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Taxation: Private Residence Relief

Question

Asked by Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the benefit to the Exchequer of ensuring Private Residence Relief (main house) exemption from capital gains tax is granted only when there is no exemption from council tax or second home discount in force on the date of disposal. [HL3582]

The Financial Services Secretary to the Treasury (Lord Myners): No estimate has been made.

UN: Human Rights Council

Question

Asked by Lord Hylton

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will consult the former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, before voting in elections for membership of the United Nations Human Rights Council; and whether they have proposals for reforming the Council. [HL3668]

19 May 2009 : Column WA307

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): We did not consult the former President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel, before voting in the UN Human Rights Council elections which took place on Tuesday 12 May 2009. As is usual in elections to UN bodies, the ballot was secret and details of voting are not made public.

19 May 2009 : Column WA308

The UK is firmly committed to the UN Human Rights Council and to working to make it the most effective body possible for the promotion and protection of all human rights. We are devoting our efforts to making mechanisms of the council, such as the universal periodic review, effective and have no reform proposals at this stage.

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