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Rosyth: Proposed Continental Ferry Service
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they would support in principle an application for funding under the European Commission's Pilot Action for Combined Transport for start-up funding for a proposed ferry service from Rosyth to a continental port, for which a Greek company achieved preferred operator status.[HL49]
Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale: The Government would support in principle any application meeting the requirements of the Pilot Action for Combined Transport (PACT) scheme. Proposed operators should make initial applications for PACT support direct to the European Commission for an assessment of a potential scheme's eligibility.
Internet Protocol Version 6
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they support the proposed introduction of the new industry-wide Internet protocol standard, IP version 6.[HL141]
The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Each device that is connected to the Internet needs a unique numerical address. The introduction of Internet Protocol (IP) version 6 will vastly increase the number of addresses available and allow more devices to be connected. The introduction of this standard is a matter for the relevant industry bodies and the industry itself.
Lawful Business Practice Regulations and Data Protection Act
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What implications, if any, the announcement by the Data Protection Commissioner that she will, from March 2001, actively seek out breaches of the Data Protection Act 1998 will have on the provisions of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, in particular the Lawful Business Practice regulations[HL144]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: I understand from the Data Protection Commissioner that she has not made any such announcement and that she does not currently have any plans to change her approach to enforcement of the Data Protection Act 1998. She has confirmed that when her Code of Practice on the Use of Personal Data in Employer/Employee Relationships is published, which she expects to be in Spring 2001, she will provide comprehensive guidance on the implications of both the Data Protection Act and the Lawful Business Practice Regulations for practice in the workplace.
Public Guardianship Office
Baroness Turner of Camden asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the response to the April policy statement XMaking Changes: the future of the Public Trust Office", and what action they intend to take to give effect to the proposals contained in the statement.[HL252]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): Following publication of the XMaking Changes" policy statement on 11 April 2000, much work has been done to take forward its proposals. I have today placed in the Libraries of both Houses a summary and analysis of the responses received to XMaking Changes". As proposed in XMaking Changes", and informed by the response to consultation, I will create a new body which is to be called the Public Guardianship Office. It will discharge the Court of Protection's decisions on behalf of mentally incapacitated people, a role at present undertaken by the Public Trust Office. The new body is being explored as a candidate for agency status. It will be set demanding targets to provide a high quality service to its clients.
Appeals against Conviction
Lord Dholakia asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many appeals were heard against conviction (including conviction and sentence) in England and Wales in the latest year for which figures are available; in how many cases the conviction was quashed; of the number quashed how many were ordinary appeals and Criminal Cases Review Commission referrals respectively; and in how many cases in each category was the appellant currently serving a custodial sentence; and what was the breakdown of the sentence lengths.[HL88]
The Lord Chancellor: During the period 1 November 1999 to 31 October 2000 inclusive, 556 appeals against conviction were heard; 180 appeals were allowed, 376 appeals against conviction were dismissed; of the 180 allowed, 14 were referrals from the Criminal Cases Review Commission and 166 were ordinary appeals; of the 166 ordinary appeals, 105 had received a custodial sentence. Of the 180 appeals against conviction allowed, 70 retrials were ordered; of that 70, 58 had received a custodial sentence. Of the 376 appeals dismissed, 288 had received a custodial sentence.
Serving Judges: Publication of Memoirs
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether English judges are allowed to profit from the publication of case-related memoirs while in office.[HL173]
The Lord Chancellor: The revised guidance on the outside activities and interests of the judiciary which I introduced, and placed in the Libraries of both Houses, on 15 June 2000 states that judges should as a general principle avoid activities which may be seen to undermine their judicial independence and impartiality or which could conflict with judicial office. The guidance states that the writing of books is not, of itself, incompatible with judicial office, but I would expect a serving judge to exercise due
circumspection in relation to any case with which he has dealt judicially.Northern Ireland: Legal Aid Budget Increase
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In the light of the additional £39 million added to the annual legal aid budget of the Legal Services Commission, what additional funds have been allocated in Northern Ireland in anticipation of litigation arising from the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998.[HL112]
The Lord Chancellor: The additional funds for legal aid allocated to the Northern Ireland Court Service in anticipation of litigation arising from the coming into force of the Human Rights Act 1998 amounted to an additional annual £1 million.
Disqualifications Act 2000: Irish Government Support
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- On what date and in what form the Government of the Irish Republic indicated that they supported the Disqualifications Act 2000.[HL128]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Discussions have taken place with Irish officials on several occasions on the issue of the Disqualification Acts of 1975. They indicated that the Irish Government would warmly welcome the changes which have now been brought into effect by the Disqualifications Act 2000.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list those organisations representing prisoners groups which the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has consulted.[HL179]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is for the commission to decide whom it consults. The Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will list by geographical location and organisation all members of the committees appointed by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to consider a draft Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.[HL181]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: It is for the commission to decide who will consider the draft Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The Chief Commissioner of the
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.Irish Commission of Human Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will identify those nominees for the new Irish Commission of Human Rights whom they have proposed or supported.[HL180]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Her Majesty's Government has neither proposed nor supported any nominees for the new Irish Commission of Human Rights. Appointments to the Irish Commission of Human Rights are a matter for the Irish Government to decide.
European Defence Force
Lord Vivian asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which countries have agreed to contribute to the European Defence Force; and which armed forces they have designated.[HL12]
The Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Countries are not allocating forces to a European Defence Force.
The EU, with the assistance of NATO, has identified the required pool of forces and capabilities to carry out the full range of Petersberg tasks. EU member states have nominated those elements of their own national forces they believe could contribute to this requirement and have committed themselves to make further improvements to meet a defined level of capability (the XHeadline Goal") by 2003. In addition, non EU European states have made supplementary offers.
It is not appropriate for the UK to disclose the offers of other nations. The assembled information on nations' offers is classified as confidential.
The following countries have identified relevant deployable military forces and capabilities:
- Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey, Norway.
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