Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

44598

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the recovery of benefits through the Mesothelioma Support Scheme will yield; and what assurances they can give that some of this money will be spent on research for a cure for mesothelioma.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/04/2014 answer text <p>Benefit and lump sum payments that were made in respect of mesothelioma will be recovered from the Diffuse Mesothelioma Payment Scheme (DMPS) payment in the same way as they would be recovered from other compensation payments. The latest Impact Assessment for the DMPS dated 10 March 2014 estimates that the recovery of benefits in the first 10 years of the Scheme, to 31 March 2024, will be £72m.</p><p> </p><p>The issue of research is not directly a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions; however we have worked closely with the Department of Health to make progress in this area. This work has included setting up a partnership to identify mesothelioma research priorities which will lead to the National Institute for Health Research turning priorities into fundable research questions and to encourage applications from the research community. In addition the National Cancer Research Institute has a workshop planned on 02 May 2014 to discuss and develop new proposals for mesothelioma studies. The Government has established robust systems to ensure that funding is provided to the highest quality research bids. The work that the Department of Health is taking forward will support researchers in producing these bids and ensure that funding is allocated in a way that best supports sufferers of this terrible condition.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 01/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

45729

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the value of the financial settlement paid to the Department for Work and Pensions by Atos upon their withdrawal from the Work Capability Assessment Scheme.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6378
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2014 answer text <p>Information regarding the financial settlement between the Department and Atos Healthcare for early exit from the contract to deliver Work Capability Assessments is commercial in confidence.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 04/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

45731

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2014
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	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 number of people (1) displaced, and (2) facing a humanitarian crisis, in the northern Nigerian states of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa as a result of the insurgency by Boko Haram; and what assessment they have made of the needs of those people for aid.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The UK Government supports the assessment of humanitarian needs in Northern Nigeria through OCHA, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Although figures are difficult to quantify, OCHA estimate 5.9 million people have been affected by the insurgency in northeast Nigeria and an estimated 350,000 people have been displacedsince May 2013, both within Nigeria and across the borders into Chad, Niger and Cameroon. Most displaced people are living in host communities, although around 5,000 are in camps. OCHA has assessed the priority needs of affected people as food, water, health and shelter.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Northover question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 2539 label Biography information for Baroness Northover
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

45978

	registered interest
	date	31/03/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Defence
	answering dept id	11
	answering dept short name	Defence
	answering dept sort name	Defence
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what specific training is received by Ministry of Defence officials in negotiating equipment and services procurement contract terms and conditions effectively and in guaranteeing best value for money.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6456
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2014 answer text <p>Ministry of Defence (MOD) procurement activity ranges from the purchase of low value consumable items through to complex equipment acquisition, support and services. These activities involve multi-disciplinary teams, including engineering, technical, finance, project management and procurement staff. There is clear separation of responsibilities between those authorising the initial requirement, those giving financial authority and those empowered to place contracts.</p><p> </p><p>The MOD currently has around 1,700 civilian staff in the commercial function of which 1,200 are in active commercial roles and are authorised to sign contracts with suppliers.</p><p> </p><p>Commercial staff must demonstrate the necessary levels of functional competence and experience to be licensed and receive a formal commercial delegation. Some 60% of commercial staff currently hold, or are working towards, qualifications in the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS). This is expected to rise to around 75% in 2015. The MOD is also developing an advanced commercial skills programme to provide additional training relevant to the MOD complex acquisition process, which goes beyond standard CIPS training.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Astor of Hever question first answered 09/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3428 label Biography information for Lord Astor of Hever
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

46393

	registered interest
	date	01/04/2014
	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
	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 of an attack on 21 March on Kessab in northern Syria; whether they have made any estimate of the number of those killed in the attack and of those who have fled the town as a result; whether they have received any reports about the desecration of churches in the town; and what assessment they have made of the possible involvement of the Al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham in the attack.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6490
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2014 answer text <p>We are concerned by the reports of violence in Kessab, although it is impossible to establish an accurate figure of the numbers of people who have been killed or displaced. We believe that the majority of the ethnic Armenian population of the town has left, along with many other Syrians, because of the fighting in the area. We have not received any confirmed reports of churches being desecrated and we call for all places of worship to be respected. We understand that a range of groups has been involved in the fighting, including the Al-Nusrah Front. We urge all sides to the conflict in Syria to respect international humanitarian law and the rights of all Syrians. Both the Syrian National Coalition and the Free Syrian Army have repeatedly made clear their commitment to protecting all civilians, regardless of religious, ethnic and political affiliation.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 09/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

46667

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2014
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	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 report, Asbestos in Schools, published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health; what assessment they have made of the view of the Committee on Carcinogenicity of the vulnerability of children to asbestos; what recent figures they have for the incidence of asbestos-related diseases in children and teachers; and when they intend to publish their response to the evidence submitted to their review of policy on asbestos management in schools.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6545
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/04/2014 answer text <p>The Department for Education is currently reviewing its policy on asbestos management in schools and intends to publish the outcome of the review by the end of June.</p><p>The scope of the review includes the conclusions of the Committee on Carcinogenicity's statement on the relative vulnerability of children and the recommendations from the report “Asbestos in schools: the need for action” produced by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Occupational Safety and Health. The Health and Safety Executive publishes figures on asbestos related deaths – including occupational information – on its website. We do not know of any figures detailing the incidence of asbestos related diseases in children.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Nash question first answered 09/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4270 label Biography information for Lord Nash
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

46394

	registered interest
	date	01/04/2014
	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
	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 report Marching to Genocide in Burma; and what, if any, action they intend to take in response.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6491
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/04/2014 answer text <p>We share many of the concerns that United to End Genocide raise in their recent report on the plight of the Rohingya. We continue to press the Burmese government to find a long term solution to bring peace and reconciliation to the communities in Rakhine State. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), summoned the Burmese Ambassador on 7 April and called on the Burmese government urgently to restore humanitarian access to all communities in need, and to ensure the security of humanitarian aid workers and all communities in Rakhine State. Mr Swire raised our wider concerns about the situation in Rakhine State with senior Burmese Ministers during his visit in January. I personally discussed the situation with Minister of National Planning and Economic Development, Dr Kan Zaw, during his visit to the UK in March.</p><p>We remain in close contact with Médecins Sans Frontières and have made clear to the Burmese government their responsibility to ensure services are adequately delivered. We continue to maintain that allegations of human rights abuses must be dealt with immediately through a clear and transparent investigative and prosecutorial process that meets international standards.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 14/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

46668

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of North Korea's launch of two mid-range missiles, its statement that it "would not rule out a new form of nuclear test for bolstering up its nuclear deterrence" and China's decision to support the United Nations Security Council's condemnation of those developments.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/04/2014 answer text <p>We are extremely concerned that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has fired two medium range missiles into the Sea of Japan, in a further clear breach of UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) 1718, 1874, 2087 and 2094. We are also concerned by the DPRK's statement implying that they are considering further missile or nuclear tests.</p><p>We urge the DPRK to comply with all of its obligations under relevant UNSCRs and to refrain from any further provocations that would only further destabilise the peninsula.</p><p>We welcome China's support in in the UN Security Council condemning North Korean provocations, and we encourage all countries to call on the DPRK to abide by its international obligations.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 14/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

46669

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2014
	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
	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 officials in the North Korean Workers' Party who were associated with Jang Song-thaek have been sentenced to death; and what recent representations the United Kingdom Ambassador to North Korea has made to the authorities there about the use of capital punishment, torture and political prison camps.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6547
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/04/2014 answer text <p>We are aware of media reports that 200 Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) government officials believed to be close Jang Song-thaek, who was executed in December 2013, have been sentenced to death. Personnel changes within various organisations suggest the purge of those related to Jang Song-thaek is continuing. However, the lack of transparency means we are unable to confirm what has happened to those who have been removed from their positions. The UK is appalled but not unsurprised by reports of executions in DPRK. During meetings with DPRK authorities we regularly raise concerns about the horrific human rights situation. Our Ambassador in Pyongyang raised these concerns during a meeting with a Vice-Minister from the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs in January and we have raised them with other officials in March.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 14/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool

46670

	registered interest
	date	02/04/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the United Kingdom Ambassador to North Korea has raised with the authorities there the terms of the United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution (A/HRC/25/L.17) condemning "long-standing and ongoing systematic, widespread and gross" human rights violations in North Korea; and whether they have made representations to those countries which abstained or voted against the Resolution to give further thought to the findings of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry and to encourage support for the work of the Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in North Korea.
	tabling member printed	Lord Alton of Liverpool
	uin	HL6548
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/04/2014 answer text <p>We regularly raise concerns about the appalling human rights situation in the Democratic People's Republic <br>of Korea (DPRK) during our meetings with the DPRK authorities. We have raised the Commission of Inquiry report and will be raising the UN Human Rights Council Resolution (UNHRC) in our next meetings. The UK played a key role in ensuring a strong Resolution and will continue to work with partners to ensure the matter remains in the spotlight. It is unfortunate that some UNHRC members chose to either abstain or vote against the Resolution and, as we made clear in the UK statement at the time of the vote, we consider that doing so was a failure in their responsibility to help resolve the crisis and improve the lives of the North Korean people. Nevertheless, the resolution was passed with a significant majority and provides a solid platform for ongoing work in this area, not least through increased support for the Special Rapporteur. We are pleased that it includes a provision encouraging all states who have relations with the DPRK to use their influence to encourage the DPRK to take immediate steps to end all human rights violations. In our bilateral contacts with these states we will be encouraging them to act in accordance with this provision.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 14/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	738 label Biography information for Lord Alton of Liverpool