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Written Answers
Friday, 16th November 2001.
House of Lords Reform
Lord Moynihan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their response to the comment by Lord Alexander of Weedon in the Denning Society Lecture on 30 October that "the category of life peer should be abolished or at the very least phased out, so that both elected and appointed members serve for a term, of say, 15 years".[HL1090]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Government's proposals for the next stage of House of Lords reform were laid before Parliament as a Command Paper (Cm 5291) on Wednesday 7 November 2001.
In The House of Lords—Completing the Reform, the Government propose that the link between the peerage and membership of the House should be broken, with the peerage remaining as an honour. This is outlined in more detail in paragraph 78 of the command paper.
The Government have made clear their particular interest in views on the question of the term of membership for both elected and appointed members.
The Government believe that the choice for the term for appointed members is between five, 10 and 15 years.
For elected members, the choice is between five, 10 and 15 years, should elections to the House of Lords be held with those to the European Parliament, or between one, two or three Parliaments or electoral cycles, should the Lords election be linked to general elections or regional elections, respectively.
The Government are inclined to the view that the choice lies between the shorter options.
Personal Injury Cases
Lord Carlile of Berriew asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will publish or place in the Library the advice given to the Lord Chancellor by the Government Auditor as to the appropriate percentage interest rate to be applied to the calculation of multipliers in personal injury cases.[HL1121]
The Lord Chancellor: While preparing the Consultation Paper, Damages: The Discount Rate and Alternatives to Lump Sum Payments, the Government consulted the Government Actuary. A copy of the Government Actuary's report dated December 1998, together with further comments he made in a letter dated 26 October 2000, have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
The Government Actuary was subsequently asked to comment on issues of methodology raised in counsel's opinion. The accepted practice is not to publish legal advice and closely related documents.
State of Emergency: Concept in Law
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there is any concept of a state of emergency (other than to do with interference consequent upon strikes) in United Kingdom law, as suggested by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Chapter 17 of its proposed Bill of Rights.[HL1097]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The Emergency Powers Act 1920, as amended in 1964, provides that a proclamation of emergency may be made by the Monarch when:
- "there have occurred, or are about to occur, events of such a nature as to be calculated, by interfering with the supply and distribution of food, water, fuel, or light, or with the means of locomotion, to deprive the community or any substantial portion of the community, of the essentials of life".
Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will derogate from some European Convention on Human Rights articles in Great Britain, but not in Northern Ireland, as recommended by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Chapter 17 of its proposed Bill of Rights; and[HL1105]
Whether the reservation to Article 2 of the First Protocol of the European Convention on Human Rights could apply in Great Britain, but not in Northern Ireland, as suggested by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in its proposed Bill of Rights; and[HL1106]
Whether they support the Northern Ireland Assembly becoming part of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, for the purposes of amending a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, as suggested by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in Chapter 19 of its proposed Bill of Rights.[HL1107]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: On 4 September this year, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission published a consultation document entitled Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. The consultation period is to run until 1 December and we expect formal proposals from the commission following that consultation period. The Government will consider those proposals when they are received.
Northern Ireland Police Service: Lateral Entry
Lord Rogan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why members of the Garda Siochana are being transferred to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; whether there is a reciprocal arrangement for members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to be transferred to the Garda Siochana; and, if not, why not.[HL1139]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Patten recommended that the lateral entry of experienced officers from other police services should be actively encouraged. The Government's updated implementation plan published in August 2001 gives the Government's position on lateral entry to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The implementation plan makes it clear that the Government intend that the arrangements will be reciprocal.
Northern Ireland: Casualties
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many members of:
(a) the Armed Forces;
(b) the police service; and
(c) the public,
have been sectarian casualties in Northern Ireland since 1969.[HL1156]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested is not readily available. Available statistics are not confined to sectarian casualties but cover all deaths and injuries as a result of the security situation. These are set out below.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many companies or individuals are on the shortlist of bidders for the Millennium Dome site which is being considered by the Government; and when they will publish the names of those who are on the shortlist; and [HL1191]
Deaths Injuries
Police 302 10,048
Army 452 5,600
UDR/R Irish 203 554
Civilian 2,370 28,905
How many companies or individuals have entered bids to buy the Millennium Dome site; and when they will announce the result of their analysis of these bids; and.[HL1190]
16 Nov 2001 : Column WA108
Which companies, bodies or individuals have expressed an interest in being the "content supplier" for the winning bidder for the Millennium Dome site.[HL1192]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): While the process to secure an appropriate long-term use of the Dome continues, it would not be appropriate to publish such information, which is commercially confidential. To reveal any of these details would undermine ongoing discussions, would not be conducive to a successful conclusion and would be against the public interest.
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What bids they have received for the use of the site of the Millennium Dome for events during the period 5 November 2001 to 5 December 2002.[HL1193]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: While the process of securing a long-term sustainable use is continuing, English Partnerships is following up expressions of interest it has received about possible events at the Dome. The first of these, following soon after completion of the decommissioning works, will be the Ministry of Sound event on New Year's Eve. English Partnerships has received a number of other inquiries, all of which are being looked into and will be considered on their merits.
Baroness Noakes asked Her Majesty's Government:
- With how many bidders or potential bidders for the Millennium Dome site they or English Partnerships were negotiating on 1 July 2001,
1 October 2001 and now.[HL1197]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Ongoing market testing is exploring all avenues. On professional advice we are in discussion with a small number of serious contenders. To reveal any of these details would undermine ongoing discussions, would not be conducive to a successful conclusion and would be against the public interest.
Energy Crops
Baroness Byford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proportion of the £31 million announced in October 2000 to encourage the growing of crops for use in generating energy in power stations has been spent; and on what projects.[HL1212]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): Under the Energy Crops Scheme, part of the England Rural Development Programme announced in October 2000, £425,000 of the £30 million allocated has been spent or committed. Grants will support the establishment of miscanthus to supply a power station at Ely and short rotation coppice for
power stations at Selby and Eye, where a producer group is also being funded. In addition, a number of small heat projects will be fuelled by energy crops established under the scheme.Rural Payments Agency
Lord Harris of Haringey asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the abolition of the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and towards agency status of the Rural Payments Agency; and whether they will publish their framework document, corporate plan and business plan.[HL1395]
Lord Whitty: The Rural Payments Agency was launched as an Executive Agency of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 16 October 2001. It received accreditation as an EU paying agency on the same date. The chief executive is Mr Johnston McNeill.
Since that date and until today, when the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce (Abolition) Regulations 2001 came into force, the agency has been operating as a joint enterprise between the Intervention Board for Agricultural Produce and the department under a single management structure headed by the chief executive.
I have already informed the House of the Agency's performance targets (Official Report, 17 October 2001, col. WA 97). Arrangements are being made for copies of the framework document, the corporate plan and the business plan for 2001–02 to be placed in the Library of the House.
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