Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 15 October (HL1977), what is the evidence for their view that United Kingdom support for search and rescue operations to prevent refugees and migrants drowning in the Mediterranean encourages "more migrants to attempt the dangerous sea crossing".
Answered by Lord Bates
Search and rescue operations are the responsibility of individual national governments. Since Italy launched its Mare Nostrum operation in October 2013, there has been an unprecedented increase in illegal migration in the Mediterranean and a fourfold increase in deaths.
The operation has been drawn closer and closer to the Libyan shore, as traffickers have taken advantage of the situation by placing more migrants in unseaworthy boats on the basis that they will be rescued and taken to Italy.
But many are not rescued, which is why we believe that the operation is having the unintended consequence of placing more lives at risk, and why EU Member States have unanimously agreed that the operation should be promptly phased out. However, any decisions on search and rescue operations are ultimately for the Italian Government and it is of course vital that this phasing out is well-managed and well-publicised.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to compile statistics on the extent of dowry violence in Britain.
Answered by Lord Bates
Violence against women and girls, including dowry abuse, is never acceptable and culture is no barrier to arrest and prosecution. The Forced Marriage Unit already collects data on forced marriage, which may include an element of dowry abuse. In 2013, the Unit provided advice or support in 1300 cases. While this does not reflect the full scale of the abuse (as many more cases are not reported), it enables the Unit to support those confident enough to come forward.
The Home Office is also committed to improving data collection on domestic abuse. Following HMIC’s report, the Home Office has begun work to make collection of data against a national standard on domestic abuse mandatory for all forces from April 2015. This activity will provide the police with a better platform for sharing information on domestic abuse.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the proposed Privacy and Civil Liberties Board will have the same access to sensitive material that the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation has.
Answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Proposed terms of reference for the Independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board are available on the gov.uk website or from the printed paper office. Creation of the board will require primary legislation which will provide the opportunity for Parliament to consider the appropriate composition and powers of the Board.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/330748/independent_privacy_an_cvil_liberties_board.pdf
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to appoint the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation to the proposed Privacy and Civil Liberties Board.
Answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
Proposed terms of reference for the Independent Privacy and Civil Liberties Board are available on the gov.uk website or from the printed paper office. Creation of the board will require primary legislation which will provide the opportunity for Parliament to consider the appropriate composition and powers of the Board.
www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/330748/independent_privacy_an_cvil_liberties_board.pdf
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what powers exist for the police and security services to make themselves aware of mobile phone data.
Answered by Lord Taylor of Holbeach
There are robust legislative frameworks for law enforcement and intelligence agencies to access mobile phone data for lawful purposes and in accordance with our European Court of Human Rights obligations. There are strict statutory safeguards in place regarding access to data stored on mobile phones. There are a number of pieces of legislation which allow for search and seizure of items including mobile telephones, for example, the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE), the Terrorism Act 2000, the Extradition Act 2003. These laws only allow data to be searched if the phone has been lawfully seized under a power in the legislation. Property interference by the Security and Intelligence Agencies may be authorised under the Intelligence Services Act 1994 or the Security Service Act 1989. Property interference by the police may be authorised by the Police Act 1997. Interception of communications or access to communications data may be authorised under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
Asked by: Lord Lester of Herne Hill (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Home Office:
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.
Answered by 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).