| Previous Section | Back to Table of Contents | Lords Hansard Home Page |
International Criminal Court: Israel
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether Israel has ratified the Statutes of the International Criminal Court.[HL209]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Israel became a signatory to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 31 December 2000 but has declared that it does not intend to ratify the statute. Further information can be obtained from the website of the ICC at www.un.org/law/icc.
Moldova: EU Policy
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- To what extent the European Union has an agreed common policy as regards the Republic of Moldova.[HL211]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The basis of the EU's relationship with Moldova is the EU/Moldova Partnership and Co-operation Agreement. Moldova is a priority in the EU's new Neighbours Policy, as agreed by the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) and endorsed by the European Council in June this year. This policy offers Moldova a much closer relationship with the EU provided Moldova carries out the necessary economic and political reforms. The EU will draw up next year an Action Plan for Moldova, to enable Moldova to identify key reform priorities and to help target EU assistance in support of these.
The EU also maintains an active role in assisting the peace settlement process for the frozen Transdneistria conflict in Moldova, working closely with OSCE partners.
Moldova and Transdneistria: Removal of Russian Arms and Ammunition
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- When they expect that the removal of Russian forces and military equipment from Moldova and Transdneistria (agreed at the Istanbul Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe Summit Meeting for the end of December 2003) will be achieved. [HL212]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We had hoped that Russia would succeed in meeting the extended deadline of 31 December 2003 for removal of its arms and ammunition from Transdneistria. At the OSCE ministerial meeting in Maastricht on 1 to 2 December 2003, my honourable friend the Minister for Europe (Dr MacShane) expressed regret at Russia's non-fulfilment of its commitment and reiterated the Government's position that Russia must meet this commitment for the Adapted CFE treaty to be
ratified. Russia is continuing to remove its arms and ammunition from Transdneistria, albeit slowly, and we stress the need for compilation of this process without further delay.Immigration
Baroness Hanham asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What effect the Home Secretary's statement that there was no limit to the number of immigrants in the country who could be assimilated would have on the sustainable communities plan; where additional housing capacity would be placed; and how many extra units they expect would have to be provided as a result.[HL17]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): My right honourable friend the Home Secretary indicated recently that there is no obvious limit on the number of migrants entering the United Kingdom. This is not to say there should not be limits, but that immigration should be managed flexibly according to the needs of the economy on the one hand and the capacity of public services and the impact on community cohesion on the other. This is precisely the Government's policy of managed migration.
The sustainable communities plan is already modelled on, and takes into account, overall projections of population and employment growth, including immigration.
President Bush's State Visit: Costs to UK
Lord Berkeley asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they will provide a breakdown of the costs of the recent visit by President Bush including:
(a) temporary structures;
(b) emergency heliport;
(c) road closures; and
(d) policing.[HL84]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport will meet the cost of the temporary pavilion used for the visit. Final costs are not yet available but the cost of the construction of the pavilion will be in line with previous state visits.
The cost to the Royal Parks Agency of the emergency heliport was £200. The Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis informs me that the estimated total cost of the policing operation for the Metropolitan Police Service and the Royal Parks Constabulary in relation to the state visit of US President Bush to London between 18-21 November 2003 was £4.2 million. The cost to Durham Constabulary for the President's visit to Durham on 21 November was an estimated £1 million. There was no cost to the police service from road closures.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In giving the following Answer it has been assumed that Lord Avebury has sought to establish the numbers, in relation to assisted voluntary return, which International Organisation for Migration (IOM) effect on behalf of the Home Office.
Assisted voluntary return (AVR) programmes are run by the International Organisation for Migration on behalf of the Home Office. Information on the numbers of asylum seekers who leave the UK under AVR programmes is not available.
No problems have been reported by the IOM regarding the treatment of returnees by the Zimbabwean authority.
Lord Faulkner of Worcester asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Section 94 of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002 deals with unfounded asylum or human rights claims. It lists certain states, and provides that if the Secretary of State is satisfied that an asylum claimant or human rights claimant is entitled to reside in one of the listed states, he shall certify the claim as clearly unfounded, with the result that the applicant may not lodge an appeal within the United Kingdom against the refusal of the asylum or human rights application.
Under the Act, the Secretary of State may add by affirmative order additional states or parts of states to the list of countries to which the non-suspensive appeal provisions described above apply. He may do so provided that he is satisfied that there is in general no serious risk of persecution of persons entitled to reside in those states and that removal to those states of persons entitled to reside there will not in general contravene the United Kingdom's obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The decision to designate any particular country under section 94 of the Act is taken on the basis of the legal test described above, with consideration taken of the published country information as well as factors such as the asylum grant rate and the outcome of appeals. Taking these factors into account, and following debate in both Houses of Parliament, Jamaica was added to the list of designated states with effect from 1 April 2003.
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The sponsor Minister, my honourable friend Hazel Blears MP, wrote to the noble Lord on 22 October 2003 to answer his previous questions on this issue. As my honourable friend then explained, the draft analytical paper was circulated to key stakeholders on a personal basis. The purpose of that process was to enable us to draw on expert advice and reflect this in the final report. This enabled us to present the best possible analysis. We have invited further views on the interim analytical report and would welcome the noble Lord's comments on the published version.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Work Permits (UK) has issued 3,878 sectors-based scheme (SBS) work permits up to 30 September 2003.
It is not possible to state exactly how many sectors-based scheme permits have been issued for short-term seasonal work and how many are longer-term posts as information is not recorded in these terms.
However, the table outlines the number of SBS permits, and their length, issued for each of the four sectors covered by the scheme from the launch of SBS on 30 May 2003 to 30 September 2003.
These figures do not include the 353 SBS permits that have been issued for fixed dates periods (eg 12 June to 23 February). Work Permits (UK) is unable to provide figures for the length of time of their issue due to the nature of how information is recorded on the Work Permits (UK) management information system.
How many failed asylum seekers have been assisted to return by the International Organsation for Migration (IOM) since April 2003; and what reports they have had from the IOM of the way in which the returnees have been treated by the authorities in Zimbabwe.[HL88]
Why the Secretary of State decided, under Section 94(5) of the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act 2002, to place Jamaica on the list of states under Section 94(4) of the Act, whereby applications for asylum are presumed to be unfounded unless applicants can provide evidence to rebut that presumption. [HL134]
With regard to the draft analytical report on alcohol of the Cabinet Office Strategy Unit advisory group, why none of the academic or expert advisers was consulted about the deletion from the report of certain paragraphs which (a) dealt with price and availability as the two main supply-side levers which can be used to influence alcohol use and misuse and (b) cited research indicating that relaxing availability causes increased harm.[HL147]
How many sectors-based scheme work permits have been issued to workers coming into the United Kingdom; how many are for short-term seasonal workers; and how many are longer-term posts.[HL148]
Permits Issued by Sectors Length of Permit (Months) Food Processing (Fish) Food Processing (General) Food Processing (Meat) Hospitality
3 0 0 0 6
4 0 0 0 9
5 0 0 0 10
6 0 0 0 100
7 0 0 0 5
8 0 0 0 15
9 0 0 0 16
10 0 0 0 1
11 4 0 6 8
12 359 690 1,458 1,018
Next Section
Back to Table of Contents
Lords Hansard Home Page