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Gypsy and Irish Traveller Children: Education
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the small number of children identified as "Traveller of Irish Heritage" and "Gypsy Roma" in the Department for Education and Skills London Challenge Families of Schools survey, they will review the methodology of the Pupil Level Annual School Census to ensure that Gypsy and Irish Traveller pupils are accurately enumerated. [HL184]
Lord Filkin: The Pupil Level Annual Schools Census (PLASC) collects individual pupil information for all pupils in primary, secondary and special schools, city technology colleges and academies. This includes information on pupils' ethnicity. Categories for Romany Gypsies and Travellers of Irish Heritage were introduced to PLASC in 2003.
Ethnic background is defined as sensitive personal data under data protection legislation. One of a number of conditions must be met before processing of sensitive personal data. The data subject (ie the pupil or their parent) can refuse to provide this information and cannot be pressed to provide it.
In 2004 there were almost 98,000 (or 1.4 per cent) in PLASC where information on ethnic origin was refused.
There are no current plans to review the methodology of the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census itself. However, the Department is planning to host discussion seminars with a selected number of LEAs and interested parties, including Traveller communites, to gain a more informed assessment of the reasons for the small number of children identified as Travellers of Irish Heritage or Gypsy/Roma. Additional good practice guidance on collecting ethnic background data from Traveller parents will be issued following these seminars.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish a table showing the number of children identified as "Traveller of Irish Heritage" and "Gypsy Roma" in the Pupil Level Annual Schools Census for 2003 and 2004 for each local education authority in England. [HL185]
Lord Filkin: The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Zimbabwe: England Cricket Tour
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
What meetings they have had with the England and Wales Cricket Board, its chairman, manager or players regarding the current cricket tour of Zimbabwe; and what advice they have given. [HL267]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Lord McIntosh of Haringey): My right honourable friends the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport met the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to discuss the tour on 6 May 2004. Officials from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in both London and Harare have been in contact with the ECB since then.
During these discussions, the Government made it clear that, while they would have preferred that the tour did not take place, it was for the ECB and not the Government to make the decision. The Government have no powers to instruct the ECB to tour or not to tour.
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Employment Tribunals
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the change in Section 2(9)(d) of the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/2351) whereby it is no longer a requirement to have regard to the representative's ability to pay, what guidance will be given to tribunals or chairmen on the exercise of their new discretionary powers. [HL89]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Sainsbury of Turville): This change was a minor correction to achieve consistency between the provisions on "wasted costs" awards against representatives and those on costs and preparation time awards against parties. Guidance to tribunals and chairmen is a matter for the judicial presidents of the tribunals.
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
Which Ministers of the Crown have powers to invoke the National Security Proceedings provisions under Section 54(1)–(4) of the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1861). [HL92]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Any Minister of the Crown may invoke the procedures set out in this rule.
Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether a chairman can review his own judgment under Section 33(4) of the Employment Tribunals (Constitution and Rules of Procedure) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1861). [HL93]
Lord Sainsbury of Turville: Yes.
Croatia: International Criminal Tribunal
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is their view that, following the address by Carla del Ponte, prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia to the United Nations Security Council on 23 November, the Republic of Croatia is fulfilling its obligation towards the tribunal. [HL137]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): The Government have noted the serious concerns about Croatian co-operation raised by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia Chief Prosecutor in her recent report to the United Nations Security Council. We fully support the Chief Prosecutor's assessment that co-operation cannot be considered to be full until all necessary steps have been
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taken to locate and apprehend fugitive indictee Ante Gotovina. We have urged the Croatian Government to take immediate steps to address the concerns raised, and have underlined that full co-operation with the tribunal remains a prerequisite for further European Union and NATO integration.
EU: Constitution
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish as a Command Paper or other document, setting down for each article, protocol, declaration, or other part of the final version of the text of the Constitution for the European Union signed in Rome on 29 October:
(a) those parts already in force in the United Kingdom by virtue of existing treaties, or other agreements, already in force;
(b) those that will be enforceable after ratification; and
(c) similar particulars for each signatory state, or indication of where such particulars may be obtained. [HL164]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following the commitment made to Parliament by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister on 4 May (Official Report, col. 1456W), we are preparing an analysis of the EU Constitution comparing it with the existing EU and Community treaties and indicating which parts of the constitution correspond to provisions in the existing treaties and which parts are new. We now intend to publish it early in 2005.
Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the entry into force in the United Kingdom of the European Union Constitutional Treaty, which body would have the final power of (a) interpreting the wording of the constitution; and (b) determining its application in the United Kingdom. [HL251]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The bodies which under existing law have power to interpret the EU and Community treaties and to determine their application in the United Kingdom will have a similar role in relation to the EU Constitutional Treaty, if it comes into force for the UK.
Kosovo: Roma People
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they support the recommendations made by the Ombudsperson in Kosovo, Marek Antoni Nowicki, in his letter of 22 November, to the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Soren Jessen-Peterson, drawing attention to the living conditions which internally
- displaced Roma are facing in Northern Kosovo, and recommending that the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo take immediate action to assist them. [HL170]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The UK welcomes the letter of the Ombudsperson Institution in Kosovo to draw attention to the living conditions of Roma internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Kosovo. We are committed to supporting the efforts of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo in building a democratic, tolerant and stable Kosovo, entrenching minority rights and security and improving living conditions for all inhabitants in Kosovo. A representative from the British Office in Pristina visited the ombudsperson's office on 3 December to express our concerns at, and reiterate our support for, improving the situation of all minority communities and IDPs in Kosovo. The UK is currently funding training for local citizens and public officials in human rights. In addition, it is pursuing other projects aimed at assisting minority communities, including in Northern Kosovo.
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