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Written Answers
Monday, 27th July 1998.
Parliamentary Candidates: Propriety of Undertakings
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer of 14 July by the Lord Williams of Mostyn, whether they will ask the Committee on Standards in Public Life, chaired by Lord Neill of Bladen, to examine the propriety and ethics of paying parliamentary candidates in advance of an election from whom an undertaking has been sought to vote in a pre-determined manner, such as those candidates funded by Emily's List, and specifically on issues which have been regarded as matters of conscience.[HL2811]
The Parliamentary Under-Sectary of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): Her Majesty's Government have no proposals to refer the matters referred to to the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
Medway Secure Training Centre: Disturbance
Lord Acton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 9 July (WA 152), whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the report on the disturbance at Medway Secure Training Centre on 25 June when they receive it.[HL2753]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: We have now received the contractor's report into the disturbance at Medway Secure Training Centre which is consistent with the information provided in my written answer on 9 July (WA 152). The report concerns security and operational issues and includes recommendations to help avoid a similar occurrence in the future. It would not therefore be appropriate to place a copy of the report in the Library. However, Social Services Inspectors will be undertaking an inspection of the Centre later this year, and a report will be published thereafter.
Immigration and Asylum Cases: Explanatory Statements
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Williams of Mostyn on 15 July (WA 35), whether the Home Office will ensure that explanatory statements in immigration cases disclose the sources of the information contained in such statements so that adjudicators are able to evaluate the weight to be
- given to such information and appellants are able to test its accuracy.[HL2887]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Explanatory statements already indicate the sources of the information they contain. Copies of documents referred to are also attached to statements, except where they contain confidential information.
If information is provided by a third party, such as another government department, it is Home Office policy to include it in the explanatory statement only with the permission of the party concerned.
Home Office: Reviews
Lord Tope asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many of the reviews currently undertaken by the Home Office will be published during the parliamentary summer Recess.[HL2792]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is possible that the outcome of one review undertaken by the Home Office will be published in the summer Recess. My right honourable friend the Home Secretary will be making a further announcement about this.
Rough Sleeping in Central London
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it remains their policy to prevent rough sleeping around Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey while permitting it freely in Victoria Street and around Westminster Cathedral.[HL2874]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: For several reasons, the areas around Victoria Street and Westminster Cathedral are popular with rough sleepers, unlike the areas around Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey.
The Government have recently announced a new strategy to reduce the number of people sleeping rough by two-thirds within three years.
A new ministerial committee, led by my honourable friend the Minister for Local Government and Housing at the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Hilary Armstrong) will be responsible for co-ordinating policy across government. This will include prevention programmes to ensure that the most vulnerable, such as those with institutional backgrounds, are better equipped to live on their own.
In London, the Government will consult on setting up a new body to take over all the different programmes currently targeted at rough sleepers. In the meantime, the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis tells me that the Metropolitan Police will continue to work in partnership with other agencies to deal with the problem of rough sleeping in Central London.
Human Rights Convention: Channel Islands and Isle of Man Incorporation
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect legislation to be introduced to incorporate the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights into the domestic laws of the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands; and whether they will ensure the equal protection of the law for everyone within the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.[HL2888]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Insular Authorities in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man all hope to have legislation in draft by the end of the year.
Insular legislation will incorporate the Convention fully into domestic law and will be drafted to take account of local circumstances and institutions.
Independent Commission on the Voting System
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why, when visiting the Independent Commission on the Voting System's website, people are referred to the website of the Electoral Reform Society (one of whose primary aims is to bring into being proportional representation); and whether this is compatible with the Commission's independent status.[HL2911]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Independent Commission on the Voting System has not been charged with the task of recommending whether it would be desirable to change the voting system for elections to another place. Rather, it has been asked to consider the best alternative to the first-past-the-post electoral system if there is to be a change. The final decision will rest with the electorate in a referendum.
The Independent Commission's website directs those who are interested in finding out more about electoral systems to the Electoral Reform Society's website.
Lord Cocks of Hartcliffe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What literature the Independent Commission on the Voting System has made available for the general public; and whether copies can be placed in the Libraries of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.[HL2910]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Independent Commission on the Voting System has not produced any literature, other than its initial press notice, copies of which can be found in the Libraries of both Houses.
Copies of the Independent Commission's final report will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Displaced Persons: European Commission Proposals
The Earl of Sandwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Answer by Lord Williams of Mostyn on 16 July (H.L. Deb., col. 373), whether they support Commissioner Anita Gradin's recent initiative on the future sharing of the responsibility for asylum and migration in Europe, in particular for the reimbursement of costs in circumstances of temporary protection.[HL2890]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Council of the European Union has recently been presented with a revised proposal from the European Commission for a joint action concerning temporary protection of displaced persons, and a new proposal for a joint action concerning solidarity in the admission and residence of beneficiaries of the temporary protection of displaced persons. The Government are considering these proposals and will be depositing the documents for scrutiny shortly. The proposals are likely to raise a number of difficult issues for member states. The Government will participate fully in discussions of the proposals in the relevant Council fora.
Stephen Lawrence Inquiry: Home Office Evidence
Lord Graham of Edmonton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Home Office has submitted evidence to the inquiry into the matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence.[HL3086]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: A copy of the Home Office evidence that has been submitted to the inquiry into the matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence has been placed in the Library. This evidence is of a factual and background nature.
The inquiry was established under Section 49 of the Police Act 1996. Its terms of reference are:
- "To inquire into the matters arising from the death of Stephen Lawrence in order particularly to identify the lessons to be learned for the investigation and prosecution of racially motivated crimes."
Department of Health: Reviews
Baroness Hamwee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Jay of Paddington on 20 July (WA 77) which are the two reviews currently being undertaken by the Department of Health which may be published during the summer Recess.[HL2983]
The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington): The two reviews are: the review of the law relating to surrogacy; and the review of the latest information available on inequalities in health (Acheson Inquiry).
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