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Identity Cards
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate asked Her Majesty's Government:
What further investigations they have made on the design of the proposed identity card in the light of the conclusions of the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee Report (paragraph 197, 4 Report, Session 2003–04). [HL1791]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Government's response to the House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee report was published in October 2004 (Cm 6359). Pages 23 and 24 set out the changes to the Government's approach to issuing ID cards in the light of the committee's views.
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate asked Her Majesty's Government:
What consideration they have given to protecting the proposed identity card system should access to the central database be disabled for whatever reason; and how they propose to ensure that cards can be effectively used offline. [HL1792]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The National Identity Register will be held in secure environments. Access to the register itself will only be available to authorised persons. Although the design of the scheme is not yet finalised, it is intended to deliver a highly resilient on-line verification service, utilising some of the information held on the register. The verification service will have business continuity arrangements for users of the service which are also not yet finalised.
Lord Mackenzie of Framwellgate asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they propose to ensure that a forensic, non-erasable record of an identity card's history is maintained so that it can be used in criminal cases involving attempts to compromise the system. [HL1793]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The identity cards scheme will aim to comply with British standards PD5000 and BIS 0008 (code of practice for legal admissibility of information stored electronically).
6 Apr 2005 : Column WA118
UNHCR: Joint Quality Initiative Project on Asylum Claims
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees' observations in its initial report on the Joint Quality Initiative Project concerning the handling of asylum claims by government workers, the need for better background and country of origin information, and for training and support for staff involved in the first stage of the process. [HL1996]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Her Majesty's Government are still considering the full detail of this extremely useful report. We agree with many of the recommendations.
Cyprus: Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Human Rights Ordinance (9 of 2004) made by the administrator of the sovereign base areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia in Cyprus excludes the protection of the convention rights contained in Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights. [HL1869]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): The Human Rights Ordinance does not include the convention rights contained in the First Protocol to the convention because that protocol was not extended to the sovereign base areas by the United Kingdom. This is because the requirement to hold free elections under Article 3 of that protocol could not be given full effect to in the sovereign base areas as a result of the constitutional arrangements in place for the areas whereby the administrator is not an elected post. However, two ordinances have been enacted by the administrator to provide domestic rights based on those contained in Articles 1 and 2 of the First Protocol—the Protection of Property Ordinance 2004 (Ordinance 35 of 2004) and the Right to Education Ordinance 2005 (Ordinance 8 of 2005).
Armed Forces: Advice and Support for Child Recruits
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What information is provided to child recruits by HM Armed Forces about the nature of the obligations imposed upon them, and the avenues of complaint and redress in cases of alleged failure to provide a safe place and system of work, including protection against bullying. [HL1873]
Lord Bach: The nature of service discipline and obligations is explained to all recruits, including those aged under 18, on recruitment and throughout training. Although the information given to recruits varies slightly between services, individuals typically receive briefing on welfare and avenues of complaint within their first few days. They are provided with information on where to find advice and support (for example, through welfare staff, organisations such as the WRVS and chaplains), how to complain about inappropriate treatment, and how to access confidential support lines. Recruits are also issued with a welfare contact card showing all the relevant numbers and encouraging them to report any bullying or harassment.
Royal Navy: Ship Security Measures
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What funding they have made available for the protection of Her Majesty's ships in harbours and anchorages abroad, during each year from 2000 to 2005; and [HL1908]
What funding they will make available to develop further the protection of Her Majesty's ships in harbours and anchorages abroad. [HL1909]
Lord Bach: Under CINCFLEET financial accounting structures, the amount spent on security measures in the years in question could only be separated from the overall cost of ships' visits abroad at disproportionate cost.
Up to £1.5 million additional funding will, however, be earmarked for further protective measures on an as needed basis in the financial years 2005–09.
Gulf War Illnesses
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Bach on 22 March (WA 20–21), what was the total expenditure from public funds on the legal costs of contesting through the courts war pension claims of victims of the 1990–91 Gulf War. [HL1945]
Lord Bach: There has been one appeal to the High Court concerning a war pension claim by a veteran of the 1990–91 Gulf War. The total expenditure for external legal costs, which on an exceptional basis also included the veteran's own costs, amounted to £154,189.42.
International Traffic in Arms Regulations
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made on the International Trafficking in Arms Regulations waiver for United Kingdom defence and security programmes. [HL1972]
Lord Bach: We were disappointed that Congress again deleted the provision for an International Traffic in Arms Regulations exemption for the United Kingdom from the Defense Authorizations Act last November, but we welcome the fact that language was included in support of expeditious processing of export licence applications. In the light of this, we are discussing with the US Administration the ITAR waiver and the way forward on licensing and improved defence industrial co-operation.
Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will offer local authorities guidance on how to distinguish between the new Class A3 and the new Class A4 under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) (Amendment) (England) Order 2005 (S.I. 2005/84). [HL2024]
The Minister of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Lord Rooker): On 21 March the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister issued a circular instruction 03/2005 entitled, Changes of Use of Buildings and Land: The Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987. This circular provides a guide to the use classes order as amended by Statutory Instruments 2005/84 and 2000/85 which created the new classes A3 and A4. Copies have been made available in the Libraries of the House.
Jubilee Line Fraud Case
Lord Skelmersdale asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the court in the Jubilee Line fraud case sat on only 40 per cent of normal sitting days. [HL2017]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): I refer to the Statement submitted to the House on 22 March 2005 (Official Report, col. WS 18) by the Attorney-General. Time was lost due to illness, scheduled holidays, periods of paternity leave, and an operation. Legal argument has also involved substantial periods where the jury were not required to hear evidence.
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