Previous Section Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page

Justice: Sharia Law

Questions

Asked by Baroness Falkner of Margravine

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): In early 2008, the Ministry of Justice conducted an initial review of the research into Sharia councils in England and Wales. This initial review revealed gaps in our knowledge so a new research project has been commissioned. We hope this study will indicate the number and distribution of Sharia councils in England and Wales. It will determine the ease of obtaining further information from councils and, where possible, explore the administrative structures and processes through which Sharia family law matters are addressed.

The research is being led by Dr Tahir Abbas, director of the Centre for the Study of Ethnicity and Culture, University of Birmingham.

We have not held discussions with members of the judiciary on aspects of Sharia law.

Legal Aid

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The statutory criteria involved in determining applications for civil legal aid, including judicial review proceedings, is whether:

the applicant satisfies the financial means test as set out in Article 9 of the Legal Aid, Advice and Assistance (Northern Ireland) Order 1981; andthe applicant had shown reasonable grounds for taking, defending or being a party to proceedings and is it is reasonable in the particular circumstances of the case that legal aid be granted as set out in Article 10 of the 1981 order.

As no case report has been submitted in respect of the judicial review proceedings, the legal aid costs are not known.

An estimate of court costs is £1,583.00

Later this year the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission will consult on the reform of legal aid, including the tests to be applied to all cases seeking civil legal aid.

Marine Conservation

Question

Asked by The Duke of Montrose

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): The devolution of marine planning functions under the Marine and Coastal Access Bill to the Scottish Executive will not affect which consents and permissions oil and gas installations will need. Those installations within the jurisdiction of the Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) Act 1997 will still require planning permission as they do now. Offshore oil and gas installations, as defined by Section 44 of the Petroleum Act 1998, will continue to require a licence under that Act from the Secretary of State. Further, the Marine and Coastal Access Bill is not devolving any licensing functions to the Scottish Executive for oil and gas installations.

National Probation Service

Question

Asked by Baroness Howells of St Davids



21 May 2009 : Column WA364

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): In response to the National Audit Office report on the work of the Parole Board, the National Offender Management Service introduced, on 1 April 2009, a new parole process for all indeterminate sentence prisoners. The new process includes central monitoring of the performance of all agencies involved in the parole process, supported by a central database. The National Probation Service is required to submit 80 per cent of parole reports within the timescale prescribed under the new process. It is too early to be able to assess the extent to which its performance has improved.

The new National Probation Service target relates to reports it was already expected to produce in respect of the parole process. As such, it is anticipated that it should be able to comply with the new target without detriment to existing commitments.

Northern Ireland Office

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The Northern Ireland Office routinely discusses a wide range of policy and sponsorship issues with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission at both ministerial and official level. These discussions are both formal and informal, including by telephone, face-to-face meetings and written correspondence.

It is therefore not possible to provide a comprehensive list of every conversation that has taken place nor all the topics discussed.

Northern Ireland: Human Rights Commission

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

Baroness Royall of Blaisdon: The position of chief commissioner is a full-time post that attracts a full- time salary and pension provision. The position of commissioner (other than chief commissioner) is not pensionable, in line with practice for comparable public bodies.

Details of the chief commissioner's pension provision are set out in the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's annual report and accounts, copies of which are placed in the Libraries of both Houses.



21 May 2009 : Column WA365

Pakistan

Question

Asked by Lord Patten

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): There are media reports of the so-called Jizya tax being imposed by the Taliban in Swat. The Jizya is not a legitimate tax levied by the Government of Pakistan. It has been imposed by violent extremists in their efforts to take control of Swat. We will continue to support the Government of Pakistan's fight against violent extremists, who seek to undermine the fundamental principles of good governance, the rule of law and human rights.

People Trafficking

Question

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): Victims of human trafficking are provided with comprehensive support services irrespective of whether there has been a conviction.

The Government have introduced a 45-day minimum recovery and reflection period where non-UK national victims can remain in the country and receive support. Victims of human trafficking may also be eligible for one-year renewable residence permits on two grounds: participation in a criminal investigation or personal circumstance. Victims that choose to return home can receive support with resettlement.

Prisoners: Ethnic Minorities

Question

Asked by Lord Laird

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Bach): The proportions of white and ethnic minority prisoners in England and Wales and how that compares with the figures in the general population can be found in this table.



21 May 2009 : Column WA366

Self-identified ethnicity
WhiteMixedAsian or Asian BritishBlack or Black BritishChinese or Other

Prison Population(l)

80.1%

3.2%

5.3%

11.1%

0.3%

England and Wales Population t2)

91.3%

1.3%

4.4%

2.2%

0.9%

(1) British nationals of known ethnicity aged 15 and above, as of 30 June 2008.

(2) The percentages are from the Census key tables (KS06) figures released by ONS in February 2003 and are estimates for those aged 10 and over.

Note:These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system, and so is not necessarily accurate to the last number as shown here.

Rural Payments Agency

Question

Asked by Baroness Byford

The Minister of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change & Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath):

***
2004-052005-062006-072007-082008-09

Directly Employed (Civil Servants)

3,596

3,091

3,087

3,540

3,339

Agency Staff

296

1,413

1,239

656

300

Consultants, Contractors **

141

101

132

Total

3,892

4,504

4,467

4,297

3,771

NB—All figures have been taken from RPA annual report and accounts.

* In 2005-06 consultants and contractors were included with agency staff as one total.

** RPA does not distinguish consultants separately from other contractors within our systems.

*** Figures which are scheduled to appear in RPA 2008-09 annual report and accounts. The report will be published in July 2009.

Terrorism

Question

Asked by Baroness Neville-Jones



21 May 2009 : Column WA367

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): Since financial year 2003-04, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) programmes to counter terrorism and radicalisation and promote reform in the Arab world have spent:

2003-04—£4.7 million;

2004-05—£11.2 million;

2005-06—£17.6 million;

2006-07—£15.8 million;

2007-08—£16.5 million; and

2008-09—£31.8 million.

Our work is focused in priority countries and regions overseas as part of the Government's wider counterterrorism strategy, CONTEST.

In each year before 2008-09 the proportion spent was less than 1 per cent of the department's total spending. The proportion spent in 2008-09 was 2 per cent of the 2008-09 plans set out in the 2008 FCO departmental report.



21 May 2009 : Column WA368

Uganda

Question

Asked by Lord Avebury

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch-Brown): The Government have not had any such discussions. Prior to, during and following Operation Lightning Thunder, I had discussions with Ugandan Ministers during which I stressed the importance of regional co-operation in dealing with the security threat posed by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

Internationally, the UK worked hard to secure a UN Security Council presidential statement on 23 December 2008 condemning the LRA's failure to sign the final peace agreement and its attacks against civilians, and welcoming the joint efforts being made by regional states to tackle the LRA.


Back to Table of Contents Lords Hansard Home Page