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Written Answers
Wednesday, 8th May 2002.
House of Lords Reform
Lord Monson asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Chancellor on 27 March (WA 45) whether they will now make an announcement that they intend to seek to implement Recommendation 103 in the Report of the Royal Commission on Reform of the House of Lords in respect of all life Peers created after the date of the announcement, saving only those to whom the intention to grant a life peerage had been made public but had not been implemented by the issue of a first Writ of Summons before such date. [HL4114]
The Lord Chancellor (Lord Irvine of Lairg): The Government will announce their response to the consultation on their proposals on reform of this House before the Summer Recess.
Police Service of Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In view of the incident in November 2001 when the police escort for the President of the Irish Republic was required to remove Remembrance Day poppies, what instructions they are giving to members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland concerning the wearing of Remembrance Day poppies. [HL3815]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The instructions in place in November 2001 whereby officers on a voluntary basis wear poppies in their uniform during the appropriate period still apply. The instructions comply with the PSNI neutral working environment policy which follows guidelines set by the Equality Commission.
Paramilitary Organisations: Ceasefires
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider an organisation to be on ceasefire if in recent years it has carried out any of the following: murders, beatings, identification of targets, purchasing weapons, training other terrorist organisations, or taking part in a raid into a police complex in Northern Ireland. [HL3926]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: We keep the ceasefires of all paramilitary organisations under close review, taking into account information from all sources available to us. If it is considered that a ceasefire is not being maintained, the Secretary of State will not hesitate to take whatever action is considered necessary.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will give examples of activities for which paramilitary organisations could be deemed to be breaking their ceasefires. [HL3927]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Secretary of State's announcement of 12 October 2001 states the reasons for the specification of the UDA, UFF and the LVF. The Secretary of State is regularly briefed by the Acting Chief Constable and continues to keep the status of all ceasefires under review and he will not hesitate to take whatever action is deemed necessary and appropriate in the circumstances.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they propose to take in relation to Sinn Fein if the IRA is linked to the ongoing targeting of individuals or installations. [HL3929]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: A judgement on whether a ceasefire is being observed, or whether a party is committed to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means, could only be reached in the light of all the circumstances of a particular case. We are not going to hypothesise on the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What has been their response to representations from the Government of the Irish Republic concerning breaches of the IRA ceasefire. [HL3930]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: There have been no such representations, although the two governments keep in close touch on security-related matters.
Northern Ireland Executive: Members' Pledge of Office
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What they consider to be the meaning of the Pledge of Office for Members of the Northern Ireland Executive in Annex A, Section B of the Belfast agreement of 1998 when it states that such Members must have a "commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means". [HL3931]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is not possible comprehensively to define these terms. Any question of possible failure of such a commitment would need to be considered in the light of all the relevant circumstances.
Provisional IRA
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they believe there are still active Provisional IRA training camps in the Irish Republic; and, if so, what representations they have made to the Government of the Irish Republic. [HL4083]
Lord Willams of Mostyn: As the noble Lord will be aware, the Government do not comment on intelligence matters. However, regular meetings take place between both governments and good co-operation continues between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda.
Performance and Innovation Unit
Lord Haskel asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit.[HL4216]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prime Minister has asked the Performance and Innovation Unit (PIU) to carry out a project examining the development of electronic networks in the UK over the next decade.
The project will look at predicted technology and market developments; the importance of electronic networks to UK productivity and growth and the regulatory challenges for the next decade. The output of the project will be a report to government which will assist with the setting of future government policy and approach, and will contribute to strategic thinking for the new regulator Ofcom.
Responsibility for the current performance, development and economic impact of UK electronic networks already lies with groups including the DTI, Oftel, the Office of the e-Envoy, HM Treasury, the Broadband Stakeholders Group and those involved in the Digital TV Action Plan. The PIU has been asked to take a long-term strategic view to complement this existing body of work.
The Hon Douglas Alexander, the Minister of State for e-Commerce and Competitiveness at the DTI, will be the sponsor Minister for the project.
The scoping note for the project is available on the PIU website (www.piu.gov.uk). The PIU aims to complete its study by Summer 2002.
Street Crime Initiative: CPS Involvement
Lord Woolmer of Leeds asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Attorney General will comment on the role of the Crown Prosecution Service within the Government's street crime initiative.[HL4214]
The Attorney-General (Lord Goldsmith): As part of the cross-government strategy to reduce street crime, a premium service will target likely offenders and crime areas and will ensure that offenders are investigated and prosecuted with skill and determination. Victims and witnesses will be given extra support. Experienced lawyers and detectives will handle cases and they will work closely together. An extra £6 million is being allocated to the Crown Prosecution Service to free up experienced lawyers to concentrate on this work.
Private Single-Sex Clubs
Baroness Blatch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What plans they have to bring in a Bill to ban all clubs from excluding female membership.[HL3321]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Government have no plans to ban private single-sex clubs, either for men or for women.
Enforcement Services and Bailiff Law
Lord Turnberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What progress has been made on the Green Paper Towards Effective Enforcement—A single piece of bailiff law and regulatory structure for enforcement.[HL4195]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: I am pleased to announce the publication of (a) the post-consultation report for the Green Paper Towards Effective Enforcement—A single piece of bailiff law and regulatory structure for enforcement, and (b) the summary of responses following the consultation paper on distress for rent procedures.
The Green Paper, published on 9 July 2001, invited comments on the structure for the regulation of enforcement services, a single piece of bailiff law, fees, information and data sharing and a partial regulatory impact assessment. The 84 respondents came from a wide variety of groups concerned with enforcement, including local authorities, public interest groups and enforcement agents. Consultation showed overwhelming support for most of the proposals in the Green Paper. Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
Delivery will require a legislative opportunity. We intend to publish a White Paper early next year bringing together proposals on both civil enforcement (including regulation of all enforcement agents) and distress for rent.
I launched the publication National Standards for Enforcement Agents today. The National Standards indentifies duties and responsibilities which creditors and their enforcement agents share. It has been warmly welcomed and endorsed by the enforcement profession. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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