| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Written Answers
Thursday, 18th July 2002.
Personal Data in the Public Sector
Lord Woolmer of Leeds asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many separate electronic databases they hold on average on each male and female United Kingdom citizen. [HL3366]
The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn): The information requested is not held centrally. The public sector utilises a range of databases with varying degrees of national or local coverage, with different data sets and sources of updates.
As the noble Lord may be aware, the Government published a report by the Performance and Innovation Unit, Privacy and Data-Sharing: The Way Forward for Public Services in April 2002. The report sets out a strategy for improving the use of personal data in the public sector, while safeguarding the individual's privacy. The Government are consulting on, and taking forward the PIU recommendations. Copies of the report are available in the Library. I apologise to the noble Lord for the delay in issuing this reply.
Prime Minister: Holiday in Egypt
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Why the Written Answers on 22 May (WA 110) and 20 June (WA 104) by the Lord Privy Seal to the Lord Tebbit's questions regarding the apparent conflict between the statement of the Prime Minister's spokesman and the Prime Minister's entry in the Register of Members' Interests concerning the latter's holiday in Egypt did not relate to the Questions asked. [HL4958]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: There is nothing further to add to my answers of 1 May (WA 133), 22 May (WA 110) and 20 June (WA 104).
No. 10 Downing Street
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any contribution is made to the costs of the Prime Minister's official residence in respect of any use for business purposes by the wife of the Prime Minister. [HL4959]
Ministerial Accountability
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 11 June (WA 33–4) which declined to give precedents for the use of the Prime Ministerial apartments in No. 10 Downing Street by wives of Prime Ministers for meetings with
- their business clients on the ground that "Ministers of this Government are not accountable for what happened under previous administrations" and further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 27 June (WA 160) which gave precedents from former administrations in stating why they do not make it a practice to publish formal details of Cabinet meetings on a systematic basis, whether they would now clarify their answers so as to achieve consistency.[HL5026]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Guidance on Ministers' accountability for events under a previous administration is set out in Volume 2 of the Directory of Civil Service Guidance, copies of which are in the Library of the House. The practice under successive administrations of not providing formal details of Cabinet meetings on a systematic basis is a matter of public record and is set out in the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information and the Guidance on its Interpretation.
Northern Ireland: Publication of Report by Sir John Stevens
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they intend to publish in full the report of the investigation by Sir John Stevens into alleged collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.[HL4929]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The investigation by Sir John Stevens into the murder of Patrick Finucane and associated allegations was commissioned by the then Chief Constable of the RUC in 1999. The report Sir John produces as a result of that investigation will be submitted to the Chief Constable of the PSNI and questions regarding publication will be a matter for Sir John and the Chief Constable.
Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Death Threats
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people in Northern Ireland are currently considered to be directly under paramilitary death threat; and what steps they are taking to address the problem.[HL4713]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: One hundred and forty people in Northern Ireland have received death threats from paramilitary organisations. When a threat becomes known, individuals are informed and appropriate steps are taken in each particular case.
Northern Ireland: Intimidation
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many people have been threatened out of their homes in Northern Ireland since 1 January.[HL5053]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Her Majesty's Government do not keep statistics on the number of people intimidated from their homes.
Northern Ireland Paramilitary Organisations: Ceasefire Status
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 26 June (WA135) concerning paramilitaries on ceasefire while developing and testing weapons of mass destruction, whether the answer is yes or no.[HL5128]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government have consistently stated that ceasefires, however they are defined are not enough. Indeed, the Prime Minister clarified that position by stating there can be no halfway house on the road to peace. We must see a complete move away from all paramilitary activity and its preparations including targeting and training along with the decommissioning of all illegal weapons.
Northern Ireland: Electoral Malpractice
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- How many prosecutions were brought as a result of electoral malpractice in each Northern Ireland constituency after the elections of June 2001.[HL5325]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: No prosecutions were brought as a result of electoral malpractice in Northern Ireland following the elections held on 7 June 2001. However, three arrests were made at the elections—one for personation and two for possession of false documents and these are being taken forward by the police. In addition, seven cases of electoral malpractice by candidates and two of maladministration by poll staff have been reported to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
International Terrorist Organisations: Proscription
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In view of recent information concerning links between the IRA and FARC, the Colombian terrorist group, whether they will consider proscribing as international terrorist organisations both groups.[HL5182]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Provisional IRA is proscribed under the Terrorism Act 2000. The Colombian FARC is not proscribed, but the list of proscribed organisations is kept under review and decisions to proscribe or deproscribe are taken after careful consideration of all relevant aspects.
Police Service of Northern Ireland: Full-time Reserve
Lord Eames asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What are their plans for the future of the Full-time Reserve of the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and[HL5138]
Whether they have taken into account the overall numerical strength of the Police Service of Northern Ireland in formulating their policy on the future of the Full-time Reserve; and[HL5139]
When they will publish plans for the future of the Full-time Reserve of the Police Service of Northern Ireland; and[HL5141]
Whether uncertainty regarding the future of the Full-time Reserve of the Police Service of Northern Ireland is having any detrimental effect on the morale of the Service.[HL5142]
Lord Wiliams of Mostyn: The Government remain committed to the objective of phasing out the Full-time Reserve in line with the Patten report and the Implementation Plan.
The Policing Board has asked the PSNI in the context of the service's overall human resources strategy, to prepare detailed proposals, including the Full-time Reserve, to be considered by the board. The Government will want to hear the board's views, in conjunction with the Chief Constable's assessment, before final decisions are made and announced.
The Government recognise the effect of uncertainty on officers and their families. We hope that it will be possible to reach conclusions on this issue in the near future.
Saintfield Police Station
Lord Kilclooney asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any proposals to close the police station in Saintfield, County Down or to reduce the number of policemen based in Saintfield PSNI (Police Service of Northern Ireland) station; and what they see as the future of policing in Saintfield.[HL5094]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: I have been advised by the Acting Chief Constable that there are no current plans to close Saintfield station or to decrease the number of officers serving Downpatrick DCU which covers the Saintfield area. The Government remain committed to providing the necessary resources to ensure that the police service operates effectively, however, the future of policing in Saintfield is an operational matter and as such is the responsibility of the Chief Constable in consultation with the Policing Board.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |