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North Belfast: Rioting on 12 July
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether rioting in North Belfast on 12 July was organised by an organisation on ceasefire; and, if so, whether this is consistent with being on ceasefire.[HL5411]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government condemn without reservation all sectarian violence in Northern Ireland. Those who indulge in street rioting and attacks on the police are attacking the future of society and frustrating the will of the vast majority of law-abiding people. We will continue to keep under review the activities of all paramilitary organisations. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has stated that he will not hesitate to use his statutory powers should the circumstances require it.
Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether there are any occasions on which a court has overturned a decision of the Northern Ireland
- Human Rights Commission on the grounds that it acted contrary to legal advice.[HL5412]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- In the light of the letter from Professor Brice Dickson of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission dated 10 July and lodged in the Library of the House, whether the Casework Committee makes majority decisions about initiating legal actions in the name of the Commission; whether this represents a departure from past practice; and what is their view of this arrangement.[HL5413]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body and as such is responsible for its own policy. It is not for Government to comment on its policy and practices.
I have therefore referred this Question to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission for a response on whether the arrangement regarding the casework committee and legal actions is a departure from past practice. The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the report by Hosking into the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was sent to them; and what action they propose.[HL5414]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission sent a copy of the report written by Peter Hosking to me on 5 July. The report is at present being considered and the Government will respond in due course.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they have asked the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to comment on the discussion at Weston Park in 2001; and what discussions have taken place with the commission concerning the killings which will be considered for international judicial investigation.[HL5415]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government have not discussed the Weston Park talks, nor the cases included in the remit of Justice Peter Cory, with the commission.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the officials of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, including Professor Brice Dickson, are dealing with officials of the Northern Ireland Office of a similar rank.[5576]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Office is the sponsoring department for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. Therefore most contacts are about administrative matters.
Managing a sponsoring relationship between a government department and a public body would quite normally be dealt with at Grade B2 (Higher Executive Officer) level and often below.
It is for the commission to decide how best to apportion duties within its own staff, but it would be inappropriate for more senior staff within the Government to take on relatively junior duties simply to mirror the commission's chosen staffing structure.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their response to the point in a letter from Professor Brice Dickson of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, which is lodged in the Library of the House, that it is for the Government to say whether it was correct for legal opinion to be provided by employees of the commission.[HL5577]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: It is acceptable for the commission to receive legal advice from appropriately qualified employees. However, it is entirely the commission's decision whether or not that advice is acted upon.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 16 July (WA 146), what conditions were attached to the grant in October 2001 of £25,000 to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.[HL5627]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission bid for £25,000 was in order to finance an independent evaluation. The conditions set out by the Government were that the review should be split into three parts:
- i. An evaluation of the commission's effectiveness in setting out strategic structures.
- ii. An evaluation of its management systems and organisational structure.
- iii. An evaluation of its communication/presentational strategy.
Northern Ireland Health Workers: Security
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What steps they propose to take to increase security for health workers in Northern Ireland following the recent spate of attacks.[HL5529]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government condemn the recent threats to hospital staff and attacks on members of the emergency services, who provide a vital service to all the people of Northern Ireland. Those who engage in these sectarian attacks need to be reminded that some day they or their families may be in a situation where they require the help of the emergency services. The police are doing all they can to prevent these types of attacks and to apprehend those responsible.
Downing Street: Entertainment Budget
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 16 July (WA 146) that "it is not our practice to break down the total cost of each individual reception" (at Downing Street and Chequers), whether this is because of difficulty in doing so or because of an unwillingness so to do.[HL5445]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The information requested is not readily available for all individual receptions since 1997. We keep a global figure of the total cost of an official entertainment at 10 Downing Street and Chequers each year and these figures were provided in my Answer of 12 June (WA 35).
The Prime Minister provided a list of official and charity receptions held at Downing Street since 1 May 1997 in response to a Parliamentary Question. I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
Downing Street: Use of Apartments
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Lord Macdonald of Tradeston on 9 May (WA 202) that "there has been no change in the arrangements governing the occupation of apartments in Downing Street", what those arrangements are; and when they were made.[HL5446]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: Under successive administrations, Prime Ministers and their families have occupied the apartments in Downing Street. Guidance on the use of these apartments is set out in the Ministerial Code. Similar guidance was set out in Questions of Procedure for Ministers issued by the then Prime Minister under the last Conservative administration.
Goverment Policies: Precedent
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether in future they intend to refrain from using precedents set by former administrations in justification of their policies or actions.[HL5447]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government will continue to answer Parliamentary Questions in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Code.
Ardoyne Area: Security Arrangements
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When the new security arrangements agreed for the Ardoyne area of North Belfast will be completely in place.[HL5531]
Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Government have fulfilled their commitment in taking forward a number of security measures in the Ardoyne area. The new security fence along Alliance Avenue/Glenbryn Park was completed in February this year. Also in February, a CCTV unit erected by the PSNI at the junction of Ardoyne Road/Alliance Avenue became operational. In addition, during the early summer period the PSNI installed CCTV units at various sites throughout North Belfast, including Ardoyne and Crumlin Road, and introduced dedicated community policing arrangements in these areas.
As set out in the Statement by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 24 July, the additional police and soldiers have already been brought in to North Belfast at the interface areas. The other measures, including the Attorney-General's examination of police powers, bail arrangements and the scope for additional criminal offences are all being taken forward with the utmost expediency.
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