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Written Answers
Monday, 10th December 2001.
Police Forces: Airwave
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will name those police forces which are now equipped with a secure digital radio system, indicating in respect of each force the date on which the new equipment was in service.[HL1606]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): Airwave, the new secure encrypted digital radio system, is now in operation in two police forces, Lancashire and Greater Manchester police. Service started in Lancashire on 21 September 2001 and in Greater Manchester Police on 29 September 2001. A further five forces are due to take the Airwave service by April 2002.
Asylum Seekers
Baroness Sharples asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps are required by asylum seekers to gain asylum status in the United Kingdom; what steps they take to verify entitlement; and what documents are issued at each phase.[HL1666]
Lord Rooker: In order to qualify for asylum under the terms of the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, an applicant must show that he has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. Having made an application for asylum an asylum seeker must: attend a screening interview to establish identity and to enable us to determine whether their claim should be considered by the United Kingdom or a third country; where appropriate, complete a statement of evidence form (SEF) and return it within 10 working days; and attend an interview to substantiate the claim.
Each asylum claim is considered on its individual merits when all the evidence that the applicant has provided is taken into account, together with detailed country information from a variety of sources.
An asylum seeker will be issued with various documents at the different stages of the process: a standard acknowledgement letter (SAL) once the screening process has been satisfactorily completed; a SEF and notes in a language that the applicant understands, and (in most cases) a Section 75 notice which asks for any other reasons the applicant may have for staying in the United Kingdom, where appropriate; an invitation to interview letter; a letter conveying the decision. If asylum is granted, further papers explaining the benefits attached to the new status are sent; if the application is refused, the decision letter will be accompanied by appeal papers and notes on how to appeal.
Community Grants Programme
Viscount Bridgeman asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the Home Office will announce the programme and timetable for the active community grants programme 2002–03 mentioned on its website as due to be announced in September.[HL1673]
Lord Rooker: I am pleased to say that the time limited development grant was announced on 5 December 2001. Full details and application form can be seen on the Home Office website, www.homeoffice.gov.uk/acu/acu.htm.
Four-and-a-half million pounds will be available for each of the next three years (£1.5 million per year) and it is anticipated that around 90 projects will be funded. The grant will aid voluntary and community groups that work within deprived communities.
European Arrest Warrant
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 28 November (WA 35), whether at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 6 to 7 December in Brussels they will attempt to include Xpublic denial or trivialisation of crimes committed by communist regimes" as an offence under Article 2 of the Framework Decision on the proposed European Union Arrest Warrant; and, if not, why not.[HL1782]
Lord Rooker: No. The list of offences at Draft Article 2 of the framework decision are in the main Xharmonised" offences. There are no common EU definitions, but all member states have criminal offences under the generic headings.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Rooker on 28 November (WA 35), how they define the crimes of (a) Xswindling" and (b) Xforgery of administrative documents and trafficking therein", as identified in Article 2 of the Framework Decision on the proposed European Union arrest warrant.[HL1783]
Lord Rooker: Offences will be defined by the issuing member state. Depending on the circumstances, if issued by a judicial authority in the United Kingdom, Xswindling" would include any offence under the Theft Acts 1968 and 1978, and Xforgery of administrative documents and trafficking therein" would include any offence under the Forgery and Counterfeiting Act 1981.
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether, under the proposed European Union arrest warrant, the British plane spotters detained in Greece would be extradited for interrogation and trial in that country had they returned to the United Kingdom prior to arrest.[HL1784]
Lord Rooker: The Government cannot speculate on the possible outcome of an extradition request that has not been made. The draft framework decision has not been brought into force.
If a European arrest warrant had been issued by a judicial authority in a European Union member state for the offence of espionage, that would have fallen within the scope of the draft framework decision. This is also an offence carrying a sentence of more than 12 months in United Kingdom law. Although the draft framework decision proposes removing the dual criminality test from a number of serious offences and making it optional for other offences, the retention of the dual criminality test would not be a barrier to extradition for espionage. The draft framework decision does not provide for any person subject to its provisions to be interrogated. It follows the standard provisions of extradition instruments, which provide for the handing over of persons either suspected or convicted of extraditable offences solely for the purposes of trial and/or imprisonment. Requests for the taking of evidence are dealt with under separate instruments.
Asylum Seekers: Return to Country of Origin
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any countries to which it is not currently their policy to return asylum seekers; and if so, which.[HL1827]
Lord Rooker: A decision on whether or not a person is returned will depend on the facts of the particular case and the conditions pertaining at that time in the country concerned.
Human Rights Convention
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 12 November (WA 53) concerning
their international obligations, whether they incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights directly into the law of Northern Ireland; and whether they are prepared to incorporate it into the law of Scotland, Wales and England.[HL1416]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Human Rights Act 1998 applies throughout the United Kingdom. Although the Act does not, as such, incorporate the European Convention on Human Rights, it gives further effect to the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the convention and allows people within the United Kingdom to rely upon the convention rights in proceedings.
Foot and Mouth Epidemic: Use of Service Personnel
The Countess of Mar asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many Army units were employed in the slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth epidemic in the summer and autumn months of 2001; and[HL1654]
Which regiments supplied the Army units employed in the slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth epidemic in the summer and autumn months of 2001; and[HL1655]
How many (a) officers, (b) non-commissioned officers and (c) soldiers were employed in the slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth epidemic in the summer and autumn months of 2001; and[HL1656]
In which geographical areas Army units were employed in the slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth epidemic in the summer and autumn months of 2001; and[HL1657]
Whether any of the Army units employed in the slaughter of animals during the foot and mouth epidemic in the summer and autumn months of 2001 have been posted on duty abroad.[HL1658]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): No formed Army units or individual personnel were employed as slaughtermen during the foot and mouth epidemic in the summer and autumn months. Indeed, no formed Army units were employed in the slaughter of animals at any time during the epidemic.
At the height of the crisis, over 2,000 personnel drawn from all three services deployed in support of Maff/Defra. Of these, a total of 109 were employed as slaughtermen between 27 March and 4 May. All those who worked as slaughtermen were volunteers and they were drawn from the following units and agencies.
| Regiments: | The Household Cavalry Regiment |
| 16 Regiment Royal Artillery | |
| 39 Regiment Royal Artillery | |
| 1st Battalion the Kings Regiment | |
| 3 Close Support Regiment RLC | |
| 4 General Supply Regiment RLC | |
| 9 Supply Regiment RLC | |
| 13 Air Assualt Regiment RLC | |
| 23 Pioneer Regiment RLC | |
| ACE Mobile Force (Land) Combat Services Support Battalion | |
| Commando Logistic Regiment | |
| Army School of Catering | |
| Headquarters RLC TA | |
| Scottish Logistic Supply Regiment | |
| Agencies: | Defence Postal and Courier Service Agency |
| Defence Munitions Agency Kineton |
Of these personnel, one was an officer, 47 were non-commissioned officers and 61 were soldiers. They were deployed in Cumbria, Northumberland, Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders.
Four of the regiments that provided personnel who were employed as slaughtermen have been deployed abroad. The Household Cavalry Regiment and 13 Air Assault Regiment RLC deployed on operations and
16 Regiment Royal Artillery and 39 Regiment Royal Artillery deployed on exercise. The bio-security procedures agreed between the Ministry of Defence and Maff/Defra were followed by all the service personnel who were deployed during the crisis.
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