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Government's Policy Agenda
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the "Third Way" is their only political philosophy; and, if it is not, what is their political philosophy.[HL3339]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The Government's policy agenda focuses on sustaining a strong economy and making
improvements in productivity and enterprise, continuing welfare reform and increasing social justice, driving through public service reform, particularly in education, health, crime and transport, and taking a leading place at the centre of Europe and the wider international community.Special Advisers
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to increase or reduce the present number of special advisers. [HL3698]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: The Government are committed to legislation for the Civil Service and to including in the legislation an overall limit on the number of special advisers. The Government are also committed to consultation in advance of legislation. In the meantime, the appointment of special advisers will continue to be regulated by the Civil Service Order in Council and the Ministerial Code.
Lord Patten asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to introduce a code of conduct for unpaid special advisers. [HL3764]
Lord Macdonald of Tradeston: No. Unpaid advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in paragraph 51 of the Ministerial Code.
European Court of Human Rights Judgment
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend that there should be a comprehensive response on behalf of the various government departments affected by the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, given on 4 May 2001, concerning the cases of Jordan, Kelly, McKerr and Shanaghan v United Kingdom; if not, why not; and if so, when. [HL2853]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): On 19 March, the United Kingdom's response to these judgments was sent to the Secretariat of the Council of Europe, with a view to its being considered by the Committee of Ministers at a forthcoming meeting. The Government believe that the package of remedial action will constitute full and effective implementation of the judgments. We await the views of the Committee of Ministers.
Republic of Ireland Residents: British Passports
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have received representations from residents of the Republic of Ireland who are seeking British passports as an indicator of equality as outlined in the Belfast Agreement of 1998; and, if so, what was their response.[HL3051]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: We have received a series of representations from an organisation in Ireland. Only British nationals are eligible for British passports and we have responded to the effect that we have no plans to make any new arrangements for the acquisition of British nationality in relation to Ireland. Some recent representations still require a formal response but this will be to the same effect.
Weston Park Discussions
Lord Rogan asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What representations were made by the Prime Minister to the leadership of Sinn Fein at Weston Park in July 2001 about allowing those individuals exiled from Northern Ireland at the instigation of republican paramilitaries to return home.[HL3287]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The discussions between the two Governments and the Northern Ireland parties at Weston Park were private. But the Government's view that all those exiled by paramilitary groups should be able to return home without fear is a matter of public record.
Northern Ireland: Victim Support
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the remit of the Northern Ireland Office Victims Liaison Unit Touchstone Group; what is
its membership; and what are the geographical location and remit of each member.[HL3391]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Touchstone Group was established in July 1998 by the then Victims Minister, Adam Ingram, to enable a cross-section of those representing victims' interests to provide government with advice and guidance on policy development in this area.
Membership was drawn mainly from those victims' groups which had made contact with Sir Kenneth Bloomfield in his role as Victims Commissioner. Individual membership tended to change from meeting to meeting (a list of the groups represented as at January 1999 follows).
The group has not met since October 2000, following a decision by Adam Ingram to evaluate its role in light of the ongoing developments in the victims' field. The Victims Unit in OFMDFM, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's Victims Rights Working Group and the Civic Forum had all been established and the provision of core funding by the NIO had led to a growing number of victims' groups.
Adam Ingram consulted with Ministers in the devolved administration who agreed to include a question on the future of the Touchstone Group in their consultation paper for a cross-departmental victims' strategy which was launched on 11 April 2002.
Government policy on the future of the Touchstone Group will be co-ordinated with the devolved administration's strategy. Membership of the Touchstone Group as appeared in VLU's Newsletter January 1999. Group An Crann/The Tree Cost of the Troubles Study Cunamh Disabled Police Officers Association Families Acting for Innocent Relatives * Families Against Intimidation and Terror Kairos Relatives for Justice Shankill Stress Centre Social Services Inspectorate Sperrin Lakeland Health Trust Survivors of Trauma Victim Support NI WAVE Victims Liaison Unit
* Families Acting for Innocent Relatives was asked to be represented but refused to take its seat (this information did not appear in the newsletter).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the recommendation of the Victims Commissioner (Sir Kenneth Bloomfield) that the effective targeting of the special needs of victims should be a specific subset of the targeting social need objective has been implemented; and, if so, what progress there has been. [HL3494]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: "To provide support to victims of the Troubles" was included as an objective in the New Targeting Social Need (New TSN). The actions associated with this objective are: to distribute funding for groups supporting victims of the Troubles;
and to work with the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund to explore the possibility of developing and funding programmes to assist disadvantaged victims of the Troubles.To date, Government have allocated £6.1 million core funding for victims and survivors groups; £225,000 initially for a victims support grant scheme to assist community groups and voluntary organisations to take forward recommendations in the Bloomfield report and more recently a further £750,000 to extend this small grants scheme; £3 million to the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, with a commitment of a further £2 million at a rate of £1 million per year for the next two years. The fund has put in place a number of schemes, including: the Small Grants Scheme, the Education & Training Scheme, the Respite Break Scheme, the Amputee Assessment Scheme, the Wheelchair Assessment Scheme and the Chronic Pain Management Scheme.
Terrorist Prisoners: Royal Prerogative of Mercy
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are the guidelines and procedures for the use of the Royal Prerogative; and whether the Royal Prerogative has ever been used for terrorist prisoners. [HL3540]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: By constitutional convention, the Government are responsible for recommending to Her Majesty the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy. The Royal Prerogative of Mercy has traditionally been exercised in three ways: in a free pardon, a conditional pardon or the remission, or partial remission, of the penalty imposed by a court. This is a flexible remedy, and the Government cannot restrict themselves as to how they might recommend its use. It is necessarily reserved for the most exceptional of circumstances.
The Royal Prerogative of Mercy has been used in relation to terrorist prisoners.
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