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Written Answers
Tuesday, 27th November 2001.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have expressed any view to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission about its refusal to extend the period of consultation on its draft bill of rights beyond 1 December, as urged by the Bill of Rights Consortium.[HL1284]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): It is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to determine how to conduct the consultation exercise, including the amount of time allocated for people to respond. The consultation period of 12 weeks given by the commission is consistent with Cabinet Office advice to government departments (which recommends that non-departmental public bodies should also be guided by this advice). I understand that the commission has also put back the deadline for submissions from children and young people to the end of January.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission advised that the United Kingdom should appeal in the four European Court of Human Rights cases of 4 May, referred to collectively under the name Jordan.[HL1303]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has not issued any advice on whether the UK Government should appeal in those four cases.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have asked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to draft a strategic plan for 2002–05; and whether any new commission appointed from 1 March 2002 would be bound by any such document.[HL1305]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body and as such is responsible for agreeing its own work related forward planning within its legislative remit.
The Northern Ireland Office, as sponsoring department, has a requirement to ensure that the grant aid to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is sufficient for it to carry out its legislative functions and also that the money is properly accounted for. The commission has been asked to give consideration to its budgetary requirements for the years 2003–06 to enable the Northern Ireland Office to include the commission's bid for funds within its own planning documents.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it is the view of the Chief Commissioner for Human Rights for Northern Ireland that it is possible to remove proposals from the commission draft document published on 4 September.[HL1385]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In which countries officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland are on duty; and whether they will consider allowing the Police Service of Northern Ireland to make or contribute to any international police presence in Afghanistan.[HL1381]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Officers of the Police Service of Northern Ireland are currently deployed in Bosnia, Kosovo and East Timor. If the Police Service of Northern Ireland was invited to make a contribution to an international police presence in Afghanistan, the Chief Constable would consult with the Northern Ireland Policing Board and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
Sex Discrimination Act: XFather Christmas" Advertisements
Lord Swinfen asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether it is legal under sex discrimination legislation to advertise for a XFather Christmas".[HL1451]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Under the Sex Discrimination Act it is not unlawful to advertise a post where a person's sex is a genuine occupational qualification for the job, within certain tightly drawn limits. Therefore it is permissible to advertise for a man to play the role of Father Christmas.
International Terrorism: Review of Government Policy
Baroness Billingham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What arrangements have been made for ministerial oversight of the campaign against terrorism.[HL1644]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prime Minister has established a Sub-Committee of the Defence and Overseas Policy Committee to oversee the Government's role in the international coalition against international terrorism.
Its membership and terms of reference are as follows: Sub-Committee on International Terrorism Composition Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister Chancellor of the Exchequer President of the Council Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for the Home Department Secretary of State for International Development Secretary of State for Defence
The Chief of the Defence Staff, the Attorney-General and the heads of the intelligence agencies also attend when required. Terms of Reference XTo keep under review the Government's policy on international terrorism, in particular the political, military and humanitarian response to the attacks in the United States on 11 September and preventive security measures in the United Kingdom and overseas".
In addition, as part of this sub-committee, the Prime Minister has established a ministerial group, chaired by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to keep under review policy on protective security.
Its membership and terms of reference are as follows: Ministerial Group on Protective and Preventive Security Composition Secretary of State for the Home Department (in the Chair) Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions Secretary of State for Health Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Secretary of State for Defence Chief Secretary to the Treasury Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Minister of State, Home Office
The president of the Association of Chief Police Officers and the heads of the intelligence agencies will attend as required. Terms of Reference XTo keep under review the Govenment's policy on preventive and precautionary security measures to counter the threat of terrorism in the United Kingdom and to British interests overseas; and to report to the Sub-Committee on International Terrorism as appropriate".
Adult Skills: Performance and Innovation Unit Report
Baroness Billingham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Performance and Innovation Unit's report on workforce development will be published.[HL1645]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Performance and Innovation Unit's report In Demand—Adult Skills in the 21st Century is published today as a report to the Government. Copies have been placed in the House Library. Additional copies and further information can also be found on the Cabinet Office website at www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/innovation.
Decennial Census 1911
Lord Skidelsky asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will review current policy that prevents public inspection of the 1911 decennial census because censuses for England and Wales are closed for 100 years.[HL1398]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls with the responsibility of the national statistician, who has been asked to reply.
Letter to Lord Skidelsky from the executive director of the Office for National Statistics, dated 27 November 2001.
The Registrar General for England and Wales has been asked to reply to your recent question asking whether the current policy which prevents public inspection of the 1911 decennial census because censuses for England and Wales are closed for 100 years, will be reviewed. I am replying in his absence. (HL1398)
There are no plans to review the current policy covering public inspection of the 1911 Census records. A closure period of 100 years for census records is specified in legislation in Instrument No 12 dated 1966 made under the Public Records Act 1958. The Lord Chancellor in conjunction with the Minister of Health, who at that time was responsible for the Census, prescribed the closure period.
Under the Public Records Act, there is provision for a record held by the Public Record Office to be inspected if special authority is given by the department responsible for the record. In 1993 it was announced in Parliament that the Registrar General would be willing to consider particular applications for information to be extracted from the 1911 returns if it would enable the applicant to establish a legal entitlement such as an inheritance.
Such authority would be given only where the information is not available from any other source and is clearly requisite for establishing the entitlement in question. The Registrar General would wish to be fully satisfied from documentary evidence as to the identity of the applicant. Where the desired information from
the Census form relates to a living person other than the applicant, that person's consent would be required before the information would be released.At the time of the 1911 Census, assurance was given that the contents of the Schedule would be treated as strictly confidential. To amend retrospectively the rule would jeopardise public confidence in assurances about recent and future censuses. It may put at risk public trust in other guarantees given about confidentiality.
I appreciate that information from census returns would be of value to those people researching their family history, but maintaining the public's confidence in the protection of census information is paramount.
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