§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the judgment of the House of Lords of 20 June concerning the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in particular the comments of Lord Hobhouse of Woodborough in paragraph 72 on amici curiae. [HL4912]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn)The Government are pleased that the House of Lords ruling has confirmed that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission may apply to the courts to intervene in legal proceedings when there is an issue about human rights.
We were interested to read Lord Hobhouse of Woodborough's comments.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their response to the request of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to have a say in the allocation of public finance in Northern Ireland. [HL5045]
157WA
§ Lord Williams of MostynParagraph 2.1.1 of the minutes of the commission meeting held on 14 January 2002 states that the chief commissioner will write to the Northern Ireland Executive with regard to the commission monitoring the allocation of public funds in Northern Ireland. As this is a matter between the commission and the devolved administration in Northern Ireland, it is not for Her Majesty's Government to comment.
A copy of the minutes of the meeting will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they were asked by the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to intervene in the House of Lords case about its powers; and, if so, whether they declined to support the commission. [HL5056]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on 14 February 2002 requesting that the Government intervene in the commission's appeal to the House of Lords on 11 March. The Government, who had always understood the commission to have the power to intervene as a third party, was happy to intervene on behalf of the commission.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will provide a breakdown of the composition of the staff of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission by (a) religion, (b) by gender and (c) by the number of staff who are disabled; and whether this breakdown represents a true reflection of the Northern Ireland workforce as a whole. [HL5444]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission as the commission directly employs its own staff.
The chief commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord and a copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.