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Written Answers
Monday, 15th January 2001.
Administrative Court
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How long, on average, in each term nominated judges spend sitting in the Administrative Court.[HL237]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): There are currently 25 nominated judges who sit on average three weeks each term.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they accept the recommendation of the Bowman Review of the Crown Office List that nominated judges of the Administrative Court should eventually spend two thirds of their time sitting on administrative cases; and[HL238]
Whether they accept the recommendation of the Bowman Review of the Crown Office List that those judges willing to do so should be able to sit for at least half a term in the Administrative Court; and[HL239]
Whether they accept the recommendation of the Bowman Review of the Crown Office List that willingness to spend at least half of their sitting time on administrative work should form part of the selection criteria for judges nominated to the Administrative Court; and[HL240]
Whether they accept the recommendation of the Bowman Review of the Crown Office List that judges of the Administrative Court should have one reading day per week.[HL241]
The Lord Chancellor: I am sympathetic to these recommendations and have asked the senior judiciary to consider them in the light of the other competing demands within the High Court. In the first instance, Mr Justice Scott Baker, the lead nominated judge, has written to all the nominated judges and has arranged a series of meetings with them to canvass their views.
"Patriotism Minister"
Baroness Park of Monmouth asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the functions and responsibilities of the Minister for Patriotism.[HL177]
The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay of Paddington): There is no Minister for Patriotism.
Millennium Dome Site: Legacy plc Offer
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- With reference to the offer made by Legacy plc to purchase the Millennium Dome site:
(a) what is the total value of the offer;
(b) what sum will be paid in cash if, and when, contracts of sale are signed;
(c) whether any sum or sums will be payable in cash subsequent to the signing of contracts, and, if so, at what date or dates or upon what event or events will such a sum or sums be payable;
(d) whether any part of the offer made by Legacy plc is dependent upon the granting of planning permission, and, if so, which part or parts of the Legacy plc offer are subject to such grants of planning permission; and
(e) whether the total value of the offer includes a sum payable as ground rent; and, if so, whether such a sum will be in lieu of any capital sum.[HL217]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Details of the proposed overall financial consideration for the sale of the Dome to Legacy plc are commercially confidential. The Government hope to be in a position to exchange contracts in February 2001. Legacy plc is in close discussion with the local planning authority, Greenwich Council, regarding their proposal.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Taking account of the costs which would be incurred in demolishing the dome, the advice provided by the competition team is that the Legacy proposal provides as good as value for money as any other option, including those involving dismantling it. An announcement on the division of proceeds between the New Millennium Experience company, owners of the Dome, and English Partnership's, owners of the site, will be made in due course.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Burlison on 4 March 1999 (WA 193), whether the offer made by Legacy plc for the purchase of the Dome site will generate receipts for the Treasury which will at least match those which could have been achieved if the site of the dome were clear and disposed of for ordinary commercial development. [HL218]
Whether they will identify those nominees for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission who were proposed or supported by the Government of the Irish Republic. [HL182]
15 Jan 2001 : Column WA93
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Irish Government indicated their support for the candidatures of a number of applicants for appointment to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. It is not the practice to reveal the details of private representations of this kind.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What arrangments will be put in place to fill any vacancies that may occur on the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; what will be the appointment procedure; and whether appointments will reflect those sections of the community which consider themselves to be not represented on the Commission. [HL214]
Lord Falconer of Thorton: Appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are made in accordance with the Code of Practice and Guidance on Appointments to Public Bodies issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and the requirements of Section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which states that the Secretary of State shall as far as practicable secure that the Commissioners, as a group, are representative of the community in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland: Arms Finds
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many arms finds there have been in Northern Ireland since 1995 on a yearly basis; and what number of items were recovered. [HL212]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Information in relation to the number of arms finds is not readily available. However the following table shows the quantity of firearms, ammunition, explosives and detonators recovered in Northern Ireland since 1995.
| Date | Firearms | Ammunition (Rounds) | Explosives (kgs) | Detonators |
| 1/1/95-31/12/95 | 118 | 17,690 | 5 | 12 |
| 1/1/96-31/12/96 | 98 | 10,701 | 1,677 | 13 |
| 1/1/97-31/12/97 | 105 | 8,804 | 1,258 | 43 |
| 1/1/98-31/12/98 | 88 | 12,189 | 883 | 43 |
| 1/1/99-31/12/99 | 113 | 16,472 | 89 | 44 |
| 1/1/00-31/12/00 | 132 | 10,376 | 309 | 46 |
NB: Figures from 1/4/00 are provisional.
Lord Harris of Greenwich asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister for Science, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): Industrial disputes are a matter for the Post Office.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: All five senior staff members employed in Ofgem have come from outside the gas and electricity industry. One has extensive energy regulatory experience, one has extensive experience of the energy sector through work in government departments and one was involved in the privatisation of the electricity industry.
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Of the 11 senior staff employed in Oftel, two have extensive previous experience in the telecommunications industry (11 and 22 years) and five have previous relevant regulatory and/or competition experience.
Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list the Post Office sorting offices where unofficial industrial disputes took place during December.[HL246]
For how many years each senior staff member has been employed in the Office of the Gas and Electricity Markets; and how long was their previous experience in the gas or electricity industry.[HL206]
Years employed in Ofgem Number of Senior Staff
0-1 1
1-2 3
2-9 0
10 or more 1
For how many years each senior staff member has been employed in the Office of Telecommunications; and how long was their previous experience in the telecommunications industry.[HL207]
Years employed in Oftel Number of Senior Staff
0-1 2
1-2 1
2-3 2
3-4 1
4 or more 5
Whether they have signed a memorandum of understanding with the French Government regarding the collaborative arrangements for funding the new DIAMOND synchrotron at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; and, if so, when they expect to conclude the negotiations and publish the outcome.[HL200]
15 Jan 2001 : Column WA95
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The United Kingdom and the French Governments have signed a memorandum of understanding on DIAMOND, the new UK synchrotron. It is not customary to publish such documents.
Baroness Sharp of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, and, if so, how, the negotiations on French participation in DIAMOND are affected by the decision of the French Government to build their own synchrotron at Orsay.[HL201]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The negotiations are not affected.
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