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The Earl of Clancarty asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The reformed All Work Test will determine entitlement to incapacity benefits but, in addition we want to help claimants, including those with mental health disabilities, achieve independence by giving them the help and advice they need to plan a return to work. We intend to make changes to ensure that the test produces positive information about a person's capacities which can inform a wider assessment of employability by a personal adviser. We recognise that people with severe mental illness have particular problems and want to ensure that the new arrangements are sensitive to their needs. We will consult with the disability organisations as we work up the detail of the change.
Earl Russell asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The decision of an Adjudication Officer that a person is capable of work following an All Work Test assessment is conclusive for all benefits where capacity for work is at issue, including Jobseeker's Allowance. This is set out in legislation and is an important safeguard to prevent people leaving Incapacity Benefit being denied access to Jobseeker's Allowance. We are not aware of any recent information to suggest that this principle is not being followed in practice.
In turn, the Jobseeker's Allowance rules recognise that people with disabilities, including those leaving Incapacity Benefit, may need to restrict their availability for work. The rules allow a jobseeker to restrict his or her availability for employment in any way that is reasonable in light of his or her medical condition.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Her Majesty's Government are aware of press reporting about contacts between Mr. bin Laden and the Kosovo Liberation Army (UCK) but we have no evidence that Mr. bin Laden or any other fundamentalist groups are funding UCK. Media and other reports suggest that Kosovo Albanians living in Europe and elsewhere are actively involved in fund-raising for the UCK.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We are not aware that NATO has employed the term "rogue states". NATO's 1991 Strategic Concept says that NATO does not consider itself to be any state's adversary.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government discuss peace in the Middle East with the United States regularly. Any Memorandum of Understanding signed by the United States and the Israeli Government is a matter for those two governments.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government have continued discussions with the Government of Sudan on the possibility of technical assistance. But since no agreement has yet been reached between UNHCR and the Government of Sudan on the terms on which such assistance should be given, Her Majesty's Government have not yet given any such assistance.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In addition to calling upon the Government of Sudan to take immediate action to extradite to Ethiopia the three suspects wanted in connection with the attempted assassination of President Mubarak, Security Council Resolutions 1044 and 1054 call upon the Government of Sudan to:
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are aware of reports of four bombs having gone off in and around Khartoum on 29-30 June, which caused little damage. The UK condemns terrorism in all its forms wherever it occurs and whatever its motivation.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government are not aware of any international commission investigating the murder. We are, however aware of an internal UN investigation. The results of this investigation have not been shared with Her Majesty's Government.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is established practice under Section 1(c) of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose or discuss information received in confidence from foreign governments.
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: A commercial officer from our Embassy in Khartoum visited the Al Shifa pharmaceutical plant on a routine commercial visit in May 1997. The same officer and our Ambassador attended the official opening of the plant in July 1997. These have been the only visits.
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence
(Lord Gilbert): NATO Heads of State and Governments directed that NATO's Strategic Concept be examined and updated as necessary to ensure that it is fully consistent with Europe's new security situation. The tasks identified in the updated concept will be consistent with international law and in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter. It is clear, however, that not all operations would require a Security Council resolution.
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