§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to make it their policy to add new or further education, health and employment rights for Northern Ireland to those already provided for in the Human Rights Act 1998. [HLI089]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Government invited the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to consult and advise on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights (on which the Human Rights Act is based) to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland. When the commission provides its advice (which it is expected to do later this year) the Government will give it due consideration.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current annual budget of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and what proportion is spent on staff. [HL1090]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIn 2000–01 the annual budget of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was £750,000, of which £330,500 (44 per cent) was spent on staffing costs. This does not include the (full-time) Chief Commissioner's remuneration of £57,475 or that of the other (part-time) Commissioners (£8,000 each), both of which are already a matter of public record.
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§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish their submission to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on their proposed new Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland. [HL1091]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Government have not made a submission to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on this matter.
On 24 March 1999, the then Secretary of State wrote to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission inviting the commission to consult and advise on the scope for defining, in Westminster legislation, rights supplementary to those in the European Convention on Human Rights (on which the Human Rights Act is based) to reflect the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland. A copy of that letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What percentage of the staff of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are (a) Protestant and (b) male. [HL1092]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission directly employs its own staff, so this is a matter for the commission itself. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make representations to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to commit itself to deal with third party violators of human rights where they are paramilitary organisations. [HL1093]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThe Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body, and as such it is not for Her Majesty's Government to determine with whom it should deal.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has prepared its submission for more powers and resources; and whether they can outline details of its plan for widespread consultation on such proposals. [HL1201]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIn accordance with Section 69(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we received a submission from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on 28 February, containing recommendations on how the commission's effectiveness might be improved. We are currently considering its recommendations and will issue a formal response in due course. Should we propose to amend the legislation, our proposals will be subject to public consultation in the usual way.
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§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
On what basis the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has decided:
- (a) to campaign for a public judicial inquiry into the death of Patrick Finucane;
- (b) to campaign for a public inquiry into the death of Rosemary Nelson; and
- (c) not to campaign for a public judicial inquiry into the death of Billy Wright in HM Prison The Maze. [HL1272]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
Lord Laird asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will use its website to "name and shame" organisations and individuals taking part in paramilitary beatings. [HI 1278]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will examine whether the human rights of Protestant farmers in Fermanagh who have left the border area have in any case been infringed. [HL 1279]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will work with the appropriate authority in the Republic of Ireland to examine whether the Irish Government in the past provided support to the Provisional IRA. [HL 1280]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to determine the subjects of its investigations. This issue, however, appears to fall outside the commission's statutory functions.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will require the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to investigate the level of support from Government agencies to returnees who were intimidated out of their residences and now wish to move back to areas such as the west side of the Foyle in Londonderry and to south Fermanagh. [HL1335]
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§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonIt is for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission itself to decide which issues to investigate.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Which representatives for the Unionist population the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has consulted in the past two years. [HL1377]
§ Lord Falconer of ThorotonThis is a matter for the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission. The Chief Commissioner has been asked to write to the noble Lord. A copy of his letter will be placed in the Library.