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China: Human Rights
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What position they intend to take on China's human rights record at the 55th annual United Nations Commission on Human Rights when it meets in Geneva from 22 March to 30 April 1999, in the light of recent detention and sentencing of pro-democracy activists in China.[HL1154]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have not yet decided our position on China at the UNCHR. We are discussing this with our EU partners. China's recent actions against pro-democracy activists are unacceptable. We will continue to condemn these publicly, including at the UNCHR.
Murmansk: Foreign Secretary's Visit
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Foreign Secretary's postponed trip to Murmansk and the Kola Peninsula, which was scheduled for 8 February, will now take place.[HL1156]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Foreign Secretary is visiting Murmansk on 3 March.
EU/ASEAN Summit: Burmese Participation
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Under what circumstances they would veto the holding of the ASEAN-European Union Summit, due to take place on 27-28 March in Berlin, in view of the question over the attendance of the Burmese ministers.[HL1157]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As an ASEAN member, Burma is entitled to be represented at EU/ASEAN bloc-to-bloc meetings. The UK believes that the level of Burmese representation at the EU/ASEAN meeting of Foreign Ministers due to take place in Berlin in March, should be in line with the EU Common Position, which reflects the EU's concern about the appalling human rights and political situation in Burma. Arrangements for the meeting are being handled by the EU Presidency; the question of a UK veto on the holding of the meeting does not arise.
Gibraltar
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they can confirm the authenticity of the Spanish Government minute of December 1997, in which the Spanish Foreign Minister, Abel Matutes, is reported to have said that the status quo regarding Gibraltar is "unacceptable" to Spain and to have pledged "to continue to prevent Gibraltar from living and prospering at the expense of Spain.[HL1185]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have not seen the document.
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action, if any, they took in December 1997, and what action they have taken subsequently, to inform the Spanish Government that threats to disrupt Gibraltar's economy are unacceptable to the British Government.[HL1186]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have made it clear on numerous occasions to the Spanish
Government that such a policy is counter-productive and unacceptable.Immigration Centre: Visa Delays
Lord Norton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What extra resources, by way of personnel and funds, have been allocated to the Immigration Centre in Croydon to clear the backlog relating to the issue of visas.[HL1245]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The White Paper Fairer, Faster, and Firmer--A Modern Approach to Immigration and Asylum set out our commitment to speeding up the decision-making process for asylum and other immigration casework. This includes the clearance of casework backlogs. As part of that commitment, we have provided for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate an additional £120 million over the three years from April 1999.
Staff numbers will be increased but the exact figures will depend on the needs and effectiveness of the Casework Programme in improving casework efficiency.
Mr. Salah Idris
Lord McNair asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to freeze the assets of Mr. Salah Idris within the United Kingdom.[HL1319]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: As a matter of policy, we do not normally comment on the existence or substance of domestic investigations or requests from other governments for mutual legal assistance.
I understand that Mr. Idris is currently in civil litigation with the authorities of the United States of America to recover the cost of damage done to his factory in Khartoum by the United States Air Force last year. Any restraint proceedings extant in the USA in connection with this action are a matter for the US authorities. We of course remain ready to assist overseas authorities with requests for assistance made under international and domestic law.
Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989
Baroness Young of Old Scone asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to publish the report from
Mr. J. J. Rowe QC on the operation in 1998 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.[HL1398]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today arranged for copies of Mr. Rowe's report to be placed in the Library. Mr. Rowe recommends that the legislation
should be renewed for a further 12 months. A draft order is being laid before the House today which continues in force most provisions of the Act for a further 12 months. This order is subject to affirmative Resolution in both Houses.Human Rights Instruments: UK Ratification
Baroness Lockwood asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they intend to announce the outcome of the review of International Human Rights Instruments.[HL1370]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary has placed in the Library a summary of the conclusions of the review.
On 27 January, he signed the Sixth Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. We shall also ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights without any reservation to preserve the use of the death penalty in wartime.
We shall ratify International Labour Organisation (ILO) Convention 111 on discrimination in employment.
We intend to ratify the Seventh Protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as soon as Parliament removes inconsistencies in our family law provisions. We will seek a suitable opportunity to propose those changes, We are also considering whether legislation is necessary to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Fourth Protocol to the ECHR.
We shall look again at the rights of individual petition under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the United Nations (UN) Convention Against Torture and the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination once the Human Rights Act 1998 has been fully implemented. We have looked closely at the merits of adopting these additional rights but have also taken into account the impact on the vital work of preparing for and implementing the Human Rights Act 1998. This is a major piece of legislation that demonstrates our commitment to the advancement of human rights.
Fire Service College
Lord Sawyer asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to review the future of the Fire Service College.[HL1371]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government are committed to securing best value for money through regular and systematic reviews of the services which its agencies provide and how these are delivered.
In view of the continuing poor financial performance as a trading fund of the Fire Service College at Moreton in Marsh, my right honourable friend the Home Secretary has decided to commission an immediate prior
options review. This will consider the college's present and future role in helping to meet the requirements for central training in the fire service. The review will evaluate the performance of the agency and will also reappraise the prior options considered before the college was established as a trading fund, taking account of developments since that time. Should Ministers agree that agency status remains the most appropriate option, the review will bring forward recommendations for future development and funding, including any necessary revisions to the college's Framework Document.The review will be conducted by officials from the main Home Office, working, among others, with Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate. Views are welcomed from all interested parties. The review is expected to report in the summer.
Asylum Refusals: Judicial Review
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many applications for judicial review against the refusal of asylum have succeeded in each of the past three years.[HL1211]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The available information, regarding estimates of successful applications for leave to move for judicial review in asylum cases, is given in the following table.
I regret that it is not possible separately to identify cases where the substantive hearing succeeded following the grant of leave.
| Number of principal appellants Applications for leave to move for judicial review | |||
| Applications(1),(2) | Decisions(1),(2) | of which granted leave to move(1),(2) | |
| 1996 | 1,225 | 915 | 190 |
| 1997 | 1,350 | 1,250 | 320 |
| 1998 | 1,890 | 1,220 | 300 |
(1)Provisional estimated figures rounded to the nearest 10.
(2) Estimates based on Crown Office data.
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