§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Who appointed the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission to act as human rights advisers to the Police Service of Northern Ireland; when this was done; and why. [HL1389]
§ Lord Williams of MostynSection 69(6) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires that the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission shall promote understanding and awareness of the importance of human rights in Northern Ireland.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) consults a range of bodies with expertise in human rights and equality issues on the preparation of key documents from time to time; this includes the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.
PSNI has not appointed a human rights adviser, although a lawyer with specific expertise in the field of human rights was appointed to the staff of the police legal services, as recommended in the Patten report in October 2001.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission was unrepresented at the graduation of the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 23 August 2003. [HL1390]
§ Lord Williams of MostynI understand that no commissioner was available to attend the Police Service of Northern Ireland graduation ceremony.
§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will place in the Library of the House any letters that they have sent to Northern Ireland Members of Parliament concerning 50:50 recruitment to the Police Service of Northern Ireland. [HL1614]
§ Lord Williams of MostynCorrespondence between Government Ministers and individuals is considered private and in confidence unless the recipient chooses to release it to the public.
It would therefore be inappropriate to place the letters requested by the noble Lord in the Library of the House.