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UK civilian casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan
During the same period, we are aware of the deaths of 12 UK nationals in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. These figures only include those cases where consular assistance has been sought. The figures do not include UK dual nationals. For reasons of confidentiality, we are unable to release specific details.
Kosovo
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will work with the Government of Kosovo, the NATO Kosovo Force, the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo and the relevant European Union institutions and officials to ensure the safety of all Kosovans, both north and south of the Ibar river. [HL2177]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The UK is committed to working with Kosovo's Government, the North
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The UK contributes around 175 troops to KFOR, a ready battalion to NATO's pan-Balkans reserve force and a two-star general, working to reform the Kosovo Protection Corps. In addition, around 60 UK police officers are working with the UN Mission in Kosovo. The UK intends to contribute a similar number to the EU's police and Rule of Law Mission to Kosovo.
Local Government Ombudsman
Lord Morris of Manchester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Andrews on 26 February (WA 113), when they last reviewed the powers of the Local Government Ombudsman in cases where a local authority has repeatedly not given effect to the ombudsman's findings; and whether they will establish a further such review. [HL2210]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): While the Government keep the powers of the Local Government Ombudsman under careful review with the ombudsmen, there are no current plans for a specific review of this matter. The vast majority of local authorities and other bodies which fall within the ombudsman's jurisdiction abide by the ombudsman's recommendations. In 2007-08 to date, only two local authorities have been required to publish a statement of the kind referred to in my Answer of 26 February. No statements were published in 2006-07 and only one was published in 2005-06.
NHS: Staff
Baroness Finlay of Llandaff asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many physical assaults on NHS staff were reported in the last three years; and what proportion of those assaults took place on (a) hospital premises, and (b) other NHS premises; and [HL2235]
How many incidents of nuisance and disturbance to NHS staff other than physical assaults were reported in the last three years; and what proportion of these took place on (a) hospital premises, and (b) other NHS premises. [HL2236]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): In April 2003 the National Health Service Security Management Service (SMS) was created and assumed responsibility for tackling violence against NHS staff. Since 2004-05 the NHS SMS has collected data on the
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Information on numbers of incidents of nuisance and disturbance to NHS staff other than physical assaults is not collated centrally.
Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
With which Northern Ireland Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament and Peers the chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum has had meetings since his appointment. [HL2186]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given on 3 March (Official Report, col. WA 156.)
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average number of days per week that the chairman of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum spent in Northern Ireland between his appointment and the end of 2007. [HL2187]
Lord Rooker: The Northern Ireland Office does not keep a record of Mr Sidoti’s movements. The noble Lord may wish to write to the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the chairmanship of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum is a full-time position. [HL2188]
Lord Rooker: Chris Sidoti, the chair of the Bill of Rights Forum, has worked on a part-time basis since his appointment on 15 March 2007.
The Bill of Rights Forum is due to report to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 31 March 2008, by which time we estimate that Chris Sidoti will have worked 70 days.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
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Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given on 3 March (Official Report, col. WA 157).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Rooker: I am advised that no payment is made to members of the Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum.
Northern Ireland: Equality Commission
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
With which Northern Ireland Members of the Legislative Assembly, Members of Parliament and Peers the chairman of the Equality Commission has had meetings since his appointment. [HL2185]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given on 28 February (Official Report, col. WA 137).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether an equality impact assessment was prepared for the Northern Ireland Equality Commission's most recent allocation of funding; if so, whether they will place a copy in the Library of the House; and if not, why not. [HL2190]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given on 28 February (Official Report, col. WA 137).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland uses the Irish language on its website but not Ulster Scots when both languages are recognised as equal under the Belfast Agreement of 1998. [HL2218]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given on 28 February (Official Report, col. WA 137).
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many cases have been referred to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland each year since its creation; how many have been supported by the commission; and of those how many have been successful in court. [HL2219]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer given on 28 February (Official Report, col. WA 137).
Nuclear Weapons
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they support to reduce the stock and proliferation of nuclear weapons throughout the world. [HL2273]
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Lord Bach: The UK is committed to working towards a world free from nuclear weapons and to zero tolerance of proliferation. We will use the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty 2008 Preparatory Committee to take forward work to strengthen the treaty. The UK will promote consensus around key measures encompassing the treaty's three pillars: zero tolerance of proliferation; safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technology; and a reinvigorated commitment to a world free from nuclear weapons.
The UK has now met the commitment outlined in the 2006 White Paper on the future of the UK nuclear deterrent to reduce the number of operationally available warheads to fewer than 160. The explosive power of our nuclear arsenal has been reduced by 75 per cent since the end of the Cold War.
Passports
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many passports for (a) citizens, and (b) subjects were issued during 2007 by the British embassy in Dublin. [HL2274]
Lord Bach: Our embassy in Dublin issued 9,543 passports between 1 January and 31 December 2007. Of these 9,501 were EU common format passports and 42 were non-EU passports.
EU common format passports can be issued to either British citizens or to British subjects who have a connection to Ireland, as both are eligible to receive the benefits that are afforded to EU citizens (eg free movement within the EU).
We do not hold figures on the proportion of these passports that were issued to British citizens and British subjects. Collating this information would incur disproportionate cost.
Planning
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
Following the remarks of Mr Justice Mitting in Regina (Buglife—The Invertebrate Conservation Trust) v Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation that the biodiversity duty in Section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 was weak and that the statutory duty of a development corporation to regenerate an area must prevail over it and all other considerations, including planning policy statement 9, whether they will strengthen planning policy statement 9.[HL2211]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government (Baroness Andrews): We have no plans to amend planning policy statement 9 at this time. Planning policy statements set out the Government's national policies on different aspects of planning. Planning authorities must have regard to these policies when preparing plans and they are material considerations which must be taken into account, where relevant, in decisions on planning applications.
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It would be inappropriate to comment on the merits of an individual case, particularly in advance of consideration of the full judgment and with the possibility of an appeal.
Prisoners: Life Sentences
Lord Wallace of Tankerness asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many life prisoners had their licences revoked and were recalled to prison under (a) Section 32(1) and (b) Section 32(2) of the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 in each of the years 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. [HL2230]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The requested information is provided in the Table below.
| Number of life prisoners recalled | ||
| Year | Section 32(1) | Section 32(2) |
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