Session 2017-19 Tuesday No. 144 17 July 2018

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD)

HOUSE OF LORDS

WRITTEN STATEMENTS AND WRITTEN ANSWERS

Written Statements ...... 1

Written Answers ...... 7

[I] indicates that the member concerned has a relevant registered interest. The full register of interests can be found at http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/standards-and-interests/register-of-lords-interests/ Members who want a printed copy of Written Answers and Written Statements should notify the Printed Paper Office. This printed edition is a reproduction of the original text of Answers and Statements, which can be found on the internet at http://www.parliament.uk/writtenanswers/. Ministers and others who make Statements or answer Questions are referred to only by name, not their ministerial or other title. The current list of ministerial and other responsibilities is as follows.

Minister Responsibilities Baroness Evans of Bowes Park Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal Earl Howe Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Lord Agnew of Oulton Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Lord Ashton of Hyde Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Lord Bates Minister of State, Department for International Development Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Wales Office Baroness Buscombe Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Work and Pensions Lord Callanan Minister of State, Department for Exiting the European Union Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen Whip Earl of Courtown Deputy Chief Whip Lord Duncan of Springbank Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office and Scotland Office Baroness Fairhead Minister of State, Department for International Trade Lord Gardiner of Kimble Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Baroness Goldie Whip Lord Henley Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Lord Keen of Elie Advocate-General for Scotland and Ministry of Justice Spokesperson Baroness Manzoor Whip Lord O'Shaughnessy Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care Baroness Stedman-Scott Whip Baroness Sugg Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Transport, Whip Lord Taylor of Holbeach Chief Whip Baroness Vere of Norbiton Whip Baroness Williams of Trafford Minister of State, Home Office Lord Young of Cookham Whip Viscount Younger of Leckie Whip

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Written Statements 17 July 2018 Page 1

the research and development investment necessary to Written Statements refresh UK Intellectual Property. Tuesday, 17 July 2018 Today I can announce the publication of the UK Combat Air Strategy. The strategy defines a clear way Combat Air Strategy ahead to preserve our national advantage and maintain choice in how it is delivered. The MOD will work with [HLWS832] wider Government, industry and international partners to Earl Howe: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State deliver the strategy by taking the following steps: for Defence (Mr Gavin Williamson) has made the • The MOD will continue to invest in upgrading following Written Ministerial Statement. Typhoon to maintain its world-class capabilities for the On 21 February, I informed the House that the Ministry coming decades. of Defence (MOD) would produce a strategy for the • The MOD will provide investment in key UK design Combat Air sector. Development of the strategy has engineering skills and a means to generate UK drawn heavily on expertise from across Defence, wider Intellectual Property by implementing the Future Government, academia, think-tanks, industry and Combat Air System Technology Initiative. The international partners. The approach adopted is driven by initiative was established by the 2015 Strategic Defence the developing themes of the Modernising Defence and Security Review and builds on recent UK Programme and the recent review of Defence’s technology investment. contribution to national economic and social value • The MOD will initiate the UK's capability acquisition conducted by Philip Dunne. programme to define and deliver the future capabilities Defence of the UK, protection of our people and our required when Typhoon leaves service by 2040. An contribution to securing the rules-based international initial acquisition decision will be made by the end of order requires us to deter adversaries by having the 2020. capability and the will to use decisive force to deliver our • UK Government and industry will work together to Defence, Foreign policy and economic objectives. The achieve a more open and sustainable industrial base threats we face are evolving and proliferating ever more which invests in its own future, partners internationally rapidly. World-class Combat Air capability allows us to and breaks the cycle of increasing cost and length of maintain control of the air both at home and around the Combat Air programmes. world. • The UK will take a strategic approach to key Combat The UK Combat Air sector provides the capability to Air decisions. This will maximise the overall national underpin our operational advantage[1] and freedom of value the UK derives from the sector; balancing action[2]. It also makes a significant contribution to the military capability, international influence, economic UK economy and our international influence. The UK is a and prosperity benefits. global leader in Combat Air, with cutting-edge military • Effective international partnering in Combat Air is capability underpinned by world-class industrial and fundamental to the delivery of our national goals and technical know-how. management of cost. The UK will work quickly and The UK Combat Air sector has an annual turnover of openly with allies to build on or establish new over £6 billion and directly supports over 18,000 highly partnerships to define future requirements and how they skilled jobs across the UK. It supports over 100,000 jobs could be delivered in a mutually beneficial manner. in the supply chain and more than 2,000 companies across By preserving our ability to maintain operational the UK. The UK is the world’s second largest exporter of advantage and freedom of action, the strategy will ensure Defence equipment with Defence aerospace representing we have greater choice in how we deliver future over 80% of the value of these exports. We are at the capabilities and are able to maximise the economic and heart of a number of key international programmes, strategic benefits of future Combat Air acquisition including F-35 the largest Defence programme in the programmes. world. Our position was secured through world-leading A copy of the Combat Air Strategy has been placed in Intellectual Property, understanding, innovation and the Library of the House. industrial capability. As we leave the EU, we will continue to seek partnerships across Europe and beyond I will report annually to Parliament on progress in to deliver UK, European and global security. To do this implementing the Strategy. we must retain access to our proud industrial base. The [1] The ability to find and maintain an edge over UK’s Combat Air sector is therefore critical to the UK’s potential adversaries, both to increase the chances of our prosperity, our Global Britain outlook and our ability to success in hostile situations and to increase the protection deliver the best capability to the front line. of the UK assets involved, especially our people. The future of the UK’s Combat Air sector is, however, [2] The ability to determine our internal and external not assured. There has been a gap between major Combat affairs and act in the country’s interests free from Air development programmes and a clear indication of intervention by other states or entities, in accordance with future UK military requirements is required to stimulate our legal obligations. Page 2 17 July 2018 Written Statements

Fiscal Sustainability and Managing Fiscal The government recognises that the NHS will need Risks Reports additional resources to help meet these pressures. In June, the Prime Minister announced that the NHS in England [HLWS838] will receive an increase in funding over the next five Lord Bates: My right honourable friend the Chief years that equates to over £20 billion a year more in real Secretary to the Treasury (Elizabeth Truss) has today terms by 2023-24. The government also recognises the made the following Written Ministerial Statement. need for action being taken to address long-term cost- drivers in health. The final settlement will be confirmed at Today sees the publication of two reports which a future fiscal event, subject to an NHS 10-year plan that underscore the need for continued fiscal responsibility: delivers the efficiency, productivity, and performance the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) 2018 Fiscal improvements necessary to help address the long-term Sustainability Report (FSR) and the government’s report cost pressures highlighted by the OBR. The government on Managing Fiscal Risks [CM 9647]. The publication of will fund this five-year commitment in a responsible way, the FSR fulfils the OBR’s legal obligation to publish an while continuing to meet its fiscal rules and reduce debt. analysis of the sustainability of the long-term public As the Prime Minister has said, this will be partly funded finances and an assessment of the public sector balance by money that we will no longer spend on our annual sheet at least once every two years. Managing Fiscal membership subscription to the European Union after we Risks fulfils the government’s obligation to respond to the have left. In addition, across the nation, taxpayers will OBR’s 2017 Fiscal Risks Report (FRR). These reports need to contribute a bit more in a fair and balanced way to have been laid before Parliament today and copies are support the NHS we all use. available in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office. The government is also determined to tackle the other These reports come at a turning point for the public risks and pressures facing the public finances, to lock in finances. The government has made significant progress the hard-won progress we have made in reducing in repairing the public finances over the past eight years. borrowing and getting debt falling. The OBR’s 2017 The deficit has been cut by over three-quarters from its Fiscal Risks Report provided the UK’s first ever survey of post-war peak of 9.9% of GDP in 2009-10 to 1.9% in the potential risks to the public finances and was 2017-18. The debt-to-GDP ratio is now forecast by the recognised by the IMF, OECD, and others as the most OBR to have peaked last year and to begin its first comprehensive report of its kind and the only one sustained fall in a generation from this year. produced by an independent body. By publishing our Both reports illustrate the long-term pressures and risks response today, the government invites Parliament and the to the public finances, underscoring the importance of public to hold us to account for the responsible locking in this hard-won progress and continuing to management of those risks. reduce debt. As analysis by international experts and the Managing Fiscal Risks shows how the government is OBR’s own fiscal stress test has shown, governments tackling these risks as we continue to repair the public with high levels of debt are more vulnerable to shocks and finances for the benefit of current and future generations – have less room to use fiscal policy to mitigate their impact following our balanced approach to the public finances, on the economy. Moreover, leaving government debt at getting debt falling whilst investing in our vital public current levels would see the burden of servicing that debt services and keeping taxes as low as possible. rise to levels not seen since the mid-1980s if interest rates normalise in the way assumed in the OBR’s long-run The report sets out the specific steps the government is projections. This would pass an unacceptable burden on taking to mitigate key sources of risk identified by the to the next generation. The government is therefore OBR. These include actions to reduce the likelihood and committed to continuing to reduce debt as a share of cost of financial crises, adapting the tax system to a GDP. changing economy, improving the sustainability of the State Pension in light of rising longevity, tightening The 2018 FSR projection shows that, left unaddressed, controls over the issuance of loans and guarantees, and demographic change and non-demographic cost pressures managing the government’s inflation exposure by on health, pensions, and social care would push the debt- considering the appropriate balance of index-linked and to-GDP ratio to over 280% of GDP by 2067-68. One of conventional gilts. the most important drivers of the long-run fiscal outlook in the FSR is health spending, which the OBR project will It also highlights that in the long-run, boosting rise from 7.6% of GDP in 2022-23 to 13.8% in 2067-68 productivity growth would accelerate the return to fiscal in the absence of action to increase productivity and sustainability and alleviate pressures on taxpayers and public services. The government is taking forward a contain costs. While this is partly explained by population ageing, most of the projected increase is due to non- comprehensive strategy for boosting productivity based demographic cost pressures - including the low on supporting long-term investment in physical, human productivity of the health sector relative to the rest of the and intellectual capital. economy; increases in chronic conditions; and Supporting the vision set out in the modern Industrial improvements in technology and medical research leading Strategy, the government is increasing investment in key to the provision of new drugs and treatments. productivity-boosting infrastructure. The National Written Statements 17 July 2018 Page 3

Productivity Investment Fund will provide £31 billion of and financial support to the Court, contributing £8.9 additional investment in areas critical to improving million in 2017. As of the end of 2017, the Court had productivity and £1 billion in improving the UK’s digital issued 31 arrest warrants, handed down verdicts in six infrastructure. We have increased public support for R&D cases and convicted nine individuals, one of whom has to its highest level in 30 years and are committed to since been acquitted on appeal. It is currently considering increasing public and private investment in R&D to 2.4% cases from Africa, the Middle East, Europe, South East of GDP by 2027. Asia and South America. The government is also committed to making sure that During the course of 2017, the Court made reparations Britain is the world’s most attractive location for private awards to the victims of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo and investment. We are supporting UK businesses by Germain Katanga, both convicted of war crimes in the delivering a competitive tax system that supports growth Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ahmad Al Faqi Al and investment – including by reducing the corporation Mahdi, convicted of destroying cultural heritage sites in tax rate from 28% to 19% today, the lowest in the G20. Timbuktu. The UK contributed £400,000 to the Court’s Building human capital through strengthening Trust Fund for Victims to support its work, which has education and training is a priority for the government. included counselling for rape victims, provision of We are taking action to transform technical education and prosthetics and work to remove any stigma that may help prepare people for the high-skilled jobs of the future, attach to child soldiers in Uganda and the Democratic by investing in apprenticeships through the introduction Republic of Congo. of the Apprenticeship Levy, introducing a National When the Rome Statute entered into force in 2002, Retraining Scheme, and introducing T-levels, which will three crimes were agreed to be within the immediate mean that all 16-18 olds have a choice of technical and jurisdiction of the ICC: war crimes, crimes against academic routes of equal status and quality. humanity, and genocide. The Court’s jurisdiction over a These OBR reports and the government’s Managing fourth, the crime of aggression, was postponed pending Fiscal Risks report keep the UK at the frontier of fiscal further consideration by States Parties. In December management internationally and demonstrate the 2017, the ICC Assembly of States Parties agreed to government’s commitment to fiscal transparency and activate the Court’s jurisdiction over the crime of accountability. No other government is so open about the aggression. It did so on the basis that all States Parties risks to the public finances or more determined to manage explicitly agreed and confirmed in a consensus-based them responsibly for the benefit of current and future decision that, in the case of a state referral or proprio generations. mutu investigation, the Court shall not exercise its jurisdiction regarding a crime of aggression when International Criminal Justice committed by a national, or on the territory, of a State Party that has not ratified or accepted the relevant [HLWS837] amendments to the Rome Statute. The UK has no plans to Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: My Right Honourable ratify the crime of aggression amendments and welcomes Friend, the Secretary of State for Foreign and the decision as an authoritative, unqualified and clear Commonwealth Affairs (Jeremy Hunt), has made the interpretation of the amendments to the Rome Statute on following written Ministerial statement: the crime of aggression, in accordance with article 121 Today is the Day of International Criminal Justice, paragraph 5 of the Rome Statute. The activation of the which provides an opportunity to update Parliament on Court’s jurisdiction for this crime takes place today. UK support for the principles and institutions of The International Criminal Tribunal for the former international criminal justice in the previous calendar Yugoslavia (ICTY) closed at the end of 2017. In its 24 year. years of operation, the Tribunal indicted 161 individuals The UK maintains that those who commit atrocities for serious violations of international humanitarian law should be held to account. As such, support for and provided a comprehensive historical record of the international criminal justice is a fundamental part of the atrocities committed during the Balkans conflicts. One of UK’s foreign policy. Our approach is not limited to its last acts was the conviction and sentencing of former punishing the perpetrators – it seeks to help victims and Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladiċ to life their communities come to terms with the past, contribute imprisonment for the Srebrenica genocide and other to lasting peace and security, and deter those who might serious crimes during the 1992-1995 conflict in Bosnia. otherwise commit such violations in the future. Any outstanding work of the ICTY will now pass to the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT), The International Criminal Court (ICC) is the world’s which also assumed the residual functions of the first permanent independent international criminal court International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 2016. with jurisdiction over the most serious crimes of international concern, and is complementary to national In addition to the MICT and ICTY, the UK provides criminal jurisdiction. The UK government believes that practical and financial support to the Extraordinary the ICC can play an important role in pursuing Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, which was accountability when national authorities are either unable established to prosecute crimes committed by the Khmer or unwilling genuinely to do so. We provide both political Rouge regime in the 1970s; the Special Tribunal for Page 4 17 July 2018 Written Statements

Lebanon; and the Residual Special Court for Sierra - in proceedings for contempt of court; Leone. Our contributions to these tribunals totalled £5.8 - where a person does not have legal representation, in million in 2017. breach of Article 6 ECHR; and The UK has also been at the forefront of international - the person is committed to prison and the breach of efforts to gather and analyse evidence of atrocities Article 6 results in the person spending more time in committed in the Middle East. In 2017, we contributed prison than they otherwise would have done, or causes £200,000 to the UN International Impartial and them to be committed to prison when they would not Independent Mechanism (IIIM) to support the preparation otherwise have been committed; of legal cases for serious crimes committed in the Syrian then a financial remedy would be available to the conflict. The UK also led efforts to adopt a UN Security person to compensate for the breach of Article 6 ECHR Council resolution establishing an Investigative Team to that resulted in the person spending extra time in prison, collect, preserve and store evidence of Daesh atrocities in or caused them to be committed to prison. Iraq, and contributed £1m towards its eventual operation. Following consideration of possible legislative options, Justice Update the Government considers that there are compelling reasons to amend the HRA by Remedial Order under the [HLWS839] power in section 10 HRA to take remedial action where a Lord Keen of Elie: My honourable friend the provision of legislation is incompatible with an obligation Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice of the United Kingdom arising from the ECHR. (Edward Argar) has made the following Written This draft proposal for a Remedial Order is being laid Statement. under the non-urgent procedure. It will be laid for a "I have laid a draft proposal for a Remedial Order to period of 60 days during which time representations may amend section 9 of the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) to be made. The Joint Committee on Human Rights will allow an award of damages in a new set of circumstances. scrutinise the Remedial Order and report on it to the This is to implement the judgment of the European Court House. Following that, the draft order, with any revisions of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Hammerton v UK the Government wishes to make, will be laid for a further (application no. 6287/10). 60 days before being considered and voted on by both The domestic courts found that the applicant in Houses." Hammerton v UK had spent extra time in prison as a result of procedural errors during his committal which Restoration and Renewal: Shadow Sponsor breached his rights under Article 6 of the European Board Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as set out in the [HLWS834] HRA (right to a fair trial). He was subsequently unable to obtain damages to compensate for the breach of Article 6 Lord McFall of Alcluith: Both Houses have decided ECHR in the domestic courts because section 9(3) HRA that the next phase of the Restoration and Renewal does not allow damages to be awarded in proceedings in Programme should be overseen by a Sponsor Board and respect of a judicial act done in good faith, except to Delivery Authority. While it is anticipated that these compensate a person to the extent required by Article 5(5) bodies will be placed on a substantive footing by primary ECHR (deprivation of liberty). legislation in due course, the Commissions of both Houses have agreed to establish the Sponsor Board in In 2016, the ECtHR found a breach of Article 6 ECHR shadow form, with the following members: and adopted the finding of the domestic court that the applicant had spent extra time in prison as a result of the • Elizabeth Peace CBE (Chair) breach. The ECtHR found that the applicant’s inability to • Lord Carter of Coles receive damages in the domestic courts in the particular circumstances of this case led to a violation of Article 13 • Lord Deighton KBE ECHR (right to an effective remedy). The ECtHR • Rt Hon the Lord Geidt GCB GCVO OBE awarded a sum in damages which has been paid. Under Article 46 ECHR, the UK is obliged to abide by • Neil Gray MP the judgment of the ECtHR in any case to which it is a • Brigid Janssen party. In order to address the finding of a violation of Article 13 ECHR in Hammerton, legislative change is • Rt Hon Sir Patrick McLoughlin MP required as it was the result of a statutory bar on the • Marta Phillips OBE award of damages under the existing section 9(3) HRA. The Government proposes to implement the judgment • Baroness Scott of Needham Market by making a targeted amendment to section 9 HRA to • Mark Tami MP make damages available in respect of breaches of Article 6 ECHR arising under similar circumstances to those in • Simon Thurley CBE Hammerton. It would have the effect that: • Simon Wright OBE Written Statements 17 July 2018 Page 5

The shadow Sponsor Board will act as the single client The Home Office internal review could not locate key accountable to Parliament and own the budget, business documentation produced by the project researcher in case and scope of the Programme. Home Office internal records, but notes records were The recruitment of the Chair and the other external imperfectly operated, meaning it could have been members was overseen by an independent recruitment received. However, the review did find that pieces of panel, chaired by Rt Hon Dame Janet Paraskeva DBE, a information questioning the response of statutory services former First Civil Service Commissioner. Other were available to the Home Office, meaning that recruitment panel members possessed major projects and opportunities to follow up on, or seek further information heritage experience.The panel’s role was to make a about, matters in Rotherham including whether the police recommendation to the Commissions regarding the most and other statutory agencies were responding appropriate candidates for the roles following a full and appropriately existed. open competition. The panel unanimously recommended Mr Wanless and Mr Whittam were content that the the appointment of the Chair and the other external methodology of this review was sound and that the members. The appointment of the external members is findings were reasonable. They made one subject to satisfactory references and security clearance. recommendation to the Home Office, in summary, that The parliamentarians on the Board were nominated by the Home Office should record allegations of child abuse, the political parties and groups in both Houses. what information is sent to the police, and what the result of that referral has been. I would like to take this Rotherham Independent Review of Child opportunity to thank Mr Wanless and Mr Whittam for Sexual Abuse their work on the Independent Review. As public servants, we all have an important [HLWS836] responsibility to raise and respond effectively to any Baroness Williams of Trafford: My rt hon Friend the safeguarding concerns we may encounter in the work we Secretary of State for the Home Department (Sajid Javid) do – not least allegations of child sexual abuse. has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement: The Home Office fully accepts Mr Wanless and Mr Whittam’s review and since 2014, the department has The Home Office is today publishing an Independent introduced a recording and referral system for allegations Review of information passed to the Home Office in of child abuse to address their precise recommendation. connection with allegations of child sexual abuse in Rotherham (1998 – 2005). The Permanent Secretary and I take this issue extremely This Independent Review was commissioned by my seriously and the Home Office will continue to promote amongst all staff the vital importance of using all Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister, when she available information to consider if a child is at risk of was Home Secretary, in response to suggestions contained in Professor Alexis Jay’s Independent Inquiry into Child abuse. Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham (1997-2013). These indicated that in the course of funding and evaluating a Surface Water Management Action Plan Rotherham based research project, the Home Office may [HLWS833] have been passed information about the scale of child Lord Gardiner of Kimble: My Hon Friend the abuse in Rotherham and the response of local agencies Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the such as the police and the local authority that should have Environment (Thérèse Coffey) has today made the raised concern. In particular, Professor Jay saw a following statement. document believed to have been written by a Home Office project researcher sometime in 2002 which – Surface water flooding happens when intense rain from although the town was not named – contained a storms overwhelms local drainage capacities. It is caused description of the extent of child sexual exploitation in by short heavy rainstorms, tends to affect localised areas Rotherham and a series of criticisms regarding the way in and is more difficult to forecast than flooding from rivers which this was being dealt with. and the sea. In response to these reports, my right honourable Friend Managing surface water can be complex because it is the Prime Minister, as Home Secretary, announced that difficult to forecast which areas the storms will affect, to the department would conduct a thorough analysis of all understand the routes the water will take when it falls, and relevant papers covering the period in question to because there are many parties with relevant ascertain exactly what information had been made responsibilities. available to the Home Office. She confirmed this work The government has today published its Surface Water would be independently reviewed by Peter Wanless, Management Action Plan on gov.uk. This action plan will Chief Executive of the NSPCC, and Richard Whittam QC bring our preparedness for surface water flood risks more to ensure it had been conducted absolutely properly. closely into line with that for risks from main rivers and I can confirm that today’s publication includes Mr the sea. It delivers a commitment in the National Flood Wanless and Mr Whittam’s Independent Review and the Resilience Review and includes a number of actions to internal Home Office review that this assesses. Page 6 17 July 2018 Written Statements both improve our understanding of the risks and Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) strengthen delivery. The action plan covers: (No.2) Bill • improving risk assessment and communication; [HLWS835] • making sure infrastructure is resilient; Lord Bates: I have made a statement under Section • clarifying responsibilities for surface water 19(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 1998 that, in my view, management; the provisions of the Supply and Appropriation (Main • joining up planning for surface water management; Estimates) (No.2) Bill are compatible with the convention and rights. A copy of the statement has been placed in the • building local authority capacity. Library of the House.

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Written Answers Asylum: Afghanistan Asked by Lord Singh of Wimbledon Tuesday, 17 July 2018 To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Afghanistan: Visits Abroad suicide bombing resulting in the death of 19 Sikhs in Jalalabad, Afghanistan in July, whether they intend to Asked by Lord Davies of Stamford offer asylum in the UK to the families of those who were killed. [HL9309] To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the cost of the Foreign Secretary's visit to Afghanistan on 25 Baroness Williams of Trafford: There is no provision June. [HL9163] in the Immigration Rules for people to be allowed to travel to the UK to seek asylum. Those who need Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The cost of the former international protection should claim in the first safe Foreign Secretary's travel will be disclosed in the usual country they reach – that is the fastest route to safety. way and published as part of transparency data in accordance with Cabinet Office requirements. Our resettlement schemes offer a safe and legal route to the UK for the most vulnerable refugees. Membership of Animal Products: Trade a minority religion or group is not in itself one of the vulnerability criteria used to assess eligibility for Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham resettlement but members of minority religions or groups may qualify under the established criteria. To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the decision by the United States to Our assessment of the situation for Sikhs in allow the trade in elephant and other animal trophies Afghanistan is set out in the relevant country policy and from Zambia and Zimbabwe; and whether they will information note, which is available on the Gov.uk discuss a worldwide ban on sales of ivory with the website President of the United States during his visit to the https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afghanistan UK. [HL9222] -country-policy-and-information-notes. Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to Beef which the United States is a Party, the import of hunting Asked by Lord Jopling trophies of elephants and other endangered species is permitted subject to strict controls. We have not made an To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment assessment of the decision by the United States. they have made of whether it is possible to use scientific analysis techniques to establish whether beef The Prime Minister and President Trump discussed a has been produced using hormone implants when the range of the many international and foreign policy issues amount of hormones in implanted steer beef is lower on which the US and UK co-operate closely. than the amount of those hormones in non-implanted bull beef. [HL9338] Aortic Aneurysm Lord Gardiner of Kimble: There are prototype Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton methods that give a good indication of whether a To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment substance is naturally occurring. However, these need they have made of the draft NICE guidance on further refinement before they can be considered suitably Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and in particular, the robust and reliable for regulatory use. impact of the proposal to group regulated and non- regulated products on standards of patient care. Brexit [HL9178] Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick Lord O'Shaughnessy: We have made no such assessment. The National Institute for Health and Care To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible intend to seek an extension to (1) the date of the UK’s for developing authoritative, evidence-based guidance for withdrawal from the EU on 29 March 2019, or (2) the the National Health Service. NICE’s guidance is based on length of the planned transition period. [HL9200] a thorough assessment of the available evidence and is Lord Callanan: We are not seeking to extend either the developed through extensive engagement with Article 50 process or the time-limited implementation stakeholders. NICE has not yet published its final period. We are confident of reaching agreement on the guideline on abdominal aortic aneurysm and has recently Withdrawal Agreement and the terms of our future consulted publicly on its draft guidance. NICE will take partnership by October and are working at pace to ensure the comments it has received in response to the all necessary arrangements are in place for a smooth and consultation fully into account in finalising its guideline. orderly exit. Page 8 17 July 2018 Written Answers

Bus Service Operators Grant 16 to 18 study: For 2011/12–2015/16- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-level- Asked by Lord Bradshaw attainment-by-pupil-characteristics.[3] To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the For 2016/17- Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 5 June (HL8111) https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/a-level-and- and the report by the Campaign for Better other-16-to-18-results-2016-to-2017-revised.[4] Transport Buses in Crisis, published in June, that states [1] Select the ‘revised’ publication for each year, open that local bus budgets have halved in the last seven the ‘national tables’ and navigate to the tables giving years, what assessment they have made of whether statistics by pupil characteristics. devolving part of Bus Services Operator Grant to local authorities has met their intended objectives. [HL9162] [2] For 2011/12 – 2013/14, scroll halfway down the page and select the ‘GCSE and equivalent attainment by Baroness Sugg: The Department for Transport pays pupil characteristics’ link and then open the ‘national and around £43m of Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) per local authority tables’. For 2014/15 – 2016/17, select the year directly to local authorities. This element of BSOG ‘revised’ publications (at the top of the page) and open the relates to services which local authorities procure directly ‘characteristic national tables’. Each of these has an initial because they would not otherwise be commercially table providing headline measures by each of the viable. characteristics we publish. This funding is ring-fenced and may only be used for [3] Select the ‘underlying data’ and navigate to the the purposes of supporting bus services (including ‘FSM’ table for each year, figures for disadvantaged community transport services run under a section 19 pupils were not published in these releases. permit), or for the provision of infrastructure supporting [4] Download the ‘A level exam results and A level and such services. Local authorities are required to report to vocational participation csv’ (towards the bottom of the the Department on how they have made use of the page) and open the ‘performance measures by devolved funds, as well as publishing such information on characteristics’ file. You can then filter the data for FSM their website. and disadvantage (columns E and F). As a devolved fund, it is for the local authorities to determine how they use this funding to support bus services and help meet their local objectives. Children: Protection Asked by Lord Carlile of Berriew Children To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the Asked by Baroness Stroud convictions of Barry Bennell and George Ormond for To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of serious offences of non-recent sexual abuse against children aged (1) zero to five, (2) six to 11, and (3) multiple victims, what plans they have to review and 12 to 16, from (a) low, (b) middle, and (c) high, income improve the safeguarding of children in sports. families are not living with both parents. [HL9197] [HL9327] Asked by Baroness Stroud Lord Ashton of Hyde: Since the first allegations of non-recent abuse in football became public in November To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of 2016, DCMS has initiated a significant programme of (1) children living with both birth parents, and (2) work with Sport England and the NSPCC’s Child children not living with both birth parents have met the Protection in Sport Unit to assess the current safeguarding required level of attainment at each Key Stage in each landscape in sport and strengthen provision wherever year since 2012. [HL9198] possible. Lord Agnew of Oulton: The information requested is All organisations in receipt of public funding from not held centrally. The department does not collect or Sport England and UK Sport have been required to meet hold information on children’s living arrangements or the the standards set out in the Code for Sports Governance income of their families. The Office for National since April 2017. The Code contains specific obligations Statistics may hold some of this information. around safeguarding, including a requirement for national Statistics on pupil attainment organised by entitlement governing bodies to adhere to the Standards for for free school meals or are disadvantaged can be found in Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport, which are the following publications: issued by the Child Protection in Sport Unit. Key stage 2: We have also taken steps to promote best practice in non-funded sports including launching the Code of https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics- Safeguarding in Martial Arts in March 2018. The code key-stage-2.[1] sets consistent standards and provides parents with the Key stage 4: knowledge they need to make informed decisions about https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics- where to send their children for instruction. gcses-key-stage-4.[2] Written Answers 17 July 2018 Page 9

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: topics covering the future security partnership and the Databases future economic partnership. Asked by Lord Berkeley EU Institutions To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon DVLA database that records penalty points on drivers' licences is both paper-based and digital; and whether To ask Her Majesty's Government whether iinformation from that database can be easily and attendance at meetings of the EU Council of Ministers quickly shared with magistrates courts. [HL9320] and the European Council by UK ministers and the Prime Minister will cease following 29 March 2019. Baroness Sugg: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing [HL9189] Agency (DVLA) only records penalty points and endorsements on its electronic database. Lord Callanan: As the Prime Minister set out in her Courts in Great Britain have access to the electronic Florence speech last year, the UK will cease to be a Drivers Validation Service, which provides immediate member of the European Union on 29th March 2019. and up to date information on a driver’s record. Courts Following this date we will no longer sit at the European can also check driver records by sending a paper Council table or in the Council of Ministers. application form to the DVLA. Fish: Conservation Educational Exchanges: Oldham Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Asked by Baroness Whitaker To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will have to hold discussions with North Sea Coastal States extend eligibility for British Council Professional in setting conservation measures for future fish stocks. Partnerships and Connecting Classrooms funding to [HL9236] primary schools in Oldham which have established Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government published links with the bilingual and binational school in Israel, its Fisheries White Paper Sustainable Fisheries for Future Oasis for Peace. [HL9253] Generations on 4 July. We explained that as an Lord Bates: Connecting Classrooms Professional independent coastal state we will work closely with the Partnerships are funded through Overseas Development EU and other coastal states, including Norway and the Assistance (ODA), so only ODA-eligible countries can Faroe Islands, to manage transboundary stocks apply. Given that Israel is a development assistance sustainably. The UK has long championed sustainable donor, rather than recipient, it is not eligible for this fishing and is committed to such cooperation. funding. However, schools in Israel can still access online The UK will apply to be an independent member of resources and support through the British Council’s regional fisheries management organisations including the Schools Online service, and participate in online North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, where we will collaborative projects with other schools from around the pursue our interests in negotiations on important pelagic world. stocks in this area.

EU Budget: Audit Fisheries Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they historic failure of auditors to fully certify the accounts have to ensure the sustainability of the marine of the EU has been raised in recent negotiations. environment following any increase in fishing in UK [HL9181] waters after Brexit. [HL9310] Lord Callanan: As we have said previously, we are Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The UK has long not going to provide a running commentary on every twist championed sustainable fishing and is committed to such and turn of ongoing negotiations. cooperation in line with our obligations under the UN Recent negotiations have been building on the Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the significant agreement reached in March. We’re UN Fish Stocks Agreement (UNFSA). In addition, the continuing to make good progress and have reached UK remains committed to bringing all commercially agreement across the vast majority of the draft exploited stocks to their maximum sustainable yield Withdrawal Agreement. (MSY) and ensuring that they are exploited at or below that level. As set out in our 25 Year Environment Plan, We are now focussed on negotiating the right future we will pursue an ecosystem approach to fisheries relationship and have been having regular discussions management that will minimise the negative impact of with the EU outlining our positions on a wide range of fishing on the marine environment. Page 10 17 July 2018 Written Answers

The UK government does not support increased fishing Folic Acid pressure in UK waters but we will seek a fairer share of the total allowable catch and will depart from the outdated Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon “relative stability” methodology. To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) mandating the fortification of Fisheries: Quotas flour and flour-based products with folic acid, and (2) informing pregnant women of the benefits of ingesting Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering folic acid by other means. [HL9193] To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Lord O'Shaughnessy: The United Kingdom reply by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 4 July (HL Deb, Government has made no formal assessment of the impact col 593), whether they plan to permit fishing vessels of mandating the fortification of flour and flour-based under 10 metres to have access to an increased quota of products with folic acid or of informing pregnant women fish other than shellfish prior to 29 March 2019. of the benefits of ingesting folic acid by other means. [HL9300] Women who are trying to conceive or who are likely to Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government allocates become pregnant are advised to take a daily supplement quota on an annual basis with a principle to ensure that of 400 micrograms of folic acid until the 12th week of fishing opportunities are allocated for the benefit of all, pregnancy to help prevent neural tube defects in their taking into account the needs of those within existing unborn babies. They are also advised to increase their Producer Organisations (POs) and the needs of the under daily intake of folate by eating more folate-rich foods, for 10m fleet. example spinach and broccoli, and foods voluntarily Since 2012, to help support the under 10m fleet, the fortified with folic acid such a wide range of breakfast Government has realigned quota that had neither been cereals. Health education messages on folic acid as part of fished, leased, gifted nor swapped by POs and was a range of pregnancy advice are provided in various considered unused. This has delivered a 13% increase in settings targeted at women of childbearing age such as quota for the under 10m fleet. In 2016, it generated 677.5 family planning clinics and general practitioner surgeries. tonnes of additional quota. Additionally, NHS Choices provides information online In addition, for quota stocks phased in under the on healthy lifestyle advice during pregnancy including the landing obligation since 2015, the under 10m fleet has importance of folic acid supplementation. The NHS received additional quota. This has provided the non- Start4life Information Service for Parents provides sector with historic high catch limits which they have parents-to-be and new parents with advice and been able to take advantage of. To date in 2018, the under information about pregnancy and the first few months 10m fleet has been allocated an additional 1,250 tonnes of with a baby, using free emails, videos and text messages. quota, equating to an additional £3 million. Asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon It should also be recognised that a significant To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment proportion of catch brought in by the under 10m fleet they have made of whether there are any adverse effects such as lobster and crabs are not subject to quota controls. on humans and animals of ingesting folic acid; and if Asked by Baroness Kramer so, what they are. [HL9194] To ask Her Majesty's Government what proportion of Lord O'Shaughnessy: The current Tolerable Upper British fish quotas are controlled by British registered Level (TUL) of intake for folic acid is based on the companies owned by non-UK nationals by (1) weight, observation that folic acid can mask or delay the and (2) value. [HL9385] diagnosis of pernicious anaemia. At their meeting on 3 July 2018, the Committee on the Toxicity of Chemicals in Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The information requested Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) is not available. Such information as is available relates to reviewed the available human and animal data. An the holding of fixed quota allocation units (FQA), the interim position detailing the COT’s arguments and recent mechanism by which most quota is allocated in the UK. discussions will be published shortly. We do not routinely keep information on the nationality of FQA holders. Analysis for 2016 suggests that a little Hereditary Peers: By-elections over a tenth of UK FQA was held by non-UK nationals. This figure is based on a sample from the FQA Register, Asked by Lord Grocott is approximate, and is intended as a guide only. To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker how many votes To address the issue of foreign holdings, an economic were cast for each candidate in each round of voting of link condition was introduced to UK licences to make the hereditary peers by-election held following the sure a genuine economic benefit is accrued to the UK retirement of Earl Baldwin of Bewdley. [HL9280] from the fishing of UK quota. We are considering the economic link condition as part of the development of our Lord McFall of Alcluith: In the by-election following future fisheries management arrangements post EU Exit. the retirement of Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, 26 valid votes Written Answers 17 July 2018 Page 11

were cast. All excepted hereditary peers belonging to the First- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Crossbench group, 31 in total, were eligible to vote. preference On the first count, of the 19 candidates, 9 received one votes or more first-preference votes. After 5 transfers of votes, Devon, E. 7 7 8 9 10 10 12 the votes for the final two candidates were: Effingham, E. 0 X Lord Ravensdale 5 votes Eldon, E. 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 The Earl of Devon 12 votes X The successful candidate was therefore the Earl of Glenconner, L. 0 X Devon. Hamilton and 2 2 2 2 2 2 Below are details of the votes cast for each candidate at Brandon, D. X each count. The left-hand column lists all candidates. The Hankey, L. 0 X next column shows the number of first-preference votes for each candidate. Subsequent columns (which are Hood, V. 2 2 2 2 2 numbered) show the number of votes for each candidate X after each transfer of votes from excluded candidates. An Meston, L. 1 1 X in a column shows that the candidate concerned was X excluded at that stage. The penultimate row shows the Monson, L. 0 X total number of votes at each stage—i.e. after excluding votes which could not be transferred because no further Mostyn, L. 0 X preference was marked. The last row shows the number of Mountgarret, 0 X votes required at that stage for a candidate to be elected— V. (L. i.e. half the total (rounded up if necessary). Mountgarret) Note on the voting system Powerscourt, 0 X V. (L. • The election was conducted using the alternative vote Powerscourt) system (also known as preferential voting). Ravensdale, L. 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 • Under this system, voters rank in order as many candidates as they wish. Snowdon, E. Withdrawn • Initially only first-preference votes are counted. Wigram, L. 0 X • If the vote for any one candidate equals or exceeds the VOTES 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 votes for all the other candidates combined, that EXCLUDED AT EACH candidate is elected. STAGE

• Otherwise the votes for the candidate or candidates TOTAL 26 26 26 26 25 24 24 with fewest votes (or, in the event of a tie, fewest first- CONTINUING preference votes) are transferred to whichever of the VOTES AT continuing candidates is marked by that voter as their EACH STAGE next available preference, and the votes thus transferred VOTES 13 13 13 13 13 12 12 are added to the first-preference votes of those NEEDED IN candidates. The process is repeated until one candidate ORDER TO has as many votes as all the other remaining candidates BE ELECTED combined. This information was also issued as a notice and • Any paper on which no further preference is marked is available in the Printed Paper Office, as well as being set aside as non-transferable. available online. The poll was supervised and the count was conducted Asked by Lord Grocott by Electoral Reform Services. Lord Hennessy of Nympsfield acted as scrutineer. To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what was the percentage turnout of the electorate in the hereditary Distribution of votes peers by-election held following the retirement of Earl First- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Baldwin of Bewdley. [HL9281] preference votes Lord McFall of Alcluith: There was a turnout of 83.9% of the electorate in the hereditary peers by-election Albemarle, E. 0 X held following the retirement of Earl Baldwin of Aldington, L. 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 Bewdley. Bridges, L. 2 2 2 2 Asked by Lord Grocott X Carnarvon, E. 2 2 2 To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether in the X statement of the result of the hereditary peers by- election due on 18 July the Clerk of the Parliaments Page 12 17 July 2018 Written Answers

will announce (1) the number of votes obtained by the data for these assessments after we have left the EU as it winning candidate, and (2) the size of that is vital for managing our seas and any future negotiations, candidate's majority. [HL9282] and we expect to continue to use advice provided by ICES. Lord McFall of Alcluith: There are no plans to change the current approach in announcing the result of hereditary peers by-elections. Israel: Palestinians Asked by Lord Grocott Asked by Lord Hylton To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether in the To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment statement of the result of the hereditary peers by- they have made of how long Ms Khalida Jarrar, a election due on 18 July the Clerk of the Parliaments member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, has will announce the percentage turnout of the electorate. been in detention in Israel; and whether they have [HL9283] made, or intend to make, any representations to the government of Israel on behalf of her and other Lord McFall of Alcluith: There are no plans to include legislators held without charge or trial. [HL9165] this information in the statement of the result of future hereditary peers by-elections. Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We understand that Ms Jarrar has been detained since July 2017. While we have Asked by Lord Grocott not raised this particular case, we remain concerned about To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether the Israel's extensive use of administrative detention which, candidature statements of each candidate in the according to international law, should be used only when forthcoming hereditary peers by-election will be security makes this absolutely necessary rather than as published in the official report. [HL9284] routine practice, and as a preventive rather than a punitive measure. We continue to call on the Israeli authorities to Lord McFall of Alcluith: There are no plans to publish comply with their obligations under international law, to candidature statements in the official report. refrain from the use of administrative detention and either Asked by Lord Grocott charge or release detainees. To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker whether Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries procedures are in place for the appointment of tellers in the forthcoming hereditary peers by-elections for Asked by Lord Morris of Aberavon Conservative and Crossbench peers; and if so, what To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment those procedures are. [HL9335] they have made of the impact of lorries from EU Lord McFall of Alcluith: There are currently no countries, and in particular the Republic of Ireland, procedures in place for the appointment of tellers in the using roads in the UK on the way to other EU countries; forthcoming hereditary peers by-elections. Polls are and whether any costs incurred by the UK will be taken supervised and the count conducted by Electoral Reform in to account in negotiations with the EU. [HL9180] Services. A member of the relevant party/group is Baroness Sugg: Data for 2017 indicates that 36,000 appointed to act as scrutineer at the count. Irish registered Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) travelled through UK on their way to Mainland Europe. International Council for the Exploration of Through the HGV levy these hauliers contribute to the the Sea: Research costs of the roads they use. This will continue to be the Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering case after the UK leaves the EU. To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Local Enterprise Partnerships: Equality reply by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 4 July (HL Deb, col 593), whether they plan to continue to use the Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark research provided by the International Council for To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment Exploration of the Seas. [HL9301] they have made of the diversity of board membership Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Defra has access to world on Local Enterprise Partnerships. [HL9299] class fisheries science experts in the Centre for Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Local Enterprise Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science who Partnerships (LEPs) bring together business and civic provide the Government with high quality advice. Much leaders across a functional economic area to prioritise of the fisheries data we collect is delivered to the investment to where it will most effectively drive growth. International Council for the Exploration of the Sea Decisions on Board composition are made locally. At the (ICES) to support its annual assessment of fish stocks. first meeting of LEP Chairs on 19 of June, the Prime The UK has been a member of ICES since it was Minister stressed the importance that LEP leadership truly established in 1902 and we intend to continue playing a represents the communities they serve, highlighting the strong role in it in the future. We will continue to collect significant progress on gender diversity made in FTSE100 Written Answers 17 July 2018 Page 13 companies in recent years. The forthcoming ministerial ensure that the ORR’s own role, as regulator of Network led review of LEPs will provide more detail on the Rail and of the train operating companies, is properly Government’s expectations. assessed by the Inquiry.

Local Government: Standards Mental Health Services Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark Asked by Lord Bradley To ask Her Majesty's Government what procedures To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have put in place to monitor the effectiveness of they have made of the Triangle of Care for people commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State for suffering with mental health conditions. [HL9161] Housing, Communities and Local Government to work Lord O'Shaughnessy: The Department has made no with local authorities. [HL9295] formal assessment of the Triangle of Care for people Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Commissioners are suffering with mental health conditions. appointed after a careful consideration of their experience The Triangle of Care, published by the Carers Trust in and skills and drawing on advice from the sector, 2013, aims at achieving better collaboration and particularly the Local Government Association. Their partnership with carers in the service user’s and carer’s roles are set out in Directions and the accompanying journey through mental health services. The Government Explanatory Memoranda which are publicly available. has engaged with Carers Trust, during the development of Ministers receive regular reports from Commissioners their Carers Action Plan 2018-2020: supporting carers with evidence of improvement progress and these give today. A copy of the Action Plan, published in June 2018, opportunities to monitor their effectiveness. Recent is attached. The plan sets out a two-year programme of interventions at both the London Borough of Tower targeted work to support unpaid carers. It puts a focus on Hamlets and Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council practical actions and gives visibility to the work already have led to marked improvements with powers being underway or planned within Government. handed back to the authorities concerned. The Action Plan is consistent with some of the principles set out in the Triangle of Care. It has a number May 2018 Rail Timetable Implementation of actions that seek to improve the awareness and Independent Inquiry identification of carers among healthcare professionals and social workers to improve access to appropriate Asked by Lord Rosser information and support for carers. It is also intended to To ask Her Majesty's Government who are the ensure that they feel listened to and that their views are members of the inquiry set up to look into the causes of appropriately taken into account when the person they the Thameslink 2018 new timetable problems. care for is in health and care settings. [HL9186] The independent review of the Mental Health Act 1983 Baroness Sugg: The Inquiry is being conducted by the will consider further how to improve dignity and respect independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR). Professor for service users and carers. It is also considering Stephen Glaister CBE, Chair of the ORR is leading the mechanisms through which carers, families and friends of inquiry and has appointed a panel of expert advisers to people who are detained under the Act can be supported inform the inquiry. The members are Dame Deirdre to be involved in the care of the person they support. The Hutton DBE, Mike Brown MVO, Anne Heal and Michael independent review is due to publish its final report later Beswick. Further details about the inquiry and the panel this year. members are published on ORR’s website: orr.gov.uk. The Answer includes the following attached material:

Asked by Lord Rosser Carers Action Plan-2018-2020 [carers-action-plan-2018-2020.pdf]

To ask Her Majesty's Government which members of The material can be viewed online at: the inquiry set up to look into the causes of the http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions- Thameslink 2018 new timetable problems are from answers-statements/written-question/Lords/2018-07-03/HL9161 companies or bodies whose roles in the run up to the introduction of the new timetable, and subsequently, are Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions likely to be considered by the inquiry. [HL9187] Asked by Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Baroness Sugg: The independent Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is wholly responsible for the conduct of the To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will inquiry and ensuring that any potential conflicts are release the Department for Transport’s "Road to Zero" appropriately managed. A panel of experts will advise the strategy, which was due to be published in March 2018. Inquiry. The inquiry panel members are Dame Deirdre [HL9166] Hutton DBE, Mike Brown MVO, Anne Heal (a Non- Baroness Sugg: The Government published the "Road Executive member of the ORR Board) and Michael to Zero" strategy on 9th July. The full document is Beswick. The panel is also one of the means which will available in the Libraries of both Houses and can also be Page 14 17 July 2018 Written Answers found here: passengers. ORR will publish its conclusions and any https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reducing- recommendations in due course. Further information emissions-from-road-transport-road-to-zero-strategy about the reviews is available on the ORR’s website: orr.gov.uk Natural England Asked by Lord Judd North Korea: Nuclear Weapons To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are Asked by Lord Alton of Liverpool taking to ensure that Natural England is fulfilling its To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment duties and responsibilities. [HL9228] they have made of reports and satellite images in The Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The relationship between Wall Street Journal on 1 July which suggest that North Defra and Natural England is clearly set out in Natural Korea is completing a major expansion of a significant England’s Framework Document. Priorities and missile manufacturing facility in Hamhung as part of its performance measures are agreed across the Defra Group nuclear weapons programme. [HL9154] and with the Secretary of State. Performance is monitored Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of reports and challenged within Natural England through monthly that North Korea has carried out work to expand its reports to the non-Executive Board, and to Defra through missile manufacturing facility in Hamhung. North Korea reporting against the Single Departmental Plan on a has committed to work towards the complete quarterly basis. The Secretary of State also reviews denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, but until they performance at biannual meetings with Natural England’s match their words with swift, concrete actions we will Chair and Chief Executive. Financial management is continue working with our international partners to reviewed monthly between Natural England and Defra strictly enforce existing sanctions. Finance teams.

Natural England: Finance Origin Marking Asked by Lord Allen of Kensington Asked by Lord Judd To ask Her Majesty's Government whether To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they intend to continue to respect the EU regulations on they have made of the adequacy of the funding for protected geographical status for products following Natural England to enable it to discharge its duties and Brexit. [HL9259] responsibilities. [HL9227] Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Natural England, like all recognises the economic and cultural importance of our other Defra sponsored bodies, receives an appropriate Geographical Indications (GIs) and is working to ensure budget to carry out its duties and responsibilities in line that they continue to be protected in the future. with what is affordable and the priorities set out by the Secretary of State. Using the powers of the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018, we will transfer into domestic law the EU schemes that Network Rail: Train Operating Companies currently protect our GIs. This will ensure that when we leave the EU there are UK GI schemes in place that Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton comply with and go beyond the World Trade Organisation Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they Intellectual Property Rights. intend to conduct a review of the relationship between Network Rail and rail franchising companies with an action plan to improve (1) services, and (2) provision of Pension Wise information to passengers. [HL9159] Asked by Lord Mendelsohn Baroness Sugg: The Government 2017 paper, To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Connecting People: A Strategic Vision for Rail, already Written Answer by Lord Bates on 25 June (HL8507), sets out the specific actions that the government is taking how much they spent on the PensionWise service in to improve services to passengers, including closer each year since 2015; which organisations are working relationships between Network Rail and train responsible for the service's delivery; and how they operating companies, continuing high levels of assess the impact and effectiveness of the service. investment and an improved experience for passengers. [HL9340] The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) is currently conducting two reviews into rail timetabling issues. As Baroness Buscombe: Pension Wise spent £31.7 part of these reviews they are considering the roles played million in 2015/16, £24.4 million in 2016/17 and £20.6 by the various participant parties in the rail sector, million in 2017/18. Pension Wise is a service run by the including Network Rail and franchise operators, in the Department, and is funded by a levy on the financial provision of services and information about services to services industry. Written Answers 17 July 2018 Page 15

Face to face appointments are delivered by Citizens Railways: Standards Advice England & Wales (England, Wales and Northern Ireland) and Citizens Advice Scotland. Telephone Asked by Lord Rosser appointments are delivered by the Pensions Advisory To ask Her Majesty's Government which single body Service, Citizens Advice Scotland and TelePerformance or individual is responsible, and accountable, for the Ltd. overall performance of the rail network. [HL9185] The Pension Wise website is maintained by the Baroness Sugg: The railway is a partnership between Department. the public and private sectors which has delivered a The Pension Wise service evaluation research doubling in demand and significant investment over the conducted by Ipsos MORI, published in October 2017, past two decades. showed that people who had a Pension Wise appointment, Network Rail is responsible for the performance of the or had used the Pension Wise website, were significantly infrastructure, working with train operating companies more likely to answer questions about their pension who are responsible for the passenger services running on options correctly. They were also much more likely to the network. The Government has set out plans to have calculated how much income they would need in introduce more integrated working between Network Rail retirement, shopped around for quotes, and considered and train operators, to present a single accountable face of how much tax or charges they would pay based on their overall railway performance to passengers. chosen options. The Department for Transport takes a number of Customers and non-users were asked a series of decisions which influence the evolution of the railway, questions to assess their factual knowledge of their including infrastructure investment and the approach to its pension options. Appointment customers had a passenger service franchises, as do other funders and knowledge score average of 70 per cent, just fractionally franchising authorities. more than website customers who had a knowledge score average of 68 per cent. Both cohorts compare favourably Refugees: Health Services to non users of the service, where the knowledge score Asked by Baroness Tonge average was 47 per cent To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to seek to ensure that adolescents in refugee Ports camps are able to engage with confidential sexual and reproductive health and rights services. [HL9317] Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick Lord Bates: The UK Government is strongly To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment committed to the sexual and reproductive health and they have made of the time it will take to set up the rights of adolescent girls affected by humanitarian crises. necessary infrastructure and IT systems at ports for At the London Family Planning Summit in July 2017 we after the transition period with the EU; and whether ensured that adolescents and humanitarian crises were they expect these arrangements to be in place before the two of the priority themes. We committed to including transition period ends. [HL9201] specific provisions for adolescents in all our future sexual Lord Bates: IT System and infrastructure requirements and reproductive health programmes and to collecting and will vary depending on the outcome of negotiations. using age-disaggregated data (including for the under Considerable work has been done to specify and plan for 20s). All UK humanitarian funding is required to consider potential necessary systems and infrastructure. sexual and reproductive health and rights and we support the Inter-Agency Field Manual for Reproductive Health in Crises, which includes guidelines on the sexual and Railways: Bus Services reproductive health needs of adolescents. Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton Shops To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidance they provide to rail companies about the provision of Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick rail replacement services in the event of a failure of To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans, if any, train services. [HL9160] they have to help revitalise UK high streets following Baroness Sugg: The Department for Transport requires rising numbers of shop closures. [HL9314] operators to use all reasonable endeavours to provide Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: High streets are a alternative transport arrangements. The franchise crucial part of our communities. The Government is agreement sets expectations for the quality of any determined to see our Great British high streets thriving alternative service that should be offered to passengers. now, and in the future. We want to see vibrant hubs where people live, shop, use services, and spend their leisure Page 16 17 July 2018 Written Answers time, and that includes a welcoming and safe night-time £10 billion by 2023. This includes, from April 2017, economy. permanently doubling Small Business Rate Relief and This is why we have announced that the Department raising the threshold for relief meaning that over 600,000 will launch a call for evidence over the summer looking at small businesses now pay no business rates at all, and the future of our high street. We are establishing an expert helping all business by switching the measure of inflation, panel of industry leaders to draw on their experience and used for the indexation of rates, from Retail Price Index to expertise to diagnose the issues currently affecting the Consumer Price Index. health of our high streets and advise on the best approach for their revival. Social Impact Bonds In addition, during Great British High Street Week in Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark July, Ministers from the Department and across government are currently visiting high streets to discuss To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment the issues they face. they have made of Social Impact Bonds as a commissioning tool. [HL9298] Shops: Non-domestic Rates Lord Ashton of Hyde: Headline findings from evidence work undertaken by Government have shown Asked by Lord Lexden that Social Impact Bonds can successfully address To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they complex social problems through innovative practice and intend to introduce a business rates relief scheme for help individuals who have multiple needs. bookshops analogous to that provided for public Where Social Impact Bonds have launched, they have houses. [HL9176] demonstrated evidence of both improved outcomes and reductions in high cost events, such as the entry of looked Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government has after children into residential care. The level of impact introduced a range of business rates reforms and measures evidence from Social Impact Bonds has also proven to be to support businesses, including bookshops, worth over typically higher than many government programmes. £10 billion by 2023. This includes, from April 2017, permanently doubling Small Business Rate Relief and Government has increased funding available for new raising the threshold for relief meaning that over 600,000 Social Impact Bonds and it is important that these provide small businesses now pay no business rates at all, and robust evaluations to inform further assessment. helping all business by switching the measure of inflation, The Centre for Social Impact Bonds in DCMS used for the indexation of rates, from Retail Price Index to continues to work with the Government Outcomes Lab at Consumer Price Index. Oxford University, a centre of expertise for Social Impact Bonds and innovative Government commissioning, to Asked by Lord Taylor of Warwick build the evidence base for Social Impact Bonds. To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the effect of the level of business rates on the viability of high street stores, and (2) Social Rented Housing: Construction whether the current level of business rates has Asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark contributed to the increasing number of high street store closures. [HL9199] To ask Her Majesty's Government how many new build council and housing association homes were (1) Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government completed, and (2) occupied between 6 May 2010 and 7 undertook a fundamental review of business rates in 2016. May 2015 with funding approved before 6 May 2010. Following the review, the Government introduced a range [HL9173] of business rates reforms and measures to support businesses worth over £10 billion by 2023. These include, Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: Since 2010, we have from April 2017, permanently doubling Small Business delivered over 378,000 new affordable homes, including Rate Relief and raising the threshold for relief, meaning over 273,000 affordable homes for rent. that over 600,000 small businesses now pay no business Between 6 May 2010 and 7 May 2015, 98,700 rates at all, and helping all businesses by switching the affordable homes were completed with programme measure of inflation used for the indexation of rates from funding approved before 6 May 2010. This is across Retail Price Index to Consumer Price Index. Housing Associations, Local Authorities and Non- Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham Registered Providers. We do not have data on occupation. Affordable housing remains the Government’s priority. To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will That’s why we increased the Affordable Homes extend business rates relief to bookshops. [HL9224] Programme budget to over £9 billion to deliver a wide Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth: The Government has range of affordable housing, including social rent homes introduced a range of business rates reforms and measures The Affordable Homes Programme will now build over to support businesses, including bookshops, worth over 250,000 homes by March 2022. Written Answers 17 July 2018 Page 17

Somalia: Overseas Aid passengers following the network failure on 2 July. [HL9158] Asked by Lord Monks Baroness Sugg: The Department for Transport has not To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they take made an estimate of the amount of compensation (1) human, and (2) trade union rights violations into Southern, which is part of the Govia Thameslink Railway account when making aid available to Somalia. (GTR) network, expects to pay for the disruption on [HL9347] Monday 2 July. GTR and the Department encourage Lord Bates: In determining UK aid funding to passengers to claim the Delay Repay compensation for governments DFID assesses their commitment to each of any delays over 15 minutes. four Partnership Principles. One of the Principles is commitment to human rights. Evidence of lack of Special Educational Needs: Inspections commitment to the Principles would influence choices on Asked by Lord Ramsbotham the level and the manner of aid provision, for example by providing aid through civil society organisations rather To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan than through government bodies. DFID Somalia works to commission Ofsted and the Care Quality through a range of implementing partners in Somalia and Commission to continue their local area special has put robust safeguards in place to ensure all our educational needs and disability inspections beyond the programmes meet the highest standards of conduct and current initial five-year cycle. [HL9244] risk management. Although trade union rights are not Lord Agnew of Oulton: Ofsted and Care Quality explicitly listed in our Partnership Principles, egregious Commission inspections of the effectiveness of special violations of workers’ rights would fall under our wider educational needs and disability services are providing provision for human rights. evidence of progress and are a powerful driver of improvement in local areas. Southern: Standards My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State announced on 5 July that he would be asking Ofsted and the Care Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton Quality Commission to design a programme of further To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they inspections to follow the current round, due to conclude in have to review the quality and timeliness of information 2021; and for their advice on further inspection or for passengers produced on the Southern rail network monitoring of those areas required to produce a ‘Written following the failure of services on 2 July. [HL9156] Statement of Action’. Baroness Sugg: It is the responsibility of the operator and Network Rail to ensure that passenger information is Spinal Injuries: Hospital Beds accurate and given in a timely manner. When operational Asked by Baroness Masham of Ilton incidents occur that cause service disruption, such as on 2nd July, the Department for Transport expects that To ask Her Majesty's Government whether NHS information is provided to passengers as quickly as England intend to increase the capacity of the National possible in order that they can make informed decisions. Spinal Cord Injury Service by 54 beds, as recommended in their recent Service Review. [HL9177] Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton Lord O'Shaughnessy: NHS England continues to To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they work with stakeholders to deliver the key components of have made of how many passengers suffered delays and the ongoing Spinal Cord Injury Service Review. cancellations across the Southern railway network as a The two principal actions that need to be taken forward result of service failures on 2 July. [HL9157] as a result of the review are identifying the best way of Baroness Sugg: The Department for Transport does not meeting the need for additional inpatient capacity, make estimates of how many passengers are impacted by recommended as 54 beds; and the establishment of a delays and cancellations. national spinal cord injury network. Govia Thameslink Railway (which runs Southern Over the coming months there will be an evaluation of services) has reported that, on Monday 2 July, 68% of capital bids required for the building of a new unit. Southern services arrived at their destination within five Network proposals are also being finalised. The increase minutes of the schedule. A major cause of service in capacity of the Spinal Cord Injury Service cannot be disruption was a multiple signal failure between confirmed until the evaluation and review are completed. Wivelsfield and Hassocks. St Helena: Overseas Aid Asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton Asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of compensation Southern To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment and Govia Thameslink Railway expect to pay to they have made of the suspension of the capital Page 18 17 July 2018 Written Answers

programme and funding for St Helena, particularly in humanitarian agencies unfettered access to deliver aid to respect of its residents' (1) employment, (2) disposable those most in need. income, and (3) standard of living, and of the Island's progress towards expanding its tourism-based economy. Territorial Waters [HL9226] Asked by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering Lord Bates: DFID has not suspended a capital programme. The most recent capital programme To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they concluded in March 2018 and DFID is exploring options have to respect the United Nations Convention of the for a new programme. Financial aid has increased over Law of the Sea, defining territorial waters extending to the last 5 years and contributes more directly to indicators at most 12 nautical miles from the baseline of a coastal affecting well-being on the island including public sector state, post-Brexit. [HL9237] wages, health and education. Lord Gardiner of Kimble: Under the UN Convention The St Helena Government has recently published a on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the UK’s territorial sea household expenditure survey, and will soon launch a extends to 12 nautical miles from its baselines and its business and employment survey which will provide more Exclusive Economic Zone extends to 200 nautical miles information on disposable income and employment. The or the median line from its base lines. On leaving the EU average annual incomes of residents after taking into the UK will become an independent coastal state with the account inflation has risen steadily between 2012/13 and right to control access to and management of fisheries 2016/17 and household expenditures show only modest within its Exclusive Economic Zone. UNCLOS also increases of 16% over the last 8 years. contains obligations to work with neighbours on the sustainable management of shared stocks and the UK State Retirement Pensions: Post Offices government has always been clear it intends to do just that. Asked by Baroness Eaton To ask Her Majesty's Government whether state Thames Water pensions can be collected at post offices. [HL9425] Asked by Lord Berkeley Baroness Buscombe: The majority of pensioners have To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment, their State Pension paid into a bank account. As most if any, they have made of (1) possible conflicts of bank accounts can be accessed at the Post Office, interest in the appointment of auditors, and (2) claimants can collect their payments that way. Since inappropriate payments to senior executives, at Thames January, 99% of banks’ personal customers are able to Water; and whether they will ask OFWAT to launch an withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make investigation. [HL9212] balance enquiries at a Post Office counter via its network of 11,600 branches. The Department also has Lord Gardiner of Kimble: The Government has not arrangements in place to ensure that the majority of those made an assessment of conflicts of interest in the who cannot access a bank account, can collect their State appointment of auditors or the level of pay to senior Pension at the Post Office using a Post Office card executives at Thames Water. account. The Government fully supports Ofwat’s reforms to the price review process which requires water companies to Syria: Palestinians ensure that executive pay is linked to customer service, share profits with customers, and make dividend Asked by Baroness Tonge payments more transparent. To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/wp- will they provide for Palestinian refugees who have fled content/uploads/2018/04/Putting-the-sector-back-in- from or remain in Yarmouk refugee camp in Syria. balance-consultation-on-proposals-for-PR19-business- [HL9358] plans.pdf. Lord Bates: Despite the regime takeover, humanitarian access to Yarmouk remains restricted. Where and when Thameslink Railway Line access permits, DFID is supporting the UN, NGOs and Asked by Lord Rosser other partners to deliver life-saving assistance to those who remain in Yarmouk and those who were displaced To ask Her Majesty's Government what role the following the siege, by providing food, healthcare, water Department for Transport plays on the Thameslink and other life-saving relief. Industry Readiness Board. [HL9188] With our international partners, the UK continues to use Baroness Sugg: The Department for Transport attends our position in the UN Security Council and the the Thameslink Timetable Industry Readiness Board in its International Syria Support Group to advocate for the capacity as sponsor of the Thameslink Programme and its protection of civilians, and calls on all parties to allow responsibility for rail passenger services. Written Answers 17 July 2018 Page 19

Tilbury Port: Lower Thames Crossing scheme, including a link road to the Port of Tilbury, has yet been taken. Asked by Lord Berkeley To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan Undocumented Migrants a link road from Tilbury Port to the proposed Lower Asked by Lord Judd Thames Crossing. [HL9321] To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration Baroness Sugg: The Lower Thames Crossing project is they have given to using the phrase "economic or other at an early stage of its development and the design will migrants who do not meet the legal requirements of continue to evolve as the scheme progresses towards a host countries" in the place of "illegal economic Development Consent Order (DCO) submission. migrants" or "illegal migrants". [HL9293] No decision has been made on the case, or otherwise, for a new link to the Port of Tilbury. A link from the Baroness Williams of Trafford: No consideration has crossing to Tilbury Port was not included in the April been given to this phrase. The Immigration Acts refer to 2017 preferred route announcement and has not been persons who require leave to enter or remain but do not considered formally by Ministers. have it. There will be an opportunity for people and businesses to influence Highways England’s design of the scheme Universal Credit: Travellers through a second public consultation, expected later this Asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett year. A final decision on the scope to be included in the DCO will be taken in 2019. To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Buscombe on 3 July Asked by Lord Berkeley (HL8777), how many Gypsy and Traveller Universal To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the haul Credit applicants and claimants have been able to set up road connecting Tilbury Port with the Lower Thames and manage their claims face-to-face or via the Crossing will (1) remain a permanent road, or (2) be freephone telephone helpline in total (1) including pilot removed, when the Lower Thames Crossing scheme is areas, and (2) excluding pilot areas. [HL9230] in operation. [HL9322] Baroness Buscombe: The information requested is not Baroness Sugg: The Lower Thames Crossing project is held by the Department. at an early stage of its development and the design will continue to evolve as it progresses towards a Veterinary Medicine: Migrant Workers Development Consent Order submission. Highways Asked by Lord Allen of Kensington England are considering a range of options for the operational movement of construction materials and To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they equipment, including movement from key access points have to remove vets from the Tier two visa cap. on the strategic network such as at the A2, M25 and the [HL9258] Port of Tilbury. Baroness Williams of Trafford: On 15 June, the Asked by Lord Berkeley Government announced a temporary change to the Tier 2 (General) cap. This is designed to address particular To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have pressures facing the NHS at the current time but will considered the commercial and residential development mean that more spaces will be freed up within the cap for potential of land that could be unlocked through a link other sponsored high-skilled occupations, including vets. road connecting the Port of Tilbury and the Lower This change came into effect on 6 July and will be kept Thames Crossing. [HL9323] under review. Baroness Sugg: In developing their proposals for the In parallel, we have commissioned the independent Lower Thames Crossing, Highways England is seeking to Migration Advisory Committee to undertake a full review create the right balance between: facilitating economic of the composition of the Shortage Occupation List. This growth, including through new developments; improving review will enable the MAC to look at which posts are in connectivity; optimising the performance of the local and national shortage and should be given priority within the strategic road networks; and meeting the needs of local Tier 2 cap in future. That review will conclude in Spring communities. No decision on the final design of the 2019.

Index to Statements and Answers

Written Statements ...... 1 Local Enterprise Partnerships: Equality ...... 12 Combat Air Strategy ...... 1 Local Government: Standards ...... 13 Fiscal Sustainability and Managing Fiscal Risks May 2018 Rail Timetable Implementation Reports ...... 2 Independent Inquiry ...... 13 International Criminal Justice ...... 3 Mental Health Services ...... 13 Justice Update ...... 4 Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions ...... 13 Restoration and Renewal: Shadow Sponsor Board Natural England ...... 14 ...... 4 Natural England: Finance ...... 14 Rotherham Independent Review of Child Sexual Network Rail: Train Operating Companies ...... 14 Abuse ...... 5 North Korea: Nuclear Weapons ...... 14 Surface Water Management Action Plan ...... 5 Origin Marking ...... 14 Supply and Appropriation (Main Estimates) (No.2) Bill ...... 6 Pension Wise ...... 14 Written Answers ...... 7 Ports ...... 15 Afghanistan: Visits Abroad ...... 7 Railways: Bus Services ...... 15 Animal Products: Trade ...... 7 Railways: Standards ...... 15 Aortic Aneurysm ...... 7 Refugees: Health Services ...... 15 Asylum: Afghanistan ...... 7 Shops ...... 15 Beef ...... 7 Shops: Non-domestic Rates ...... 16 Brexit ...... 7 Social Impact Bonds ...... 16 Bus Service Operators Grant ...... 8 Social Rented Housing: Construction ...... 16 Children ...... 8 Somalia: Overseas Aid ...... 17 Children: Protection...... 8 Southern: Standards ...... 17 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Databases Special Educational Needs: Inspections ...... 17 ...... 9 Spinal Injuries: Hospital Beds ...... 17 Educational Exchanges: Oldham ...... 9 St Helena: Overseas Aid ...... 17 EU Budget: Audit ...... 9 State Retirement Pensions: Post Offices ...... 18 EU Institutions ...... 9 Syria: Palestinians ...... 18 Fish: Conservation ...... 9 Territorial Waters ...... 18 Fisheries ...... 9 Thames Water ...... 18 Fisheries: Quotas ...... 10 Thameslink Railway Line ...... 18 Folic Acid ...... 10 Tilbury Port: Lower Thames Crossing ...... 19 Hereditary Peers: By-elections ...... 10 Undocumented Migrants ...... 19 International Council for the Exploration of the Universal Credit: Travellers ...... 19 Sea: Research ...... 12 Veterinary Medicine: Migrant Workers ...... 19 Israel: Palestinians ...... 12

Large Goods Vehicles: EU Countries ...... 12