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Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The European Convention on Human Rights and other core human rights instruments of the Council of Europe and United Nations set clear principles to be applied by states to protect the right of everyone to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. The UK Government press states to adhere to these principles. But against a background of diverse histories, legal systems and social circumstances among states, including the member states of the Council of Europe, states should and do have some discretion in deciding how best to apply these principles.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Progress on restoration of the right of individual petition has been limited. However, there has been discussion on constitutional issues, including establishing a Bill of Rights in the British Virgin Islands. In September I signed a Memorandum of Co-operation and Partnership with the BVI Government which reaffirmed the BVI's commitment to the maintenance of human rights standards. At the Dependent Territories Association Conference in London last February the Foreign Secretary stressed the need to ensure that laws in the Overseas Territories did not breach the United Kingdom's international human rights obligations. The issue of human rights will feature in the forthcoming White Paper on the Overseas Territories.
Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are preparing for negotiations which will begin in the Conference on Disarmament next year on a Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty--the internationally agreed next stop.
We continue to play a leading role in the international response to the Indian and Pakistani
nuclear tests and care working with the states of South East Asia and Central Asia to establish nuclear weapon free zones.We are also considering further ways to achieve progress towards nuclear disarmament, building on the steps we have taken in the Strategic Defence Review and bearing in mind the commitment by the Nuclear Weapon States to work together for the success of the preparatory process for the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference, the conference itself and related issues.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The guidelines for US-Japan Defence Co-operation refer to co-operation, inter alia, in situations in areas surrounding Japan. The guidelines state that the concept is not geographical but situational. Since the guidelines represent an agreement between Japan and the United States, we do not presume to know how they may affect US activity in Diego Garcia. But it remains the case that our agreement is necessary for the use of aircraft based in Diego Garcia in any act against a third party.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As part of the ongoing dialogue with Algeria, EU Troika Ministers met with the Algerian Foreign Minister in Vienna on 21 October 1998. Although the specific subject referred to in the noble Lord's question was not covered, a wide range of human rights issues was discussed.
Lord Monkswell asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: GCHQ notified the Commissioners that, in 1997, 236 recruits had joined or were in the pipeline. This compares with 228 staff recruited in 1996. In addition, five reappointments were made in 1997 compared with two in 1996.
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