HC Deb 09 December 1998 vol 322 c210W
Mr. McNamara

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will(a) list the recommendations made by the UN Committee Against Torture following its examination of the UK Periodic report, (b) indicate what measures he will take in response, (c) place the observations and comments of the Committee in the Library, (d) list NGO submissions to the Committee concerning the UK report and (e) place these submissions in the Library. [61965]

Mr. Boateng

The United Nations Committee Against Torture made the following recommendations:

  1. (a) The closure of detention centres, particularly Castlereagh, at the earliest opportunity.
  2. (b) The reform of the State Immunity Act 1978, to ensure that its provisions conform to the obligations contained in the Convention.
  3. (c)The reform of sections 134(4) and (5)(b)(iii) of the Criminal Justice Act 1988, to bring them into conformity with the obligations contained in article 2 of the Convention.
  4. (d) The abolition of the use of plastic bullet rounds as a means of riot control.
  5. (e) Reconstruction of the Royal Ulster Constabulary so that it more closely represents the cultural realities of Northern Ireland. This should continue to be associated with an extensive programme of re-education for members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, directed at the objectives of the Peace accord and the best methods of modern police practices.
  6. (f) The Committee finally recommends that, in the case of Senator Pinochet of Chile, the matter be referred to the office of the public prosecutor, with a view to examining the feasibility of and, if appropriate, initiating criminal proceedings in England, in the event that the decision is made not to extradite him. This would satisfy the State Party's obligations under articles 4 to 7 of the Convention and article 27 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969.

The Government will formally respond to the Committee in the United Kingdom's Fourth Periodic Report, which will be due in January 2002.

A copy of the Committee's conclusions and recommendations is being placed in the Library. NGO submissions were made direct to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. We are asking the Committee for the information requested and I will write to my hon. Friend when we have received a reply.