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The Hamill, Nelson and Wright inquiries were announced to Parliament on 16 November 2004. The average monthly cost of running the inquiries in each financial year since then is as follows:
| Average monthly spend by financial year (£000) | |||||
| Inquiry | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 |
The Bloody Sunday Inquiry was announced to Parliament on 29 January 1998. The average monthly cost of running that inquiry, and the average monthly legal costs paid by the MoD, are as follows:
| Average monthly spend by financial year (£000) | ||||||
| 1997-98 | 1998-99 | 1999-00 | 2000-01 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | |
| Average monthly spend by financial year (£000) | ||||||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
Libya: Compensation
Lord Tebbit asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in view of the proposed settlement concerning crimes committed against United States citizens with Libyan support, they will assist British nationals seeking compensation from Libya in the
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The conclusion of a government-to-government agreement between the US and Libya on 14 August will provide for compensation for many of the victims of Libya's past sponsorship of terrorism including the British families of the victims of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in 1988. While this is welcome news for these families, it is regrettable that the deal will not benefit all UK nationals with cases in US courts against Libya.
During the course of negotiations between the US and Libya, the Government made representations to the US Administration that existing UK claimants with claims before US courts against Libya for its past sponsorship of IRA terrorist acts (the McDonald case) should be included in the recipients of any compensation package. But, in the event, this proved not to be possible.
A key reason for this was that international and US law do not permit the US Administration to espouse the claims of foreign nationals. Also relevant to the US decision was their assessment of how likely it would be that claims would fall within the jurisdiction of US courts, and how likely it would be that they would succeed. We understand from the US that US courts would not have jurisdiction to hear actions by British nationals against Libya.
Malawi
Lord Steel of Aikwood asked Her Majesty's Government:
In view of attempts to rename the President of Malawi “Life President”, what steps they will take to make upholding democracy in that country, in particular the staging of free and fair elections in May 2009, a condition of United Kingdom aid to Malawi. [HL6066]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The UK, with its EU, Commonwealth and other international partners, is working closely with the Malawian authorities, and with the electoral commission in particular, to try to ensure that next year's presidential and parliamentary elections are free, fair and credible. The Government, through the Department for International Development (DfID), are providing £4 million to support the process, including technical preparations (for example to strengthen the capacity of the electoral commission by buying an electronic computerised voter registration system). We are also actively observing the voter registration process. High Commission officials have visited some 200 registration centres in all parts of the country, and we will be discussing our findings with the authorities. Other DfID and High Commission programmes are supporting democratic processes, including strengthening the media and Parliament, and conflict mitigation.
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New Forest National Park
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the effect of the New Forest National Park management plan on the amount of cycling allowed in the forest. [HL6275]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): I have made no assessment. The purpose of the management plan is for the National Park Authority (in co-operation with its stakeholders) to formulate its policy for the management of the park and for the carrying out of its functions. The New Forest National Park Authority is an independent authority operating within the local government framework and legislation.
Parliamentary Ombudsman
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 8 November 2006 (WA 194—5) and 21 May 2007 (WA 79), whether they have established means of collating and making available information about recommendations from the Parliamentary Ombudsman following her investigations. [HL5871]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The Home Office is in regular contact with the Parliamentary Ombudsman in relation to complaints. In particular, there are regular meetings between UKBA officials and members of the ombudsman's office. In view of these arrangements, there are no current plans to collate and make available this information.
Pesticides
Lord Taylor of Holbeach asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 21 October (WA 97), why they abstained in the June vote in the Council on European Union proposals on plant protection products; and what was the tactical or other effect of that abstention. [HL6156]
The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The Government welcomed most of the compromise proposal which was put to the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, but remained concerned that no proper assessment of the potential impact of the proposals for endocrine disrupters on agriculture in the European Union, or of their benefits for consumers, was made available. The
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Police: Ethnic Minority Recruits
Lord Sheikh asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many black minority ethnic police officers have been recruited by each police force in each of the past five calendar years. [HL6185]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): I refer the noble Lord to the Answer given in the table attached.
| Police Officer Minority Ethnic Recruits1 to Police Forces from 2003-04 to 2007-082 (FTE)3 | |||||
| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | |
1. Recruits included those officers joining as police standard direct recruits and those who were previously special constables. This excludes police officers on transfers from other forces and those rejoining.
2. Financial year runs 1 April to 31 March inclusive.
3. Full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. Because of rounding, there may be an apparent discrepancy between totals and the sums of the constituent items.
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