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ECHR: Resources
Lord Judd asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What action they are taking to ensure that the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg has at its disposal the human and financial resources to discharge its mission fully in spirit as well as in letter.[HL67]
Baroness Amos: Her Majesty's Government are actively supporting the work of the Evaluation Group which has been tasked with considering all potential means which would guarantee the continued effectiveness of the Court in the face of the rapid growth in the number of applications to it. Her Majesty's Government are open to considering all recommendations which the group may put forward, provided that they ensure the maintenance of the ECHR's unique role in ensuring a common European minimum standard in the human rights field and do not undermine the right of individual petition to the Court.
Iraq: Wassenaar Arrangement
Lord Clarke of Hampstead asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether any goods controlled by the Wassenaar Arrangement on Export Controls for Conventional Arms and Dual Use Goods and Technologies were approved for export to Iraq in 2000.[HL184]
Baroness Amos: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry approved on 21 July 2000 a licence to export spare parts for use in Iraq's electricity sector under the UN Oil for Food programme. The spare parts included a roller bearing, which is controlled by the Wassenaar Arrangement. The export of the goods to Iraq was approved by the UN Sanctions Committee in line with existing Security Council resolutions. The announcement of this export is in line with the Government's commitment to increasing transparency in the field of export controls.
Turkey: Human Rights
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 19 February (WA 77),
- whether they have received further information from the Government of Turkey, following their inquiries of 13 February concerning the disappearance of Mr Sardar Tanis and Mr Ebubekir Deniz, officials of the HADEP political party in Silopi; and, if so, in what terms.[HL91]
The Minister for Trade (Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean): We have not received any further substantive information on this case since we raised it with the Turkish authorities on 13 February. We continue to monitor this and other such cases, which have worrying implications for democratic pluralism and freedom of expression in Turkey. Turkey's National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis sets out the measures which the Turkish Government are putting in place to enhance freedom of thought in Turkey; we look forward to their rapid implementation.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they consider that the disappearances of HADEP officials from Silopi, the attempted murder of Mr Selahattin Oge by security forces and the arrest on 1 and 2 April of eight HADEP members in Cizre constitute a pattern of violence and repression directed against a legal political party; whether they have made representations to the Turkish Government; and, if so, with what result.[HL92]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We remain concerned about alleged harassment of HADEP members and supporters. We regularly raise individual cases with the Turkish authorities. Such cases have worrying implications for democratic pluralism and freedom of expression in Turkey. Turkey's National Programme for the Adoption of the Acquis sets out the measures which the Turkish Government are putting in place to enhance freedom of expression in Turkey; we look forward to their rapid implementation.
Lord Hylton asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Scotland of Asthal on 23 April (WA 182), whether they received a substantive response from the Government of Turkey to their demarche of 23 March concerning alleged rape and torture of 19 women in police custody.[HL93]
Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have not received a substantive response from the Turkish authorities to our demarche of 23 March concerning the case of the 18 women and one man arrested after a conference in Istanbul where they made allegations about torture and rape in police custody. We continue to follow the case closely; our Consulate-General in Istanbul attended hearings on 21 March and 21 June. It has now been adjourned to 18 October. We remain concerned at the continued incidence of torture in Turkey and the implications of this case for freedom of expression in Turkey.
Foot and Mouth: Vaccination Policy
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is the latest scientific advice they have received on the desirability of introducing a policy of vaccination against foot and mouth disease [HL84]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty): The Government's Chief Scientific Adviser and Chief Veterinary Officer advised in favour of vaccinating cattle in North Cumbria, and possibly Devon, on 18 April 2001, provided there was substantial support for the campaign from farmers, veterinarians, consumers and the food trade. It became clear that that level of support was not present.
Vaccination policy is kept under continuous review but our advisers have not made any other recommendations for a vaccination campaign.
Sheep Movement
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What advice is currently being given to farmers in the Lake District and other upland areas in relation to bringing down sheep for shearing, dipping and tupping. [HL85]
Lord Whitty: Such movements are already permitted using multi-occupancy licences where flock owners can bring their animals down together provided they agree that such flocks are then treated in the event of a disease outbreak as one unit. Further guidance on other movements from common grazing is being considered but its key objective will be to keep the risk of transmission of disease to a minimum.
Sheep: Survival of Fell Breeds
Lord Greaves asked Her Majesty's Government:
- What is their current policy to ensure the survival of Herdwicks and other fell breeds of sheep in the English Lake District. [HL86]
Lord Whitty: We have introduced a measure for hefted flocks such as Herdwicks and rare breeds of
sheep which may be exempted from contiguous culls. This is provided that they test negative for antibodies to foot and mouth disease and that the level of biosecurity for hefted sheep is judged sufficient to make the risk of transmission small. We have facilitated the movement of moorland sheep from winter grazing to summer grazing land. We have contributed to the establishment of the heritage gene bank to ensure the retention of genes of sheep breeds indigenous to the UK.Equality: Policy Co-ordination
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Which Ministers and which government department or departments have responsibility for co-ordinating the reform of anti-discrimination legislation. [HL37]
The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Baroness Morgan of Huyton): The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions each have responsibility for specific aspects of equality policy. Co-ordination of equality issues will be handled by a Cabinet Committee.
Equality: UN Convention
Lord Lester of Herne Hill asked Her Majesty's Government:
- Whether they accept that measures to promote equality of opportunity between men and women and to eliminate sex discrimination against women in political and public life must, to comply with the United Nations Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, be (in the words of Article 4.1 of that Convention) "temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women" and "in no way entail as a consequence the maintenance of inequality and separate standards". [HL112]
Baroness Morgan of Huyton: The Government intend that any measures introduced to promote equality of opportunty between men and women will be compliant with the United Kingdom's international obligations.
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