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Written Answers
Tuesday, 5th February 2002.
Gibraltar
Lord Haskel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was the outcome of the talks held on 4 February under the Brussels Process.[HL2668]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): At the Brussels Process ministerial meeting on 4 February my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary and Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Pique, continued to make good progress in our discussions about Gibraltar in the atmosphere of friendship and understanding which links the UK and Spain, reaffirming the full range of commitments that we assumed at our previous meetings in London and Barcelona.
Our common aim remains to conclude a comprehensive agreement before the summer, covering all outstanding issues, including co-operation and sovereignty.
Both governments confirmed that their shared objective is to overcome their differences over Gibraltar and to ensure a secure future for Gibraltar in which Gibraltar can preserve its way of life and traditions, enjoy greater internal self-government, sustain and enhance its prosperity and reap the full benefits of a harmonious and mutually beneficial co-operation in all fields together with the wider region.
We reiterate our invitation to the Chief Minister of Gibraltar to attend future Brussels Process meetings so that he, and through him the Gibraltarians, can join the current dialogue and contribute to it to the benefit of Gibraltar. We confirmed that the Chief Minister is warmly invited to participate on the basis of the Two Flags, Three Voices formula, having his own and distinct voice as part of the British delegation.
Our intention is that the comprehensive agreement we seek will offer the best framework for a secure, stable and prosperous future for Gibraltar. In that framework, our objective is that Gibraltar can enjoy enhanced powers of internal self-government, allowing its government and population to have a greater say in their lives. We will invite the Government of Gibraltar to develop together with us the relevant ideas on this objective.
We also took forward our work on all possible ways of enhancing co-operation to improve the quality of the daily lives of people in Gibraltar and the Campo region. The UK and Spain reaffirmed that the aim of the arrangements they seek is to promote the highest level of fruitful co-operation within the wider region, favouring better standards of living and working conditions in Gibraltar and the Campo and fluid communications with the region.
The Spanish Government recalled the arrangements they had made to allocate a further 70,000 telephone numbers for Gibraltar and reaffirmed that, as regards the technical responsibilities of the Spanish side, they are operational. They expressed their commitment to ensure that no obstacles prevent their immediate use for the benefit of all Gibraltarians. To that end, the UK and Spain agreed to engage in immediate talks to assess the situation and attain their objective. Both Governments also tackled the issue of pensions, a problem on which they will intensify their efforts to find a prompt solution consistent with the responsibilities of the public authorities involved.
Afghanistan
Lord Haskel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What recent changes have there been to United Nations sanctions against Afghanistan.[HL2669]
Baroness Amos: With the full support of Her Majesty's Government, on 16 January the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted resolution 1390 (2002). Taking into account the changed situation in Afghanistan, the resolution extended or amended some of the existing measures and introduced new measures targeting Osama bin Laden, members of the Al Qaeda organisation and the Taliban and other individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them designated by the UN Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan. Other UNSC sanctions targeting Afghanistan were terminated or allowed to lapse.
UNSC Resolution 1390 (2002) continues the asset freeze imposed by Resolutions 1267 (1999) and 1333 (2000) on senior members of the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and individuals and entities (including members of Al-Qaeda) designated by the Security Council as associated with him, and extends it to all designated members of the Taliban and their associates. The Resolution also places an embargo on the supply of arms and military assistance to, and imposes a world-wide travel ban on, Osama bin Laden and persons designated by the Security Council as members of the Al-Qaeda organisation or the Taliban or their associates.
A full list of those designated by the UN Sanctions Committee on Afghanistan is available on the UN website: http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/Afghanistan/Afg–list–eng.htm.
On 15 January the UNSC had adopted Resolution 1388 (2002) removing all previous UNSC restrictions on Ariana Afghan Airlines.
Metropolitan Police Numbers
Baroness Hanham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why they did not respond until 17 December to the Written Question tabled by Baroness Hanham on 30 October regarding the numbers of Metropolitan Police between 1997 and date, when a similar question asked by Eric Pickles MP to the
- House of Commons Library received an almost instantaneous detailed answer on 5 December.[HL2090]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): I apologise wholeheartedly to the noble Baroness for the delay in answering her Question of 30 October about Metropolitan Police numbers. This was caused, regrettably, by administrative errors and delays within the Home Office. Officials across the department have been reminded of the priority to be given to addressing parliamentary queries.
Asylum Seekers Held in Prison
Lord Chan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many Zimbabwean asylum seekers are in prison in the United Kingdom; and when they are to be released; and[HL2539]
How many asylum seekers were being held in United Kingdom prisons on 1 January 2002; and when they were or will be moved out of prisons.[HL2540]
Lord Rooker: My right honourable friend the Home Secretary announced on 3 October that detainees held solely under Immigration Act powers would no longer be held in prisons by the end of January 2002. The temporary use of local prisons and the accommodation within HMP Rochester ended in mid-January. The detainees concerned were transferred to Immigration Service removal centres or to the dedicated immigration detention facilities at HMP Haslar and HMP Lindholme. The dedicated facilities at HMP Haslar and HMP Lindholme will become Immigration Service removal centres following their formal re-designation for this purpose on 8 February.
| Place of detention | Zimbabwean asylum seekers detained as at 30 September 2001(1) |
| Dedicated Immigration Service wings(2) | 25 |
| Other prison establishments(3) | 20 |
| Total persons detained in prison establishments(3) | 40 |
(1) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.
(2) Persons detained at the dedicated Immigration Service wings at Haslar, Lindholme and Rochester.
(3) Includes less than five persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.
(5) Persons detained at the dedicated Immigration Service wings at Haslar, Lindholme and Rochester.
(6) Includes 145 persons detained under dual immigration and other powers.
Lord Varley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: Professor Banner completed his first four-year term as chairman of the Animal Procedures Committee on 31 January 2002. We are grateful to him for his work in leading this important committee and are pleased that he has accepted another four-year term as chairman.
Lord Varley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: The second annual meeting to review the compact took place on 29 October 2001. A report of the meeting has been placed in the Library.
We are pleased to say that both the sector and government welcomed progress made on developing the compact. The focus of government and sector activities since the launch of the national compact in November 1998 has been the development of the five underpinning codes of good practice on funding; consultation and policy appraisal; black and minority ethnic organisations; and volunteering and community groups.
The annual review meeting recognised and agreed that implementation of compact principles and the spreading of good practice must be the future focus of compact activities. Implementation will be about ensuring that there is a practical and positive impact on government/sector relations at all levels, particularly at local and community level. There is more to do and the sector and government will need to continue to work in partnership to achieve our shared aims.
Place of detention Asylum seekers detained as at 30 September 2001(1)
Dedicated Immigration Service wings(2) 390
Other prison establishments(3) 460
Total persons detained in
prison establishments(3) 850
(4) Figures rounded to the nearest five, and may not sum due to rounding.
Whether they propose to reappoint Professor Michael Banner as chairman of the Animal Procedures Committee.[HL2714]
Whether they will publish the outcome of the second annual meeting to review the compact on relations between the Government and the voluntary and community sector.[HL2715]
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