§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish the letters of resignation from Ms Inez McCormack and Professor Christine Bell from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.[HL5911]
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn):It is a matter for Ms McCormack and Professor Bell whether they wish their personal letters to be made public.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office has been in correspondence with the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission about its expenditure in 2001–02; and, if so, whether they will publish the correspondence. [HL5913]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office wrote to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission regarding its accounts in April this year.
There are no plans to publish the letter.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is their reaction to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission co-publishing with the British-Irish Rights Watch; and whether they consider this to be an appropriate use of public Fund [HL5915]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an independent body and can co-produce publications to promote human rights without seeking the Government's approval.
The commission did not seek funding for this project through any supplementary bid. The costs of the publication are recouped from the selling price and not from public funds.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's description of itself in minutes of its meeting on 10 June as a "national institution" indicates a change in status for Northern Ireland. [HL5939]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:There is no change in status for Northern Ireland.
The International Co-ordination Committee of the World Association of National Human Rights 84WA Institutions at the United Nations has accredited the commission as a Category B—National Human Rights Institution. This status reflects the commission's sub-national position within the UK.
§ Lord Lairdasked her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Privy Seal on 24 September (WA 259), what qualifications are necessary in order to be able to advise the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission on human rights issues. [HL5940]
§ Lord Williams of Mostyn:The commission can receive advice from a person/s who has knowledge of the human rights issues. As an independent body, however, it is entirely the commission's choice whether or not to act upon that advice.