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US Contacts with Iraqi Opposition in UK
Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the United States are exempt from the operation of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 which forbids any activity in this country aimed at the toppling by violent means of governments abroad; and, if not, whether United States officials have been conducting such activities here with some Iraqi opposition groups.[HL785]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Sections 5-7 of the Criminal Justice (Terrorism and Conspiracy) Act 1998 make it a criminal offence to conspire in this country to commit crimes abroad, providing that the crime in question is a criminal offence in both jurisdictions. Section 5(12) provides that it is immaterial to guilt whether or not the accused is a British citizen.
We are aware that US officials regularly meet members of the Iraqi opposition in this country. Her Majesty's Government have no evidence that any criminal offence has been committed.
Worshipful Company of Scriveners: Monopoly
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans there are to end the monopoly in London of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners.[HL1004]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Govenment has concluded that the monopoly of the Worshipful Company of Scriveners over notarial work in the central London area should be ended. An appropriate amendment will be moved to the Access to Justice Bill.
General Pinochet: Arrest Warrant
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 26 January (WA 138-139), whether the concerns about the validity of the first warrant, referred to in the Lord Chancellor's reply, made the first warrant invalid.[HL776]
The Lord Chancellor: Concerns as to whether a warrant may or may not be invalid are of no legal effect and have no bearing on its validity. However, the first warrant was quashed by the Divisional Court on 28 October 1998.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 26 January (WA 138-139), whether an indefinite number of provisional warrants could be issued, following concerns about the validity of a previous one.[HL774]
The Lord Chancellor: As a matter of law there is no statutory limit on the number of provisional warrants which may be issued under the Extradition Act 1989.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 26 January (WA 138-139), why General Pinochet was not informed about the concern as to the validity of the warrant referred to in the Lord Chancellor's reply.[HL775]
The Lord Chancellor: The issues canvassed trespass on areas of legal professional privilege and cannot therefore be the subject of a reply.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 26 January (WA 138-139), what precisely were the concerns referred to in the Lord Chancellor's reply about the validity of the first warrant.[HL777]
The Lord Chancellor: The issues canvassed trespass on areas of legal professional privilege and cannot therefore be the subject of a reply.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 26 January (WA 138-139), on what date did the concerns referred to in the Lord Chancellor's reply about the validity of the first warrant emerge.[HL778]
The Lord Chancellor: The issues canvassed trespass on areas of legal professional privilege and cannot therefore be the subject of a reply.
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Chancellor on 26 January (WA 138-139), about the Crown Prosecution Service's involvement in the preparation of the warrant for the arrest of General Pinochet, who expressed the concerns, referred to in the Lord Chancellor's reply, about the validity of the first warrant.[HL779]
The Lord Chancellor: The issues canvassed trespass on areas of legal professional privilege and cannot therefore be the subject of a reply.
Public Sector Research: Exploitation
Lord Hughes of Woodside asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How they are taking forward the commitment in the Competitiveness White Paper to making more of the commercial potential of the output of public sector research establishments.[HL1002]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): I am very pleased to announce that John Baker, who is Chairman of Medeva plc, has agreed to investigate the commercialisation of public sector research establishment (PSRE) outputs, with a view to making recommendations for increasing the rate of their exploitation. The study takes forward a commitment made in the Competitiveness White Paper, published last December. Mr. Baker will be working closely with HM Treasury, OST and DTI, which are collaborating on the initiative.
It is time we took a close look at how we maximise the commercial potential of the high quality research that is carried out by the PSREs, where it is possible to do so. We need to identify the barriers to commercialising research and make sure that the PSREs share the best ways of overcoming them. The results should be of great benefit to the PSREs and the departments that sponsor them.
The intention is that the study will look in particular at the coverage of commercialisation in research contracts between PSREs and their sponsors, the organisation of the knowledge transfer process and incentives for PSRE staff.
John Baker will begin this work very soon; seeking the views of key people in the PSREs and sponsor departments. He is expected to report later this year.
The terms of reference of this study are as follows:
To investigate the commercialisation of research in the Government's public sector research establishments (PSREs) and make recommendations for increasing the rate at which PSRE research outputs are successfully commercialised, consistent with other government objectives for PSREs, with reference in particular to:
- the role of sponsor departments/Research Councils in promoting the exploitation of research in their PSREs;
- progress in improving the culture of entrepreneurship within PSREs--particularly through the adoption of new guidance on exploiting government assets;
- the organisational capacity and expertise for managing and exploiting government IP effectively;
- specific institutional barriers, and possible new incentives;
- spreading best practice;
- the scope for closer co-operation with the private sector.
Electricity Supply from EU
The Earl of Dartmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which member states of the European Union are able to supply electricity to the National Grid, and what steps are being taken to enable additional member states to do this.[HL903]
The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Simon of Highbury): Anyone can offer to supply electricity to the Electricity Pool. They would need to be an External Pool Member, but this is no barrier. In order to transmit the electricity from the member state concerned to the UK, terms for access to the transmission systems and interconnectors en route
would have to be agreed with their operators. When the EU Electricity Directive is implemented on 19 February 1999, all transmission system operators will be required to grant such access.Bank Holidays
Lord Alderdice asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which Department of State is responsible for the determination of public holidays in the United Kingdom; and[HL675]
Whether the determination of public and bank holidays will become a responsibility of the new devolved institutions within the United Kingdom.[HL676]
Lord Simon of Higbury: The statutory bank holidays in the United Kingdom are set out in Schedule 1 to the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 or are proclaimed each year under that Act. Policy responsibility for bank and public holidays currently lies with the Department of Trade and Industry.
Under Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998, these matters will be within the responsibilities of the Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. There will be no change in the current responsibilities for determining bank holidays for Wales and Northern Ireland.
Fish Movement Regulations: Infringement
Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any fish farm has been reported to the procurator fiscal for infringing the regulations on fish movement in 1998; and, if any, what prosecutions have been undertaken.[HL854]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel): No report has been sent to the procurator fiscal for infringement of fish movement regulations in 1998.
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