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Anti-terrorism Laws: Law Lords' Judgement

Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:

On what legal basis they continue to hold the foreign terrorist suspects in HM Belmarsh prison, following the ruling of the Lords of Appeal in Ordinary on 16 December. [HL552]

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): I refer the noble Lord to the Statement I made on 20 December 2001.

Identity Cards

Lord Pearson of Rannoch asked Her Majesty's Government:

To what extent their proposals for identity cards are required by the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union. [HL581]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The European Community does not have competence to introduce measures on national identity cards. There are therefore no requirements arising from the United Kingdom's membership of the European Union in respect of its proposals for identity cards.
 
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Terrorism: Remands

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many persons are currently held on remand in connection with terrorism offences; whether they are all men; and how long it is expected to take to bring all cases to court. [HL634]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Currently, 21 men are being held on remand having been charged with terrorist related offences which include conspiracy to cause explosions and conspiracy to murder.

These cases are at different stages in the criminal justice process and it is not therefore possible to give an overview of the timetable of court dates. Cases relating to offences perpetrated by terrorists are often very complex and usually involve in-depth forensic analysis and other detailed information. Therefore, such cases may take longer than those associated with other criminal action.

Terrorism: Extraditions

Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many persons are currently held for possible extradition to face terrorism charges; and by when they expect decisions to be reached in these cases. [HL635]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: 13 persons are currently subject to extradition proceedings on charges connected to terrorist activity. The cases are at various stages of the extradition process. It is not possible to specify by when a final decision in each case will be taken; but the UK takes its international obligations in this area very seriously and aims to complete all of the cases as quickly as the process allows.

Terrorist Attacks and Incidents

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many terrorist attacks and incidents took place in the United Kingdom between 1971 and 1974; how many people were killed and injured; what was the value of property damaged or destroyed in each attack; and what were the comparable statistics between 2001 and 2004. [HL661]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The period 1971–74 saw the height of the troubles in Northern Ireland. The police, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, have always considered acts of terrorism, ranging from bombings and shootings, down to intimidation and assault, as criminal acts and record
 
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them as such. Given the potentially wide definition that could be applied to "terrorist attacks and incidents" it is impossible to ascertain how many there were in the UK.

Similarly, although individual insurance companies and other financial institutions may hold information about the cost to business and infrastructure from specific major attacks such as at Bishopsgate, the Home Office does not. It is not possible to separate out smaller criminal incidents involving terrorists from those caused by other criminals.

Aircraft Carriers

Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:

Who will lead the integrated project team for the new aircraft carriers, following the departure of Mr Ali Baghai. [HL717]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): John Coles CB has been appointed as the interim team leader for the future aircraft carrier (CVF) project.

Travellers

Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the light of the Prime Minister's statement on 12 January (HC Deb, col. 297) on the rights of Travellers that "the interests of the ordinary public have to come first", they consider (a) that Travellers are members of the public; and (b) that it is necessary to strike a balance between the rights of Travellers and the rights of other members of the public. [HL780]

The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker): The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister agrees that Travellers are members of the public whose rights are to be respected. Those rights have to be balanced with those of other members of the public.

The European Court of Human Rights has recognised, in the planning field, the complexity and sensitivity of the issues involved in policies balancing the interests of the general population, in particular with regard to environmental protection, and the interests of a minority with possibly conflicting requirements. This balancing exercise is a matter for local planning authorities in the first instance and the Secretary of State, my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister, on appeal.

Along with rights come responsibilities: the government, local authorities and local communities have a responsibility to facilitate the undeniable need for sites, while Travellers have a responsibility to act reasonably, co-operatively and abide by planning law.
 
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Families in Temporary Accommodation

The Earl of Listowel asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, in the case of families in temporary accommodation who are placed at some distance from their home area, assistance is offered towards the travel costs incurred when they seek to maintain contact with their extended family or community; and, if so, what assistance. [HL787]

Lord Rooker: Where a family is placed in temporary accommodation by a local housing authority as a discharge of a homelessness duty the authority must ensure that the accommodation is suitable and, so far as reasonably practical, is located within the authority's boundaries. Affordability and the location of the accommodation, particularly with regard to any need for the family to maintain links with community, family support, and public services such as school, doctor and hospital, are both factors that must be considered when determining suitability. There is no specific requirement on the housing authority to provide assistance towards travel costs.

Referendum Campaigns: Ministerial Involvement

Lord Stoddart of Swindon asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Ashton of Upholland on 2 December 2004 (WA 15), whether the likely costs to a person alleging a breach of Section 125 of the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 in making a challenge by way of judicial review are likely to be so high as to deter any challenge being made; and whether the Attorney-General has the power to act on a complaint from a person that a Minister has committed a breach of Section 125. [HL662]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The costs of making a challenge by way of judicial review will depend on the circumstances of the particular case, and whether they would be likely to deter an individual from making a challenge would depend on that person's own circumstances.

The Attorney-General has no statutory role of enforcing Section 125. A complainant might ask the Attorney-General to bring a relator action to enforce the section. It would be a matter for the Attorney General's discretion whether to bring such an action. He might decline to do so if it were open to the complainant to pursue his complaint by way of judicial review. It would in any event be for the complainant to meet the costs of any relator action.
 
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Secondary Schools: New and Replacement Schools

Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many competitions for new secondary schools there have been in 2003, 2004 and 2005 to date. [HL614]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Lord Filkin): There have been no competitions for new secondary schools since the requirement for a competition for additional secondary schools was introduced in June 2003. The Education Bill currently before Parliament will extend the requirement for a competition to all new secondary schools, including schools replacing existing schools as a result of reorganisation, unless the Secretary of State agrees that in a particular case the objectives of increasing the quality and diversity of provision could be met by other proposals commanding support in the area.

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