| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
Crime: Bereavement Damages
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give effect to the recommendations of the Law Commission report Claims for Wrongful Death, published in 1999 (Law Com 263), so that bereavement damages are able to be claimed for the death of a partner; and, if not, for what reasons. [HL3561]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Government consulted on the recommendations in the Law Commission's report Claims for Wrongful Death in 2007. The consultation paper proposed to accept the commission's recommendation that the statutory list of those eligible to claim bereavement damages should be extended to include people who, although not married to the deceased, have lived with the deceased as husband and wife (or if of the same sex in an equivalent relationship) for not less than two years immediately prior to the accident causing the death. We aim to publish the Government's response to the consultation before the Summer Recess.
3 Jun 2008 : Column WA33
Crime: Racist Incidents
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 7 May (WA 67), whether the new hate-crime report will include all available information about the religion or belief of the defendants and victims; and what further steps they will take to ensure that police forces provide the Crown Prosecution Service with details of the religion or belief of defendants and victims. [HL3560]
The Attorney-General (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will produce publishable information about the religion or belief of defendants and victims, following the necessary validation and auditing process. The CPS will not be in a position to indicate the nature and extent of this information until autumn 2008, when the report is published. In the mean time, the CPS is in contact with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and is discussing the next steps regarding the provision of these data to the CPS.
Crime: Restorative Justice
Lord Harries of Pentregarth asked Her Majesty's Government:
When the final report on restorative justice will be published; and what plans they have for it to be considered by Parliament. [HL3785]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The fourth, and final, research report from the Crime Reduction Programme Restorative Justice Pilots, which is examining the impact of restorative justice on reoffending, is expected to be published later this month. Members of the House will have the opportunity to raise the report for debate in the normal ways.
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform: Name Change
Lord Barnett asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the cost of changing the name of the Department for Trade and Industry to the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. [HL3646]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (Baroness Vadera): I refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer to Mark Hoban MP of 18 February (Official Report, col. 381W) and the letter from Gareth Thomas MP to Susan Kramer MP of 26 November 2007 which has been placed in the House Library. These stated that the overall costs were £218,063. Extract from the letter to Susan Kramer MP:
3 Jun 2008 : Column WA34
“Costs incurred in setting up BERR total £218,063 as detailed below. These costs reflect the position at 21 November 2007. It is not anticipated that significant further costs will be incurred in relation to the transition from DTI to BERR”.
| Item | £ |
|
Rebranding and IT changes including revised e-mail addresses, new signage, web-based changes, new logo and print costs (including relaunch of BERR on 1 November 2007) | |
Subsequently, we have confirmed the actual costs of producing the branding guidelines as £20,000. This therefore brings the overall total to £214,063.
Egypt: Human Rights
Baroness Cox asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Malloch-Brown on 10 March (WA 199), whether they have made representations to the Government of Egypt about the reasons why Mr Mohammed Hegazy's conversion application was unsuccessful; and if so, whether those representations included representations about the ability to convert from Islam under Egyptian law. [HL3814]
The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government regularly raise religious freedom issues with the Egyptian Government and will continue to do so. Most recently our ambassador in Cairo raised the Hegazy case, and wider human rights concerns, with the Egyptian Minister of Interior on 22 April. We acknowledge the steps the Egyptian Government have taken to engage with us on these issues and welcome further human rights dialogue they have demonstrated a willingness to hold.
We recognise the difficulties Mr Hegazy and others have faced in their attempts to have religious conversion recognised under Egyptian law. We continue to urge the Government of Egypt to implement transparent and effective procedures in this respect.
We look forward to these issues being discussed at the June EU-Egypt political sub-committee established under the European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan.
Embryology
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 21 April (WA 246-47) regarding disclosure of the identity of clinics at which adverse incidents have occurred, which centres licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority removed 30 or more eggs per cycle from 3,952 women between
3 Jun 2008 : Column WA35
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Lord Darzi of Denham): The information requested has been placed in the Library.
Freedom of Information
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many requests under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Northern Ireland Office received in 2007; from whom; about what; and how much, if anything, was charged. [HL3739]
Lord Rooker: In 2007 the NIO processed 166 FOI requests. A further seven were transferred to other authorities. No fees were paid during 2007.
The table below shows the subject matter of the 166 requests. The names of those who made the requests have not been provided as to do so would be in breach of the Data Protection Act.
| Next Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |