumbria
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent GPs there were per head of population in (a) Cumbria, (b) Copeland and (c) Allerdale in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Copeland
	tabling member printed	Mr Jamie Reed
	uin	225893
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 05/03/2015 11:31:23 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1503 label Biography information for Mr Jamie Reed

224461

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Health and Social Care Information Centre
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what procedures are in place to prevent the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) transfering NHS data to Wales for storage; whether the HSCIC definition of overseas includes Wales; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Bridgend
	tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
	uin	225905
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) may arrange with other persons or bodies, including persons or bodies based in Wales, to make provision for the storage of information, provided that the HSCIC has a legal basis to collect and store the information, and provided that the holding of the information by those persons or bodies is lawful. Information can be transferred to Wales if there is a legal basis to do so.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 09/03/2015 16:56:33 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

224462

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Cholesterol
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to ensure that cholesterol data is collected and reported by GPs.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing, Southall
	tabling member printed	Mr Virendra Sharma
	uin	225909
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>Measuring cholesterol is one of the mandated elements of the NHS Health Check, which is offered to individuals between the age of 40 and 74 years once every five years. Under the National Health Service Act 2006 and the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, local authorities have a legal duty to ensure that the specific tests and measures in the check are completed during the risk assessment and that the results are recorded. Where the risk assessment is conducted outside the person’s general practitioner (GP) practice, there is also a legal duty for the information to be forwarded to the person’s GP. The regulations also stipulate that key information relating to the check, including cholesterol levels, is communicated to the person as soon as reasonably practicable after the test has taken place.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Data on the cholesterol of patients with diabetes is collected by GPs through the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) indicators. Practices receive payments for achievements against QOF indicators.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Following GP contract negotiations, QOF was reduced from April 2014 by more than a third, to release time for GPs to provide more personalised care. Data on the cholesterol of patients with other long term conditions collected from retired QOF indicators continues to be collected and monitored. The removal of these indicators does not mean that GPs should stop monitoring patients’ cholesterol. It is good clinical practice for GPs to discuss this important issue with their patients and offer advice and support.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 09/03/2015 16:14:15 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1604 label Biography information for Mr Virendra Sharma

224463

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Community Nurses: Cumbria
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent district nurses there were per head of population in (a) Cumbria, (b) Copeland and (c) Allerdale in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Copeland
	tabling member printed	Mr Jamie Reed
	uin	225914
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2015 answer text <p>There are now over 7,500 more nurses, midwives and health visitors working in the National Health Service than in May 2010.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is shown in the attached table.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 09/03/2015 17:11:40 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter attachment 1 file name FTE Nurses in North-West SHA 2005-09 and Cumbria AT 2010-14.xlsx title FTE qualified nurses in North-West SHA & Cumbria
	tabling member	1503 label Biography information for Mr Jamie Reed

224464

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Dental Services: Cumbria
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients attended A&E because they were unable to access a dentist in Cumbria in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Copeland
	tabling member printed	Mr Jamie Reed
	uin	225892
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected centrally.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 05/03/2015 11:23:53 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1503 label Biography information for Mr Jamie Reed

224466

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Dental Services: Cumbria
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many full-time equivalent dental surgeons there were per head of population in (a) Cumbria, (b) Copeland and (c) Allerdale in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Copeland
	tabling member printed	Mr Jamie Reed
	uin	225891
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2015 answer text <p>The information requested is not collected.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Central Suffolk and North Ipswich answering member printed Dr Daniel Poulter question first answered 05/03/2015 11:25:48 answering member 3932 label Biography information for Dr Dan Poulter
	tabling member	1503 label Biography information for Mr Jamie Reed

224296

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	IVF
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 24 February 2015 (HL4890 and HL4891), whether Professor Grifo was himself directly involved in performing the experiment described by the abstract in <i>Fertility and Sterility in 2003</i> (Volume 30, supplement 3, p56); if so, what was indicated in the letter sent to a member of the Expert Panel convened by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) regarding the personal responsibility that Professor Grifo held for the conduct of that experiment; or, if not, why the HFEA’s Expert Panel did not correspond with those at Sun Yat-Sen University of Medical Science who had actually performed the experiment on the woman in China<i>.</i>
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5318
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2015 answer text <p>We have nothing further to add to the answers given previously on the subject of the published abstract of the Zhang research group.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 12/03/2015 15:06:03 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224297

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 25 February (HL4975), how many adverse incidents due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) have been reported by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency each year since 1991; why the HFEA’s strategy for 2014–17 does not expressly set out the actions it proposes to take as regards OHSS; and to what extent this indicates that the HFEA intends not to take further action to mitigate the risks of OHSS or to "ensure that appropriate standards of practice are implemented consistently throughout the sector" as recommended by the McCracken Report.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL5319
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2015 answer text <p>The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that it has not reported any adverse incidents due to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in any year since 1991, as stimulation of the ovaries is the purpose of the medicines used in fertility treatment. OHSS primarily occurs because of an individual patient’s reaction to such medicines.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The HFEA’s strategy for 2014–17 does not expressly set out the actions it proposes to take as regards OHSS because this level of detail is usually set out in the annual business plan that supports the strategy. The HFEA business plan for the current business year (2014-15) was updated in August 2014 to reflect the agreed new strategy. The relevant section states:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>‘With professional groups explore whether more data needs to be collected to better understand factors contributing to ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) to reduce incidence.’</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The updated business plan can be found on the HFEA’s website at the following link and is attached:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/2014-08-04_-_Business_Plan_revision_-_mid_2014-2015_pdf_-_active.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.hfea.gov.uk/docs/2014-08-04_-_Business_Plan_revision_-_mid_2014-2015_pdf_-_active.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The HFEA has advised that this work is ongoing.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 17/03/2015 13:52:14 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe attachment 1 file name 2014-08-04_-_Business_Plan_revision_-_mid_2014-2015_pdf_-_active.pdf title HFEA Business Plan 2014-2015
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

224305

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Doctors
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 23 February (HL4785) concerning gender balance in the National Health Service, whether the figures stated are actual numbers or full-time equivalents.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL5327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>As stated in the answer on 23 February 2015 (<a href="http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=4785" target="_blank">HL4785</a>), the figures provided for how many doctors were employed by the National Health Service by gender were headcount not full-time equivalent.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 16/03/2015 14:24:04 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

224307

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Tobacco
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 25 February (HL 4956) concerning meetings with smoking organisations, whether they will now arrange to meet the Freedom Organisation for the Right to Enjoy Smoking Tobacco; and when they last met representatives of the tobacco industry.
	tabling member printed	Lord Stoddart of Swindon
	uin	HL5329
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2015 answer text <p>Requests for meetings are considered by the Department when they are received.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Officials met with representatives of the Digital Coding and Tracking Association, whose members include British American Tobacco, Philip Morris International, Imperial Tobacco and Japan Tobacco International, on 18 November 2014 to discuss the track and trace and security features of the revised Tobacco Products Directive.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 12/03/2015 15:06:30 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	950 label Biography information for Lord Stoddart of Swindon

224313

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Macular Degeneration: 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 the drug Avastin available to treat people with wet age-related macular degeneration.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL5335
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/03/2015 answer text <p>Avastin is not licensed for treating wet age related macular degeneration. Whilst only the manufacturer is able to apply for a new licence, doctors are free to prescribe unlicensed medicines and licensed products off label if they feel they are clinically appropriate for their patients. There are two products – Lucentis and Eylea – which are licensed and have both been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for this purpose. It is ultimately the responsibility of the prescriber to recommend the drug that best suits the individual clinical needs of his or her patient following Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and General Medical Council guidance.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 12/03/2015 15:06:54 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

224314

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Energy Drinks: Children
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the recommendation that energy drinks should be banned for children under 16.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL5336
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The Government does not intend to ban the sale of energy drinks which may be high in sugar or caffeine to children under 16 years of age.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Under the Public Health Responsibility Deal many businesses have reduced sugar in soft drinks. We are awaiting the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s final report on <em>Carbohydrates and Health</em> due to be published in late spring 2015 which will, together with advice from Public Health England on sugar reduction, inform the Government’s future thinking on sugar reduction.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Regarding caffeine, the Food Standards Agency’s advice is that children, or other people sensitive to caffeine, should only consume it in moderation. There are specific legislative requirements for these drinks to be labelled so that consumers are informed of their high caffeine content.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The European Food Safety Authority is evaluating the safety of caffeine and will consider whether recommended intake levels for the general population, or sub groups such as children should be established.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 16/03/2015 14:25:07 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

224315

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	NHS: Staff
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the sufficiency of staffing in the National Health Service in relation to the increase in population; and what they consider to be the reasons for any shortfall.
	tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
	uin	HL5337
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/03/2015 answer text <p>The latest monthly workforce statistics published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre show that as at November 2014 there were over 500,000 (full-time equivalent) clinical staff working in the National Health Service, an increase of nearly 23,200 since May 2010.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is not for the Government but for local NHS organisations to decide whether they have sufficient numbers of staff, and they are best placed to do this based on the needs of their patients, demand for services and the best skill mix to serve their local community.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>It is the responsibility of Health Education England (HEE) to ensure sufficient staff are available to meet demand, through its investment in education and training. The views of providers on the nature and number of the workforce they intend to employ, based on local provider plans is central to HEE’s planning for how it invests its training resources.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 16/03/2015 14:24:30 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick