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Written Answers
Tuesday, 18th December 2001.
China: Human Rights Dialogue
Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was discussed at the Human Rights Dialogue held between the United Kingdom and China in November.[HL2063]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The seventh round of the UK-China Human Rights dialogue took place in London on 19–21 November.
We discussed a wide range of human rights concerns including: Tibet and Xinjiang; freedoms of expression, religion and association; Falun Gong; the abuse of psychiatry; criminal justice issues, including the death penalty, torture and re-education through labour; North Korean refugees; co-operation with UN human rights mechanisms, including visits by special rapporteurs; the ratification of the two Human Rights Covenants and International Labour Organisation Conventions; and the blocking of the BBC World Service website and Mandarin service. We also discussed the programmes of practical co-operation between the UK and China to promote human rights and the rule of law.
We raised 22 individual cases of concern.
As well as the formal talks, we organised two sessions involving outside experts to discuss the role of the media and on the administration of criminal justice. We also arranged for the Chinese delegation to visit the BBC World Service and the Central Criminal Court.
Tajikistan: Opening of UK Embassy
Baroness Ramsey of Cartvale asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to open an embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.[HL2064]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We will open an embassy headed by a charge d'affaires on 20 December 2001. Until then our ambassador in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) will remain cross-accredited to Tajikistan.
World Trade Organisation: Doha Meeting
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the comment by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 3 December (HL Deb, col. 583) that "I cannot claim . . . to know exactly what was said by every person who took part in the
- negotiations" at the Doha meeting of the World Trade Organisation, whether there are any procedures to write minutes of all meetings, formal and informal, between officials taking part in discussions and negotiations at conferences where the United Kingdom is represented; and whether such minutes are available to responsible Ministers who are not personally present.[HL1896]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There are no fixed procedures to write minutes of informal meetings where the UK is represented.
The UK is represented by the European Commission in its dealings with the WTO. At Doha, oral feedback was provided to Ministers on meetings at which the UK was not present.
Ministers of other relevant departments who are not present at meetings are kept informed of developments and outcomes.
Scottish Parliament: Consultation on Size
Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they plan to launch their consultation exercise on the size of the Scottish Parliament.[HL2065]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has today issued the document The size of the Scottish Parliament—a consultation. Copies will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses and are being sent to all MPs representing Scottish constituencies and Members of the Scottish Parliament. Views are sought on the case for retaining or ending the linking of Westminster and Holyrood constituency boundaries as provided in the Scotland Act 1998, in the light of the experience now gained of the Scottish Parliament. Responses are invited by 29 March 2002.
Treasury Economic Policy Textbook: Choice of Publisher
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why the recent Treasury Book was published by Palgrave instead of the normal government publisher.[HL2024]
Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Reforming Britain's Economic and Financial Policy was published commercially as an economics textbook by Palgrave, the academic publishing division of Macmillan. The decision to use a commercial publisher was taken in order to limit financial risk to the Treasury and to utilise Palgrave's marketing experience and distribution networks. Palgrave was chosen through a competitive tender.
Lord Barnett asked the Chairman of Committees:
- Whether the Treasury Book will be available to Members in the Printed Paper Office in the normal way.[HL2025]
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Tordoff): Yes. The Printed Paper Office has ordered a number of copies, and copies have already been supplied to those Members who have asked for them. Further copies will be ordered as necessary. Delivery time is a day or two longer than for documents published by The Stationery Office.
Terrorism Act Prosecutions
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many prosecutions had been laid, at the latest convenient date, under Sections 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively of the Terrorism Act 2000.[HL2045]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): As at 17 December 2001, three cases with four defendants. In cases 2 and 3 there are also other charges. The details of the cases concerned are:
- Section 13, wearing a uniform or carriers insignia supporting a proscribed organisation;
- One summons laid for a defendant to appear at magistrate's court.
- Two charges of Section 11 membership of proscribed organisation;
- Two charges of Section 15 terrorist fund raising;
- Two charges of Section 17 funding arrangements for terrorism;
- Trial date set at Crown Court.
- One charge of Section 11 membership of proscribed organisation;
- One charge of Section 15 terrorist fund raising;
- One charge of Section 17 funding arrangements for terrorism;
- Committed for trial date at Crown Court.
Houses of Parliament: Waste Recycling
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked the Chairman of Committees:
- What proportion of waste from the Houses of Parliament is recycled, particularly:
(a) paper;
(b) bottles;
(c) cans; and
(d) compostable material.[HL1755]
The Chairman of Committees: The information which the noble Baroness seeks is not collected in exactly these terms. All waste from the Parliamentary Estate is either recycled or recovered. Some 50 per cent of the total is recycled, including all glass, oil, wood and scrap metal (including steel cans). Some 75 tonnes of waste paper were recycled in the last financial year, and, as part of an effort to increase this figure, collecting bins for recyclable waste paper will shortly be made available at all photocopying points. Other waste (including compostable material) is recovered. It is incinerated and the heat used to generate electricity. The ash residue left after incineration is used as building or road sub-base material.
Lord Dormand of Easington asked the Leader of the House:
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Willlams of Mostyn): The group has had seven meetings and is putting together a package of proposals to make the House more effective. The group has decided to circulate a questionnaire to every Member of the House soon after Christmas in order to obtain a range of opinions on a number of issues. The group hopes to complete its work as quickly as possible thereafter.
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): Political organisations are only required to apply to be added to the Register of Political Parties compiled by the Electoral Commission if they intend to put up candidates at a relevant election. These include parliamentary elections; elections to the European Parliament; elections to the Scottish Parliament; elections to the National Assembly for Wales; elections to the Northern Ireland Assembly; local government elections, and local elections in Northern Ireland.
Lord Rotherwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made by the group he established in July to consider working practices of the House.[HL2062]
Further to the answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 5 December (HL Deb, col. 830), whether they consider that the 32 County Sovereignty Movement should be registered with the Electoral Commission.[HL1952]
Whether Ordnance Survey maps will be published in future with contour lines marked in metre numbers; and, if so, whether all the contour lines will have to be redrawn.[HL2009]
18 Dec 2001 : Column WA37
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Contour lines, marked in metre numbers, appear on nearly all of Ordnance Survey's small-scale products with the one exception of mapping drawn at 1:250 000 scale which currently shows contour lines marked in imperial measurements in line with customer requirements.
There are plans to show contour lines marked in metric on 1:250 000 scale mapping at a later date.
I can confirm that this will not involve the redrawing of the contour lines.
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