The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Ouseley on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what definition is used by HM Revenue and Customs to define an EU migrant family, and for what purposes such classifications are used; and which other government departments use similar definitions and classification, and for what purposes.
Lord O’Neill of Gatley
EU migrant family is not a technical term that HM Revenue & Customs use in their calculations.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Trefgarne on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers are available to ministers to order the release of prisoners duly sentenced and held in England and Wales.
Lord Faulks
Prisoners are held in accordance with the type and length of sentence they are given by the courts and legislation prescribes when and how they are to be released. The majority are released automatically, with standard determinate sentence prisoners released at the half-way point in their sentence. Some prisoners are released at the discretion of the independent Parole Board – for example, all prisoners serving an indeterminate sentence and some extended sentence prisoners – once they have reached the point in their sentence when they are eligible to be considered for parole.
Legislation also gives the Secretary of State discretion to release sentenced prisoners in certain circumstances. In practice, these decisions are taken on behalf of the Secretary of State by prison governors or other officials in the National Offender Management Service (NOMS). For example, some shorter sentenced, low risk offenders may be considered for release before their automatic release date under the Home Detention Curfew (HDC) scheme, at the discretion of prison governors.
There is also a statutory power for the Secretary of State to release any sentenced prisoner if there are exceptional circumstances which justify release on compassionate grounds. Decisions on whether to grant early compassionate release are taken on a case-by-case basis by senior officials in NOMS.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Condon on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the report by Sir Stephen Bubb The Challenge Ahead and his proposal for a Commissioner to protect and promote the rights of people with learning difficulties.
Lord Prior of Brampton
The Government welcomes Sir Stephen Bubb’s report Time for Change – the Challenge Ahead which focuses on improving the experience of care and outcomes for people with learning disabilities. Sir Stephen’s report acknowledges the real progress that has been made in the last year.
The Department will consider the recommendations in Time for Change – the Challenge Ahead in our development of a Learning Disability Action Plan. However, new statutory roles and legislation are not necessarily the answer to achieving the changes envisaged by the Steering Group. We believe that we can make more rapid and meaningful progress by ensuring that the rights that exist under current laws and statutes are properly understood, implemented and exercised by those with learning disabilities and/or autism.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to implement the second legal aid fee cut when its suspension ends on 1 April 2017.
Lord Faulks
We will review the matter in due course and any announcement will be made in the usual way.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effect of planned changes to personal injury law and whiplash claims on access to justice.
Lord Faulks
The Government will consult on the detail of the new reforms in due course, including any necessary safeguards. The consultation will be accompanied by an impact assessment.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the Justice Secretary Michael Gove’s letter to the Justice Select Committee chair dated 19 February regarding errors in the processing of warrants, how many staff have been suspended or have had disciplinary action taken against them as a result of such errors.
Lord Faulks
To date formal disciplinary action has been initiated against eight members of staff in Greater Manchester. Two of the eight have been suspended pending the formal disciplinary proceedings.
These are inexcusable errors, for which we sincerely apologise. HMCTS is conducting a full investigation and will take appropriate disciplinary action. Immediate steps have been taken to ensure that proper procedures are now being followed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Freeman on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the requirements on airlines using UK airports for frequently changing air filters in all cabins and what is the maximum permitted interval between changing air filters.
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
The filters are changed in accordance with the manufacturer’s routine maintenance schedules. It is in the operator’s interest to change the filters in accordance with the schedule; with time the pores in the filters become congested with material.
This congestion can increase the efficiency of the filter in removing particles from the air, but also increases the resistance to air flow. Therefore greater pressure and power is required to maintain the cabin air flow, which in turn increases fuel-burn and therefore costs.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to make any changes to freedom of information legislation, in particular on the use of false names when seeking disclosure; and if so, what changes they propose, and when will they be brought forward.
Lord Bridges of Headley
The Government established the Freedom of Information Commission to review the Freedom of Information Act and we will give careful consideration to its recommendations. Section 8(1)(b) of the FOI Act already requires applicants to provide their real name.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether under the human rights arrangements within the Belfast Agreement 1998, they have raised or will raise the decision by the authorities in the Republic of Ireland to ban all Church of Ireland services in the centre of Dublin on Easter Sunday, and if they have raised this matter, what was the result.
Lord Dunlop
I am informed that the authorities in the Republic of Ireland have not banned all Church of Ireland services in the centre of Dublin on Easter Sunday but that there will be restricted access to the city centre on that day due to security measures being put it place around a planned Easter Rising Commemoration parade.
I understand that the Irish Government and An Garda Síochána are working closely with senior Church of Ireland representatives in order to facilitate worship at those churches in the area. This matter has not been raised under the human rights arrangements within the Belfast Agreement 1998.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Smith of Finsbury on 2016-02-22.
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what estimate they have made of the cost to UK universities of implementing the Immigration Skills Charge for non-EU workers recruited through the Tier 2 Visa Route, as proposed in Clause 55 of the Immigration Bill, and of the charges recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee.
Baroness Evans of Bowes Park
The Government has not estimated the cost to UK universities of implementing the Immigration Skills Charge. The cost will depend on the rate set and the Government is considering carefully the Migration Advisory Committee’s recommendations on rate and scope. Evidence about the likely impact of different rates on different types of organisation, including universities, will be taken into account in our considerations.