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4 Jul 2005 : Column 128W—continued
English Nationality
Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that English appears as an option for nationality on Government documents and questionnaires; and if he will make a statement. [8533]
John Healey: I have been asked to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Andrew Rosindell, dated 4 July 2005:
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding English nationality. (8533)
The Office for National Statistics collects information on national identity and advises organisations on the collection and classification of national identity data (Ethnic Group Statistics: A guide for the collection and classification of ethnic data (2003), Office for National Statistics: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about/ethnic_group_statistics).
With the new devolved administrations, there has been an increasing interest in 'national' consciousness with many people wanting their 'national' identity to be acknowledged. Many people in the White British ethnic group feel that their national identity is English. The Office for National Statistics encourages organisations to collect data on national identity and recommends the following question:
The question allows respondents to choose more than one identity (if they think of themselves as having more than one). This is because national identity is self-defined, i.e. it is something that is subjectively meaningful to the person concerned.
EU Immigration Controls
Mr. Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress towards setting up an EU joint border force. [3621]
Mr. McNulty: There are no plans to create an EU joint border force.
The EU's Hague Programme refers to a feasibility study into a European system of Border Guards" but makes no commitment to establishing one. The feasibility study will take place in 2007, as part of the review of the recently-established European Border Agency.
Like many EU member states, the Government remain unconvinced of the need for a European Border force. The case for a centrally managed, multi-national European Corps of Border Guards has not yet been made. There are many practical actions and concrete measures that can be taken forward with EU partners without the need to go as far as creating a European Border Guard.
But we fully support the Border Agency, which will play a key role in co-ordinating joint operations between EU member states to strengthen the EU's external border. The UK supports the increased number of joint activities and co-operation between member states at the EU external borders where that activity is conducted on an operationally focused, intelligence-led basis. Such action has the potential to enhance the security of the EU's external borders to the benefit of all member states. It should complement, not replace, the work of national border services.
We also welcome the statement in the Programme that the control and surveillance of external borders falls within the sphere of national border authorities—this is a matter of sovereignty.
During the UK presidency we will continue to contribute actively to EU work on strengthening the EU's external borders and make it a priority to achieve progress in this area.
Exorcism
Mr. Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to monitor the activities of certain churches in London that are known or believed to carry out exorcisms or similar procedures. [6762]
Paul Goggins: The Home Office does not monitor places of religious worship.
Exorcism is a legitimate activity provided it is practised within the confines of the law.
It would be a matter for the police to decide the circumstances in which there had been a breach in the law.
Extradition
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he (a) has had and (b) intends to have with his US counterpart about the extradition regime between the UK and the US. [7304]
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Andy Burnham [holding answer 29 June 2005]: Since the new bilateral extradition treaty was signed on 31 March 2003, the Home Secretary has discussed extradition matters with the former US Attorney General on 16 December 2004 and has also raised the issue with the new Attorney General at the recent G8 bilateral in Sheffield on 16 June.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on their extradition regime arrangements with the United States of America. [7305]
Andy Burnham [holding answer 29 June 2005]: None.Any bilateral extradition arrangements between another EU member state and the USA are strictly a matter for the countries concerned.
Mr. Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many extradition cases are outstanding in which the United States is seeking the extradition of individuals to the US from the UK. [7308]
Andy Burnham [holding answer 29 June 2005]: As at 23 June 2005, there were 44 extradition cases outstanding in which the USA is seeking the extradition of individuals to the USA from the United Kingdom. Requests are being dealt with under the procedures of the Extradition Act 1989, for requests received on or before 31 December 2003; and under the procedures of the Extradition Act 2003 for requests received since that date.
Mr. Boris Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many requests for extradition were received in (a) 2000, (b) 2001, (c) 2002, (d) 2003 and (e) 2004 from each of the countries that were the subject of the Part 2 Territories Designation Order 2003. [6010]
Andy Burnham: The following are figures for the number of extradition requests to the UK from countries that were designated as extradition partners under the Extradition Act 2003 (Designation of Part 2 Territories) Order 2003.
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Furthermore the figures for the first six months of this year, up to 30 June 2005 are as follows:
Note:
1.Countries are not listed above for those years in which they made no extradition requests to the UK.
2.After the Extradition Act 2003 (Designation of Part 2 Territories) Order 2003 came into force on 1 January 2004, the following countries that were originally designated under that Order, became designated as Part 1 territories under the Extradition Act 2003, on the dates given as follows: 27 July 2004 Austria, Cyprus, France, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia. 1 March 2005 Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Slovakia.
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