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LORD CHANCELLOR'S DEPARTMENT
Transsexuals
Mr. Pickthall: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when she will make a statement about the ECHR judgments in the cases of Goodwin v. UK and I v. UK; and when she expects British transsexuals will be able (a) to change their NI numbers and (b) to marry. [71488]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government reconvened recently the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People, to re-examine the implications of granting full legal status to transsexual people in their acquired gender, and to make recommendations to Ministers before the end of this year. It has now been tasked additionally with considering urgently the implications of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Christine Goodwin v. The United Kingdom and I v. The United Kingdom.
The Government are obliged, under international law, to implement the judgments and will decide as soon as possible how to do so. The devolved Administrations are also considering their approach to these issues where responsibilities are devolved.
The matters under consideration include policy on marriage and national insurance arrangements. Transsexual people may already obtain new national insurance cards in their new names.
Following the ruling, statutes must be interpreted in the light of the ECtHR findings and, where a statute allows, discretion must be exercised differently in any case where the traditional interpretation or exercise of discretion would result in a violation of a transsexual person's Convention rights.
Lynne Jones: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (1) whether the Government accepts the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Goodwin and I; what action is being taken to bring UK law into compliance with the ruling; and if she will make a statement; [71604]
- (2) what the terms of reference are of the reconvened Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual Rights. [71605]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The Government will decide their response to the Court's judgments as soon as possible. We had already reconvened the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People because the issues faced by the transsexual community affect the policy of a large number of Government Departments and the devolved Administrations.
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The group met on 9 July. Its agreed terms of reference are:
- "In the light of the report of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Transsexual People and more recent relevant developments, to re-examine the implications of granting full legal status to transsexual people in their acquired gender; and to make recommendations".
Following the ruling, statutes must be interpreted in the light of the ECtHR findings and, where a statute allows, discretion must be exercised differently in any case where the traditional interpretation or exercise of discretion would result in a violation of a transsexual person's Convention rights.
Compensation
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what action she has taken to ensure that QinetiQ pays appropriate compensation to genealogical societies, for their administrative costs relating to vouchers for the 1901 Census website. [71268]
Ms Rosie Winterton: All vouchers which have not been used will receive a full refund on request, including the purchase cost, postage and packaging. All vouchers which have been partially used, will have a full six months of active life starting from the date when the online service resumes. Payment of compensation for any additional administrative costs would be dealt with by the contractor, QinetiQ Ltd.
Election Expenditure
Mr. Don Foster: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the total Government expenditure was on (a) local elections in each year since 1997, (b) the 1997 general election and (c) the 2001 general election. [71230]
Yvette Cooper: To date, central Government expenditure for the conduct of the parliamentary general elections in 1997 and 2001 is £46.2 million and £44.3 million, respectively.
Central Government makes no direct contribution to the cost of conducting local government elections, the funding of which is the responsibility of local authorities themselves.
Information on the cost of local elections in England and Northern Ireland are matters for my right hon. Friends the Deputy Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland respectively. This is a devolved matter in Wales and Scotland.
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Law Commission
Gillian Merron: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the next quinquennial review of the Law Commission is to take place. [72978]
Ms Rosie Winterton: The next QQR of the Law Commission is to begin today. The approach to the review will take into account the wider process of law reform and the relationship between the Law Commission and other agencies involved in that process, particularly Government Departments. It is expected that a final report to the Lord Chancellor, outlining key findings and recommendations, will be produced by the end of the year.
John Halliday CB has been appointed as Head of Review. Mr. Halliday has been selected for this role because of the extent of his knowledge of the operation of Government, Parliament and the civil service. In particular, he has experience of working with the Law Commission and of leading the fundamental review of the framework for sentencing criminal offenders in England and Wales. This resulted in the Halliday report, 2001.
Copies of the Terms of Reference for the review have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Public Guardianship Office
Lawrie Quinn: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department when the Public Guardianship Office's annual report and accounts for 2001–02 will be laid before Parliament. [72886]
Ms Rosie Winterton: I have today laid before the House the Public Guardianship Office's annual report and accounts for 2001–02, which gives full details of the Agency's performance and expenditure for that year.
Departmental Functions
David Wright: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will make a statement on the recent changes in the functions of her Department. [72984]
Ms Rosie Winterton: For the assistance of hon. Members, I have today placed in the Library of each House a list which sets out briefly the current functions of the Lord Chancellor's Department.
Thames Valley Magistrates Court Service
Mrs. Gillan: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many (a) staff and (b) legal advisers have left the Thames Valley magistrates court service since 1 January 2001; how many trials have been cancelled since 1 January 2001 in the Thames Valley magistrates court area, how many vacancies there are in the Thames Valley magistrates court service; and if she will list them and the salaries offered. [72597]
Yvette Cooper: I have been advised by Thames Valley Magistrates Courts Committee (MCC) that 52 staff members have left service since January 2001, of which 11 were legal advisers. There are currently 27.4 vacancies within the area, 7.4 of which are for legal advisers. Salaries for legal advisers are advertised at £25,518 to £32,001 (depending upon experience); deputy justices'
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clerks are advertised at £39,072 to £43,293; and admin/payments staff vacancies are advertised at £10,974 to £14,433.
I am advised by Thames Valley MCC that no trials have been cancelled since 1 January 2001.
Mentally Incapacitated People
Mr. Drew: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if she will publish the evidence presented to the consultation exercise on 'Making Decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty in Deciding for Themselves'. [70173]
Ms Rosie Winterton: Consultation on 'Making decisions: Helping People who have Difficulty Deciding for Themselves' is being conducted fully in accordance with the Cabinet Office's code of practice on written consultations. The code recommends that responses should be analysed carefully and that the results of the analysis should be made widely available. Responses are currently being analysed and, once completed, the results of that analysis, including an account of the views expressed, will be made public.
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