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Written Answers
Monday, 30th March 1998.
ICRC: Support
Lord Watson of Invergowie asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assistance, financial or otherwise, they have provided since May 1997 to the International Committee of the Red Cross to support humanitarian work.[HL1140]
Lord Whitty: Since May 1997, we have contributed some £21 million towards the work of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Our support includes funding for humanitarian relief operations, the dissemination of international humanitarian law, protection work, co-operation activities with national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and to their headquarters budget. It also includes responses to specific appeals for a number of countries affected by conflict, including Afghanistan, Albania, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka and Rwanda.
The Department for International Development is also involved in a continuing dialogue with the International Committee of the Red Cross to progress an effective joint partnership in the areas of conflict reduction and humanitarian action. This seeks to defend human rights and promote more principled interventions in conflict situations.
UNHCR: Support
Lord Watson of Invergowrie asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assistance, financial or otherwise, they are providing in 1998 to the General Programmes Budget of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.[HL1141]
Lord Whitty: We have recently agreed to a contribution of £7 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees General Programme Budget. We have further approved a contribution of £3 million to set up a joint UK/UNHCR Trust Fund. The purpose of this fund is to provide a source of funding to Non Governmental Organisations who work globally in refugee situations.
We have also developed a continuous dialogue with the UNHCR with a view to increasing the effectiveness of our long-term joint partnership. We aim to encourage the organisation to improve its performance in certain mutually agreed areas, which include establishing a capacity for conducting independent evaluations, and strengthening and improving the quality and reliability of assessment, response, and monitoring of projects.
Peru: Population Control Programme
Lord Braine of Wheatley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will seek to obtain from the United States Congress, and place in the Library of the House, the hearing held recently on the Peruvian Population Control Programme; and if not, why not.[HL1162]
Lord Whitty: The records of the majority of US congressional hearings are public documents. These are obtainable by the Library of the House in the normal way.
UN Population Fund
Lord Braine of Wheatley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list those countries represented on the Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund.[HL1165]
Lord Whitty: Countries represented on the joint Executive Board of the United Nations Population Fund and the United Nations Development Programme in 1998 are as follows:
- 1998 UNDP/UNFPA Executive Board
- African States
- Botswana
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ghana
- Guinea
- Libya
- Madagascar
- South Africa
- United Republic of Tanzania
- Asian/Pacific States
- China
- India
- Malaysia
- Lebanon
- Pakistan
- Republic of Korea
- Thailand
- Latin America and Caribbean States
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Belize
- Brazil
- Jamaica
- Eastern European States
- Czech Republic
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Ukraine
- Western European and other States
- Australia
- Austria
- Canada
- Denmark
- France
- Ireland
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Donors Non-Members
- Belgium
- Finland
- Germany
- Greece
- Italy
- New Zealand
- Portugal
- Sweden
- Switzerland
Northern Ireland: Immigration Detainees
Lord Eames asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many non-British citizens are at present detained in Northern Ireland under immigration legislation; in what circumstances they are detained; and what provision is made for their detention prior to a decision being made on their eligibility to enter the United Kingdom.[HL 1146]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): As at 24 March 1998, there were 13 persons detained in Northern Ireland under Immigration Act powers. Of these, one was detained due to doubts over his identity, one was the subject of a deportation order, two were absconders from other ports and nine were illegal entrants. All are currently held in Her Majesty's Prison Magilligan. Temporary detention facilities are available in holding rooms at both Belfast International Airport and Belfast City Office, where detainees are held for short periods pending arrangements for transfer to more secure accommodation.
European Court of Justice: Jurisdiction
Lord Rankeillour asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, in the Treaty of Amsterdam, section 1, chapter 2, article K7 ("New Article K7 of the TEU"), paragraphs 1, 6 and 7, they understand the phrase, "The Court of Justice shall have jurisdiction . . ." to mean a permanent transfer of the said jurisdiction to the said Court, not subject to unilateral repeal by any of the signatories; and, if so, how they reconcile this with the constitutional principle that no Parliament can bind the hands of its successors.[HL1152]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Article K7 of the Treaty on European Union (as inserted by the Treaty of Amsterdam) confers limited jurisdiction on the European Court of Justice in respect of the revised Title VI of the Treaty on European Union, which deals with police and criminal judicial co-operation.
The United Kingdom will not accept the optional preliminary reference jurisdiction established by this article. Nor will the European Communities (Amendment) Bill incorporate Article K7 into United Kingdom law. There is no question of any transfer of jurisdiction away from United Kingdom courts or of Parliament binding the hands of its successors.
Fruit Machines
Lord Peston asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many fruit machines in the United Kingdom are sited in (a) public houses; (b) amusement arcades; (c) transport termini; and (d) premises licensed for hard gambling.[HL1145]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: We do not have figures in that form. However, last year the British Amusement Catering Trade Association (BACTA), the trade association for the amusement machine industry, undertook a study on gaming machines in conjunction with the Henley Centre. This suggested that in Great Britain at the end of 1996 there were around 75,000 "amusements-with-prizes" machines (maximum prize £10) in public houses; 91,000 in amusement arcades; and 13,000 in betting offices and casinos. Figures were not collected for transport termini but BACTA estimate that there are some 350 "amusement-with-prizes" machines in railway stations.
Firearms Surrender Compensation Scheme
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether small calibre pistols handed in under the first compensation scheme for large calibre handguns and the voluntary surrender scheme (1 July to 30 September 1997) will receive the appropriate A, B or C valuation payment where appropriate or only attract the ex-gratia fixed value payment.[HL1113]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: All three identical payment options are available under both the ex-gratia voluntary surrender scheme for small-calibre pistols and the statutory compensation scheme under the Firearms (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1997, which replaced it.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why they are amending by hand the standard form letter in response to claimants for compensation under the Firearms (Amendment) Act 1997 ex-gratia payment scheme for small calibre pistols from, "It may be some weeks before we are able to notify you of the outcome", to, "It may be some time before we are able to notify you of the outcome".[HL1114]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The letters were amended in manuscript for a short period following enquiries from some claimants about the meaning of the original wording. The practice has now ceased.
The Earl of Haddington asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the cost to date and the anticipated total cost of (a) computer hardware and (b) computer software for the administration of the 1997 Pistol and Accessories Compensation Scheme; what are the names of the software suppliers and contractors, giving the dates of the awarding of each individual contract; what additional software and data have been purchased, giving dates, costs and names of suppliers; and what software has been purchased with costs from Management and Processors of Claims (MPC) Loss Adjusters.[HL1137]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The cost of the computer system for handling firearms compensation claims is £158,117, made up of £27,101 in hardware costs and £131,016 in software and development costs. All costs include Value Added Tax. The system was procured under the standard Home Office information technology services contract with SEMA Group plc, awarded in 1994. No software has been supplied by Management and Processors of Claims Limited.
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