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228971

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	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	Travellers: Caravan Sites
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they began the administrative review of the recovery decisions involving Traveller sites in the Green Belt; what criteria are being applied for the review; and when the review is likely to be published.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL5936
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>This Government continues to attach great importance to safeguarding the Green Belt. It will address concerns about the harm caused when there is unauthorised development of land in advance of obtaining planning permission and there is no opportunity to appropriately limit or mitigate the harm that has already taken place. For these reasons, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government will introduce a new planning and recovery policy for the Green Belt early in the new Parliament to strength protection against unauthorised development. This new policy will apply to all development within the Green Belt. In the meantime he has also decided to de-recover those cases of appeals for Traveller development in the Green Belt on which a substantive decision has not been reached. These will be remitted back to the Planning Inspectorate and, where appropriate, we will re-assess them in light of the new recovery policy.</p> answering member printed Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon question first answered 26/03/2015 14:48:00 answering member 4210 label Biography information for Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

429179

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Castes: Discrimination
	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 compatibility of their decision to delay the publication of their feasibility study regarding establishing baseline data to evaluate the effectiveness of caste legislation with their commitment to open government.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL3663
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2015 answer text <p>This Government has been giving consideration to the legal position on caste discrimination in light of the <em>Tirkey v Chandhok</em> Employment Appeal Tribunal judgment which suggests there is an existing legal remedy for claims of caste-associated discrimination under the ‘ethnic origins’ element of Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.</p><p>Our consideration of the research report commissioned by the coalition Government, designed to determine the feasibility of conducting a national survey to quantify the extent of caste discrimination in Britain, is part of this process.</p><p>We remain mindful of the Open Government Action Plan published by the Coalition Government in 2013, to the extent that this concerns the results of commissioned research.</p><br /> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL3664 HL3665 question first answered 30/11/2015 17:18:34 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

429180

	registered interest
	date	18/11/2015
	answering body	Department for Education
	answering dept id	60
	answering dept short name	Education
	answering dept sort name	Education
	hansard heading	Castes: Discrimination
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether it is now possible to establish baseline data that could be used to determine whether the law on caste discrimination is working effectively.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL3664
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2015 answer text <p>This Government has been giving consideration to the legal position on caste discrimination in light of the <em>Tirkey v Chandhok</em> Employment Appeal Tribunal judgment which suggests there is an existing legal remedy for claims of caste-associated discrimination under the ‘ethnic origins’ element of Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010.</p><p>Our consideration of the research report commissioned by the coalition Government, designed to determine the feasibility of conducting a national survey to quantify the extent of caste discrimination in Britain, is part of this process.</p><p>We remain mindful of the Open Government Action Plan published by the Coalition Government in 2013, to the extent that this concerns the results of commissioned research.</p><br /> answering member printed Baroness Williams of Trafford grouped question UIN HL3663 HL3665 question first answered 30/11/2015 17:18:34 answering member 4311 label Biography information for Baroness Williams of Trafford
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

419382

	registered interest
	date	17/09/2015
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	Registration of Burials Act 1864
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the Ministry of Justice last reviewed the provisions of the Registration of Burials Act 1864 under section 149 of the Equality Act 2010.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL2313
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/10/2015 answer text <p /> <p>The Ministry of Justice does not exercise any functions under the provisions of the Registration of Burials Act 1864 and has not therefore undertaken such a review. Should the Government amend the Act in the future, however, it would have to take account of the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 02/10/2015 14:51:52 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

420484

	registered interest
	date	12/10/2015
	answering body	The Lord Chairman of Committees
	answering dept id	200
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name	Chairman of Committees (HoL)
	hansard heading	House of Lords: Catering
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask the Chairman of Committees what plans he has to end the subsidy for catering services in the House of Lords.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL2459
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2015 answer text <p>Catering and Retail Services seek to provide an appropriate level of service to support an active and busy parliamentary chamber, and to provide excellent value to the taxpayer. The catering subsidy has been reduced by 32% since 2007 and we are working hard to reduce it further through an ambitious Change Programme.</p><p>The unpredictable nature of parliamentary business – in terms of sitting days, recesses, the length of each sitting, and the level of attendance at the House for each sitting – means that staffing costs and wastage are higher than would be the case in purely commercial catering outlets. This makes an operating loss extremely difficult to avoid.</p><p>Furthermore, catering facilities are used by a wide range of people, not just Members. Venues such as the River Restaurant and Millbank House cafeteria are mainly intended to provide facilities for staff and other users such as the Metropolitan Police, contractors and others working on the Parliamentary Estate. It is good practice for large employers to provide cafeteria facilities for staff, particularly for organisations that operate outside normal office hours as is the case in the House of Lords. We pay all catering staff at least the London Living Wage and provide them with workplace pensions. We are proud to do so but it means our costs are higher than some commercial restaurants.</p><p>Given these factors, some element of tax-payer funding is appropriate, but the Administration is vigilant to ensure that public money is stewarded responsibly. Catering and Retail Services are also exploring novel ways to generate income in quieter times, such as opening the Peers’ Dining Room to the public in longer recesses. This helps to reduce the overall cost of the refreshment service to the tax payer, and so the subsidy.</p> answering member printed Lord Laming question first answered 21/10/2015 15:32:12 answering member 2079 label Biography information for Lord Laming
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

416953

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2015
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Darfur: Internally Displaced People
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what information they have about (1) the levels of malnutrition and disease among children in each of the camps for internally displaced people in Darfur, and (2) the plans of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to deal with those problems.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL1873
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2015 answer text <p>The executive summary of the comprehensive survey undertaken by UNICEF of nutrition and health indicators in camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Darfur, funded by DFID at the end of 2013, is available online. This survey confirms that overall levels of nutrition and health in Darfur IDP camps continue to be of concern, for example 44% of children in Zamzam camp in North Darfur were recorded as suffering from stunting. Indicators for camps in North and Central Darfur are generally worse than camps in other areas; however the health and nutrition situation for IDPs located in camps tends to be better than the situation for resident and displaced populations in other parts of Darfur located outside of camps. A follow up survey, to be partially funded by DFID, is planned to take place in mid-2016.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The United Nations (UN) Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has played a central role in developing the Sudan 2015 Humanitarian Response Plan which aims to address the humanitarian needs of up to 5.4 million vulnerable people in Darfur and other parts of Sudan and appeals for funding of £650 million to achieve this. In line with agreed strategic objectives, OCHA coordinates the activities of in country partners, including other UN agencies and national and international non-governmental organisations and allocates funding received through the appeal to humanitarian projects across Sudan, such as those to tackle disease and malnutrition. DFID is the third largest humanitarian donor in support of this appeal.</p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 21/09/2015 15:09:42 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

228967

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the dates of meetings ministers and officials from the Department of Health had with (1) the Portman Group, (2) Drinkaware, (3) Diageo, (4) the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, (5) the British Beer and Pub Association, and (6) SABMiller, between 1 November 2014 and 17 March 2015.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL5932
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>Dates of meetings attended by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and officials from the Department:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- 5 November 2014 – Responsibility Deal alcohol network meeting, attendance included the Portman Group, Diageo, the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, the British Beer and Pub Association and SABMiller;</p><p> </p><p>- 18 November 2014 – Responsibility Deal Plenary Group meeting, attendance included the Portman Group; and</p><p> </p><p>- 3 March 2015 – The All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group reception promoting lower alcohol beers and wines. Attendance included Portman Group, the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, the British Beer and Pub Association and SABMiller.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Details of meetings held by Ministers and the Permanent Secretary with external organisations are also published quarterly in arrears and can be found at:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ministerial-gifts-hospitality-overseas-travel-and-meetings</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Dates of meetings attended by officials from the Department only:</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>- 14 November 2014 – Meeting with industry on the EU alcohol strategy, attendance included the Wine and Spirits Trade Association, the British Beer and Pub Association and the Portman Group;</p><p> </p><p>- 4 December 2014 – Drinkaware medical panel meeting;</p><p> </p><p>- 21 January 2015 – Meeting with the Portman Group;</p><p> </p><p>- 3 February 2015 – Drinkaware Board meeting;</p><p> </p><p>- 5 February 2015 – Meeting with the Wine and Spirits Trade Association;</p><p> </p><p>- 16 February 2015 – Meeting with the Portman Group;</p><p> </p><p>- 17 February 2015 – Meeting with the Portman Group;</p><p> </p><p>- 19 February 2015 – Meeting with SABMiller;</p><p> </p><p>- 25 February 2015 – Meeting with the Portman Group;</p><p> </p><p>- 26 February 2015 – Meeting with SABMiller; and</p><p> </p><p>- 26 February 2015 – Meeting with Drinkaware.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 26/03/2015 12:59:13 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

228968

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Alcoholic Drinks: Excise Duties
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what were the dates of meetings ministers and officials from the Department of Health had with public health representatives to discuss the health impacts of potential cuts in alcohol duty between 1 November 2014 and 17 March 2015.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL5933
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2015 answer text <p>Ministers and officials in the alcohol policy team meet with public health representatives and experts on a regular basis in the course of their normal activities. Discussions on the general evidence base for the impacts of changes in alcohol duty may have been raised during these meetings. There have been no discussions on specific changes in alcohol duty.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Earl Howe question first answered 26/03/2015 13:28:45 answering member 2000 label Biography information for Earl Howe
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

416951

	registered interest
	date	07/09/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Health Services: Travellers
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of each of the recommendations to the Department of Health in the report <i>Bridging the Gap between Academics and Policy Makers</i> by researchers from Buckinghamshire New University and the University of Bristol, published on 20 April.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL1871
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2015 answer text <p>We have made no assessment.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>NHS England, and all National Health Service organisations, have a duty to have due regard to the need to reduce health inequalities in access to health services and health outcomes achieved, as well as having regard to the different needs of groups with characteristics protected under the Equality Act 2010.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As part of its contractual arrangements for provision of healthcare in prisons, NHS England expects that care planning and delivery of services must be equitable for all prisoners and take into consideration the diversity of the prison population. This would include Gypsies, Travellers and the Roma communities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Equality Delivery System (EDS) for the NHS helps all NHS organisations, in discussion with local partners and patients, to review and improve their performance for people with characteristics protected under the Equality Act. By using the EDS, NHS organisations can ensure they are delivering on the public sector Equality Duty.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Every person entering a place of detention will have an initial health screen at reception where health needs are assessed and where appropriate referrals are made to other services, including substance misuse services.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Prior of Brampton question first answered 17/09/2015 11:20:17 answering member 127 label Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury

425824

	registered interest
	date	03/11/2015
	answering body	Department of Health
	answering dept id	17
	answering dept short name	Health
	answering dept sort name	Health
	hansard heading	Stem Cells
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the 2014 report of the UK Stem Cell Strategy Oversight Committee on the future of unrelated donor stem cell transplantation in the United Kingdom.
	tabling member printed	Lord Avebury
	uin	HL3222
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/11/2015 answer text <p>The Government continues to take forward work to deliver the recommendations in the 2014 report. We remain committed to improving stem cell transplantation services and doing all we can to help those in need of a transplant to find a suitable donor.</p><br /><p>Since 2011, the Department has provided its delivery partners, NHS Blood and Transplant and the Anthony Nolan, a total of £16 million in additional, new funding to improve stem cell transplantation services in the United Kingdom. A further £3 million investment was announced in March 2015.</p><br /><p>This funding has led to a tangible improvement in the availability of stem cells in the UK and the achievements include:</p><br /><p>- More UK patients received a stem cell transplant in 2014 than ever before;</p><br /><p>- Over 60% of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) patients are now able to find a well matched donor compared to only 40% in 2010;</p><br /><p>- A single unified bone marrow donor registry has been created streamlining the provision of stem cells and reducing the time to provide cells from adult donors;</p><br /><p>- The proportion of patients receiving cord blood from UK donors has significantly increased; and</p><br /><p>- An increase in UK patients receiving a transplant from 802 in 2010/11 to 1,060 in 1013/14. The increased use of UK-sourced stem cells has meant that more donors than ever are available to donate leading to a significant cost saving by reducing the need to import stem cells.</p><br /> <br /> answering member printed Lord Prior of Brampton question first answered 12/11/2015 13:06:57 answering member 127 label Biography information for Lord Prior of Brampton
	tabling member	1665 label Biography information for Lord Avebury