The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Corston on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether a full range of sanitary products is provided to female prisoners, or whether they have to be purchased.
Lord Faulks
All prisons across the female custodial estate provide Interlude tampons and sanitary towels to women free of charge. Other brands of sanitary products are available for women to buy via the National Product list.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether plans to cascade rolling stock between rail franchises are made by officials in the Department for Transport; and whether proposed cascades have been examined by operating and engineering people to ensure that costs associated with the cascade are kept to a minimum.
Baroness Kramer
In line with the Government’s policy set out in the March 2012 Command Paper, which is for a market-led approach to rolling stock, the Government does not believe that the cascade of units between franchises should be planned by officials within the Department for Transport.
When proposals arise, such as the transfer of the nine Class 170 trains from TransPennine, officials will work with industry to help find a solution, but the Department has made it clear that it expects train operators and rolling stock companies ultimately to resolve such situations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether newly negotiated rail franchises and franchise extensions include incentives for the train operator concerned to devote sufficient resources to revenue protection.
Baroness Kramer
Most franchise operators are on risk for revenue and are therefore incentivised to protect that revenue. However, we are conscious that where operators are in receipt of revenue support, in some cases it may be appropriate to strengthen the incentive, particularly later in the franchise term. The exact nature of the incentive or mechanism will vary by franchise.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bradshaw on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether, as part of the technical upgrades for Class 142 Pacer Trains, any provision is being made to update the passenger experience at the same time.
Baroness Kramer
The Government understands from the owner of the Class 142 fleet that a new final drive system is being fitted, which will require less maintenance and overhaul than to continue to maintain the old equipment. The operators of this fleet will see a benefit from fewer reliability issues and fewer out of course oil changes and wheelset changes due to final drive issues. No other work to this fleet is currently planned.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Bassam of Brighton on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to recognise women’s contribution during the Second World War as part of the 70th anniversary commemorations marking the end of the conflict.
Lord Astor of Hever
Following the highly successful events to mark the 70th anniversary of D Day, planning to mark the end of the second world war will be progressed in the coming months. The crucial contribution that women made to the War, both at home and overseas, will be a significant element of these commemorations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Warsi on 14 May (WA 525) on the issue of children accused of witchcraft in Nigeria, whether their policy includes any consideration of future visits to the United Kingdom by Helen Ukpabio; and, if so, whether they will publish that consideration.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
It is the general policy of the Home Office not to disclose or discuss, to a third party, personal information about another person’s immigration status unless there is a substantial public interest in doing so. This is because the Home Office has obligations in law to protect this information. But I can confirm that any visa application from Ms Ukpabio would be considered in accordance with the Immigration Rules.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Taylor of Holbeach on 14 May (WA 519–20), whether they will place in the Library of the House the letter referred to in the Minister’s answer.
Lord Taylor of Holbeach
The Home Office will not be placing a copy of the letter to the Bar Human Rights Committee in the Library of the House. The Home Office does not comment publicly on individual cases unless there is a substantial public interest in doing so.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with universities, and what research they have conducted, in relation to the impact that changes to the A/S level examinations will have on the assessment the university sector will be able to make of candidates for undergraduate entry.
Lord Nash
We have discussed the changes to the AS qualification with UCAS and other higher education organisations, including the A level Content Advisory Board (ALCAB), the Russell Group and Universities UK. It is, of course, for individual universities to determine their own admission arrangements. AS grades only form one part of a range of information available to universities about prospective applicants. They also look at prior attainment at key stage 4, teachers’ assessments and personal statements.
In May 2013 the Department for Education published research which considered how GCSE results compared to AS Level results at estimating the probability of a student attaining at least a 2:1 at university. The research[1] found that using GCSE results are a better predictor of university outcomes than AS results. Our plans to restore rigour to GCSEs will ensure they are an even more useful source of information for university admissions.
[1]Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-comparison-of-gcse-results-and-as-level-results-as-a-predictor-of-getting-a-21-or-above-at-university
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2014-06-10.
To ask the Chairman of Committees whether he will initiate a debate in the House of Lords before any decision is taken to privatise the security arrangements of the House.
Lord Sewel
The following information about decisions on the new security contract arrangements was published in March 2014:
“In March 2015, the current contract with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to provide armed protection, policing and security officer functions will expire. Over the last year, the Security Arrangements Renewal Programme (SARP) Board has been working to analyse options and make a recommendation on new contract arrangements to be introduced next year. That recommendation was endorsed by the Lords House Committee and the Commons Commission.
The agreed recommendation is that the two Houses should renegotiate with the MPS to continue to provide security officer functions, armed protection and policing, whilst moving the provision of the search and screening function for the three main public entrances (Black Rod’s Garden, Cromwell Green and Portcullis House) to a specialist commercial provider. The Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Parliaments have now written to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner requesting new arrangements from 2015, and a commercial procurement for search and screening will start soon.
This is a major contract for Parliament, both in terms of its financial value and its central role in ensuring the security of parliamentarians, employees and visitors to the Parliamentary Estate. As well as continuing to benefit from the expertise and experience of the Metropolitan Police officers and staff, new search and screening arrangements at the busiest public entrances will be better able to provide the greater flexibility and scalability needed to meet Parliament’s changing requirements for public access”.
Discussions with the Metropolitan Police Service on future arrangements are continuing. Security matters are not discussed on the floor of the House and the House Committee has agreed to the initial approach taken by the Security Arrangements Renewal Programme Board. That Committee will be further consulted during the process. I have no plans to initiate a debate on the floor of the House.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 2014-06-10.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made any estimate of the likely financial consequences for taxpayers over the official retirement age of any merger of income tax and national insurance contributions into a single tax; and, if so, what was that estimate.
Lord Deighton
As set out by the Chancellor at Autumn Statement 2012, the Government will wait for further progress on planned operational changes to the tax system before formally consulting on the operational integration of income tax and National Insurance contributions (NICs).
The scope for the consultation was originally set out by the Chancellor at Budget 2011, and made it clear that the Government will not extend NICs to individuals above State Pension Age nor to other forms of income such as pensions, savings and dividends.