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Written Answers
Thursday, 14th February 2002.
Afghanistan: Prisoner of War Status
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What proposals they have concerning the most appropriate method for determining the status of those arrested by the United States authorities in Afghanistan following recent battles, and in particular that of British citizens or former residents, now in custody. [HL2608]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): Whether any individual is a prisoner of war depends on the facts of each individual case. It is for the detaining power in the first instance to take a view. We do not know all the facts and therefore cannot form a view about individual cases.
Nuclear Weapons
Lord Jenkins of Putney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What happened to the proposal put to the United Nations by the Australian Government to ban nuclear weapons. [HL2693]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The recommendations of the 1996 Canberra Commission on the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons have in many ways been overtaken by the agreement the UK helped broker at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in New York in May 2000. The final document of the conference provides a plan, based on achievable steps and agreed by all parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, on the way forward towards nuclear non-proliferation and the ultimate goal of global nuclear disarmament.
EU Developments: Six-monthly Report
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to include in the next six-monthly report concerning developments in the European Union the complete text of the presidential conclusions and its appendices published after the Laeken-Brussels European Council; and when the six-monthly report will be published. [HL2757]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No decision has yet been taken on the precise format and content of the next six-monthly report concerning developments in the European Union.
We plan to publish the report during the first few months of this year.
Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they will report on the outcome of the Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review. [HL2871]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): We are pleased to announce that the report Flood and Coastal Defence Funding Review—Report to Ministers by the Review Steering Group has been published today along with a consultation document seeking views on the steering group's recommendations and conclusions and how these might be taken forward. Copies are being placed in the Library of the House.
The steering group's report assessed a number of options for change, including additional sources of funding and a broad based regional model to provide a single funding stream. Suggestions for short-term changes include giving the Environment Agency responsibility for all watercourses that present a significant flood risk and on combining and consolidating capital grant and revenue support grant to the agency, possibly in the form of central grant allocations.
Elsewhere, the report recommends continued reliance on the existing flood management strategic framework to monitor achievement of the Government's policies and priorities.
The Government have agreed to consult on the recommendations in the report. This provides a unique opportunity to consider provision of the flood and coastal defence service from first principles and I look forward to receiving the views of interested parties. We will keep Parliament informed of developments.
Seat Belts
Lord Janner of Braunstone asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they accept the findings of a Japanese survey (published in the Lancet 2002 359:43–44) that 80 per cent of deaths of drivers and front seat passengers would be avoided if all back seat passengers wore seat belts. [HL2754]
The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Japanese research clearly demonstrates the inherent dangers of not wearing seat belts. It concludes that 80 per cent of front seat occupant deaths, in the accidents that were investigated, could have been avoided if a rear seat passenger had been wearing a seat belt. These findings are based on the situation in Japan where wearing rates are different from Great Britain.
As explained in an oral Answer on 24 January [Official Report, col. 217], we are currently seeking information to estimate the number of front seat occupants injured in Great Britain as the result of being hit by an unbelted rear seat passenger.
Asylum Seekers: Driving Licence Applications
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What documents are acceptable as proof of identity of asylum seekers and refugees who are applying for a provisional driving licence; whether these included the SAL1 and SAL2 documents issued by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate when an asylum seeker first enters the country and the National Asylum Support Service 35 document issued by the Home Office when an asylum seeker is given leave to remain; and, if not, why not. [HL2816]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The photocard driving licence is a very secure document. In line with the Government's policy of combating identity fraud and illegal working, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) needs to be assured of the identity of applicants before driving licences are issued. The Home Office has advised that standard acknowledgement letters and the National Asylum Support Service 35 document do not convey the identity of the holder securely enough to allow the agency to accept these papers as sole evidence of identity.
The Government recognise the problems faced by those who arrive in this country without any identity documents. In these circumstances, DVLA will consider a combination of a wide range of alternative documentation and the papers mentioned above would be acceptable as individual elements in this process. Other examples might include national identity cards, utility bills and bank statements.
London Underground
Viscount Astor asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they are taking to prevent passengers on London Underground being stranded at stations due to industrial action. [HL2818]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is an operational matter for London Underground, which informs me that it will be taking all the steps necessary to ensure that all possible service restrictions due to any strike action on the Underground are relayed to customers with the aim of minimising any disruption to their journey.
London Underground will give as much information as possible regarding service disruption. Information on alternative routes of travel will be available in the Evening Standard, on the Tube website (www.thetube.com,) posters in advance and during strike action, local radio bulletins, London-wide television and radio, Teletext and Ceefax.
Ministerial Briefings: Acoustics
Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord McIntosh of Haringey on 11 December (WA 182) on the acoustics in ministerial buildings, whether they accept an overall responsibility for ensuring that the arrangements for briefing and consulting with citizens are adequate. [HL2084]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): As the Answer of 11 December made clear, individual government departments are responsible for determining their own arrangements. There is no central guidance on minimum specification.
Northern Ireland Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the critiera for inclusion of the organisations listed in Appendix 6 of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's publication Making a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland (September 2001); and whether each of the organisations listed has lodged a membership list and a copy of its constitution with the commission. [HL2278]
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.
Republic of Ireland President: Police Escort
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 10 January (WA 125) concerning members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland being required to remove their remembrance poppies at a Gaelic Athletic Association function, what status did the officials of the organisation who requested the removal have; and what reasons were given. [HL2358]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The officials concerned were believed to have been senior committee members. They were concerned that the continued display of the poppies may have provoked an adverse reaction from some of those attending the dinner.
Northern Ireland Police Service
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many times Consensia, responsible for recruitment for the Northern Ireland Police Service, has sent information to potential applicants by courier and by special post; how many complaints it
- has had concerning items lost or late in the post; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy about communication with applicants; and [HL2468]
How many applicants for the new Police Service of Northern Ireland who have been asked to re-apply for parts of the selection process because of letters lost in the post were from (a) the pool of Catholic applicants and (b) the pool of non-Catholic applicants. [HL2470]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I have been advised that Consensia has sent information to an applicant by courier on one occasion. Consensia is aware of six individuals who stated that they did not receive information, although responsibility cannot be attributed to the postal service in every instance. These individuals were asked to re-apply. Their community background is not known. Consensia uses first-class mail to communicate with applicants, which is in line with government policy.
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