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Written Answers
Thursday, 20th June 2002.
Development Council, 30 May
Baroness Warwick of Undercliffe asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What the outcome was of the Development Council held on 30 May.[HL4725]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): At its meeting on 30 May, the Development Council, by consensus:
- agreed conclusions on the external dimension of EU Sustainable Development Strategy and preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development;
- agreed procedural conclusions welcoming a proposal to define a common EU approach to democracy and governance in developing countries;
- debated the reform of EC development assistance and the programme of action 2002;
- agreed a declaration reaffirming its support for the work of UNFPA; and
- agreed joint resolutions with member states on education and training in the context of poverty reduction in developing countries; and on health and poverty reduction in developing countries; a resolution on water management in developing countries; conclusions on improving EU development response towards ACP crisis and conflict affected countries, and on information and communication technologies in development; and declarations on the World Food Summit, and on the food crisis in southern Africa.
Pakistan: World Bank Loan
Lord Ahmed asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the United Kingdom's view on the World Bank loan to Pakistan agreed on 11 June.[HL4726]
Baroness Amos: The World Bank Board has voted in favour of the second structural adjustment credit ($500 million) to Pakistan. The loan is part of the international package of assistance to Pakistan's interim poverty reduction strategy and support reform measures that have already been taken. The UK made clear at the board meeting that we strongly support the Pakistan reform agenda but we expressed concerns about the risks posed by the threat of war and the low levels of social and poverty-related expenditures.
Zimbabwe: Consular Fees
Lord Gladwin of Clee asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their policy on charging for consular and visa services in Zimbabwe following the divergence in the official and parallel rates of exchange in that country.[HL4855]
Baroness Amos: Since July 2000, the British High Commission has been running its sterling post account using the parallel rate of exchange and charging for some of its consular and visa services using the parallel rate. It has held charges for other consular and visa services at the official rate. Initially, the two rates were broadly similar. But since February 2001 the parallel rate has diverged increasingly from the official rate and the Zimbabwe dollar is now trading on the parallel market at around 10 times the official sterling rate of exchange. In financial year 2001–02, this resulted in an under-recovery by the FCO of around £422,000 in consular fees.
In order to regularise the position and avoid any future shortfalls in recovery, the British High Commission will charge for all consular and visa services at the parallel exchange rate with effect from midnight on 23/24 June.
Centrex (National Police Training)
Viscount Simon asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How much Centrex (National Police Training) have paid to external consultants since February 2001; and what is the moneys paid to each company or consultant. [HL4572]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The readily available information on the number and value of contracts, which amounts to just over £3 million, awarded by Centrex (National Police Training) since February 2001 is shown below.
| Company | Value (£) |
| Addleshaw Booth & Co | 27,133 |
| Capita (5 Contracts) | 1,402,141 |
| CMG | 144,676 |
| Deloitte & Touche | 46,383 |
| Drivers Jonas | 553,731 |
| IWI Associates | 2,126 |
| Joanna Bloxham | 400 |
| Luther Pendragon | 28,200 |
| Mason Communications | 150,467 |
| Rainbow | 36,330 |
| Rouse & Co. | 1,195 |
| Salamander (7 contracts) | 302,525 |
| Turner Townsend | 204,183 |
| W S Atkins (2 contracts) | 39,732 |
| White Young Green | 33,488 |
| Willis | 21,189 |
| Wolff Olins | 10,103 |
| Total | 3,004,002 |
The majority of these contracts have been for buildings and estate repairs and to support the transition of national police training to its non-departmental public body (NDPB) status, providing senior management, legal, finance and human resource skills. Centrex will continue to employ consultants for a wide range of purposes, which include management consultancy, specialist training design and development, engineering and estate maintenance and short-term support to cover key staff vacancies or one-off projects.
The Early of Shrewsbury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether Kent County Constabulary is conducting an internal investigation into the circumstances whereby journalists from Meridian TV and BBC TV Kent were allowed to use prohibited firearms by Kent County Constabulary personnel without having the authorisation of the Home Secretary; and, if so, whether they will place a copy of the report of the investigation in the Library of the House.[HL4644]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The force has issued a statement accepting that the use of firearms on this occasion was inappropriate and apologising for the embarrassment caused to the police authority, the Home Office and those attending the briefing. They have amended their range operating procedures to ensure that unauthorised civilians will not in future be allowed access to police firearms. They have considered whether or not the matter should be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service but have decided not to do so.
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a person who makes a local authority aware of an issue such as anti-social behaviour and who at that stage is not a covert human intelligence source (CHIS) becomes a CHIS once the local authority has given that person a log sheet to make a record of future behaviour.[HL4402]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Filkin): Under Section 26(8) of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA), a person becomes a covert human intelligence source when he establishes or maintains a personal or other relationship with a person for the purpose of covertly obtaining information or covertly disclosing information. Authorities which may ask a person to keep information will need to consider whether these conditions are met and whether authorisation is required.
The Earl of Northesk asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Filkin: The Government's view is that for the purposes of Chapter I Part I of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, the times when a communication is taken to be in the course of its transmission, including over the Internet, include any time when it is stored on the system for the intended recipient to collect or access. For example, this means that an interception takes place where an electronic mail message stored on a web-based service provider is accessed so that its contents are made available to someone other than the sender or intended recipient. Access to a stored communication by the exercise of a statutory power (e.g. under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984) for the purpose of obtaining information or taking possession of a document or other property is also lawful by virtue of Section 1(5) (c) of the Act.
Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will estimate the number of asylum seekers who remain in the United Kingdom after decisions have been taken not to grant them asylum, including those in the process of appealing against those decisions. [HL4643]
Lord Filkin: I regret that the information requested is not available. Applicants do not always inform the Immigration Service prior to leaving the United Kingdom. We are making improvements in the area of contact management as detailed in the current White Paper: Secure Borders, Safe Haven: Integration with Diversity in Modern Britain, paragraph 4.42.
This states that those in the proposed accommodation centres may be required to report on a daily basis within the accommodation centre. Those dispersed and those who do not require National Asylum Support Service (NASS) accommodation will also be required to report at the NASS address, at reporting centres or at police stations attended by staff from the Immigration and Nationality Directorate. During the induction process asylum seekers will be advised of their obligations to notify any change of address and to report as required. Provision of support will be made conditional on asylum seekers reporting as required.
Within the framework of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, at what points data being transmitted over the Internet are deemed to be (a) in transit and (b) stored.[HL4608]
Whether they will estimate the number of asylum seekers who have disappeared within the United Kingdom since June 1997 before their cases have been considered; and [HL4642]
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