The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many companies list separate pension schemes for senior management in addition to their primary employee pension scheme.
Baroness Altmann
The information requested is not collated centrally either by DWP or TPR and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Burt of Solihull on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the amount paid in levies to the Pension Protection Fund in each of the three years to 2012–13 due to companies using a contingent asset to replace the Pension Protection Fund’s Failure Score for the company with that of a different company, compared to what these companies paid in (1) 2012–13, (2) 2013–14 and (3) 2014–15.
Baroness Altmann
The Pension Protection Fund has not made a comparison of the amounts paid by schemes with a contingent asset prior to 2012/13 with later years, as substantial changes in the way that levies are calculated from year to year do not allow for robust comparison.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Deech on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 11 May (HL8116), whether the Deloitte auditors who determine the eligible Palestinian beneficiaries under the PEGASE mechanism are regulated by any British regulator.
Baroness Verma
Deloitte is a registered audit firm that employs certified public accountants who conduct their assignment in compliance with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) standards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Deech on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 25 April (HL7413), whether the independent auditor of UK payments to the Palestinian Authority that are channelled through a trust fund administered by the World Bank is regulated by any British regulator.
Baroness Verma
Deloitte is a registered audit firm that employs certified public accountants who conduct their assignment in compliance with the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) standards.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by FALSE on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 11 May (HL8117) what assessment they have made of paragraph 27 of the Third Report of the House of Commons International Development Committee The UK’s Development Work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories which states We are nevertheless concerned that DFID is not taking adequate measures to prevent its funds from being misused. Given the scale of the operation
Baroness Verma
We investigate thoroughly any claims that UK funds are misused. UK aid to the PA is subject to rigorous scrutiny, with safeguards in place to ensure its being used for proper development purposes.
UK support to the PA funds named civil servants from a pre-approved EU list only. The EU PEGASE mechanism is used to earmark funds to payment of vetted PA civil servants and pensioners. The list of approved recipients is subject to a vetting process that includes screening against international and ad hoc sanctions lists. The screening covers over 20 different risk categories, including terrorism financing and is updated daily.
The EU PEGASE mechanism is independently audited, as is UK direct financial assistance to the PA.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by while the British Government maintains that no UK money supports this activity on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Verma on 12 May (HL8117), what assessment they have made of paragraph 29 of the Third Report of the House of Commons International Development Committee The UK’s Development Work in the Occupied Palestinian Territories which states We are also extremely concerned about the PA’s policy of paying salaries to the families of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. While appreciating it is a sensitive issue
Baroness Verma
The UK provides financial support to the PA because we want to help deliver peace and support progress towards a two state solution, which is the only way to secure a prosperous and peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians alike. The UK support to the PA funds named civil servants from a pre-approved EU list only. The EU PEGASE mechanism is used to earmark funds to payment of vetted PA civil servants and pensioners. The list of approved recipients is subject to a vetting process that includes screening against international and ad hoc sanctions lists. The screening covers over 20 different risk categories, including terrorism financing and is updated daily. The EU PEGASE mechanism is independently audited, as is UK direct financial assistance to the PA.
As the Committee noted, prisoners are a sensitive political issue on both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Payments to Palestinian prisoners are made by the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), which has full administrative control for the monthly payments that are provided to prisoners’ families and dependants. The UK has consistently raised prisoner payments at the highest levels with the Palestinian authorities and continues to urge that these payments are more transparent, needs-based and affordable.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hooper on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they have given to the government of Colombia to help it develop its national business and human rights action plan, and whether further assistance will be given to aid its implementation.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We supported Colombia in the development of their National Action Plan (NAP) to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The NAP, which is the first of its kind outside of Europe, was launched in December. It allows Colombia to meet its existing human rights obligations and increase business awareness.
The Minister of State for Trade and Investment, my noble Friend, the Lord Price of Sturminster Newton, launched a campaign for British businesses to support peace, primarily through the respect for human rights, during his visit to Colombia last month. Twenty of the largest British companies operating in Colombia subsequently agreed to align themselves to the Colombian National Action Plan for business and human rights.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hooper on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Colombia about the dangers faced by defenders of human rights and leaders of land restitution claims, and the case for enhancing their protection.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns
We are concerned by the increase in violence towards human rights defenders (HRDs) in Colombia. Reports from the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Somos Defensores indicate that 63 HRDs were killed in 2015, a 13 per cent increase from 2014. The Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for East Devon (Mr Swire), raised this issue during his meeting with President Santos on 12 May. During his visit to Colombia in April, the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), also raised human rights concerns with the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister, Patti Londoño-Jaramillo.
Ensuring protection and support for HRDs, including leaders of land restitution claims, is a priority area for our Embassy in Bogotá. As well as monitoring specific cases, the UK raises our concerns with the Colombian government at every possible opportunity. Our Ambassador to Colombia recently joined an international community initiative called “Ambassadors with Defenders” that aims to raise awareness of the situation of HRDs and follow up on specific cases. Earlier this year, the Ambassador accompanied the Colombian Minister of Interior to a regional human rights roundtable, where the role of local authorities in taking effective action on HRD cases was discussed. The UK was the only member of the international community invited to this event.
With regards to increased protection, on 26 April, President Santos announced the creation of a high level group in charge of investigating threats and killings against HRDs. He invited human rights organisations to appoint five representatives to participate in this group. The Attorney General’s Office has prioritised the investigations of these cases.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Hooper on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what provision they make for uprating the UK state pension for UK citizens living in British Overseas Territories.
Baroness Altmann
The Government has a clear position, which has remained the same for around 70 years and we have no plans to change this policy: UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and uprated abroad where we have a legal requirement to do so for example in the European Economic Area or countries where we have a reciprocal agreement that allows for uprating. Annual increases are paid to UK state pension recipients and in Bermuda and in Gibraltar.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 2016-06-06.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the draft recommendation from NICE not to recommend the drug Strensiq for the treatment of hypophosphatasia for critically ill infants who are otherwise likely to die, what other treatment options are available.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently evaluating Strensiq (asfotase alfa) for the treatment of paediatric-onset hypophosphatasia under its highly specialised technologies programme.
NICE’s draft guidance, published in December 2015 for consultation, did not recommended asfotase alfa. However this is not NICE’s final guidance to the National Health Service.
NICE’s draft guidance states that there are currently no other treatments available that specifically prevent or delay the progression of hypophosphatasia.