Written Ministerial Statements
Tuesday 11 July 2006
Treasury
Public-Private Forum on Identity Management
The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Gordon Brown): I have appointed Sir. James Crosby to chair the Public-Private Forum on Identity Management.
The Forum will examine the evolving technologies used for identity management and consider how public and private sectors can work together to maximise efficiency and effectiveness. The Forum will be a key part of the identity management architecture across Government, and will build on work underway across Whitehall, which is being led by the Home Office. It will make proposals to me and the Ministerial Committee on identity management early next year.
I proposed the creation of a Forum on identity in my speech on security to the Royal United Services Institute in February of this year.
The Forum's terms of reference are to:
Review the current and emerging use of identity management in the private and public sectors and identify best practice.
Consider how public and private sectors can work together, harnessing the best identity technology to maximise efficiency and effectiveness.
Produce a preliminary report for the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Ministerial Committee on identity management by Easter 2007.
Constitutional Affairs
Family Courts
The Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Ms Harriet Harman): I am pleased to inform the House that I have today laid before Parliament and placed in the Libraries of both Houses the consultation paper, “Confidence and Confidentiality: Improving Transparency and Privacy in Family Courts”. It is also available on the Department's website at http://www.dca.gov.uk/consult/confr.htm
Family courts make decisions that have important effects on people's lives and that affect people's lives forever and they make judgments in the most difficult of circumstances.
Many more people are affected by decisions of the family courts than used to be the case—over 400,000 family court applications every year. And the comfortable certainties which used to be the context in which the family courts did their work have gone. Change in family structures, change in social
attitudes, greater cultural diversity, new reproductive technologies and global mobility bring new challenges to the family courts. But what has not changed is the need for the courts to protect children from cruelty and neglect and to make judgments when parents cannot agree about the care of the child.
The greater the importance of the work of the court, the greater the need for public confidence. The current operation of the family courts attracts criticism to the family justice system as a whole and lays it open to accusations of bias and injustice which cannot be satisfactorily refuted.
In order to ensure that the public can have confidence in the work of the family courts, we make proposals in the consultation document to make the family courts more open and accountable while ensuring that we protect the privacy of the personal lives of those involved in family proceedings—particularly children.
We make firm proposals to allow the press into the courts and how we plan to protect anonymity. We invite further consideration on whether the courts should be accountable to the children who are affected by their judgments by keeping a record for them to obtain, if they want when they become an adult of what the court decided and why. We propose no change on the access to the courts by the inspectorates—HMICA and the Commission for Social Care Inspection—and for those who have democratic accountability for the family justice system—lead local authority members responsible for children's services and Members of Parliament. But we invite further consideration of that.
I believe these proposals are a step forward towards our dual objective of confidence and confidentiality.
Defence
Armed Forces Invaliding Pensions
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Mr. Tom Watson): The House will be aware that the Ministry of Defence has been engaged in correcting a number of armed forces pension awards to both ex-service personnel and widows. These exercises, known, as Projects Haven and Scribe, flowed from the uncovering in 1998 of a systemic pensions and tax error, and from a Court of Appeal judgement in 2003 in the case of Hulme v MOD. My predecessors have made a number of statements to the House on these matters. I am please to report that the last of these Projects, Project Scribe, is now nearing completion and that as a result of both projects some 5500 corrections to pension awards have been made at a cost to date of £32.4 million plus some £18.2 million in compensation.
However, I have to tell the House, that during this work, teams from the Armed Forces Pay and Administration Agency and the Veterans Agency have uncovered a further error. Our initial estimate is that this may mean that a number of awards (our initial estimate is about 1800) to those invalided for causes due to service may not have been consistently up-rated
as they should have been, in line with the acceptance by the Veterans Agency of deterioration claims. Widows' pensions are not affected. I apologise unreservedly for this further error. Beginning next month officials will identify and correct these pensions with the payment of any interest due. I will be considering, as a matter of priority, whether additional recompense is appropriate.
I can assure the House that the cause of the error has been corrected and mechanisms put in place to ensure it will not recur. The proposed merger of the Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency and the Veterans Agency, would be a positive step, aimed at reducing the risk of further errors and providing a better service to both current and former members of the armed forces, their families and dependants. I will provide more information to the House on this work soon.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Vaccine Supply Tender
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Mr. Ben Bradshaw): Defra has today invited tenders to supply a further 10 million doses of avian influenza vaccine for potential use in poultry and other captive birds. The Government have decided to take this step, on the advice of the UK Chief Veterinary Officer, as a precaution.
This does not change our policy and the CVO's advice remains that we should not vaccinate poultry in advance of an avian influenza outbreak because of the well documented limitations of the vaccines currently available. These vaccines are not the most effective defence against avian influenza. A high standard of biosecurity, separation of poultry from wild birds and careful surveillance for signs of disease are the most effective means of protection.
The vaccine would also not be used as an immediate disease control response. Early reporting, rapid action, biosecurity, culling and surveillance remain the most effective ways of controlling an avian influenza outbreak.
However, the CVO has recommended securing access to a supply of vaccine. This is part of sensible contingency planning in the light of uncertainties about the future spread and nature of the virus and the possibility of as yet unforeseen circumstances. This will only be used if a risk assessment and scientific evidence indicated it would help to prevent disease spread.
In order to have a wider range of disease control tools available to us, we have tendered for vaccine which could be used against both H5 and H7 strains of the disease. It will not be available to the public for general use. This will be in addition to the 2.3 million doses of vaccine bought earlier this year for a possible risk based preventive vaccination of zoo birds.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Israel and the Occupied Territories
The Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Kim Howells): We have deep concerns about the current situation, its effects on the Palestinian and Israeli people, and the consequences for the Middle East Peace Process. The escalation in violence since the 25 June attack at the Kerem Shalom crossing has caused great suffering on both sides; 6 July was the most violent day of the conflict since Israeli disengagement from Gaza last year with 21 Palestinians and one Israeli solider killed. We condemn the 25 June attack, and call for the immediate and unconditional release of Corporal Shalit. We also condemn the continued rocket attacks on Israeli towns like Sderot and Ashkelon, including the rocket that hit a school in Ashkelon on 4 July. We have called on the Palestinian Authority to prevent all terrorist attacks, including these rocket attacks, and to work for the release of Corporal Shalit. We welcome the work President Abbas is doing to achieve this.
While Israel has the right to defend itself and secure the release of Corporal Shalit, its actions should be proportionate and in accordance with international law as we, the G8, and the EU have made clear. We call on Israel to exercise restraint, and to do everything possible to avoid civilian casualties. The Israeli Prime Minister has said that Israel has no intention of reoccupying Gaza.
We have serious concerns regarding the current humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israeli military actions have targeted key roads and bridges and have disabled the Gaza power station and water supplies. The UN reported on 28 June that 40 per cent. of Gaza was without power and 130,000 people are without water. Restoring electricity and water supplies and access for humanitarian organisations is a vital priority. The Israeli Cabinet agreed on 2 July to take steps to ease the humanitarian situation, including by opening the Kami commercial crossing point between Gaza and Israel for 150 trucks a day carrying food, fuel and medical supplies and providing power through Israeli grids. We urge Israel to take further such action and allow the full provision of basic services to the Palestinian people.
We also continue to have concerns about the detention of members of the Palestinian Government and Legislature on 29 June. Those detained should be accorded their full legal rights and either be charged or released.
Since the crisis began, we have been in close contact with the Israeli government and with Palestinian President Abbas. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Israeli Foreign Minister Livni and President Abbas on the first day of the crisis, 25 June, and again on 6 July. Our Ambassador in Tel Aviv, Consul-General in Jerusalem, and officials in London remain in close contact with both sides. We are also in close contact with the Quartet members as well as with Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. We fully support Egyptian efforts to mediate between Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and the militants currently holding Corporal Shalit and we have offered our
assistance. Egypt plays a key role in the peace process and we will continue to work with them. We have also pressed Syria to use its influence on Hamas. I can assure the House that the UK will continue to work to resolve this crisis.
My right hon. Friend the Prime Minster has made clear our commitment to continue helping the Palestinian people. Although donors have stopped direct budgetary support to the Palestinian Authority, we continue to provide other support directly to the Palestinian people.
On 17 June the Quartet endorsed the “Temporary International Mechanism.” The mechanism will ensure that basic health care continues to be provided in the Occupied Territories. It will also work to provide the poorest segments of Palestinian society with basic needs allowances and should help ensure the uninterrupted supply of utilities, including fuel. First payments through the mechanism should be made this month. The UK will contribute up to £12 million.
The UK has a strong record of support for the Palestinian people. On 25 April the Department for International Development announced a £15 million payment to the UN Relief and Works Agency. The UK has given £147 million to the Palestinian people since 2001. We also contribute through the EU, which is the biggest donor to the Palestinian people.
Whilst we need an urgent end to the current crisis, real peace can only come through a lasting settlement. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear, our priority is negotiations. These are manifestly the best way to move this process forward. It is the role of the international community to give negotiations the best chance of success. We welcome Prime Minister Olmert's and President Abbas's commitment to negotiations and urge both sides to resume talks as soon as possible. This will require great effort and courage from both sides.
We were seriously concerned about the situation on the ground even before the current crisis. We hope that Israel can ease restrictions on movement and access to Gaza and the West Bank by implementing the 15 November Agreement. This includes dismantling checkpoints and roadblocks.
We also have concerns about the routing of the barrier, and Israeli settlement activity. We understand why Israel wishes to build the barrier, but it needs to be on or behind the Green Line. It is illegal for the barrier to be built on occupied land. We have raised our concerns on many occasions with the Israeli Government and we will continue to do so.
The road map is clear that Israel should freeze all settlement activity including the natural growth of existing settlements, and dismantle all outposts built since March 2001. Settlement building is contrary to international law and is an obstacle to peace. We welcome the Israeli Government's commitment to dismantling outposts, and hope it will act as soon as possible.
We have also raised our concerns with the Government of Israel concerning Israeli policies in Jerusalem. These policies include the routing of the barrier in and around Jerusalem; settlement activity in
and around East Jerusalem; and, increasingly, restricted access to Jerusalem for Palestinian residents who have blue Israeli identity cards but who live east of the barrier. These practices fuel Palestinian anger, threaten to cut East Jerusalem off from the West Bank and make it more difficult for there to be a viable Palestinian state.
There is also much the Palestinians need to do. It is essential that the Palestinian Authority makes every effort to prevent terrorism, as set out in the road map. We will continue to work with President Abbas to take the peace process forward. We welcome President Abbas' recent efforts to improve the security situation in Gaza, promote intra-Palestinian reconciliation through the National Dialogue and his commitment to negotiations. Our policy on Hamas remains unchanged. We recognise Hamas's democratic mandate as a result of free and fair elections. But with this mandate comes responsibilities. It is essential that the Hamas-led Government commits to the 30 January Quartet principles: renunciation of violence; recognition of Israel; and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the road map. Hamas needs to start implementing these principles and make clear the path they intend to take. If they do this, then we are ready to take the peace process forward with them.
Our goal remains a negotiated two state solution, which is best achieved through the road map. We must all work to find a way through the current crisis to achieve a just, viable and lasting peace.
Health
NHS Litigation Authority
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Andy Burnham): The annual report and accounts of the NHS Litigation Authority 2005-06 and any accompanying comptroller and auditor general reports have today been laid before Parliament pursuant to section 98(1C) of the National Health Service Act 1977.
Copies have been placed in the Library.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland Prison Service
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Paul Goggins): I have placed copies of the Northern Ireland Prison Service's Annual Report and Accounts for 2005-06 in the Libraries of both Houses.
The annual report details that the Service met 10 of its 11 key targets. It also outlines that of the comprehensive programme of development objectives set for the Service, 17 were achieved, 16 were partially achieved and substantial progress made towards meeting the remaining five.
| Next Section | Index | Home Page |