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63771

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Transport
	answering dept id	27
	answering dept short name	Transport
	answering dept sort name	Transport
	hansard heading	Road Signs and Markings
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their assessment of the extent of worn-down and faint road markings, including zebra crossings; and what assessment they have made of the impact on road safety.
	tabling member printed	Lord Birt
	uin	HL555
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The assessment of the condition of road markings including those for zebra crossings is a matter for individual local highway authorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department for Transport provides guidance for traffic authorities on the installation and maintenance of road markings in the Traffic Signs Manual and in Departmental Standards. Compliance with the latter is mandatory on the trunk road network, and constitutes good practice elsewhere.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>However, traffic authorities must balance competing demands on their resources. In particular, severe weather imposes a heavy burden and emergency repair works can divert resources from carrying out routine maintenance operations, no matter how desirable. It would not be appropriate for central Government to interfere in authorities' freedom to decide how best to discharge their statutory duty to maintain the highways under their control.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Kramer question first answered 08/07/2014 14:50:48 answering member 1557 label Biography information for Baroness Kramer
	tabling member	2533 label Biography information for Lord Birt

63773

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept id	16
	answering dept short name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	answering dept sort name	Foreign and Commonwealth Office
	hansard heading	Meriam Ibrahim
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the re-arrest of Meriam Ibrahim and the detention of her husband and children by the Sudanese National State Security at the airport in Khartoum while they were attempting to leave the country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL557
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>Meriam Ibrahim and her family were released on police bail on 26 June following their detention on 24 June. We understand that she and her family are currently staying at the US embassy.</p><p>We will remain closely engaged in this case and continue to call on the Government of Sudan to abide by its international obligations to uphold an individual's right to freedom of religion or belief.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 02/07/2014 14:52:06 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

63775

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	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	Help to Buy Scheme
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have bought a house with the assistance of the Help to Buy scheme.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Courtown
	uin	HL559
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>This Government is committed to supporting people's aspirations to own their own home. That is why we have introduced schemes like Help to Buy: Equity Loan, Help to Buy: Newbuy and Help to Buy: Mortgage Guarantee. The latest figures show that so far 35,317 families have bought a house with the assistance of the Help to Buy schemes.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stowell of Beeston question first answered 03/07/2014 16:25:01 answering member 4205 label Biography information for Baroness Stowell of Beeston
	tabling member	3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown

63776

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Science: Education
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what they are doing to increase the number of students studying science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, in particular female students.
	tabling member printed	The Earl of Courtown
	uin	HL560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/07/2014 answer text <p>Recent years have seen record numbers of pupils taking science and mathematics at GCSE and A level, with a rise of more than 30% in the number of students taking separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics between 2010 and 2013. There has also been a 15% rise in the number taking mathematics and physics A level, and a 19% rise in the number taking further mathematics A level over the same period. Girls are now as likely as boys to take separate science GCSEs, but more needs to be done, particularly to address the low numbers of girls taking mathematics and physics A level.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has taken action by: reforming the national curriculum and academic and vocational qualifications, to ensure that they enable young people to acquire the necessary knowledge and understanding to progress to further study and employment; recruiting top graduates into teaching by providing bursaries and scholarships in mathematics and the sciences of up to £25,000; supporting schools through professional development and enrichment programmes, such as the Stimulating Physics Network and the establishment of 32 maths hubs; and through the “Your Life” campaign which will change the perceptions of science and mathematics, with a communications campaign targeting 14-16 year olds being launched from September.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 09/07/2014 15:12:45 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	3359 label Biography information for The Earl of Courtown

63780

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Admissions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of secondary and primary schools currently experience a shortage of capacity in regard to school places; and how many schools have been extended or expanded to deal with a shortage of capacity since May 2010.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL564
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education collects information from each local authority on the number of available school places in state-funded primary and secondary schools (excluding special schools) through an annual survey. The most recent publication relates to the position at May 2013 and is published online at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2012-to-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2012-to-2013</a></p><p>The corresponding statistics for May 2010 are published online at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2010-to-2011" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-capacity-academic-year-2010-to-2011</a></p><p>We do not hold a central record of the number of schools that have been extended or expanded to deal with a shortage of capacity and we could only provide this information at a disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 02/07/2014 11:45:42 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

63781

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Free Schools
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the total budget each year for free schools in academic years 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, and so far in 2013–14; what plans, if any, they have to alter that budget; and, if so, where in the country the highest increases or decreases will occur.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL565
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p>Capital and revenue spending in 2010-13 are published at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfe-annual-reports</a>. The Department for Education is preparing the 2013-14 annual report and accounts, which will be laid before Parliament at the end of this calendar year before being published.</p><p>We have no current plans to amend the budget in future years.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 03/07/2014 16:00:52 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

63783

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Higher Education: Appeals
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to establish a nationwide appeals system for higher education students in the United Kingdom who wish to appeal on the basis of awarded grades or complain about alleged unfair treatment by university staff.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL567
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) operates a national complaints handling scheme for England and Wales, under provisions in the 2004 Higher Education Act. The OIA can review complaints made by students against Higher Education Institutions if they remain unresolved, once a student has completed the institution's own complaints procedures. This may include, for example, complaints from students about unfair treatment by university staff. The service is free of charge to students.</p><p> </p><p>Separate arrangements are in place in Scotland and Northern Ireland.There are, however, some complaints that OIA cannot consider. These relate to concerns about admission to a university and to academic judgement. In the latter case, OIA can look at whether an institution has followed its rules and regulations in making an award to a student.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 03/07/2014 16:28:27 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

63784

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Schools: Standards
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the new Schools Challenges Cymru programme in Wales; and what measures they are taking to tackle underperformance in English state-funded schools.
	tabling member printed	Lord Storey
	uin	HL568
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>There is value in all administrations in the UK learning from each other, including from results achieved by Schools Challenge Cymru programme. There is a clear parallel between what this aims to achieve and the academies programme in England: tackling underperformance of schools and encouraging greater collaboration. School-led improvement is at the core of our education reforms and we continue to encourage networks of school-to-school support in which the best schools work with schools in difficulties.</p><p> </p><p>We have a robust and comprehensive framework for tackling underperformance in English state-funded schools. Statutory guidance to local authorities sets out our expectation that they should take swift action where maintained schools are underperforming, including replacing the governing body with an interim executive board and converting the school to an academy with a strong sponsor. The guidance can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-causing-concern--2" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/schools-causing-concern--2</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education will take decisive action where an academy is under-performing, which can ultimately lead to the termination of their funding agreement and transferring a school to another high performing academy chain.</p><p> </p><p>Ofsted has implemented a more rigorous inspection framework, with performance data forming part of the information used to target inspections on the weakest schools.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 08/07/2014 11:15:17 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	4238 label Biography information for Lord Storey

63785

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Advisory Bodies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which advisory committees provide advice on chemicals, toxicology and endocrinology; how they are funded; and what each committee costs per annum.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL569
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>There are a number of Scientific Advisory Committees that provide advice to Government on chemicals, toxicology and endocrinology. They are listed as follows.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment provides advice to the Food Standards Agency, the Department of Health, Public Health England, and other Government departments and agencies on matters concerning the toxicity of chemicals. The costs of meetings are met by the Food Standards Agency, which comes to a total cost of around £35,000 per annum.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee on Carcinogenicity is an expert scientific committee of the Department that provides expert advice on matters concerning the potential carcinogenicity of chemicals, ranging from natural products to new synthetic chemicals used in pesticides or pharmaceuticals. The costs of its meetings are met by Public Health England including travel costs for members and fees, at a total cost of around £10,000 per annum.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee on Mutagenicity is an independent advisory committee that provides advice to Government departments and agencies on matters concerning the potential mutagenicity of chemicals, ranging from natural products to new synthetic chemicals used in pesticides or pharmaceuticals. The costs of its meetings are met by Public Health England including travel costs for members and fees, at a total cost of around £10,000 per annum.</p><p> </p><p>The Committee on the Medical Effects of Air Pollutants (COMEAP) is an expert scientific committee of the Department that provides expert advice on the effects on health of both outdoor and indoor air pollutants on the basis of currently available data. The costs of its meetings are met by Public Health England, including travel costs and fees for members, at a total cost of around £14,000 per annum.</p><p> </p><p>The Hazardous Substances Advisory Committee is an expert scientific committee of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) that provides expert advice on how to protect the environment, and human health via the environment, from potentially hazardous substances. The costs of its meetings are met by DEFRA at a total cost of around £30,000 per annum.</p><p> </p><p>The Advisory Committee on Toxic Substances advises the Health and Safety (HSE) Executive Board on matters relating to the prevention, control and management of hazards and risks to the health and safety of persons arising from the supply or use of toxic substances at work, with due regard to any related risks to consumers, the public and the environment. Funding for the committee comes from HSE and four meetings in total in the last three years have cost £2,000.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 08/07/2014 15:26:20 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

63787

	registered interest
	date	24/06/2014
	answering body	Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept id	26
	answering dept short name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	answering dept sort name	Business, Innovation and Skills
	hansard heading	Advisory Bodies
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what quality control and audit procedures are in place to ensure that their advisory committees perform to the highest standards, that they are using up-to-date methodology and science, and that their advice is sound and accepted by the broader scientific community.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL571
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p><em>All committees operate according to the guidelines and standards outlined in the </em>Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]). Any advisory committee that is classified as a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) is also subject to <em>formal Cabinet Office procedures including a full triennial review. </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p> </p><p>CoPSAC is underpinned by The Principles of Scientific Advice to Government', published in 2010 (Annex A to CoPSAC), and the ‘Nolan' principles for public life (the “Seven Principles of Public Life” (Annex C).</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The principles “provide a foundation on which independent scientific advisers and government departments should base their operations and interactions”. Members are also expected to abide by the Nolan Principles, which include the principles of objectivity and accountability.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Any “issues of concern over the application of the Principles, or other guidance” should be raised to the Chief Scientific Adviser. “If the matter of concern cannot be effectively resolved or is especially serious CSAs should approach the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and Ministers should approach the GCSA and the Minister for Science. The matter will be examined against a clear set of criteria, which include a breach of the Principles or CoPSAC.”</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><br /><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278498/11-1382-code-of-practice-scientific-advisory-committees.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278498/11-1382-code-of-practice-scientific-advisory-committees.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 08/07/2014 15:23:07 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar