| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, my noble friend is right—the exchange rate will play its part in the five tests to determine the economic case for entry into EMU. However, he should not reflect too great a
pessimism about our present position. Last year was very difficult. It was, after all, a year in which three of the world's great economies—the United States, Japan and Europe—suffered serious decline. But my noble friend will recognise that, at the present time, of all the major economies in the world, the British economy is growing at the fastest rate and is on target to grow by 1.9 per cent this year. Too much gloom is not well founded in these circumstances.
Lord Tebbit: My Lords, the Chancellor has now been in office for five years. Is sterling currently competitive and stable?
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, the noble Lord will recognise that there are very stable factors in regard to the economy—not least, he might reflect, the unemployment rate in comparison to the years when the administration in which he played his part was in power. However, I hasten to add that of course there are fluctuations in exchange rates—we all recognise that—but they reflect the fundamentals of the economy. The reason why sterling is strong at the present time is that the fundamental aspects of the British economy are strong in themselves. Surely even the noble Lord can find it in himself to offer some congratulations on that score.
Lord Marsh: My Lords, given that over the past two or three years sterling has remained fairly stable against the US dollar, the Canadian dollar, the Swiss franc and most other major currencies, while the euro has declined consistently and steadily by something like 30 per cent, might there not be a problem with the euro?
Lord Davies of Oldham: My Lords, the noble Lord is right, the euro has not performed as well as it was hoped it might. But during the past two years the pound has not appreciated against the euro. It did, certainly, up to 2000, but that has not been the case in more recent times. We all look forward to a situation in which the euro economy develops strength. For all peoples of the advanced world at the present time—and this impacts significantly on the under-developed world—there is widespread recession in some of the major economies. Fortunately, under the Government's guidance, this economy is stronger than others.
Taliban and Al'Qaeda Detainees
3.24 p.m.
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the status, with respect to the Geneva Conventions, of Taliban and Al'Qaeda militants captured in Afghanistan.
Baroness Amos: My Lords, the status of each detainee under international humanitarian law—the law of armed conflict—has to be considered in the light of the facts of the individual case. We do not have all
the facts. The bottom line is that, whatever their status, they are entitled to humane treatment and, if prosecuted, a fair trial.
Earl Attlee: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer. I remind the House that I have a peripheral interest. World security and stability is paramount. Her Majesty's Government are not at fault in this problem, but does the Minister agree that compliance with the conventions is morally and legally right? Does she further agree that any perception that we are not committed to full compliance could result in our military opponents failing to surrender at the earliest possible moment and members of Her Majesty's Armed Forces not enjoying convention rights themselves?
Baroness Amos: My Lords, we have made our position absolutely clear. We have said that the detainees are entitled to humane treatment under international law. The Americans have said very clearly that the detainees will be treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention. That statement was repeated yesterday by the US Secretary of State for Defense. As to the position of our military opponents, I cannot speak for the opposition forces in Afghanistan. It is important for us to ensure that the consensus we have built up for dealing with international terrorism is maintained and we must be sensitive to the concerns expressed. That is why we have made it absolutely clear that humane treatment is the bottom line.
Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, is right in regard to perceptions being important and that the concerns raised in the national press and by various commentators need to be taken very seriously? Does she further agree that the best way to ensure that they are taken seriously is to ensure that the Red Cross and British officials continue to have access to those prisoners in order to reassure the international media and the public in general that provisions are continuing to be made for those prisoners?
Baroness Amos: My Lords, the ICRC has permanent representation at Guantanamo Bay. It has unlimited access and is due to make a confidential report to the US authorities. It is important that the House should remember and recognise that the ICRC is an independent organisation. In that respect, my noble friend and the noble Earl, Lord Attlee, are right—the comments of an independent organisation such as the ICRC about treatment at Guantanamo Bay are very important. As to the three British detainees, the House will know that a team of diplomats went to Guantanamo Bay and spoke to them.
Lord Howell of Guildford: My Lords, the news of an upgrade in status and conditions at Camp X-Ray is welcome. Does the Minister agree—I am sure she does—that these are very dangerous men? One of
them, apparently, tried to bite through the cables in the DC-9 he was brought over in in order to crash it; another has bitten a guard; and two others are suspected of being the people who bit to death the CIA agent in Mazar-i Sharif. So Washington and the United States are fully justified in treating these potential terrorist criminals with the greatest care. Would not the right line be to encourage the Americans to sort out who are criminals and who are prisoners of war, establish their status as soon as possible and then return them to the nations from which they came, where relevant? In the mean time, they could give a full understanding that in Cuba they are dealing with intensely dangerous and, in some cases, maniacal individuals.
Baroness Amos: My Lords, I agree with the noble Lord. We have always said that these are high security prisoners and therefore there are security needs which have to be maintained in Guantanamo Bay. At the same time, it is important that we should recognise what the US authorities are doing. They have said that they intend to, and will, treat the detainees in accordance with the principles of the Geneva Convention. It is important that that is recognised.
With regard to the noble Lord's other questions, yes, I accept that it is important that the status of the detainees is clarified; we are in constant contact with the US authorities in relation to the matter. Once their status is clarified, we can make decisions as to the next step.
Business
Lord Carter: My Lords, I am happy to say that I have some news which I hope the House will welcome. When I announced the dates of the February break last week, it had been agreed with the usual channels that the House might sit on Friday 15th February. During the course of this week, however, it has been possible to rearrange the business that had been arranged for that day. As a consequence, I am happy to announce that, subject, as always, to the progress of business, we shall now rise a day earlier for our February break. The House will sit at 11 a.m. on Thursday 14th February and rise at the end of business that day, returning on Monday 25th February. The dates that I announced last week for the Easter and Whitsun Recesses remain unaltered.
Police Reform Bill [HL]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): My Lords, I beg to introduce a Bill to make new provision about the supervision, administration, functions and conduct of police forces, police officers and other persons serving with, or carrying out functions in relation to, the police; to amend police powers and to provide for the exercise of police powers by persons who are not police officers; and for connected purposes. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a first time.
Moved, That the Bill be now read a first time.—(Lord Rooker.)
On Question, Bill read a first time, and to be printed.
Human Rights Committee
The Chairman of Committees (Lord Tordoff): My Lords, I beg to move the first Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Perhaps I may explain that this will in effect allow the Lords' component of the Joint Committee the power to adjourn from place to place without limiting the committee to travel within the United Kingdom, and to make occasional visits to the institutions of the Council of Europe. A similar Motion was passed in the House of Commons on 8th January. It would be unfortunate if only half the committee were allowed to have this discretion. I commend the Motion to the House.
Moved, That the order of the House of 3rd July 2001 appointing a Select Committee to join with a Committee of the Commons as the Joint Committee on Human Rights be amended by leaving out the words "within the United Kingdom, and to institutions of the Council of Europe outside the United Kingdom no more than four times in any calendar year".—(The Chairman of Committees.)
On Question, Motion agreed to; and a message was ordered to be sent to the Commons to acquaint them therewith.
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page