HL Deb 14 April 1999 vol 599 cc121-2WA
Lord Avebury

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will ascertain why the United Nations Human Rights Commission's server has gone down so that during the current session of the Commission those who need to access information about the Commission's work on the world wide web are unable to do so; and whether they will also ascertain whether the reports of the rapporteurs and working groups are likely to be published in time for consideration by delegates before the agenda items to which they relate are reached. [HL1812]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

We are not aware of any significant problems. The UK delegation to the UN Commission on Human Rights (CHR) report that the website has been functioning well and that they have regularly used it to access CHR documents.

Following complaints, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) set a deadline for submission of reports of 16 December 1998 to allow time for translation and distribution. Only those reports submitted later than this deadline have been delayed, and accordingly the majority will be available before the relevant agenda item is reached.