| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
25 Oct 2004 : Column WA103
Written Answers
Monday, 25 October 2004.
Parliament Act 1949
Lord Brightman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have given consideration to the doubts expressed inside and outside Parliament concerning the validity of the Parliament Act 1949. [HL4483]
The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton): The Government have of course given consideration to the doubts expressed about the validity of the Parliament Act 1949 in responding to the issue when it has been raised in debates in your Lordships' House; for example, the Bill introduced by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Donaldson of Lymington, in December 2000. The Government's view remains that expressed by the late Lord Williams of Mostyn, that "There is no ambiguity in the Parliament Acts which needs to be corrected. The Parliament Act is a valid act of Parliament" (Official Report, 19/1/01; col. 1328).
Lord Brightman asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in response to doubts expressed inside and outside Parliament, they propose to introduce legislation to validate the Parliament Act 1949. [HL4484]
Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No.
Iraq: UK Public Expenditure
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the total United Kingdom public expenditure so far incurred in respect of (a) military action; (b) policing; (c) stabilising the interim government; and (d) reconstructing the infrastructure in Iraq. [HL4346]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): My right honourable Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set aside £3 billion in Budget 2003 as a special reserve to cover the cost of operations in Iraq; £1 billion was drawn down by the Ministry of Defence in the spring supplementary estimate for 2002-03.
The remaining £2 billion of this special reserve was carried forward to 2003-04. The Ministry of Defence drew down £1,539 million in the 2003-04 winter and spring supplementary estimates.
In the Pre-Budget Report 2003 the Chancellor announced a further £500 million for the special reserve in the financial year 2003-04 and a further £300 million for Iraq in 2004-05.
25 Oct 2004 : Column WA104
Since May 2003, the Iraq strategy of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) has received a total allocation of £24 million. Of this, £22.2 million has already been spent, or committed, on conflict prevention projects in Iraq, including work with the Iraqi Police Service.
The UK made a total financial commitment towards Iraq's reconstruction of £544 million for the three years from April 2003, including our share of proposed European Community spending in Iraq. To date, the Government, through the Department for International Development (DfID), have committed over £331 million for humanitarian and reconstruction assistance in Iraq, including projects to increase capacity in Iraqi government ministries.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their estimate of the total United Kingdom public expenditure that will be incurred in 2004–05 in respect of (a) military action; (b) policing; (c) stabilising the interim government; and (d) reconstructing the infrastructure in Iraq. [HL4347]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: It is too early to assess the military costs for 2004–05.
It is estimated that £19 million will be spent through the Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP) on conflict prevention projects in Iraq during 2004–05. This projected spend includes projects with the Iraqi Police Service.
The Department for International Development (DfID) estimates that it will spend £91 million on reconstruction assistance to Iraq during 2004–05, including projects to increase capacity in Iraqi government ministries.
Iraq: UN Activities
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What activities are being conducted by the United Nations in the area of Iraq for which the United Kingdom is responsible; what numbers of personnel, sites and vehicles these activities involve; and what views the United Nations has expressed to the United Kingdom authorities as to the sufficiency or otherwise of these security arrangements. [HL4426]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UN has one official in Basra responsible for overseeing the deployment in the immediate future of a five-to-six person UN liaison detachment. The UN has plans for an increase to 10 or 12 staff over the next two months, to include political, electoral and humanitarian staff. The UN is currently providing humanitarian assistance in the south from offices in Baghdad, Amman and Kuwait and through local staff in Iraq. Regular discussions continue between us, the UN and US officials to ensure adequate security arrangements for the UN throughout Iraq.
25 Oct 2004 : Column WA105
Israel and Palestine: Peace Education
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the study Policy Recommendations for Peace Education in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, recently published by the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information. [HL4348]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Any initiatives which encourage Israelis and Palestinians to work together, find partners for peace and encourage a return to the negotiating table are welcome. We therefore commend the work done by the Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI). We have shown our support for IPCRI in the past by funding initiative projects run by it.
European Convention on Human Rights: Derogation
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which European Union member states have derogated from the European Convention on Human Rights for the purposes of combating terrorism. [HL4350]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK is the only European Union member state to have a current derogation from the European Convention on Human Rights for the purposes of combating terrorism.
Arms Brokers
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress is being made within the European Union and the Council of Europe on establishing common standards for controlling arms brokers. [HL4376]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The European Union adopted a Common Position on the Control of Arms Brokering on 23 June 2003 (2003/468/CFSP). The Government are working for the revised EU Code of Conduct on Arms Exports to subject applications for arms brokering licences to the common criteria which are already applied to export licence applications. The Council of Europe currently has no activities in this area.
Somalia
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they acknowledge Mr Abdullahi Yusuf as President of Somalia; and, if so, whether they will urge him to evacuate his forces from Las Anod and other parts of Somaliland. [HL4384]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The EU issued a statement on 14 October congratulating Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed on his election as transitional President of the Somali Republic. We have reminded him of the importance of showing respect for existing zones of tranquility and of not resorting to military options for the resolution of differences.
Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made to the Government of Bahrain concerning the closure of the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights and the arrest of its executive director, Abdul Hadi Al-Khawaja. [HL4388]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Our ambassador has expressed our concerns to the Bahraini authorities. We are following events closely.
Gibraltar: Employment Framework Directive
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Employment Framework Directive 2000/78/EC has been implemented in Gibraltar so as to provide a general framework for combating discrimination on the grounds of religion or beliefs disability, age or sexual orientation as regards employment and occupation. [HL4391]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Council Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation was transposed into Gibraltar law by the Equal Opportunities Ordinance (Numbers 6 of 2004), published in the Gibraltar Gazette on 26 February 2004. Implementation of the provisions of the directive on age and disability discrimination is not required until 2006.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |