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Central African Republic: Assistance toHIV Sufferers
Baroness Rawlings asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What assistance, if any, they are offering to HIV sufferers in the Central African Republic.[HL855]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Amos): We are not providing any direct assistance to HIV sufferers in the Central African Republic (CAR). The Department for International Development assistance to CAR is provided through multilateral channels, including UN agences and the EU (of which DfID's share is approximately 19 per cent).
Belfast Agreement: Letter from Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Committee
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they agree with the Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Committee, who in a letter of 11 November to the Northern Ireland Court Service indicated that the Belfast Agreement requires the abolition of references to the Sovereign and neutrality and inclusiveness in the administration of justice.[HL463]
The Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): Correspondence of this type would normally be treated in confidence. I do not therefore propose to comment on the detail of what is in the commissioner's letter of 11 November except to say it relates to a number of draft amendments to the Coroners Rules in Northern Ireland which are under consideration, including an amendment to the form of oath to be taken by a juror in a Coroners Court in Northern Ireland. The commissioner's views are of course a matter for him, but I do not understand his letter to say that the removal of references to the Sovereign is a requirement of the Belfast Agreement.
Management of Private Office Papers
Lord Henley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What guidance they give to departments as to how they should retain copies of correspondence between Ministers and Members of Parliament relating to constituency problems.[HL796]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Ministers' official papers, including correspondence with Members of Parliament relating to the work of departments, are public records. In common with all public records, they are reviewed for disposal or preservation in line with the requirements of the Public Records Acts 1958 and 1967, the latter of which established the 30-year rule. The Public Record Office has published guidance entitled Management of Private Office Papers, which is available on the Public Record Office website at: www.pro.gov.uk/recordsmanagement/standards/privateoffice. Copies of this guidance will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
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