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Death Penalty
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to sign and ratify Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights banning the death penalty in all circumstances, including in times of war and imminent threat of war, when it is opened for signature on 3 May 2002.[HL2926]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): Her Majesty's Government will announce their position on Protocol 13 as soon as is reasonably possible.
Zimbabwe
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many of the electorate in Zimbabwe were disenfranchised for the recent presidential election; and how this compares with previous elections; and[HL3310]
What messages they have sent to Mr Robert Mugabe since Monday 11 March; and[HL3311]
Whether they believe that the international observers of the Zimbabwean elections were impartial; and[HL3312]
Whether they believe that the South African observers of the Zimbabwean elections carried out their duties fully and objectively; and[HL3313]
Whether they have any evidence that the observers of the Zimbabwean elections were intimidated, attacked or otherwise prevented from either gaining access to places they wanted to visit or talking to people they wanted to interview.[HL3314]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, (Baroness Amos): Given the limited access afforded to international and other independent observers, it is difficult to estimate how
many Zimbabweans were disenfranchised for the recent presidental election. However, the Commonwealth observer team concluded in its report that "thousands" were unable to vote as a result of inadequacies in the registration process.A number of observers, both local and international, were impeded by Zimbabwean authorities and partisan members of the Zimbabwean public from carrying out their duties. Despite this, many of the international observer teams (eg the Commonwealth, Southern African Development Community—Parliamentary Forum, Japanese and Norwegian) concluded that the election was not free and fair. This indicates a high degree of impartiality. We believe that a sufficient number of the international teams' approach was impartial to give an accurate overall picture of the election process and outcome.
We have not sent any message to Mr Mugabe since the Zimbabwean presidential election on 9–10 March. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs told the House on 14 March that we did not accept that the election was free and fair and that the outcome did not reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people. The views of the Government on this issue have therefore been made very clear.
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many observers monitored the recent presidential election in Zimbabwe; from what countries they came; and for how long they were in Zimbabwe.[HL3315]
Baroness Amos: The total number of international observers for the presidential election in Zimbabwe on 9-10 March was 449, broken down as follows:
- Commonwealth—62
- Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum—37
- SADC Election Support Network—54
- SADC Election Commission's Forum—26
- Electoral Institute of Southern Africa—42
- African, Caribbean and Pacific countries—5
- Organisation of African Unity—26
- South Africa—59
- South African Parliamentarians—20
- Japan—5
- Nigeria—16
- United States—18
- Canada—8
- Norway—26
- Tanzania—20
- Mozambique—7
- Malawi—8
- Botswana—10
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they propose to take to have Mr Robert Mugabe condemned by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.[HL3360]
Baroness Amos: With UK Government support, the EU intends to express its serious concern at the human rights situation in Zimbabwe at the UN Commission on Human Rights, now under way in Geneva.
The Earl of Caithness asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they can confirm that a deal has been agreed by a number of countries in Africa, including South Africa, that Mr Robert Mugabe should be allowed to win the recent election with a view to retiring "with dignity" within a year.[HL3361]
Baroness Amos: We are not aware of any such deal being agreed.
Prison Population
Lord Dholakia asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What was:
(a) the total United Kingdom prison population;
(b) the number of prisoners aged under 18;
(c) the number of prisoners aged under 21; and
(d) the number of prisoners aged under 25; on the most recent convenient date, broken down between sentenced prisoners and remand prisoners.[HL2895]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Rooker): The data for England and Wales and Northern Ireland are set out in the table. The Scottish Executive should be approached for data on Scottish prisons where it is a devolved matter.
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: During the period 1963 to date, a total of 104 persons in England and Wales are known to have been killed by persons who had been previously convicted of homicide in England and Wales.
As with previous Answers, the figure excludes persons who have been killed by those who may have been convicted outside England and Wales (for whom there is incomplete information) and persons who have been killed by those not previously convicted of homicide by reason of their mental state.
Lord Hardy of Wath asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: The Protection of Badgers Act 1992 provides the required statutory protection for badgers. The Act makes it an offence to cruelly kill, injure or take a badger or to attempt to do so, or to wilfully ill-treat a badger, or, intentionally or recklessly, to interfere with a badger sett by damaging it or any part of it.
These offences are recordable on the Police National Computer, although they are not notifiable to the Home Office for the purposes of the recorded crime statistics. These statistics are restricted to offences which are indictable or triable either way and a few closely associated summary offences. Although these arrangements may be changed without legislation, we do not consider that the additional
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: The Answer is as follows:
Remand Sentenced Non-criminal Fine defaulter Total
Male 11,679 53,296 675 45 65,695
Female 912 3,192 45 3 4,152
Total 12,591 56,488 720 48 69,847
Male
Under 18 493 1,851 1 1 2,346
18 to 20 1,852 5,955 24 2 7,833
21 to 25 2,891 11,803 144 11 14,849
Total under 25 5,236 19,609 169 14 25,028
Female
Under 18 15 90 0 0 105
18 to 20 130 324 4 0 458
21 to 25 247 746 8 1 1,002
Total under 25 392 1,160 12 1 1,565
Remand Sentenced Non-criminal Fine defaulter Total
Male 279 619 3 29 930
Female 10 10 1 1 22
Total 289 629 4 30 952
Male
Under 18 13 10 0 1 24
18 to 20 46 60 0 4 110
21 to <25 48 99 1 8 156
Total under 25 107 169 1 13 290
Female
Under 18 0 0 0 0 0
18 to 20 1 1 0 0 2
21 to <25 2 0 0 0 2
Total under 25 3 1 0 0 4
How many people have died since 1963 in England and Wales at the hands of persons previously convicted of homicide.[HL3172]
Whether offences against wild animals, and especially those involving the baiting and abuse of badgers, are classed as notifiable offences; and, if not, whether such a classification could be established without delay.[HL3213]
25 Mar 2002 : Column WA9
What internal and external inquiries have taken place into the purpose, organisation, efficiency, effectiveness and success in meeting the objectives and targets of the National Asylum Support Service since 1 April 2000; when they reported; and to whom.[HL3220]
Body conducting review Purpose Date reported Body receiving report
Deloitte Touche Monitor and report on the efficiency and effectiveness with which the new asylum support arrangements are being implemented and operated; make recommendations for improvement where necessary October 2000 NASS management
INEX Consulting Determine where workflow and document management techniques could bring benefits. Possibly propose changes to the current processes (though s/he) should be aware of restrictions which legal and audit requirements, such as the separation of duties, place upon the possible alternatives February 2001 NASS management
Audit and Assurance Unit of the Home Office Procedures for asylum seekers support arrangements January 2001 Departmental Accounting Officer
Audit and Assurance Unit of the Home Office Payments by NASS for accommodation used to house asylum seekers September 2001 Departmental Accounting Officer
Audit and Assurance Unit of the Home Office Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND) payments—asylum seekers support new arrangements October 2001 Departmental Accounting Officer
Audit and Assurance Unit of Home Office Cessation of support by NASS January 2002 Departmental Accounting Officer
Audit and Assurance Unit of the Home Office NASS arrivals Departmental Accounting Officer
NASS Review of operation of the voucher scheme October 2001 Home Office Ministers
NASS Review of operation of dispersal October 2001 Home Office Ministers
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