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64615

	registered interest
	date	30/06/2014
	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, further to the remarks by Elizabeth Truss MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Education and Childcare, that "our 15 year-olds are up to three years behind their peers in the top-performing countries in reading and mathematics", what action they propose to address this.
	tabling member printed	Lord Quirk
	uin	HL698
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education believes that improving the quality of teaching in literacy and numeracy is crucial to building the foundation for future study and work. The Government has revised the national curriculum and set more rigorous and challenging content in English and mathematics to match the highest performing countries around the world. The new programmes of study for English and maths will challenge pupils to realise their potential in an increasingly competitive global market.</p><p> </p><p>The new maths GCSE will have more content, be more challenging and – alongside English - will be double weighted in school performance tables. The Department has recently allocated £11 million to fund <del class="ministerial">over</del> 32 new maths hubs to support a more challenging maths GCSE to improve the quality of maths education. This initiative, which includes a teacher exchange programme with Shanghai, will enable every school and college in England, from early years to the post-16 sector, to access locally-tailored support in all areas of maths teaching and learning.</p><p> </p><p>The new national curriculum for English places a greater emphasis on reading and requires pupils to study a range of books, poems and plays.</p><p>The national curriculum for English will give teachers greater flexibility and freedom which will help to raise standards and expectations for all pupils. It has been significantly slimmed down and will free up teachers to use their professional judgement to design curricula that meet the needs of their pupils.</p><p> </p><p>The new English language GCSE will place greater demands on pupils and has more emphasis on those skills demanded by employers. The new English literature GCSE will build on this foundation, and encourage students to read, write and think critically.</p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 08/07/2014 15:42:37 question first ministerially corrected 09/07/2014 15:07:12 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash previous answer version 8669 answering member printed Lord Nash answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	3254 label Biography information for Lord Quirk

61397

	registered interest
	date	11/06/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Passports
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many applications for (a) new passports and (b) passport renewals there have been in the last year; and what the annual change in such figures has been.
	tabling member constituency	Dudley North
	tabling member printed	Ian Austin
	uin	200217
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>During the period between 1 June 2013 and 31 May 2014, Her Majesty's Passport Office <br />received <del class="ministerial">1,446,983</del> <ins class="ministerial">1,425,885</ins> first time passport applications and <del class="ministerial">4,528,751</del> <ins class="ministerial">4,461,343</ins> passport <br />renewal applications.<br /><br />This compares with 1,346,246 first time applications and 4,036,267 passport <br />renewal applications during the period between 1 June 2012 and 31 May 2013.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire question first answered 08/07/2014 14:03:02 question first ministerially corrected 02/09/2014 14:35:59 answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire previous answer version 8681 answering member constituency Old Bexley and Sidcup answering member printed James Brokenshire answering member 1530 label Biography information for James Brokenshire
	tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

62436

	registered interest
	date	17/06/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Gender Recognition
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a review of the effectiveness of the UK Border Agency's training manual "Gender Identity Issues in the Asylum Claim" which is primarily used to educate UK Border Agency case officers in trans-related issues and in evaluating testimonies.
	tabling member printed	Baroness Thornton
	uin	HL374
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The document referred to is guidance to asylum decision makers rather than a training manual. The guidance was last reviewed and revised in June 2011.<br><br>Separately, training for new asylum caseworkers is provided through the Foundation Training Programme, which has been developed in consultation with stakeholders including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and A:gender, the cross-civil service staff support network for transgender staff.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 08/07/2014 12:50:53 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	1782 label Biography information for Baroness Thornton

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

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

63788

	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 whether their advisory committees, if they need to undertake a review for which they do not have the expertise, are permitted to commission organisations that specialise in that field.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL572
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p /> <p>There is nothing in the Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]) that prevents a committee from commissioning additional advice from experts, and committees are encouraged to “seek a wide range of advice from the best sources, particularly when there is uncertainty”.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p>CoPSAC states “Where a SAC lacks the relevant expertise for a particular project or task (as opposed to the committee's on-going work), the committee can co-opt appropriate experts or establish sub-groups to include such people on an ad hoc, time-limited basis”.</p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </p><p /> <p> </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> </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><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 08/07/2014 14:53:13 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

63789

	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 how scientists are appointed to their advisory committees; how they ensure that an appropriate range of expertise and experience is represented on those committees; and how they ensure that the best scientists apply for membership of the committees.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL573
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees (CoPSAC[1]) lays out the procedures for appointment to Committees.</p><p> </p><p>CoPSAC indicates that the arrangements for the appointment of Committee members and the lines of accountability should be set out in each Committee's Terms of Reference.</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 14:53:54 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar

63790

	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 recourse is available to members of the public who wish to complain about the practice and outcome of scientific inquiries conducted by government advisory committees.
	tabling member printed	The Countess of Mar
	uin	HL574
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/07/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Members of the public may write to the Chair of the advisory committee. If necessary, complaints can be escalated in writing to the Chief Scientific Advisor for the department in question, or the Government Chief Scientific Adviser.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 08/07/2014 14:53:32 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	1861 label Biography information for The Countess of Mar