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House of Lords: Appointments
Baroness Seccombe asked Her Majesty's Government:
What arrangements are in place for the selection of the chairman of the House of Lords Appointments Commission and for Parliament to scrutinise that appointment. [HL5023]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The Prime Minister announced on 28 July that Lord Jay of Ewelme GCMG will succeed Lord Stevenson of Coddenham CBE as chair of the House of Lords Appointments Commission with effect from 1 October 2008.
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Lord Jay has been selected in accordance with the code of practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The code requires openness and transparency, independent scrutiny of the appointments process and appointment on merit. In keeping with the Government's commitment to increase parliamentary scrutiny of key public appointments, Lord Jay appeared before the Public Administration Select Committee on 22 July in a pre-appointment hearing. The committee concluded that Lord Jay has the professional competence and personal independence required for the post and supported his appointment. Copies of the committee's report are available from the Library of the House.
House of Lords: Letters Patent
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
By what means Letters Patent creating peerages can be changed; and in what legislation that has occurred. [HL5196]
The Lord President of the Council (Baroness Ashton of Upholland): The effect of Letters Patent creating peerages can he changed by legislation which has that specific effect. It cannot be changed by legislation of general application. Thus, the Peerage Act 1963 allowed Peeresses in their own right to sit in the House of Lords regardless of the terms of any Letters Patent creating the peerage. The House of Lords Act 1999 removed the right of anyone to sit in the House by virtue of a hereditary peerage unless they were specifically excepted from the provisions. Conversely, the House of Lords decided in 1922 in the case of Viscountess Rhondda that the terms of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919 were not sufficiently specific to allow her to take her seat in the Lords when her Letters Patent allowed her to inherit the peerage, but not the seat in the Lords. I am aware of only one case in which the effect of individual Letters Patent has been changed by Act of Parliament, which is that of the Duke of Marlborough in 1706.
Human Rights
Lord Avebury asked Her Majesty's Government:
How they consider the United Nations Human Rights Committee and the international community should deal with violations of human rights by the lower tiers of government in federal systems of government. [HL4916]
Lord Bach: When a federal state becomes party to a human rights treaty, all parts of that state are bound by its provisions. Article 50 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that “the provisions of the present Covenant shall extend to all parts of federal States without any limitations or exceptions”.
The UN Human Rights Committee, set up to monitor adherence to the ICCPR, should deal with violations by all tiers of government in the same way. In advance of a state's examination, the committee selects five members of the committee to look into that state's record. Drawing on the periodic report prepared by
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In addition, when a state fails to comply with its obligations, other states can raise concerns in the UN Human Rights Council or in the UN General Assembly, either by making statements, formulating resolutions or calling for special sessions or action by special procedures.
A new innovation in the UN Human Rights Council is the creation of a universal periodic review which is a state-to-state peer review mechanism with every UN country's human rights record being examined over a four year period, on a rolling basis. This process has just started. The UK is aiming to ensure that all states participate actively in the process and use it as an opportunity to be self-critical about their own human rights record and commit to make improvements. It will take time and effort to build this system into a mechanism that can deliver real improvements in the human rights situation on the ground. However, the UK was one of the first to undergo the process and was therefore in a privileged position to be able to lead by example. We are now working with other states coming up for review to encourage them to engage positively in the process.
India: Property Legislation
Viscount Waverley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are making representations to the Government of Goa regarding the reinterpretation of existing property legislation and amendment to the Indian Registration Act 1908 that is resulting in seizure of United Kingdom citizens' properties. [HL5116]
Lord Bach: Our High Commission in New Delhi has raised the issue with both the authorities in Goa and at a national level. In particular, we have made it clear that there should be no confiscation of property acquired legally by British citizens.
The Government will continue to reiterate this message to the Indian authorities. Our travel advice has been updated to warn British citizens of the potential problems they could face in buying property in India. This can be accessed at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at: www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/.
Inflation
Lord Steinberg asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they have considered changing the make-up of the basket of goods and services used to assess inflation. [HL5159]
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The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (Baroness Morgan of Drefelin): The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
Letter from Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, to Lord Steinberg, dated July 2008.
As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your parliamentary question asking whether the Government has considered changing the make-up of the basket of goods and services used to assess inflation. [HL5159]
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is responsible for maintaining the basket of goods and services used in the calculation of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).
The CPI is based on the changes in price of a fixed basket of goods and services. So that the CPI remains representative of consumer spending patterns over time, the selection of items is reviewed each year and the make-up of the basket is then held fixed for the year. Annual changes are introduced in the February index each year when revised item weights are applied.
Israel and Palestine: Prisoners
Lord Dykes asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they will make to the Government of Israel about the release of Palestinian prisoners, including Members of the Palestinian Parliament. [HL5065]
Lord Bach: The Government follow Israeli detention operations closely and monitor the situation with regard to all Palestinian prisoners.
The Government believe that all Palestinian prisoners should have access to a fair trial and have called upon Israel to ensure that any actions it takes are in accordance with international law.
While we welcome Israel's release of two Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Members, we will continue to call for all elected members of the PLC detained by Israel to be either released or subjected to the due legal process.
Our Embassy in Tel Aviv has raised these issues with Israeli officials and will continue to do so.
Jury Service
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Justice (Lord Hunt of Kings Heath): Jury service is a demanding duty with which members of the public are obliged to comply, and it is enforceable with criminal penalties. It is not therefore comparable with activities which individuals choose to pursue voluntarily. It would be unreasonable and unjustifiable in principle
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Moldova
Baroness Quin asked Her Majesty's Government:
Lord Bach: In the past six months, my honourable friend the Economic Secretary to the Treasury and my right honourable friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury have held meetings with the Moldovan Minister of Finance.
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
What action they will take to strengthen the United Kingdom presence in Moldova following the decision to cease BBC World Service broadcasting in the Republic of Moldova from 1 August. [HL4906]
Lord Bach: The BBC World Service has ceased its Romanian language transmission following Romania's accession to the EU. We recognise that professionalism across all media is extremely important for the Republic of Moldova. We are looking at exploring opportunities for staff of the BBC World Service in Moldova to continue to work as a team, following the same journalistic standards acquired during their time with the BBC, for example, through the creation of a new press group. We have facilitated contact between staff of the BBC World Service in Moldova and a range of donors who may be able to support such an activity.
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
What representations they have made in the negotiations on a new legal framework for relations between the European Union and the Republic of Moldova. [HL4908]
Lord Bach: In February 2008, the EU agreed to negotiate a successor agreement to the expired EU-Moldova action plan. The UK has played an active role in discussions about the nature of this agreement. A conference at Wilton Park from 14 to 18 October will give an opportunity to continue this debate as well as to discuss other Moldovan issues.
Lord Dubs asked Her Majesty's Government:
What information they have received regarding the efforts of the authorities of the Republic of Moldova to implement the European Union—Moldova European neighbourhood policy action plan; and to advance the dialogue on a legal framework of its relations with the European Union. [HL4909]
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Lord Bach: Moldova regularly reports to the EU on progress made under the action plan. In addition, the European Commission published its annual progress report on the European neighbourhood policy action plan on 3 April 2008. The report welcomed the substantial progress made so far but noted that more work was needed on the effective implementation of reforms, particularly in the areas of judicial reform and corruption. A delegation from the Commission visited Moldova on 8 July to review progress and discuss plans for a new agreement.
Nigeria: President
Viscount Waverley asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will, if approved, recognise the Nigerian presidential process as soon as the High Court in Abuja has delivered its verdict; and whether the United Kingdom High Commissioner will then call on the president to identify implementable initiatives to deepen the bilateral relationship. [HL5024]
Lord Bach: The then Foreign Secretary, my right honourable friend Margaret Beckett, made clear the UK's concerns about the flawed nature of Nigeria's April 2007 elections in her Statement of 23 April 2007 and urged those disputing results to do so peacefully through appropriate electoral tribunals. On 26 February the Presidential Election Tribunal upheld Umaru Yar’Adua’s election as President of Nigeria. An appeal against this decision has been made to the Supreme Court, which is expected to pass judgment shortly. Meanwhile, we recognise Umaru Yar'Adua as president and have pursued initiatives in a range of areas to further strengthen the close bilateral relationship between the UK and Nigeria, most recently during President Yar’Adua’s visit to the UK from 15 to 18 July.
Non-emergency Telephone Number
Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer asked Her Majesty's Government:
How many calls there have been to the 101 non-emergency number in each of the service areas (a) in total; and (b) per head of population since the service was launched. [HL5049]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord West of Spithead): The average number of telephone calls to the 101 number in each of the areas can be found in the table attached.
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