Tag: Lord Palmer

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2015-11-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Department of Health has sought independent legal advice in respect of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and if so, whether they will place a copy of that advice in the Library of the House.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Any legal advice the Department may have obtained in respect of this, or any other issue, is subject to the usual provisions relating to legal professional privilege and as such will not be disclosed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2015-11-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government which contracts awarded by the Department of Health have conditions within them relating to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and in each case, whether legal advice was taken before the issuing of that tender.

Lord Prior of Brampton

The Government takes its obligations as a Party to the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) very seriously, including the obligation to protect public health policy from the vested interests of the tobacco industry.

The Department considers the detail of Invitation to Tender (ITT) and contract documentation, including the legal aspects, on a case by case basis. The standard documentation includes a requirement to declare actual or potential conflicts of interest and some ITTs make specific reference to FCTC obligations.

This issue is considered as part of the evaluation process and through the contract monitoring process as appropriate.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Chairman of Committees on what basis the last Deputy Head of Catering and Retail Services left the employment of the administration.

Lord Laming

It is not appropriate for me to answer questions on individual employment matters.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-01-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how much severance pay was offered, and subsequently paid, to the Chairman of the Environment Agency prior to his resignation.

Lord Gardiner of Kimble

Sir Philip Dilley will work until the end of January to allow a measured transition. He will receive no severance package.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-01-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 8 December 2015 (HL3862), what legal basis the World Health Organization’s treaties have in English law.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Where the United Kingdom is party to a treaty which is in force, the United Kingdom government must comply, as a matter of international law, with its obligations under the treaty in good faith. This is required by the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.

Where a particular obligation under a treaty has not been implemented in domestic legislation it does not directly form part of English law and the English courts do not have jurisdiction to apply it. However, there is also a strong presumption in the common law that all domestic legislation will, where possible, be interpreted so as to ensure that the United Kingdom is acting compatibly with its treaty obligations.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-01-28.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Prior of Brampton on 8 December 2015 (HL3861), what assessment they have made of why, when the UK ranks number one in tobacco control activity of 34 European countries, nine other European countries have lower levels of smoking prevalence.

Lord Prior of Brampton

Countries use different ways to assess smoking prevalence within their population and there is variation as to whether they include daily, weekly, or occasional smokers within the figures. It is therefore not always possible to compare smoking prevalence rates directly between countries. In contrast, Joossens and Raws’s Tobacco Control Scale in Europe, which ranks the United Kingdom as number one in tobacco control activity of 34 European countries, uses a set criteria to assess the implementation of tobacco control policies across European countries, enabling a direct comparison to be made between the countries of tobacco control measures.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Chairman of Committees which members of House of Lords’ staff are entitled to free food or refreshments in the House’s facilities.

Lord Laming

Catering and Retail Services staff are provided with meals without charge during shifts, in accordance with arrangements made by the Head of Catering and Retail Services. This is standard practice in the hospitality industry.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-01-27.

To ask the Chairman of Committees what is the new role of the previous manager of Catering and Retail Services; what are his responsibilities; and to whom he reports.

Lord Laming

The postholder has been transferred to lead the Catering and Retail Services Change Programme on a full time basis until programme closure and then to embed its success into the Department’s business as usual activities. He reports to the Director of Facilities.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-02-11.

To ask the Chairman of Committees, further to his Written Answer on 10 February (HL5554), whether partners and spouses of Catering and Retail Services staff are also entitled to receive meals without charge.

Lord Laming

Partners and spouses are not entitled to receive meals without charge.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Palmer on 2016-04-11.

To ask the Chairman of Committees, further to his Written Answer on 23 March (HL7048) about the change of use of the Peers’ TV Room, what happened to the armchairs that used to be in that room.

Lord Laming

The chairs are in existing storage facilities.