Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
Her Majesty's Government what methods are used by the Electoral Office in Northern Ireland to ascertain (1) whether someone applying for a proxy vote is a close relation of the voter, and (2) the validity of proxy vote applications.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Any individual wishing to appoint a proxy to vote in their place must complete an application form providing all the personal details given at registration, including their national insurance number and signature, which are checked against the register. Only those applications passing scrutiny are accepted.
Voters are required to state the nature of their relationship to the individual they are nominating as their proxy and all forms contain the warning that making a false statement is a criminal offense. Written confirmation of successful applications is sent to both the applicant and the registered proxy at their registered addresses.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
Her Majesty's Government how many of the proxy votes granted in Northern Ireland in the 2017 general election were applied for by (1) someone who was a close relative of the elector, and (2) a non–relative; how a close relative is defined for the purposes of the proxy vote system; and whether the Electoral Office of Northern Ireland has a computer system able to record and statistically analyse that data.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Proxy votes must be applied for by the individual themselves; it is not possible for any other person to apply on their behalf. Under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act 1985, a person is not entitled to vote as proxy at the same parliamentary election in any constituency on behalf of more than two electors for whom that person is not the spouse or civil partner, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, child or grandchild. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland does not keep a record of the relationships between the registered voter and their successfully appointed proxy.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
Her Majesty's Government how many people are registered to vote in more than one constituency in Northern Ireland; and, in relation to each constituency in Northern Ireland, how many people are also registered to vote in one or more other constituency.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
The total number of registered electors in Northern Ireland registered to vote in more than one constituency is 23.
The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland holds data in relation to each constituency on how many people are also registered to vote in another constituency. In some constituencies this applies to fewer than five people. A full answer would risk the identification of individuals and is therefore not provided.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to require those voting by proxy to provide their national insurance number, in order to facilitate checks that proxies are not voting on behalf of more than two close relatives.
Answered by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth
Individuals are entitled to vote as a proxy for an unlimited number of close relatives but may not vote as proxy at the same election in any constituency on behalf of more than two electors to whom they are not a closely related.
The administration of proxy voting is an operational matter for the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland who will, following the Parliamentary election in June, conduct a routine post-election review of all administrative procedures. The Government will carefully consider any recommendations it receives concerning proxy voting from both the independent Electoral Commission as well as from the Chief Electoral Officer. The Government will also consider what, if any, of the changes recommended by Sir Eric Pickles in his report on tackling electoral fraud may also be appropriate for Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
Her Majesty's Government whether all government funded bodies are required to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights, and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe guidelines on human rights, and if so who monitors their compliance.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
Under international law, the United Kingdom has undertaken to comply with the European Convention on Human Rights. The Human Rights Act 1998 gives further effect in domestic law to certain rights and freedoms drawn from the Convention, called the Convention rights. Section 6(1) of the Act makes it unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with a Convention right. Under section 6(3), “public authority” is defined as including a court or tribunal, and “any person certain of whose function are functions of a public nature”; but does not include either House of Parliament or a person exercising functions in connection with proceedings in Parliament. Section 73(2) of the Care Act 2011 additionally specifies that a provider of regulated care and support that has been arranged or paid for by a local authority or Health and Social Care trust is also to be taken as exercising a function of a public nature for the purposes of the Human Rights Act. Any allegation that a public authority has acted incompatibly with a Convention right may be brought to court as specified in section 7 of the Act.
Guidelines produced by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe are not legally binding.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
Her Majesty's Government, how much legal aid was paid to England based solicitors of John Downey, who was accused of killing four soldiers in the 1982 IRA bombing in Hyde Park; over what period; and who were the solicitors and barristers instructed on his behalf.
Answered by Lord Keen of Elie
Anyone facing a Crown Court trial is eligible for legal aid, subject to a strict means test.
The table below shows the legal aid paid to represent John Downey for representation at the police station and in court between May 2013-December 2014:
Criminal Legal representation at | Provider Type | Provider Name |
| Total |
Police station | Solicitor | Birnberg Peirce LTD |
| £293.40 |
Crown court trial costs |
| £18,412.07 | ||
Barrister | Henry Blaxland QC |
| £20,089.00 | |
Mark J Summers |
| £12,966.79 | ||
Total costs |
| £51,761.26 | ||
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce noise nuisance resulting from the use of motorbikes.
Answered by Lord Callanan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Technical standards for noise from new motorcycles are set at an International level by both the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). These provisions were updated in 2014 and took effect for new machines from 2016.
The European Commission is planning to introduce new legislation concerning emissions and noise from motorcycles. An independent research-based investigation is currently underway to establish the noise limits and these are expected to take effect in 2020. The UK is actively engaged in these negotiations.
The motorcycle industry are represented at the UNECE discussions and Department for Transport officials also hold routine discussions with them outside of this forum.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to reduce the level of smoking in both indoor and outdoor public places.
Answered by Lord O'Shaughnessy
Legislation introduced in 2007 made it illegal to smoke in all public enclosed or substantially enclosed areas and workplaces. There are no current plans to introduce further smoke free legislation to outdoor places.
Local authorities can however, consider adopting more extensive no smoking policies locally. Local authorities are best placed to do this working with its local population to develop flexible plans that suit the local area.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
Her Majesty's Government what part, if any, they are playing in discussions about the Republic of Ireland re-joining the Commonwealth.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The British Government has had no discussions with the Irish Government on the Republic of Ireland re-joining the Commonwealth. This would be a matter for the Irish Government to discuss with the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken (1) to implement the judgment of the European Court of Justice of 6 October 2015, Schrems v Data Protection Commissioner, and (2) to ensure that the Information Commissioner implements the findings set out in that judgment.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Whilst the UK is a member of the European Union, we will continue to rely on the Privacy Shield for data flows to and from the US. The UK Government views this agreement as a major step forward for restoring certainty and a stable legal footing for transatlantic data flows.