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100008

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to review the azure payment card for asylum seekers as a result of the new report by the British Red Cross on the humanitarian cost of the card.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2223
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>The Azure card is issued to destitute failed asylum seekers who require support because they are temporarily unable to leave the United Kingdom and can be used at most of the main supermarket chains to purchase food and other essential items. The performance of the card is kept under regular review and the views of reputable partners such as the Red Cross are carefully considered but the Government is satisfied that it is an effective way of ensuring the individuals are able to meet their essential living needs and not left destitute.</p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 27/10/2014 12:15:07 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100009

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	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
	hansard heading	Unemployed People: Travel
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government what financial assistance is given to help young people on benefits with the travel costs associated with attending job interviews.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2224
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>All Jobcentre Plus District Managers have access to the Flexible Support Fund, that they can use to supplement mainstream services and to tailor support to the needs of individuals and the local area. A proportion of this fund will be spent by their Work Services Teams on discretionary awards to individual claimants, which could include helping with travel costs to attend job interviews.</p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 23/10/2014 15:06:09 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

100012

	registered interest
	date	20/10/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Asylum: Finance
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many asylum claimants are left without any state support, on reaching the age of 18.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL2227
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/10/2014 answer text <p>There is no reason why any asylum seekers should be left without support on reaching the age of 18. Unaccompanied asylum seeking children are looked after by local authorities and most will continue to be supported in this way after the age of 18 under leaving care legislation while they remain in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>Any asylum seeker that does not have an entitlement to leaving care support would be eligible to support from the Home Office under the provisions of section 95 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 if they were destitute.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Bates question first answered 27/10/2014 12:40:35 answering member 1091 label Biography information for Lord Bates
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

42912

	registered interest
	date	12/03/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the recent finding in the Demos report, Introducing Generation Citizen, that 84 per cent of 14- to 17-year-olds intend to vote when they attain the age of 18, how they intend to ensure that such intentions to vote translate into first-time voting behaviour amongst young people; and what steps they are taking to ensure that education establishments are committed to registering all 16- and 17-year-olds to vote.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL5977
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/03/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>The new key stage 4 citizenship programme to be taught from September 2014 requires that pupils should be taught about “the different electoral systems used in and beyond the United Kingdom and actions citizens can take in democratic and electoral processes to influence decisions locally, nationally and beyond.”</p><p> </p><p>The government has also made available £4.2 million funding to all 363 local authorities and valuation joint boards in Great Britain and 5 national organisations. Electoral registration officers have been encouraged to support the delivery of Rock Enrol! in their area, a learning resource which not only provides an opportunity for young people to register to vote, but enables them to discuss the importance of doing so.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 26/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

44584

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether migrants detained in HM Prison The Verne from 24 March will have access to (1) Rule 35 procedures to determine whether their health would be damaged by detention, for example, due to a history of torture, (2) mobile telephones and the internet, (3) the ability to receive telephone calls from solicitors, family and friends, and (4) on-site legal advice surgeries; and if not, why not.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6241
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>HM Prison The Verne started taking immigration detainees as scheduled from 24 March 2014. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) will retain The Verne as a prison in the short term. Its designation as a prison will be reviewed later this year, with the intention of completing the re-designation to an immigration removal centre by the end of September 2014.</p><p> </p><p>While The Verne retains its designation as a prison it will be governed by Prison Rules rather than Detention Centre Rules. As The Verne is not governed by Detention Centre Rules, Rule 35 of those rules is not applicable.</p><p> </p><p>Detainees held at The Verne will be treated in the same way as other detainees held within the prison estate. As such they will not have access to mobile telephones or the internet, nor will they be able to receive telephone calls. They will, however, be able to make telephone calls and will have access to both social and legal visits.</p><p> </p><p>There is a dedicated Home Office Immigration Enforcement Team on site who will see detainees routinely on induction and upon request. In addition, independent immigration advice will be provided by Migrant Help.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 07/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

44587

	registered interest
	date	24/03/2014
	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
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have any plans to ensure that petrol filling stations are not too far apart.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6244
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p>DECC published a report from Deloitte LLP in December 2012, which considered long term changes to the retail market for road fuels in the UK, and the implications of these changes to our energy resilience. This market has changed significantly over the last decade. However, the findings of this report do not suggest that the changes to the size and shape of the retail market for road fuels have had significant impacts on the UK's ability to be able to respond to supply disruptions or that these have significantly reduced the access of UK motorists to a local supply of fuel. The report found that in 2011, 98% of postcode sectors had a petrol filling station within 10 minutes drive, and 92% had more than two within the same travel time.</p><p> </p><p>Decisions on the location of individual petrol filling stations are for local planning authorities.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Verma question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3790 label Biography information for Baroness Verma
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

47397

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which (1) food, and (2) non-food, outlets are part of the azure card scheme; and whether they have plans to expand that list.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2014 answer text <p>The Azure Card is already accepted by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrison's, the Co-operative, Boots, Peacocks, Early Learning Centre, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers. <br><br>There are ongoing discussions with other retail outlets who may be interested in joining the scheme.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 15/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

47398

	registered interest
	date	07/04/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of asylum applications were granted (1) in the first instance, and (2) after some form of appeal, in each year since 2010.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6630
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2014 answer text <p>The table below shows the total number of asylum applications received in each year since 2010, and the proportion of asylum applicants in the first instance that were (1)(i) granted asylum, (ii) granted Humanitarian Protection, Discretionary Leave or Other Grants, and after some form of appeal were (2)(i) granted asylum, (ii) granted Humanitarian Protection, Discretionary Leave or Other Grants, as at May 2013 when the statistics were compiled.<br><br>Figures for 2013 will be published at the end of August 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="7"><strong>Proportion of asylum applicants granted (1) in the first instance and (2) after some form of appeal</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Year of application</strong></td><td><strong>Total main applicants</strong></td><td><strong>(1)(i)<br>% granted asylum in the first instance</strong></td><td><strong>(1)(ii)<br>% granted HP/DL/Other Grants in the first instance</strong></td><td><strong>(2)(i)<br>% granted asylum after appeal</strong></td><td><strong>(2)(ii)<br>% granted HP/DL/Other Grants after appeal</strong></td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><strong>2010</strong></td><td><strong>17,916</strong></td><td>16.5</td><td>7.0</td><td>11.9</td><td>1.8</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><strong>2011</strong></td><td><strong>19,865</strong></td><td>23.2</td><td>6.2</td><td>9.9</td><td>1.3</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><strong>2012</strong></td><td><strong>21,843</strong></td><td>23.3</td><td>3.5</td><td>6.8</td><td>0.8</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">Source: Table as_06 Outcome analysis of asylum applications, as at May 2013</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">HP Humanitarian Protection</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="2">DL Discretionary Leave</td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="6">The analysis of the outcomes of asylum applications are the recorded outcomes of the group (or cohort) of applicants in any one year, as at a particular time. A proportion of applications made in each of the years provided will be awaiting the outcome of an initial decision or an appeal. Applications from earlier years will inherently have had longer for the case to be processed than those from more recent years. This dataset is updated, in full, annually.</td><td> </td></tr><tr><td colspan="6"><p>There are a large variety of routes that an asylum application can take to a final asylum outcome. As a consequence, analysis of the outcomes of asylum applications in any one year requires interpretation for a small percentage of cases. This interpretation is undertaken consistently by established computer code. The proportions and underlying figures for final outcomes of the analysis of applications for the group (or cohort) of applicants in any one year, are therefore estimated.</p><p>The Home Office publishes statistics on the outcome of asylum applications in Table as_06 (Asylum data tables Volume 1) of Immigration Statistics. The latest release Immigration Statistics October to December 2013 is available from:<br><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2013" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-october-to-december-2013</a> and from the Library of the House.</p></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 15/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

47783

	registered interest
	date	08/04/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Faulks on 7 April (WA 249), whether they have set a fixed date in September 2014 by which HM Prison The Verne will be re-designated to an immigration removal centre; if not, why not; and what action they will take if the re-designation has not been completed by the agreed date.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6731
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>HMP The Verne started taking immigration detainees as scheduled from 24 March 2014.</p><p> </p><p>Our current plans remain that by the end of September 2014, at the latest, HMP The Verne will be re-designated to an immigration removal centre</p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

47870

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Faulks on 7 April (WA 249), in the light of HM Prison The Verne being used to take immigration detainees exclusively and the number of persons held under Immigration Act powers within HM Prisons, what plans they have to extend Rule 35 to the prison estate by an amendment to the Prison Rules; and, if there are no such plans, how a prison doctor's concerns that a prisoner may be a victim of torture may be made known to the Secretary of State for the Home Department.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6812
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>Prison Rule 21 provides that a medical practitioner shall report to the governor on the case of any person whose health is likely to be injuriously affected by continued imprisonment or any conditions of imprisonment. The governor is required to send any such reports to the Secretary of State. Although Prison Rule 21 does not replicate Detention Centre Rule 35 it performs a similar function. We therefore have no plans to amend Prison Rules in this case.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

47871

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	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, further to the recent medical evaluation by Dr Emily Keram of the British Guantánamo Bay detainee, Shaker Aamer, whether they will make further representations to the government of the United States concerning Mr Aamer's release; and whether they intend to provide an amicus curiae brief in support of Mr Aamer's motion for release, as requested by his lawyers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6813
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2014 answer text <p>Mr Aamer's case remains a high priority for the Government. We take Mr Aamer's welfare very seriously and continue to make clear to the US at the highest levels that we wish to secure his release, and return to the UK, as a matter of urgency. Most recently, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), raised Mr Aamer's case in a meeting with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, in February this year. We are currently considering Reprieve's request for the Government to provide an amicus curiae brief and will respond in due course.</p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 25/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

47872

	registered interest
	date	09/04/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the judgment issued on 9 April by Mr Justice Popplewell in Refugee Action v Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether they have any plans to establish an inquiry into the way asylum support rates are calculated.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6814
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government plans to review asylum support rates. That review will take account of the judgment and other information. The review will be completed by 9 August 2014.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

49898

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many days it has taken to receive Royal Mail approval of contents of freepost election addresses in each of the European Parliament constituencies.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>Government does not have a role in the approval of the content of election addresses.</p><p>Royal Mail is responsible for checking that candidates' election addresses meet Royal Mail's conditions of carriage and candidates' legal responsibilities. Royal Mail's guidance sets out its aim to approve or request changes to artwork within 48 hours of receipt.</p><p>However, it remains the party's or candidate's responsibility to ensure that the content of their election addresses complies with the law.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

49900

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what analysis they have made of the report Cedars: two years on by Barnardo's; and what plans they have to implement the recommendations made in that report.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6877
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Home Office welcomes Barnardo's report which highlights the significant improvements that have been made to the family returns process, the reduction in the numbers of children held with their families for immigration purposes and the fact that the accommodation at Cedars is used as a last resort. <br><br>The Home Office is carefully considering the report and its recommendations. The recommendation for risk assessment for the use of personal protection clothing is already part of operational visit planning and changes to the contract with the escort supplier, Tascor, are underway to enable the creation of specialist escort teams for family moves.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

49901

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	hansard heading	Compass Contracts
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government why they changed their contracting model for the provision of accommodation for asylum seekers in danger of destitution.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6878
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The COMPASS (Commercial and Operational Managers Procuring Asylum Support Services) project procured in accordance with the Public Contract Regulations 2006. The commercial principles behind the COMPASS procurement included:<br><br>• A desire to manage demand for asylum accommodation services under a regional procurement model to create efficiency and quality from economies of scale<br>• Appointing financially secure suppliers able to respond with potentially significant fluctuations (increases and decreases) in demand<br>• Identifying suppliers with a proven track record and who would take the care of asylum seekers seriously<br>• Updating the contract performance regime to align with Government procurement and Home Office strategic objectives and in recognition of National Audit Office reports into the previous accommodation contracts</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

49902

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Cabinet Office
	answering dept id	53
	answering dept short name	Cabinet Office
	answering dept sort name	Cabinet Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are ensuring (1) that adequate plans are in place for private contractors managing new public sector contracts, and (2) that any such plans include reference to what will be passed on by previous contractors and clear arrangements for exiting previous obligations.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6879
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p>Although it is the responsibility of the Contracting Authority to ensure that adequate plans are in place for private contractors managing new public sector contracts, the Crown Commercial Service was created to support departments in improving their commercial relationships and strengthen the role of the centre of Government in overseeing procurement.</p><p>The Model Services Contract, published by the Crown Commercial Service in January 2014, contains standard contractual provisions relating to contract termination and supplier replacement:</p><p><a href="https://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/files/Transparency/Model%20Services%20Contract%20v1_0.pdf" target="_blank">https://ccs.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/files/Transparency/Model%20Services%20Contract%20v1_0.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Wallace of Saltaire question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1816 label Biography information for Lord Wallace of Saltaire
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

49903

	registered interest
	date	06/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Home Office plans to re-examine its savings forecasts in the light of the additional costs incurred in the transition between contractors overseeing the Government's accommodation provision for destitute asylum seekers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6880
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>COMPASS savings are directly linked to the number of people in asylum accommodation that changes continually. COMPASS savings are therefore monitored and reappraised against Home Office forecasts continually. The latest benefits review, carried out after the end of the 2013-14 financial year, indicates that savings for that year exceeded those profiled in the original business case and that the project remains on target to deliver £140m of financial benefits during its lifetime. Savings are being made despite the supported population increasing in line with <br>higher asylum intake.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

50278

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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 diplomatic or alternative measures are being taken to secure the release of the several hundred children abducted by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6996
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p>In the days following the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, Nigeria, we have offered our assistance to the highest levels of the Nigerian government. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), spoke to the Nigerian Foreign Minister on 18 April immediately after the abductions and offered the UK's assistance.</p><p>On 7 May the Prime Minister, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), spoke to President Jonathan and offered to send a team of UK experts to Abuja. The President accepted and the team, led by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), arrived in Abuja on 9 May. The team will provide expertise in counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, military mentoring and training, victim support and economic development. Human rights compliance is, and will remain, an essential element of any UK assistance in Nigeria. The Minister for Africa, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds) visited Nigeria on 14 May, and reiterated our support with President Jonathan.</p><p>We are coordinating closely with international partners. An FCO team was in Washington on 5 May for talks with the US on Nigeria. Our expert team in Abuja will be coordinating closely with a US team also in Abuja. We are also speaking to the French and are encouraging other EU partners to lend their support. Given Boko Haram's exploitation of Nigeria's porous borders and indications that some of the girls may have been taken to Cameroon or Chad, we are engaging with Nigeria's neighbours.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

50279

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	answering body	Home Office
	answering dept id	1
	answering dept short name	Home Office
	answering dept sort name	Home Office
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how they decide which retailers can be accessed using the Azure prepayment card given to asylum seekers.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6997
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Azure card is provided to failed asylum seekers supported under the provisions of section 4 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. <br><br>Any retail outlet that provides food and other essential living items and accepts visa transactions can apply to join the Azure card scheme.<br><br>The card is currently accepted by Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrison's, the Co-operative, Boots, Peacocks, Early Learning Centre, Mothercare, The British Red Cross, The Salvation Army and a few small independent retailers. There are ongoing discussions with other outlets that may be interested in joining the scheme.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Lord Taylor of Holbeach question first answered 14/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3787 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Holbeach
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

50280

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2014
	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 many staff were employed at Jobcentre Plus in each year from 2005 to 2013.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL6998
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The total number of staff employed by Jobcentre Plus in March of each year from 2005 to 2011 is shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p>Jobcentre Plus Staffing (Full Time Equivalents)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2004/2005</p></td><td><p>73,406</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2005/2006</p></td><td><p>71,222</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2006/2007</p></td><td><p>67,946</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2007/2008</p></td><td><p>66,416</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2008/2009</p></td><td><p>69,479</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/2010</p></td><td><p>82,647</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2010/2011</p></td><td><p>72,939</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Jobcentre Plus was re-structured and absorbed into a revised Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Operations structure in October 2011. Since that point, it has no longer existed as a separate organisation.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Lord Freud question first answered 13/05/2014 12:00:00 answering member 3893 label Biography information for Lord Freud
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

57574

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	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	Pakistan
	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 recent stonings in Pakistan; and what steps they will take to ensure that the values set out in the Commonwealth Charter are being upheld in that country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL47
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), made a statement on 29 May urging the Government of Pakistan to do all in its power to eradicate honour killings and calling on the Pakistani authorities to investigate fully the murder of Farzana Parveen. We continue to urge the Pakistan government to bring the perpetrators to justice. I am pleased that Prime Minister Sharif condemned the murder and immediately demanded action.</p><p> </p><p>Pakistan is included as a “country of concern” in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Human Rights Report and we regularly raise the subject of human rights for all Pakistan's citizens with the Pakistani government. We continue to encourage Pakistan and all Commonwealth countries to uphold the values as set out in the Commonwealth Charter signed in 2012.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 10/06/2014 13:35:50 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

57575

	registered interest
	date	04/06/2014
	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	India
	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 recent hangings in India; and what steps they will take to ensure that the values set out in the Commonwealth Charter are being upheld in that country.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL48
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/06/2014 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), expressed his concern about the recent gang rape and death of the two girls in Budaun on 28 May.</p><p>We are committed to working with the Government of India and international partners to address the problem of gender-based violence, human trafficking and child exploitation in India. Through the Department for International Development (DFID) programme, the UK supports measures in India's 120 poorest districts to promote the empowerment and access to benefits and services of excluded groups. DFID India also provides support to national and state governments in India which includes helping girls to complete basic education and further tackling violence against women and girls. We will continue with work with the government of India on this important issue, and continue to encourage all Commonwealth countries to uphold the values set out in the Commonwealth Charter.</p> answering member printed Baroness Warsi question first answered 11/06/2014 15:54:55 answering member 3839 label Biography information for Baroness Warsi
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

61271

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	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	Minimum Wage
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government under what circumstances employers are legally allowed to pay workers less than the national minimum wage.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL231
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p> </p><p>There are no circumstances where if a worker is entitled to the National Minimum Wage that an employer can pay less than the National Minimum Wage. However, under the legislation certain types of workers are not entitled to the minimum wage. These are:</p><p> </p><ul><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/employment-status/selfemployed" target="_blank">self-employed people</a> running their own business</li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/employment-status/director" target="_blank">company directors</a></li><li><a href="https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/pay-and-expenses" target="_blank">volunteers</a> or voluntary workers</li><li>workers on a government employment programme, eg the Work Programme</li><li>family members of the employer living in the employer's home</li><li>non-family members living in the employer's home who share in the work and leisure activities, are treated as one of the family and aren't charged for meals or accommodation (eg au pairs)</li><li>workers younger than school leaving age (usually 16)</li><li>higher and further education students on a work placement up to 1 year</li><li>workers on government pre-apprenticeships schemes</li><li>people on the following European Union programmes: Leonardo da Vinci, Youth in Action, Erasmus, Comenius</li><li>people working on a Jobcentre Plus Work trial for 6 weeks</li><li>members of the armed forces</li><li>share fishermen</li><li>prisoners</li><li>people living and working in a religious community</li></ul><p> </p><p>Additionally, people carrying out work experience and internships will not get the minimum wage if they are:</p><p> </p><ul><li>a student doing work experience as part of a higher or further education course</li><li>of <a href="https://www.gov.uk/know-when-you-can-leave-school" target="_blank">compulsory school age</a></li><li>a <a href="https://www.gov.uk/volunteering/pay-and-expenses" target="_blank">volunteer</a> or doing voluntary work</li><li>on a government or European programme</li><li>work shadowing</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Employers and workers with queries about the application of the National Minimum Wage can access free and confidential advice through the Pay and Work Rights Helpline on 0800 917 2368.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 24/06/2014 11:15:33 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

61272

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	answering body	Department for International Development
	answering dept id	20
	answering dept short name	International Development
	answering dept sort name	International Development
	hansard heading	Overseas Aid
	house id	2
	legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
	question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government which countries currently receive United Kingdom international aid; and how much was paid to each of those countries in (1) 1995, (2) 2000, (3) 2005, (4) 2010, and (5) 2013.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL232
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2014 answer text <p>Information on the countries currently receiving United Kingdom international aid; and how much was paid to each of those countries in (1) 1995, (2) 2000, (3) 2005, (4) 2010 has been placed in the House of Lords library. Figures for 2013 are currently being compiled and will be published in Statistics on International Development in October 2014.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Northover question first answered 19/06/2014 14:02:04 answering member 2539 label Biography information for Baroness Northover
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

61273

	registered interest
	date	10/06/2014
	answering body	Ministry of Justice
	answering dept id	54
	answering dept short name	Justice
	answering dept sort name	Justice
	hansard heading	The Verne Prison
	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 legal aid-funded immigration representation available to migrants detained in HMP The Verne.
	tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
	uin	HL233
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Currently, advice on immigration matters within the scope of Legal Aid can be given to detainees in HMP The Verne by any provider that holds an Immigration &amp; Asylum contract with the Legal Aid Agency (LAA).</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this year the LAA conducted an expression of interest exercise among existing contract holders providing immigration surgeries at other Immigration Removal Centres, with four providers confirmed as interested in operating surgeries in HMP The Verne. Communications will be issued shortly regarding when these services are likely to commence.</p> answering member printed Lord Faulks question first answered 24/06/2014 13:23:06 answering member 4183 label Biography information for Lord Faulks
	tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno