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EU Legislative Proposals: UK Support
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list the European Union legislative proposals likely to come before the Council in the next year with which they disagree, indicating those which are subject to the national veto, those for which they are confident of securing the necessary majority vote and those which they may have to accept.[HL2364]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Although the Commission indicates the new legislative initiatives it will be pursuing each year in its Annual Work Programme, there is no exhaustive list of proposals likely to come before the Council in any given period. Moreover, the negotiating period for individual proposals varies enormously. Whether or not the Government support a particular proposal depends on its content. This may well change during the course of negotiations. For that reason, it is also extremely difficult to predict whether a proposal will be supported by other member states.
Military Consultants: Regulation
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the activities of military consultants operating from UK territory, and in particular their acquisition of weapons and other military material from third countries, should be further regulated by law.[HL2392]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are examining a number of options for national domestic regulation of so-called private military companies operating out of the United Kingdom. As part of this process, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently looking at measures taken by other governments, including recent South African legislation.
EU Economic and Social Committee:UK Candidates
Lord Davies of Oldham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will name the United Kingdom's candidates for the next term of membership of the Economic and Social Committee of the European Union.[HL2466]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have today submitted to the Council Secretariat details of the United Kingdom's 24 nominees for membership of the Economic and Social Committee, along with 24 reserve nominees.
- Malcolm Levitt--European Adviser, Barclays Bank
- John Little CBE--Former Chairman, CBI Scotland
- Peter Morgan--Director, South West Wales Electricity
- Kenneth Walker--Management Consultant
- Clive Wilkinson--Director of the Gin and Vodka Association
- Bill Tosh--Chief Director of Unidare Plastics
- Dr. Sandra Thomas--Nuffield Council for Bioethics
- Yvonne Thompson--European Federation of Black Women Business Owners
Group II
- Tom Jenkins--Europe Unit, TUC
- Helen McGrath OBE--NUKFAT, TUC Women's Committee
- George Wright--Welsh TGWU
- Campbell Christie CBE--Scottish TUC
- Eddy Warillow--Regional Secretary, GMB
- Ken Jackson--AEEU
- Josie Irwin--Royal College of Nursing
- Alison Shepherd--UNISON
Group III
- Ann Davison--Consumers in Europe
- Sukhdev Sharma--Commission for Racial Equality
- Professor Rose D'Sa--University of Glamorgan
- Tim Pape--Shaw Trust
- David Evans CBE--ex-Director General, NFU
- Professor James Petrie--Aberdeen Royal Infirmary
- John Simpson--Economics Consultant
- Alma Williams--Consumer Issues
- Keith Welton--Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce
- Brian Prime--Federation of Small Business
- Jim Foulds--ex-Chemical Industries Association
- Leonard Collinson--Forum of Private Business
- Pamela Shimell--Managing Director Industry and Environment Associates
- Doug Franks--Biscuits, Cakes, Chocolate & Confectionery Alliance
- Balram Gidoomal--Chairman of Winning Communications
- Alan Blackburn--Ex-Nat West
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Group II
- David Triesman--Association of University Teachers
- John Lyons CBE--Engineers and Managers Association
- Sir Alex Macara--BMA
- Ian Partridge--Lloyds TSB Group Union
- Rory Murphy--NatWest Staff Association
- John Andrews--Management and Professional Staff Association
- Tom Leney--Association of Teachers and Lecturers
- Christopher Minta--NATFHE
Group III
- Robert Moreland--Business Graduate Association
- Catherine O'Donnell--Low Pay Unit
- Sean Mayo--Union of Independent Companies
- Iain Robertson--Highland and Islands Enterprise
- John Fergusson, OBE--Royal Pharmaceutical Society
- Chris King--Avon Rubber
- Felicity Huston--Northern Ireland Consumer Council
- Fitzroy Andrew--Windsor Fellowship
Diplomatic Community: Alleged Offences
Baroness Pitkeathley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many serious offences were committed in 1997 by persons entitled to immunity from prosecution.[HL2499]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: From a diplomatic community of over 17,000 persons, 17 alleged serious offences by persons entitled to immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the report to the Foreign Affairs Committee, The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges (1985), as offences which fall into the category which in certain circumstances attract a maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment or more: the majority involved drinking and driving and shoplifting.
In relation to this Question, I refer my noble friend to the Answer I gave to the noble Lord, Lord Marlesford, on 1 June (WA15-16) that one diplomat was withdrawn at the department's request from his post in the United Kingdom as a result of alleged offences, compared with six the previous year.
Immigration Appellate Authority:Computer Delivery
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the cost of the computers delivered to the Immigration Appellate Authority at Taylor House in March; what are the terms of the contract with the supplier; why the computers remain unpacked; whether they can guarantee that the software will meet the needs of the authority; why staff have been trained on computers they cannot use; and when they expect the equipment to be brought into service.[HL2329]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The total cost of computers and IT equipment delivered to Taylor House in March 1998 was £102,410.43. This figure includes all hardware, software and licences delivered and paid for during the month for the centre as a whole. The terms of contract are those normally applied in the public sector between contractor and supplier. Delays in the realignment of some IT support service functions while those services were contracted out to the private sector meant the support services were unable to install the equipment until a number of outstanding issues had been resolved. It was decided the training programme should not be put on hold, although it would have been more desirable to train staff and judiciary on their own computers had they been available for use at the time. The difficulties have now been resolved and the equipment is timetabled to be installed during July, when checks will be made to ensure the software meets the requirements for which it was intended.
Asylum Appeals
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How may appeals to (a) adjudicators and (b) the tribunal are currently outstanding for (i) asylum and (ii) other cases; and at what rate these cases are being heard.[HL2331]
The Lord Chancellor: As at the end of May 1998 there were 21,255 asylum and 6,429 non-asylum adjudicator appeals outstanding. These are being disposed of at a rate of 1,600 asylum appeals per month. At the same time there were 1,006 asylum applications and 1,378 asylum tribunal appeals outstanding. There were an additional 844 and 1,460 non-asylum applications and appeals outstanding respectively. These are being disposed of at an average rate of nearly 1,200 per month.
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the total number of asylum appeals heard by the Immigration Appeal Tribunal in 1996 and 1997; and how many of these cases were returned to adjudicators for hearing de novo by the Immigration Appeal Tribunal.[HL2332]
The Lord Chancellor: There were 2,435 tribunal appeals (not applications) heard during 1997-98, 1,957 during 1996-97 (estimated figure) and 1,230 during 1995-96. There are no reliable data currently available to distinguish the number, or proportion, of appeals returned to adjudicators de novo from the tribunal.
Legal Services Ombudsman: Annual Report
Baroness Pitkeathley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Legal Services Ombudsman intends to publish her seventh annual report.[HL2465]
The Lord Chancellor: The Legal Services Ombudsman has today published her seventh annual report, and copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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