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Terrorism: Deportation of Suspects
Baroness Anelay of St Johns asked Her Majesty's Government:
What measures they are taking to secure further diplomatic assurances from other countries regarding the deportation of suspected terrorists;
- whether they are currently in discussion with other countries concerning diplomatic assurances; and what progress they have made in these discussions. [HL4158]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Triesman): The United Kingdom has signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in respect of persons subject to deportation with Jordan, Libya and the Lebanon and is in discussion with a number of other countries, including Algeria. Copies of the signed MoUs have been placed in the Library.
Urban Regeneration: Northern Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 25 January (WA 183) concerning Making Belfast Work and the Londonderry Regeneration Initiative, why it would be a special administrative exercise to supply the records of public funding provided for a parliamentary Answer. [HL3738]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): A special administrative exercise to obtain this information is required as this information is not readily available electronically. Supplying this information involves searching files and obtaining data from a number of different sources which will necessarily take time.
Since this Question was initially raised in December, my officials have been working on providing the information requested and, with the exception of the action plan element of Making Belfast Work (MBW) funding which involves a separate exercise of interrogating files and IT systems having to be carried out across all departments and entails disproportionate costs, we are now in a position to respond. I will make this information available in the Library.
US Government Aircraft: Use of UK Military Bases
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Drayson on 9 January (WA 28), first, whether they have the right to know the names of passengers on all aircraft owned by, operated on behalf of, or operated at the request of the United States Government or any of their agencies which land at United Kingdom military airbases, whether for refuelling, transit or any other purposes; secondly, whether, if they have such a right, it has been exercised in the past five years and, if so, in respect of how many passengers; thirdly, whether they will request the names of such passengers who have landed in the United Kingdom in 2005; and, fourthly, whether, if they have no such right to request names, they will take steps to acquire it. [HL3582]
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Drayson): My Answer of 9 January followed consultation between relevant departments (including the Home Office, FCO, and the Department for Transport). It also reflected the fact that procedures at military air stations are consistent with Wider Immigration Service policies, to the extent that details of individuals who stay in the UK are passed to HM Revenue and Customs and the Immigration Service. These details are not necessarily retained by the MoD and where aircraft simply transit through the airfield, to refuel for example, and passengers do not leave the airfield, the name of the pilot and aircraft owner are recorded, but airfields are not required to record passenger details. Therefore we cannot determine how many passengers have passed through military airfields in the past five years.
The issue of whether or not the Government have the right to passenger information is covered by immigration legislation in the form of paragraphs 27 (2) and 27 (B) of Schedule 2 to the 1971 Immigration Act and the subsequent orders, the Immigration (Particulars of Passengers and Crew) (Amendment) Order 1975 and The Immigration (Passengers Information) Order 2000. Carriers are not obliged to provide this information unless it has been requested by an immigration officer in writing. As these powers are exercised in accordance with risk on an intelligence-led basis, and wherever there is good reason in the context of the immigration control, the Immigration Service has no plans to exercise them in relation to these flights.
Waterways Ireland
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answers by the Lord Rooker on 18 January (WA 124), why the bulk purchase of chocolates for the staff of Waterways Ireland in 2002 and 2003 was not recorded in the minutes of the board meetings, as indicated in the Answers. [HL3742]
The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Rooker): My Answer of 18 January (col. WA 124) does not indicate that the 2002 and 2003 decisions were recorded in the minutes of board meetings. Waterways Ireland does not have a board.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 31 January (WA 50) concerning Waterways Ireland, why other staff in the management group with the necessary experience, who met the criteria for appointment at that level, were denied the opportunity to be considered for the post of director of marketing and communications; and [HL4080]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 10 November 2005 (WA 114), why other staff in Waterways Ireland who met the criteria for the post of head of administration in marketing were denied the opportunity to be considered for that post. [HL4081]
Lord Rooker: I refer the noble Lord to my Answer of 6 June 2005 (col. WA 36).
There is nothing further I can usefully add.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18 January (WA 124), on what dates quotations were sought for the bulk purchase of chocolates by Waterways Ireland in 2002 and 2003; and on what date quotations were accepted by Waterways Ireland; and [HL4082]
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Rooker on 18th January (WA 124), from whom the three quotations were sought in 2002 for the bulk purchase of chocolates by Waterways Ireland; and from whom the quotation was returned. [HL4083]
Lord Rooker: I understand from Waterways Ireland that on 3 December 2002 quotations were sought for the purchase of chocolates from:
1 Mar 2006 : Column WA84A quotation from Gilmartins Cash and Carry was received and accepted on 6 December 2002.
In 2003 a quotation was received and accepted on 4 December.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
What increases in pay have been awarded to the chief executive of Waterways Ireland since his appointment in 2001; and on what basis or criteria they have been awarded. [HL4084]
Lord Rooker: The chief executive of Waterways Ireland was appointed in 2001 with a starting salary of £64,000. This was increased to £66,560 with effect from 1 April 2001 and £70,725 with effect from 1 April 2002. This was in line with pay awards to the Senior Civil Service in Northern Ireland.
He has been awarded pay amounts of £76,700 with effect from 1 April 2003 and £86,590 with effect from 1 April 2004 in line with a decision made by the North/South Ministerial Council on 8 March 2005. The criteria for these two awards were the body's performance, compliance with corporate governance requirements and the chief executive's formal reporting to the sponsor departments.
No further pay awards have been approved for the chief executive of Waterways Ireland.
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