§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the(a) timetable for the preparation of draft reports, (b) consultation period, (c) deadlines for submission to reporting bodies and (d) provisional dates and locations of public hearings to consider the UK periodic reports for each UN international obligation are; and which (i) Department and (ii) officials have primary responsibility in each case. [171373]
§ Mr. RammellSetting out the situation with regard to all the UK periodic reports for every obligation within the UN framework would incur disproportionate costs. However, it might be helpful to set out the process with regard to one specific area, human rights, as on example of the UK's reporting obligations.
645WWith regard to the six core UN international human rights treaties which require States Parties to submit reports, the timetables for reporting and consideration of reports vary from treaty to treaty and can depend on the workload of, and recommendations expressed by, the relevant treaty monitoring body. Lead responsibility for the UK's reports also varies within Government, but in each case the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for coordinating material relating to the Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies.
For the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, reporting is required every five years. The UK's last report was submitted in 1999 and examined in October 2001. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next report by 1 November 2006. The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Human Rights Division.
For the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, reporting is also required every five years. The UK's last report was submitted in 2001 and examined in May 2002. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next report by 30 June 2007. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Human Rights Policy Department.
For the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel. Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, reporting is required every four years. The UK's latest report was submitted on 4 December 2003. A date has not yet been scheduled for the examination in Geneva. The timing of the next report will depend on the recommendations of the relevant treaty monitoring body. The Department for Constitutional Affairs is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Human Rights Division.
For the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, reporting is required every two years. The UK's last report was submitted in October 2002 and examined on 6–7 August 2003. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next two reports combined by
646W
Total vacant dwellings at 1 April in London boroughs, 1997–2003 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 Barking and Dagenham 775 1,117 1,329 2,172 2,005 1,727 1,509 Barnet 5,179 4,915 3,153 4,068 4,673 4,442 4,211 Bexley 2,064 1,644 1,982 1,185 2,203 2,467 2,410 Brent 5,115 5,670 5,504 6,174 5,151 3,754 4,792 Bromley 4,297 4,256 4,318 3,718 3,715 – – Camden 3,605 4,018 4,335 4,703 6,261 4,745 4,033 City of London 75 32 31 – – 22 32 Croydon 4,526 4,650 4,401 4,130 4,598 5,505 5,594 Ealing 1,630 1,749 2,449 2,308 5,397 5,705 5,433 Enfield – – – – – – – Greenwich 3,308 3,096 3,058 4,541 4,421 4,508 4,523 Hackney 4,307 – 3,254 3,970 3,284 4,486 5,165 Hammersmith and Fulham 3,191 4,141 4,557 4,138 3,710 4,026 4,108 Haringey – 3,538 4,815 4,417 5,604 4,413 5,419 6 April 2006. The Home Office is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Race Equality Unit.
For the Convention on the Rights of the Child, reporting is required every five years. The UK's last reports were submitted in 1999 and examined in September 2002 for the UK and 2000 for the Overseas Territories and the Isle of Man. The relevant treaty monitoring body has asked that the UK submits its next two reports combined by 15 July 2007. The Department for Education and Skills is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Children, Young People and Families Directorate.
For the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, reporting is required every four years. The UK's last report was submitted in July 2003. The relevant treaty monitoring body has scheduled an examination of the report for July 2005 in New York and the date of the next report will depend on its recommendations. The Department for Trade and Industry is responsible for coordinating the UK's report, directed by officials from within its Women and Equality Unit.