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Legal Aid: Immigration Act Detainees
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Legal Services Commission requires solicitors to complete a four-page form before they can obtain legal aid to visit Immigration Act detainees. [HL288]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Funding for legal aid is available only to individuals who pass the statutory means and merits tests. The legal help form is an essential record demonstrating that the client is eligible for legal aid. A solicitor may claim for travel costs to visit a client in detention before the form is completed.
Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman: Case of Constable Trevor Purcell
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many court appearances were made by Constable Trevor Purcell in the case brought by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman for alleged dangerous driving during a riot; and what were the date and outcome of each appearance. [HL318]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Trevor Johnston Purcell first appeared at Belfast and Newtownabbey Magistrates' Court on 6 May 2003. The case against him was adjourned on 28 occasions as set out below:
The adjournments resulted from a range of issues, including the availability of video evidence and the availability of witnesses and counsel.
The case against Mr Purcell was dismissed by the court on 29 November 2004.
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will refund in full, with incidental expenses, the total cost to Constable Trevor Purcell of defending the case brought by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, for alleged dangerous driving during a riot. [HL319]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Mr Purcell, through his solicitor, made an application to the resident magistrate on 6 December 2004, on the issue of his costs in defending the complaint against him. This application was dismissed by the court.
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Freedom of Information Act 2000
Lord Hanningfield asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are confident that all government departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies will be able to meet the terms of the Freedom of Information Act by 1 January 2005. [HL366]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: Departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies have been conscientious in their efforts to prepare for implementation. In particular, good progress has been noted on staff training and awareness raising, administrative procedures for handling requests, publication schemes and records management.
DCA has led an extensive programme of work in overseeing implementation with central government. This has included the creation of a model action plan on FOI implementation and chairing the Freedom of Information Practitioners Group, through which advice and guidance has been disseminated throughout departments, agencies and non-departmental public bodies. DCA has also produced a comprehensive suite of guidance on the procedures and exemptions in the Act to ensure that a complex piece of legislation is consistently and appropriately applied.
I am confident that this substantial programme of work will enable public authorities to meet the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 by 1 January 2005.
Defence Industrial Policy
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will take steps to identify the key technologies required to sustain the manufacture of defence equipment; and whether they will publish this information for public discussion. [HL7]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Bach): The Government's Defence Industrial Policy, published in October 2002, seeks to provide the Armed Forces with the equipment that they require at best value for money for the taxpayer while sustaining a healthy and globally competitive defence industry. Our policy recognises that among the range of factors to be considered in acquisition decisions are the industrial capabilities that it might be desirable to retain in the UK industrial base. We are developing a defence industrial strategy to identify more explicitly the technical capabilities that are likely to be needed to meet defence needs into the future and to assess the importance of sustaining them in the UK for national security, technology or wider economic reasons. We expect to make the conclusions of this work available when it is complete in the second half of next year.
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Future Rapid Effects System
Earl Attlee asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: There is a requirement for an effective and deployable medium-weight capability able to project power rapidly world-wide. Complementing our existing light and heavy forces, the Future Rapid Effects System (FRES) is planned to be the central pillar of the ground element of this capable, coherent and highly deployable medium-weight capability.
Royal Engineers: Chatham and Minley Barracks
Lord Astor of Hever asked Her Majesty's Government:
When they expect the bidding process for the public/private partnership for the redevelopment of the Royal Engineers barracks at Chatham and Minley to close. [HL206]
Lord Bach: The public/private partnership project for the redevelopment of the Royal Engineers barracks at Chatham and Minley is currently subject to the Ministry of Defence's investment approvals process. It is expected that negotiations with the preferred bidder will begin in the first half of next year, but given the complexities of the project, it is not possible to make a firm assessment of when contract close will be achieved.
London: Strategic Road Network
Lord Bradshaw asked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they will take if the influence of Transport for London over the network of borough strategic roads proves to be insufficient for that body to fulfil its remit effectively as the capital's strategic transport authority, particularly in relation to the efficient operation of bus services. [HL375]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Section 60 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 allows the Secretary of State to designate the strategic road network for London. Section 61 allows the Mayor of London to make subsequent alterations to the network, by order, subject to the consent of the borough/boroughs in which the road/roads are situated. The Secretary of State will determine whether a road should be designated as strategic if a borough objects.
A14
Lord Marlesford asked Her Majesty's Government:
To whom the Highways Agency has contracted the upkeep of the A14 trunk road between the M6 motorway junction and the A12 junction; whether
- they are satisfied with the cleanliness of this road; and, if not, what action they propose to take. [HL404]
Lord Davies of Oldham: Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1990: Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse, responsibility for keeping all-purpose trunk roads free from litter falls to the local district and borough councils. This includes the full length of the A14 trunk road between the M1/M6 junction and Felixstowe (150 miles).
The Highways Agency regularly monitors the cleanliness of the A14 and where it considers that the standards set by the Environmental Protection Act are not being met, writes to the relevant local authority asking for swift action to be taken to cleanse the area of accumulated rubbish. On safety grounds, any material that is a hazard to traffic is removed directly by the agency as a matter of priority.
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