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Northern Ireland: Military Reductions
Lord Rogan asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the statement by the Lord Bach on 21 July that the Ministry of Defence is withdrawing four regular battalions from Northern Ireland, what plans there are for the three Home Service Battalions of the Royal Irish Regiment. [HL3990]
Lord Bach: The Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) battalions are fundamental to the Armed Forces' support of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. No decisions have been taken concerning their future role, as it is premature to come to conclusions about the composition of the long-term garrison.
Lord Rogan asked Her Majesty's Government:
In the light of the International Monitoring Commission's second report, why they have announced plans for military reductions in Northern Ireland. [HL3991]
Lord Bach: The decision to transfer two largely rear-based battalions from the command of the General
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Officer Commanding (Northern Ireland) announced on 21 July has been possible due to the improving security situation in Northern Ireland.
Civil Servants: Company Directorships
Lord Rea asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Earl Howe on 1 February 1996 (WA 119) whether they they will publish an updated list of civil servants who have been allowed to accept directorships of companies, giving in each case the name of the civil servant, the date of the appointment and the name of the company; and whether they still consider it appropriate for civil servants to hold such posts. [HL3900]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: Since the previous Answer in 1996, authority has been delegated to departments and agencies by the Civil Service Management Code to determine in what circumstances it is acceptable for their staff to accept directorships and as such no central list of directorships is maintained.
Before assent is granted, consideration is given to conflicts of interest that might arise between the individual's areas of responsibility in the workplace and the proposed directorship.
This Government encourage the interchange of individuals between the public, voluntary and private sector and the benefits that can result for all those involved.
NHS Wales: Temporary Nursing Staff
Lord Howie of Troon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why National Health Service Wales has decided not to use National Health Service Professionals for the supply of temporary nursing staff to National Health Service trusts in Wales; and what the key factors were in this decision. [HL3936]
Lord Evans of Temple Guiting: Full consideration was given to temporary nurse staffing issues in Wales, and in particular the significant costs incurred by the use of these staff, following the Audit Commission report, Brief Encounter—Getting the best from Temporary Nursing Staff.
NHS trusts in Wales have full responsibility for the employment of temporary staff, including nurses, and make arrangements suited to their local needs rather than relying on another agent such as NHS Professionals. The National Assembly for Wales, in conjunction with Wales NHS trusts, is exploring the development and introduction of a single all-Wales contract that would reduce the levels of expenditure on agency nurse staffing in Wales.
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Freedom of Information Act 2000
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Freedom of Information Act 2000 comes fully into force on 1 January 2005.
Postal Voting
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many electors, representing what percentage of the electorate, were registered to vote by post for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in each constituency in Wales at the latest date for which figures are available; and [HL3962]
How many electors, representing what percentage of the electorate, were registered to vote by post for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in each constituency in England at the latest date for which figures are available. [HL3963]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Lord Filkin): The independent Electoral Commission's report, Postal votes, proxy votes and spoilt ballot papers at the 2001 general election, provides the information sought for each constituency in England and Wales at the 2001 general election, and is the most recent information that is available for elections to the United Kingdom Parliament. The report can be obtained from the Electoral Commission and a copy is in the Library of each House.
Mr Quayym Raja
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Court Service has not set a date for the case of Mr Quayym Raja to be referred to a judge for his minimum term of imprisonment to be reviewed, bearing in mind paragraph 28 of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in Easterbrook v United Kingdom, concerning the unreasonable delay in the fixing of tariffs. [HL4008]
Lord Filkin: The review of minimum terms set by the Home Secretary has been awaiting a guideline judgment from the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and Practice Direction from the Lord Chief Justice. The guideline judgment was delivered on 8 July in the case of R v Sullivan & Others and the Practice Direction was issued on 29 July. I expect Mr Raja's case to be reviewed shortly.
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United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish a list of those European states which have, and those which have not, accepted the First Optional Protocol to the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [HL4014]
Lord Filkin: I understand that the following member states of the European Union have ratified the First Optional Protocol to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden. The United Kingdom has not accepted the protocol.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which civil and political rights are protected by the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and not by the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL4015]
Lord Filkin: These instruments cover broadly similar areas but they are worded differently and the covenant appears in some respects to have wider scope. For example, Article 26 of the covenant appears to have a significantly broader compass than Article 14 of the convention (which is confined to discrimination in relation to the convention rights). Interpretation of the scope and application of the rights contained in the convention is a matter for the European Court of Human Rights. The covenant comes under a Human Rights Committee appointed by the General Assembly of the United Nations.
Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the results of their consultation on the Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments. [HL4016]
Lord Filkin: The report on our Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments was deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 22 July. It is also available on my department's website at: http://www.dca.gov.uk/hract/ngo/review–2002.htm
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Immigration Appellate Authority:Gloucester House
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Who authorised the installation of a mounted television screen in the waiting area of Gloucester House, part of the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) at Hatton Cross in London, where appellants and legal representatives meet in conference; how much the installation cost; and what plans there are to install similar screens in other IAA courts. [HL4033]
Lord Filkin: The installation of a mounted plasma screen into the Immigration Appellate Authority (IAA) hearing centre at Gloucester House was authorised as part of the procurement and fit-out process for the building, which became operational on 23 June 2003. The cost for the provision, and installation, of the plasma screen in the public waiting area of Gloucester House was £5,875 inclusive of VAT. Similar equipment is planned for the public waiting area of York House at Hatton Cross. A standard television has also been installed in the public area of the IAA hearing centre in Surbiton. The installation of television equipment into public areas provides a large range of training and customer uses to the operational hearing centre and is a component of the IAA commitment to providing a high standard of customer facilities for users. Video information regarding the IAA and entertainment, via terrestrial television, is provided for users waiting for hearings. The provision of television equipment into public areas is decided on a centre-by-centre basis.
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