Tag: Lord Lester of Herne Hill

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidance they give to first-tier tribunals about what is a reasonable time to hear and determine asylum and immigration appeals.

Lord Faulks

Guidance is not given to the First-tier Tribunals about what is a reasonable time to hear and determine asylum and immigration appeals. The Tribunal Procedure (First-tier Tribunal) (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) Rules 2014 provide an overriding objective for the Tribunal to deal with cases fairly and justly including avoiding delay, so far as is compatible with proper consideration of the issues.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the cuts in the budget of the Ministry of Justice on the ability of first-tier tribunals to hear and determine immigration and asylum appeals.

Lord Faulks

The Government is confident that there is sufficient funding to enable the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration & Asylym Chamber) to hear and determine the number of immigration and asylum appeals to be received during 2015-2016.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have amended the Ministerial Code to remove the duty to comply with international law and treaty obligations.

Lord Bridges of Headley

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to the Noble Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 5 November 2015 to HL3046,HL3047,HL3048,which I have attached for ease of reference.

The Ministerial Code is normally updated and reissued after a General Election. The updated Code makes clear that Ministers must abide by the law. The obligations of Ministers under the law including international law remain unchanged.

Information relating to internal discussions and advice is not disclosed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2015-10-26.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Ministers are under a duty to comply with international law including treaties signed and ratified on behalf of the United Kingdom.

Lord Bridges of Headley

I refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to the Noble Lord Falconer of Thoroton on 5 November 2015 to HL3046,HL3047,HL3048,which I have attached for ease of reference.

The Ministerial Code is normally updated and reissued after a General Election. The updated Code makes clear that Ministers must abide by the law. The obligations of Ministers under the law including international law remain unchanged.

Information relating to internal discussions and advice is not disclosed.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2014-06-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are the limits to the power of the police and security services to search data stored on mobile phones.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach

There are strict statutory safeguards in place regarding the interference of property to access data stored on mobile phones.

Current UK law limits police powers to search data stored on a mobile phone.
The data can only be searched if the phone has been lawfully seized under a power in Police And Criminal Evidence Act (PACE).

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2014-06-27.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the report of the Chilcot inquiry is likely to be published before the next General Election.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire

The Inquiry is independent of Government, and the timing of the delivery of its report to the Prime Minister is a matter for the Inquiry. Sir John Chilcot said in May that it was the Inquiry’s intention to do so as soon as possible. Government is doing everything it can to ensure this is possible.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2014-06-04.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to introduce a measure enabling civil partners to marry.

Baroness Northover

Section 9 of the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 provides that civil partners may convert their civil partnership into marriage under regulations to be made by my Right Honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Her Majesty’s Government is working hard to ensure that couples wanting to convert their civil partnerships into marriages are able to do so as soon as possible. The aim is to do this before the end of 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Lester of Herne Hill on 2014-06-04.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether public funds are used by the Police Federation to support defamation litigation.

Lord Taylor of Holbeach

Funding provided by the Government to the Police Federation of England and Wales may only be used for specific purposes. These are to pay part of the salaries of its principal officers, and to support their statutory function in negotiating the pay of police officers.

As the Home Secretary announced on 21 May, all Government funding provided to the Police Federation will cease by August this year.