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Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was invited by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to investigate the murder of Rosemary Nelson; if so, on what date; and what was the response.[HL4463]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No. However, in March 1999 the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to assume an advisory role in relation to this investigation and in that capacity to receive regular briefings as to the progress of the inquiry into Mrs Nelson's murder. The Commission did not feel it was appropriate to accept this invitation.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which members of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are also members of the Committee for the Administration of Justice; for how long each has been a member of the Committee; and whether those making the appointments to the Commission were aware of this information when they made those appointments.[HL4542]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: There was no requirement on applicants to declare membership of the Committee for the Administration of Justice (CAJ) when applying for appointment to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC). The following Commissioners are currently members of the CAJ: Prof B. Dickson; Prof C. Bell; Prof. T. Hadden; Ms A. Hegarty; Ms P. Kelly; Ms I. McCormack. Information on how long each has been a member of the CAJ is not held by either the NIHRC or the Government.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be in a position to write to Lord Laird concerning the criteria for the appointment of committees as promised in the Written Answer HL4240 of 25 October.[HL4596]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I understand that the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission wrote to the noble Lord on 16 November 2000. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be in a position to write to Lord Laird concerning investigations undertaken by the Commission as promised in the Written Answer HL4241 of 25 October.[HL4597]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I understand that the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission wrote to the noble Lord on 16 November 2000. A copy will be placed in the Library of the House.
Police (Northern Ireland) Bill: Guardian Article
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their view of Professor Clifford Shearing's criticism of the Police (Northern Ireland) Bill in the Guardian of 14 November.[HL4635]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As the Secretary of State made clear immediately after the article was printed, the Government fundamentally disagree with Professor Shearing's analysis.
Departmental Cars
Lord Hoyle asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 16 October (WA 68), what is the policy of the Privy Council in relation to the disposal of Government cars after use.[HL4333]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 14 November 2000 (WA 27).
Northern Ireland Policing Board: Appointment
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect to announce the names of the members of the new Police Board for Northern Ireland.[HL4630]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has indicated that it is his intention to appoint, in shadow form, the new Policing Board in January 2001. In doing so the Secretary of State will announce, in both Houses of Parliament, the membership of the board.
A date for that announcement has not to date been decided.
Government Achievements: GICS Guidance
Viscount Goschen asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What rules are in place governing the use of public funds to publish material or to commission advertising to promote or describe the perceived achievements of the Government; and[HL4545]
What publications they have sponsored, and what advertising programmes they have commissioned, since May 1997, which have described the perceived achievements of the Government; and what has been the cost to public funds of these initiatives; and[HL4546]
Whether they have any plans to sponsor further publications or to commission further advertising which will describe the perceived achievements of the Government; and, if so, what are the anticipated costs of these proposals.[HL4547]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government produce a large number of publications which explain and inform the public about government policies and the progress of these policies, and will continue to do so where appropriate. Advertising is used only to support specific programmes. The conventions governing the production of all publications and advertising are laid out in the Guidance on the Work of the Government Information Service [Cabinet Office 1997]. This Guidance can be found as part of The GICS Handbook, copies of which are in the Library of the House and on the GICS website www.gics.gov.uk/handbook.
Mr. T. Constantine, Oversight Commissioner, Northern Ireland
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What contribution to the reform of policing Mr. Tom Constantine has made since 31 May, when he was appointed Oversight Commissioner in Northern Ireland. [HL4629]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Commissioner has carried out a series of familiarisation visits to Northern Ireland during which he conducted meetings with representatives from the political parties, the RUC and other interested bodies.
He has also been considering, ahead of legislation, how best he can fulfil the terms of reference of his appointment and the practical arrangements he needs to put in place.
Devonshire and Dorset Regiment: Remembrance Day, Bessbrook, Co. Armagh
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Devon and Dorset Regiment took part in the annual Remembrance Day in Bessbrook, County Armagh; and whether they were allowed to sell poppies for the British Legion at their base. [HL4703]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Four officers from the 1st Battalion the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment were present at the annual Remembrance Day in Bessbrook. Poppies were on sale at their base from the beginning of November and the proceeds will be pooled, as usual, with collections from other regiments to form the Army's contribution to the Poppy Appeal.
RAMC Site, Millbank
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 8 November (WA 162), what was the professional advice given to the Ministry of Defence concerning the sale of the Royal Army Medical Corps site at Millbank, London.[HL4616]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As the final decision has not yet been taken on the preferred purchaser for the Millbank site, the professional advice provided to the Ministry of Defence by our term consultants, Hillier Parker, in relation to this disposal remains commercially confidential. I am therefore witholding this information under exemption 7 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
Meteorological Office: New Headquarters
Lord Hunt of Chesterton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the economic and strategic factors of relocating the Meteorological Office from Bracknell to Shinfield Park, Reading, next to the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts, determine this to be the best option for the United Kingdom and Europe.[HL4573]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: As announced by my honourable friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence (Dr Moonie) in the other place, on 9 November 2000, (Official Report, col. 326W), the Met Office has chosen Exeter Business Park as the preferred site for its new operational and administrative headquarters. In making this choice the Met Office took full account of the strategic issues both as they relate to its own future and as they affect the UK more generally.
While there are some attractions of being close to the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) at Shinfield Park, Reading, this is by no means essential in order to derive maximum benefit for the UK and Europe. What is important is that the Met Office should continue to develop its Numerical Weather Prediction capability in concert with ECMWF, thereby placing the UK in a strong position within Europe. With modern communications and the undoubted desire of both parties to strengthen the already close relationship,
this can be achieved very well indeed from Exeter, and without raising concerns amongst our European partners which would have almost certainly been the case had the Met Office relocated to Shinfield Park.
With regard to economic factors, reducing the Met Office's operating costs--so that, among other things, it can fund its future research and development programmes--is vital, as is ensuring that it can continue to recruit and retain the very best staff. This is better achieved by relocating to an area where the costs of living are lower and where there are excellent opportunities for further development.
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