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Written Answers
Thursday, 6 May 2004.
Northern Ireland: Drumcree Marches
Lord Eames asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they are satisfied that all avenues of approach have been attempted to solve the impasse at Drumcree in the light of the recent remarks by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland regarding the forthcoming "marching season" in Northern Ireland.[HL2070]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Amos): A number of different approaches have been attempted over the years to resolve the impasse at Drumcree. Efforts continue to find a satisfactory outcome to this dispute. With regard to the overall marching season I would strongly recommend and encourage all community leaders actively to engage in efforts to achieve as peaceful a marching season in 2004 as that experienced in 2003.
Ulster-Scots Agency: Budget 2004
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 29 March (WA 127) concerning the budget of the Ulster-Scots Agency, what "approved actions" means; by whom such actions are approved; and on what basis.[HL2276]
Baroness Amos: The "approved actions" are broken down in the annex to the Interim Procedures Paper, LAN 11, which was approved by Ministers on 26 February 2004, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written answer by the Lord President on 5 April (WA 183), concerning the 2004 budgets for Cross Border bodies, why a lesser percentage increase over 2003 was agreed for the Ulster-Scots Agency than the Irish Language Agency.[HL2416]
Baroness Amos: The North/South Language Body 2004 budget was calculated by sponsor departments on the approved actions in the two agencies draft business plans. As the euro is the main operating currency for Foras na Gaeilge, the actual percentage increase in Euro for that agency was 4.61 per cent as against the 10.65 per cent sterling increase for the Ulster-Scots Agency.
Republic of Ireland: Official Languages Act
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 21 April (WA 37) concerning the Republic of Ireland's Official Languages Act, whether any discussions about the implications of
- the Act have taken place between officials of the two governments; if so, when and what was the result; whether legal advice was sought by the Government; and, if so, what was that advice.[HL2517]lynne
Baroness Amos: Discussions between relevant officials North and South took place on a number of occasions. The most recent formal discussion was on 19 March 2004 when it was agreed that a code of practice reflecting the legal and policy frameworks established in both jurisdictions on the use of Irish language and Ulster-Scots would be prepared. Information on whether legal advice was sought and, if so, its content is exempt from disclosure under paragraphs 2 and 4 of Part 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information.
House of Lords: Grand Committees
The Earl of Northesk asked the Leader of the House:
- Whether sittings of Grand Committees that proceed beyond the rising of the House can be properly considered as proceedings conducted while the House is in session.[HL2534]
Baroness Amos: Timings of the Grand Committees are settled by agreement in the usual channels. As with other committees, Grand Committees may meet whether or not the House is sitting.
Belfast: New Cultural and Educational Facility
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What agreement there was between the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Belfast City Arts Centre about funding; and when any funding will be made available.[HL2553]
Baroness Amos: A business case has been prepared for a new purpose-built cultural and educational facility in Belfast City Centre. This could provide accommodation for the City of Belfast School of Music, the Old Museum Arts Centre and a new gallery space, as well as offering facilities for the performing arts department of the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education. While Laganside Corporation has identified a site to the rear of St Anne's Cathedral and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has made an in-principle commitment of £4 million of National Lottery proceeds, no decision has yet been taken on whether the proposal should proceed.
Passports
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether those applying for new or renewed passports now have such passports sent to them by registered mail.[HL2425]
The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): The UK Passport Service has awarded a contract to a private courier firm, Special Mail Services Limited (SMS), to send valid UK passports to customers by secure delivery. Rollout of this new service started on 9 February 2004 and was completed by 12 March 2004. Valid UK passports are now delivered using this new service.
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which are ports of entry (by air, sea and rail) into the United Kingdom, indicating in respect of each whether or not the passports of those arriving may be read or recorded electronically; and when such reading or recording started.[HL2424]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: Electronic facilities to check arriving passengers against the United Kingdom immigration service warning index (a database of names, lost stolen documents and organisations) at 34 ports are detailed below. It should be noted that checks at any of the smaller ports can be carried out manually as appropriate by the use of portable equipment. Electronic Reading of Passports
The facility to swipe read machine-readable passports was introduced into the following major air and sea ports during 1995 via bespoke keyboards with integrated passport readers.
- Heathrow Airport
- Gatwick Airport
- Dover Ferryport
- Stansted Airport
- Manchester Airport
- Birmingham Airport
- Luton Airport
- Waterloo International
- Harwich Ferryport
- Glasgow Airport
- Leeds/Bradford Airport
- Newcastle Airport
- Cardiff Airport
- Belfast International Airport
- Portsmouth Ferryport
- Cheriton/Coquelles
- Bristol Airport
- East Midlands Airport
- London City Airport
Within the past 12 months the following ports have been upgraded either with the bespoke keyboard or with swipe readers that can be attached to the portable equipment thereby gaining an electronic swipe read facility.
- Aberdeen Airport
- Edinburgh Airport
- Southampton Airport
- Southend Airport
- Plymouth Ferryport
- Hull Ferryport
- Newhaven Ferryport
- Prestwick Airport
- Norwich Airport
- North Shields Ferryport
Abortion: Cleft Lip and Palate
Lord Alton of Liverpool asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether as reported by the Times on 19 April, senior detectives described the decision of the police to reopen the inquiry into late abortion for cleft lip and palate as "political correctness gone mad", if so what action they propose to take against those detectives; and whether those same detectives will be responsible for the reopened inquiry.[HL2455]
Baroness Scotland of Asthal: On Friday April 16 2004 West Mercia Constabulary announced its decision to renew investigations into the circumstances surrounding the termination of a pregnancy in the force area.
The force has advised me that no senior detective involved in the investigation has spoken to a reporter from the Times newspaper and it does not know the source of this comment. The force informs me that the view expressed in the anonymous quote does not reflect the view of West Mercia Constabulary or anyone involved in the renewed investigation.
Higher Education Bill: Scottish Implications
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What support will be provided to Scottish students attending English universities if the proposals in the Higher Education Bill are approved; and[HL2555]
What will be the position in respect of fees, grants and loans for English students attending Scottish universities if the proposals in the Higher Education Bill are approved; and[HL2556]
What was the result of the discussions held between the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Deputy First Minister of the Scottish Executive on 19 April regarding cross-border flows which will follow the enactment of the Higher Education Bill.[HL2557]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The package of support to be provided to Scottish students attending English universities is a matter for the Scottish Executive.
We propose that from 2006 English students attending Scottish universities should have access to a loan for their tuition fees, to be repaid once they have graduated and are earning over £15,000, and that such students will have access to the same package of loans for maintenance as English students at universities elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Education and Skills and the Deputy First Minister agreed that the Scottish Executive and the Department for Education and Skills would keep each other informed as they develop their respective policies on HE funding, and that the programme of ministerial meetings on cross-border issues would continue.
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