Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the change in the Treasury Block Grant to the Northern Ireland Executive should the Executive reduce corporation tax to 12.5 per cent from the existing United Kingdom level of corporation tax.
Answered by Lord Deighton
The Government has not yet agreed with the Northern Ireland Executive how the block grant adjustment will be calculated if corporation tax rate-setting powers are devolved
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 11 August (HL1282), whether they consider that supermarkets currently offer sufficient levels of sugar-free and sugar-reduced items; what impact they consider an increase in the availability of such items would have on obesity levels in the United Kingdom; whether they have any plans to intervene more strongly than the current voluntary arrangements in order to increase the availability of such items; and if not, why not.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
Through the Government’s voluntary partnership with industry, eight supermarket chains are currently signed up to the calorie reduction pledge and are taking actions to enable their customers to consume fewer calories. Five of these supermarkets are taking direct action to either cut sugar or provide sugar-free or sugar-reduced products.
Ten supermarket chains have committed to provide clear information on the front of food and drink products, including sugar content.
The Government is committed to reducing overweight and obesity through a range of actions involving consumers and a wide range of stakeholders. The role of industry in continuing to reduce calories, including sugar, through the voluntary partnership is a key component of the Government’s approach.
The final report of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition on Carbohydrates and Health and Public Health England evidence and advice on sugar reduction, both due in Spring 2015, will inform the Government’s next steps.
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what role the free movement of people between the United Kingdom and Ireland, however defined, plays in the Anglo-Irish agreement and in the documents which underpin it.
Answered by Lord Bates
Free movement of people between the United Kingdom and Ireland within the Common Travel Area has existed since 1923 and therefore predates both the Anglo-Irish Agreement and the subsequent British-Irish Agreement. The free movement of people between the two jurisdictions is not provided for by either Agreement.
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 17 July (WA 144–5), whether the Minister will now provide a substantive answer to the question.
Answered by Earl Howe - Deputy Leader of the House of Lords
The Secretary of State met with Asda, Sainsbury’s and Tesco on 7 October 2013 to discuss voluntary arrangements to help their customers’ adopt a healthier diet, including action to reduce their sugar intake. Other major retailers were unable to attend.
In addition, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health (Jane Ellison) visited a Tesco store on 13 March 2014, with regard in particular to diabetes.
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 15 July (HL Deb, col 501), what is their estimate of how much of the diesel bought in the Republic of Ireland and brought into Northern Ireland, is illegally produced or smuggled into the province.
Answered by Lord Deighton
Legislative change enacted in, The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Review of Sentencing) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (SR 249/2013) allows the appeal of unduly lenient sentences for fuel fraud to the Court of Appeal. It came into force on 9 December 2013.
All 22 convictions related to offences prosecuted under Section 170(2)(a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 for fraudulent evasion of duty. Further details area as follows:
· 15 of the cases were prosecuted for two offences under this Act
· 12 of these convictions resulted in suspended sentences totalling 104 months, with each being suspended for a period of time between 12 and 36 months
· One case resulted in the defendant being bound over
· In nine cases fines of up to £4,000 were imposed - totalling £11,700; and in two of these the defendant was given a period of up to 26 weeks to pay the fine or an additional custodial sentence would be imposed
· One conviction was converted into a time to pay agreement due to the ill health of the defendant
· One Confiscation Order was made for £98,000
· One Compensation Order was made for £500
It would not be prudent to provide the further detailed information requested as they could lead to identification of the individuals concerned and jeopardise the safety of the defendants and their immediate families.
No assessment has been made of how much of the diesel bought in the Republic of Ireland and brought into Northern Ireland is illegally produced or smuggled. However, tax gap figures estimate the market share for all illicit diesel in Northern Ireland at 12-13% in 2011-12 and negligible for petrol.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measuring-tax-gaps-tables
HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 15 July (HL Deb, col 501), for each of the 22 convictions referred to, what was the (1) date of conviction, (2) the charge on which the perpetrator was found guilty, (3) the other charges, if any, dealt with in the same trial, on which the convicted person was found not guilty, (4) the sentence passed, and (5) the court in which the hearing took place.
Answered by Lord Deighton
Legislative change enacted in, The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Review of Sentencing) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (SR 249/2013) allows the appeal of unduly lenient sentences for fuel fraud to the Court of Appeal. It came into force on 9 December 2013.
All 22 convictions related to offences prosecuted under Section 170(2)(a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 for fraudulent evasion of duty. Further details area as follows:
· 15 of the cases were prosecuted for two offences under this Act
· 12 of these convictions resulted in suspended sentences totalling 104 months, with each being suspended for a period of time between 12 and 36 months
· One case resulted in the defendant being bound over
· In nine cases fines of up to £4,000 were imposed - totalling £11,700; and in two of these the defendant was given a period of up to 26 weeks to pay the fine or an additional custodial sentence would be imposed
· One conviction was converted into a time to pay agreement due to the ill health of the defendant
· One Confiscation Order was made for £98,000
· One Compensation Order was made for £500
It would not be prudent to provide the further detailed information requested as they could lead to identification of the individuals concerned and jeopardise the safety of the defendants and their immediate families.
No assessment has been made of how much of the diesel bought in the Republic of Ireland and brought into Northern Ireland is illegally produced or smuggled. However, tax gap figures estimate the market share for all illicit diesel in Northern Ireland at 12-13% in 2011-12 and negligible for petrol.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measuring-tax-gaps-tables
HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Newby on 15 July (HL Deb, col 501), what specific legislative change was undertaken specifically to deal with the absence of custodial sentences for illegal production or smuggling of diesel in Northern Ireland; and on what date those legislative changes became effective.
Answered by Lord Deighton
Legislative change enacted in, The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Review of Sentencing) Order (Northern Ireland) 2013 (SR 249/2013) allows the appeal of unduly lenient sentences for fuel fraud to the Court of Appeal. It came into force on 9 December 2013.
All 22 convictions related to offences prosecuted under Section 170(2)(a) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979 for fraudulent evasion of duty. Further details area as follows:
· 15 of the cases were prosecuted for two offences under this Act
· 12 of these convictions resulted in suspended sentences totalling 104 months, with each being suspended for a period of time between 12 and 36 months
· One case resulted in the defendant being bound over
· In nine cases fines of up to £4,000 were imposed - totalling £11,700; and in two of these the defendant was given a period of up to 26 weeks to pay the fine or an additional custodial sentence would be imposed
· One conviction was converted into a time to pay agreement due to the ill health of the defendant
· One Confiscation Order was made for £98,000
· One Compensation Order was made for £500
It would not be prudent to provide the further detailed information requested as they could lead to identification of the individuals concerned and jeopardise the safety of the defendants and their immediate families.
No assessment has been made of how much of the diesel bought in the Republic of Ireland and brought into Northern Ireland is illegally produced or smuggled. However, tax gap figures estimate the market share for all illicit diesel in Northern Ireland at 12-13% in 2011-12 and negligible for petrol.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/measuring-tax-gaps-tables
HMRC fights fraud on a wide range of fronts, from special units performing thousands of roadside checks to raiding laundering plants. The UK has recently announced, jointly with Ireland, an improved new marker for rebated fuel, which will make it much harder to launder marked fuel and sell it at a profit.
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question
To ask the Leader of the House, further to the Written Answer by Earl Howe on 17 July (WA 144–5), whether she will discourage ministers and spokespersons from answering Written Questions by reference to websites.
Answered by Baroness Stowell of Beeston
I refer the noble Lord to the reply I gave to Lord Stoddart of Swindon on 29 July (WA 304).
Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Baroness Randerson on 17 July (HL Deb, col 738), when they expect to have in place properly designed systems to ensure that Northern Ireland Office policy has proper lines of responsibility, accountability and safeguards against error.
Answered by Baroness Randerson - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Transport)
Northern Ireland Office policy continues to be decided by Ministers. The NIO’s Senior Management Board monitors the delivery of all NIO policy, ensures lines of responsibility and accountability are clear, and checks that safeguards against error are sufficiently robust. As a result of significant changes in responsibilities and priorities, the Northern Ireland Office is a very different department from that which existed prior to devolution. The Department will be reflecting carefully on the conclusions and recommendations of the Hallett report, and considering whether there are further steps that need to be taken within the NIO to strengthen existing processes and ensure that appropriate lessons are learned. This work will be led by the Permanent Secretary and the Senior Management Board.Asked by: Lord Mawhinney (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Randerson on 16 July (HL Deb, col 588), under what circumstances the Sewel Convention would be set aside in order for the national interest to prevail.
Answered by Baroness Randerson - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Transport)
Under the Sewel Convention, Parliament would not normally legislate with regard to devolved matters except with the agreement of the devolved legislature. This is an important element of the understandings by which devolution operates across the UK, and we would be reluctant to depart from it in anything other than exceptional circumstances.