Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) monitors the market to ensure that BT complies with its legal obligations under the Competition Act and the
terms of its licence. In addition, local loop unbundling enables competing operators and service providers to create their own DSL products. The Minister for e-Commerce has challenged industry to reduce its costs and consumer prices further. The cost of wholesale ADSL has fallen in 2001.
Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government have no plans to consult other European countries about the present start and end dates of summer time.
Lord Corbett of Castle Vale asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The report will be completed in December and published in January 2002.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): Copies of the standard letters issued to candidates at various stages of the competition will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses as requested.
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: 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.
Any police officer joining the Police Service of Northern Ireland is required to make the declaration set out in Section 38 of the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 2000.
Schedule 4 to the Police Act 1996 sets out the declaration that every police officer must take on appointment in England and Wales. Regulation 10 of the Police (Scotland) Regulations, made under the Police (Scotland) Act 1967, sets out the declaration that every police officer must take on appointment in Scotland.
I understand that in the Republic of Ireland officers make a declaration as follows:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Advertising in Great Britain has been reduced following the first recruitment competition, on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis carried out by the independent recruitment agent. However, advertisements have been placed in a number of specialist publications which are available in Great Britain and on a satellite television channel. Details are also available on the Police Service of Northern Ireland website.
Lord Rogan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland is being carried out on the basis of 50 per cent Catholic, 50 per cent non-Catholic. The Independent Commission on Policing in Northern Ireland recommended a 50:50 recruitment profile because this broadly reflects the breakdown of the population in the normal age range for recruitment.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
When their view, reported on page 14 of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's document Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland (September 2001), namely that the issue was the scope of a bill of rights, was expressed; by whom; and whether the commission will publish the full text of the communication.[HL1136]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mowlam, wrote to Professor Dickson, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, on 24 March 1999, formally requesting the advice referred to in paragraph 4 of the relevant section of the Good Friday agreement. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library.
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: This information has today been placed in the Libraries of both Houses in the form of an annual report; a copy is also being placed in the Vote Office. Future reports will be published annually.
Task forces, advisory groups and reviews provide independent, expert advice to government on a wide range of issues. These are an effective means of securing high quality advice on matters of real public concern and they seek to operate in as open and transparent a way as possible. While they are not a new phenomenon, it is only since 1997 that detailed information on them has been public.
Baroness Thornton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report Resource productivity: making more with less to government is being published today. The Prime Minister has welcomed the report which will make an important contribution to delivering our goal of sustainable development. The report focuses on how to meet our objectives on economic growth without unacceptable environmental impacts.
Key areas identified in the report for further action include government procurement; a new approach to sustainable development and resource productivity in small businesses; targeted support for resource productive innovation; and an assessment of long-term indicative targets.
The Right Honourable Michael Meacher MP, Minister of State for the Environment, will lead on taking forward the implementation and dissemination of the report in collaboration with colleagues on the ENV(G) Cabinet sub-committee.
Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. It is also available on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation.
Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |