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Singh and Hussain: Compliance with European Court of Human Rights Rulings
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer given by Baroness Blatch of 9th May 1996 (WA 24), what legislative changes they intend to make to take account of the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Singh and Hussain.
Baroness Blatch: The Crime (Sentences) Bill currently before your Lordships' House contains provisions to comply with the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Singh and Hussain.
Firearms Control Board: Costs
Earl Peel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their current estimate of the cost of establishing and running a Firearms Control Board and what is the basis on which this estimate is calculated.
Baroness Blatch: A 1994 Report of a study into the feasibility of establishing a Firearms Control Board indicated start-up costs would be about £4.1 million, with an annual running cost in excess of £10 million. A copy of the report was placed in the Library. No more recent estimate has been made.
Armed Forces Food Supply Contract
Lord Brougham and Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the outcome of the competition for the food supply contract for the Armed Forces.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe): The supply of food for the Armed Forces was contracted to the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI) in 1994 for a three-year period. The contract expires on the 30th September 1997 and the department has been running a competition for the follow-on contract. After careful evaluation of the tenders received, the decision has been taken to award the new contract to Booker Foodservice Group, who were judged to offer the best overall value for money for the department. The contract will be for a five-year period commencing 1st October 1997 and is worth in excess of £400 million.
The recommendations of the recent NAO report on Supply of Food to the Armed Forces are fully reflected in this contract.
NAAFI will, of course, continue to provide its traditional range of retail and other services to the Armed Forces. My department is in discussion with Booker Foodservice and NAAFI to ensure a smooth transition, and to assist NAAFI in achieving a successful
outcome to the restructuring already under way following last year's independent review.Guide to Legislative Procedures
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer given by Earl Howe of 25th July 1996 (WA 165), when they intend to publish the new edition of the Guide to Legislative Procedures.
Earl Howe: The new edition of the Guide to Legislative Procedures was issued to Departments in November 1996. Copies were placed in the House Libraries, and a copy was sent to the noble Lord, on 20th November 1996.
MoD Contracts Bulletin
Lord Ironside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the current price and circulation of the Defence Contracts Bulletin and what is the proportion of overseas subscribers to United Kingdom subscribers.
Earl Howe: The subscription rate for the MoD Contracts Bulletin in the UK is currently £148 per annum and there are approximately 2,300 subscribers, of whom approximately 8 per cent. have overseas addresses.
United Arab Emirates: Defence Co-operation Accord
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the recently signed agreement between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates is complementary to the agreement signed between the United Arab Emirates and France which stipulates the dispatch of a 27,000-strong French force; and whether it involves any deployment of British forces in the Emirates.
Earl Howe: The UK signed a Defence co-operation Accord (DCA) with the Government of the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 28th November. The accord provides for the strengthening of military co-operation between the UAE and the UK in a number of areas, including training, the conduct of combined exercises, the provision of modern defence equipment and related services to the UAE Armed Forces and the development of joint military plans and deployment strategies for the defence of the UAE. It builds upon the 1971 Treaty of Friendship between the UK and the UAE and upon the long-standing history of defence co-operation between our two countries and is designed to promote security and stability in a region of strategic importance to the UK. The accord is a matter solely between the UK and UAE; it is, therefore, entirely
separate from any agreement signed between the UAE and France.Under the terms of this accord, the UK is committed to assisting the UAE in deterring threats or preventing aggression against the UAE and, in the event of such aggression taking place, to implementing the joint military plans which are judged appropriate for the defence of the UAE. Any decision to deploy UK armed forces to the Middle East will of course be made at the time by the government of the day in the light of prevailing circumstances.
"Bloody Sunday"
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" (January 30th 1972), they will make a formal apology to the relatives of all persons killed or injured by British Armed or Security Forces, operating in Northern Ireland.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Baroness Denton of Wakefield): In a letter to John Hume MP in 1992 the Prime Minister wrote:
- "It would not be right for me to seek to cast judgment on the events of "Bloody Sunday" at this distance in time; nor would it be right for me retrospectively to comment on the actions of the soldiers on that day, or on the guilt or innocence of any individual or individuals involved in those events. The Government made clear in 1974 that those who were killed on "Bloody Sunday" should be regarded as innocent of any allegation that they were shot whilst handling firearms or explosives. I hope that the families of those who died will accept that assurance".
Northern Ireland: Penalties for Fine Defaulters
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will ensure that a pilot scheme starts in Northern Ireland during 1997 whereby convicted fine defaulters carry out useful work for voluntary organisations as an alternative to a few days of imprisonment.
Baroness Denton of Wakefield: Fresh legislation would be required to introduce such a scheme in Northern Ireland, even on a pilot basis.
However, as my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Northern Ireland emphasised in a recent letter to the noble Lord, it is the Government's intention to review arrangements once we have seen the effects of the new alternative proposed for England and Wales in the Crime (Sentences) Bill.
Merchant Navy Personnel: Training Programme Revision
Lord Clinton-Davis asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What enhanced or new training programmes for seafarers have been introduced to take account of the revision of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) which comes into effect on
1st February 1997.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen): I have asked the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. Robin Bradley, to write to the noble Lord.
Letter to Lord Clinton-Davis from the Chief Executive of the Marine Safety Agency, Mr. R. M. Bradley, dated 3rd February 1997.
The Secretary of State for Transport has asked me to reply to your question about enhanced or new training programmes for seafarers to take account of the revision of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW '95).
Under the transitional arrangements provisions of STCW '95, training programmes approved under the preceding version of the Convention (STCW '78) will continue to be recognised until 1st August 1998.
The Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB), in consultation with shipowners, seafarers' trade unions, training organisations and the MSA, is the body which reviews the training requirements for Merchant Navy personnel. The MNTB is currently reviewing the existing training programmes and updating them, where necessary, to comply fully with STCW '95.
When this exercise is completed, enhanced and new training programmes meeting the STCW '95 requirements will be approved by the MSA.
Freight Carriage by Sea
Lord Clinton-Davis asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that it is desirable to encourage more domestic freight to be carried by coastal shipping, not least for environmental reasons, and what steps they are taking to achieve that objective.
Viscount Goschen: We encourage industry to consider the benefits of using shipping as an alternative to road transport where this is feasible. It must be for industry to determine whether water can provide both a practical means to their transport needs and one which makes good commercial sense.
Freight facilities grants are available for inland waterway capital developments which can demonstrate environmental benefits through saving lorry miles.
Port of London: Pilotage Exemptions
Lord Swinfen asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many ships whose Masters did not have a pilotage exemption certificate were allowed to sail through the compulsory pilotage area from the Port of London in 1996; who authorised their sailing; and why this was allowed.
Viscount Goschen: The Pilotage Act 1987 places responsibility for these matters upon the Port of London Authority, as the Competent Harbour Authority. It is for the authority to determine in what circumstances pilotage shall be compulsory, and to award pilotage exemption certificates. I understand that they will be writing to my noble friend with further details.
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