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Labour Party Manifesto Commitments 2001
Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many commitments were contained in the general election manifesto of 2001 on the basis of which the Government were elected.[HL3826]
The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston): The Government were elected on their record. The contents of their manifesto were published during the campaign.
Middle East
Lord Lamont of Lerwick asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the statement by the Leader of the House on 10 April (HL Deb, cols. 430-431) after the Prime Minister's visit to President Bush, and pursuant to his reference to "unlawful" and "illegal" settlements on the West Bank, what is the difference between an "unlawful" and an "illegal" settlement.[HL3802]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): There is no difference between an "unlawful" and an "illegal" settlement. The Government's view on Israeli settlements in the Occupied Territories is clear: they are illegal under international law, they are an obstacle to peace, and their growth should be frozen immediately, as recommended by the Mitchell commitee report which both parties accepted. In the long term, the existence of settlements must be addressed as a central part of the solution to the conflict. Camp David and Taba provide the framework for this process. Rebo
FCO Antiques Register
Lord Freyberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether the Antiques Register compiled for heritage items held in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's home estate properties is available to the public; and, if not, whether they will make it available to the public.[HL3856]
Baroness Amos: The FCO records of the antiques held in FCO buildings in London and at posts overseas are available in London for inspection on request. There are valid security reasons for not placing such data freely in the public domain.
Zimbabwe: Former British Nationals
Lord Howell of Guildford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are in a position to extend help and advice through the British High Commission in Harare, or other agencies, to those farmers and their families who previously held British passports but now hold Zimbabwean passports and have been forcibly evicted from their property without compensation.[HL4070]
Baroness Amos: Our consular staff in Harare are always ready to provide advice where they properly can. This in some cases may involve representations on behalf of British nationals to the Zimbabwean authorities. But it is not Her Majesty's Government's policy to provide assistance to former British nationals, and we would have no basis in international law for doing so. Rebo
Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill: Consultation
Lord Jacobs asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 24 April (WA 31-32):
(d) what was the bargain between the interested parties;
(e) why it is not possible to say who were the interested parties representing the leaseholders; and
(f) whether it is possible to say who were the parties representing the landlords with whom this agreement was struck.[HL4107]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): As previously stated, the Government's proposals for commonhold and leasehold reform were the subject of extensive consultation with landlords, leaseholders and other interested parties. The resulting Act was designed to strike a fair balance between the legitimate interests of those different groups. The "bargain" is, therefore, contained in the provisions of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002.
As I explained in my Written Answer on 1 May (WA 31-32), information regarding all those who responded to our consultation exercises in 1998 and 2000 are available to the public, with the exception of those who asked for their responses to be treated as confidential. These included 700 to 800 leaseholders, leaseholders' resident associations and leaseholder representative organisations. Furthermore, 34 landlords and landlords' representatives responded to the first consultation exercise and 66 to the second. Analyses of the responses to both consultations can be found in the Library of the House together with details of those who responded. DTLR Ministers also met representatives from the Leasehold Enfranchisement Association, the Campaign for the Abolition of Residential Leasehold and the British Property Federation.
Rebo
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is for the Information Commissioner, in the first instance, to give guidance on the interpretation of the Data Protection Act 1998. She carries out this function independently of the Government.
The commissioner has issued guidance on the implications of using "cookies" to build up
profiles of visitors to websites. This is available
on the commissioner's own website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk, or from her office at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF. I have also placed a copy in the House Library.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): The UK and other member states are currently considering the amendments proposed by the European Parliament's Citizen's Freedom, Justice and Home Affairs Committee to the Council's common position on the Communications Data Protection Directive, including the provisions on cookies, and whether there are areas where it would be right to compromise. The Council will take a collective decision on this.
Rebo
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: During the passage of the Postal Services Bill, I said that it was our intention "that the Post Office company should provide transparent information on completed acquisitions and disposals along the lines of the London Stock Exchange disclosure requirements;" (Official Report, 29 June 2000, col 1118). Such a requirement has been
Under Chapter 9. paragraph 9.4 of the UK Listing Authority Sourcebook, a company need not notify a regulatory information service about impending developments or matters in the course of negotiation. In addition, the possible merger negotiations between Consignia and TPG did not reach a stage where an announcement was required under section 2.2 of the Takeover Panel's City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.
Baroness Miller of Hendon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The terms of the transaction being discussed were commercially confidential both to Consignia but also to TPG which is a listed company. After a number of discussions with TPG, Consignia decided that a deal was not possible on acceptable terms. The Government agreed with this judgment.
Under Chapter 9. paragraph 9.4 of the UK Listing Authority Sourcebook, a company need not notify a regulatory information service about impending developments or matters in the course of negotiation. In addition, the possible merger negotiations between Consignia and TPG did not reach a stage where an announcement was required under section 2.2 of the Takeover Panel's City Code on Takeovers and Mergers.
Rebo
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: The Government support spectrum trading in principle and are committed to its introduction now that the necessary changes have been made to EC legislation. These take effect in July 2003. The independent review of radio spectrum management, to which we plan to respond in the summer, strongly endorsed this policy and recommended that trading should be introduced widely as soon as possible, including for mobile public
Whether the use of "cookies" to create online profiles of Internet users is contrary to the Data Protection Act 1998.[HL3948]
Whether they agree with the European Parliament's Committee on Citizens' Freedom, Justice and Home Affairs that Internet users should not be warned in advance when a website installs a "cookie" on their hard drive.[HL3949]
In the light of their commitment during the passage of the Postal Services Bill through this House, that in connection with acquisitions and disposals, the Post Office would conform to the reporting requirements of the Stock Exchange, why the Post Office did not immediately announce publicly the failure of the recent negotiations.[HL3892]
In the light of their commitment during the passage of the Postal Services Bill through this House that, in connection with acquisitions and disposals, the Post Office would conform to the reporting requirements of the Stock Exchange, what were the terms of the failed transaction that were being negotiated; what was the reason for the failure of the negotiations; and why the Post Office has not announced them.[HL3893]
Whether they believe that there is a legitimate case for spectrum-trading between the licences for 3G spectrum.[HL4080]
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